Everyone needs a hobby

Location: Home Base

Weather: Hotter than he#!

Listening to: Falling Slowly by The Frames

Currently Reading: Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Winner of the free copy of KATBE: Whitney
***Note: All names were put in a cup and drawn randomly.
I always circulate a few copies of my books to friends and
family because I LOVE feedback and am always looking
to learn and grow as a writer. So, if you weren't selected,
I would still love for you to read it.***

In my opinion, everyone needs a hobby. Something they do for themselves and no one else. Some people are happy without a hobby and to solely focus on their family, friends, work, and children. And that's fine, too. But my hobby is a big part of my life.

Hobbies are fun, too. You get to learn something new, practice it, play with it, mold it into whatever you want. Some are dangerous, some are hard, some are even downright nerve-racking (bungee jumping anyone?).

So... this weekend, I decided to try something new.

My Aunt (who I will refer to as AuntieM) decided to come spend some time with me and my family. It was great fun. We laughed, we ate, we played, we laughed some more. As though that weren't enough, we thought it would be a good idea to put highlights in her hair. I'd done a few weaves before, how hard could it be?

Growing up, everyone always asked me why I never went to beauty school. I was good at hair but never really thought twice about ACTUALLY doing it for a hobby or even a living. So, we took a trip to the store (which later ended up being a few trips), got a box of pizza, searched for my missing ipod but came up empty handed (I still can't find it!), and put on the gloves and started foiling her hair.

BAD IDEA! BAD, BAD, VERY BAD, IDEA!!!

To spare you the brutal details, I ruined her poor hair while verbally assaulting her. I knew it was bad and I wanted to warn her. She decided to write down every comment I made and named it,

"Things You ABSOLUTELY Don't Want to Hear From Your Hairdresser"

1.) Dammit                                                                       
2.) Whoa                                                                        
3.) Shit                                                                           
4.) OHHHHH!                                                               
5.) I shouldn't have done this                                                        
6.) Seriously, this is the worst job I've ever done                                    
7.) This is all your fault                                                     
8.) I feel so bad for you   
9.) Luckily, this piece is in the back
10.) If it looks good, I will be shocked
11.) Please don't look at it
12.) Ohmigosh, poor AuntieM
13.) I apologize in advance
14.) This seriously looks horrific
15.) At least no one will pay attention to your face
                                                        
Yes, I said all that, and yes, she still thought I was kidding. I wasn't. The pretty blond turned an awkward shade of orange and yellow and the deep burgundy was more like pink. (I have pics but AuntieM would KILL me if I introduced them to the Internet!) Now she has to go get her hair professionally fixed. Luckily, she has a sense of humor or else I may not have lived. Let's all just be thankful that I didn't try and cut it! Eek!

The moral of the story is don't EVER let me touch your hair. I think I'm going to stick to the hobby I know and love, WRITING. And AuntieM-- you get a free copy of my book, too.  

I'd love to hear what everyone else's hobbies are! Anyone have a bad experience like mine?

Free copy of Kasivia and the Black Emerald!

It's Tuesday and I'm baaaaaaack!

This week, I thought...what better way to say thank you to my growing list of fans (Now 8! Double from last week!) then to give away a free copy of my latest, unpublished, completed manuscript--Kasivia and the Black Emerald (KATBE).

If you would like to enter, you have to do two things. One- comment on this post, and Two- make sure you add yourself as a follower to my blog. I will select a winner by next Tuesday, post it on my blog, and mail you a copy! Since pretty much NOBODY has read it, (What can I say? I've been keeping it to myself for so long!) I am excited to finally share it!

In other news, since children are napping, I have a few minutes to myself and am FINALLY going to start Book 2 in the Kasivia series: Kasivia and the Tebikunuk Forest. The love triangle intensifies as Neyia hones in on her abilities, doing things she never thought were possible while traveling to the most beautiful places that (don't really) exist. (fairies galore!) It's going to be fun, intense, and totally exciting. I can't wait to see what team my readers are on... Team Andrin or Team Kipp?????? The suspense is killing me.

Where does the time go?

... it goes into reading, editing, and lots of writing!

Which is exactly what I've been doing while I have been on hiatus from my blog. I apologize to all my fans out there! (All four of you!)

This is what I did during my time away:

* wrote and edited Kasivia and the Black Emerald (my first novel in the Kasivia series)

* wrote a synopsis for all four books in the Kasivia series (Yes, I know what happens in all four books!)

* had daughter number 2, which I will, so lovingly, refer to her as daughterB on here

* stayed awake for countless nights while making a new writing partner who my husband thinks I'm having an affair with

* Drank lots of coffee since having daughterB and staying awake with my lover (aka-writing partner)

* Attended an AMAZING writers conference

* Sent the FULL manuscript of Kasivia and the Black Emerald to an agent at the writers conference (Ok, so technically this JUST happened so when you see the next comment, know that I haven't been waiting a year)

* Am waiting very patiently but ever so anxiously for a response to said agent (yes, I realize that was an oxymoron)

* Fell a little bit more in love with my very supportive husband (I didn't think it was possible)

* I cleaned, did laundry, and cleaned some more... funny thing, the house is STILL never clean!

* Potty trained daughterA (Woohoo!)

* Went camping a few times

* Went to California a few times

* Drank ENTIRELY TOO MUCH DIET COKE (I swear my blood has to be half diet coke!)

* Visited a lot of cool people, went to a ton of awesome places, and did a tremendous amount of great things, (I think this last one should cover everything I left out!).

Now, to make sure I don't go on hiatus again, (I mean, I don't want to disappoint all my fans out there!) I am going to make a post every Tuesday. Why Tuesday, you ask? Because it isn't Monday but it's before Friday and I just picked it right now. Good reason, huh? So come back for more fun every week!