Beach pics to celebrate THE PROTECTOR

In honor of THE PROTECTOR’s cover reveal on 07.18. and its rerelease with MLR Press on 07.28., here a few tropical, sandy beach pics.

Cover reveal July 18

I cannot believe how long it’s been. My last post was a while back.

Well, here I am with good news. THE PROTECTOR has found a new home with MLR Press and will rerelease on July 28, 2017.

I have a fantastic new cover that I am in love with for the second edition. Thanks to cover artist Jared Rackler who took my thoughts on covers I enjoyed and my wish for something tropical and created something unique for THE PROTECTOR. 

I love, love, love my new cover and think you will, too. Come back on July 18 to see for yourself.

Unlimited package

Son: “Why don’t they use their turn signal?” Me: “They didn’t buy the unlimited package.” Son: “Huh?” Me: “When you buy a car, you’ll have to let them know how many times you want to use your turn signal. They put different bulbs in. The more you want to use them, the more expensive the blinker is. They probably bought the cheap package. You can only blink so many times.” Son, after a short pause and somewhat skeptical look: “What do we have?” Me: “Unlimited package.”

Family, then and now ...

And what does your ancestral home look like? No, I didn't jet to Germany over the weekend; my brother and family visited the "Schloss" last week. — at Schloss Münchweiler.

If you're curious, here is an excellent link and more about the Roechling Family. Yes, I'm related to these folks, on my mother's side:

http://www.voelklinger-huette.org/en/fascination-world-cultural-heritage/the-roechlings-a-family-of-entrepreneurs/

Grief

I was thinking about grief this week and about how I am handling it. I was just letting my thoughts wander and then it occurred to me I should call my Dad to see if he had any insight. We had never really talked about him losing his parents. It was a great plan for a moment until I realized the reason I am dealing with grief is that my Dad died (five months ago now) ...

Hmm ... (novella thoughts)

Didn't really get any writing done on the novella over the weekend, but I'm still finding my way in, so to speak. 

On the upside, I've got ideas for more in that "series." The set-up lends itself to slice-of-life action sequels, but that means more research since I have to live with whatever I concoct in the beginning.

One word at a time ...

Whoa, just saw the word count on the co-authored work-in-progress: 103k. 

NICE. 

It's taken forever to get this far. It has survived kids in and out of school, loss of jobs, tornadoes, a move across the Pacific and "homelessness," death and countless hours/days/weeks of "I will never be motivated ever again." I'm super proud of this story, even if it never sees the light of day inside a bookstore

Hmm ... (novella thoughts)

The untitled short story/mini-novella languishing away on my computer has been titled. 

The Legacy Recruit: “Son of a Preacher Man”

5 summer favorites

1. Walking the dog after dark in shorts and T-shirt – it’s still warm enough.
2. Having the windows open all the time and fresh air in the house – unless the AC is on.
3. At the most, wearing only four pieces of clothing – no socks, no shoes ever.
4. Waking up to the sun shining in my window – I don’t like getting up before the sun.
5. Being able to banish the kids outside when they get on my nerves – if only they could play the Wii outside, too.

This morning I received the call no child ever wants to receive, especially not those of us who live a world apart from our parents, siblings, and family.

My Dad suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. As I type this I cry because I cannot be there to take my Mom into my arms and comfort her. I cry because I cannot hug my brother or assure my grandmother that despite my tears I will be fine. My father and I had different views on the afterlife, but I do hope and wish ever so deeply that he is allowed to rest in peace, knowing he was loved.

Papa, ich hab dich lieb. 

— feeling devastated.

#NewYearsResolutionIn5Words ...

I don't usually do resolutions, but 2016 will be a big year with important HUGE changes for us, so ...
"Be present in the moment."

Great idea, but ...

Genius idea: I'll buy one Hawaiian Starbucks mug every month this coming year, leave them unopened and when we move I will have a nice commemorative assortment. 

Less genius reality: there are only two or three Hawaiian motifs

Thank you

My next book will include the following dedication:    “Thank you, McDonald's Corporation, for providing me, simultaneously, with an office (albeit a really noisy one) and a safe, fully enclosed playground for the kid (with food options and bathrooms!).”

Christmas music

This atheist with pagan-Buddhist leanings loves Christmas music. 

As a writer I love lyrics. Christmas carols/hymns are replete with symbolism: light conquers darkness, the resurrection of hope in the birth of a child, the sacrifice of innocence through a violent death. The angst, the drama, and the tragedy of it all speak to me. 

I love Christmas music for its mighty emotional punch. I get goosebumps every time I hear my favorite song …
“… and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”

Goals

2013 goal: Return from self-imposed writing exile and write another book. 
2014 goal: publish that book.

2012 was grand

I started writing again. In fact, it was right around this time in 2011 that my self-imposed writing exile came to an end. What kept me from writing all this time? I’d like to say my struggle with depression was a major contributor, but it would probably be just as correct to say that my non-writing was a major source of my depression. They certainly went hand in hand. My failure to produce a finished STALKER, the sequel to THE PROTECTOR, weighed heavily on me, too. It wasn’t until just a short while ago that I considered my writing career completely stalled, which didn’t do much to lift the lingering effects of my depression either. 

In fact, it wasn’t until my very good friend and writing buddy agreed we needed to get some stuff published that I realized not only had we written and finished a contemporary novella, but we were nearing the end of our paranormal novel. 

Holy cow, not one, but two writing projects, conceived and written through e-mail and instant messages, both untitled as of yet: 100,000 words written between diaper changes, cooking meals, doing housewifely things and, in my case, homeschooling. 

Neither my friend nor I started writing with an eye toward publication. We just needed something to keep us busy and from going insane. It wasn’t really until the second half of the year, when we were both becoming increasingly frustrated with what the published world had to offer. Dang it, we weren’t even trying and we were doing better than some of those (self-pubbed) authors. Why not publish our stuff?

I’m quite happy to say that I think we’re ready to set out on the road to publication (after major edits). I may not have written the book I was trying to deliver for some years now, but I created two new characters every bit as fun as Mason Ward and Soren Buchanan (who will have their sequel told one day, for sure; it’s half written after all): the somewhat impulsive Journey Pendergrast and my most silent-waters-run-deep character yet, Anson Ardley whose first name was inspired by Xavier Axelson’s EARTHLY CONCERNS. 

Hang around and maybe you’ll find those two and their love interests on your favorite tablet or e-reader sometime in the not-too-distant future. 

2012 also brought a new addition to the family: Texas, the terrier-mix puppy, whom we rescued from the Honolulu Humane Society. Texas is an awesome dog. I like to call her a love-bug. She’s very affectionate and great with Ivy. She doesn’t mind the cats and is absolutely ball-crazy. We couldn’t have picked a better dog. Naturally, she’s a redhead. 

 

My cousins from Germany and France came to visit in the second half of the year and that was a lot of fun. It was so good to see family again. It’s been a while. Living in paradise does not make for cheap or easy travelling back home. 2012 also saw my parents Skyping for the very first time. We do talk on the phone regularly, but it’s so much nicer when you can look the other person in their grainy eyes. My parents saw their third grandchild live and in action for the very first time and Ivy, I am happy to report, loves talking to Oma and Opa on the computer.

All in all, 2012 was pretty awesome. 

I have a feeling 2013 will be even better.