We’re halfway to the weekend, so that’s something to smile about. Have you noticed how fast this year is already going? Or is that just me? It seems like we just said, Happy New Year, and now we’re almost to February.
With that being said, my newest release comes out tomorrow. What! Double Take at Mistletoe Ranch releases tomorrow. As I sit and sip my coffee, I’m thinking about all of the trouble Denver and Maddy have gotten themselves into. But they’ve also found the most amazing love. Their story is so sweet and I’m honored to get to be the one that brought to life.
If you’ve ever read any of the Mistletoe Ranch books, you’ll laugh, cry, and sigh as you read this last installment. It’s such a sad time as I say goodbye to Denver and Maddy, but as a writer, you never know when they might get revisited one day. Hey, stranger things have happened.
So, as you get your day started… Sip some coffee, you deserve it… Take the time to enjoy the morning… Tell someone how special they are to you… And just focus on having a wonderful day. You’ve got this, so go out there and be the best you can be.
I have the rainy Monday morning blahs… But sipping some strong coffee, so hoping this feeling passes. So, let’s dive into writers and their health. It’s a double edged sword…
If you’re like me, you work a day job and write in your free time, which leaves precious little time to exercise. Even full time writers don’t take the time to exercise. So, what do we do? The fact is, it’s important to get moving as much as possible. Yes, we love to chase the words, but are we doing it at the cost of our health.
Let’s look at some things you can do to help stay healthy and keep up with your word count:
Get in those steps! Try to get in at least 10,000 steps a day. Yes, I know it’s hard, but even on a rainy day you can walk inside. I’ve set a timer on my phone to make me get up and move. Today is my first day of keeping track of it better. I’ve been slacking since I had a book deadline, not to mention it’s tax season. So, get up and march in place for a few minutes, or walk to the mailbox a couple of times a day. Whatever it takes to get those steps up? Give Yoga a try. It’s a great mind clearing way to get healthier and stay in shape.
If you have to snack while writing, then grab something healthy. A couple of examples are: 1. Freeze some grapes and eat when writing. 2. Cut up an apple and get a little peanut butter to dip it in. 3. Eat low salt nuts such as almonds or cashews. 4. Yogurt with granola. 5. Cut up veggies such as carrots or even bell pepper and dip in ranch.
If you grab coffee, like me, then opt for no creamer, or less creamer. Maybe even grab some decaf at times. Also, remember those fancy coffees from the coffee shop add a lot of calories to your day. Opt for a simple cup of joe.
Tea is great, unless you’re southern like me and love it sweet. Change it up to green tea or herbal with antioxidants to help you out.
Last, but not least, stay hydrated. Drink lots of water. I keep a bottle of water with me all of the time. Get in your allotted amount of water a day. If you can’t handle plain water, then grab some of those no calorie flavorings. I love those. But staying hydrated is important.
Remember, the only way to get that bestseller seen is to be healthy enough to finish it. If you’re not here, then it won’t see the light of day. And as your fellow writer, I want to see you succeed and stay healthy. This goes for me. Let’s start this today!
Good Monday morning! I hope that you’re staying warm wherever you are this morning. It’s cold in Georgia and looks to be a dreary day with cold, icy rain. Burrrrr…. I’m sitting by the fireplace, wrapped in my fuzzy blanket, sipping coffee and writing.
So, here’s my Monday thought as I drink my coffee and get my eyes open. What length of book do you like to read or write? Do you love a long, 50K or more book, or a quick read of less than 25K?
Here are my thoughts on the length of a book that I read or write for that matter. I’ve heard from fans that say they love the longer ones, then others love the shorter ones that I write. It’s hard to know what will be the best length based on fans wants.
Now, if I’m picking up a book to read, it’s entirely up to my mood. If I’m kicking back and have the luxury of a whole afternoon to sit by the fire and read, then I’ll choose a longer book, but if it’s just a quick moment of sitting in a bubble bath, then sometimes I prefer a shorter book. Especially if I’m stressed or had a particularly hard day, then I need that quick, mindless read, meaning I need to see the story from start to finish in one sitting and have that heartwarming feeling of a Happily Ever After.
For my writing, it’s a toss up. Some of my series or books are setup to be quick reads. I make them short for a reason. A couple of my series have been wrote in short form just for those fans that write to me all the time wanting what they call, lunch time reads. But I do have long novels in my list. My new series that will start rolling out in March will be long books, each one.
So, long or short read… long or short writing… We all love to read and write, so keep it up and let’s get lost in another world or time at least for a moment or maybe for a whole day. Who am I kidding? We readers tend to read into the night sometimes… There’s nothing wrong with pulling an all nighter!
Wow, we’ve made it to the midweek crunch. So, what’s running through my mind this afternoon? Glad you asked. Here goes…
Do you read other genres than you write in? I write romance, so I mostly read romance novels. But to my surprise, I talked with other writers that don’t read the genre they write. How is that possible? Just a little thought that ran through my mind as I sip my coffee this afternoon…
Who doesn’t love that afternoon cup of coffee or hot tea? It’s always coffee thirty at my house and office. So, here’s to your Tuesday Coffee Break. Make it count because you have three more work days this week!
Here’s a little midday Monday Motivation. Now that lunch is over and you’re starting to get a little midday slump, grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit back to take some time to think about yourself. Maybe grab a little dark chocolate to add a little energy to your afternoon.
You’ve got this, so do a stretch and smile brightly. This is your day. You own it!
It’s the first Monday of the new year and I’m feeling it. After two 4-day weekends, I’m moving a little slow. But, as an Accountant I have to hit the ground running today. It’s tax time, end of year, and quarterly. So, things are about to get crazy for me.
So, with that being said, what are you doing to start the year off right? Any New Year’s resolutions? Remember, a New Year is time to start over. Make it your year. Even though we’re starting off the year still in the craziness of 2020, we can make it our own. Just focus on being the best you can be and don’t worry about everything. Just move forward and get it done.
I’m working on the finishing touches of Double Take At Mistletoe Ranch, which means the Mistletoe Ranch Series will be coming to an end soon. That makes me so sad because I’ve grown close to Maddy and Denver. But it makes room for my new series, In Harm’s Way. And yes, I’ve already started writing the first book, SAFE. This makes me do a little happy dance too.
Now it’s time for another cup of coffee and some breakfast. Let’s do this Monday…
It’s the first Monday after Christmas and all through the house… Nope, not going there. My house is somewhat back to order, but still not back to normal.
Does anyone else struggle with what day it is after a long weekend? And this weekend will be another four day weekend, so the struggle is real. Although these two long weekends will be awesome since tax season starts next week, so I’ll need the time off to charge my batteries.
Now, on to writing thoughts. As I shared earlier, I have a new series coming in 2021. It’s a Christian Suspense Romance Series called In Harms Way. This is a step out of my comfort zone, but I’m excited for this new turn in my writing. And the covers are nothing short of amazing. Yes, all five books have covers already. I’ve got a short blurb ready for each one as well, which I’ll share a little bit along.
The first book, Safe, is set to release in March. This book has been on my mind for quite a while, so to be able to put it on paper is such a wonderful feeling. The main two characters each have their own issues. Hadley is a dedicated introvert. She is a homebody, only leaving to go to Church, the store, and when her agent requires it, to a book signing. As you may have guessed, she’s a writer. Her books have made her a nice, comfortable living, and have allowed her to stay in her shell. But her life is about to get a jolt of reality that she’s not prepared for.
Drew is a broody, partially retired Navy Seal, turned Wyoming rancher. He’s struggled to get out of the dark hole that war put him in, but ranching and fresh air have brought him a long way from his former self. Then he takes a trip to his hometown and ends up in the middle of a nightmare. When he tries to help, he only gets himself in deeper and the darkness threatens to swallow him back up. The moment he meets Hadley, he knows that he has to do everything in his power to save her, but she isn’t so sure.
This book will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions as these two struggle with their own demons. But once they figure out that the only way out is together, they have to get past the things in their lives that make them who they are. It will have you cringing, gasping, sighing, then smiling and back to cringing. It’s a thriller that will have you guessing right up to the end.
So, let’s get this Monday started with a pot of coffee laced with cinnamon and a cool coffee mug. Did I tell you I’m obsessed with coffee mugs? Now you know…
With things as they are, authors are missing book tours, book signings, and the loved Writer’s Retreat that a lot of writers do together. But, we can still do these things. It won’t be the same as it has been, but we have to persevere through this.
So, let’s dive in. If you had planned a Writer’s Retreat and it’s been cancelled due to restrictions, then I have good news. Have it at home. Find a place inside your home that you can turn into your retreat. Maybe it’s the corner of your living room or bedroom. It doesn’t matter where it is. Hang up pictures of a place that brings you inspiration. Play music to inspire you. Burn scented candles that remind you of the place you were going. But make it your own private retreat.
Set up a place to write, facetime with fellow authors, and enjoy a moment to yourself. Have a conversation with writers on social media. You can get feedback from others virtually. But make it work for you. You’ve got this, so create your oasis and get lost in your writing.
I know it’s not the same as having fellow authors sitting with you and feeding off one another’s thoughts, but in times like this, we have to get creative. The important thing is to get the words out there for our fans. They need those words to have a retreat of their own.
Good Saturday morning! It’s hard to believe how fast this month is going by. And no, I’m not finished with my Christmas shopping. Yikes!!! A little stressed about that, but excited that I don’t have a deadline this month, just writing. I knew that this would be a busy month, so I planned for that.
Now, how do you spend your Saturday mornings? Me, I like to sip my coffee while I scroll all of my sites. Then do some intense cleaning because hey, the week days are too busy for more than just a quick pick up. After everything is all clean and smelling wonderful, then I get to work on whatever writing needs to be done, or setting up my ads for the week.
Saturdays are a day to slip into something comfy, sit by the fire and watch sappy movies. I love to watch romantic Christmas movies while I write. It keeps me focused, which sounds crazy. I’ve learned over the years that multitasking works for me.
Now, on to another wonderful Saturday and all that writing has to hold.
Stephanie Hurt - Romance Author 