Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wedneday Opinions

Today is Wednesday and what better day to ask my readers their opinion on a certain subject. The subject of choice is book one, Celtic Illusion. For those who have read it, what did you think? For those who have not tell me what is keeping you from reading it.

My book has now been out for purchase for three months. It has done pretty well and I hope it continues to do well. I am working on book two and although the process is slow I am making progress. In order to become a better writer I would like reader's thoughts on what they did and did not like about book one. If you have already commented to me you don't have to comment again unless you really want to. It can be a simple response such as, I didn't like it because....or I liked it because, ect.


Don't worry about hurting my feelings, I don't have any left ;)  I promise not to hunt you down like a rabid dog if you didn't like it, but I might send you cookies if you give me some good feedback. (I am not above bribery.)


You can leave a comment here or you can email it to me at  t.l.marshallcelticknots@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Confession Monday

I probably won't make a habit of this, but today I feel I need to make a confession. My confession for this Monday is...I am not a nice person when I am tired. I say and do the most atrocious things when I have not had enough sleep. I don't want to say and do these things, but it's like I'm possessed. I have no internal filter if I haven't slept well and lately I haven't been sleeping at all so you can imagine how fun and exciting it must be at my house.

On the other hand I have learned a few things about myself during this period of sleeplessness. Here are a few of them.

1. If you want the brutal, honest truth from me ask me when I'm tired.
2. If you are looking for ways to permanently rid yourself of the stupid people in your life, ask me how when I haven't had much sleep. I can come up with so many creative ways it's scary.
3. I hate crying, it gives me a headache, but when I'm tired I cry over the stupidest stuff.  Example: I cry over commercials about people coming home unexpectedly for the holidays and making coffee for everyone to wake them up and surprise them. (I don't even drink coffee and I hate the holidays!)
4. I say things I don't mean, like I hate the holidays. I really don't hate all of them, just some of them.
5. We go through an insane amount of cold cereal because I can't stand cooking for my family. They're all a bunch of complainers. Nothing is more annoying then spending any amount of time making dinner and having everyone complain they don't like it. Although, to be fair, my husband will eat it even if he doesn't like it because I think he's afraid of me when I'm tired.
6. I have no patience for stupidity when I'm tired, not even from myself.
7. I hate people who break  rules that I deem are important.I hate this even when I'm not tired, but it's even more irritating when I am.


I could go on and on but it's almost ten, the baby just fell asleep and...you guessed it...I'm tired!

Have a good night folks. I hope you all get more sleep tonight than I do.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Friday Funny!

I have to thank Jill for this one. I used to like this song, but overkill on the radio did me in ten years ago and I still can't listen to it. I almost passed on it, but it's worth watching. It's so bad it's funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2WH8mHJnhM&feature=share

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Twice Baked Potatoes

Today I decided to be really ambitious and make twice baked potatoes. I got up this morning, baked the potatoes, let them cool, scooped out the middles, mashed and beat the middles, added bacon and cheese, and finally put them back in the oven just in time to hear my youngest child tell me how much he hates potatoes.

My youngest hates everything I makes so I wasn't too worried. What did frustrated me was my oldest saying he doesn't like the skins, my second oldest saying he doesn't like the texture of the middles and my daughter said she would rather just eat the cheese. Have I ever mentioned I hate cooking for my kids.

I don't even know why I bother. Next time I'll just makes them cold cereal and everyone will be happy.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Friday Funny!

I can so relate to this clip. I don't watch a great deal of tv, but when I saw the  preview for this show I had to watch it. I have had this exact conversation with my husband minus the sex face comment. Probably won't watch the series because I don't have time...because I am so tired. I didn't get any sleep last night. I stayed up from one to four with the baby, but you probably didn't notice because you were fast asleep!  ;)

http://www.nbc.com/up-all-night/video/extended-preview-up-all-night/1351984


Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Writing Exercises

Writing is a wonderful outlet for me. It lets my mind explore and dream of a world that, although is make believe, feels real when I'm writing it. I love my characters. I think about them all the time. What they are thinking? What they might be doing? Who they want to be doing it with?

Yeah, you can say my characters occupy my mind quite often especially when I'm in the middle of writing a book. I have to know my characters. I have to know them in order to write who they are. I hear them in my head talking to each other. I feel what they are feeling and what their hopes are for the future.

Sounds a little crazy I know, but believe me, if you talk to any author who really loves what they do they will tell you the same thing. The hardest part of the whole process is getting those thoughts, hopes, dreams, and feelings down on paper for other people to read and enjoy. It's much harder then I  thought it would be when I started writing and I often still struggle to find the correct words to express exactly what a character is feeling.

What can I do to get better? I read. I read and pay attention to how other author's express their characters. I learn how they use their voice to tell their story and then I practice. I start by trying to tell their story in my own words. It's an exercise I learned at a writers conference. Brandon Mull was the speaker. He took the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty and turned it into a murder mystery in the voice of a well known mystery writer. It was awesome and has been very helpful.

If you are trying to find your own writing voice start by borrowing one. Find your favorite author and try and copy their writing style. Then as you start getting comfortable start throwing in some of your own words and feelings. Hopefully, you will start feeling more comfortable in your own voice.

Remember the art of writing is rewriting. The more you do it the better you will become. Oh, and I am by no means telling you to plagiarize another author's work. This is an exercise to find your writing voice and style not a way to steal one.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Friday Funny!

I have had such an up and down week that I spent a little extra time looking for something to lift my spirits. The first one is something I found on Jake's page little things that kill and it got me thinking, soda or pop? You will have to let me know if the map is correct.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr8ja4hQe61qe1yclo1_1280.gif?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1315678715&Signature=dKdP3YsKckqkmTCY6ZRAWaFGSao%3D

I chose these two because I love this guy and I really love cake...and pie...and anything with sugar in it! Oh and I love bacon too! If you can't tell it's lunch time ;)
Have a great weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o-u4IwXkbE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaK9bjLy3v4

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

I Think I Smell Autumn

I'm positive I woke up this morning and could smell the changing of the season. I love it. Autumn is my favorite time of year and Halloween is my favorite holiday, but I'll talk about that later in another post. My husband calls autumn, "Hoodie" season. My family loves hoodies. I wear them as soon as I can and for as long as I can.

My favorite autumn tradition is to wake up in the morning when it gets cold enough and put on a hoodie and thermal socks.(Sounds sexy I know, but I can't help myself.) I'm getting excited just thinking about it. If you can't tell I love dressing up for the day. Honestly, if I could get away with it I wouldn't bother getting dressed at all most days. I would stay in my pj's and write.

Another thing I love about autumn is my husband and I tend to do several house projects. On the list this year is repainting the shutters, putting more lime fines down on the side of the house, and redoing the kitchen cabinets. I love a good project.

As for writing, things are coming along. I am already done up to chapter five and very excited for the next few chapters because I get to work with my new character. Love this character if I haven't mentioned that before.

I have really appreciated all the support I've been getting. I love hearing from readers and answering questions about Celtic Illusion. I have even been giving a few insights into book two to those who have asked for them.

I do have a favor to ask my readers and that is if you  wouldn't mind leaving me a review on Amazon.com, smashwords.com, barnesandnoble.com, or wherever you bought my book. I would really appreciate it. I know it can be a pain sometimes, but the more reviews I get the more often my book shows up in searches. This means more readers can find and enjoy my book. Thanks to those who already have and thanks in advance to those who are going to.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Winner, Winner!

And the winner is...

Alyssa Wilson!


Thanks to all those who entered. I really appreciate the support.

And The Winner Is...

Sadly, for me I only had a handful of people enter the contest, but this is a happy thing for one lucky person. I appreciate all those who did enter. I won't leave you hanging. The winner is...

Wait!!!! Hold the presses. I will give you guys until 6pm Mountain Standard Time to enter. If you don't know the rules go back in my blog and read them. I will be announcing the winner tonight so check back.