It was a productive week once we got past the AC issue on Monday. You really, really appreciate your conveniences when they aren’t there. It was a busy week. I tend to write best when I’m under a hard deadline, and I really felt the pressure to complete Cyrus, so the story flowed all the way up to the day before I had to upload it! I wish my muse was more disciplined, but that’s just not how it works. I have to let go and let it do its thing. When I surrender and take myself out of the process, that’s when the good stuff comes. And I know that’s more crazy author talk, but if the shoe fits… Anyway, here’s my report card for last week’s work and my plan for the upcoming week. Sharing these “report cards” does help because I feel like I have to accomplish things or I look lazy. LOL

Report Card

Last week…

1. The AC was fixed on Monday! By Tuesday, the temperature inside the house, including my basement office, was at last livable! Yay!
2. I completed writing/editing Cyrus. It was formatted and uploaded for its release on Tuesday!
3. I worked on the last edits of the stories inside the Secret Identities anthology.
4. I gave up on the short story I was trying to write for Secret Identities and started another, but it’s not working either even though I’m 3/4 of the way into it. I might have to reject my own story for the anthology because it’s just not good enough. There’s a first time for everything, and I have to be honest with myself. I think the theme just didn’t work for me, and after reading the great stories that are going to make up the new volume, I’m not going to embarrass myself. 🙂
5. I swam every day, sometimes twice a day!
6. I’m still complying with Weight Watchers, despite the week from hell when we ate fast food at least once a day. I’ve maintained a 5.5-pound loss.

This next week…

1. Cyrus releases this week! Early Tuesday morning to be exact! You know I’ll be promoting the heck out of the first West Yellowstone bounty hunter book!
2. I’ll finish editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology. Then I’ll compile the stories into the anthology and ready them for publication on the 30th!
3. I will begin editing another author’s manuscript!
4. I’ll begin work on my next novel, Built Like Mack, the next We Are Dead Horse story.
5. I’ll continue swimming and counting those points on Weight Watchers!

Open Contests

On the Delilah’s Collections website!

1. GETTING TO KNOW BRENT ARCHER (CONTEST) — Last day to enter! 2 winners! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. GETTING TO KNOW CINDY TANNER (CONTEST) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. GETTING TO KNOW AVA CUVAY (CONTEST) —  This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!

Here, on this site!

1. Gabbi Grey: Pushing Boundaries (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
2. It’s getting hot in here! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Saturday Puzzle Contest: I’ve been through the desert… — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Gabbi Grey: Avoiding the Middle Book Slump (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Word Search: Things to See in Yellowstone… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Caviar and Frogs…whuuutt? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Gabbi Grey: Something a Little Different (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: A Grizzly Beginning (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

There will be no heat-whining today. I’ll refrain. However, I will say the beast will remain leashed inside if the repairman shows up with the part tomorrow. ‘Nuff said. This coming week is going to be a bear as it is, work-wise. I have to hunker down and keep focused on what’s important!

Report Card

Last week…

1. The big news was all the stuff that wasn’t work-related—the severe Hurricane Beryl-relate weather, the fried AC compressor, the excessive heat in the house… No whine.
2. I continued work on Cyrus.
3. Today, I’ll finish work on one editing job for another author.
4. I continued editing the Secret Identities short stories for the anthology.
5. I swam every day, sometimes twice a day!
6. I continued, despite all the fast food runs we made (no one’s cooking in a mid-80-degree kitchen!) Weight Watchers and have lost a total of 5 pounds. It’s sooooo slow…

This next week…

1. I’ll finish, revise, format, and upload Cyrus!
2. I will work on another author’s manuscript!
3. I’ll finish editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology. Then I’ll begin to compile the stories into the anthology!
4. I’ll finish my short story for SI!
5. I’ll continue swimming and counting those points on Weight Watchers!

Open Contests

On the Delilah’s Collections website!

1. GETTING TO KNOW D.S. DEHEL (CONTEST — TWO WINNERS!) — Last day to enter! 2 winners! Win a FREE book!
2. GETTING TO KNOW A.J. HARRIS (CONTEST)— This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!

Here, on this site!

1. Gabbi Grey: Puppies and kiddos (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Sliding Puzzle: Happy Independence Day! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Reina Torres! My New Military Romance Series! (Contest–Two Winners!) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: At the movies… — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. What do these images all have in common? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Gabbi Grey: Pushing Boundaries (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
7. It’s getting hot in here! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Saturday Puzzle Contest: I’ve been through the desert… — Win an Amazon gift card!

Yesterday was fantastic! It was such a cool girls’ day out to celebrate the oldest hitting 20! We had lunch at Red Lobster (do you know how hard it is to count Weight Watchers points there?!), we did some light shopping at Ulta, TJ Maxx, and Bath & Body Works, and then we went to see Inside Out 2! We loved the movie, BTW. When we got home, we all jumped into the pool for an hour, dancing to hip-hop and Gypsy Kings in the water! Lovely day! I slept like a baby last night.

I hope you’re finding ways to enjoy your summer! We do our best to beat the heat or plan our time outside for the morning or late afternoon. The electric bill for last month nearly choked me, but that’s the price of living in the South. 🙁

You all take care and have a great week! Be sure to check out the multitude of contests listed below! ~DD

Report Card

Last week…

• I began plugging away in earnest at writing the book due out later this month!
• I worked on one editing job for another author.
• I continued working on editing the Secret Identities short stories for the anthology.
• We finally got the pool chemicals balanced and started swimming!
• I began Weight Watchers and have lost 4.2 pounds!

This next week…

• I’ll continue to work on Cyrus!
• I will finish an editing job for another author!
• I’ll finish editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology.
• I’ll begin working on my short story for SI!
• I have an imaging appointment on Monday.
• I’ll continue swimming and counting those points on Weight Watchers!

Open Contests

On the Delilah’s Collections website!

1. GETTING TO KNOW CAMERON ALLIE (CONTEST + 2 FREE READS!) — Last day to enter! 10 winners! Win a FREE book + Everyone gets 2 FREE books!
2. GETTING TO KNOW REINA TORRES (CONTEST) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
3. GETTING TO KNOW DARAH LACE (CONTEST) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!

Here, on this site!

1. Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a SIGNED book + some hand painted (by me!) goodies!
2. Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Harriet Ann Jacobs – Setting and Keeping the Record Straight on Slavery (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. What’s Coming Soon & the Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Orange you glad you stopped by? — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. June into July (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Gabbi Grey: Puppies and kiddos (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Sliding Puzzle: Happy Independence Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Reina Torres! My New Military Romance Series! (Contest–Two Winners!) — Win a FREE book!
8. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: At the movies… — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Carol Cox!
*~*~*

Before I dig into accomplishments and plans, I want to invite you to another website!

The Collections website is where the authors of the anthologies I curate play! We’re getting geared up for the release of our newest collection at the end of July, so in this coming month we’ll spend time introducing you to the authors! There will be contests with things to win. Click on the link to check out the site, and while you’re over there, subscribe to get the postings sent straight to your inbox so you don’t miss a thing! Delilah’s Collections Website

June

1. I revised the fifth story of my Delta Heat series and published two of them: Twice the Bang and Once is Never Enough.
2. I’ve revised the first story in the Delta Fire series, Burning Up Memphis, which will be released on July 9th!
3. I continued work on Cyrus, which is presently scheduled for release on July 23rd!
4. I completed 3 editing projects for other authors in June and hope to finish another today!
5. I’ve been editing away on the stories that will be inside Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, coming at the end of July.

Health-related:

1. I had a slew of doctor’s appointments and follow-up screenings. I saw my VA doctor, who thinks I’m now diabetic, barely. I have some work to do to try to reverse course. I also had a mammogram (it was clear!), a CT of my abdominal aorta (that’s a thing to get checked when you are a certain age—and no issue there), a cancer-screening with the dermatologist (no issues), a lung x-ray (I’m good to go), and bone density imaging. I officially have osteoporosis, now. 🙁
2. The biggest improvement I’ve made this month is that I quit smoking. Cold turkey.
3. I did not pay attention to what I put in my mouth. *Sigh*

Happiness-related: 

1. June was busy for family activities. When I had appointments in the city, we took advantage with shopping sprees and meals out. We’ve had movie nights at home and special meals where everyone participated in the food prep. We are loving our new Blackstone grill.
2. The pool is still giving us fits. Every chemical known to mankind has been tossed at it, but we still have issue with phosphates and cloudiness.
3. I finished the #the100dayproject art challenge!
4. Here are some examples of art projects I completed in June:

July

Is that not a yummy array of covers?!

For work-related, I plan:

1. To complete writing Cyrus, the first of my new MBH in Yellowstone series, and which I will release on July 23rd!
2. To complete editing the stories for the upcoming collection—Secret Identities: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology! Plus, get the anthology assembled, formatted and ready for publication on July 30th!
3. To revise the first two books in my erotic romance series, Delta Fire. I’ll republish two of the stories in July: Burning up Memphis and Hotter with a Pole.
4. To complete 3 editing projects in July!

For health related, I plan:

1. To exercise. Still not certain the pool will be under control. But I will walk (counting steps) and make use of my recumbent bike.
2. To start back on my Weight Watchers diet, because it’s time to get serious! (I say this every month, but I really, really have to do it!)
3. To reduce salt and processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas) and my liver (apple cider vinegar, flax seeds, sunflower seeds).
4. To take my BP every day and log it!
5. To schedule the last of the health-related appointments I need to wrap up: Eye exam and dental exam.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To fiddle in my art room!
2. To spend time with the family—movies, flea market adventures, and pool (hopefully)!

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 July…

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

Last week…

• I worked on two editing jobs for other authors and finished one. The one that is left is kicking my butt! It’s long and dense (very good story!). I will get to The End!
• I am working on editing the Secret Identities short stories for the anthology.
• I took What Happens in Bozeman wide, meaning it’s available on all the usual platforms!
• We’ve repaired the filter on the pump and are now waiting for everything to be in balance. I’m hoping that in a couple of days the water will be crystal clear and ready for summer now that it’s half-way over!
• I had two imaging appointments (lung and aortic something-or-other) this week in the city. Both came out clear! No worries! Yay!
• I finished #The100DayProject challenge!

This next week…

• I will work on two editing projects for other authors, finishing one!
• I’ll resume work on Cyrus!
• I’ll continue editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology. Plus, I’ll work with the authors to organize a promo schedule.
• I’ll begin working on my short story for SI!
• I have mammogram and bone density imaging on Monday; plus, a cancer screening with the dermatologist.
• The pool situation will be settled this week!!!!!
• I’m restarting Weight Watchers!

Contest

1. Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway (Contest) — This one ends tomorrow night! Win a signed book & hand painted goodies!
2. Another Puzzle Day: What is he hunting? (Contest) — This one ends tomorrow night! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Happy Sewing Machine Day! (Contest) — This one ends tomorrow night! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Shark Movies are Summertime Fun! — This one ends tomorrow night! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Word Search: Bob Dylan’s Best (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
6. 10 Ways to “Celebrate” International Panic Day + a Puzzle! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Gabbi Powell: Taking A Chance (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Word Search: Favorite International Cuisines (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Meet me on the bridge… — Win an Amazon gift card!

I’m sipping coffee and listening to the Stones’ “Mothers Little Helper.” Here goes…

It’s been a while, but my daughter and I hit the local flea market! Had to snap the flea market mascot, Catrick Swayze. He’s the barely domesticated, loves to nip, and gripes with every meow. You can see his meanness in his face, can’t you? My kind of cat.

And here’s my haul…

Not so impressive, I know. The microwave candy is for the girls, not me. Blech. My daughter found the pineapple for me. We’ve been looking for a solution to hold my coffee K-cups in the art room—and voilà! She also found the pretty tin. I collect them and have dreams of cutting them up into pretty shapes to make jewelry with them. She winces when she spots a pretty tin because she can picture the carnage. The cardboard box beside everything…? Someone bought up a bunch of those Amazon mystery boxes and offered them individually. We bought one! It’s so much fun to get them home, open them, and see whether you have treasure or dreck. We had a mixed box. Bento boxes. Christmas decorations. Pillow covers. Finger chopsticks. Maybe 70 small Christmas-themed notebooks. And six decibels-measuring devices…? (I will have to figure out how to unload those!) Yeah, treasure and dreck. But so much fun unboxing.

Report Card

Last week…

• I worked on two editing jobs for other authors; I should finish one of them today.
• I resolved my issues with the Kindle platform, and all four books in the Delta Fire series, which is the follow-on to the Delta Heat series, are loaded and ready for pre-order, including the last book in the series, which has not previously been published, Ignition. I’ll share all the covers this week—they are so hot!
• I am working on editing the Secret Identities short stories for the anthology.
• The biggest bummer of the week is that our pool is still “un-swimmable” for now. We were having fits, dumping tons of chemicals and never getting the water perfectly crystal clear, so we decided to replace the sand. When my SIL replaced it and put the filter back together, it leaked. We replaced seals and a collar on the filter, then when we got everything put back together, we had another leak on the Polaris hose. We got a part in yesterday, so I’m crossing my fingers that’s the problem. It will be a few days before the pool is clear enough to swim in. My dd says there’s another snake in there, but it’s too cloudy to fish the critter out. *sigh*
• Okay, so maybe that’s not the biggest bummer. I went to the doctor at the VA this week, and she says I’m diabetic now. Barely, but she’s putting me on meds. I have got to drop some pounds!

This next week…

• I will work on two editing projects for other authors, finishing two, I hope!
• I’ll continue editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology. Plus, I’ll work with the authors to organize a promo schedule.
• I have a lung and bone density test coming up, so we’ll have another trip to the big city.
• I will finish creating small art daily for #The100DayProject. I’m almost there!
• The pool situation will be settled this week!!!!!
• I’m adding one more goal to get a plan in place to tackle the weight. I’m going to research what foods I can eat and those I can avoid, and then create a meal plan. Realistic exercise goals will be set, too. I tend to have better success when I follow a plan…

Open Contests

1. Word Search: Inside SECRET IDENTITIES (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Gabbi Grey: Are we allowed to have favorites? (Contest) — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Story Cubes — Tell me a story (Contest) — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Saturday Puzzle Contest: On this day…Ghostbusters released! — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Melanie Jayne: My Nightly Conundrum—To DNF or Not (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway (Contest) — Win a signed book and hand-painted goodies!
7. Another Puzzle Day: What is he hunting? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Happy Sewing Machine Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Shark Movies are Summertime Fun! — Win an Amazon gift card!

Last week…

• I worked on two editing jobs for other authors; I finished one.
• I finished revising, formatting, and uploading Once is Never Enough (the last story in the Delta Heat series),which releases Tuesday, June 11th.
• I uploaded the stories in the follow-on series, Delta Fire, including finding art and uploading the pre-order for the last book in the series, which has not previously been published, Ignition. Amazon’s KDP has been a PITA so far as loading books 2 & 3 of the series. I’m getting worried they won’t get their act together in time for the planned releases in July-September. We’ll see.
• I didn’t write a word of the next MBH release, Cyrus, which is scheduled to release June 25th. I have so much on my plate to do with my side gig (editing), the revisions of the Delta Fire stories, and the editing of the stories for the Secret Identities anthology, that I need to push out that publication date. I really don’t want the added stress right now. Yes, I do have limits!
• I created the Secret Identities webpage on the Collections site! Go take a look!
• The biggest bummer of the week is that our pool isn’t “swimmable” for now. We were having fits, dumping tons of chemicals and never getting the water perfectly crystal clear, so we decided to replace the sand. When my SIL replaced it and put the filter back together, it leaked. We’re waiting on seals and a collar for the filter, which won’t arrive until Wednesday. I’m crossing my fingers that’s the problem. Otherwise, I’ll be paying a ton of money to have a pool place come out to the boonies to repair the thing. Ugh! All I want to do is swim!

This next week…

• I’ll celebrate the release of the last of the refurbed/recovered Delta Heat series!
• I will work on three editing projects for other authors, finishing two, I hope!
• I’ll be editing stories in the Secret Identities anthology. Plus, I’ll work with the authors to organize a promo schedule.
• I’ll put out a call to authors who might want to blog on this website, July through September.
• I’ll continue wrangling with KDP to get my pre-orders up for the Delta Fire series.
• I’m going to have to re-order my publication schedule, moving the release date of Cyrus because I have to find time to finish the book in my stacked schedule.
• I have a doctor’s appointment at the VA in Little Rock. I’ll be taking the family with me for a chance to catch a meal and do some shopping in the “big city.”
• I will resume creating small art daily for #The100DayProject. I fell behind finishing up the last pieces, but I will get to 100!
• The pool situation will be settled this week!!!!!

That sounds like enough, right? Does it seem like my little report card lists are getting longer and longer? 

Open Contests

1. Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway (Contest) — This ends on Tuesday! Win a FREE signed book (with hand painted—by me—bookmark and postcard!)!
2. May into June (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: An Imaginary Friend — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Cover Reveal & Contest! — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Word Search: Inside SECRET IDENTITIES (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Gabbi Grey: Are we allowed to have favorites? (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Story Cubes — Tell me a story (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Saturday Puzzle Contest: On this day…Ghostbusters released! — Win an Amazon gift card!