UPDATE: The winner is…Beth!
*~*~*

November

 

1. I compiled all three Triplehorn Brand books into a single volume and published the box set on November 20th! Thanks to everyone who picked up a copy!
2. I completed writing my standalone small-town/sci-fi/romantic comedy, Little Green Dreams (follow the link to pre-order!)! Something I’ve been thinking about writing for years. And I finally have a cover!
3. I began work on Malcolm (Book #10 of Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT).
4. I completed 4 editing projects for other authors in November.
5. I completed NaNoWriMo 2023!

Health-related:

1. I have not been exercising enough. I’ve gained weight—not saying how much! (Thanksgiving is a blessing and curse!)
2. Through medicines and some diet tweaking, I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure down to 135-155.

Happiness-related: 

1. I worked on making items to sell alongside my daughter at the local Christmas craft fair!
2. Despite the heavy writing workload, I have managed to do some painting. Here are some examples…

December

For work-related, I plan:

1. To make one more pass through Little Green Dreams to find any errors I may have missed, then release it on December 12th!
2. To write, and hopefully publish, my next Stepbrothers Stepping Out short story—With His Fire Crew.
3. To complete writing Malcolm, my next Montana Bounty Hunters book!
4. To complete 4 editing projects in December!

For health related, I plan:

1. To not make promises about counting points for my Weight Watchers diet, because it’s that time of year and I know I’d be setting myself up for failure. However, I will try to make healthier choices—emphasizing no late-night snacking!
2. To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas).
3. To pay attention to my daily steps, trips up and down the stairs, and to incorporate some chair exercises.
4. To do more housework because my art room isn’t finished! Cleaning is exercise, too.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To participate in a local arts and crafts event December 2nd!
2. To make some last pieces of jewelry and cards for Christmas gifts!

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

Sunday Tarot

This is one I’ve never pulled before—The Chariot.

If I haven’t said it before, I love this tarot deck. The art on each card gives great clues as to its divination qualities. Whoever conceived it did a wonderful job. Back to The Chariot…

I pull a Sunday card before I begin re-jiggering my work plan for the week. It’s more of a meditative step rather than a call-to-action sort of thing. I like doing my own interpretation of the card then refer to the book to see how well I did, but I’ve come to trust my own interpretation because the book’s interpretations are very ambiguous—as they should be. The author didn’t know who would pull the card, what history they would bring, what issues they’d be facing. All those things “color” the interpretation. Blah-blah-blah. I’m talking too much. I know.

So, the card. I’m dithering because I don’t like this card. Look at the background first. It looks like the red sand dunes I saw first-hand in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Barren. Dry. Unforgiving. Look at the sky. There are clouds and at the center is a very dark cloud, close to the ground. A coming storm. Yikes.

Then let’s look at the man driving the chariot. That’s Ares, God of War. His mother Hera, the Queen of the Gods, didn’t use a male seed to conceive him, so he has no father, although Zeus was his father figure. It’s always been interesting to me that the God of War came solely from a woman. Depicted in this card, his horses are galloping; he looks resolute. He’s heading into battle.

What does that mean for me? I hope I’m not heading into battle whether real or metaphorical. How can I apply this to my task today? Will I be battling myself or distractions? I’m in the midst of the NaNoWriMo challenge, and so far, so good, I’m making my daily page counts. My story, Little Green Dreams, is coming along nicely, I think. The only battle I can foresee is illness that keeps me from my task, distractions from the family, maybe a power outage that prevents me from writing. I can’t imagine why this card is the one to reflect this week’s challenges.

Now, to the book’s interpretation. The Mythic Tarot says: “[The Chariot] augurs conflict and struggle which can result in a strong personality. One may come face to face not only with aggression in others, but with one’s own competitive and aggressive drives.”

Hmmm.

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Grey: Trying It Short! Rise — Out now! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. A Reminder & the Saturday Puzzle-Contest! — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Hallie Quinn Brown – Inspirational Elocutionist and Hands-On Historian (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Gabbi Grey: Tying stories together (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. October into November (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Let’s Chat! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Story Cubes: Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Saturday Puzzle-Contest! — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…flchen!
*~*~*

October

Work-related:

1. Gunn’s Mission released on October 17th and is still going strong (see today’s ranking?)! Thanks to everyone who picked up a copy!
2. I began work on a standalone book, Little Green Dreams (follow the link to pre-order!)! Something I’ve been thinking about writing for years. (I don’t have a cover yet!)
3. I set up pre-orders for two more books, Malcolm (Book #10 of Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT) and What Happens in Bozeman (Book #3 of We Are Dead Horse, MT).
4. I completed 3 editing projects for other authors in October.

Health-related:

1. I have not been exercising enough. Without the pool to run to every day, I’m falling off the wagon.
2. Through medicines and some diet tweaking, I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure down to 135-155. I had one bad spike this month.

Happiness-related: 

1. I participated in the local art festival! Wind knocked down a panel full of framed art, which hit my sales hard, but it was still satisfying to see how many people appreciated my art and bought tons of bookmarks and postcards.
2. I am still working on and making more great progress organizing my art room, getting ready for the next arts and craft show in December, and then the reopening my Etsy store.
3. As for making new art, again, work has kept me too busy to do much. But I have renewed energy here at the last of the month. Right now, I’m just trying to refill my stock of the small things. Here are some examples…

November

For work-related, I plan:

1. To compile the stories in my Triplehorn Brand trilogy into an ebook and print box set for publication this month! Be looking for it!
2. To complete writing Little Green Dreams which will release in December!
3. To complete 4 editing projects in November!

For health related, I plan:

1. To not make promises about counting points for my Weight Watchers diet, because it’s that time of year and I know I’d be setting myself up for failure. However, I will try to make healthier choices—emphasizing no late night snacking!
2. To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas).
3. To pay attention to my daily steps, trips up and down the stairs, and to incorporate some chair exercises.
4. To do more housework because my art room isn’t finished! Cleaning is exercise, too.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To work on art and ornament-making to get ready for a local arts and crafts event in December!

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

Another Sunday and time to plan out my week. Let’s pull a card…

This morning, I pulled the King of Cups. Who is he? The lute was a big hint. Orpheus, the King of Thrace, was given a lute by Apollo when he was born. Orpheus grew into a gifted singer who could heal men’s souls with his songs. He accompanied Jason on his quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. While he was a healer and a priest and a gifted singer bringing light to everyone around him, his own story was tragic. He married Eurydice who was attacked in the woods by a man when she was alone. She fought him off, but when she ran away to escape him, she was bitten by a snake, died, and was dragged down into Hades. Orpheus used his gift of song to charm his way into the Underworld. Hades gave him a chance to retrieve her. He could lead her out of Hades, back into the world, but he could never look back or he would lose her forever. Yup, just as he was ready to step out of the Underworld, he glanced back to make sure she was there, and she was gone. His end was sad as well. Dionysus–you know the god of wine and pary–was jealous of Orpheus’s popularity, so he sent his minions after him. They tore him into pieces. The Muses were so grieved they gathered his parts and buried him at the foot of Mount Olympus.

So, what does his card mean for me? Gah. Gifts, love of family. Tragedy. I’m not sure. In the picture, he holds a golden chalice and his lute. He wears his crown as King of Thrace. He wears his finery as he sits on his golden throne which sits on firm fertile land but also on the water. So, I’m going to say I can hold my gifts—talent (work), but must balance my seat (my writer’s chair) between my work, which is shared with others and those who hold my heart (my family, like he held his wife).

Knowing NaNoWriMo starts this week, I think it means I have to make sure I don’t shut the door on family while I make my daily wordcount.

See how this works? I stare at a card to divine its meaning, but I see that card through the filter of my obligations. Anyone can read cards!

So, what does The Mythic Tarot book say? “…it is time for the individual to experience this ambivalent side of himself or herself…” That’s helpful?!

Open Contests

1. Flashback: Brotherhood Protectors — Guarding Hannah (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
2. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Sweetest Day Celebration! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. 10 Things I love about Halloween (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Gabbi Grey: Trying It Short! Rise — Out now! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Meet your Weekend Book Boyfriend–Dylan O’Hara–and get ready for Halloween! (FREE Book!) — This offer ends soon! Everyone, get your FREE book!
6. A Reminder & the Saturday Puzzle-Contest! — Win an Amazon gift card!

Before I get into my Sunday “usuals,” I want to say thank you so much for supporting Gunn’s Mission! I woke up to see that the story was sitting at this ranking among the millions of books available in Amazon. I’m more than pleased. Thank you, again!

Another quick note: AUTHORS, I am looking to host more of you in November and December. If you have a book to promote or an older story you want readers to notice, contact me at delilah@delilahdevlin.com!

Sunday Tarot

I have never, not once, pulled this card before. It’s not a “me” card. But it does present some interesting possibilities for the week after last week’s dismal divination. I did try to fight The Devil’s temptations, but in the end, I gave in. This card gives me a chance to turn that around.

This is The Magician. It’s Hermes, the Trickster, son of Zeus (he fathered a ton of children, the horny bastard) and Maia, Mother Night. He is a master of all the elements — earth, air, fire, and water. I see all the “suits” of the tarot deck represented here — cups, swords, pentacles, and wands. So, I read that as meaning that this week is open to all possibilities. Notice he’s pointing up and down — it can go either way. As well, that “either way” theme is represented in the background — rocks and sandy pathways.

Since I’m a cup half-full lady, I’ll choose the more positive route. I’ll set a plan and maybe accomplish half of my To-Dos and be pleased.

What does The Mythic Tarot book say? “A risk of some kind is required, a willingness to jump into the unknown.” I just love that ambiguous language.

Open Contests

1. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: It’s beginning to look a lot like…Halloween! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Celebrate Dictionary Day! (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
3. Word Search: Animals in the Arctic (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Flashback: Brotherhood Protectors — Guarding Hannah (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
5. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Sweetest Day Celebration! — Win an Amazon gift card!

This is the card I pulled when Hard Knox was about to come out. And this week, I have Gunn’s Mission releasing on Tuesday. What I thought the card meant the last time was exactly how my week went. Of all the cards to pull! 🙁

The card isn’t “The Devil.” It’s Pan, the half-goat/half-man, playing his reed flute while holding the chains of two humans (with horns, why?) who are dancing to his music. It also appears that they are inside a deep dark cave, which, to me, indicates Pan is trying to hide something—or maybe that he’s playing for them while he draws them into the deep abyss. When I look at this card, I think it’s telling me I’ll be captured by a mood or temptations that will keep me doing things I shouldn’t.

And yes, the last time, I was tempted to F-around. Temptations came from everywhere—and I allowed myself to follow the many things (family, pleasure) pulling me away from what I needed to accomplish. Can I fight destiny this time around? Do I even want to try? Hmm…

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Grey: Rock Star Books — Axe to Grind (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Saturday Puzzle Contest — Cuddly Stuffie on a Rock — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Word Search: Types of Handbags for Handbag Day (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: It’s beginning to look a lot like…Halloween! — Win an Amazon gift card!

That picture’s not me. My desk doesn’t look that good!

I’m just popping in to journal, I guess. Yes, my blog is just sometimes my place to put my thoughts on a page. I think better with my fingers clacking on a keyboard. Put a pen in my hand, and my brain goes blank. I’ve told friends and family that I never have a clue what I’m going to write until my fingers start moving. I couldn’t tell you where the letters are on the keyboard, but somehow my fingers find them. I’ve had fortune tellers tell me I have three muses/angels who hover over my shoulders, so I think they’re pretty much responsible for what ends up on the page—and I know that makes me sound nuttier than squirrel turds.

Anyway, I’m facing my keyboard right now. I have new edits to begin (I finished a set last night! Whew!), and I have a book to finish, but I got a really late start today. I slept in. Something I don’t like doing because morning is my most productive time. I can’t look to the right because the L of my desk, which is the flat, working area of my desk, is completely covered with tchotchkes and toys, a plant that needs watering, a laptop I have open but haven’t used in days, and stacks of paperwork. If I looked right to see it, I’d have an anxiety attack. I’m not the “dig in and get it gone” girl; I’m the avoider. If I don’t see it, it’s not a problem. But I do know there are some bills under there. A calendar that needs updating. Story notes that I should read, although the story I’m writing is far different than what I thought it would be.

So, here’s to another day of letting the piles get higher while I keep my gaze focused on the white screen in front of me.

How’s your day going so far? Do you keep a neat or messy desk? Any ideas for how an “avoider” can stop avoiding?