UPDATE: The winner is…Eileen Airey!
*~*~*

I wrapped up my latest book a couple of days ago, and I have a huge To Do list of things to accomplish so I can start the next one. As well, I have tons of cleaning/organizing to do because I let things slide when I’m in deadline mode. But wouldn’t you know? All I want to do is chill for a few days.

I had recorded some “Christmas in July” Hallmark movies to watch in my down time, thinking it would be some mindless zen, but I didn’t like any of them. Either I didn’t like the plot, the hero, or the heroine. I think I’m just not in the right mood for all that sweetness. So, I also have all the Aurora Teagarden’s saved, and I thought I might binge through them although I’ve watched like the first six of them and still haven’t forgiven the show for getting rid of her first boyfriend. So, maybe I won’t watch those. I like the Mystery 101 series, too. So, maybe I’ll binge on those. Maybe. After thinking so much about it, I’m ready for a serial killer story.

Puzzle Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then answer this question in the comments below…

Do you enjoy Hallmark movies? Tell me your favorite one, and if you can’t remember the title, tell me what kind of Hallmark movie you enjoy!

UPDATE: The winner is…#11, Joy Boutwell!
*~*~*

It’s Puzzle Day! The image today is a personal photo of something I miss.

(Head down again now. I have a book to finish!)

Solve the puzzle then share something you miss! Comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! Have fun!

UPDATE: The winner is…Courtney Kinder!
*~*~*

It’s Saturday, so of course, I have a puzzle for you! The picture you’ll reveal after solving the puzzle is my summertime ideal—where I’d love to be, what I’d love to be doing.

Solve the puzzle and share whether this is something you’d love as well or share what your ideal summer activity would be for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! Have fun!

UPDATE: The winner is…Margaret!
*~*~*

Let’s just get started on my recap! I have a bunch of s**t to do today! ‘Kay? 🙂

June

Here’s what I managed to accomplish…

Work-related:

1. I completed writing and published Victoria’s Six—which I hated while I was writing it but love, love, love now! It’s funny how that works.
2. I completed 4 editing projects for other authors in June!
3. The bad news? I cancelled the release of Wild Thing. I simply could not squeeze in another book in June. My goal now is to push the book toward the end of the year, releasing it in November or December.

Health-related:

1. I have not climbed back aboard the Weight Watchers wagon. However, I maintained 25 pounds of my loss since January. Motivation is lagging…
2. As for physical activity, the pool is finally sparkling clear and warm! I’m swimming at least once a day, usually twice. The little ones don’t have to do more than show up at my door with a quivering bottom lip to talk me into joining them.

Happiness-related: 

1. After the #100DayChallenge ended in May, so did my artistic ambition. I puttered but painted very, very little. I’m embarrassed to share the “best” of what I produced, but here it goes…

July

Come hell or high water…

For work-related, I plan:

1. To complete and publish my next bounty hunter book, Gabriel!
2. To revise and compile the Danger Zone trilogy into a single bundle and get it ready for publishing!
3. To begin work on my next Brotherhood Protectors romantic suspense story.
4. To complete 3 editing projects in July!

For health related, I plan:

1. To restart Weight Watchers (count those points!) and hope to lose at least 5 pounds, remembering: Slow is good!
2. To swim at least one time a day!
3. To begin some low-impact aerobics. Maybe, I’ll do more housework, too. Gah.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To participate in an online #fodderchallenge beginning July 5!
2. To produce at least two finished pieces of art every week!
3. To blog about art (on my Emerald Casket site) just to keep myself honest! (No one actually has to read it!)

Contest

Solve the puzzle then comment on anything you’ve read in this post, share something you plan to do in July, or just tell me what you plan to read…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Open Contests

1. Scavenger Hunt! (Contest) — This one ends on Monday! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. The Weekend–Batman-style! (Contest) — This one also ends Monday! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest! Plus, More Open Contests! — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Michal Scott: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley — An Extraordinary Life In Her Own Words (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Cara!
*~*~*

It’s Saturday, and I have edits, edits, edits. Not the fun stuff. I can’t start the fun stuff (my next book) until I get this job out of the way. But onward!

Before we get to the puzzle, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who purchased and read Victoria’s Six. And thank you to all who posted reviews! They matter!

Puzzle-Contest

I chose today’s puzzle image based on the fact that today is International Day of the Seafarer! So have fun! Solve the puzzle and tell me who your favorite seafarers are for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Open Contests

1. The Saturday Puzzle-Contest! Plus, More Open Contests! — Have fun! — Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Scavenger Hunt! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
3. The Weekend–Batman-style! (Contest) — Win a FREE book!

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Ann Dean!
*~*~*

It’s Saturday after a long week of rushing to THE END of a book and finishing up edits for other authors. I took the last three days to clean my desk and office, re-jigger my calendar (so I’m ready for the next rush to THE END!), and make a really big To Do list.

I mentioned the string of bad luck we’ve had here at the Devlin house, right? Two long power outages, losing internet for an entire day, the AC crashing for days—well, add to that the dishwasher going on strike, too. Apparently, I’m the only one who knows how to wash dishes by hand. 🙄  I think I need to sage the entire house…

Anyways, today I plan to get two swims in, while cleaning our slightly greenish pool, work on a couple of sets of edits, and make some notes about what I want to have happen in the next MBH book—what funny takedowns my bounty hunters can do—wait, a second! Maybe you can help me with that…

Saturday Puzzle-Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, give me an idea for a fun or exciting takedown of a criminal that my bounty hunters can do! Doesn’t have to be a good idea, doesn’t have to take much thought. This is for fun, folks!

In the meantime, you do know I have a book coming out next Tuesday, right? Victoria’s Six is set in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Get a feel for the setting of the book by solving this puzzle! And if you haven’t already pre-ordered your copy, follow this link: Victoria’s Six

Open Contests

1. Saturday Puzzle Contest! And More Open Contests! — Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Sunday, and I’m pining for the beach… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Cameron Allie: .99 Cent Sale and Cover Reveal! Plus, a FREE story! — Everyone, get your FREE story!
4. Gabbi Grey: What It’s Like to Get the Call (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Cara North: Big Box of Paperbacks! (Contest) — Win a box of paperbacks!

UPDATE: The winner is…Colleen C.!
*~*~*

We had a 7-hour power outage yesterday due to heavy thunderstorms. It started in the morning and lasted well into the afternoon. We pulled the generator out of the shed to power the refrigerator and make cups of coffee (priorities!). Working by candlelight in my basement office was impossible. It’s a daylight basement. From the front of the house, you think it’s a one-story home. From the back, you see two stories. Well, my office is tucked into the way back of the basement and has no windows. I call it my “mole hole” and that lack of windows is perfect for a writer with W.A.D.D. (writer’s ADD).

However, my basement craft room has windows, so that’s where I settled. The light that reached my worktable was dim, but I had to do something. I’ll be cutting out the watercolor flowers for collaging so the ugly marks around them don’t matter (I didn’t like looking at all the white space!). The ink drawing was kind of fun. I used the dropper on my ink bottle to draw it. I’m going to practice with it more. So, not a wasted day. I learned something.

Puzzle Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what you want to read right now! (My picture clues you into the genre of book I wish I had right now!)

Open Contests

1. May into June (“Me in My Mind” Puzzle-Contest — and More Contests!) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Diana Cosby: For the Love of Nature! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a signed book!
3. Hump-Day Contest! —  Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Cara North: 10 Free Ways to Support Your Favorite Authors (Contest) —  Win a Kindle Fire!