Trip

Ok, I've tripped up and slacked off on blogging! I also went on a trip this weekend out of state. It's a 5 hour drive there or back :) but it took longer due to bathroom breaks and because of baby. All in all, baby did great for the ride. Here's some tips: bring lots of snacks and a small cooler with drinks, bring a portable dvd player, bring several movies for said dvd player, bring toys that baby can play with in the car, make sure you let baby down to walk/run(if they're old enough) when you stop for breaks, even if there's no real reason to stop, do it every couple hours anyways, don't forget the pacifier, pack extra diapers and wipes, pack extra clothes in case the ones they're wearing get snacks or juice on them, and be patient! Really, for a 15 month old who has never done this long of a trip, he did great!
I have been working on my book, other than Sat and Sun, despite my lack of blogging. Promising feedback from my first two beta readers :) Have a great week and talk to you soon, I promise!

Quick

I'm up to page 149 :) Tonight I took a glance at what was the next 2 chapters and split them into 4 chapters, tentatively. Basically they were too long as just 2 chapters and it was pretty darn easy to split them up. There was no controversy or agonizing.
Tomorrow I get to see our family pictures and pick which ones we want to buy :) I'm very excited!
No news on the house front. I'm thinking it's a matter of being a lot of paperwork for the mortgage guy, but I'm not completely sure. I'm trying not to be anxious and to leave it to God.
I'm still on a job hunt. I could be substitute teaching right now and in fact have everything done except for turning in the filled out paperwork, but something is holding me back. I'm not sure what's up with that/me *shrugs* Wish me clarity :)
Ok this is a bit longer than I intended, but oh well!

Beta Reader

You better trust them and like who ever they happen to be. I felt a surge of fear and strangely enough, embarrassment, when I found out my first beta reader was reading my chapter 1. This is a new experience for the both of us, added on top of the fact that the type of book my WIP is, isn't quite her cup of tea. So why am I having her read it? I think she can and will be more objective about the whole thing. I have another beta reader whom I plan on giving D4 to that likes the genre I'm writing in. I know that both of them will be able to let me know about the flow and content of the book, but each in their own helpful way. I'm not going to lie, I would be thrilled if my first beta would gush about the book when she's done reading it :) She's very busy with her day time job so this will be a bit of a drawn out process. As for my progress on D3, I am up to page 133. So I have approximately 100 more pages to go.
For all, I have an over active imagination, of your sake's I have decided to forgo a detailed rundown of my weekend. Suffice it to say it was LOVELY! Seriously!
Keep writing, or riding, or editing, or all three! Or what ever it is you're passionate about!

Quick

I intend to go on more, potentially boring you, about my Labor Day weekend, but for now I'd like to quickly update you. I'm up to 118 pages for D3 and I've worked a little on it each day this weekend. I also got the guts to print out c. 1 of D3 and I handed it over to one of my beta readers. *fingers crossed*

Random for Today

I'm addicted to reading blogs and blogging. I also like to change the background of my blog every so often and since I have no tech skills, I stick with the options blogger offers me. *shrugs* Mostly I don't mind, but some day, when I'm published :), it would be fun to have a unique background. I can dream and I do!
I'm not sure if I'll blog much this wknd, since it's Labor Day wknd here in the US. Right now I have no plans for Saturday; Sunday is church and a get together with my dad's side of the family(I"m really looking forward to this since it's been a year since the last one); Monday is the church picnic.
I've had lots of wonderful ideas for what I think will be the next book I write. Can I say, I love research! Or at least the research I'm doing right now. Now the nitty gritty research that is involved when in actual writing process(what does Such City actually look like, how close is the nearest airport...) is not so fun, but the creative before I actually write a book research is lovely. This is despite the fact that I lack the control to stop and stay up much later than I intend!
Ok I'm off to quickly *crosses fingers* compose a birthday wish list and may be a couple future blogs and then work on my WIP :)

Covers I Love

I’d like to start featuring some covers that I adore. Some may all ready be out, some may be future releases, just whatever I feel like. I’d like to start with The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney. This won’t be out until February 2011, when I may bring it up again *g*, but who cares? It’s a lovely cover! And I do intend on reading it.

Inspiration and Decisions

What inspires you? I have a couple objects that I keep near the laptop to help keep me inspired for my current WIP. I also have several pictures I found on the Internet that I keep on working cover page. While I've been editing my brain has been flirting with ideas for my next book. I have found that certain artwork is particularly inspiring to my creative side. So I would like to introduce to you, again, to the website http://www.elfwood.com/ . Should you have any other great websites with artwork or other inspiring things, please let me know!
Now on to decisions... After completing my WIP in full, I'd like to make out a detailed plan for it's sequel. But then I'm wide open to other things. I have two ideas stewing around in my head, one I have a tentative story and a lead female for and one I have a character I really like, but no story. I asked myself, what do I want to write, but I don't have an answer. It's not really a big deal right now because I am determined to finish my current WIP despite reading all over the Internet that most first books don't get published. But still, what do you think? How do you decide which story to write?