Taking the Plunge ~ Darlene Jones!

As some of you may know, my partner and I are taking the plunge (I hope, not literally) and swapping our house for a luxury live-aboard narrowboat and a less stressful existence – depending on whether we give our various offspring our mooring location.

While at the boring stage, selling the house and selecting the hull, I thought it might be fun to invite other people to join me to talk about their own life-changing events, major decisions or physical activities they might have had to psyche themselves up for.

Without further ado, I would therefore like to welcome Loveahappending.com featured author, Darlene Jones, who judging by her profile pic is certainly not someone to back away from a challenge.

Over to Darlene ~ Getting to Grips with The Great Wave:

We're not baby boomers. We’re baby zoomers. Like the Mazda ad says, “Zoom. Zoom. Zoom.” We zoom on a moving highway also known as the great wave.

I’ve been a life-long non-athlete, so what was I doing out in the ocean, body board in hand, with those huge waves pounding mercilessly towards the shore and me!? It was all at the urging of friends who said enthusiastically, and with entirely too much good cheer for my liking, “Try it. It’s fun. You’ll love it.”

“Yeah, sure, right, whatever you say.” I’d been in the ocean a few times. I knew how small I felt up to my neck in the water, the waves looming on the horizon. I knew how scared I was as they crashed over me. I knew how wildly I scrambled for shore, abandoning the water for the gentler, not to mention safer, pursuit of sea glass hunting. But, I persisted, and with the patient and cheerful coaching of my friends, learned to body board.

“Way to go,” they shouted, with each successful ride. “Way to go,” I echoed with the thrill of the second and third push that whipped me into shore. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom.

“Why aren’t you catching the waves?” my friends asked as we stood in the water with our boards a few weeks later.

“They’re not big enough.” Laughter erupted around me. I laughed with them.

The cool exhilaration of boarding—an incredible gift from my friends.

About the Author

A long time ago, I lived in Mali. Every single day, I wished I could wave a magic wand to relieve the heart wrenching poverty. My experiences there led to the writing of this story. Some aspects of EMBATTLED reflect my desire to wave that wand and make the world a better place—if only wishes could come true. And of course, every novel needs its love story, so along with the sci-fi magic, I’ve added the requisite romance. Initially, I intended to write “a” novel. The story and characters took over and the ending of EMBATTLED demanded another. EMPOWERED is that “other.”

I've always believed we can't be the only beings existing in the vastness of the universe, There must be others “out there somewhere” and I'd like to believe they're not all that different from us. Those beliefs are reflected in my writing. My novels stay, for the most part, within the realities of our world, but I've found that I love the magic the sci-fi element of other beings could bring to a story. And no, the story is not quite finished. Watch for BOOK 3 -- EMBRACED coming this fall.

You can find Buy Links for Darlene's books at: www.emandyves.com

Find Darlene on Twitter: @darlenejones47 and Facebook

Taking the Plunge – Phase III… ish

For those that don’t yet know, my partner and I have decided to have our mid-life crisis in style and sail off into the sunset.  Despite one or two hiccups and distinct lack of sun, our plan to swap this:

 for this:

is still advancing full-steam ahead.  Whether to leave a forwarding address for our various offspring is still under debate, but the house is up for sale and the new boat-shell is at planning stage.

Alongside this, we’ve been sprucing up our little 37tft narrow-boat ready for sale, too:

Aquaduck is in situ in our now permanent mooring at Hanbury Marina and suddenly I’m reluctant to let her go.  Aside from all my hard-work, lovingly sign-writing her, black-bottoming her, crawling inside water tanks and down engine holes - me being petite but practical, my man says, looking admiringly on, coffee cup in hand, she’s stuffed full of memories.  I can’t help but reminisce about the many hours we’ve spent putt-putting along, viewing inner-cityscapes from a unique river perspective. 

Or chugging through wide-open countryside in all its rural glory – more often than not in torrential rain, but still, that comes with the territory. The places we’ve moored: city-centres for easy access to theatres and restaurants, quaint countryside pubs, happy to cater for the four-legged members of our family.  Weirs, perched precariously upon, unscheduled stop thereof, at which point the man pointed out – less admiringly, more panicky – how agile I was and gallantly assisted me up to the roof of the boat.  Wherefrom, he suggested, I sprout wings and clear the space between boat and overhead motorway bridge.

I’ll spare you the detail.  Suffice to say, being the determined sort – and averse to drowning, I did it, somehow.  Once perched on a really, really conveniently placed beam 50ft up and rope in hand, the man suggested I find a hole and tie the rope off.  The bridge is iron, I pointed out.  The beam is iron.  The only holes are filled with nuts and bolts.  There is no place to thread it through and tie it.

I’ll throw you the mallet and mooring pin, he yelled, a desperate edge to his voice now, as the fast-moving current threatened to sweep him to a watery demise.

What do you want me to do with them? I yelled back, equally desperate.

Hammer the pin the ground and tie the bloody rope onto it!

It’s concrete!! 

Well, tie it around your waist then!   

Let me put this into perspective:

Me:

Boat:

     

  

So, despite one or two hiccups, we’re still planning to …  Um…?

Cover Reveal: The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes

The world is about to be cloaked in darkness.
Only one can stop the night.

 

Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time?

About The Author:

Stephanie Keyes was born in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania and has worked for the past twelve years as a corporate educator and curriculum designer in the Telecommunications industry. She holds a Master's degree in Education with a specialization in Instructional Technology from Duquesne University and a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University. She is a classically trained clarinetist, but also plays the saxophone and sings. When she's not writing, she is a wife to a wonderfully supportive husband and mother to two little boys whom she cites as her inspiration for all things writing. The Star Child is Mrs. Keyes' debut novel.

Stephanie’s Website

Twitter Account: @StephanieKeyes

Facebook

Inkspell Publishing is offering a beautiful giveaway.  This Celtic knot designed antiqued bookmark will go fabulously with this book.  Enter NOW!

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Taking the Plunge ~ Phase II

So, in case you haven’t heard, not only have I been writing for a bazillion years, which possibly makes a little bit crazy, my partner and I have also decided on a life-changing event that probably confirms it.

We're Swapping this...                                    ...for this!

                                                                              

Please see previous blog for further mind-boggling info: Taking the Plunge

The house goes up for sale today (every nook and cranny of sparkling so brightly Mary Poppins would be impressed).  Sadly, our little 30ft narrowboat goes up for sale, too.  She’s been with us for a good fifteen years now, through many an adventure, including said sinking and subsequent salvaging.  She has a nice new bottom she’s quite proud of.  A new shower, galley, and posh new loo.  She’s looking good and I shall be sad to see her go.

Here's to AQUADUCK, a dear old friend.  May she have many voyages ahead of her.  (Please excuse the posey person in the photos.  She muscles in everywhere, I swear).

Yes, it’s scary – in an exciting way.  The thing is, though, I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge, thus my determination to do or die trying to get my books out there.  I’ve got to the point in my life, however, where I want – no, need – to stop prevaricating and make it happen.

If I could do this (and, trust me, this time I was truly scared. If it hadn't been for charity, I would have bailed out, rather than jump out!), 

I can achieve my ambition to live a more leisurely way of life.  To stop, smell the roses and enjoy.  OK, yes, we’re retaining a small flat as a failsafe (should the confined space drive us to want to commit murder), but we are going for it! 

Wish us luck. 

More terrifying tales of things I’ve done and didn’t realise I could do next time.  Meanwhile, do you have a dream?  Have you ever toyed with a life-changing plan and then taken the plunge? 

I’d love you to share.  And, please do check back as I share my own progress along with my fabulous publishing journey. 

Taking the Plunge...

Am I mad? A question a writer might ask themselves on a regular basis.  The answer to which Is quite possibly yes.  To keep writing and submitting in the current tough publishing climate does require a degree of (quoting Oxford concise English) ‘wild foolishness, great energy, intensity, enthusiasm, eagerness’.  My musings often spill forth on to paper as those of a disordered mind.  But… wait!  My feverish determination to do, or die doing, paid off!  My I‘ve got nothing to lose, not even my reputation attitude when approaching wonderful Safkhet Publishing turned my often shattered dream of being published in the UK into a reality.  Yesss!  Recipes for Disaster, a sexilicious Romantic Comedy written around delicious and fun recipes, is published and doing well.  I have a further three book-contract! Three books!!!     

Covers for Naked Fully Clothed and A Little Bit of Madness

coming soon!

Books I’ve slaved over, sweated over, cried and laughed over; taken on every piece of constructive criticism to improve, even employing editorial help via the RNA, are finally seeing the light of day.  I’m a writer, yet cannot find an appropriate word to describe how I feel.  Euphoric would come close.  Life, I’d decided, you see, is too short to pour so much precious time into something that, despite all efforts, might remain a pipedream.  Safkhet saved me.  Could I really envisage giving up something which is fundamentally a part of me, my writing?  I’m glad I didn’t, even if it does make me little bit … intense.

On which note (the life being too short bit.  A fact most people wake up to one day), I am now wondering if I might have slipped over the edge into complete insanity.  I’m giving up this:

For this: 

Yep, we’ve decided to spend six months a year cruising, six months in situ at our mooring in the harbour, water on tap, electricity ditto, and open countryside views outside our portholes.  We’re retaining a small flat in Worcestershire as an investment and insurance against the worst winter can throw at us ~ and going for it.  Life really is too short to mow lawns, decorate and clean a house we don’t enjoy, we reckon.  It might make us mad, but we’ll be happy with it.

And, yes, we have boated in all weathers, bent props, been weed-bound, sunk and fallen overboard, so we know what we’re in for.  Oh, and of course we absolutely will give our children our location once under sail … possibly. 

Do you have a dream?  Have you ever toyed with a life-changing plan and then taken the plunge? 

I’d love you to share.  And please do feel free to check back as I share my own life-changing progress along with my fabulous publishing journey. 

Goodreads Review ~ The Silver Locket

The Silver Locket by Margaret James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The year is 1914. Rose Courtenay is an eighteen year old girl, who in keeping with her upper-class upbringing, is expected to do no more than marry a man of similar social standing, who will be able to ‘form her opinions for her’. With aspirations to go to university, it is clear that Rose has valid opinions of her own. It is also apparent that, though she thinks Michael Easton, the man chosen as suitable by her parents, is handsome, Rose does not feel the same flutter of excitement she experiences in the presence of Alex Denham, a most unsuitable, sullen man: the fruit of his mother’s scandalous affair and who has no social standing. Denying her attraction and stifled by her dull existence, Rose runs away, determined to do more with her life than be a good wife. Thus, we follow Rose’s progress as she volunteers at a hospital – something she is ill-equipped for, finally to end up a dedicated and proficient nurse seconded to the front line. Her flaw, of course, is that she did not consider the devastation she would cause her parents, disappearing without a trace.

Meanwhile, in the muddy, lice-infested pits that serve as trenches, Alex and Michael are fighting side-by-side to defend that front line. Alex is Michael’s superior and though Michael is a gentleman he is not a noble man. Alex, on the other hand, has many heroic qualities; embarking on an affair with Rose while married to another woman perhaps not being one of them, unless, of course, one pauses to consider why he would immediately offer to marry a woman he didn’t love, who claimed to be carrying his child. Because of the stigma he carried as a child born out of wedlock possibly?

What makes The Silver Locket outstanding, for me, is the excellent portrayal of what life might have been like for those poor souls in the trenches and for the medical staff that fought tirelessly to care for them when their bodies and spirits were broken. The author obviously put a tremendous amount of historical research into the writing of this book, and managed to relay it – seamlessly – in a way that was compelling, accurate and thought-provoking. Margaret James tells a beautiful story of love, of tragedy and hope.

I got the silver locket link. I also purchased The Penny Bangle.



View all my reviews

Dizzy C's Little Book Blog: Review - Recipes for Disaster - Sheryl Browne

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