Life in progress

Yearly Archives: 2020


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The Magician’s Sire is here, and it’s free!

Tortured by the curse on his family and the looming death of his father, Tarmien Dagmar must juggle the family business and his father’s insistence that he find a bride.

Then he meets Stella, a hotel housekeeper in his employ who fully intends to hate him …

The Magician’s Sire is the prequel to my contemporary Gothic paranormal romance series. It’s a complete story that contains no spoilers for Book One of the series, The Magician’s Curse. And if you’ve already read the other books in the series, The Magician’s Sire will give you a better understanding of how the story of the Dagmar family came about.

You can have my new book in your hands within the next few minutes. Just click this link and let me know where to send it!

 

When you sign up, you’ll also get the prequel to my Once a Week at Woody’s romantic comedy series, Swallowed.

When a single date becomes a family affair…

Hannah is quite happy staying home, taking photos of her meals to post online when she’s not at the office. But she knows she needs more out of life, so she agrees to go out with Shaun, the gay IT guy from work, to a family event as his “date.” It wasn’t supposed to change everything.

Enter Cal, Shaun’s brother.

Cal is in the midst of opening his own pub. When the family becomes involved, things get complicated. Especially since he has his eye on the girl they believe belongs to his brother.

Hannah and Cal form a secret relationship that goes beyond her doing his bookkeeping. But can they keep it on the down low long enough to make O’Flanagan’s Pub a reality?

This prequel to Saddled tells the story of how Cal and Hannah came to open Woody O’Flanagan’s Pub, future Saturday-night male strip club in the series “Once a Week at Woody’s.” If you love laugh-out-loud low-angst romantic comedy, you’ll love this book!

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What Day is it Anyway? #SoCS Edition Saturday, July 25th, 2020

I had to check to make sure it was Saturday. Technically, it’s Sunday, but this is my Saturday prompt. Gotta suck it up.

I’ve been a bit checked out today. I poured my first cup of coffee this morning, put the rest of the milk from the bag (yes, I said bag) into my cup, but it wasn’t enough. So I opened another bag and topped it up … with chunky milk.

So I dumped that down the sink and poured myself a cup of black coffee. Which wouldn’t have been so bad had it not been for the heartburn I’ve been getting again.

I only got half a cup of coffee today. I usually have three.

So …

I went over to drop some stuff off to my mother at the home and forgot which home she was in. In my defense, she’s lived in three different homes this year so far. It was a nice drive around town.

I came home and had a nap. Something I never do.

And then I forgot what day it was.

But honestly, I’ve been a bit checked out for a week. I spend all my conscious, aware, alert time on editing. For the rest, I’m a vegetable.

A yummy piece of broccoli though, so it’s not too bad.

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

This nearly caffeine-free post is an adaptation of #WDIIA and Stream of Consciousness Saturday, brought to you by both. To join us in the SoCS tradition, click the following link where you’ll find all the instructions and the other participants’ posts in the comments. It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2020/07/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-25-2020/ Or you can link to this post if you just want to write a What Day is it Anyway? post.


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 25/2020

Friday’s here, and so is your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. We’re almost halfway through the weirdest summer of our lives. How’re you enjoying it so far? Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “check/cheque/Czech.” Use one, use ’em all, use ’em any way you’d like. Have fun!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to 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 beautiful 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!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

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. I will post the prompt here on my blog every 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 will simply be a single word to get you 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 all of them! 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 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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One-Liner Wednesday, July 22nd – The small things

Created with Canva

Photo: A Lego man sitting at a desk with a computer. The Lego man is grimacing. Caption reads: “You know it’s a good day when you find the Lego with your eyes before you find it with your feet.”

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com


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#SoCS – The Link

The link between today and tomorrow is survival.

Think about it.

At least on a personal level it is.

I suppose tomorrow still comes for everyone else. … who survives.

Hey! I’m tired.

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

This short philosophical post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday and the letter T … Find the former here and join in! https://lindaghill.com/2020/07/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-18-2020/


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 18/2020

Today is Friday, and that means I’m here with your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Finally, some rain this week. And heat! Lots more heat. Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “link.” Use it as a noun or a verb; use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to 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 beautiful 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!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

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. I will post the prompt here on my blog every 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 will simply be a single word to get you 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 all of them! 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 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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One-Liner Wednesday, July 15th – It’s 5 o’clock somewhere

What do you call the type of day where you look at the beer in the fridge and wonder if it’s okay to start drinking yet … and it’s only 9am? ‘Coz I’ve had a couple in a row.

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com


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What Day is it Anyway? #SoCS Edition Saturday, July 11th, 2020

by Chihuly

Take me down to my boat on the river …

I’m trying to remember the last time I was in a boat. Was it a canoe? I love canoeing.

Last time I was in one was on a camping trip with my late husband. I made the mistake of letting him steer. We zigzagged across the lake. I had no idea before that that you could take the long way from one side of a lake to the other.

Or was it the Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls? Again, with my husband. That was a fun trip. I don’t remember the exact circumstances, but we were there with my mother and her sisters. We had one room and they were next door in the hotel. For some reason, my mother was worried about Darren and I going out the night we spent there, so we snuck out for a walk. It was beautiful out when we left the hotel, but there was a sudden rain storm that almost literally swept us off our feet. Seriously, we had to hold on to a fence post.

We went back to the hotel, totally drenched. Not to be deterred from being naughty (from my mother’s perspective at least), we went out AGAIN the next morning in search of Tylenol. My mother, of course, tried to find us while we were gone. She panicked and begged the hotel staff to let her into our room. They were getting ready to use the master key when we got back.

Man, did we get in trouble. That taught me not to go out without my mother’s permission, I tell ya. I was 46 years old at the time.

Niagara Falls, 2010

The view from our room

 

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

This boat trip down memory lane is an adaptation of #WDIIA and Stream of Consciousness Saturday, brought to you by both. To join us in the SoCS tradition, click the following link where you’ll find all the instructions and the other participants’ posts in the comments. It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2020/07/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-11-2020/ Or you can link to this post if you just want to write a What Day is it Anyway? post.


by 53 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 11/2020

Friday is here, and so is your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Well, the heatwave is still with us. Hoping for some rain on the weekend to water the grass! Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week–it’s a complicated one, so read all of the instructions:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “song.” First, find a picture–the closest one to you. Your prompt is the title and/or the lyrics of the first song that comes to mind when you look at the picture. Have fun!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to 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 beautiful 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!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

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. I will post the prompt here on my blog every 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 will simply be a single word to get you 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 all of them! 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 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!


by 53 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday, July 8th – That feeling when…

That feeling when you know you wrote down your fantastic idea for a one-liner but at 1am on Wednesday you go to look it up and it’s nowhere to be found so you end up writing a stupid one-liner that starts with “that feeling when…”

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com