Six Things I Did Today...and Book Giveaway

 1. Woke Up Tired. I was up until midnight reading Anna and the French Kiss. But I tossed and turned until 2:00, thinking about the upcoming change in schedule with the kiddos going back to school. Where would writing fit in to the chaos of dropping and picking up several times a day; homework; soccer; PT; swimming lessons; gymnastics; every-three-hour feeding for the youngest? Plus, I always get sentimental when the boys go back to school. It shows me the rapid passage of time and—as crazy as it sounds—I grieve the passing of summer and their return to school.

2. Reflected. My Travel Tuesday Giveaway from last week was a bust. Honestly, no one entered. Upon reflection, I think the whole thing was too much work for people (specifics of the giveaway are here). But we learn from our mistakes, right? That being said, I still would like to give the books away. They are:

This time, in order to enter, all you have to do is post a comment with the book you want and with your email address so I can contact you if you win. If more than one person wants a particular book, then I will randomly select a winner. It would be super nice if you were a follower of the blog (but it’s not a requirement) and ultra cool if you tweeted or spread the word through social networking about the giveaway (still not a requirement). But you must live in the U.S. or Canada because of this silly, little thing we have in our household called a budget. Giveaway ends Saturday, August 27^th.

3. Reflected Some More. I have written oh-so little this summer. A lot of it has to do with the desire to spend time with my kids. Some of it has to do with lack of discipline and structure. Now that the kids are going back to school, I seriously need to write. As much as I want to promote Our Life on the Road, it seems a bit premature (I mean, the book is not even published). So, I am going to temporarily ditch Travel Tuesday and use the time to work on my WIP, my revisions, and on developing my other ideas. But since I truly enjoy blogging and connecting with other writers, I plan to blog about my progress and goals. I know, it sounds like a boring blog entry, huh? I’ll strive to keep it not boring.

4. Read Sample Chapters. On my Kindle. Not sample chapters of my own work, but of other published authors. Of books I may want to buy, but am too reluctant to purchase (that budget thing again). Already, I have read from…

I think I may purchase The Duff, but A Thousand Hills is so not what I want to read right now. Seems much too political rather than a human-based story.

5. Read/Listened. Read Percy Jackson The Sea of Monsters (one chapter) to the oldest. Listened to him read Horrible Harry in Room 2B (one chapter) to me.

6. Piano. I have been trying to give my older son piano lessons—trying being the operative word. He is reluctant to learn from me and does not take kindly to my suggestions. Maybe he will learn through osmosis J