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

My family keeps me locked down tight. I don’t leave the house except on rare occasions. I’ve been to one dentist appointment, the ER (when I fell and injured my hand), the ortho doctor’s office, and physical therapy twice. That’s it since March—except for one “treat” they allow me every couple of months—a trip to our local flea market.

I arrive there beyond thrilled. It’s a large warehouse building with high ceilings and industrial fans running through it. Everyone’s masked. We made a trip right before Thanksgiving and there were only two cars outside, so yippee! We pretty much had the place to ourselves. We inspected every single stall searching for hidden treasure. Sometimes, I come away with maybe one item. This last trip, I found so many! Here’s the proof. And hold your eyerolls until I tell you what we found. 🙂

The stamps on the left were brand new, unused, and super cheap ($1 apiece), so I’m adding them to my considerable collection of art stamps. The handmade leather journal is brand new. The pages inside are a thick art paper—perfect for use as an art journal and just $9! I bought the crappy old leather wallet for a dollar because I intend to clean the outside and paint it with acrylic paint. Just a fun project I may toss, but an experiment for me.

More treasures! See the lidded swan jar? Well, I collect antique glass powder jars, in particular, those with animals on the lids. So, yes, I paid too much ($20), but I had to have it!!!! The praying boy is collectible Fenton glass for my dd ($8). Fenton’s hard to find here locally because everyone grabs it, but we got to this one first! See the little English double-decker bus tin? It was $1, but I plan to cut out the “windows” and use them for earrings. The biggest treasure? See those dishes? It’s 10 pieces of antique Wedgwood dinnerware, that we paid $8 for! We could sell individual pieces for more, so we’re still deciding whether to build out the collection for our own use or to sell it on Ebay. We came away totally stoked!

So, see? You can still have adventures—treasure hunts—in the midst of a pandemic!

Puzzle Contest

Solve the puzzle then choose one item that interests you for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Some of you who loved my Stepbrothers Stepping Out series of erotic short stories especially enjoyed my With His SEAL Team series within the series and nagged, er, encouraged me to write the final sequel—Sara’s and Hunter’s wedding! Well, I finally wrote it! I hope you enjoy it! It’s short, so the perfect read when you’re taking a break from all that holiday preparation! Plus, it’s only $0.99—and FREE in Kindle Unlimited. It’s packed full of naughty goodness. Sara is after all the luckiest girl in the world. 🙂

With His SEAL Team, Part 6

Tomorrow at sunrise, I’m marrying my steplover, Hunter. At long last, I’m marrying the man I’ve loved since we first met when our parents married–a dream come true.

However, one pesky question remains unanswered. I don’t know what happens after we say, “I do.” Is tonight the last time Hunter will share me with his friends, my dearly beloved playmates?

Note: This 6,400-word short story is the sixth installment of the short story series, With His SEAL Team.

Get your copy here!

If you haven’t read all of the series, check these out. They are all available for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Just click on the cover!

Open Contests! Plenty of Prizes left!

1. Payton Harlie: Love in Lockdown — Pandemic Partner with Benefits (FREE story!) — Everyone, get your FREE story!
2. Anna M. Taylor: Who’s On Second? (Contest) — Ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. It’s Tuesday, so of course it’s a PUZZLE-CONTEST & more! — Ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Diana Cosby: Inspiration From Nature – Deer (Contest) — Win a signed book!
5. Today’s cards… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Jeanine Lesperance!
*~*~*

I feel like I have to explain my desk before I start. 🙂

The document on the bottom is my bloggers’ schedule. Duh. Anything that says “DD” is mine. So yes, I do “pencil” in my guests on a hard copy. The squishy toy on the left is a fish squishy the 7-year-old gave me when she heard I was scouring the house for the stress ball my physical therapist recommended I exercise my hand with. She said it would be better because it’s softer. LOL. She’s really sweet. The tile on the right says “Artist” and it was from the 16-year-old, who gave it to me for my birthday this year. I love messy paintbrushes—to me, they are a testament to the work that, lately, fills my “well” with happiness. The pretty jar holds a tiny, very fragrant candle I light when I want to improve my mood. And in the bottom right corner is my mom’s mousepad with all the presidents through 45 on it. I gave up my Thor’s hammer pad for mom’s…well, because. I like touching something she touched every day.

So, to the cards…

I have this “Women’s Empowerment” deck of cards sitting on my desk to the far side. It was a gift. I generally don’t like the new age stuff. I prefer tarot cards, famous quote books, etc., for my daily inspiration, but the WE cards are pretty. I opened the box and looked for a card that “called” to me today. These two made me pause.

The first reads, “Be still my mind. Be here now.” I’m not a “now” person. I’m a dreamer (a great thing to be for a writer, BTW!). However, I have work to complete and need some focus, so this thought helps.

The next says, “I enjoy the ups and downs of everyday life. Only the present moment is real.” I do appreciate the ups and downs. If we didn’t have them, life would be boring and we’d never learn a thing. The “only the present moment is real” thing is also very true. What you do now defines who you are and will be. So, today I will write because I want to be a writer. Writers who don’t write are just dreamers without the proof of the stories spinning in their heads.

So, does any of that help me begin my workday? Um, yeah. I guess. As soon as I hit “publish” to post this blog, I will begin “the work” and then I can claim to be a writer once more.

My philosophy isn’t deep. It’s self-serving, right? I need a kick in the ass because I have a minimum of 2,000 words to write today!

If you’d like to deliver that kick, tell me how you go about girding yourself to do “the work” of being who you are for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

These contests are closing soon!

1. My Furbaby-Jealousy (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Anna M. Taylor: Who’s On Second? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Diana Cosby: Inspiration From Nature – Deer (Contest) — Win a FREE book!

UPDATE: The winner is…Jackie Wisherd!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2020

Photography is an enjoyable pastime, one that refills my muse.  On my walks, I see such a huge variety of animals and birds, but it’s always wonderful when I see deer.

I usually come across does with their young.  So, it’s a treat when I spot a buck; on rare occasions, I’ll see more than one.

Deer are beautiful animals.  Seeing them always takes my breath away.  They have such a calm and majestic presence.

As spring arrives, I keep watch for fawns.  They’re usually hidden deep in the woods or when alone, laying down in tall grass, so it’s always special to see them.

As the year passes, the spots fade from the fawn’s coat as they grow.  By winter, they’re so big, it’s hard to tell the yearlings from the adult deer.

What do you like best about deer?  If you’ve seen deer, what’s your favorite memory?

About the Author

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series have been translated into five languages. Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.

After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world. After the release of the bestselling MacGruder Brothers series and The Oath Trilogy, she released the bestselling The Forbidden Series.

Diana looks forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.

Contest

***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Inspiration From Nature – Deer,’ on Delilah’s blog between 20 November 2020 – 29 November 2020.  The winner will receive a signed copy of Forbidden Realm.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series

UPDATE: The winner is…flchen1!
*~*~*

Did that title work? I’m not very good at creating catchy blog titles. I know folks like list posts, like “10 Ways to blah-blah-blah”. But thinking of ten ways to do something sounds like I’d have to use more brainpower than I’m willing to expend for a daily blog. Of course, maybe that’s the problem. Should I be blogging every day?  Of course, I’m not doing it by myself—the posting, yes, but the content is often provided by author friends. So why am I bitching today? Because I’m dragging my feet. I don’t want to start the real work. I have a set number of pages to edit today then a set number of pages to write. I’m a little behind in NaNoWriMo, but I know I can catch up, so no fire is lighting under my considerable ass—which by the way is getting “lesser.” Meaning, I’m on a diet. I know, I know. Thanksgiving’s coming, so why now? BECAUSE THANKSGIVING IS COMING! If I don’t save some calories now, I’ll be out of my fat clothes.

I’m rambling, aren’t I? Maybe I should just spellcheck this thing and send it out into the world. Thank goodness, I have authors lined up to handle this for the rest of the week! 🙂

Puzzle-Contest

Solve the puzzle and tell me what’s going on here for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

More Contests and Giveaways!

1. Payton Harlie: Love in Lockdown — Pandemic Partner with Benefits (FREE story!) — Download a FREE short story!
2. My Furbaby-Jealousy (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Anna M. Taylor: Who’s On Second? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

My dd and SIL spent the past two days painting a basement room and moving furniture to create a quiet space I can work in. My dd organized everything because she knows if she left things in boxes I’d dither and doodle and never get anything put away. Here are a couple of pics (terrible ones because I’m a horrible photographer!).

They left me room for more pictures on the wall. That wall will likely be filled soon, floor to ceiling. The desk is a made for two people, so the 7-year-old put her art books and Crayola pens in her drawer for when she comes to “work” with me.

My bookcase is cram-jammed. The center one is all my books. DD says I have to do something about trimming them down. And I will, because I need more toys on the shelves. 🙂 The tubs on the left still have to be emptied, but that’s for another day.

So, what do you think? Will I get any work done here?

Open Contests

Enter while you still can!

1. How I feel today. How about you? (Puzzle-Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Flashback: Before We Kiss (Contest–3 winners!) — Win a FREE book!
3. REINA TORRES: FREE! LOVE IN LOCKDOWN — SUBLET, PART 4 — EVERYONE! Get your FREE story!
4. Moving Day (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winners are…Delaine, Colleen C., and Ani!
*~*~*

It’s early. One of my dd’s many cats is snoring under my desk. He’s “Black Cat”. The kids had tried to stick the name “Ninja” on him years ago, but Black Cat stuck. He’s the most unfriendly cat I’ve ever interacted with, which is cool by me. He sleeps in a little cat bed I put under my desk, comes and goes like a ghost, and once in a blue moon he’ll rub against my legs, looking for me to scratch behind his ears before he disappears using his Ninja-cat stealth to stay out of sight.

I wonder how he’s going to like the changes.

We’ve been playing hopscotch with rooms in the house. My aunt moved back to Washington State, freeing up her garage apartment, so my oldest granddaughter claimed the room. After painting and deep cleaning it, she moved. Then my grandson moved into her vacated, larger room. Yesterday, they repainted, deep-cleaned his old, smaller bedroom, preparing to return it to me… I have an office once again that isn’t crammed into a corner of the craft room! A place where I can close the door against kid noise and cats. Whee!

It’s early morning, so I’m posting my blog before everyone descends on my spaces. I have to hide Christmas gifts. And I guess I should start boxing up all the junk/treasures on my desk. I’m a kids’ toy hoarder with a growing collection of action heroes (because the kids give them to me!). My dd and SIL have soldiered on with all the movement from room to room, but they are especially dreading moving me—all those toys, that clutter, THOSE BOOKS.

I get to play the old lady card. And the “I have edema in my injured hand” card. Bwahaha! 🙂

Which means, lots and lots of stuff will be left in boxes for me to arrange, because no one understands there are “places” for my Norse god statuary, Bobbleheads, and Funko Pop Avenger figurines.

So, I’m looking for tips from you for how I go about reorganizing my reclaimed space. Comment for a chance to win the download of your choice from my backlist! I’ll choose 3 winners!