The winner is…Stacey Kinzebach!
*~*~*

Well, yesterday was the perfect day.

I had so much fun. I blew off writing—which was NOT a smart thing to do when I have to finish a book this week. However, my daughter, who has been ill for several weeks now, was feeling better and wanted to do something artful. I could have demurred and set her up in my studio with everything she needed, but once I began putting out supplies for some monoprinting using a Gelli plate, I had to stay to guide her, right?

We pulled out paint and stencils, and I showed her how to pull some simple prints. Then I showed her how you can use the prints. See that green leafy print in the top right of the photo? Well, I have a tag punch, and cut a bunch of gift tags using that pretty pattern. Plus, you can tear or cut the papers to use in collaging, and on, and on.

We had so much fun! Next time, I’ll pull out some stamps and catalyst tools and show her how to add texture to the prints. Yes, she wants a next time. We both had a blast and felt so relaxed and happy after we finished. Clean-up wasn’t so bad when it was two of us washing stencils and plates. Just wait until I show her how to make cute little booklets using the monoprints for covers…

Oh, I pulled a print using a stencil and loved all the white space it left. So, I spent a couple of hours coloring it in with some oil pastels, which meant a lot of messy blending of colors with my fingertips.

I love how vivid the colors are—it’s almost like looking at an illuminated stained-glass window. And it gives me so many ideas for future art projects!

This week’s going to be balls-to-the-wall. (I’ve never quite understood that phrase.) I have to write. No excuses. If I want to spend another day like I did yesterday, I have to get the work done first.

For a chance to win a free download of a book from my backlist, tell how you would spend your perfect day.

I skipped last week’s report because I had a guest blogger. The kids are back in school after staying home for over a week due to the cold weather. Since the last time I reported…

• I finished revising Warrior’s Touch—which is now Unbound by the Amazon, and I published it!
• I completed editing a story for another author.
• I wrote five chapters of Malcolm.
• I’ve also been reading the stories for my next anthology, Secret Identities.

This next week, I have to really put my head down to get everything done! What does this next week look like? I intend to accomplish the following:

• Write 5 chapters of Malcolm & get it formatted and uploaded for its release next week! 
• Complete one editing job; begin work on another!
• Read another five to ten stories for my next anthology, Secret Identities.

That’s enough, right?

Open Contests

1. Memory Game — Match the Covers! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: What world is inside your fantasy book? — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. January into February (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Word Search: Favorite Cold Weather Dinners (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Happy Groundhog Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Tell me what’s happening here… — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Kerry Pruitt!
*~*~*

Today’s another rainy day—like we need another. At least it’s not freezing. The temperature is in the mid-50s (I guess around 13 C). It’s cool enough I want to stay inside anyway. Good thing since I have to get some work done anyway. I hate that our leaky roof will be drip-drip-dripping, but we’re just waiting for the contractor to let us know when he can work on the patch. I’ll work this morning and into mid-afternoon and then we’ll make an early dinner and watch a movie together. We haven’t decided what yet, but we want a comedy to offset the dismal weather. Any suggestions? Anyway, here’s a puzzle to exercise your gray matter.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what’s happening in this scene! Have fun!

UPDATE: The winner is…BN!
*~*~*

There you have it! Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow! So, that means we can look forward to an early spring! Let’s not worry about the pesky statistics that NOAA published saying our famous rodent is only accurate 40% of the time. I’m sure, this time, he’s got it right!

So, I feel the need to carve some time out of my day to watch one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day! I’m sure you’ve seen, right? A grumpy, self-absorbed, rude man gets a chance to relive Groundhog Day over and over until he manages to remake himself into a decent human being and win the girl.

Since you understand the concept, let’s have some fun here.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me about a day you would love to live over and over again to get everything right. Let’s not dwell on sad things. Think of a happy or funny event that you think could have been better with just a few tweaks, a do-over day. Share your “Groundhog Day” in the comments below for a chance to win!

UPDATE: The winner is…Becky!
*~*~*

I don’t know about you, but when the weather turns cold, the Devlin house prefers heavier, heat-you-up-from-the-inside kinds of meals. I listed some of our favorites in the word search below.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me which of these dishes you love, too, plus give some suggestions for dishes you love on a cold winter’s evening that you think we ought to try!

UPDATE: The winner is…Roxie Jones!
*~*~*

January

 

1. I continued to work on Malcolm (Book #10 of Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT).
2. I revised and republished my novelette, Unbound by the Amazon. (It’s currently FREE in KU, and just $0.99 for a short time only!)
3. I completed 4 editing projects for other authors in January.
4. I wasn’t working at my peak for the first half of the month, but after that, I cooked!!

Health-related:

1. I continued concentrating on drinking more water, plus, I continued drinking water mixed with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar twice a day to improve my liver health.
2. I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure down to 135-155, despite the fact I haven’t been watching my dang weight.

Happiness-related: 

1. I haven’t painted or “arted” much this month! And I miss it. Writing like my hair is on fire is taking everything right now.
2. Here are some examples of things I completed in January.

February

For work-related, I plan:

1. To complete writing Malcolm, my next Montana Bounty Hunters book and publish it on February 13th!
2. To begin work on What Happens in Bozeman, my next We are Dead Horse, MT, book!
3. To complete 4 editing projects in February!

For health related, I plan:

1. To see my heart doctor so he can assess how the meds he prescribed are working.
2. To start back on my Weight Watchers diet, because it’s time to get serious! I HAVE to get back in the saddle!
3. To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas) and my liver (apple cider vinegar, flax seeds, sunflower seeds).
4. To pay attention to my daily steps, trips up and down the stairs, and to incorporate some chair exercises and more walking.
5. To do more housework because my art room isn’t finished! Cleaning is exercise, too.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To begin the #the100daychallenge where I’ll be painting something every single day, starting on February 18th. If you’re an artist, join me!
2. To lead a program for the local art guild meeting in the use of Gelli plates.

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in February…
Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

I had this little story sitting in a file for the longest time. It was part of a series of novelettes written for Harlequin’s Nocturne Bites. I got the rights back, so I sat it in a folder for when I had time to revise it to make it a standalone story. I finally found the time! It’s just 16,000 words, so equal to three of my short stories. Currently, it’s FREE in Kindle Unlimited, and sometime today, the price will be reduced to only $0.99 for a few days because I’d love for you to read it. It’s a sexy time-travel. For those of you who loved Xena and Wonder Woman, here’s a tale for you!

Unbound by the Amazon

A pair of Army soldiers travels back in time to retrieve a powerful ancient artifact of alien origin from the queen of the Amazons…

Army Lieutenant Farideh Kalani expected her time-traveling assignment to ancient Scythia to retrieve an ancient artifact would be difficult, but gaining the trust of Amazon warriors and their legendary ruler, Queen Hippolyta, is easy compared to being partnered with Sergeant First Class Caleb MacAvoy. The soldier is too smug and sexy for her peace of mind. Posing as a warrior seeking a place among the royal guard and her devoted personal servant, the pair succumb to their attraction just as they discover another seeks the treasure they’ve sworn to find.

Get your copy here!

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Grey: When One Story is Not Enough (Contest) — This is the last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Word Search: Favorite Pets (Contest) — This is the last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Cover Reveal — Anyone like ancient Scythia? Plus, books you can pre-order now! (Contest) — This is the last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
4. Saturday Puzzle Contest — Random Bohemian Pirate Couple — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Gabbi Grey: Sometimes Letting Go is Really Hard (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Let’s have some fun! Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Memory Game — Match the Covers! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin – Pioneering Publisher, Suffragist and Women’s Club Founder (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: What world is inside your fantasy book? — Win an Amazon gift card!