Epic Update…

Being away for vacation for seven weeks is amazing… but it means I have tons to do now that I am home. Like update you all on the progress of my novels, life, the pursuit of an agent, etc… So pardon the Epicosity of this blog post. But every part is something someone wants to hear about. Feel free to skip around.

Ethiopia 2010
I thought I would start here because this is top most on my list today. Fundraising. Oy vey. It was hard to fundraise as a kid, and I won’t lie, it’s hard now too! But I have a few things I am working on, so I hope and pray they pan out to help completely fund my trip to Ethiopia. If you have no idea what I am talking about, click on the Ethiopia Goal tracker to the right, the whole story is behind there.

As you can see by the updated ticker, I have raised $1440 towards my goal of  $3150. I have no doubt in my mind that all the funding will come in for this fabulous opportunity and already as I see the sponsorship come in, I am blown away. If you are one of my sponsors, Thank you, from the bottom of my heart thank you. God is already preparing me for my time there and I am humbled that he has called me to go. If you feel led to give $5, $10, or $50 towards this trip, let me know. All donations (when written to the church we are going with) are tax deductible.

Middle Grade Novel – DEGLAN RISING
It’s in the hands of an agent at the moment and now I wait. I am still debating on a name change but we will see what this agency comes back with. I have a few good ideas roaming about my brain that I will share when the time is right.

I have been thinking about the sequel though, which thrills my beta readers. More then once I have been asked how long it will take me to write it. To which I have no answer. It took me just over a month to write DEGLAN RISING but I had a whole week off from most my “normal” responsibilities. So *shrug* who knows…

YA Fantasy – RINGS OF TIME
Some of you have beta read RoT, which I thank you for. It’s my first baby and I love it. The story is fresh and fun and it’s full of adventure. Some of you might even remember that I rewrote it back in April, hoping to give it what it needed… but suffice to say, it still doesn’t have it. Which I am strangely okay with. The realization came when one of my critique partners read the first chapter again and marked the heck out of it. I took a step back and really debated on if I wanted to shelve this one or rewrite again. Because it just does not work the way it is. My characters are too old for the YA market and too young for the adult market. So, what do I do? Think… think… think… Ah ha! What if I rewrite again and make it middle grade… hmmm. So this is what I am thinking on. It will take a bit of rethinking because of certain aspects, but I really think I can pull it off. I will rewrite the first couple chapters and then send it over to my critique partners again. See what they think… if it still falls short, it will go on the shelf.

Women’s Christian Fiction – RUNAWAY CHOICES
Is currently on the editors desk. When it’s done, it’s time to query. Which means I suppose I should start working on a query letter, eh? Haha…

Other Project Ideas
I have way, way, WAY, too many right now. I am trying not to think about them while I wish for more hours in my day. Whoa to me.

The Rugrats – aka my children
DD10 (almost 11) is doing well. She starts 6th grade soon… which is weird weird weird… I can’t believe I have a sixth grader! She is even in YOUTH GROUP now… Oy vey. Stop the world, I want off! And she is coming with me… As my only girl. I worry for her. *sigh* She still loves her dolls and her camera… thus lots of doll pictures. LOL

DS9 learned to do an ollie Sunday… He was so excited he could have peed his pants. LOL He is doing his last bit of 3rd grade work before he starts on his 4th grade year. How fun… uhh, maybe not. It’s Language Arts he is behind on, he just doesn’t like it so much.

DS7 is fighting with RAD (Reactive Airway Disease) right now. When we were on vacation, he didn’t get sick once. But we get back to Colorado and immediately he gets sick. What gives? Maybe he is allergic to Colorado? So we are nebulizing him and hoping this doesn’t turn into anything more then his normal sick. At least I have a Dr. I trust to take him to if he does get sick. On the Sensory Processing/ADHD front (same DS), I tried the coffee trick the same trusted doc suggested and by golly it really worked! I gave it to him before school time today and he is quiet and working! I think I will send him chocolate!

The Dreaded Day J-O-B
Some remember I used to babysit for my day job… what those some that remember might not know… I quit before I left for California. Sad for the parents, but good for me. I think It’s been 7 years since I have not had someone else’s kids in my home, so it was time for me to move on.

What will I do? Well good question. I have lots of talents that can be utilized here at home via telecommuting, but you have to have the right connections to be able to do it. Which I don’t have.

I am going to make a couple book trailers for my novels and showcase them for a while… see if I can get any bites there. Really I only need to make an extra couple hundred a month, but I have to be able to continue to stay home and homeschool my beautiful children. That is where my heart is…

Anything Else I Forgot
Honey, you could be here a while if I try to remember everything I have forgotten. But I will say that I intend to blog daily again and make it very relevant to my craft and the writing industry. So stay tuned…