Free eBook on Amazon...Today Only!

Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Today only on Amazon!

Free ebook alert! Hanging Around for You is available on Amazon today only, expiring at midnight. Grab a copy and enjoy a young adult romance with a side of gingerbread house, and I mean that literally.

See, the family had every intention of decorating the cookie ski chalet from my childhood cookbook, given to me in 1976 by my grandparents. Oh, how I used to love baking and cooking! I made this when I was a kid and wanted to recreate a similar experience for the holidays with my favorite peeps...

 

Betty Crocker's Cookbook for Boys & Girls (1975)

Cookie Ski Chalet, page 40

 

Earlier, we stirred up the dough, measured and cut the pieces, baked them, and then right before the frosting and decorating...well, all I can say is: FAIL.

 

2020 Gingerbread House...Yum!

 

Not a fail like last year when the dog climbed on the table and demolished our decorated houses made from a kit. No...a fail like we made the gingerbread from scratch. Big mistake! We were just too tempted to indulge. Nobody cared to play around with the candies and pretzels when molasses-flavored walls were under our noses. After a quick vote, we all agreed...let's eat!

So good...nom, nom, nom.

The moral of the story? Go eat a gingerbread house and read my book, Hanging Around for You.

Oh...and please support my writing by leaving an Amazon review! So very appreciated. :)

Merry Christmas, ya'll!

 

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"The essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail." ~Anon

 

 

Book #3: Third Sneak Peak

Book #3 remains a button push away from being published. So while I play the waiting game...here's a spooky blackout poem from page 3 of book 3 called Three.

 

 

"Their hell reached extra ears."

Three

Doodle Shapes Challenge

Doodle Addicts is hosting the Doodle Shapes Challenge where ten doodles will be chosen to win a copy of Nate Padavick's book below: 

Doodle Theory Anywhere!

by Nate Padavick

This challenge was so much fun for all of us, kids and adults, that I thought I'd share. You have a choice of three shapes to doodle on. You can print in color and doodle with traditional media--pencils, markers, paint--or go digital. What do you see? Turn the shape in any direction you want and transform the shapes into fun doodles. Upload at DoodleAddicts.com to enter the Chronicle Books contest, or check out their second contest on Instagram.

Shapes for the Chronicle Books Challenge

Scrumptious Dinner

Highly Annoyed Bird

Quails in the Sunset

Beware of Kissing Fish

Contest Entry

The contest will be open to voting on May 8th at 3:00 pm EST. Have fun!

Final Week: 2018 Heart Art Challenge

26.) The final countdown! It's the last week for this year's Heart Art Challenge. Today, my contribution is a blackout poem inspired by a Fibonacci sequence. The blackout poetry challenge this week was to create a poem with 6 lines and 20 words where each line is the sum of the two previous lines: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

FIBONACCI HEART

Stupid
called
to explain.
Do you believe
he said, I love you?
It's probably true, but there's more to it.

27.) For last week's blackout poetry challenge of Where in the Word: Name Your Favorite Place, I chose Mount St. Helens.

UNDER THE WEATHER

Mount Saint Helens had a cramp.

28.) This morning, on the last day of Heart Month, I took my dogs for a walk and came across a rock. It was sad, thoughtful, and cute all at the same time. In memory of squirrel. R.I.P.

A Rock with Heart

February might be on the verge of done, but I'll still be putting love out there. I'm chapters away from finishing my third Young Adult Romance, I'm creating more BIG heart corner-bookmarks to put in my shop, ESPIALdesign, on Etsy, and I'm still donating to the American Heart Association. I agree with whoever wrote this on the steps of the cathedral in Aachen, Germany...

#loveistheanswer

Week 4: 2018 Heart Art Challenge

19.) Happy President's Day! I decided to make a heart-healthy dessert today: crockpot applesauce with no sugar added...only apples, cinnamon, vanilla, a bit of lime juice (didn't have lemon) and some water. Tastes like yummy apple pie filling. Hmm, hmm good.

Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce

by Real Mom Nutrition

20.) Doxie love! I painted this several years ago and gave it to my mom in memory of a very special dog. Feeling nostalgic and grateful for pets today.

Zoey Over the Rainbow Bridge

21.) I was off the grid for the past several days--no wifi, no cable, no cell--while enjoying a rustic yet cozy cabin in Rhododendron, Oregon called Laughing Bear. I heart snow!

A John Steiner Cabin

22.) While on winter break, we went skiing at Timberline on Mt. Hood and tubing at The Summit. Hearth healthy exercise, right? Felt like it.

23.) While off the grid, we watched old movies, ate popcorn, and played a marathon of Apples to Apples. When I had some "me" time, I worked on a blackout poem...something creative, something I love to do.

24.) While the rest of the family went tubing at The Summit, I sat in the car with the dogs and worked on some writing projects. Tango was beside me with the light hitting his hair just right. I love this crazy mutt.

Tango with his mutton chops.

Cherrier-huahua

25.) Saying goodbye to the snow is equally hard and easy to do. Putting chains on tires while in a white wonderland...chaffing ski boots while gliding down a mountain...popsicle toes while drinking hot chocolate and Fireball. It's been fun, Mt. Hood! Loves ya!

Cold Snow, Warm Heart

SaveSaveSaveSave

2018 ESPIALdesign's Art for Heart Donations

Last year's donation (2017) to the American Heart Association from ESPIALdesign's Etsy shop was $26.00. Below is the running tally for the 2018 donation...gearing up for #GivingTuesday in November.

NARWHAL

I'm spreading wonder

With one word.

Sold!

1.) 4-Pack Heart Corner-bookmarks "I love coffee"
2.) 4-Pack Heart Corner-bookmarks "I love bees"
3.) Renew Blackout Poem
4.) Narwhal Blackout Poem
5.) 4-Pack Heart Corner-bookmarks "Love and Hearts"
6.) 4-Pack Heart Corner-bookmarks "I love bees"
7.) 4-Pack Heart Corner-bookmarks "Live for Adventure"

________________________

Total: $14.00

ESPIALdesign Shop on Holiday

Espial Design's Etsy shop is taking a holiday break until the beginning of the New Year. There will be skiing and sledding, reading and writing, and maybe even a little blackout poem-ing by the fireside. Please, check back in early January to see what's new.

In the meantime, feast your eyes on the uber-happy white baticorn...

SPIN IT

Spin a meaningful look into a chance.

______________________________________

"Merry everything and a happy always." ~ Unknown

New Stuff in the Shop!

I've posted new stuff on Etsy! I'm busy, busy in my little workshop these days, making notecards--now 25% off on Etsy until December 1st--and BIG heart-shaped corner bookmarks. They'll make great accessories for the book lovers in your life or really cute gift tags.

BIG Corner Heart Bookmarks

"I Love Coffee"

Jester Notecards with Envelopes

Inside and Out

Jester Notecards with Envelopes

Set of Six

Even though I made this blackout poem a month or so ago, it's new on Etsy and ready for a new home. It has a "good vibe" message sure to inspire!

With Vision

Under his feet,

The trail grew plentiful

With vision.

_________________________________

"It's not happy people who are thankful. 

It's thankful people who are happy!" ~ Alex DaPiata

Fabulous Five: Things to Do Instead of Writing

It's week one of Nanowrimo! How're we all doing out there? Writing too much and need a distraction? Prefer to procrastinate? I hear that! It's why I've decided to mention a few things you could be doing instead:

1.) Get out of the writing cave and replace the office chair with your couch. Invite your family and friends over, and get ready to play an awesome co-op video game called Overcooked. Stressed out and flipping burgers in an ill-designed kitchen equals immediate fun!

Overcooked

"You don't truly know a person until they've screamed bloody murder at you for failing to add a slice of tomato to a virtual burger bun." ~ Mark Walton with Ars Technica

2.) Instead of putting words onto paper, try covering them with a sharpie marker. Creating a blackout poem can be calming and therapeutic, especially when you should be writing.

Bounty

They help themselves to the open pocket.

Then hide behind the bounty.

3.) Create a November book reading challenge for yourself. How about pulling books off your shelf that have numbers in the title? 

November "Count Down" Reading Challenge

1. Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker*- New Adult
2. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan - Middle Grade
3. Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage - Middle Grade
4. Boy 21 by Matthew Quick - Young Adult
5. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson* - Middle Grade

4.) Speaking of reading, maybe you should spend some quality time crafting a decent bookmark. I highly recommend one for the corner, because it marks the actual page you're reading and when you pick up your book too fast, it flies out like a ninja throwing star. Cool, right? You can even make them shaped like hearts.

No, I Mean Ninja Throwing Star.

5.) Cook something tasty and treat yourself, but do it in a super adorable and time consuming way that will drive everyone around you crazy...sort of like Tiny Kitchen.

Tiny Donuts by Tiny Kitchen

When you get all that out of your system, you might be ready to visit Joanna Penn's blog post called Productivity for Writers: Five Ways to Become More Productive. Then, of course, go back to your office chair and write, write, write.

* A recommended read!

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"Don't get it right, get it written." ~ Ally Carter, Author

From Bulgaria with Love: Etsy Shop Open!

A Bulgarian Summer

I spent a wonderful summer abroad with immediate and extended family. We were in Aachen for a week, Paris for a week, and Bulgaria for six. We stayed in Sofia, Bansko, Plovdiv, Sinemorits, Tryavna, and Lovech. There was plenty of inspiration but no quiet time for writing. Instead, I did a little reading and a lot of blackout-poeming.

Home Again - Lake Washington!

42 New Illustrated Blackout Poems!

I came home with forty new blackout poems, leaving two behind in Sofia, Bulgaria. One I gave to our new friend, Stefan, and another I left with my mother-in-law, who likes cats.

Mountain Roads

Listen to my name on those mountain roads.

If I need to go somewhere, I drive.

Respect

Before you enlighten me about respect,

Flick the TV back on.

I uploaded several to my Etsy shop, ESPIALdesign, which is now open for business. 50% of the proceeds will go to a charity near and dear to me, the American Heart Association. Buy a blackout poem and support a good cause!

ETSY Shop Open for Another Week!

New blackout poems have been added to my ESPIALdesign Etsy shop for your shopping pleasure. If you're interested in purchasing, the shop will be open for one more week only, closing on June 26th. That's when I hang out my "Gone Fishin'" sign for the summer. Fear not, though, it will open again in early September. Until then, enjoy!

Challenge for Week 7: Name That Tune

Let Music Inspire You!

SNOW MISER

Remember Mr. Cool, Mr. Ten Below?

He clutched his palm and turned white.

I'm pleased to announce that I've sold quite a few! 50% of the proceeds go to a good cause, to the American Heart Association. If you're curious about what's selling, I'm currently keeping a running tally here.

Weekly Blackout Poetry Challenges

Check out @blackoutpoetrychallenges on Instagram for weekly blackout poetry inspiration! Anyone can participate, and if you do, don't forget to tag #bpchallenges so your work can be found by the group.

Challenge for Week 1: "Home"

No rules. What does home mean to you?

SNAIL STORIES

Her house was tugged through the grass to the clay.

She pulled herself, trying not to slip back on the worthless flower pot.

Challenge for Week 2: "Walk the Line"

All the words must touch in a vertical line.

SOON

He frowned at her,

Buckled his seat belt,

Patted the steering wheel. 
She loved his truck. Babe...so did he,

So he bit back the comment that soon,

He'd show her what his truck could really do.

Take the corners like a boss and sling mud.
"Ready?" he asked the truck.

Challenge for Week 3: "The Great Cover Up"

Blackout words using something other than pen, pencil, paint, or ink.

BUZZED ON THE COFFEE

Buzzed on the coffee,
Watching, busy, grinning.
Stop thinking!

Challenge for Week 4: "Rhyme Time"

PERFECT

The perfect shower

Was a long song.

Challenge for Week 5: "Tribe Tribute"

Pick your favorite blackout poet (bees__buzz)

and emulate their style

TRUST

It's about trust.

You need to step through the fire.

Challenge for Week 6: "Love Is..."

Use the phrase as your inspiration.

KISSING FISH

She kissed his lips,

And his world crumbled gently,

In the tender moment.

Currently, More Love in the Library

Right beside Dealing with Blue on a King County Library shelf, is its sister book, Riding with the Hides of Hell*. It's a young adult, adventure-love story packed with biker goodness--or badness--and is a great choice for a pool-side read. It's quirky, fun, and has a strong heroine who kicks butt, literally.

Riding with the Hides of Hell*

Next to Dealing with Blue

in the King County Library System

Riding with the Hides of Hell*

A choice read!

RIDING WITH THE HIDES OF HELL 

Desperately seeking acceptance from her father--a motorcycle club president--the adventurous Miki Holtz eagerly agrees to his request: drive his friend's injured son to Burnout Rally. Best call to duty she's ever had, since the son, the surly Will Sullivan, is her soul crush. But every time she's tried to make a love connection with him, there's been trouble. And as tough luck would have it, this bike ride is no different; dangerous rivals are lurking in the shadows ready to wreak havoc. Can Miki survive long enough to make Will see that she's his one and only while on a road trip from hell?

Here's my latest blackout poem from a recycled "proof" page of Dealing with Blue:

LOVE IS EVERYWHERE

The balloon couple 

Were starting to look romantic.

* Riding with the Hides of Hell has a new title: Burnout!

Currently, in Love at the Library

Want to delve into a teen love story this summer while you're basking in some vitamin D? Prefer something quirky, easy and fun? Dealing with Blue is now live at the King County Library! If you're local, whip out your library card and check it out.

Dealing with Blue in the

King County Library System

DEALING WITH BLUE 

Living with her mom and hiding secrets, the dutiful and loyal Suzy Blue yearns to break out of her claustrophobic home. The first step to freedom is getting her drivers license, and when her cute neighbor, J.J. Radborne, offers her a deal--help him make his ex jealous in exchange for wheels--Suzy jumps at the opportunity. Being his fake girlfriend wouldn't be a hardship. But too soon, pretending turns into love and complicates her plan. How can she stay when freedom means leaving her small town?

Here's my latest blackout poem from a recycled "proof" page of Dealing with Blue:

LOVE

A horrible idea was regret.

Say the word...tender, pulsing.

2017 ESPIALDesign's Art for Heart Donations

I enjoy doing these blackout poems so much that I have a decent sized collection brewing. Here's the latest:

THE WALL

Officially starting another observation of the wall.

It was an exercise in staring.

So...what to do with them all? Why not sell 'em? I tucked them into cellophane envelopes and then uploaded them to my new Etsy shop. The proceeds will be equally divided between the American Heart Association as an ongoing effort toward my Heart Art Challenge and publishing costs for book #3. Check out a sample of the goods below:

An Array of Blackouts

Check back for a running tally of the donations here.

___________________________________

SOLD!

Teapot

The Rain

Cat Man

A New Idea Is Born

The Wall

Start

The Universe

Little Fool

A Part of Me

There, I Said It

Secret's Out

Deep Root

Carried Away

 $26.00 paid to the American Heart Association (AHA) on 11/28/17 for #GivingTuesday.