A little update-ish thingamajig

Hey yo! Soooo wow. It's been two months since I updated this beyotch. And, let's be honest. It's been SIX MONTHS since I posted about something other than a contest or a celebration for a writing friend's good news.

Whoops.

I kept telling myself I would write something when I had something to say. Something other than a regular little generic post that I used to write just to keep this little blog looking current. Because, really? Who likes reading those things? NOT ME.

I got into blogging to connect with other people. And to journal my writing journey. And I DID connect with people! I found CPs and friends and my life got so much fuller! But I learned something, too. It's HARD to blog about the truth of the writing journey if your blog is public. Because there are SO many disappointments and frustrations and things that are worth venting over--but the further into this awesome community I found myself, the more I realized I didn't want to post about those things. Staying positive became important to me, putting a positive face forward.  Which is great and all, but it doesn't mean I always had things to blog about. Because another thing about this journey? It can be so repetitive, even as each step along the way brings growth. Still though, it goes: write, revise, repeat. Critique, query, take that next step in your career. Learn lots of stuff along the way--but discover that everyone else seems to be learning the same things along their own journeys, based on their much more eloquently written posts about the very things you were about to post about, ha.

Anyway, I think that's enough rambling about all that. SO. Here's a Sara update:

I'm working on my fifth book. Well, working in the loosest sense of the word, because I've got some Big Life things going on :) But this book. This fifth book. When I'm finally finished writing it and revising it and revising it some more, I swear I'm going to try to further my career with this one. It's time. I mean, I had a couple close calls with representation for the first book I ever wrote. (Which, thank goodness, were only close calls because that book? Oh mans, I will always have love for it, but I'd be verrrry embarrassed if it had ever been published.) Except, since then, I've gotten into this bad habit of writing books and then just shelving them. Or maybe it's not a bad habit. Maybe I've grown enough as a writer to understand that as much as I love the books I've written, I've also known deep down that they weren't strong enough to start my career with.

This book though? Book number five? I'm even going through one of those standard writer "ugh my book sucks and it needs so much work already and . . . just . . . ughhhhh I suck at life and writing" moments, and still deep down I know it has the potential my other ones have been missing.

So, yay! Now I just have to find the energy to get back into a writing groove even with the Big Life stuff. Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay?

As for this blog? I've been thinking about shutting it down, because it's just been collecting so much dust, but I think I won't. I also, though, won't start posting more regularly JUST to have content here. Because you'd know and your eyes would glaze over while you read, yanno? Plus if I take the time to put effort into writing something? It's gonna be to finish book 5 :) I will, however, post when I have things to say. Hopefully more regularly than every six months.

In the meantime, you can find me on tumblr (omg please find me on tumblr; I'm falling in love with it--it's so much fun!), pinterest, and twitter.

♥S

The Perks of Being a Bad Rememberer

My memory is $#!T.

There. I said it.

I mean, you guys, it's bad.

Some things I remember with absolute clarity*. But other things? It's like peering through the thinner parts of a strand of cotton candy. I can see what I'm trying to remember, but only through a kind of sticky haze.

Which, yanno, to put it lightly, sucksssss.

source

But this actually isn't a post to whine or lament about that cotton candy piece of my conscious. Because here's the thing: there's one area of my life where having a shoddy memory actually works to my advantage. And it's one of my favorite areas.

Here's a hint:

source

Yep. BOOKS! Don't get me wrong, I hate when my friends start discussing books and, even though I've read them, I can't really contribute much because I can't really remember much. Character names. Secondary plots. Character motivations and reactions. (I could go on and on.) Even with books I've loved.

BUT.

It also means I get to reread my favorite books over and over again without their stories ever losing their sparkle.  Because of my crapy memory, reading the first page of a book for a second time is like slipping back into an amazing dream that's gone a little wispy around the edges--and sometimes in even more so in the middle.

It's awesome, getting to rediscover so much.

It's the one area I feel bad for people with amazing memories. Sure, they still reread for pleasure--but it's never as close to the first time for them. Because they remember too much. Which is something I rarely have a problem with.

Of course, I do remember some things. Endings, major plot twists . . . Those are almost impossible to forget. But man I love that second reading when little forgotten details jump back out at me. Secondary characters reshape among the pages. Plot threads begin to weave back together. I get to re-fall in love with the love interest. I'd never complain about that. I get a second, third, fourth (all right, maybe not fourth . . . by the second or third readings, usually books are more cemented in my mind) chance to love books like the first time I read them. 

And here's something else about me:

Just watch, now that I've admitted how bad my memory is, it'll suddenly get awesome. That's how things seem to work with me. I tell someone I'm one way--because I am--but then I end up changing, either down the road or right away. It's all very confusing, but kinda makes sense at the same time, I guess. Like when you evaluate yourself in some way, you become more attuned to that aspect. How can it not change or shift in some manner with all that attention? That's why I try not to make blanket statements about myself, because they never end up staying the same. But in this case? I'm hoping for it. :) 

♥S

*I felt the need to add that statement 1) because it's true, and 2) I suddenly got nervous. What if I'm called to witness something in court someday and somebody uses this post to discredit what I say?!  So let me clarify here: I don't ever lie about what I can't remember. 

Sara A-Z

I first saw this survey on Alison Miller's blog, and she found it via Katy Upperman!

Here we go!

A is for age: Ummmm . . . How old do you THINK I am? I'm always curious about this! Leave your answer in the comments--and I promise nothing will offend me!

B is for breakfast today: Special K with Berries! 

C is for currently craving: MEXICO. I want to go back. Like, right now.

D is for dinner tonight: Something bad for me. I ate really healthy for six weeks before my trip and I am ready to CHEAT.

E is for favorite type of exercise: Dancing! Hip hop is my fave. 

F is for an irrational fear: Dying. I'm terrified of it. To an unhealthy level. 



G is for gross food: Chicken breasts. (Trust me. Get Salmonella even once and you'll be agreeing with me.)

H is for hometown: Fairfax, VA, baby! 



I is for something important: My family. 

J is for current favorite jam: Until We Bleed by Andreas Kleerup--It's one of the songs I've built into my playlist for the WIP I have planned for when I'm done with my current one. Don't know the song? Don't worry. I'm going to blog about it soon with a video for your enjoyment!

K is for kids: Don't have any yet--but someday, someday . . . 

L is for current location: My couch in my living room. 

It's sad. I spend so much time here (even though I have a desk, this is where I do most of my writing) that there's a big Sara-sized dip in my usual spot. All the cushion has been worn out. Hmmm . . . I wonder if there are any companies that will re-cushion couches?

M is for the most recent way you spent money: We just bought house! Which I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT.

 If everything goes as planned (omg keep your fingers crossed for me PLEASE!) we'll be moving in at the end of the month!

N is for something you need: About five ten fifteen more hours in the day?

 (Stole this answer straight from Alison!)

O is for occupation: Writer! 

P is for pet peeve: Intentional rudeness. Nothing sets my teeth further on edge. That, and lies.

Q is for a quote: "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." (Hellen Keller) (More on this in a blog post coming later.)

R is for random fact about you: I have a weird thing with numbers on digital clocks. If I check the time, I have to make the numbers add up from 1 to 10. Take 12:36 for instance.  1, 2, 3, 1+3=4, 6-1=5, 6, 6+1=7, 6+2=8, 6+3=9, 6+3+1=10. (Thankfully this doesn't happen when I check the time on my phone!)

S is for favorite healthy snack: Fruit! Kiwis! 



T is for favorite treat: Anything with melted cheese. 

U is for something that makes you unique: My tattoos! Here's one of them! My ensō. 

V is for favorite vegetable: Cucumbers.



W is for today’s workout: Zumba! Tonight! I'll be a sweaty disgusting mess and LOVING IT.

X is for X-rays you’ve had: Yeah. Too many to count. I used to be a gymnast, and danced my whole life . . .  



Y is for yesterday’s highlight: STILL BEING IN MEXICO! (With Cambria and our hubbies!)

Z is for your time zone: Eastern.

Your turn! Take this survey and come back to share the link with me!

Sara's Law

Murphy's Law 
A supposed law of nature  . . .   to the effect that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. (source)

NOT to be confused with:

Sara's Law
A real law of nature to the effect that if anything can make a situation awkward, embarrassing, clumsy, and/or stupid sounding Sara will make it awkward, embarrassing, clumsy, and/or stupid-sounding. 

Yep. This is me EVERY TIME. 

On the real. I can take any situation and pull Sara's Law into effect. Even the simplest of situations. Like, for example, reading on my Kindle. No joke, three days ago, I managed to self-inflict an injury via Kindle reading. And I'm not even talking about dropping it on my head while reading lying down. Nope. I injured my hand. While reading. I mean, seriously, who does that? I can't bring myself to give the details, they're too embarrassing, but needless to say, I'm CLUMSY.

Or take social situations. I have basically two modes. Painfully shy in which I can't even make myself speak, much less make eye contact--because I totally suffer from analysis paralysis (in which I question my every thought or opinion and always end up convincing myself I'm wrong). But I mostly prefer that to the other mode: When I make myself talk and then end up looking back on conversations and wanting to murder myself because I spoke without thinking and sounded like a freaking idiot.

You know what I'm talking about? Like driving on autopilot, when you're suddenly at your destination but don't remember driving the last five miles? Yeah. I frequently get to the end of a conversation and have no idea how I got there. And can't fight the suspicion that I blew through a few red lights and possibly ran over a chicken along the way.

Granted, the better I know people the less awkward I tend to make situations. But even with my best friends--in the writing world and out--I'm basically guaranteed to stick my foot (all the way up to my freaking knee) in my mouth every so often at least once a week. Just ask them. Or better yet, don't. Chances are I'll share it here anyway. :)

So. There's today's little Sara tidbit for ya.

xo

10 MORE ways in which a casual observer might know I'm deep in drafting mode . . .

My FIRST post about the 10 ways in which a casual observer might know I'm deep in drafting mode, is HERE.

This list, however, is JUST as true . . . Unfortunately.

1. The longest verbal convo I've had in days is with my cats, during which I bounced new plot twists and directions off of them.

2. My text message and IM histories are full of random numbers. Which really come from word count updates sent back and forth with my writing friends. Texts to my husband on the other hand, frequently read: The number one rule for when you come home is to take a deep breath and not panic at the state of our house. It's all my stuff, all over the place. Don't worry. I'm going to clean it up . . . Soonish. Please don't divorce me. Love, Sara.

3. I've memorized pretty much every lyric ever written by Adele, Florence and the Machine, Taylor Swift, and 30 Seconds to Mars. Because of their relevance to my WIP. NOT from procrastinating. No way. *whistles innocently*

4. When asked, I STILL have to think about the last time I showered.

5. The Chinese place up the street greets me by name when I call to order delivery. Same with the Thai place. And the Mexican place. And Dominos.

6. Google search history now also comes up with "Will more than 5 red bulls in one day lead to a heart attack?" and "How much force does it take to break someone's nose?" and "Hawaiian curse words."

7. I get texts from my family just to make sure I'm still alive.

8. My legs get shaved exactly once a week. And only because I have an appointment with my personal trainer once a week. And only if I've run out of long workout pants. And THANKFULLY I usually have a pair or two of workout capris, so I only have to shave to my knees. (Yes, as a matter of fact, this IS my husband's fave part of my writing process.) (<--Sarcasm)

9. I begin to think I'd look good with dreads. Because given the condition and shape of my hair, I'm halfway there as it is. PROOF:

The hubs took a pic of me from his iPad . . .

The dreads are on their way.

10. I start to accidentally call my cats by the names of my characters, the same way some mothers mix up the names of their children. And I do this to my husband from time to time as well. But really, don't you think he should take it as a compliment because the main boy in my book is smokin' hot? I mean, except for the times I accidentally call him my MC's name. Because she's a girl.

~S

Well hello, stranger. (With pictures!) (And winners!)

Holy guacamole, you guys. I feel like it's still early November. HOW is it that Christmas is basically knocking at the door? Jeez. Seriously.

Wait.

I mean...

YAY!

Because I love Christmas. I love this entire season. It's just . . . it's flown by! I haven't updated here in forever. (Which, okay, is really only twenty days. But STILL. I've missed you.) The past few months have been jam-packed. Don't get me wrong, I've been having fun. BUT I'm still sitting here scratching my head, wondering where all the time went.

So. Here are the things I've been up to:

1. WRITING. This WIP. Ohmygoshiloveitsomuch. But it. is. killing. me. My characters are a little out of control, and they keep forcing me in directions I didn't want to go in. But, you know, I follow them just to see what they think will make this story good. And usually they're right. Except I keep having to make changes and cut away HUGE chunks and rewrite. And I'm only drafting at this stage. But seriously? I'm LOVING EVERY SECOND. Because these characters are just. so. special to me.

2. I went to Jamaica for Thanksgiving!! I got bronchitis while there (ugh it lasted FIVE days), but it was still the best vacay I've ever been on. (Plus, the bronchitis helped me to quit smoking. Three weeks down and going strong, baby!)

Swimming with dolphins? Freaking awesome experience.

We saw this nurse shark while snorkeling. Honestly. Scared the &%^$ out of me.

The sunsets? Yeah, pretty much out of this world. 

This is just for the few of you who don't believe I have naturally curly hair :)

3. I had my 3 year wedding anniversary! And with my vast three years of marriage knowledge, I can say this: Marriage is amazing and difficult and complete happiness and always evolving with high highs and low lows and takes a ridiculous amount of work. And it is the most fun I've ever had in my entire life. Especially these days.

The past three years have been a crazy, stomach-dropping, exhilarating ride.
I can't catch my breath, and I love it.

4. WORK. I've been working a lot at my (usually part-time) day job. It's an awesome place to work, everyone there is for serious awesomesauce. But dang does a full day's work take toll on my creativity. Mad props (oh yeah, I totally did just use that expression) to everyone who writes and works full-time. Respect.

ALSO. I need to pick winners for my Tangled Tides giveaway! I'm so sorry I dropped the ball on this. In fact, to make it up to you guys, I'm going to give away three copies instead of two.

Aaaaaand the winners are:

Katie

Krispy

Linda G

Congratulations! You should have an email from me asking for your mailing address, so send it to me, and I'll get the FABULOUS books out to you ASAP!

I hope everyone's doing well and enjoying the holiday season! Or the winter season. Or whatever! I'll be back soon(ish). 

xo

Everyday I'm Shufflin'

1. I spent the first two weeks of August with my family in the Outer Banks. The beach. One of my most favorite places in the world.

2. I've never been on a two-week vacay before.

3. It was freaking amazeballs.

4. When we got there, my parents took one look at all my suitcases and told me it looked like I was MOVING to the beach (I wish) and teased me about overpacking.

5. I told them I had exactly enough to wear and that they'd be the ones who wished they packed more.* And, seriously, what did they mean "excess?" Who doesn't bring three pairs of shades to the beach? (And pick up another pair while there?)

6. I spent half my time dancing around--because, how can you not dance around at the beach?

7. And half my time watching the water, thinking. About life. And my WIP. And, you know, deep things. (Pun totally unintended and only discovered after rereading this post . . . )

8. My husband did not spend half the time thinking about deep things.

9. I read a LOT of books. And yes, they're kind of an eclectic mix. But y'all. The Passage? I mean, I don't read a lot of non-YA lit (which you'd never know based on the picture, ha) but o.m.g. The Passage was AWESOME.

AND I read even more on my Kindle . . .

10. We ate TONS of fresh seafood. And never got sick of it. Fresh grilled tuna steaks, turned into tunafish salad the next day. Grilled swordfish. Mahi Mahi sandwiches. Shrimp and grits. I even tried steamers for the first time. OMG YUM. That's all I have to say about that.

11. The title of this post is literal, not just a reference to LMFAO. Seriously, we played cards for hours each day. Sevens, Oh Hell, Mi Mi . . . Ten points to anyone who's ever head of any of those games. They're superb. But so so so little known.

12. The title of this post IS also an LMFAO reference. Because I saw them in concert with Kesha last Sunday. Superb time. Blog post to come with pics!

So tell me: Have you been on vacay this summer? How have your Augusts been? Have you ever played any of the card games I mentioned?

xoxo


*I was wrong. They were right.

Somethings are worth giving up on. Others are not.

Truth: I've had a pear-shaped few weeks.

Truth: I haven't been able to write. Like, at all.

Truth: It's not that I haven't tried. But I open my WIP and just stare at it. My mind hasn't been in the game. I end up typing a few words and then cutting them. And then cutting entire scenes, and my word count has just been . . . plummeting.

Truth: I've had a few thoughts about stepping out of the writing world.

Big Truth: It was tempting.

BIGGER TRUTH: Further thought about quitting made me miserable.

See, the thing is, things weren't pear-shaped because of my words--it had nothing to do with those. But I kept thinking I needed to simplify my life. And cutting out the writing would definitely give me more time to do so. But my world without writing?

I'd miss it like I'd miss a limb.

I'd miss it every time I read a book. The way I miss dancing every time I see a performance. The way I miss college when I'm back together with my friends.

Except way, way more.

Writing is a part of me. It's who I am. And today. This week. This month. NOW. I am getting back to it.

Who's with me?

source

Photos and Math and My Quasi-Cross Country Trip Part II

So, we start with the total of my previous post on this. (HERE if you missed it.) And then...

PLUS
One beautiful sunset over the Rocky Mountains

PLUS
The Chapel at The Air Force Academy

PLUS
The absolutely breathtaking Garden of the Gods

Pike's Peak in the distance

PLUS
My favesies part of the trip: The Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings, dating 800-1000 years old 

This was a storage bin made of sandstone slabs and used for storing corn, beans, and squash. The openings at the top and in the front were covered with thin stones, then sealed with adobe to prevent rats, mice, and weevils from entering. 

The area behind the rooms was used for a trash area. They also kept some of their turkeys penned up in it, to feed from the refuse areas. Also, in the winter, burials were made in the the trash piles, which were easy to dig in. When a body was buried there it was surrounded by perfectly dry material, such as ashes, dust, corn cobs and tassels and turkey droppings. The chill of winter prevented decay and the body simply dried out and became mummified. As long as no moisture reached it, it would remain unchanged for centuries. 

This circular pit was the sacred kiva and was used by the men as a ceremonial chamber. Sacred articles were placed in the square openings built into the wall. The small hole in the floor is a symbolic opening in the earth called the Sipapu, and served as a passage way for the spirit of the person to enter and exit at birth and death.
100% chance I'm writing this into a story someday . . . 

This structure was a four family, four room home. The large rectangular openings are doors, the smaller is a window. (The window is closed with a window stone--the doors were closed with door stones.) The small pegs sticking out from the top of the structure were used to hang meat and vegetables to dry in the sun. 

"Their history disappears suddenly from the archeological record in the late 1100 AMD. No Pueblo Indian group living today can trace their lineage back to the Mimbres Indians."
FASCINATES ME.

PLUS
Approximately ONE MILLION shots of me trying to capture scenery in the shades.
Because I'm deep like that.

cloudsies

treeeeeees

PLUS
3 free beers at the Coors Brewery

My personal fave...  

PLUS
14,110 feet up on PIKE'S PEAK, baby
My pictures don't do it justice.
Not even close.
Also, I couldn't breathe that high up and got dizzy.

It was fun.

PLUS
6,626 feet above The Royal Gorge.
Whom I lovingly refer to as George.

Yep. I totes walked across this. 

EQUALS
One amazeballs trip. I can't wait to go back to Colorado. I'll def be doing Nashville and Memphis again someday.

You should too.

Let's go together.

*reaches out hand*

Photos and Math and My Quasi-Cross Country Trip Part I

Start with:
Two ridiculously cute kitties.
(And my sister and her husband and me. But still. LOOK at these little cuties.)

MINUS
one attempt to eat BBQ. The line was too long, so we got hot dogs instead!

(Pictures taken in Nashville, where I got to meet up with the one and only CJ Redwine! We didn't meet downtown and I didn't get any pictures, but I SWEAR it happened! She's just as sweet and funny in person as she is online!)

PLUS
one trip to visit The King

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Elvis played songs for friends on this piano the day he died

RIP

Taking Care of Business :)

PLUS
The Peabody Marching Ducks

Me and Liz pretending we're ducks... 

PLUS
One amazeballs day/night in Memphis

Huh?

Beale Street, Baby!

We're a little messy when we eat ribs.
But, dude, they were SO GOOD.

All cleaned up!

Fabulous Johnny Cash cover band!!

And this... pretty much shows you how our vision was working by the end of the night...

MINUS
A day in Kansas City which I spent vomiting. Due to a little thing called Salmonella. I still can't eat chicken. (No pictures) (You're welcome)

PLUS
A day in Dodge City, where we played around at Boot Hill & Front Street  for a while.

Ummmmm... Creepy

Pretty!

Wyatt Earp!! SO COOL.
Yippy Ki Aye
And, okay. That doesn't really make sense to say. But I still wanted to say it. Because it's western. Right?

We went from here to here

A kinda pretty wreath, right?
Until you click on the picture to make it bigger, read the caption below it, and find out:
IT'S MADE FROM HUMAN FREAKING HAIR.
*barfs*

PLUS
Santa Fe Trail Tracks

Just thought these little flowers were pretty... and also random. 

PLUS
Colorado!

CO pictures will be in my next post...

Because omg.

This post is already so. freaking. long. I'm sure your eyes are blurred. And I heart you, so I want to save your eyesight. Because I'm so nice.

(It might also have to do with it taking forever to put pictures in here... But that's neither here nor there.)

QOTD: Other than the state you live in, which state did you visit last, and what was your favorite thing about it?

AOTD: The last state I visited was Kentucky--which was NOT a part of my Colorado trip. We went over Easter weekend to visit el hubster's family. Which was my favorite part :) That, and the horse races!