Day TWO! by Jason Zandri

As part of my involvement in the Twelve Giveaways of Christmas Blog Tour I am doing a couple of things. 

I am, of course, posting my own post and promoting all the others and I am also doing a Rafflecopter giveaway. That is what this post is. 

Each day, I am going to kick off with this same summary information (that you've just read) and then I am going to cross post the links to the blogs on the tour. 

I am going to ask each of the readers to my blog and everyone I hit across my social networks, to follow the links to the other blog posts. Catch the writings and the spirit of the season. 

For each post of mine (including this one) I am going to offer one part of the "10 Painfully Obvious Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon" posting (Credits: by Marc Chernoff, marcandangel) and my own thoughts on it. 

Today's is:

1. The average human life is relatively short. 

We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know. It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step. You expected there to be one more stair than there is, and so you find yourself off balance for a moment, before your mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is. 

LIVE your life TODAY! Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of it either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive. Be bold. Be courageous. Be scared to death, and then take the next step anyway. 

A number of things come to mind when I read this, but I suppose it's the simple thought of "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow." 

Yes, you want to make sure to take the time to save for a house, a vacation, retirement, and so forth, but no one ever lay on their deathbed saying "damn, I really wish I could have put in 100 more hours at work." 

* Take the vacation. 
* Go for a walk. 
* Buy an ice cream cone for yourself. 
* Step outside on a sunny day; soak in the rays. 
* Step outside into the rainstorm; let the water wash over you. 
* Grab an extra hour of sleep. 
* Call a loved one and just BS on the phone. 
* Go over and see them. 
* Buy a bag of dog food and bring it to the animal shelter. 
* Clear out the canned goods that are about to expire at home and donate them to a food pantry for the less fortunate. 
* Sing or dance like nobody is watching / listening. 
* If there are people around, do it anyway. 
* Play with your kids / grandkids. 
* If they are older, take them to lunch (or that ice cream cone). 
* Forgive someone for their trespass; you do not have to forget what occurred, but perhaps it's time to let part of it go. 
* Ask for forgiveness for a trespass of your own; if you are not forgiven by them, at least forgive yourself. 

I will close my thoughts by looping back on what I said prior - "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow." 

You want to do whatever you can that is timely and practical as far as working and savings so that you can have the best chance to have the same kind of life in your final years as you experienced your working adult life. 

With that I emphasize two additional 'moderation' thoughts: 

Do something 'small' tomorrow for yourself, in case it does in fact end up being your last day. 

You are never going to see an armored car follow a hearse; find a balance in what you are putting off for 'down the road' and what you could do, streamlined, next weekend.

Day ONE! #ShareChristmas by Britney Mills

Guest post by Britney Mills

I am so excited to be part of this fun book giveaway for Christmas! There are a bunch of fun authors participating and so many chances to get a great book!

I'm giving away a few copies of my book, #ShareChristmas, that I finished a few weeks ago. I love Christmas stories, the short ones that make you want to cry because of the goodness of people.

The reason I wanted to write a bunch of short Christmas stories is because there are so many different family situations that you might come across during the holiday season and I think by showing what people are going through, we can all be a little bit more sympathetic.

There are ten stories that are all fiction but based on things that have happened in my life or in other's life that I have witnessed and so hopefully you can connect with a few of them. This is a great book to add to your Christmas collection and even has a bunch of fun activities to do with your kids to keep the real meaning of Christmas in your home during this great holiday!


Plus, I'm also giving away a few more editing opportunities! Make sure to enter now at my blog WritingUnblocked!

Coming Soon...

I'm so excited to be participating in this fun event.

Starting December 14

Come back each day until Christmas for exciting author giveaways that you won't want to miss. This is a great way to find new books and authors to love, so don't miss out!

The Suspect's Daughter: COVER REVEAL!

If you have read any of my post about author Donna Hatch (or have read one of her books), you will know why I am so excited about her new book. I'm thrilled to participate in her latest book's cover reveal and I hope you are too. So, read on, my friends (and don't forget to enter the giveaway):

Donna Hatch is the award-winning author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series.” She discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8 and has been listening to those voices ever since. A sought-after workshop presenter, she juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, her six children (seven, counting her husband), and still makes time to write. Yes, writing IS an obsession. A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.

Follow Donna on her Social Media pages:

http://donnahatch.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Donna-Hatch/e/B002BMG9KK/
https://www.facebook.com/DonnaHatch.Author
https://twitter.com/donnahatch
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2072970.Donna_Hatch

Now let's take a look at the book!

Determined to help her father with his political career, Jocelyn sets aside dreams of love. When she meets the handsome and mysterious Grant Amesbury, her dreams of true love reawaken. But his secrets put her family in peril.

Grant goes undercover to capture conspirators avowed to murder the prime minister, but his only suspect is the father of a courageous lady who is growing increasingly hard to ignore. He can’t allow Jocelyn to distract him from the case, nor will he taint her with his war-darkened soul. She seems to see past the barriers surrounding his heart, which makes her all the more dangerous to his vow of remaining forever alone.

Okay here is the cover!!!!

*****

***

 * 

Follow along on the event Facebook page to enjoy all the fun of this cover reveal!

https://www.facebook.com/events/992719144135185/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm Falling Apart, I'm Falling Apart

When I was a young girl, my sister had this adorable little doll. Its body and head were connected by a cord. When you pulled it apart, it would shimmy back together while chanting, "I'm falling apart, I'm falling apart." We loved that crazy doll and even now sometimes will repeat her words.

As evidenced by my somewhat lackadaisical approach to blogging over the past couple of weeks, "I'm falling apart, I'm falling apart." The holidays are difficult. I like to keep it simple, but the people I love prefer a whirlwind of busyness that sucks up my not-so-ordered life and spews it in all directions. Even with the Accountability Partnership I'm lagging behind.

I have read a few books, though, as I put my youngest to bed. They're mostly light reading, fun reads that you come away from with a little happy sigh.

Under the Mistletoe Collection by Heather B. Moore, Sarah M. Eden, Julie Coulter Bellon, Annette Lyon, Jennifer Griffith, and Cindy Roland Anderson (I received this in exchange for an honest review)

Cookie Girl Christmas (my personal fave) by Christene Houston

The Mariposa Hotel by Heather B. Moore, Julie Wright, and Melanie Jacobson  (I received this in exchange for an honest review)


and

Sarah M. Eden British Isles Collection by, of course, Sarah M. Eden (I received this in exchange for an honest review).







I recommend all of them.

Two Weddings and a Book I Can't Wait to Read

You already know that my daughter got married, but 11 days later, my niece got married. Crazy schedules and family in town and tons of fun and beautiful gowns and slacking on blogging. So this is going to be quick.

Four ways to get Banished from the last surviving city on earth are: 1. Cut out your emotion tracker, 2. Join a religious cult, 3. Create a rebellion against the Legislature, 4. Fall in love. Jezebel James does all four.


For the next 29 days, Kindle Scout is open for nominations of books they're considering for publication. There is one by Jane Redd (click to see how to win $100 Amazon gift card) , titled Solstice.

I cannot wait to read it.

I read the excerpt that is available and wanted to keep punching the down arrow for more when it was over. Check it out

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/19YG70FO7KJU7.

And, if you like it,  nominate it when you're done.

Turned Out So Lovely

The wedding day was amazing and so grateful to have Jamee Edwards do the photography because it is phenomenal. Here are a few pictures: