Happy Birthday to My Mom!

It’s my mom’s birthday!! She is 54 years old today, an amazing, loving, glowing, giving, woman who makes me smile every time I talk to her. She loves unconditionally, has faith when mine runs low, and always has a place for me at her table. She manages my mood swings, celebrates my successes, and tears up when I cry. She may have been a teenager when she had me, but she has always been nothing less than an amazing mother to me.

She gave me her heart when I was born and has let me carry it around with me everywhere I go. The day I left for college was our longest day, it tested the stretch of her heart lines, it tested the strength of our bond, and the lessons she had imparted to me. But during those four years and more than a decade later her heart is still with me. It rides with me in traffic to my office, sits with me on my back steps and sips coffee on lazy mornings, it flies with me and meets her in various places around the world.

I never feel better than when I am with her, sipping, chatting, laughing, sunning, splashing, whatever the world may bring to us that day. I always enjoy it even more with my mom by my side.  

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you more than you might know, but never more than you will deserve.

A little Applause for Fellow Author: Amanda Hocking

This week has been a busy one for me, but the bright spots in my long days have been making progress on Book 3 in my own Mercer Legacy series and reading Amanda Hocking’s new book Wake. For my own books, I’ve added some more details about a new character and drafted another chapter. Every page I finish puts us all one step closer to knowing how Lyla’s journey will end, including me. J

So on to the book I’m reading. I’ve long awaited the release of Amanda Hocking’s new book series Watersong and specifically the first book Wake. To be honest, I wanted to read the book to see if I could detect changes since her contract signing. I am excited to say that I don’t see a difference. Amanda has an earthy real quality to her writing that captures her wit and personality. I saw this quality in Wake right away (think llama reference) and that made me smile.  I loved that a professional editing, marketing, and publishing staff has not changed the writer that Hocking has always been.

Amanda is one of those truly talented people in the world whose ability surpasses the masses of classmates I’ve had. I have always been very impressed with her drive, forethought to dive right into self-publishing when so many others (myself included) were sitting on the banks considering dipping a toe in the water, and her undeniable ability to create. She is a master of fantasy, pulling from zombies, faeries, mermaids, and even trolls. I’m so excited to be reading her newest series while I’m working on wrapping up mine.

Congratulations Amanda!! 

http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/