HELLO SPRING

A couple of pictures that I took during my weekend bike ride. Enjoy...

My father-in-law was very patient during my frequent stops to take pictures. Of course, I used it as an excuse to get off the bike since I was very sore after not riding since November.

The source of my allergies. Pretty, but deadly spring flowers.

Can't believe I caught this bee. I wish it was a little more in focus.

FAITH (aka The Great Doctor)

SOURCE

It’s been a while since I promised to review FAITH (aka The Great Doctor). The show is amazing from the sets to the costumes. Lee Min-ho wielding a sword and wearing armor is a sight to behold. Totally drool worthy. The rest of the cast is equally mesmerizing.

So why is it that I haven’t finished watching this drama? I’ve been trying to figure this out myself.

This South Korean drama is a combination of fantasy/historical/medical which is exactly the sort of show I love. The fantasy aspects really sold it for me. Also, the writers did a wonderful job of creating realistic characters. The “evil” characters show hints of vulnerability. Even though I’m rooting for the “good” guys to win, I’m still drawn to the “bad” guys. The magic in this show feels believable. Like if I were to find a rift in time, I could go back to this era.

Maybe I’m subconsciously afraid to finish this show. I’m worried about what will happen in the end. Will it be a happy ending or a tragic separation for the main characters?

Don’t tell me, please. I will finish this series. I swear.



SOURCE

Here is a mini synopsis:
King Gongmin of Goryeo (Ryu Deok-Hwan) and his wife, Princess Nogoog of Yuan (Park Se-Young) are escorted by Choi Young (Lee Min-ho) and the royal guard back to Goryeo (Korea) after years of being held hostage by Yuan (China). The group is attacked by assassins, and Princess Nogoog’s throat is slashed. To save Princess Nogoog’s life, Choi Young travels 700 years into the future through a portal and kidnaps a modern-day plastic surgeon (Kim Hee-Sun) and brings her to the past.

 

MY EXPANDING TO-BE-READ PILE

I'm working on getting through my to be read pile. This picture is of the books I have waiting on my dresser: ORIGIN by Jessica Khoury, THE GOLDEN LILLY and THE INDIGO SPELL from the BLOODLINES series by Richelle Mead, BITTER BLOOD and BLACK DAWN from the MORGANVILLE VAMPIRE series by Rachel Caine.

I have ten e-books in my Kindle. I can't stop buying books, even when I know I don't have time read them because writing comes first.

Total addict behavior, I know.

There is something comforting about having a book I really want to read waiting for me. It inspires me to get my work done so I can relax. I'm not an indepth reviewer. You won't see me picking apart a book or movie. Taste is so subjective in my opinion. What one person loves another might hate.

Much like my husband's aborted attempt to finish GRRM's GAME OF THRONES, and my refusal to touch his history books unless it's for research purposes. We do come together for other books. You know the saying, "Try it. You might like it." Well, that's all anyone can ask for.

So if I like something I'll tell you. If I don't, well, I also follow the wise advice my mom gave me, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

My opinions are my own. I'll leave you to make your own decisions.

REVIEW: THE FALL: TALES FROM THE APOCALYPSE

SOURCE: JEAN ORAM'S BLOG


 

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. I had been hearing about it for months over at Agent Query Connect, and I couldn't wait for it to come out. Then the opportunity came to receive a free copy of The Fall: Tales From The Apocalypse in exchange for a fair review.
 
Hell, yeah! SIGN ME UP.
 
The book came at the right time. I was sick, bored out of my mind from being in bed, so what better time to delve into to the concept of mortality via the various tales devoted to the destruction of civilization.
 
I'm a sucker for zombies. What? That can't be surprise... hello, Walking Dead fanatic here. But, this book didn't just have zombies. Oh no, there's angels and baseball. Cat's and corn. There were tales that left me sniffling into my pillow because a character dies leaving behind a devastated loved one. And others which left me thinking about them for days ... okay, months later.
 
It's taken me a while to finish this book. I've been tied up with my crazy revision, so it's been nice to curl up and get the pants scared off me when I need to relax. I'm not a fan of every story in the book. There were a few that weren't to my taste ... mmm, brains, but this book is edited well. Even the stories I wasn't a fan of were well written. I can tell the authors had a blast writing this anthology.
 
 
On the whole, I think this was a fun read.
 
BOOK DESCRIPTION from Amazon:
An anthology of short stories, The Fall explores different visions of the apocalypse. Ancient prophecies, technological Armageddon, failures of government, a distracted deity, and yes, zombies all have their moments in this collection, but so do love, yearning, hope, and humor. In the end, the apocalypse offers a path to new beginnings, even if it requires a trek through death, despair, and destruction to find them.

The latest anthology from Elephant’s Bookshelf Press, LLC, tackles an array of challenges presented by thirteen authors (it just worked out that way, I swear.) Authors include P.S. Carrillo, Judy Croome, Ryan Graudin, R.C. Lewis, J. Lea Lopez, Mindy McGinnis, R.S. Mellette, Alexandra Tys O’Connor, Jean Oram, Matt Sinclair, A.M. Supinger, Amy Trueblood, and Cat Woods.

The Fall was edited by Mindy McGinnis, Matt Sinclair, and Cat Woods and copy-edited by Jean Oram, with cover design by Calista Taylor, and book design by R.C. Lewis.

For permission to reprint a story, please send a request to permissions@elephantsbookshelfpress.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

HAPPY MONDAY

I know I’ve been lax on posting lately. I’m still in the midst of my major revision. The light at the end of the tunnel still seems pretty distant, but it’s closer than before. My amazing critique partners and awesome agent sent back their critiques and I’ve revised. I added two new chapters from Landry’s point-of-view. He’s got an amazing voice and a weird sense of humor. Plus, he’s totally in love with Mala (poor guy).

With the current round of revisions finished, I’m waiting for my line edits. I decided now would be the best time to finish up the sequel to this book. I started BAD MOJO during NaNo, but I put it on hold to complete this revision with only about five more chapters left to the end.

 

Thank goodness I didn’t finish it. The revision of the first book means revising this one. A lot has changed. A revised plot, loss of key characters. It's a challenge I'm enjoying.

So that’s my writing life.

What is everyone else up to? Fill me in so I don’t feel like an outcast.

 

I miss you all.