Lots of exciting stuff!!!!

So much happening over here!!!!

The 3rd installment of my Classy and Sassy series released on July 4th!!!! ONE SIZE FITS ALL is now for sale!!

Buy links here!

And my second Kindle World title released in June. I wrote a cowboy romance!! So so fun!! It's part of Ruth Cardello's Lone Star Burn series.

Check it out here!

I then signed on to write another in each of the Kindle Worlds, as well as another for a Carly Phillips Kindle World!! SQUEE!! I'm a busy girl!

Hope you're all having a fabulous summer and reading lots of sexy books ;)

A new book, a new adventure!!

So so excited to finally share this with you all! I signed on to do a Kindle World!! What is a Kindle World, you ask? Basically, an author creates a virtual "world" with her books, a series. Then they invite other authors to write books that connect to their world. Super fun!

My first is called Refuse to Settle and it's part of Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe.

Pretty, right??? I just love this cover!! And I helped design it!

Check out Refuse to settle and all the rest of the world here: Refuse to Settle

How to Be Productive

I think most of us today have trouble being productive. There are so many shiny things that grab our attention. And some not so shiny. For those of us that work from home, it's especially challenging. The Internet is a black hole that sucks us in. Piles of laundry and dishes stare us down. The phone rings, the mailman arrives, and the kids ask for a snack or drink or toy every other minute.

My key to productivity is Out of Sight, Out of Mind!

The Internet: There are apps you can install on your computer that block the Internet when you need it to. I haven't gone that far yet, but I know they are helpful for a lot of people. Luckily, just closing out the browser is enough for me. If the browser is open, it's very easy to just flip over. If it's not, I have to actually click on it, wait for it to open, go to the website I need. It only takes seconds, but still...it's a lot more than it being open already.

Household Chores: This one I have no problem ignoring! Piles of laundry and dishes bug me, but for some reason, during the day--my work day--I can ignore it...just as if I had left the house and was at work in an office. But I can't have clutter in my line of vision. I currently work at my dining room table. Which sucks. I can't wait to have an office. But if the table is littered with junk and I can see it on either side of my laptop screen, it bugs me. So I need to take  a few minutes to clean it up. But the rest, if I can't see it while I'm working, I'm good!

Interruptions: Hard to put some of these out of sight, especially the kiddos. Mine are a little older, so most of the time, they don't need me for much. If the hubby is home I will go work in the bedroom and close the door. That helps. The phone is easy. Shut it off and put it out of reach...out of sight. Mailman and other deliveries...not as easy to ignore. Especially when you have a dog that goes nuts whenever anyone comes within 200 feet of your property. I don't have solution for that...anyone? But usually those interruptions are short and then you can get back to work.

Writer's Block/Lack of Inspiration: I grouped these two because I think they go together, and I wanted this post to be more generic...not just geared toward writers. Many don't believe writer's block exists. I don't know for sure, but I know there are times I come to a scene and I just don't know how to write it. I think it has more to do with inspiration. And I think we can all relate to having a lack of inspiration at times, regardless of our task. And the only way to work past is to push through. I take whatever is giving me trouble and put it out of sight...out of mind. If a certain scene is not working for me, I move on and tackle another. Usually the inspiration comes back. And I think that trick can work for anyone in any line of work.

New ideas: Kind of the opposite of the last problem. Many of us in a creative field are often tantalized with a shiny new idea, mainly because we're getting sick of dealing with the current one and it's problems and challenges. The new idea sounds so fun and exciting. My solution: get it out of sight and out of mind! When I get new ideas, I know I need to write them down or I will forget them...gone forever. If I don't write them right away, my brain won't stop...trying to remember every detail. So I stop for a minute, jot down my ideas, and continue on. I get it out of my head (out of mind) and then close the notebook or close the computer file (out of sight).

Good luck with your productivity in 2016! Got any other tips on staying productive???

Live and Let Live

Everyone has their "thing" that they are passionate about. Hobbies,  a certain genre of music, books, movies, sports, etc. They shout their love from the rooftops. Everyone knows about their passion. And that's great! I think we all should celebrate the things we love, the things that bring us joy. Even better if we have people we can share them with.

But what bothers me is the people who criticize those who do not share their passion. They can't understand how anyone could not like what they like. It's narrow-minded and wrong and toxic.

I can appreciate all things in life. I may not love everything or even like it--just not my preference--but I can appreciate it. I don't like super hero movies, for example. I'm just not into them. But I appreciate them and love to see others enthusiasm for them. I also don't particularly enjoy most country music. It's just not my thing. But I can appreciate it's artistry and the talent that goes into creating it. I don't go around telling it's fans that they need to give my preferred genre of music a chance. I don't go around telling them my passion is better than theirs.

#AuthorLifeMonth

I had no clue this was a thing! But it sounds super fun! I'm a little late to the party, so here's days 1 and 2!!

Day 1 was my books. I don't need to post them all but I do have a new cover.....so COVER REVEAL! Here is my shiny new cover for ONE SIZE FITS ALL- due out July 4th!!

Isn't it pretty?????? It fits right on with the others in the series :)

Now on to Day 2! Today is author photo day! Here's one of mine from my author photo shoot!! She did such a great job! If you're in Buffalo or NYC and need a photographer, call Sarah Heidinger!!

Finding career happiness!

I'm pretty lucky. I've found a way to make money doing something I love. TWO somethings to be exact. They feed my soul in different ways, using different sides of my brain. For the first time in a long time I feel secure. I feel like I've really found my path....two paths that run along-side each other.

As you all know, I'm an author. I started writing years ago--like 10--on a whim and it just blossomed. I couldn't stop. I needed to do it. I took baby steps and eventually got to a good place. I love creating these wonderful worlds. I love creating these sassy characters and putting them into crazy situations. I love the love. I love when readers love my stories. I love that I create something that gives people an escape from whatever they need escaping from.

And I guess my other job is all about escape too!

I recently started a travel business. Some of you may know about my love for Disney, especially the parks. I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was 22. It was on my bucket list of things to do before we had kids. So we did it. It was a spur-of-the-moment budget trip but it was fun and I had a great time. Fast forward 5 years. We had a 2-year old and my mother-in-law had suggested we go to Disney World at Christmas time, and as our Christmas gift, she'd pay for our flights. Sounded like a good plan to me! That's when all the fun started!

I'm a planner by nature, so I jumped right in. I bought planning books, I got online. I learned everything I could about the Disney World property, for our first ever stay at one of their resorts. Our trip came and it was so much better than that first time. It was more magical. We were immersed in Disney, and that was it. I had caught the bug. We spend the next 10 years going back as often as we could, usually once a year, but twice a couple years. I learned all I could...I couldn't get enough! I became the go-to gal for everything Disney!

Then one day last fall it just hit me. I could help people plan their own magical trips and GET PAID for it! So I once again did my research, applied at a couple online travel agencies that specialized in Disney vacations, and before long, I was taking classes from the College of Disney Knowledge and on my way to becoming a certified Disney Travel Planner!

Never before in my life have a felt so happy and secure about my career/s. Many of you know writing was not my first career. I started in the floral industry and worked in it for about 14 years before giving it up to pursue my writing. I didn't have passion for it anymore. Writing had taken over. And now, even though I have taken on a second career, my passion for writing is still just as strong. Who knew you could have passion for two things???!!!

Check out my Disney Blog here and my Disney Facebook page here!

My two careers fulfill me in different ways. The writing nurtures my soul, my creativity. It's my outlet for my thoughts and feelings. But it is a roller coaster, as any artist knows. I often doubt myself, but then later that day, I feel like a million bucks! I have very few answers and I don't think I will ever feel like an authority. But that's okay. I love what I create. I love what I give to others. I love the journey. And I can't wait to see where it takes me.

The travel planning is very different. I know all the answers, or at least know where to find them. I feel very in control, which is a feeling I rarely have when it comes to writing. And actually I think that's good for me. It's good to have control, but also good to know when you have to give it up. I love helping people create memories for their families. Life is so full of must-dos and I think families often run out of time for togetherness. When I help families plan a Disney vacation, I'm giving them peace of mind. I'm helping them create opportunity for quality time with their family. I'm helping them create memories they will cherish forever.

Location, location, location.....

Setting is a HUGE deal in any book, especially romance. It's a character all it's own with strengths and weaknesses, quirks and personality. It helps your characters, and hinders them, too. It can cause tension or help lessen it. Setting can cause conflict. It can save a character. No book can survive without a vivid setting.

Recently I've become kind of obsessed with the small town setting. Small towns just have a vibe of their own. A slower pace, a simpler feel. And there's always a fun cast of quirky characters to go along. Gotta have a gossip mill! The best conflict comes from it! Small towns have problems that become your character's problems. I didn't grow up in a small town, so it kind of fascinates me. The workings of a small town are so different from that of a city setting.

Do you love a small town setting? Or do you prefer city? Or is there something else??

"I just don't like to read."

I've heard that many times. And I guess I understand. Not everyone enjoys getting lost in another person's world. Not everyone enjoys laughter, suspense, romance, edge-of-your-seat excitement or drama. Not everyone enjoys a good story.

Oh...wait a minute. Movies are stories. TV shows are stories.

How can people not enjoy reading a book, but spend many many hours watching Netflix, going to the theater, watching DVRed shows? Why does the format of story-telling matter?

I guess I don't understand after all. Is it the time? I mean, yes, it does take a lot longer to read a book than to watch a two-hour movie. Is today's society just too pressed for time? Do they need the quickest form of story-telling possible? Is it something else?

Or maybe they just haven't found the right book yet. :)

The right book will suck you in and close you off from the rest of the world. The right book will keep you up til wee hours of the night, vowing "just one more chapter." The right book will grab you by the heart and pull you along on it's wacky roller coaster ride. No matter what kind of story you like, there's a book out there for you. More than one, actually. You just need to look ;)