reading

Winter – Olympics – Reading for a Cause

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Photo credit: michaelwedermann at Pixabay

Hey guys, welcome back! Yes, I know I’ve been MIA again. This time, I’m putting the full blame on the Olympics. (Ok so not all of the blame can be put on the games, but it sounded good.)

I love the Winter games. Always have. Even as a kid, I’d be glued to the tv to watch as athletes glide on the ice, soar down a mountain and risk their lives on a tiny sled going at insane speeds. I got to see the torch (both Winter and Summer) a couple of  times during their runs to the big show. And now that the Winter Olympics are here? I am getting nothing done. Add in the Super Bowl and days of long sleep hours due to illness and basically, I’m a lost cause.

Speaking of causes, (nice segue, eh?)…I’m once again doing the Read Every Day Challenge for the American Cancer Society. This is my fifth time doing it and I’m hoping to break my previous record of doubling the monthly goal. It’s a very personal cause for me, having had cancer surgery a few years ago. I followed my mother who also had it a few years before me and unfortunately, the illness has been all over my family in various ways. Friends, family…this monster touches all of our lives in some way and while I cannot do a whole lot to donate or do more physical fundraisers myself, I can turn my love of reading into donations during these designated times. I’ll post the link to my fundraiser page below this post if you’d like to donate or share it to help me spread the word.

Back to Winter. I don’t know about where you are but it’s been damned cold here! Now, let me just say this, I love Fall and Winter. Love them. Even with my pure and utter hatred for January, I’d still take the cold over Summer’s oppressive heat and humidity any day. Having said this, this particular Winter with it’s below zero windchill factors have been pretty impressive. If there was ever a time to stay inside with a book and hot cup of tea, coffee or cocoa, it’s definitely now. Like I need an excuse. 🙂

I’ve been reading a book series that has had me absolutely laughing every night and keeping me in a much better state of mind. I’m sorry that I’m now on the last book. These four books have really had me not only loving the characters, but letting me ‘live’ vicariously in a fictional small town with a Christmas tree farm destination spot for year round fun. While the series may be ending after this final book, (although hoping she adds to it in the future) I’m happy that I discovered this author and am looking to read more of B.K. Borison’s work. She writes in a very similar style to myself and it’s nice to read the work as someone else who gets it. Plus, I love that I have a new romcom author to follow!

As for my own writing, trying to focus as best I can with my editing/rewrites while still dealing with my medical crap as well as my attention issues. For you see, I’m up in the overnight hours and that is when a good deal of the Olympics are live. So here I am, even while I’m writing this post, watching the slopestyle and slalom finals and this has taken me three times as long to write this because I keep watching the races in front of me.

And for the record, yes, I did watch the Super Bowl. That was pure entertainment and didn’t take away from my writing at all. Hell of a game!

Back to my writing, I am happy to say that in the last two weeks I’ve cut another couple of thousand words and think I have a way to cut a huge chunk out while still keeping the story intact. Trying to keep much of the back and forth between the main characters has been the truest challenge for me. There is so much that is vital to the story but sadly, also really adds to the word count. It has become my biggest struggle while I reread my work every night. A lot of internal conversations that have me both cursing myself at times as well as yelling at my screen, “why did I even write that?” Then hitting delete over and over again. I’m truthfully finding this round of edits to be more cathartic than past runs. There is something quite freeing about clearing away the clutter and narrowing a scene down to its very foundation. Life lesson there? an obvious one but sure, I’ll take it.

The one thing that is worrying me this time around is that I’m starting to get ideas for a new story. This cannot happen. I know how my mind works. Once a new idea pops into my head, it will start to override what is already right in front of me. It is actually how I ended up here in the first place! I already have a book done. Unlike the current romcom I’m working on, it is a mystery. It needs a ton of work to edit, however, while I was working on it, I got the idea for this current book. I dropped the other one and wrote this one. At first I was so happy that this new book took only months to write. My first manuscript took over three years to complete. When the editing started though and I realized how much work would have to be done on it, I knew it was too good to be true. And now, my mind has been alternating between this current work to my previous one to a new idea and I just can’t lose focus. Not when I’ve worked pretty much every night for almost a year on this one. I’m married to these characters. I live and breathe them every single day and night. I will not let them down and I cannot let another story take up residence in my brain right now. I will, WILL finish this book and get it submitted and then I will go back and work on my previous piece and edit the hell out of that one as well. I will finish what I started and hopefully, there are a few bestseller lists waiting for me in my future! (Why settle for just one, right? Go for gold!)

Is my mind all over the place? Sure. But what else is new? Hoping you all are staying safe, warm and happy. That 2026 is treating you kindly so far and that you are also cheering for yourself to make it a great one. Because the way you cheer for yourself, can make all the difference in the world.

And that my dear friends, is where I will leave you for today. Thank you as always for being here and until next time…cheers!

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If you’d like to donate to or share my ACS fundraiser, click: HERE

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If you’d like to check out the Lovelight Farms series by B.K. Borison, (romcoms with some spice) click: HERE

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If you’d like to follow my social, including my #booktok, check out my shops or support this site, click: HERE

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If you’ve made it this far? THANK YOU! Stay warm folks! 🩷

Countdown – Scrooge – Personal Connections

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Illustration: John Leech

Hey guys, welcome back. Sorry again for being absent. It’s been a rough season trying to get into the holiday spirit whilst being sick. (Yes, whilst.) However, here we are, in the final countdown to Christmas and I’ve begun to do the holiday push to get my ass in the spirit!

While I have friends and family that celebrate many of the Winter holidays, I personally grew up celebrating a rather secular Christmas and later on, I added Yule into the mix. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m normally quite elf-like, height included. I start singing carols in June, I’ve even been known to put up my decorations super early. I throw lights on anything that will stand still for more than five minutes. I make friends go see holiday lights with me and I have worn Santa hats proudly in public. That’s why this year has been so discouraging that I’m trying to force it. Well, not force exactly, but get more into it as best I can.

In fact, I’m writing this as I watch one of my favorite versions of A Christmas Carol, the 1970 musical version Scrooge. I grew up watching this one and as an adult, I am now two degrees from the gentleman that wrote the music for it! (Ok so I think that’s cool.)

I’m known far and wide as A Christmas Carol snob. I have very specific movie versions that I deem worthy of watching not just once a year, but several times a year. I have also had an annual tradition going back decades of reading the book between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course the snob in me must also read a copy with the original John Leech illustrations or else it’s just not worth reading.

I love this story so much, I mention it in many of my writings, including the current book I’m working on! To me it is the ultimate story of redemption and second chances. Of learning from those who came before us and to realize that without looking at our past mistakes, we shall be destined to repeat them. So Scrooge, for me, is a hero of sorts…post spirits that is. So, I will continue to watch and read this story until I can no longer do so. And maybe one day, I’ll come back and haunt some folks I know who could use a good spirit visit!

As I said, I’ve now incorporated my love of this story into the manuscript I’m currently working on. It was already included in it, however, now that I’ve moved the time of the year of the story, it really helps some back story of the two main characters. Sometimes, it’s a simple scene of two people coming together to watch a movie that just like in life, can spark a character’s memories and give more insight to what makes them who they are now. That is just what I’ve done by using Mr. Dicken’s story. Weaving it into the story as a mention or two that helps the characters develop an even stronger bond with each other.

When we take from our own lives and use it in whatever we work on, be it writing, art, music, etc, it becomes not just a way to connect with the piece but also adds more personal meaning to the work itself. For creatives, doing this can be both therapeutic as well as make it so much more meaningful. Every time I reread those scenes, it brings back some of my own memories. Each character I write has some sort of personal connection to myself. Sometimes it can even be something silly as a love of a particular food, a personal experience or a love of a holiday story for the ages.

Our work is a part of us. Our heart and souls go into everything we do. And the story of Scrooge? Well, it will always be a part of me and therefore, will be a part of my works whenever I can sneak it inside.

And that is where I will leave you for today. Thank you so much for being here, if you are celebrating a holiday now, may it be a wonderful one!

Until next time…cheers!!!

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To follow me on social, including #booktok and shop some of my recommended items: linktr.ee/promosocially

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Still looking for a gift? You can find more of my shops located at the following:

Vintage and Estate Jewelry: linktr.ee/stuffwefind

Stickers, cards, all kinds of fun stuff designed by me: linktr.ee/stuffwemade

You can also find links all around the site for gift ideas from books to gifts for writers and readers alike.

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If you’ve gotten this far, I thank you and see you soon! 😉

Sorry – Sick – Still Here

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Photo credit: Sarahs_Captured_Moments on Pixabay

Hey guys, welcome back! Sorry it’s been a minute since I’ve been here. I’ve still been really sick and haven’t really been up for writing a post lately. However, I didn’t want you to think that I’ve disappeared!

Throughout the whole illness, I’ve still been working hard on the editing of my book and now, deep into the second go around, I’ve finally been cutting the words that I need to. (I hate it though, not gonna lie.) I think I’ve also figured out a couple of chapters that can be completely rewritten and moved around to cut even more.

I’m not gonna lie, it’s been hard. Not just because I haven’t wanted to face the fact that I need to cut so much, but I’m tired constantly and sometimes the words are all meshing together. I’m kind of interested to see what I’ll read during the third read through to see just what I’ve done this last time around. Lol

With all of this going on, I’ve been happily reading some fall themed books and trying to keep in the feel of my favorite time of the year. I may not be able to get outside, but I can live vicariously through the words of other authors who have been giving me all the autumn small town feels.

Anyway, I am so happy you guys are sticking with me and I hope to get posts out on a more regular basis once again. Hoping for either a better diagnosis (or drugs) this week when I go to the doctor and I’ll take it from there!

In the meantime, be good, be safe and have a few pumpkin spice lattes in my honor!!!

Until next time…Cheers!

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To follow me on social including my #booktok: linktr.ee/promosocially

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Need something to read? I’m a PangoBooks Ambassador! Get $5 off your order with my link and code: https://pangobooks.com/NEWCHAPTERCOVE use code: NEWCHAPTERCOVE

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Already started holiday shopping and need ideas? Click one of my shop links on this site. Or…for my vintage and estate jewelry: linktr.ee/stuffwefind for fun stuff I’ve designed like stickers, bookmarks, tshirts and accessories: linktr.ee/stuffwemade

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If you’ve made it this far, I thank you and will see you soon. ☺️

Cutting – Rearranging – Fall Reading

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Photo credit: Hudsoncrafted on Pixabay.

Hey guys, welcome back! Hope everyone out there is doing well! Just here for a quick post to say hello and give a fast update on my progress. So far? It’s been a trainwreck.

It seems that cutting words from the manuscript is proving to be a vicious challenge. I am having so much trouble trying to figure out where cuts should take place! I had to cut the book into two sections so I could fit the entire thing into the app to work on. In the first section, I cut over 3000 words…ok good start. This week in the second section? At one point I added words! It was unintentional of course. I was trying to reword a paragraph and ended up with a higher word count. As I get closer to the last chapters, I’m having trouble with where to make cuts in them.

The one light at the end of this twisted tunnel is that I think I’ve figured out a sideways solution to this situation. Rearrange the chapters, the dialogue, the story and then doing major cuts with the old work. I believe that by possibly making the book into a sort of jigsaw puzzle, my problem may be resolved. In the meantime, I’m finding myself getting distracted and getting off track during the process and that is a red flag for me. I do have a bit of ADD but while I’ve been working on this book, I’ve been laser focused on it. To suddenly be distracted? That worries me that it will take me much longer to get this finished than I had hoped. Of course, it could just be the panicking of the cuts that has my mind going in different directions.

The one thing that will always ground me of course is reading. As I said in my last post, I had been rereading a series to gear up for the newest addition to it and now that it finally arrived? I’m diving in all the way. So far this book is exactly what I’ve been waiting for and I’m excited to keep going with it. The one thing about this series is that it has kept me grounded with my own writing, both this reading and the previous one and right now, I’m holding onto that. I have absolutely no idea if that makes any sense, but then again, my brain is currently mush right now.

Anyway, I can’t recommend doing something like reading for yourself to escape more. Escaping, even mentally, can help in so many other ways. It’s how we reset our minds for other things like the dreaded word…responsibility. So whatever your escape of choice is: listening to music, crafting something, picking up a book, going for a walk, it all helps you reset to be your best self. Now that Fall is here, maybe going pumpkin or apple picking, watching something scary, or decorating for Halloween is the way to go! 

And that is where I will leave you for today. Short, sweet and a little off course, but as always, I hope you’ve gotten something out of this post.

Until next time folks…Cheers!!!

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To follow me on social including my increasingly growing Booktok: linktr.ee/promosocially

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To check out the series I’m reading, hit the 2025 On the Bookshelf tab up above on the site to see what I’ve been reading this year. The series is under the author Laurie Gilmore, just click her name to find the books!

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Need something new to read? I’m a proud PangoBooks ambassador! Click on my link to get $5 off of your first order. PangoBooks is a great way to buy used books super cheap and you can sell them as well: https://pangobooks.com/NEWCHAPTERCOVE

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To find some fun Halloween and Fall themed designs (that I’ve designed) on stickers, tshirts, mugs and so much more, you can check out my shops: linktr.ee/stuffwemade

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If you’ve gotten this far, I thank you! Thanks for being here and I’ll see you real soon. 🎃

Words – Words – More Words

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Hey guys, welcome back! I once again dropped the ball after not having posted twice last week, but I was both celebrating the finishing of the first draft and then did a deep dive into editing hell. lol I’ve also still been sick, so between trying to do massive word count cuts in the manuscript and trying to breathe, I’ve been laying low.

It’s been quite a daunting revelation this whole word count issue. If you missed my previous post, I completed the first draft of my manuscript that I began in April and went wayyyy over the word count that is normally accepted by the industry. And by way over, I mean, well over 300,000 words. So I am here to tell you that editing hell is a real place and you don’t need a passport to get there!

However, I am here to say that in the first week, I’ve already cut close to 3000 words and have figured out places where big chunks could also be taken out. I’m not going to lie, this is all killing me. To me, there is a definite progression to my story, as it should be of course and everything written (in my mind at least) is important to the story as a whole.

I’ve tried finding places where I could just cut the book into several, but then it wouldn’t make sense. Yes, there will be a sequel/possible series from these characters, but this is the first one. The one with the background stories, the one with the whole ‘getting to know you’ stuff. The one that is supposed to have the readers wanting to come back for more! (I don’t want to cut anything!) And I’ll be honest here and tell you that on more than one occasion, as I sit in the dark and become merciless with the delete button, I stop and do a little whining and apologize to my characters…you know, like a grown up.

While all of this is going on, I’ve still been reading a ton and since I’m in the process of rereading a series that I’ve already read two other times, I’m really paying attention this time to how the author connects the stories. Trying to figure out how I can do that with my own. By the way, I’m reading these books again because there is a new one that just came out and I want to familiarize myself with the characters again. Also because they are great Fall reads and I need the escape. Not that I need to justify it, but yet, here I am doing just that.

I’ve also become late to the party and currently obsessed with Hamilton. Only took me ten years to watch this and now I can’t stop. I’ve also developed the mantra, “what would Lin-Manuel do” when it comes to editing. I’m sure with the way his genius mind works, many of the songs were freestyled first and then edited down. I’ve now dubbed him my own personal yoda and if he is reading this right now? Hi! Wish Hamilton had been around when I was still involved with theater myself, but that’s ok. I now sing the songs around my house daily.

I don’t know if you can tell from this post but between the editing and my illness? I’m slightly losing it. I’m working so hard on this book and trying to make it its best while also trying like hell to make sure I don’t cut or rework things into something that makes no sense. I’m not sleeping right as the score of Hamilton plays over and over in my head and then mixes with the scenes I eithe just got rid of in the book or scenes that I’ve now realized I can get rid of without it affecting the story.

Writing was the easy part for me. The rest is heartache. Hopefully what I am left with is something that will not only want to be read, but more importantly, that I can be proud of. Because if I’m not, then what the hell is this all for anyway, right?

And that is where I will leave you for today. Sorry if it went to a weird place, but that’s the kind of place I’m in right now. I think we very now and then, it’s ok to go there. It’s what makes life less boring.

Until next week…cheers all! 😉

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If you’d like to follow me on social, including my (happily) growing booktok: linktr.ee/promosocially 

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To read the Dream Harbor series I’m currently reading, start with book one…The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Small town romance with a bit of spice and quirky characters. (Btw, they get a little spicier as the series goes on. Not dark by any means, but don’t let the cozy covers fool you. These are adult books.) As of this post, the ebook is currently free on prime reading and you can go to author Laurie Gilmore’s page to find the order in which to read them. To check out the first book, click: HERE

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To find some fun Halloween and Fall items that I’ve designed, you can find them across my shops: linktr.ee/stuffwemade