Hi all! I missed you guys! Happy 2016! I hope everyone’s year is off to a great start!
So first, our vacation. It was good, but it got off to a bit of a rocky start. The plan was for all of us; me and Wizard, the three boys and their significant others to all to up to Paso Robles. Six of us stayed in a rented house, and two+Bailey in a dog friendly hotel. One of us had a stomach flu a couple days beforehand, one back problems and another a sick dog (not Bailey) and couldn’t come up until a day later. But we all got there eventually and had a great time! We discovered several wineries, and got to tour a wine cave which was really incredible.
I learned a lot about the process and passion that goes into wine making. They have private tasting room down there that was gorgeous but there were too many people in my way to get a picture. Plus two of my sons were bugging me 
Seriously they wouldn’t shut up, and kept making me laugh. FYI, one morning my oldest son showed me a totally inappropriate joke on FB to see if I would blush. I may have obliged him My kids are evil. And I know where they get it from. In this next picture you’ll see me laughing with Wizard. This is the real me with him — I can’t even remember what he said to me, but it was likely very inappropriate. Or he was making fun of my hair.
The above picture is Calcarious Winery, and it’s absolutely stunning up there. So pretty it took my breath away. There’s a long winding, mountain-like road to get up and down, and that’s where we met this guy:
Wizard and I then headed to Solvang. We planned to spend two nights there, doing a bit more wine tasting, and just hang out and walk around. But the weather was cold and wet, with a huge (for Southern CA ) storm in the forecast. We decided to cut our losses and head home the next morning. We’re so glad we did! The storm hit the next day and washed out part of the 101 freeway, which would have left us stranded. That was very fortunate for us! But not so much for all the people who did end up stranded.
We came home with four bottles of wine. (We aren’t big spenders, LOL)
Which we are saving for special occasions.
And now I’m back to writing, panicking and not sleeping. I took a serious wrong turn in this book and learned a hard lesson. Stop turning onto interesting side streets and TRUST MY STORY! Plus–have I mentioned this before?–I hate my process! It is such a mess until one day it magically comes together. I’m still waiting for that day. Although I read over some opening chapters and they don’t suck…so…fingers crossed!
As for New Year’s Resolutions, I only have one: Be the best version of me that I know how to be.
Okay tell me how you all are doing! Did you have a good New Year? Are things getting off to a good start? ARe you keeping resolutions?
January 8th, 2016 at 6:28 am · Link
HI! So glad you’re back. And I’m so glad you took the time off for yourself. It sounds like you had a blast. Love the pictures! Yes, trust your story and yourself. You’ll find your way back to the right path. And even though you hate your process, it works for you in the end because your books are awesome.
The New Year was quiet, which is always good. 2016 is starting off okay. Nothing spectacular yet, but it’s early. The only resolution I made was to buy and read one ‘new to me’ indie author a month. I bought the book. Now I have to find time to read it before the end of January. All I have to do is finish this edit for FG, start my next edits for IDW, finish the book I’m currently reading, and read the latest book in my friend, JB Lynn’s Neurotic Hitwoman series. Then I can read that other one. Yay.
January 8th, 2016 at 11:16 am · Link
Welcome home! Sounds like you had an adventure of the good kind.
I’m still fighting the upper respiratory crud I caught just after New Year’s. Was quiet for us, but it always is.
I have my line edits back for THE BOSS AND HIS COWGIRL and I got a peek at it’s cover yesterday. It’s PERFECT! The HQN cover faeries have been very good to me. I have the first 3 chapters written on the next RDR project (for the proposal) and I want to write 3 chapters for the proposal for what should be RDR#7, as it’s a Christmas story and I want to get it in ASAP in case there’s a chance of getting on this year’s Christmas release schedule. First, though, line edits. They’re due next Wednesday. Not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that Mr. HQEd has enough faith in me to do revisions in a week. *flail*
No resolutions but the Universe keeps sending messages about “Dream Bigger” so I guess that’s what I’l do. Now get to work and find your way back to the real story, you messy girl!
January 8th, 2016 at 12:37 pm · Link
B.E., thanks on my process and saying such nice things when I’m swimming in doubt lake right now
But this really is normal for me.
Even though I had my computer with me, and played around a bit, getting away is always a good thing!
You have quite a list of things to do this month! But I do love your resolution of reading one new indie author a month. That’s a good one! I used to read several books a week but now I’m much slower. Back to you — 2016 will be a great year for you!
January 8th, 2016 at 12:45 pm · Link
Silver, oh no on your upper respiratory crud! I’m seeing on my FB page today that quite a few people are sick. I hope you get well soon.
We really did have a nice time, and I’m developing more and more of a palate on wine tasting which is fun. However I’m still a rank amatuar next to my middle son and his girlfriend.
Congrats on the awesome cover!! When can you share it? I can’t wait. I’ve really been enjoying your RDR series.
I have faith in you too. These are line edits not full revisions, right? You can do it! Well unless the respiratory crud slows you down. And your editor would totally understand that.
Dream Bigger is a great resolution!
January 8th, 2016 at 4:35 pm · Link
Very glad that you’re home safe and sound. Funny how intuition works ;). It would have been horrible if you had been caught up in the washed out roads. I feel just awful for all the people who have suffered through all the crazy weather.
Looks like you had a great time. I love the photo of you and Wizard. Hubs and I hold hands all the time too ;).
Four bottles of wine is nice. You cracking one open tonight? Oh, forgot to ask, is every one all 100% now (including the pup)?
Did you go get Pop Tart? I’m sure you didn’t be what a cutie.
No resolutions for me. I’d only break them. I do intend to smile while driving. Ever notice how miserable people look while behind the wheel? I don’t want that to be me ;).
Have a great weekend!
January 8th, 2016 at 9:40 pm · Link
Viki, I feel bad for all those people too! The weather was crazy and supposedly El Nino will bring us more this year. But other parts of the country are getting hit worse.
We’re saving the good wine for a while…we’ll eventually crack it open.
Everyone is okay. Oldest son is fully recovered, Special K’s much better, and Roxy (the dog) is in full remission. She still has a to have chemo for a few more weeks, but the cancer is in remission which is awesome news. She’s a really sweet girl and we’re all thrilled.
No I didn’t go get Pop Tart
I ‘d love to have done it though!
What a great revolution! I’d really never thought about it, except that I know I can get cranky while driving so it makes sense
Hope you have a great weekend!