Time Out!

I often forget, as I'm going at light speed on five different things, that a body needs to rest as much as it needs to work.  With the change to warmer weather coming (although it's still on the fence about that), I have been planning what I want to do, inside and out of the house.  I'm working on the downslope of the first draft in FIRE, Book Four in The Elemental Series, and looking ahead to my next writing project(s).  All that planning sometimes makes me forget to appreciate now.

Sometimes, it's a simple matter of getting off the computer and looking at the world around me.  Sometimes, I go out for a nice dinner with my family.  Sometimes, it's just a good laugh with a friend.  And you never really know how nice the quiet is until you have a few minutes apart from the day's hustle and bustle.  Even a few minutes to recharge each day does wonders for the soul, and studies have proven that we benefit from unplugging ourselves now and then.

So, my advice for the day is, unplug yourself - just for a little bit - and enjoy the simple act of being.   No demands, no noise, just you and the world around you.  You'll be surprised by how good it feels.  I always am.  Cheers!

Happy Spring!

Spring officially begins today, and not a moment too soon, if you ask me.  It's been an exceptionally difficult winter.  We've been spoiled for so many years in the Northeast by mild winters.  When the snowbanks started getting taller than me, it was a bit much to take.  So, welcome to green grass and singing birds and sunny days!

My gardens are in a sad state, so one of my outdoor to-dos this spring will be to tear out the butterfly garden's messy spots and start fresh.  My vegetable garden needs a top-off with some new compost, and I think I will start with already-sprouted plants this year to get a jump on the growing season.  Oh, a reason to go to my garden supply store?  As if I needed one!

Indoors, I plan to open every single window to flush out that stale air.  House plants can only do so much!  We're also looking into getting some new flooring in the kitchen, foyer, and living room. It will be exciting to have fresh, easy-clean floors.  I can't wait to get started.

Happy Spring!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My goodness, how time flies.  It's that time of year again where we celebrate the Irish and Irish-at-heart!  Hope you all have a wonderful day, and whether or not you drink that green beer, be safe out there while you celebrate the day.  Best wishes to all of you!

Guest Author: Debbie Peterson!

Today, I welcome paranormal romance author Debbie Peterson.  Debbie is here today to share with us a peek at her upcoming book, COURT OF THE HAWK, coming April 15th!

Hello Nicki! I am really excited to be here with you today. So thank you very much for the invitation and let’s get to the questions!

1) How did you get started writing?

The credit for that really belongs to my husband. I’ve been writing stories in my head for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I created complex pretend stories for me and my friends to act out. I shared one such story with my husband and he encouraged--and gave me the courage--to write it down and submit it to a publisher.

2) What interests or excites you most about your genre(s)?

I have always loved making up stories of impossible love, and then make that love quite possible after all. I suppose that’s why I chose to write fantasy/paranormal romance.

3) Who or what is your favorite inspiration when writing?

Actually, it’s music. Music can inspire the direction of my writing far better than anything or anyone else.

4) Tell me about your latest book or work in progress.

My latest novel, Court of the Hawk, is due for release April 15^th, 2015 and is published by The Wild Rose Press.  I’ll give you the blurb so you can get a feel for what it’s about:

When a single moment challenges your perception of truth…

Epigraphist Dr. Essie DeSpencer travels to an ancient Welsh castle in order to decipher an Ogham inscription discovered by the handsome and enigmatic, Garreth ap Daffyd. But the journey is not what she expects. She doesn’t plan to fall for the Lord of the castle, or to find herself deeply entrenched in legends, myths, and magic. Real legends, and real magic, that have devastating consequences.

Garreth didn’t plan for Essie to stay any longer than it took her to decipher the pictograph. Instead, he finds himself falling in love for the first time in his very long life. Now the Lord of Llys y Gwalch must find a way to attain the heart of his soul mate and keep her safe from the dangers that threaten them both.

5) Please share with us the first paragraph of your latest work.

I am happy to tell you that I have just submitted this story to my lovely editor! The first paragraph goes like this:

In a dreadful turn of events, whomever she pursued into the murky forest now hunted her, and with determination bent on success. What possessed her to chase someone off the property after dusk anyway? Her heart pounded from the exertion to escape the woodland, and her lungs burned for lack of air. Any moment they would surely burst inside her chest, and right now her legs weighed a ton. What’s more, she didn’t know if she sprinted toward Westbrook manor and the safety it promised, or in another direction altogether.

Thanks so much for joining us, today, Debbie.  Your book sounds exciting!  I love the unusual Welsh setting.  It's always fun to read a story set in an uncommon place, and Garreth sounds pretty darn intriguing.  Good luck with it!

Thanks again Nicki! I found it a pleasure to be here.

To learn more about Debbie or her newest book, COURT OF THE HAWK, explore the links below:

Website: http://debbie-peterson.com/
Blog: http://debbie-peterson.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbiePeterson1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Peterson-Author/214882805206529?ref=tn_tnmn
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/debpeterson1/

Release Date and Book Trailer for AIR!

Just a quick note today to share with you the newly announced release date for AIR, Book Three in the Elemental Series!  AIR will be available worldwide on April 3, 2015.  Following on the heels of that announcement, I'd like to share with you the book trailer for AIR:



I'm very excited about this book.  The characters really took the story and ran with it, and I hope you'll love sharing their adventure.  Have a terrific day, everyone!

FLASHPOINT Featured at Syracuse.com

I was featured recently, along with three other local authors, at Syracuse.com about my latest release, FLASHPOINT.  The article discusses how each of us were influenced in different ways by our experiences living in and around Central New York.  I'm thrilled to share the feature with you.  You can reach it by clicking the link to Syracuse.com above.  Have a terrific March (and remember, spring is coming)!