M. Stretching the Fingers

Well...  It's been a while.  It has been a long while.

I'm sorry. 

I don't know what happened.  I think it's a mix of a bunch of factors, but writing has taken a back seat to life and we haven't done much lately.  I didn't mean for the break to take so long, but it did and now it's time to get back into writing.

The last few nights I've blown the dust of the laptop and hit the keys.  It feels great to do some writing and letting my creative side out.

I don't know what's going to come of this, but it feels good to get back to putting words on paper.  I hope everyone has been well, I can't wait to start talking to everyone again.

M. Update

Well, life has been just as crazy as ever. Amy's been plugging away at the books and is doing well on her studies to become a nurse. My new, old, job has slowed down from the craziness that super storm sandy brought... For now.

Between dance practice, wrestling practice, and matches our time has been filled in.

Recently I allowed myself to become obsessed with reading and finishing Game of Thrones - the first book of the Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin, which I absolutely loved. But, even my reading has been slow.

Which brings me to writing. Amy and I have been working on the old stuff, slowly, and are now talking about turning and old idea into a trilogy.

Amy suggested that before we think to even query or publish the first book, we should finish the last book. They are going to be intertwined and maybe we are going to want to add to the first or second as we write the third.

Have any of you ever tried this?

I hope everyone has been well. As always, sorry for not posting more often.

A. OR

Today I get to observe in the OR. I am super excited and nervous at the same time. I learned that as an LPN you can work in the OR as a scrub nurse. This really excites me and I think I would love it, however I need to see how I can handle the sight of surgery today. Hopefully all will go well and I won't pass out!

M. New Tradition

It's that time of year again. The holidays. There isn't much I don't like about this time of year. Mostly I love the traditions that seem to grow every year.

Our newest tradition is Fred, the elf on the shelf. Every night he goes from one place in the house to the other, watching over the family and reporting back to Santa. Recently though, he has been found hanging with a Barbie doll and last night he must have gotten completely out of hand at a party. I am starting think we may need to report his recent behavior back to Santa.

Either that or keep posting his photos. Happy holidays everyone I hope you are having a great holiday season.

A. Football

Watching the Giants in bed with my golden and my moms golden. They are having a sleepover. Love football season!!

A. Nursing School

I am still loving school and have really learned a lot. I have started clinicals and am working with patients 3 days a week. I was really nervous at first but not so much anymore. After this week I will be finished my secound out five terms, and as of this moment I am holding an A average.

For me writing has been put on hold. Mike has done a little, but since out home was struck by Sandy he has been working like crazy. We were very lucky and sustained no damage or loss unlike so many of our neighboring towns.

Cape May

Our home is under attack, yet again. As I sit in our living room and listen to the wind batter out house, I wonder, is everything going to be okay this time?

Honestly, this is crazy.

Amy, the kids, our friends from Wildwood, and I are all huddled around the TV. We watching, waiting and living the largest storm that I can remember. Of course. We are watching for now, as the lights flicker and the electric threatens to go out.

For all those on the east coast, be safe. And for all others, we will let you know when the storm is done and how it has inspired our next manuscript.

M. Interviewing

Hey everyone, it has been a while, but I wanted to check in and see how everyone has been.  Lately, writing has taken a back seat to work, school, and the kids, but we are still slowly working on it.

Even though writing hasn't been the priority, it doesn't mean that we've stopped.  Actually, just the other day I was given a chance to do an interview for a local paper.  It was a fun story about a man and his wife that have been married for 50 years.

They were a great couple and the story was exciting to write.  It was the first time I've ever written an interview and probably won't be my last.  I just can't wait until it comes out, but I think it won't be published until May.

I guess it getting published in May is much better then not at all.

Hoping all has been well with everyone.  I will be checking back in soon.

Book-A-Versary

Here’s a fun fact for you!  Our title, Liberty will be a year old on Monday.  I still can’t believe it, but it has been a year since we self published our first paranormal YA novel.

I know that Liberty was around way before her pub date, but it is still just as exciting.  We both remember creating the cover, writing each chapter – rewriting each chapter, and setting it out for query after query.  But after several months of giving the traditional road a try, we self published.

I don’t really know how many people have read it as of yet, but I would venture to say around a hundred or so.  While we both had our reservations about self publishing and using Amazon as an outlet to distribute our books, I can honestly say now, I trust the process.

If you are on the fence about just letting it out there, I would say go for it.  But, like us, if your dream is to have an agent and a publisher – don’t stop trying.  Some day we will figure out how to sell our story in three paragraphs on one page, when, I don’t know.

For now though, we will celebrate our book-a-versary and keep working on the second Liberty – Sytes Awakening!  Happy reading and writing!

M. Blogging Again!

Get out the virtual broom and dust pan.  It’s time to stop neglecting the blog like a closet that nobody looks in or a junk drawer.  It’s not that I didn’t want to blog for all this time and it really isn’t that I haven’t missed all of the people that follow us.  It’s just, to be 100% honest, that I was just being lazy.

In the past few months, I’ve found every reason not to blog and every reason to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”  Truth is though, as you’ve seen, that’s gotten me nowhere.  Thankfully, Amy has been blogging when she is able, but with her new school and countless hours of studying to become a nurse, she has no time.

Anyway, what I really mean to say to any of you that are still kind enough to read this, “I’m sorry.”

I know in the past I’ve taken a few days or weeks off, but this time was just too much.  I really have missed talking to everyone on here.  I’ve missed going on and reading all of your posts and how your lives are doing.  It isn’t that I wasn’t interested, it’s just that I have been a rotten blogger lately, and plan on getting better.

In the past few months, I have been letting work spear my creativity.  I have been so wrapped up in what I was doing to get the job done well, that I’ve let go of some of the things I love.  I haven’t been writing like I should, I haven’t been blogging, and I’ve kind of fell slightly out of the social media world.

Sure, I still tweet here and there, but that only gives me 140 characters to say what I want to say.  A lazy writer’s dream, only needing to say a few words!  Well that has to change.  I need to get back to blogging, because that is like writing exercise.  You know, like going out and jogging for several weeks before you run a 5K, which by the way I need to be doing too.  But really, blogging is practice.  I need to find a way to stay on task and get more blogs out, get my feelings out, get my words out, and most importantly mend the connections with many of you that I’ve lost.

I look forward to reading more of your blogs and talking to all of you about books, writing, and life.  Please forgive the absent minded, somewhat lazy blogger and join me as I get back into the swing of things.

A. First Week Done

Finished my first week of school. 6 hours of class 5 days a week, and at least 2 to 3 hours of homework at night. I am loving it!!!

Friday I came home, much to Mike's dismay with my blood pressure cuff. He hates to get his blood pressure taken but I have to practice, right?

The kids were not too happy about me going back to school. They really want me to be a nurse though and seem to think after a week I know everything.

It is going to be a long year but I can't wait!! Thank you to my amazing husband for his support, and picking up the slack around the house .

A. The Next Chapter!

Summer is almost here, which means no school for my babies! In the past summers have been a lot of fun, living at the shore we have the beach and boardwalk and tons of things to do. This year is going to be slightly different .

My family was plagued with medical problems over the last few years and it has set us back a little. Everyone is on a good health mode at the moment , thank god!! I have been accepted into nursing school. It is something I have thought about for years and finally the time is right. So as my kids are getting out of school for the summer I will be starting in July.

A. To Finish or to Throw Away...

Almost two years ago I had an idea for a new novel due to a dream I had. This happens a lot! I have very strange dreams, and if you have read THE MISSING you would understand what I mean because that was also a dream that I had.

This dream was a little different and it mimicked a situation we had going on in our lives at the moment. I told Mike about the dream and told him I wanted to right it out. The topic of the dream is serious it has to do with children lost in the foster care system.

My biological father and step mom where foster parents. They adopted several children. They were having problems with my 16 yr old sister , who they adopted and I offered to take her in for a little while to calm things down. Once in my house she told me horrific stories that where going on and as  I never lived in the house, i was only a weekend kid and that was a long long time ago. I started to believe her.

So i had this dream that was loosely based on that situation.  We had the whole novel planned out and even started to write it. I was going to be one hell of the story. Then things changed and I started to realize maybe I believed a little to quickly and a little to much of what my sister was saying. I realized that in the year and a half she lived with me, i stopped talking to my father, my children were behaving differently , I was yelling all the time and every moment I was alone I was crying.  Something needed to give.

I talked to her case manger and realized my house was not the place for her. She need more help then I could give her and MY children were suffering from what my house had turned into a ticking time bomb.  She was removed from my house and placed where she would get help. In the process Mike and decided we could not finish the book because it was too painful and the ending just wouldn't work for us anymore.  We didn't delete it just put it aside.

In the last couple of months we have talked about changing the ending and getting back into it. I was never ready and always dismissed the subject. Then last night Mike brought it up again. I still don't know what to do, Its a great story it does need to be changed A LOT, but even with that said and it is mostly fictional it does make me relive things I am not sure I am ready for or will ever be ready for.

What to do?
A.

M. Haunted II

Okay, so most of you have come to know me as a reasonable person, right?

I believe in other existences.  Don't you?  It would be unfathomable to think that there is no other plane of existence.  When a soul dies, is lost, goes away, where does it go?  We wrote a book about it... aka The Missing.

Well, a few weeks ago, Amy wrote about how our house may be haunted and that we may have a visitor.  Guess what, I believed her on one level, but couldn't itemize any proof because I hadn't seen any.  I am a logical person in many ways, except for the fact that I am open minded to things out of my understanding.

Anyway, that's all well and good, but what's important is that today, I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST DIRECT OCCURANCE OF THE OTHER KIND!!!!!

I got home, buffed a few scratches out of my Sister-in-laws car, and went in the house alone.  I got changed.  I put on a pair of shorts, because I hate wearing pants when I don't have to, and headed for the front door.  What was nuts was, I pulled open the front door and a voice from behind me called "Michael!"

It was loud enough to make me spin around and look for my mother-in-law (The only person that calls me Michael).  Expect she wasn't there.  There was nobody there.  NOBODY!!!

Needless to say, my goose bumps on my arms were the size of Redwoods and I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.  Judge me, say what you will, but guess what, you weren't there.

I am now writing about it, in my bed, on my computer, in my house, but not without looking for my new found friend.

Is this family specter really FRIENDLY?????

 Will they ever tell me their real name???

M. Getting It All Done

Hey there everyone,

Sorry to have been away for such a long time, but life - as you've maybe read, has been nuts.  Like Amy said, we've finished moving and I have to say that I am already a thousand times more comfortable in this house.

Work has been crazy, sort of, there are busy days and then days filled with stress because the economy is killing business.

We just had some important events in our lives that took planning and time, which left little time for writing.  I know that the worst excuse for not writing is lack of time, but it was a little because of time.  Then again, it was a little because of a lack of wind in our sails.

Story ideas have been coming out of our minds, but writing them down hasn't.  I think that the lull is over though.

The other day, we got an email from Jay Eckert's daughter, Rachel.  She's a fan of a book of ours and even though she is young, she sparked a fire in our motivation.  She can't wait for the second book to Liberty and it may be a third of the way done, but it's not far enough.

Therefore, for ourselves and for our #1 fan, Rachel, we are going to buckle down and get "Syte's Awakening," the second "Liberty" done ASAP!!!

Thank's for the email the other day Rachel, we needed that!

HAUNTED

A.
 It has been awhile since I have blogged. We have been very busy with the move and unpacking, then my daughters First Holy Communion and now we have Dace recital just around the corner.  I love being busy but really need a little break.

We have been in our house for just about a month now and we really do love it.  The other night though i was tossing and turning and stressing, I was just accepted in to a nursing program and we are trying to find a way to make it all work out. While i was unable to sleep, I heard a small voice say "stop stressing and go to sleep" kind of freaked me out and I thought I am really losing it. I got up the next morning thinking wow what a weird night. 

I went about my day and basically forgot about my strange night until I was cooking dinner. My daughter had done something that landed her in her room until dinner was ready. While I was cooking I saw a gray flash dart from the direction of her room toward my room. I slowly walked around the counter and there was nothing there. I called to my daughter who poked her head out of her room. So now i am really freaked out.

Later that night I invited my parents over for a glass of wine. I proceed to tell my mom what had happen. She can usually sense spirits.  She told me I was crazy and walked outside to smoke. When she came in she started to laugh, and said "your right you have a playful spirit here. Great I thought!!

I am still pretty freaked but maybe my new housemate might bring some new inspiration if we decide to right another ghost story.

So do YOU believe?

A. Let The Unpacking Begin!!!

I know it has been awhile since either one of has blogged. We have been extremely busy!  Our house sold and we are in the processes of slowing moving into new house, which we love!

Mike has been working like crazy, and is so happy to be working again. We are still writing, its just a little slow right now. Once we get all moved in we will get back on schedule.

A lot of changes going on in the Leslie household and we are loving everyone of them.  Its so true the difference a year makes.

Free Giveaway!!!

If we could just figure out how to do this when we are selling the books and not just giving them away!  LIBERTY is a hit for free today!

UPDATES!

Happy belated Valentines Day everyone! Mike and I had a very quiet night at home. We found a new butcher in our area and bought amazing filets. I fed the kids early and sent them upstairs for the night after Mike got home. We had a quiet dinner and watched TV together without the constant Mommy and Daddy in the background. It was a great last Valentines Day in our house since it looks like our house has been sold YAY!!

It’s not final yet, and it has been a very quick and stress full process.  We have inspections this week and a settlement date for the middle of March. While I will miss our house and the 3 blocks to the beach, I will not miss the summer traffic and the new house has a great yard and is in the neighborhood I grew up in. We know most of the neighbors already and I feel safe letting the kids out to play and ride bikes.

Hoping everything goes through and let the fun of packing begin!
Also GO GIANTS!  In case you didn't know our family are HUGE GIANTS fans!

Finally a Sequel

Last year, in March, Amy and I released our first self published book, Tristen and the Magic Shop.  It's a Middle Grade story that was written more for our kids than anything.  As I think we've told you before, they really took an interest in the writing process and the stories we were telling, unfortunately they were too adult for them.  So, to amend the issue we wrote about Tristen.

Well the book was fun to write and the outcome was exactly what we had hoped for, our children enjoyed being able to read something we wrote.  Now, as of Saturday, we are gladly able to say that they are able to read yet another adventure for Tristen, Tristen and the Whining of the Wind.

I am debating on whether we should have another Book Release Blog Party - would anybody be interested?  If so, we can have one later this week or the start of next week.  We could consider this the soft open to the grand opening.

I guess that after looking back from March of 2010 to now and thinking about the way that life is sculpting itself to be, I guess things really do happen for a reason.  I am thankful for all of the friends we have made along the way on the beginning of our writing journey and can't wait to meet the ones that are yet to come.  Thank you for being a part of our lives, our writing, and teaching us so much.  Each of you has inspired us in your own way to keep doing this.

How would we know what a smooth ride feels like, if we've never gone down a bumpy road?