UPDATE! The winner is…Mary!
*~*~*

UPDATE: The winner of the Amazon gift card is…Susan Krippner!
*~*~*

I love this photo. I’d probably even enjoy being there, but it’s not my ideal vacation spot because, uh, too many people. After years of being surrounded by people—in the Army, in corporate life—I love my quiet rural hobby farm with just my loved ones around me. That doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy a nice tropical vacation somewhere, sometime, but I’ll always sigh with relief when I pull into the gate at my place. I’m thinking about Hawaii next year… But we’ll see.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then tell me about your dream summer vacation!

UPDATE: The winner is…Joy Boutwell!
*~*~*

No, I haven’t given up on the Saturday jigsaw puzzles—I enjoy those as much as you do! I just thought I’d try some different games. And I can relate the games to books. How fun is that? The site I’m using to construct this game has different sorts of games, including crossword puzzles. I’ll have to try that next! (And yes, I’m a word nerd!)

It’s super easy to play. Just click on the first and last letters of the word you find!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, play the word search and let me know what you think of the game! Too many words? Not enough? Will you play again? 

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!
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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!