• Hitting a curve ball #TheRunningWriter


    Today I’m sitting on my stationary bike, pedaling away, coming to terms with the fact that I might be spending more time than I’d like on this thing.

    I’d rather be out on my trails, pounding up those wicked hills, taking in the amazing scenery, and spending time with my friends. But sometimes things don’t go as planned.

    Sure. I’d had plans to run the canyon next month with my sweet hubby, I’d had plans to race the four peaks in November…but sometimes life throws you curve balls. Rather unpleasant and painful ones. How do you handle those unexpected obstacles?

    If I had a sure-fire answer I’d be set for life, right? All I can tell you is how I deal with it – and maybe you can share your secrets with me as well.

    First: Focus on things to be thankful for. Doing that helps remind me that I am still truly blessed. Not every single aspect of my life is bad. When I’m struggling, the darkness of injury can spread into every aspect of every day–if I let it. Searching out, on a daily basis, one or two positive things in my life helps combat that.

    Second: Find a way to still do something you love. Besides writing novels, exercise is my thing. And since injury might be altering my preferred form of exercise (trail running) I’ll find some form of exercise I can do: stationary biking, lifting upper body, aqua jogging, and working on my core strength. I’ll try to keep to my schedule of rising early and doing my exercise in the mornings still, too. It’d be easy to just say “Screw it, I’m injured I’m not doing anything.” But part of recovery is mental health, too, so keeping with daily exercise, even if it’s less than I’m used to, can help.

    Finally: Keep the faith. I trust all things work out in the end; it’s just the time in between that gets a little challenging. Some people call it Fate, Universe, whatever. I call it faith in God’s plan and timing. Surrounding myself with positive & encouraging people will help.

    How do you handle obstacles that knock you off your feet?

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  • #QuoteOfTheDay


    Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. ~Helen Keller

  • Try


    I found a new favorite song. I’d heard P!nk had a new album coming out, so when I saw @RachelFirasek’s post on Twitter that she was listening to P!nk I went out investigating….

    And found THIS:

    Now, personally, I find some of P!nk’s music…disturbing, in both a good and bad way. Most of my friends know that the F-word makes my ears bleed (LOL) and P!nk has been known to share the word in her songs…even titles of her songs.

    But if I look past that and really read some of her lyrics. That girl has some seriously powerful songs. She really gets you thinking.

    In TRY, I find these lyrics the most powerful.

    Where there is a flame someone’s bound to get burned.

    I’m sure you can interpret that a million different ways. But it struck me in this way….

    Fire is passion. Passion not just for another person or love, but in throwing your heart and soul out there for all to see. That’s what it’s like with the books I write. Writing is a passion of mine and it’s a bit of my soul out there, vulnerable with each book that gets published.

    I’ve gotten burned. I will continue to get burned. But like P!nk says in her next phrase:

    But just because it burns, doesn’t mean you’re gonna die.

    So true. Not everyone will like my characters, my writing style, my stories….but that’s okay. I can’t not write. So, if you’re venturing out, doing something you love and you get a bit scared.

    Don’t. You’ll possibly get burned, but you won’t die.

    You got to get up and try, try, try!!!

    ~~~~~~

    What songs are rocking your world right now?

     

  • I can’t believe it…


    September is already here? That just doesn’t seem possible the summer is already over. Kids are back in school. Colleges are into their first semesters.

    Though, I am excited for one reason…it’s that much closer to Violet Midnight’s Cover Reveal. September 4th is the big day.

    I’m super excited because I just love this cover. It’s quite different than the Wasteland and Awaited covers–which is good, because this series is WAY different.

    The ARCs are out to readers & reviewers so I’m biting my nails a bit to see what people think…especially those who only know me for the Wasteland Trilogy.

    ~~~~~

    So, tell me, what was one highlight of your summer? Whether it’s a vacation, awesome movie you saw, or whatever? Do tell…..

    For me…a big highlight was RAGBRAI!! We biked across Iowa! 407 miles in 5 days. AND we raised over $3,000 for cancer. WOOT!!

  • Time for some inspiration…


    I love finding quotes to share with you all. I often post them on my FB page. They just make me smile. And hopefully, they encourage someone. You just never know when someone just needs a kind word.

    So, here are a few more I’ve found…

    1. Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reapbut by the seeds you plant. –Robert Louis Stevenson.

    2.Iskate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been –Wayne Gretzky.

    3. I never think of the future – it comes soon enough. –Albert Einstein.

    4.Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. –Lanston Hughes.

    Do you have any you’d like to share? What’s your favorite thing to cheer you up? What’s something someone has said or done that has really lightened your spirits?