Life in progress

Yearly Archives: 2018


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#Read “The Magician’s Curse” for #Free

Are you a member of NetGalley? My paranormal romance novel, The Magician’s Curse, is available for the month of April to all members.

The Magician’s Curse begins the story of Stephen Dagmar, stage magician and cambion–descendant of an incubus–and his assistant, Herman Anderson. Here’s the blurb:

When Herman Anderson leaves home to make a better life for herself, she doesn’t expect to meet a tall, dark stranger with whom she’ll fall hopelessly in love.

Charming and mysterious, Stephen Dagmar is a stage magician seeking an assistant. The moment he sets eyes on Herman, he knows she’s the one. He brings her home to his Victorian mansion where they embark upon an extravagant romance. Yet a shadow hangs over their love. Will the curse on his family end Stephen and Herman’s happily ever after, before it really begins?

Amidst lace and leather, innocence and debauchery, The Magician’s Curse begins the Gothic tale of The Great Dagmaru. Magic and romance await.

The appearance on NetGalley of The Magician’s Curse, Book One of “The Great Dagmaru” series, is designed to lead up to the release of the second book, The Magician’s Blood. This is your chance to read (and review) the first book for free!

If you’re not familiar with NetGalley, here’s how they describe their service:

NetGalley is a site where book reviewers and other professional readers can read books before they are published, in e-galley or digital galley form. Members register for free and can request review copies or be invited to review by the publisher.

NetGalley’s tagline is “We help books succeed,” and the first thing you’ll read on their home page is “We help readers of influence discover and recommend new books to their audiences.” If you like to review books, NetGalley will grant your requests to read some of your favourite authors before their books come out. They also stock already-published works, such as mine. It’s free to sign up!

Here’s the link to my book, where you’ll also find a button to sign in or register: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/135927

Thanks in advance for your interest in The Magician’s Curse and NetGalley!

 

 

 


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Be dreamin’

If I’m going to piggyback illegally on the A to Z Challenge, I may as well go all the way with no theme, no rules (including grammar) for my titles … no nothin’, damnit! I’m such a rebel.

I dreamed a lot last night. In one, I had to justify something I’d explained inaccurately in another dream from another time. Seriously, I could write a book about the weird things that come into my head when I’m sleeping.

My weirdest one last night was that Melania Trump is only 2’4″ tall. And I have no idea what the significance of that is. Theories, anyone?

Thanks to everyone for supporting my effort to write ‘coz I have to. You’re all very bad influences and I love you for it. ❤


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Aaaand … this is killing me

I didn’t sign up for the A to Z challenge (for the first time in five years) because I didn’t want to put pressure on myself to post every day. I know I’m going to be busy later on in the month but now? Now I’m itching to write something. Anything.

All the writers’ groups I’m in on Facebook are filled with posts about Camp NaNoWriMo. They’re happily discussing their works in progress and me?

I swear, the itch to write is worse than a mosquito bite that you can’t leave alone. It’s more a mosquito bite that’s so far embedded in your chest that it’s like the damned bug is buzzing around in your esophagus, and you can’t even swat it out because you can’t reach it.

That’s the best I can come up with.

So, can I write a post that starts with “B” tomorrow and not get kicked off the webz? Can I? Can I?

 


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213. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

(Happy Easter!!)

Sunday, April 1st, 4:00pm
James (and Harvie)

 

James: Today is your big day. Tomorrow too.

Harvie nods.

James: Are you excited?

Harvie: (bouncing up and down) Oh yes. Very.

James: I think you should stop bouncing …

Harvie: (bounces) I can’t help it!

James: … at least until we get off the bus …

Harvie: (bounces higher) But I’m so happy!

James: … because if you don’t …

Harvie: (bounces very high and then stops) Oh no!

James: You laid an egg, didn’t you.

Harvie: I’m sorry.

James picks up a chocolate egg from the seat beside him and exits the bus.

 

Next stop: Monday, April 2nd, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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The Escapist Coloring Club Prompt – April 1, 2018

Hello, colourers and lovers of pretty pictures! It’s time for this month’s Escapist Coloring Club prompt For this prompt, I encourage you to post pictures of your own colouring, your kids’ colouring, or that of anyone you know and have permission to share. That’s all you have to do to join the club.

As always, my own project is my colouring calendar. I wasn’t sure I liked this one before I started, but I’m quite happy with the end result. Here you’ll see that I forgot to take a picture of it before I coloured the first of the leaves, but I remembered before I got too far:

But once I got started, I found I liked it more and more.

I find using markers and pencils together creates a nice texture. I wish I could just stick with the pencils! So many gorgeous shades.

I’m looking forward to April’s colouring and to seeing all of your amazing projects!

Please find the “rules” below.

1. This prompt is designed for relaxation. As such, I encourage you to take your time to link your own post here, BUT, when you comment, please click the “Notify me of new comments via email” button. That way you’ll receive a notification when someone else links their project and you won’t miss anything. As with all the prompts, the more you visit others, the more your community of like-minded people grows.

2. Ping back! It’s important so that I and other people can come and read your post. To execute a pingback, just copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into the body of your post. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

3. There will be a prompt on the first of every month. I will try to post the prompt here on my blog at 9:30am -5 GMT. The prompt will simply be photos of my own colouring project. If you would like to host this prompt on your blog on another week during the month, either once, occasionally, or on a regular basis, please e-mail me at hilllindagmaru at gmail dot com and we’ll get you set up. All I ask is that you have an active blog and that you regularly reply to comments and visit other blogs.

4. Feel free to use the Escapist Coloring Club badge in your post.

5. Have fun!


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212. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, March 31, 8:00pm
Edward (and Andrea)

 

Edward sits at the window. Andrea takes the seat beside him.

Andrea: Hi, honey.

Edward: No …

Andrea: Do you like it?

Edward: Noooo …

Andrea: But … Lacey promised me you’d like it anyway. We tried, but …

Edward: It’s pink. Your hair is pink.

Andrea: Well I like it. Even though it was an accident. Should I try again? ‘Coz I can, like, try again next week.

Edward: (covers his face with his hands and laments) It’s too late. It’s too late!!

Andrea: Does … that mean we’re not, like, going to the party anymore?

Edward: You idiot! Of course we’re not going to a party. We were never going to a party!

Andrea: (reaches into her bag and pulls out a wooden stake) Damned right, sucka!!

Edward leaps over her and runs for the door. Andrea chases him off the bus.

 

Next stop: Sunday, April 1st, 4:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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#SoCS – Bun food

It’s going to be a busy day for me, so I want to write this post before I do anything. Trouble is, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet–in perfect procrastinator fashion, I’ve put it off simply because I didn’t know what to write, which is ridiculous considering that’s the entire purpose of Stream of Consciousness Saturday: to just write when you have nothing to write. So anyway, where was I? Oh yeah.

I haven’t had breakfast. So I’m sitting here starving, trying to figure out what I can write about with “bun” in it without torturing myself. Here’s what I have to avoid, just so you have an idea what I’m going through:

Buns–my eldest son has taken to baking bread lately. He’s planning to bake some buns, from scratch, for our dinner tonight. Can’t talk about that.

Easter Bunny–that’s me. I have to go out today sometime and get chocolate eggs to hide for tomorrow morning.

Bunch of grapes–sitting in my fridge.  They’re going to go bad if I don’t eat them soon. Eating soon is definitely on my mind.

Bundt cakes–giant donuts that can be shared for dessert … or hidden somewhere in the back of the fridge to be consumed in secret after everyone else has gone to bed.

Bungalow–there we go! Something that doesn’t remind me of food. Unless you count the gingerbread house I built at Christmas. I wonder if it’s possible to build a two-storey gingerbread house? Yum.

Bungle–yep, that’s what I’m doing with this post if my goal is to forget about food.

Oh, who am I kidding? I’m going to have breakfast. Cheers with coffee!!

This strangely delicious post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the link to find all the participating posts in the comment section, and join in yourself. It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2018/03/30/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-30-18/


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211. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, March 30th, 8:00pm
Edward and Vlad

 

Vlad: So you say you vill have the girl.

Edward: I vill!  … I mean, I will. Tomorrow night.

Vlad: And you are sure it is the girl vith the golden hair.

Edward: It is, Master.

Vlad: This is your last chance, Edvard. If you do not satisfy my request this time, I vill have to find another vampire to fill your place. I expect you to have no excuses.

Edward: (swallows) Yes, Master.

Vlad: (rubs hands together) And nothing this time vill keep me apart from the girl vith the golden hair.

Edward: Of course not. (stares out the window) What could possibly go wrong?

 

Next stop: Saturday, March 31st, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 30/18

Good Friday, everyone! It’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Being that it’s Easter weekend, I’ve got the kid home for four days and I’m having a big family dinner Saturday. What are your plans? Apart from writing a SoCS post, that is. Here’s your prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “bun.” Find a word that contains “bun” or use it as a word all by itself. Have fun!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our new SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

 

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!


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210. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, March 29th, 7:00pm
Edward (and Andrea)

 

Edward sits at the window. Andrea takes the seat beside him.

Andrea: Eddie!

Edward: Please don’t call me that. Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you for two days.

Andrea: (flutters eyelashes) You have?!

Edward: Yes. Didn’t your friend tell you?

Andrea: No. In fact she’s been giving me taxi money.

Edward: Drat.

Andrea: But I’m here now! I got this, like, great new job, and …

Edward: You’re not blond. I need you blond.

Andrea: Wh … what for?

Edward: A party. (nods with satisfaction) I want to take you to a party.

Andrea: What kind of party?

Edward: A … blond party.

Andrea: (smiles) Sounds like fun! When is it?

Edward: I’ll have to check. How soon can you be blond?

Andrea: I can do it on, like, Saturday morning.

Edward: Excellent. I’ll see you Saturday.

Edward stares at her.

Edward: Can you let me out please?

Andrea: Wh … That’s it?

Edward: What else is there?

Andrea: I don’t know. Like, a kiss goodbye would be nice.

Edward: Don’t make me jump out the window again.

Andrea: (gets up slowly) Okay then. (calls to him as he gets off the bus) See you soon, Eddie … Edward!

 

Next stop: Friday, March 30th, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.