I am not going to talk tech with you. I would fail miserably. I am certainly not up on all the new tools and toys, but I have seen the ipad. My friend (Tina) got an ipad and it is prrrreeeettttyyy. Love it, want it, need it, must have it. I can feel the sweat form on my brow as I dream how my life would change with this amazing invention. My fingers crave it. I can imagine the beautiful novels that would come flying out of it. Oh how I would be so happy!!!!!

Do I believe all that? Hell no. Yeah it’s great and cool but, expensive and not really needed. I but something way cooler will be out in 6 months or less. I’ll bite my nails and wait. For now I have my too cool Asus net book and loving it. I’m getting a new smart phone and I will be set. I do want an e-reader but not willing to pay for it….yet But I would take it if anyone wants to send me a gift!

Gift Me!

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Monday is the worst day of the week! Some people might argue Wednesday the crappiest, but Monday’s are really it.  Today, we woke up with only 3 hours of sleep. My beautiful daughter decided to cry all night. To her credit, there was a BIG thunderstorm and the lights went out. She spent most the night with me, snuggling, until the lights came back around 3:00am. Shuffled her off to her crib where she decided she was going to scream. I had to negotiate time in the rocker for her to stop. Can you believe that? Negotiating with a 22 month? Impossible. Wait till she’s a teen, God help us all.

Needless to say I am sloooooow today. I believe time is actually standing still because the day just won’t end.

I did think of some details in WICKED WHISPER last night. Sara (protagonist) is going to have a wild first few chapters. The night is filled with drunks, strippers, drugs, and a couple “Fallen” that will leave you wanting more.

Intrigued?

I am going to e-mail the agent that has TRUE SIGHT this week. Pray that it goes well.

Sylvia The Princess

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Ugh!

It’s only been two weeks and a day that the agent has had my full manuscript. It feel like a life time. I’ve been doubting myself lately. Maybe it’s not as good as I think. Maybe I can’t write. Maybe it’s all just crap and I’m a crap slinger.

When do you ever know your good? Is it when an agent likes it? When a publisher likes it? When the readers/magazines like it?

I never knew how tough the publishing business really is. I guess I thought I would write a book, everyone would love it, I would make millions and Stephine Meyer and I would have play dates with our kids. It’s not like that…at all.

March 26th will be the one year anniversary of the day that TRUE SIGHT came to me. I was driving home from work and was given the entire book. It was GOD, I know it, I believe it. I started writing that day. Yadda Yadda Yadda Here I am one year later. I have a manuscript that I love and a full read out. I had a partial but they passed (sad). I am sure it was for the best (that’s my way of coping).

What’s next? I have the outline for the next book in the SPARKLER series TRUE FRIENDS, it’s good. I am thinking about this summer and what my BIG project will be. Who knows maybe I’ll just sit around in the sun and read paranormal books like I love to do.  I just finished CITY OF BONES, it was really good. I will post a review later.

For now, I’m going to reread TRUE SIGHT and keep editing. I’ll figure out the next step, or he’ll let me know.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully the agent will love it and you will all be able to read TRUE SIGHT soon.

Nightworld is another really good books series…love it.

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Last night I sat at my meet-up group. Friends all around, my mother by my side and typed the last sentence and the elusive “The End” to my first novel TRUE SIGHT.

I can not explain the excitement! My hands were shaking, my stomach turned, it was pure elation. Almost automatically the characters in my head stopped yelling and went quiet (I know sounds nuts). The story is out!

My wonderful and amazing husband congratulated me when I got home. He’s been so supportive. Some husbands would be like, “Glad that’s over” or “Now you can get back to life.” etc.. But, not my husband. He simply asked, “What’s next?”. He didn’t expect me to stop, he wasn’t jealous of the time I spend with my novel, he is the most amazing man. I know I have a great husband when I lay in bed thinking about how to be a better wife, not because I’m bad, because he’s that good. Not to mention my two beautiful kids, Bailey and Sylvia. You inspire me to be a  better mom every day!

I want to thank my mother, Bonnie Allen (author and publisher) with LeClere Books. She has been a great inspiration. I must of gotten this talent from her, because she is an amazing writer. She has always supported this dream. I can’t thank her enough.

In addition I want to thank my mother-in-law, Leigh Ann. She has read the entire book and has been a great support. I appreciate everything she does for me and my family.

There are so many friends and family I need to thank, Alex Boles, Jenny Boles, Carissa Conardy, Ron and Melinda Conardy, Tom Schmidt, Mary Beth Schmidt, Katie Schmidt (no relation but BFF), and so many more.

A special thanks to my computer!

So many nights have been spent at the laptop, thank you for not crashing!

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Book Update!

Today I finished Chapter 21! I am so close to the end of my first novel. I have about 4 chapters left and can taste the victory. Of course there is editing and polishing, but it will be DONE!

I can’t believe it! I have even started to draft my first query letter, which is totally cool! I have already found an agent that looks good. I can’t wait to get it to her, I just want to make sure it’s complete first. I will keep you all up to date on the book, it should be done by the end of the month!

I also wanted to post a picture of my husband and daughter, my son is not pictured. They are so cute!!  I am a very blessed woman.

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Inspire others with your words

This past weekend my eleven-year-old son, Bailey, filmed a short video called “Camp Spirit Ridge”. The video is being pitched to Nickelodeon. I’m sure they will love it. It’s about kids getting back to nature and the simple pleasures of life. What is so interesting about this event was the author of the script, Nicole. She told me her story of life and inspiration. She’s a woman taking a chance and following her dreams. All the while inspiring others to dare what they dream.

 I feel a connection to Nicole and her passion because I’m following a dream, my passion. March 26^th I started this journey uttering the first lines of “True Sight”. Ever since that day, I’ve worked diligently to complete the manuscript, changing my priorities and goals for life.

 How do I do it? Certainly not alone! I’m blessed with a great family and wonderful husband, they are supportive and loving. My church is wonderful, always pushing me to be successful but always keeping God number one. Everywhere I turn, someone cares about my goals and me. I’m truly a fortunate woman.

 It’s not all easy, sometimes you have to make hard decisions and leave those people that are not supportive, even if it is family. Making what you want important can be a difficult task. The kids, spouse, family, house, animals all count on you for something. I try to balance their needs and mine. When you’re happy with your life choices, those around you will be happy too.   

 So go out there and inspire someone by following your dream!

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I have a goal to complete my manuscript by August 15, less than a month away.   I know I can complete it.  I have faith that the story will come.   Now I just need to organize my life so I can get it done.   Here are a few of my tricks and tips to getting a goal done.

1.  Morning – Driving to work I think about the next part in the book.  What’s going to happen, who will come and  go.   I try to get the picture in my head, feel the story and get focused. 

2. Week Day – Working is proving to be a distraction from the book, but a necessity.   At lunch I try to get in a few idea, maybe update the outline.   If needed write a little or the next blog topic. 

3. Multitask – I have always been very good at multi-tasking.   I can switch what I am doing on a dime.   I don’t need much time to re-focus.   This is a great skill when trying to write a book, work, get an MBA, raise two children, and keep a happy marriage.

4.  Drive home – Again I will think of the story where’s it going and my goals for that night.  Of course there are times when I don’t write, when I need a break.  Those days I take it and don’t feel guilty.  I do what I can.  I always want it to be fun, never a burden.

5. Late night – After dinner, baths and good night kisses it’s time for my hubby to watch sports center and me to write.  I can get 2-3 hours of writing done before 10pm.

Next day – start all over.  On the weekends I try my best and do what I can.  Sunday is dedicated to church and  family time until the kids go to bed.  I am learning every day what works and what doesn’t.

What works for you?

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I am sure I am not the only person to pose this question.  I think I might of figured it out, at least for me.  I believe we all have our path to walk and I can only speak of my own.  Recently (May) I found a great church, Faith St. Louis (.com).  It is a wonderful place where everyone is welcome.  I have been raised a Catholic, married a Catholic, had my children christened etc…  Attending a non-Catholic church is a stretch for me.  I have attended each week receiving strength and renewing my faith each time.  In this short time my entire life has changed.  Priorities changed, dreams changed, I’ve changed.  Was it the church?  Was it just my time?  I believe it was a little of both. 

I will get to where I want to go by being willing to take any path my higher power lays out for me.  Knowing and truly believing you are powerless is freeing.  It releases you from the worry and stress of all the things out of your control.  Some of you may recognize these words, others may not, regardless they work for me.  Take what you like and leave the rest.  

Relax today and let go,

Brandi

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This is what really happened.  One day I took my son, eleven at the time, to see Twilight, the new teen flick about vampires.  Leaving the theater I wanted to read the books immediately.  I have never been drawn to a story like this before.  Whether it be the movie or the love sick girl that lives inside me, I’m not sure.  All I know what that I was hooked.  That night I started reading and reading and reading.  For a week straight, every spare second was spent reading the Twilight saga.  I didn’t do much of anything.  Some night would pass without even eating.  My poor husband said I was a zombie!  I suppose that is the ultimate complement to Stephanie Meyer.  When I finished I was different.  I was changed then and forever.  At that moment I fell in love with the written word. 

Whether you like the book Twilight or not, it doesn’t really matter either way.  What matters is finding something you have passion for.  Two weeks later I said to my self “I could do that, I could write a book.”  From that day forward I thought of something I wanted to write.  On March 26^th three days before my 31^st birthday, it came to me, my book subject, perfect in every way.  I got home wrote the outline and what ends up being chapter 2.  The next week I finished chapters 1 & 3.  I am working on completing my first manuscript and outlining the next two books in the series. 

 I could not have done any of this without the support of my family and friends, thank you to my husband, Thommy, and my mother, Bonnie, for their unending love and support.

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This is my first post on my first website and blog.  Yeah Me!

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