Hello, Again

Wow, but it's been a while! What has everyone been doing? How have you been?

I thought it might be time to post again, since it's been a month. It's crazy. I have all these intentions to do things but being Mommy trumps them all. Right now, being Mommy takes most of my time and energy, whatever is left being for my husband and the rest of the family.

For example, we've been redoing the kitchen these last few weeks, starting with sanding, cleaning and painting the cabinets. We went so far as to get new hinges along with new pulls. It's all finally been put together and I participated in about 5% of the project, all consisting of help with the design because I've had one or two boys in my arms. (The pic is of my hubby and the boys - there's one of me with them, but it's in Kris' phone, so out of reach at the moment.)

On the writing front, I haven't done much word count wise, but I have made some lovely decisions regarding my WIP. I've been struggling with the re-write for months and I think I have a new outline going that will work beautifully. Now I only have to hash it out on paper, then wrestle the WIP into submission. Whenever I get time, that is.

I have been able to get a bit of reading done, though again, not as much as I suspected I could once I acknowledged I couldn't spend all that time on writing. Constant interruptions mean a bit of re-reading and pauses, but the books get done. This is something I will definitely be trying to squeeze more of into my day since my lovely hubs bought me the Hunger Games Trilogy in hardcover just this past week.

To be honest, I can't imagine why I thought adding a new baby into the mix wouldn't mean a crazy amount of adjustments for my family, my writing, and any other activities. I think I may have been intentionally misleading myself on the issue so the thought of a newborn wasn't so daunting. Of course, now that he's here, I wouldn't have it any other way.

So enjoy this post, my friends. At this point, we can't know when there will be another one. ;) I have high hopes, though, that things will get back into a swing pattern soon enough.

Wednesday Blog Hop

I'm joining in the Wednesday Blog Hop hosted by Nicole Pyles over at Writer's Imagination. Check back every Wednesday to join in the fun.

Welcome back to Writer Wednesday Blog Hop! If you are a returning hopper, welcome back! If you are new, welcome to the fun! As usual, we have three hosts for the blog hop, so that means more the awesome-ness for you bloggers out there. And while you're here, make sure you grab a button

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop Button!

Click and copy this code

<p align="center"><a href="http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/search/label/Writers%20Wednesday%20Blog%20Hop" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqVugiEP2I87bc3SqfcPeOkWFrQDk-41ugDua4cuSGirldWP9MyI-wEsDBAP4K6CfrUiDMBSTCo6p5Yuyz8LMP8QJn7FSBbbRmT3oX0jM4-eWxBvHviUlD1v2Itc3mhpr75xnLYf1Ymo/s1600/WWBH+badge.bmp" width="200" height="178" /></a> </p>

Here's the rules!

1) Follow your other blog hosts: World of My Imagination , A Writer Weaves a Tale..., and A Writer's Muses

2) Follow at least three other blogs (if you post your link early, make sure you come back and check out the other blogs)

3) Let the person you followed know that you are following their blog

4) (Optional...sort of): Tweet about the blog hop! (Use hashtag #WWBH and #WW when you do!) - Thank you to all of you who have featured this hop on your site!! I really appreciate it!

And all you do is link up below! You can link up your writing site, your blog, your twitter account, or your facebook page. We're flexible, and I know my other awesome hoppers are too. We're a cool bunch.

Contest Winner

With February over, there's a winner to choose. With only 2 comments, there was a 50/50 chance for either to get the prize. Using random.org, the lucky lady is --

Nicole Pyles

Congratulations! Thank you again for your comment. I sent you a message on G+ to find out which gift card you prefer.

Thanks to Chelle as well for her comment. It was a fun month. I look forward to another story hop and another contest.

Kalli's Story - Week 4

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?



              Part Four is here. :)

Want to know how it all ends? Vicki Orians is ready to show you.

Thoughts Of A Fantasy Novelist

Missed the first three installments?

Part One by Carrie Sorensen

Part Two by Nicole Pyles

Part Three by Bliss Morgan

And remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

Kalli's Story - Week 3

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?



              Part Three is here. :)

Catch what happens to Kalli next when Bliss Morgan has her say.

CallMeBliss

Missed the first two installments?

Part One by Carrie Sorensen

Part Two by Nicole Pyles

And remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

Kalli's Story - Week 2

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?


              Part Two is here. :)

Catch what happens to Kalli next when Nicole Pyles takes over the story.

The World of My Imagination

Missed the first installment?

Kalli's Story - Part One

And remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

Sebastian Is Here. :)

My husband suggested I delay the post until I'm not on as many medications since I already accidentally posted it to 42WD Publishing instead of here
(which would have made 2 postings there) ... But I'm pretty sure I have it this time. ;)

Sebastian Rasmus Sorensen was born yesterday. He came within 6 hours of getting to the hospital, so he was ready to get here. At 7 lbs, 14 oz and 21 healthy inches long, he's a pretty big boy. He's been absolutely amazing so far. His big brother loves him and they couldn't be cuter together. You can circle me on Google + to see photos posted by my husband or myself along with other updates.

The blogging plan is to take some time off this month, maybe posting from time to time if I get the urge. In the mean time, follow and comment about the blog story hop that we have going on. Remember, comments enter you into the contest to win a $10 gift card, so let me know what you think about the story hop or just say hi.

I'm going to go off and get some rest now. I will see you on the story hop, since I will definitely be following. I can't wait to see where the other authors take Kalli over the next few weeks.

Kalli's Story - Week 1

Welcome to the first Blog Story Hop! We have 4 weeks lined up with 4 different authors ready to spin you a tale. Ready?


             Part One, here we go.


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She was back.

Such a strange feeling it was, to be back.

Kalli walked down the familiar, house lined streets. Old Victorians sat nestled against craftsman and 50's ranch-style homes. In this part of town, yards were manicured, bikes tucked into garages and swings or bistro sets set out on the porches. In this small town, it was the norm to look put together, inside and out.

Scabbed hands were shoved into the pockets of her low-rise jeans, tensing her arms to hug the scarred leather jacket closer to her body. Her left knee stretched a hole in the denim while the fingers of her right hand had to curl to keep from slipping through the torn seam of her pocket. Her shoes were amazing, though, double laced, steel toed and flat black, gripping the concrete sidewalk powerfully.

Each step she took came down hard and purposeful, echoing the beat of the music in her ears. The bass pounded through her head, drowning out the music of the track. Eyes half closed, she let the weight of her boots and the boom of the music carry her through the manicured street.

"Kalliope Elizabeth Johnson." Her earbuds were ripped from her ears, hitting her shoulders. Kalli spun on her standing leg, catching the escaping wires that slipped from the other's hand as the last syllable of her name was spoken.

Kalli's dark eyes stopped in surprise at the girl behind her. The girls were similar in size, both petite, both with brown hair, though Kalli's was darker, shorter and the other girl's was as manicured as the lawns on this street, as put together as her pristine, fashion-inspired outfit.

"Jenae," she recognized, a relieved and welcome smile blossoming on her lips. Jenae's make-up smoothed face was warm and familiar. Seeing her reminded Kalli of late night camp fires and smores, giggling together in the back of the movie theater, moaning about riding the bus to school, crying when they lost State volleyball finals. It reminded her of normal.

"What the heck are you wearing? Who butchered your hair? Are those combat boots?" Jenae demanded, eyes flashing against Kalli's changed appearance. Blinking away from memories, Kalli finally managed to see her old friend, hearing her heated words echoing through her mind. Why is she angry? "You know what? Never mind all that. What I really want to know is why the heck didn't you call?"

Ah, Kalli thought, her narrow shoulders rolling back with eased tension. "I'm sorry," she answered. "I couldn't call. I didn't know we were coming back until ..." Until last night. "There wasn't much time to do anything once I found out."

“So what? Did your dad have another crazy get-rich inspiration? Or did your mom finally put her foot down and demand to come home? Why did you even leave in the first place?”

Kalli looked down at her hand, slightly surprised to see the little stings she felt came from having started spinning her buds around. She curled the wires up and shoved them in her back pocket next to her phone. The bass could still be heard as a soft, far-away heartbeat.



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Stay tuned for part two, coming next Thursday. I'll post the link to the next author's blog here and you can begin the journey.

Remember to comment here at Chasing Revery for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card.

February Babies and Contest Announcement

We are going to be having a baby boy sometime in the next week!

I can say that with confidence because if he doesn't come by himself by Friday, my doctor will be scheduling an induction. With that being said, I have no idea how the next month is going to go and how much I'll actually be able to post. No worries, though. I have a few other new babies to introduce, and these don't require hospital help.

First, I've set up an interesting blog story hop for this month to allow me a bit of baby time. I have an amazing group of writers willing to participate in putting together a story - each taking on a different leg of it, and sharing it all with you via each of their blogs with very little time to write and edit. Installment will be posted on Thursdays. Bring on the challenge.

I am also going to host my very first contest! Entering will be incredibly easy - just comment on any of the February posts. Any and all February comments on this blog (as in, comments on the blog story hop won't count unless they're posted here on Chasing Revery) will be entered into a random drawing for the grand prize of ...

$10 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N

(Winner's Choice)

Those are my February babies. I'm sure we'll all agree my baby boy will be the cutest, but the others will be their share of fun.

What are you waiting for? Get commenting. Come back to check out the blog story hop and find out when Baby Boy #2 finally gets here.

I Almost Lost Thursday

I'm lazy, I know, I'm sorry.

Actually, I just plain forgot it was Thursday until this moment.

That's not entirely true, either. I haven't been on board with this week since before it began. It all started last week when I messed up putting events into my calendar. I have my calendar set up to run Monday through Sunday rather than Sunday to Saturday. This isn't new - it's been like this for a very long time. However, last week my brain switched it even though I didn't, so all my appointments and activities were put in a day behind. I didn't realize this until I was confirming my week with my husband on Sunday and I worked quickly to move all my new additions to the right day.

My alarms were correct at that point, but again, my brain has been slow to catch up. Thanks to my error, I have been a day ahead all week. I realize this means I should have accidentally posted yesterday, but it's much more fun to have almost forgotten to post today, don't you think?

This isn't the first time something like this has happened - well, it is the first time I've messed up a whole week so grandly, but it isn't the first time I've felt like it wasn't the right day. This is a common feeling I hear many people talk about, particularly as it gets closer to Friday (or so I've noticed).

Story idea! :) I haven't read one book where this type of mistake enters into a character's life. It could prove massively annoying, which would theoretically make for great conflict, don't you think? I do. Into my notes you go, little gem ...

I have a few more announcements coming up sometime next week. I'm hoping to implement a lot of changes to the blog in the coming month and I'm very excited about them. One of the changes may include a contest full and complete with a prize. We'll have to see. ;)

Before I go, though, my request this week will be for anecdotes pertaining to those days you lost track of where you were in the week. What happened and how did you manage to knock yourself out of it?