One more day!

 

Only one more day until Inner Peace is released! I  am so so so excited!!! 😀

Inner Strength will also be on sale for only $.99 tomorrow too! So if you haven’t read it, it’d be a great time to pick up books 1 and 2! I’ll post links to everything tomorrow.

 

Well, my cat wants to make a youtube channel 😉 (I’ll let y’all know whenever it gets up) and I have video games and tv shows to watch as well as some crochet projects to finish so I’m gonna skedaddle. 🙂

Cheers!

Almost there and other stuff

Yep, it’s almost the 22nd! Ya’ll know what that means! Survivor will be released! I am so excited 😀 plus it looks like – hopefully – the print version will be available as well!

So let’s see… My boyfriend’s family came to visit for a couple days this weekend. (If any of you had a 3 day weekend I hope yours was awesome!) I finally got some canvases so now I can paint! I’m just trying to figure out what I want to do now since I don’t want to waste them…

The cats, though, have been driving me insane… I don’t know what’s gotten into all of them but they’ve turned into little devils 😉 They’ve always had their naughty days but it’s been every day this past week since Valentine’s… (I was surprised with some roses and they’ve been wanting to eat them) but they’ve been nearly nonstop attacking each other, getting into everything they’re not supposed to (and usually don’t), and they’re sassy back-talkers  when I reprimand them. I’ve had to give them time-outs in their bedroom just so I can have some sort of peace of mind.

Ok, enough about the babies… So my boyfriend has always wanted me to try out computer programming since that’s what he went to college for and absolutely loves. Now, I’ve always been the artist, went to college for design, etc… so I always thought it looked kind of boring and not pretty enough. I decided to go ahead and give it a try. I’m taking an intro course online and we’ll see if it’s something I want to pursue after that. At least it’s something to do while I’m still looking for a job here – unless the writing can become full-time like I’ve always wanted.

Alrighty then, I’ll see ya’ll when Survivor is released!

Cheers!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Happy Valentine’s everyone! Wishing y’all a wonderful day! ❤

Trying to make some Valentine sugar cookies – the cats think they’re helping by climbing up on the counters to watch me :p Afterwards I have nothing much planned.. My boyfriend doesn’t like Valentine’s Day and so I don’t expect him to do anything for it.

 

Anyway, I cannot believe that Survivor will be releasing in a week! Whoo! I’m so excited 😀 Unfortunately, I’m afraid that there’ll be a delay in the print version (isn’t there always). but the ebooks will still be on time!

 

Oh, and Inner Strength is 50% off for a limited time! (ebook only version) If you still haven’t picked up your copy you really should now 😀
(Here’s the links: Kindle  or Nook)

I think that’s about it. Have a lovely day/weekend!

 

Cheers!

I’m still alive…

I’m sorry for abandoning everyone for so long. I’ve been busy…. watching tv shows…. not being productive…. drawing…. Well it’s about 2 and a half weeks until the first book in my new series, Cats’ Biographies is released! Whoo! I am so excited 😀

And guess what! The new website for the series went live today!

You can check it out if you want (and I know you do 😉 )

Just putting finishing touches to the book and trying to get formatting completed… Also need to get it formatted for the print edition too. Well, I will be busy for these next few weeks, but I will try to stay updated better than I have been.

I so need some chocolate right now…. Keep having to chase the kitties out of the kitchen because they’re trying to raid the trash can. They got their first taste of prosciutto and they loved it and now they want the leftover packaging…. They just don’t listen to me.

Cheers!

TGIF?

Ventus and Ichigo

End of the week… I don’t know if I should be happy or if I’m just going to be going into a weekend full of work – namely editing.

Since I announced the release of “Survivor”, I’ve been busy with the edits and everything else that goes into the final stages of a book…. Quite busy with that. I can’t wait to get back to writing “Inner Peace”! As for the post-release party for “Inner Strength”… well that got pushed back due to some delays with getting stuff together… Beginning of Feb. will probably work out much better… as long as finalizing “Survivor” doesn’t consume all of my time.

What would be really awesome is if I could set up a meet and greet at the shelter (that will be receiving half of the proceeds from the book). Course I’d be there, but I’d also bring Ventus, the star of the book.

Well, pretty much fully settled into the new place! We were given (for free) a new couch, king sized bed, and full sized bed (for the guest room)! 😀 I’ve never had a bed larger than a twin so this is pretty awesome! Never thought I’d jump from a twin to a king. The cats particularly like it so I don’t really know just how much room we gained after the cats decide to sleep there too :p They’re such space hogs.

 

So, I hate dieting. I’ve tried several different ones and they either sort of work, or they don’t. I always get burnt out on the small selection of protein bars etc that are required to stay on track with these “guaranteed diets” so I can’t stick to them or I get sick. The only time a diet actually worked for me was when I was in college. It consisted of walking to class at 8 in the morning, getting a Coke or Mt Dew at 10 along with a candy bar (usually a snickers) out of the vending machines and then drinking and eating that for the rest of the day until I returned to the dorms at typically 7-8 pm (Sometimes 9-10). All I had in my dorm was a large package of gummy bears which I made last for a couple of months. Healthy? Definitely not. But did it make me lose weight? For sure. Once out of college I upgraded to 1-2 potatoes a day and that met with pretty much the same results. The trick was also to stay busy (physically and mentally) so your body can’t complain about the lack of nourishment. 😉

Just so it’s clear, I DO NOT recommend that “diet”. It is horribly unhealthy and everything else :p (Due to life issues at the time I was sort of forced into such an eating style and was not something that I would normally have chosen to do.)

But I am very happy, I finally have access to a gym (for free) 24/7! It’s really nice and I’ve been wanting to have an actual routine workout for quite some time.

It’s also snowing… The cats love to watch it through the windows and try to attack the flakes. I tried taking some of them outside to play in it but they freaked out and wanted back inside. They also love the new kitchen as much as I do. I can’t keep them off the counter tops…. When I’m trying to cook something they’re just suddenly there, knocking things over and stepping on the food…. Thinking about getting the double-sided tape to try to deter them. (tired of cat hair in my food 😉 )

 

And last thing…

http://sakura-designs.weebly.com/

 

Well, I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend! Cheers 🙂

Sneak Peek of Inner Strength!

I thought to help everyone else get as excited for the release of Inner Strength tomorrow as much as I am, that I would post the prologue and first chapter of the book for y’all!
Enjoy! 😀

Prologue: A Beginning of Sorts

My name is Jinger Mary Andrews. I used to be a normal twenty-one year old girl going to college somewhere on Earth. I really never thought that my life would change other than the usual growing up and graduating and job searching and normal stuff like that.
However, if that were the case I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this at this moment. Things have changed in ways I would never have dreamed possible.
I am currently sitting in a cell awaiting my evaluation, more like trial, from The Institution. I’ve been labeled with wrongdoings such as treason, inciting rebellion, vandalism, and that’s just to name a few.
I’ll admit that some of them are true, but others are complete lies and anything that does have some semblance to truth has been twisted into something bigger than what they were. After all The Institution wouldn’t be able to convict me if I didn’t sound like the most horrible person imaginable.
But here I am getting ahead of myself. I thought that I would write down everything from when it started up until the events that brought me to this point so that way if something goes awry maybe my name will one day be cleared, and maybe, just maybe, this tale will also get back to everyone on Earth so that they can be aware of this world called Ferrum.

Chapter 1: Exams

The alarm blared loudly, chirping its annoying melody. I groaned and rolled over, fumbling around on the nightstand as I tried to turn the alarm off.
I pulled the blankets over my head and burrowed deeper into the warmth of my bed. I didn’t want to get up and I definitely didn’t want to go to class. I just wanted to sleep all day and not think about all of the midterm tests that I was sure to fail.
A cheery voice pierced through the sleepy haze fogging my brain. “Wakey, wakey! It’s time to get up!”
I felt the shaking on my shoulders and tried to mutter something as I pushed my head under the pillow.
I felt my blankets being pulled away and I grumpily sat up, shoving my long, red hair out of my eyes. I glared over at my roommate as I snatched my blanket back from her hands.
She smiled widely and plopped down on the foot of my bed, bouncing up and down in her overly happy state.
Her name was Eloise. She was only about four and a half feet tall with very tanned skin. Her shiny, black hair was cropped close to her head and was styled in spiky waves. Her green eyes glittered in amusement. I had never been able to figure out what nationality she was and she had never offered the information.
“How can you always be so chipper?” I growled as I ran my fingers through my hair, grimacing at the tangles. I never could understand how my hair could get so tangled just from sleeping on it. It had become almost a ritual for me to brush through my hair every night before I went to sleep till I was sure that there wasn’t a single snarl or tangle left in it. I sighed as I thought that maybe it was time to get it cut. It was extremely thick and hung almost to my waist and it really had become quite unruly.
“Oh come on, Jinger! You’ll be late for class.”
The words reached my brain and I looked over at my roommate, pushing the thoughts of my hair into the back of my brain. I smiled like I had been listening to her and stretched as I threw my legs over the edge of the bed. “Okay, okay. I’ll go to class.” I stood up and walked over to my closet and started rummaging around for some clean clothes. I really needed to do my laundry. I just hated having to walk to the basement of the dorm building to the tiny laundry room. It was dark, cold, and just plain creepy down there.
“Well, I’ll see you later. I have to get to class!” Eloise said as she grabbed her backpack and bounced out of the room.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I loved Eloise like my own sister, but sometimes she was just too happy. I finally settled on a mostly clean, and unwrinkled, frilly tank top and jeans. I walked into the bathroom we shared and finished getting ready. Re-entering my room I shoved some books that I thought I might need into my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. I checked my cell phone for any messages, seeing nothing new I shoved it in my pocket. Walking through the tiny living room and kitchen combo I grabbed a granola bar and bottle of Mountain Dew. The breakfast of a college student.
I was just about to leave the room when I realized that I didn’t have my keys. I hurried back to my room and grabbed them off of my desk and took a quick last look around. Satisfied that I had everything I needed, I hurried from the room and jogged all the way to class.
The morning was a bit chilly and overcast. I hoped that it would clear up before the evening. It was Friday and Eloise and I were planning on going to the movies. I especially wanted the weather to clear up since we had to walk since neither of us owned a car. It wasn’t that far of a walk, but it would just be nicer if we didn’t have to freeze or take umbrellas with us.
I slid into the classroom without only a second to spare. Professor Humberts looked at me over his glasses with a stern expression. “I’m glad you could make it, Miss Andrews,” he said in a terse voice.
I grinned, “I wouldn’t want to miss today’s test!” I tried to sound as chipper as possible as I found a seat in the back of the room. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I walked down the rows of desks and took my place. Not only being the last person to arrive, but also a six foot girl with flaming red hair always drew unwanted attention to me. I sat down, shoving my backpack under my feet as I pulled a pencil out of the front pocket.
Professor Humberts didn’t take long to start handing out the exams. All too soon I had mine and I stared blankly at the questions. They all jumbled together in a mess of printed letters. I shook my head, trying to clear the haze.
It should be illegal to make someone take a test, especially a major exam, this early in the morning, I thought as I absently chewed on the end of my pencil.
My mouth filled with the rubbery taste of the eraser and I wrinkled my nose as I accidentally bit off a piece of it. I discreetly spit it into my hand and wiped it off on my jeans. I kept one eye on it and saw it fall to the floor. Satisfied, I glanced at the clock and noticed that fifteen minutes had already passed.
Crap. How did time fly so fast?
I shook my head and looked at the test trying to read the first question. I quickly wrote down answers to the questions, not even trying to think if they were correct or not. I knew I was probably going to fail the class anyway so I didn’t waste my time trying to figure everything out. I just scribbled in whatever was the first thing that popped into my mind. I looked at the clock and saw there were ten minutes left. Most of the class was already turning in their tests and leaving the classroom. I swallowed, feeling a bit nervous, and picked up my backpack as I walked forward, depositing my test on the pile that was gathering on the professor’s desk.
He stared at me and said in a hushed voice as I started to walk away, “I hope you improved since the last test, Miss Andrews.”
I kept my back to him as I grimaced. I hated the way he always emphasized my last name. NO one did that unless they had some dislike for me or if I was in some kind of trouble.
I cast a cheeky grin over my shoulder as I replied, “I’m sure you’ll be surprised!” I hurriedly left the room. He would be surprised alright, but I was sure not in a good way.
I just couldn’t get interested in his class; trigonometry wasn’t my cup of tea. To be honest there wasn’t a single math class that was interested in. I hated numbers and trying to remember formulas and everything else they thought was so necessary for us. Probably ninety percent of us students wouldn’t even use the stuff we learn in those classes. It was just a waste of time in my opinion.
I walked through the hall, headed towards to the computer lab where I planned on killing the half hour I had till my next class. I had another midterm and it was another class I did not enjoy – economics. Why were all the horrible classes early in the day? I wasn’t awake enough to go through such torture.
My feet echoed hollowly off the grungy white tiles flecked with dots of robin egg blue. I knew that the floors got cleaned, at least I assumed they did from the wet floor signs that were continuously placed through the halls, but I doubted that any amount of scrubbing or waxing would make them pure white again.
I walked into the lab which was completely empty. Even the monitor wasn’t there. I was glad for the peace and quiet. I found a computer in the very back of the room and logged in. I checked my email and found only spam. Facebook had nothing, and none of my other favorite sites had been updated. I logged onto tumblr and started scrolling through the random posts, but nothing caught my interest.
I glanced at the clock, only five minutes had passed. Why did time go so fast when I needed to take an exam but drag when I just wanted to get my next class over with?
I leaned back in the chair and stared absently at the screen. My mind was drifting away into its dream world. I really never knew where my mind went. I never could remember anything but I knew that I just became completely lost; that I didn’t comprehend anything going on around me. Eloise said it was like I was asleep, just with my eyes open. I suppose that was the best way to describe it.
It was something that had happened to me ever since I was a kid but it seemed to happen more frequently the older I got. My parents had been scared when I was kid and thought that I was having a stroke or going into some sort of trance, but the doctors never had any clue as to what it could be and since it wasn’t making me sick or threatening my safety they decided to just ignore it.
I never really minded it and sometimes even enjoyed it since it got me out of having to talk to annoying relatives or listen to boring lectures. I couldn’t really force myself into the place, it just happened. It had taken me awhile but I had finally become rather good at being able to tell when I was falling into the world. I still didn’t know a way to snap myself out of it, but I thought that might come eventually.
This time I was snapped out of my “dreaming” by rather rough shaking. I looked over my shoulder and saw Eloise’s worried face.
“Huh? What are you doing here?” I asked giving her a smile and turning back to my computer screen which had gone to sleep.
Wait, if the computer had gone to sleep that meant…
“You’re supposed to be taking your economics exam right now!” Eloise hissed, giving voice to the thought that had just popped into my mind.
I groaned and slumped forward over the desk, knocking the computer mouse in my process making it wake up and shower its glaring light over my red hair.
Eloise took the seat next to me, laying her neatly arranged pile of books and notebooks on the desk beside her. “Dazed out again, huh.” She commented and looked at me sadly. It wasn’t a question, just a statement.
I nodded my head and looked at the time on the computer. I was already twenty minutes late and it would take me at least another five minutes to walk to the class. I doubted my teacher would let me in to take the exam now. She was very strict about being on time. If anyone was even a minute late to class she wouldn’t let them turn in the homework. I highly doubted that she would let someone come in to take an exam thirty minutes late.
“Well, I’ll help you think of something to email to her. Maybe she’ll let you make it up,” Eloise said in a kind voice.
“I doubt it. She’s the grouchiest teacher on campus.”
“Why is that you only have the ‘grouchy’ teachers?” Eloise giggled. “I have yet to meet a truly grouchy teacher here.”
“Well maybe that’s because you get everything done on time and are always punctual and have straight A’s.” I folded my arms over my chest in annoyance.
“Jinger, you can’t blame the teachers when you don’t try your hardest,” she chided.
I sighed and relaxed my tense muscles. She was right. The problem was I didn’t want to be here. I hadn’t wanted to attend this college, and I definitely didn’t want to be going for a business degree. My parents had insisted on it though. I didn’t want to disappoint them, but I couldn’t convince them to let me attend college for only an art degree. We had come to a compromise that as long as I went for the business degree then I could take as many art classes as I wanted, as long as they weren’t interfering with the classes I needed for my degree. Of course, it had worked out that I couldn’t take any art classes this semester, so I was even more uninspired to work on any classes that I currently had to take.
“Do you have any other classes?” she asked as she logged into the computer in front of her.
“Nope… I’ll probably head back to the dorms and procrastinate on the homework that’s due Monday.” I didn’t need to look at her to know she was rolling her eyes.
“How ‘bout you?” I asked as I started logging out of the computer.
“One more test in an hour, then I’m free for the weekend. I was going to work on my homework now so I don’t have as much to do this weekend.” She was reprimanding me again.
I picked up my backpack and stood up, “Well I’ll see you then!”
She nodded and I walked away. The day had warmed up a little bit, though it still looked like the clouds were ready to burst open with rain. I walked slowly to the dorms, not paying attention to anyone around me. I just wanted to get back to the dorms and relax for the rest of the time I had before going out. The wind ruffled through my hair and brought with it the smell of autumn.
I don’t know how to describe that scent, but it’s one of the best one’s in the world. It makes you think of chilly nights with hot cocoa and wrapped in a blanket with a plate of pumpkin pie and watching old movies or getting lost in the latest novel. Fall was for sure one of my favorite times of the year.
I finally made it to the sidewalk that wound its way up to the dorms. It was a four story, brick building. Inside the front doors was a tiny lobby that held the mailboxes and a sofa available for anyone to wait on. A door that required a key card separated the lobby from the first floor rooms and elevators. An intercom was right beside it so a room could be paged if there were visitors or just the pizza delivery guy.
Attending a prestigious school did have its benefits. One was that the dorms were more like apartments. They all consisted of large, two person bedrooms with a bathroom and the living room and kitchen combo. It was also completely furnished and was actually done so in rather good taste. The carpets were new and clean, the walls were beige and had no cracks or holes in them, and there was complete soundproofing through the walls and ceilings. My favorite thing was probably being able to cook my own food and not have to share the bathroom with the entire floor.
Eloise was also the perfect roommate. We got along great and she didn’t mind that I couldn’t keep my part of the place clean. I always had homework and empty soda cans sitting around the place. We also liked a lot of the same things so we got along perfectly. I could blast my music and she’d just sing along or I could watch a show on tv, also provided with the room, and she’d just curl up on the sofa and watch it with me. The food we had no problem sharing since we both had very similar tastes and we loved to bake together. She was the sister I had always longed for and she felt the same way about me. It was definitely the perfect setup.
I reached my room and unlocked the door. I threw my backpack on the floor by my bed and kicked my sneakers off. I fell down on the mattress, hearing the springs squeak in protest. I stretched out and stared up at the ceiling. I didn’t want to do my homework. Maybe if I failed all of my classes this semester my parents would agree to let me quit the business degree.
I rolled onto my side and huffed, there was no way they would. If anything they would claim the teachers were ganging up against me – I was too smart to fail a class. Which was mostly true. I was smart. I could do the work and get good grades if I applied myself, but only if I actually enjoyed it. I couldn’t make my mind focus on these boring classes. Maybe if I had only one boring class a semester I could force myself to work on it, but when I had nothing but classes I hated I couldn’t get myself to settle down.
I tossed around on the bed trying to think of something I would tell my parents when they made their weekly check-in phone calls.
Sorry Mom and Dad, I failed all my tests because these classes suck and I didn’t want to do the work.
Yep, that was the truth, but not what they would want to hear or probably even believe. Plus I needed to think of something to tell my economics teacher. Hopefully Eloise would come up with something smart that I could tell her.
I stared up at the ceiling and felt myself slowly drift into my dream world. I didn’t try to fight it. There was nothing that I wanted to do so it sounded like a decent way to relax. I wasn’t sure how long I was lost in the world, but as soon as I regained my thoughts I rolled over and fell instantly asleep. For some reason I felt completely exhausted, almost like my mind had been working extremely hard on something.

Good evening.

Well let’s see. FOUR days left till the release of Inner Strength! I cannot wait 😀

I’ve seen that I’ve also fallen way behind on doing any recommendations…. I’m so sorry – I just haven’t found the best time to read, especially since I started writing Inner Peace! It’s just pouring out me right now 🙂 Reached 10k words today and only started the day before yesterday!
BUT! I did receive an ARC of an awesome book that will be releasing in 6 days 🙂 There’ll be a special post when it does and it is definitely worth reading! More on that at a later time.

Well, we are going this Saturday to look at apartments. Hopefully one of them will be perfect and we can get it and not have to worry about finding a place anymore. Then I can just focus on packing the rest of the stuff and getting ready for Christmas and everything else!

And now I leave you with this song – sort of a theme song for the entire Guardians of Ferrum series.

Cheers!

I have returned!

Well a very happy belated Thanksgiving to all who celebrated it! Mine was nice but also hectic. The cats thoroughly enjoyed all of the turkey and ham though.

For my boyfriend and I, we were just constantly running around that we really didn’t get to enjoy the time off. He did buy a car – finally – that we weren’t expecting, but it’s really nice since we’ve been without one for awhile now and were sick of relying on the bus to get us anywhere we needed to go. No Black Friday shopping and nothing really fun… like I said, busy and not relaxing.

The rest of the year won’t be relaxing either since we have to get packed and moved within a month. I am so sick of looking for apartments already… Plus I need to get ready for the release of Inner Strength! Whoo! Like 2 weeks away 😀 Mark your calendars and let everyone know 😉

Exciting thing is I just finished Nanowrimo today! Yay, the 2nd year for me to win 😀 That is the next book I must work on editing now and get that ready to release sometime early 2013!

Well, I need to get and do some more cleaning/packing/etc…

Cheers!

 

It is coming!

 

Eeep! I’m so excited 😀

Happy Monday :D

Sorry for being so quiet on here. I just lost track of time… Let’s see, I never did do the book recommendation that I was wanting to do last week. I’ll try to do it later this week if I can find the time. Thanksgiving is here too soon… I’ve just been busy with Nano and edits and then sick and gaming, gaming, gaming…

But, I think Inner Strength is just about done! I completed the edits and am getting it ready for its release! 😀 I’m just trying to figure out the best date. My boyfriend tells me I should release it on my birthday – that’s the 10th of December – I just don’t know. I want to be able to do a release day party and I don’t think that would work well for me – though I could always do a belated one… Hmmm… I’ll think about it.

The other thing is we are moving for sure – to Dayton! Now I have to do apartment hunting and just hope that there will be something available in the time frame needed. Only have around a month to do so… That also means I’m going to have to be packing and cleaning like crazy… Ugh I just wish it wasn’t going to be right around the holidays…

My boyfriend wants to have our own Thanksgiving tomorrow with the kids – aka cats – so I’m going to be making a roast duck. I need to figure out good side dishes since I’ve never had duck other than the time I cooked it and that was just to practice… And then we will be leaving on Wednesday to spend the holiday weekend with his family!

I can’t believe 2012 is almost over!

But I better go because I have waaaaaaaay too much to do. So ya’ll probably won’t be seeing me on here that much until things start to settle down – as in get moved and everything..

Cheers!