TOP 3 - November 30, 2020

 Wow!

I did not realize when I left on my road trip 14 days ago I'd failed to post a TOP 3. Of course, there really wasn't anything to tell you about other than I was off to IA to spend time with a young lady in my life to help her prepare for the birth of twin girls... her first babies. 

Kassie had been in my daycare since she was five weeks old. She will turn 23 next month. She has always been like a second daughter to us and I wasn't missing the chance to be with her during this time just as I spent time with our daughter as she prepared for the birth of both of her girls. 

First babies are always special. This time, I don't get to be a grandma. Instead, I am Mimi and Bob is Pop Pop.

I got home a week ago and have been trying to reaclimate. The girls, Neomia Marie and Malina Ray were born Saturday night between 11 and 11:30 p.m. Mom and girls are doing fine.

I'm only working a couple of weeks this month. I used to take the entire month of December off but with a commitment with Alexis Giostra, I'll be working at least part of the month. I'll be sharing a video where I talk about that project in a few days. 

In the mean time, let's make the most of the time I am working:

What's on your agenda for this week? Please share in the comments below!

All my best

~Angela

WRITER TIP THURSDAY

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

While this year may be different in terms of celebration, one thing doesn't change. We must find time to write or as YA Fantasy author, Sarra Cannon suggests, build in those days you know you won't be writing. If today is one of those days, did you adjust your daily word count target accordingly?

I'm home alone today so I plan to write most of the day as there are only....

FOUR MORE DAYS! 

Can you believe that November, and another NanoWriMo will soon be in the books! 

Today's tip:

"If I'm in a pattern of avoidance, I'll set the timer and write for twenty-minute segments."

                                                    ~ Barbara Samuel

                                                            Award-winning romance author

WRITER TIP THURSDAY

 

Good morning, friends!

Can you believe there are only ten days left of NanoWrimo 2020. I know a lot of write-ins have not been possible this year, yet thousands of participants have band together on-line in various ways to conquer another year of possibility

We continue our series from:

AMAZON

Before I  share this week's tip, I want to emphasize the tips I'm sharing do not begin to scratch the surface of the information in TIME TO WRITE. Order your copy, put it on your Amazon Christmas list, reward yourself a copy for even attempting NANO... but buy a copy. The information is invaluable.

Okay, today's tip:

"I was driven to tell stories from a very young age, and I so much wanted to keep doing it, and get paid for it, that I refused to give up."

                                            ~ Tess Gerritsen

                                                    New York Times Bestselling author

I've had the pleasure of talking at length with Tess. A sweet, encouraging person. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak, do so. Your muse will thank you.

All my best

~ Angela

WRITER TIP THURSDAY

Good morning, friends! I hope your week is going well and that you've been productive on whatever you had planned to accomplished. 

Yesterday was 11/11

In numerology this means that an energy gateway is opened. I could sure use that gateway as I'm way behind in where I wanted to be for NanoWriMo this year. I'm not giving up. I should have some alone time this week to keep tapping away.

This week, we continue our series from:

AMAZON

"The number one thing you have to do is write. You have to write, write, write. And when you can't write anymore, write some more."

                                                                    ~ Steve Berry

                                                                            New York Times Bestselling Author

Walk through that gateway and WRITE!!!

All my best

~Angela

WRITER TIP THURSDAY

Good morning, friends! I hope your week is going well and that you've been productive on whatever you had planned to accomplished. 

This week, we continue our series from:

AMAZON

"You have to become immune to the word no. I've learned that no really just means, 'try again later'."

                                                       ~ Gemma Halliday

                                                Award Winning Author of the High Heel Mysteries

In the process of NanoWriMo, when the internal editor tells you that won't work, leave him stamping his feet as you move to a different part of your story and write like the wind until he catches up! By then you will have added words worth keeping.

                            

WEDNESDAY REVIEW - The Christmas Children

 

Good morning, readers!

I enjoyed THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN. In the beginning, the Inspiration part of this story hit hard... a bit too hard for my taste. Most inspirationals I read weave the religious aspect throughout the story where this has more of a preaching aspect. For me, this detracts from the story and I almost put the book down before I'd finished the first chapter.

We know that Carissa Whitmore comes to Yuletide to find something she'd lost along her way. I also enjoyed that the heroine is in her forties as opposed to a twenty-something. 

Paul Spencer is the perfect pairing for Carissa. They support each other while trying to form a plan as to what is in the best interest of Alex, Lauren and Julia. 

I do believe Irene's story-line provides the perfect balance between the internal conflict with real-life complications. 

I'm giving THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN

You will find Irene Brand books at the following links:

HARLEQUIN   FantasticFiction    GoogleBooks

All my best

~Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Irene Brand

 Good morning!

I thought since I'll be reviewing Irene Brand's story in the Christmas Collection I started last week, we'd get to know her a bit more.

Irene Brand is a very personal woman, from what I can tell. She doesn't have a website  when you google her. She holds a domain name but the page is completely blank.

That said, Mrs. Brand is an extremely prolific writer and world traveler. According to GoogleBooks, Irene is a lifelong resident of West Virginia, where she lives with  her husband, Rod. Her first inspirational romance was published in 1984, and since that time she has had multipel books published. She is the author of four non-fiction, various devotional materials, and her writing have appeard in numerous historical, religious and general magazines. Before retiring in 1989 to devote full time to freelance writing, Irene taught for 23 years in secondary public schools. Many of her books have been inspired while traveling to 49 of the United States and 24 foreign countries.

Talk about a well from with to draw inspiration1 Not to mention all of her life experiences.

The story in this collection  The Christmas Children, was a stand-alone Love Inspired eBook.in 2011.

To find out more about Irene Brand, visit the following links:

HARLEQUIN   FantasticFiction    GoogleBooks

Come back tomorrow for my review of The Christmas Children.

All My Best

~Angela

TOP 3 - November 2

 Good morning, everyone!

Wow, what a difference between yesterday and today. Woke up to twenty degrees cooler than yesterday morning. I guess it's November, after all, but geez! Good thing I'll have the oven on this morning so I can dry can grains and pasta for the pantry.

Is it just me or does everything start moving faster once November hits?

Since I have been busy trying to get stuff caught up around here before Bob comes home on Wednesday, I've not taken the time to sit down and fill in the Preptober Workbook - a freebie from author Sarra Cannon. I'm posting her video walk -through below.

There is a relatively new bakery about an hour from me. She opened last fall or early spring. Small but beautiful shop. I hope to talk to her about what she went through in opening her bakery so I know my heroine's journey as getting her bakery open is her make or break in the story.

Lastly, 2,000 words per day. That may adjust once I fill in the Preptober book, which I hope to work on today.  One other thing to add to the list is to add a word count bar to the blog side-bar. 

Speaking of being busy, there will be blank spots as we go through the next two months. I want to enjoy the holidays. There won't be a Writer's Nest post again this month or possibly next. I do have someone scheduled for December but she's in the middle of a major move and not sure she'll be settled in by December. 

I do have a new series coming in December, though so stay tuned!

With that, I wish you Happy Reading!

~Angela