Fast Five Friday: Cartoons

Happy Friday!

What is it about 4-day work weeks that feel like an ETERNITY??

Anyway, the Cover Girls, Dani and Jax, came up with this fun quickfire bloghop that gets us to share 5 things of their choosing. This week it is 5 Childhood Cartoons.

The first of my fave five is the reason I became a writer. The next two made me love fantastical settings. The next are just...what's not to love?!

1. X-Men
2. David the Gnome
3. The Smurfs
4. Doug
5. Gummy Bears

Wednesday Words: Fire

Happy Hump Day!

It feels like a Tuesday, but thankfully, it's not one!

I have finally moved onto Fire, by Kristin Cashore, which I bought immediately after reading Graceling, the first book in the series. This world so far is surprisingly different than Katsa's on the other side of the mountains: there are MONSTERS over here! By monsters, I mean animals and people who are weird colors and can persuade you with their minds. Yeesh. I can't wait to see how this ties in with King Leck from Graceling, though I sort of see it. I also really like Fire and her best frenefit (lol) Archer, though he's a little dense sometimes.

(Side note: having posted the cover, I now see there's a face on it. I must not have stopped to look at my actual book.)

Alright, to the point. On Wednesdays, I use Random.org to share with you a piece of what I'm reading, so let's get into it. There are 461 pages in Fire. Let's see what Random chooses.

Page...................................................148. Ooh, I'm almost there.

Hey, the beginning of a chapter! There are approximately 21 lines on this page, so let's see what we'll be reading.

Line.......................................................6.

No. Cansrel's mind was strong as a bear and hard as the steel of a trap, and every time she left it, it slammed back into place behind her.

Fire's father was a very scary man, and I'm pretty sure I know how he "killed himself."

Express Yourself: Eating While Writing?

Happy Tuesday!

Today is the day I answer the questions given to us by the ladies who created Express Yourself: Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests. This week, they would like us to:

Name a few things we like to eat while writing.

Well, to be honest, I don't have any writing snacks. Is it just me? If I get hungry, I usually just eat whatever is available. I don't have a particular food I crave in my time of writing.

Well, that was anti-climactic. See you tomorrow!

Friday Freeday: June Hiatus

Good morning!

I've decided to take a break from blogging next month, possibly July, too, but I'll see when I get closer to it. A part of me wants to do a little more with the blog, definitely a little more towards writing. I'll most likely incorporate them into the posts I already have, which means making longer posts, but hey.

Everyone have a good Memorial Day weekend, and remember those who died to protect the freedom of others!

Wednesday Words: Defiance

Happy Hump Day!

Wednesdays are the days I usually set aside to share with everyone what I'm reading by using Random.org to help me out. This week, I'm reading one of my "competition" books based on one of the lit agency's requirements to list books mine would compete against.

Defiance, by C.J. Redwine.

It's interesting so far, a weird juxtaposition of medieval values and modern nomenclature. Rachel Adams and her Protector, Logan McEntire, are somehow going to escape the tyrannical police-state in which they live to find her father Jared, who never came back from a courier mission. Mayhem and secrets ensue. Hopefully I can check it out again when the Kindle version disappears back to my digital library. I was reading something else when it became available, so I haven't gotten too far, and it's due in 2 days. (Hey, I successfully placed it on hold again, so that should solve that.)

Anyway, there are 416 pages in the Kindle edition. Random.org has chosen page...............344.

Geez. That's 82.7% of the way in, so I have a feeling I'm about to spoil it for myself. But that's the nature of this game!

There are approximately 19 lines on this page, so Random has chosen line....................18.

The Cursed One roars and coils itself to strike again.

I knew they would eventually stumble upon this thing, so I can't wait to see what it looks like.

Express Yourself Weekly: My Weird BFF

Throwback...on a Tuesday! lol It's time for Express Yourself, created by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests. These ladies bring us fun questions to answer weekly, and we're happy to oblige.

This week, they would like to know what quirks our best friends have that we adore.

Hm...trying to think if I like their quirks. lol

My best friend/cousin Candyce must know what happens at the end of books and movies. lol I'm not the kind of person who doesn't tell you if you ask, so I always answer her if we're watching a movie I've seen.

My best friend/sister Andréa likes to make random noises out of the blue. Just chilling, and then suddenly, high note for no reason.

They're both very silly.

Friday Freeday

Friday Feels:

1. So, I can't even cross my arms today. I feel so exposed lol Yesterday was our Employee Recognition, and I played five games of volleyball. I knew the risks by my first dive to the ground. They should start a volleyball league at work, though. I had so much fun.

2. Time has a "What would your name be today" quiz. Deborah was the 182nd most popular name in 1984 (does it even count as popular then?). Today's 182nd most popular name is Michelle. Yeesh. I'm so not a Michelle. No offense, Michelles.

3. When I tried to Swype Deborah, it gave me Debussy first. I am now in love with this name and will name a boy this.

4. Still contemplating naming a girl Deborah and calling her Rory.

5. Wawa's idea of a bacon omelette is making the omelette and then putting the bacon on top. They're whack, but it was still bomb. Even when they're wrong, they're right.

Thursday Thoughts: Express Yourself Weekly

Hello again!

I am doing another Thursday Thoughts to catch up on the Express Yourself bloghop that is back in action! Visit the creators, Dani @ Entertaining Interests and Jackie @ Bouquet of Books to see their answers, join the hop, and visit others who participate.

Last week, the ladies said: Tell us about something you haven't tried yet, but would like to.

I have yet to skinny dip. I'd like to. lol

This week, they said: We are 1/3 of the way through the year. Name something you have achieved thus far.

Well, I was published. So there's that. *dances* I will be mentioning that until my next publication happens. lol I also started querying again after a long bout of doubt and revisions. I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for me. :)

Wednesday Words: Cassafire

Happy Wednesday!

I feel like I haven't done a Wednesday Words in weeks! These are the days where I use Random.org to share with my followers what it is I am reading.

Last week I started Cassafire by the Captain and Sensei of many of us bloggers: Alex J. Cavanaugh.

"But wait," you should probably say, "I've been following your Wednesday Words for a while. When did you read Cassastar?"

Well, what had happened was...lol. There was a promotion happening where the Kindle edition of Cassafire was on sale for like $0.99, so I bought it to try it out. I don't read much Science Fiction, so if I didn't like it, at least it wasn't hard on my wallet.

And on that note, I actually like it! I really like Byron. Part of him reminds me of Gibbs on NCIS, but I can't wait to read Cassastar now. I wonder how different he was as a probie pilot.

Now, there are 240 pages in the Kindle Edition, so using Random.org, let's see what page we'll be visiting...........................page 73.

That is 30% in at location 1230 based on my Kindle.

There are approximately 16 lines on page 73, so Random has chosen...................................line 7.

A surge of power flowed through his mind. The valley vanished, replaced by a view of the city.

Psychic teleportation! (<---Since when is that not a word?) I was intrigued when I first read Byron doing something of a psychic nature, and I'm guessing more about the Cassans and their abilities is explained in the first book, so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Friday Freeday Rant

So, I need to get motivated to DO. That's it. Just do.

There was a time when I would be constantly reading, constantly writing. A part of me is wondering am I supposed to be doing something else? Or am I subconsciously depressed or losing hope? I've been at writing for over 20 years now, and I know I had goals for myself and that sometimes those aren't what meant to be, but yeesh.

And am I scared of rejection on my fantasy novel which I'm 99.999% sure is finally polished enough to throw out there? I mean, I've already put it out there to two of my choices. I'm definitely kind of scared to do contests again. Even though I didn't realize how unfinished my story was when I entered before, I'm not sure I want to enter it again. It's too much on my psyche, and I'm not one who will ever grow that fabled thick skin I keep hearing about.

No one at home asks about my writing anymore. They were really excited about my short story publication, but other than that, nothing. They've all got their own things happening, and I feel like I'm getting left behind. My older sister keeps getting jobs she wants. My little sister was promoted like 8 times in the span of a year. I'm just here floating, bored to death in a part-time job that barely pays the bills, looking for less boring jobs that will pay my bills twice over, but hoping this won't always be my life.

Okay, so maybe I'm consciously depressed and losing hope, which is whack because last year, I was toting and chanting that 2015 was going to be my year. It's not even the middle of the year yet, and I've lost that zeal. I thought this was supposed to happen during the winter seasons. Blah.

Where's Tony Little to scream, "You can do it?!" in my ear?

Thursday Thoughts: Reflections

Hiya!

Thursday posts are rare for me, but hey, why not? I need to catch up anyway.

This year, I did the A-to-Z Challenge. I had decided last year that I would try to do it again this year, so I began to schedule my posts mid February this year. I can't even remember why I chose to focus on colors. I wanted a quick, simple theme that all writers could relate to, and that's where I landed.

I actually got good reception, and I'm glad people really liked it! I might actually think about doing it again. lol Perhaps by next year, I'll get into a good groove of visiting more bloggers. I started off strong, but April is always a little busy for me, so I petered out in visits near the end.

I would have to say my favorite theme was from Jenn Pitts, who did a Twilight Zone theme! My favorite comments came from the Koopman, Mark Koopmans, that is. lol He also had a great theme about writing the memoir of Donald Braswell, an opera singer who injured his singing voice due to a car accident and regained fame through America's Got Talent!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, even just to read. :-D

IWSG: Inspiration

Happy First Wednesday!

It is time to share our writerly woes, achievements, and thoughts with others like us. This was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and there are now hundreds of writers who participate! There is also a website now, which can be visited HERE.

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin messaged me to tell me her son was writing a story, "Just like Deborah."* It definitely made me get a little misty, and it also made me feel like I have to keep pushing myself to write and get to that publication goal to make him proud. I'm sure by this week, he'll want to be a fireman or something, but it was just nice to hear. Some people do find the inspiration to write from authors they've read, so I would love to be that author for someone out there.

Hope to visit you today!



(*He actually wrote a two-sentence story on my old laptop when he was 4, so when his mom told him that, he said, "Oh, so this is my second novel?" haha)

Friday Freeday: I'm in Nashville!

(Take 2. Accidentally posted this Monday haha)

Hello!

If you're reading this, I've been in Nashville for an hour now! ;-D

Four of the people I call my friends and I are here to visit our very talented 6th counterpart, who is a Grad Assistant at Tennessee State. If you follow me on Instagram (1nOnlyDeb), any picture containing 6 dogs or cats are dedicated to us. lol

Anyway, he has at least one whacky event planned for us (family portraits in the park lol), and as we're all musicians, I hope we get to see the music districts (I imagine that's what they're called). I know we had BETTER stop at Zaxby's. lol

Have a great weekend, and congrats on finishing A to Z!