I'm back

Though there probably weren't many that noticed I wasn't on.

The reason for my absence was the addition of a new baby into my life. And boy was it a relief when he finally got here. I was obsessed with my pre/early labor. Contractions all the time, but no progress. Finally with some assistance in the form of pitocin, he made his entrance into the world measuring 22 inches, weighing 11 lbs and 7 ounces. No that isn't a typo, it is really ELEVEN pounds. And it wasn't by c-section by the way. Just think of me as super-mom

The funny thing is, I can't think of a word that encompasses his size, other than big. I have tried doing it in all caps BIG, but sometimes a simple word can be just as effective as a more elaborate word. I do refer to him as the monster baby, but that could make you think of him as a monster, and not just his size.

While waiting for his birth, I was able to finish my manuscript two days before he was born. It felt nice to write the words "the end" though I know it isn't finished. I have many edits ahead of me. I have finally been able to look at it again now that the not so little man is sleeping for 4 to 5 hours at least once a night.

I've also begun dreaming again, and it's been giving me ideas of what to work on next. It's exciting to be a mom again, though it is exhausting. But I'm also very excited to be working on my writing again. Even if it's only for a few minutes here and there between feedings, changings, naps, and taking care of my other kids and the house. It may take me a while to finish the edits, and get it ready to submit, but at least it's another manuscript done.

So what's a better word to describe my "big" boy?

Share them in the comments.

Wanna free e-book?

Hi there. I've decided to offer you a chance to get a free book all on your own, just for making the effort to check out my blog.

I've got a writing friend that is offering her book for free as an e-book until July 31st. I've read it and loved it.

Here is the summary of the book I copied off her website.

It has been 3,000 years since a white image has been seen upon Rasann.

In the midst of a volcani eruption miles outside of her village, Ember discovers she can see magic and change the appearance of things at will. Against her mother's wishes, she leaves for the mage trials, only to be kidnapped before arriving. In trying to escape, she discovers she has inherited her father's secret - a secret that places her in direct conflict with her father's greatest enemy.

At the same time, Kayla is given guardianship of the Sapphire Flute and told not to play it. The evil mage C'Tan has been serching for it for decades, and the sound alone is enough to call her. For the flute to be truly safe, Kayla must find its birthplace in the mountains high above Javak.

The girls' paths are set on a collision course...and C'Tan will do whatever it takes to keep them from fulfilling their destiny.

here is the link to the free book

This is the link to her blogspot, you can also find a link to download her book from there.

This is the link to her author website.

The sequel in this series is almost complete. She's just putting some finishing touches on it and plans to reveal it in August. I can't wait to read it, and know you'll love it too.

And while you are on my blog here, move over just a little to the left and follow me. Thanks.

Laura

Though Author would be a cool title...

I haven't written on this blog for a little too long, but I think I have a good excuse. Of course it is still just an excuse, but I must say family always comes first.

My daughter had and emergency surgery to remove her appendix and clean up her innerds after it had burst and poured way too much junk into her abdomen. She spent 9 days in the hospital recovering, and even though I took my laptop to the hospital with me, ( I stayed with her all day and night since she's so young) I only opened it once to try to write. And I couldn't get myself into the story I'd been working on so diligently before.

I was more interested in being with her, talking to her, taking care of her, and helping her whenever she needed it than with the imaginary world I had been so involved in before.

It doesn't matter how much I enjoy writing, it isn't nearly as important as the relationships I have with the real world.

Now she's home and doing really well. Still has to take things slow since she has a 6 inch scar down the center of her belly under her belly button, but she's been a trooper through it all.

Now I have some time to get back to writing and I'm rushing as quickly as I can before the baby I'm carrying now decides to join the family. I still try to take as much time as I can to write, but seeing the fragility of life makes me realize I need to stop writing sometimes for the more important things in life. If I never get a book published it doesn't matter.

If I fail as a mother, it does matter.

I cherish the title of MOM more than the abstract idea of author. (though that would be a fun title to add as well, I'll stick with Mom.)

PS I'm still planning on giving away a free ebook.

To have a chance to win the ebook, you just have to be a follower of my blog. To get two chances to win, get a friend to follow me too. Once I get to 75 followers, I'll do the drawing.

If you get the friend to follow me, let me know in the comments so I can enter your name twice. Or three times if you get multiple friends to follow.

E books. What are your thoughts?

I don't have a nook, kindle, or other, but I do have an ipod touch that I was able to download the nook and kindle apps for free. Since doing that, I've tried out a couple of ebooks just to see if I like reading them on the ipod vs the actual book in my hands.

Verdict? So far, I'd have to say I still prefer the book, because my kids aren't asking for a turn on the book, but they do ask for a turn on the ipod. Plus, a book, I can borrow from the library, (but honestly, I don't make it to the library very often, and I've heard you can borrow ebooks from libraries now).

However, you can find lots of ebooks for relatively cheep. 99 cents for a few hours of vacation from your mundane life can't be beat. You don't have the physical book to find a place for on your shelves.

Of course there are more reasons than the ones I've given, but I think a book, in any form is a good thing. Reading is awesome.

I'm sure I'll be reading more books in both formats, but if the book is so outstanding I want it for a second read, then I'd probably do it in actual book form.

Speaking of ebooks. I'll be doing a contest for a free ebook, so check back for details and let your friends know so they can follow me too.

Laura

I love a good writing challenge.

I totally rock at writing lots of words. When I have a motivation or a challenge, or when there is someone to check up on me.

For instance, a writer friend of mine started Sprint Writers Central. Check out the widget on the side. It's a place where you can go and write while other writers are in the chat room. They've got a timer where you can do little sprints of how ever long works for you. I just did 2 thirty minute sprints for a total of an hour. Guess how many words that produced. 1, 807. That's about 30 words per minute.

Now if I didn't have someone to race against, or even just the timer, or even just my imaginary writing friends when no one else is on the site at the same time as me, I wouldn't write nearly as much.

I'm also part of a Facebook group page that has challenged each writer to write at least 500 words per day for six months, and that would equal about a 90,000 word novel.

This might not work for another writer, but for me, it's been a great motivator.

So get together with a writer friend or two and challenge yourself.

Wanna join us? Let me know and I'll get you hooked up on the Facebook page. But just click that little sprint writers central widget to join the other one.

Laura

What is a writer?

What is a writer? Really?

I just read an amazing thing from another writers blog. I'm hoping I can attach the link to get there from HERE It lets people know that writers are people too. Some are awesome, and some are in need of a few manners. But always remember, authors are people too.

Speaking of that. I'm not technically considered an author, because I have not had anything I've written published, but I do feel like I am one. Or a writer, or whatever you want to call what I do.

But I'm also a mom, a wife, a daughter, a neighbor, a friend, a volunteer, a cook, a cleaner, a teacher, a chaufer, etc... I have hopes and dreams. I fail and I succeed. I start and I stop. I laugh and I cry. I have ups and downs. Just like everyone else out there in this fantastic world of ours.

I know some writers are the kind who can start a book, finish it, send it in, and get it published all in less than a year.

Other writers spend years going through the process of planning their plot, and characters and slave over every detail and yet their books never see the light of day.

So many writers would love to have unlimited time to follow their muse, but it doesn't always happen. We have diapers to change, kids to feed, bath time to regulate, houses to clean, shopping to do, naps to take (or dream about taking) Many have full time jobs to juggle, and volunteer service to provide.

So I guess with all this random ramblings, I'm just trying to say that there are many more things about a writer/author than just their books.

BUT, we sure love our books, and hope the world out there will love them too.

Laura

It's great to be excited about writing again.

I have been working on my second manuscript. Thinking things through, sending the first part through a critique group, enjoying the creative process, getting irritated that I don't know what should come next, or since I think I know what should come next if that is really what I want in that particular location, reading a book on how to make the best of your story by putting the right things in, in the right place, in the right amount. (boy that was a long sentence that my critique group would tell me to fix right away.)

Anyway, I have read over it and over it many times, and have discovered that printing it out and actually being able to see it on paper is so much different than just seeing it on the computer screen. I have been reluctant to print it since I don't want to waste the paper or ink on something I'll have to throw away eventually, but I must say, it has been really helpful.

I'm seeing the story with almost fresh eyes. And once I finish tackling the last 20 written pages, I feel like I know where to take the story again. I knew where I wanted it to end, but there are a few places throughout that have just sort of been cloudy to me. Now with the help of the book I read, (Larry Brooks, Story Engineering: the Six Core Competencies of writing) I know that it isn't in terrible shape, but with just a few tweeks and rearranging a couple of things, it has lots of potential.

My goal is to get the entire thing finished by June 15th. So I'm going to do that by writing every day for at least 30 minutes. And then I'll do the 15th through the 30th on an edit. Then I'll put the thing away for a month and work on something else so when I come back to it, I'll see it through new eyes, and do another edit.

It's great to be excited about writing again.

Laura