Book Of The Year Nomination!

Hello once again, Readers!!!

It seems like Santa has stopped by early for me!  I’m excited to say that Born in Flames has been nominated for Book of the Year over on Turning The Pages Books!!!

What!!! Who knew?!

I was so excited when I first found out that I had to run out and buy a Butterbeer to celebrate! Thank you Universal for being so close! And thank you J.K. for being a genius.

But I digress…

So if you want to vote, just click here and then scroll down and click on Survey Link. It will take you to all the books nominated…:)

Thank you in advance to everyone who votes for Born in Flames!

 If you’re not familiar with it, here is the cover and blurb:

Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My
bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of
my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her
past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time
before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness
inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her
side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful
stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever
known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true
home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the
safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy
stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must
be made. What would you choose?

So that’s it for today. I received my edits for Embracing the Flames last night and need to jump back into that before I can continue with From the Embers. It’s insanity, but I love it…so get excited for more to come!

And here’s something to make you smile before you go:

Hehehehe…Echelon out ♥

NaNo Success!

I completed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was there a moment when I thought I might not…..umm….more like tons of moments.

But I conquered it with a whopping 50013! Woot!

That being said…it is nowhere near finished. Also, the story completely changed about halfway through, but due to the time constraints I left it all as is to be fixed later. From the Embers will continue to be my main focus until I have time to pick this back up.

What I learned:

1. I can do something I didn’t know I could do.
2. I can drink three Red Bulls back to back and not have a heart attack.
3. I can juggle (literally).
4. I can get sick and still find it in me to put in some pretty wordage.
5. People are mean. (Okay so that has nothing to do with NaNo and everything to do with Goodreads…lol)
6. Letting yourself go is really the best way to write (at least for me.)
7. A year ago I didn’t even know about this.
8. My jaw clenches up when I get in the zone…ow.
9. I can write something other than my trilogy.
10. It’s okay to believe in myself.

Okay…so those aren’t deeply philosophical points, but I just put in a lot of words today and finished another painting so my mind is beat and my jaw hurts lol.

To everyone else who finished way before me or with an obsene amount of words, congrats. And to those who didn’t finish…don’t worry about it. Putting a thing like this smack dab in the middle of the holidays is a little silly and makes it pretty hard to accomplish. I barely made it. Keep writing. That is all that matters!

Here’s my latest painting:

Dreams 12×12

Side View

And I’m spent. Have a great night everyone!

Echelon out ♥

A Tale Of True Love ♥

Hello once again, Readers!!! Check out my chitlins and me. Their so cute, aren’t they? We were enjoying ice cream on a Friday afternoon recently (a treat my son gets when he has a full week with no note in his planner). He is a terror like me, muhahaha.

But I digress.

So only a couple of days left for NaNo and I’m on track. Thank goodness. This has been a trying month. And by trying I mean, a week-long bout of the flu, another art festival done, preparing for another two shows in the next two weeks, writing for NaNo, and continuing the third installment to the Born in Flames Trilogy, From the Embers. Need I go on?

Phew.

So a couple new things before I get to the fun interview. I added a new page to the blog for Embracing the Flames which will be back any day now from the editor. I also added a page titled: Aurora’s Journal. She will be sharing thoughts off and on about the trials and tribulations she goes through and what her take is on it. It’s an experiment. Lastly, I added an art page to the Fae Tis Moor page to showcase all the work Sonya and I are doing.

Baby steps people.

Now let’s see if I can keep up with it all…hahaha. I’m not happy until my plate is overflowing.

Any who…now on to the fun stuff!

I’ve been working around the clock (and by round the clock I mean when I remember), finding blogs to review Born in Flames for me. It’s a great way to market your novel and get exposure. One of the blogs who responded back offered to showcase a character interview for me. I had already planned on doing this on here, so I was really excited for the opportunity. And just because I love you so, my Little Flames, I am posting the interview before it has even hit the other blog.

It’s an interview between Fenn and Aurora. I used some of the same questions I did in the character interview with just Aurora because I wanted to give Fenn’s reactions to the major issues in Born in Flames as well.

So without further adieu:

Tell us a little about yourself.

Aurora: *shifts uncomfortably*. Umm…so talk about myself…I don’t normally talk about myself. I would say I’m just your average girl, but the truth is… *looks away and says quietly* I’m not. Fenn wants us to be normal, but lately, normal has become pretty unavoidable.

Fenn: *Fenn laughs* That’s an understatement.

Aurora: *She rolls her eyes* So anyway, I guess I’m your not so average girl. I just pray that I can keep what’s inside of me…my dragon side…under control.

Fenn: Me too. And you forgot to add that you are incredibly stubborn and cute at the same time. *Looks at Lisa* It’s really not fair.

Aurora: Well, Fenn, why don’t you share your attributes then? We’re all dying to hear how you see yourself.

Fenn: *Flashes charming grin* Drop dead gorgeous, funny, witty…you know…

Aurora: *She coughs to interrupt* Also hardheaded, fiercely protective, and annoyingly funny.

Fenn: *He puts his arm around her* What more could you ask for?

 

Aurora, how did you feel when you found out you were able to shift into a dragon?

Aurora: Well that’s a funny story. You see, I always knew I was different…I mean, if I was angry enough I could set anything on fire, but dragon!? And it all started when this Creepy guy followed me one night to the diner I work at.

Fenn: No, it started at the bus stop when you ticked off the bus driver.

Aurora: *Face reddens* Oh yeah. Well anyway, that night at the diner he foretold a prophecy about a conqueror who was of dragon born. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about, and of course Fenn decided to throw him out before I could get any answers. So it took me quite a while to piece together just exactly how I fit into all of this. But long story short, I actually feel at piece with it. *her face softens* It brings me one step closer to uniting with my parents.

Fenn: *Looks to Lisa and shakes his head* The guy screams crazy stalker. She never listens to me. It’s been like that since we were kids growing up. And as far as Aurora being a dragon…it makes sense. Hot-tempered, egotistical…*he sees her shocked face and laughs* I’m kidding, Rory. You know I think it’s awesome.

 

How did you feel when Mr. Creepy foretold the prophecy?

Aurora: *starts laughing* I’m sorry…Fenn’s right, he’s just…creepy. He doesn’t follow the norm. So when he told me…I was a bit scared. I mean his eyes were glowing bright white and his hands were pulsing with magic. It’s not a sight you see everyday…especially not in my small town. *leans in and whispers* But to be honest with you, I was exhilarated! I mean, I felt like things were beginning. Things that had been laying dormant for so long…like my dragon side. *Looks at Fenn and smirks* But I’m not the only one who learned something that night.

Fenn: Ah yes…here we go. I didn’t admit to her that I have powers of my own. And somehow, this creepy dude knew that and chose that moment to air out my dirty laundry.

Aurora: You only have yourself to blame. Honesty is the best policy.

Fenn: *Looks at Lisa uncomfortably* She’s so cute…isn’t she?

 

Speaking of honesty…what are your true feelings for him, Aurora?

Fenn: *Turns to Aurora and smiles* Yes, Aurora. What are your feelings for me?

Aurora: *blushes* Heh…just had to ask that, didn’t you? *pinches the bridge of her nose* You see, he’s my very best friend. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him. And after I thought that I had lost him, well *looks away, voice breaking* well, I won’t make the same mistakes again. *Looks up at him* He knows I love him…wholeheartedly. I would do anything for him, Fates be damned. I just hope he can learn to open up more and trust me. He has this problem with over protection. It’s not his fault really, he was deemed my protector, but still…it can’t work if he can’t trust me.

Fenn: I have this overwhelming need to protect her. *looks at Aurora* It’s not that I don’t trust you; I just try to protect you. *Looks back at Lisa* I was glad to hear that night at the diner that I am her protector. It makes sense now. We are drawn to each other and there isn’t anything we can do to change it. Not that I’d want to. She’s everything I want and more. *Aurora leans in and kisses his cheek*

 

Is your shift uncomfortable, Aurora?

Aurora: *she smiles brightly* The first time I shifted it was, but the fifth Fate ensured that it would be the only time I felt pain. He said I was reborn. And I don’t shift into a dragon like how you may be thinking. I still have a “human shape”. Weird right? It all starts with tiny wisps of smoke that swirl out of my nose. At first it was an annoying quirk, but now I barely pay attention to it. Then my eyes shift to a blood-red color (which freaks Fenn out).

Fenn: Only the first time because I wasn’t expecting it!

Aurora: Ruby red scales that reflect like mirrors race along my skin, covering me from head to toe. *she laughs* You totally need sunglasses around me ’cause I’ll blind you. *leans forward and points to her tailbone* My tail comes from here. But my wings are the best part of shifting. They emerge from the top of my back and stretch out to around 7ft a piece. I know because Fenn insisted on measuring. *shakes her head* But anyway, the Fate told me I was a hybrid; his greatest creation.

Fenn: You are.

 

One last question…Fenn, how do you feel about the connection between Zordon and Aurora?

Fenn: *His jaw clenches* It pisses me off. He is evil and set out for revenge. He’ll kill anyone who tries to get in his way. I can’t say I’m thrilled about him being the one she is tied to by The Fates. If there is something I can do to change that, I will find it and make it happen!

Aurora: It’s not a romantic connection. We share something in common…something that I fear will be the deciding factor in who wins the inevitable war to come between us.

Fenn: He doesn’t stand a chance. We will find a way to defeat him. I won’t let him hurt you or our people.

 

And that is all folks. I know…big post today. If you’re still here reading, I applaud and appreciate you!

Here’s a bit of humor for hanging in there:

Until next time, Echelon out ♥

Crock-pot Time

photo credit: janineomg via photopin cc

Hello once again Readers!!! Fall is finally here (in Florida)!! The air is cool. The leaves rustle in the faint breeze. My sweaters are being pulled out and washed! And this weekend we will be carving pumpkins…what!!  I digress. So I have recently become obsessed with this nifty gadget called the crock-pot (perfect for a fall attitude). For those of you who have yet to experience this, what the *bleep* are you thinking! It’s like the Holy Grail! It is the missing link! It is the reason I get out of bed in the morning (to throw the ingredients in and turn it on).If you are an on-the-goer, then this is definitely something that needs to be added into your daily arsenal (alongside of Red Bull, a good book, and Advil). Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook. The sizzling sound butter makes when it hits the pan. The fresh spicy scent of freshly chopped garlic. The sound of steel slicing through the many layers of an onion. It’s all mouth-watering and wonderful…but there’s something about a crock-pot that just goes beyond the power of a saute pan.

Umm okay?

No, I’m being serious! A crock-pot is the epitome of multitasking. It can hold all of your food groups and provide you with a hearty meal. And something about fall just screams “lets see how much we can cram into one pot”. It’s really quite fantastic.

That being said, I found this on Pinterest: 365 days of crock-pot ideas for every kind of meal. Can you imagine the possibilities? I’m like freaking out over here. Okay, so maybe I’m not, but I had to have something to write about today and the lovely smell of potatoes and meat melding together inside my house was just as inspiring as the star chart I have recently begun studying for my next project that I think I am going to attempt for NaNo WriMo. I am also writing, From the Embers, which is in the baby stages, so it will be my first time trying to tackle two projects at once. We shall see.

I’m not making any promises, that’s for sure. I am just simply…exploring my options.

Any who, have a fantastic day, Readers. It’s the perfect day for a jog/walk (which I am going to do next). Get your butt up and get some fresh air and think about a crock-pot meal or NaNo for those who are joining.

Question of the day: Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

Echelon out ♥

What Personality Are You?

Hello once again Readers! “Ehhhhhhhhh, Sexy Lady!” I totally love this song and video…so funny!

So how have you been? Awesome I hope.

Me? Eh…you know…normal. Cleaning, writing, kids, besties, HHN (Halloween Horror Nights). I got my Zombie on and actually got over my fear and looked at the houses this time rather than tucking my face into the back of my husband’s shirt. And it was scare-tastic!

But that is not why we are here today so I must digress.

We are here to take a look at the inside.

Don’t ask…just experience the awesomeness that is discovering yourself. I feel that in order to be a better everything in life, one must regularly look inside. I do this quite often. I always try to re-think how things went and what I could’ve done differently. It’s seriously annoying. I can talk circles…which I will avoid doing in this blog, so let’s move on. When I assess myself, it goes one of two ways:

Jumping for joy!

If it turns out good, I do one of these.

Moping like a Boss.

If it turns out bad, I throw on a crap load of make-up on and an old dress and stare off pitifully until my husband tells me I’m scaring him and the children.

Okay…you got me…I really don’t do that. Only in my mind…sometimes. Huh?

The good news is, I have a way to avoid this sad future. I check my horoscope on a daily basis and apply it to my daily happenings. It’s like an automated fortune-teller that gives you advice on what is most likely to happen in your day due to your date of birth and the current alignment of planets. Sound crazy? Maybe…but I have proof it works. 90% of the time at least.

Any who, I digress from that because I have stumbled upon a personality quiz while trying to figure out what in the BLEEP I was going to blog about. Oh snap! I know right! How could I pass it up? I mean, to have the chance for an automated quiz to tell me my strengths and then slide in my weaknesses? Psh…who needs to work? And why venture into the unknown alone when I could take you along with me? I know, genius right?

So there’s 72 questions on this test and it would be a bore to share every one with you. Here were the one’s that struck me:

• You often think about humankind and its destiny- This I do. I worry whether or not Aurora will be able to save humankind. I tried to get ahold of Superman so he could give her some lessons, but I haven’t found a lead in contacting him…
• You usually plan your actions in advance- What can I say…I’m a plotter.
• A thirst for adventure is close to your heart- And I shall live it through my characters…safe and sound!

“Get to the good stuff!”

Okay…sheesh, you don’t have to yell. So what’s my type? Complicated of course.

I agree with the Introvert. I do tend to become quiet in thought quite often. I don’t know about the Sensing and I agree with Feeling. I follow my thoughts more than my heart. I am practical to a fault. I never thought of myself as a Judger though. I guess I do. Instead of running off intuition, I always try to have a few plans in order and answers for every possible outcome. Daily life is a chess game for me. Maybe that’s why I feel pulled in every direction ALL the time.

The point?

I need to work on this. For my sanity. I need to go straight instead of turning left every day. See where straight takes me. I need to stop expecting the worst and start hoping for the best. So what if I fall? I will always get back up. Always. If I know this, then it should be easy to learn to let go of my introverted judging characteristics. Maybe I would find some peace of mind for once. Lord knows I need it.

How does this help you?

If you’ve read this far, then you obviously care. And if you care, then take a bit of advice from me. Don’t be scared to look into the mirror. Every part of you is beautiful-even the not-so-nice parts. You know why? Because you are alive. You are in this world, in this moment in time, and you are on your path that was always meant to be taken. Every bump and smooth spot was specifically placed to make your journey colorful. Look inside yourself once and awhile. Assess yourself the way Heroine’s and Hero’s do in every great story.

Class adjourned…:)

Echelon out ♥