October is a long month, but it sure feels short this year! The weather has been amazing. It's been so warm and sunny, I haven't even thought about wearing a winter coat. We've had trick-or-treaters come to the door in snowsuits before, so I hope the weather lasts a couple…
I hope you had a fun-filled first week of July! It's time to share our goals. I'll start it off by reviewing what my June goals were, how I did, and what I'm aiming for in July. Jill’s June 2018 Goals: Finish plotting three books and write short synopses for…
In late August of 2016, I was sitting at a banquet table in Nashville when a beautiful, petite woman sat next to me. I noticed her name tag and introduced myself. She explained she was Patricia (Puh-tree-sia) Beal and that her debut novel would be released the following May. As…
I am itching for spring! Itching for it, I tell you. We've had a gloriously mild winter. But...winter is still gloomy. Overcast skies, chilly temperatures, dead grass, no leaves or pretty flowers or any color to look at. So I'm sharing my Pinterest board with all things spring today. …
Although I gave up New Year's resolutions years ago, when January rolls around I usually take some time to think about my life. What worked well the previous year? What didn't? In what areas have I slipped into poor habits? What habits are improving my life? I also think…
In between my DIY mani-pedi failure and attempting to make decorations for a book event this weekend, I read quite a few blogs this week. We won't discuss the mani-pedi thing, and I'll post pictures of the decor and event next week. But in the meantime, I'm sharing links to…
Yesterday I took a nice long walk in the morning. The temperatures had slid from the low 90s to low 70s. The humidity? Almost unnoticeable--a nice change from the muggy air we've had all summer. In other words, the conditions were just about perfect for a walk. I felt…
I have been blogging for eight years! Can you believe it? I can't! Last night I was browsing Feedly, my preferred reader, to catch up on blogs. I came across Elizabeth Spann Craig's, Long-Term Blogging, Part 1, and I realized she and I began blogging around the same time. I…
How do you take care of yourself as a writer? This is often referred to as writer self care. Have you heard that term? I have off and on over the years. Whenever I hear it, it brings to mind the following: Move around during the day to avoid the aches and…
I have always struggled with disruptions to my routine. My dedicated writing hours during the school year dwindle to snatched minutes with the kids home for summer. My kids aren't even young! It's just different having them home. They have places to be, stomachs to feed and various activities during…