My Two Blessings

I'll be attending Left Coast Crime mystery conference the rest of the week and will have lots of new and interesting books, pictures and stories to share next week.  I'll be working the registration desk Wednesday night, Friday and Saturday for a couple hours, then attending panels the rest of the time. I'm sure to find a few new books which I'll  be giving away for my 5th blogoversary celebration.  Thursday is a 2 part writer's workshop with Alexandra Sokoloff and Jennifer Sawyer Fisher each leading a session.  Frank Peretti's newest book Illusion was released March 6th.  Check out the Frank Peretti ASK FRANK blog tour running from March 26th through April 4th.  He will be making a guest appearance here on My Two Blessings and 52 Books in 52 Weeks on April 4th.  All participants are doing a giveaway. International Thriller Writers has a new anthology coming out on May 29th edited by Sandra Brown " Love is Murder " with  many of my favorite...

Going on a Journey by Jonathan Wolstenholme Happy Spring my lovely peeps!  The beginning of Spring almost marks a milestone in my life   My Two Blessings 5th Blogoversary My blog and life has evolved over the past 5 years.  We are in our 6th year of homeschooling,  I completed my Bachelor's degree, became a writer (albeit unpublished but working on it), discovered an wide variety of genres I enjoy reading, which led to being an online book reviewer, started the 52 Books in 52 Weeks reading challenge and made many new friends.  My life has been blessed in more ways than one through blogging and I appreciate every single person who takes the time to read and share their life with me.  It kind of crept up on me this year so I'm still thinking of what we are going to do to celebrate. Stay tuned!!!! Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in ...

Bond Girl by Erin Duffy Synopsis: "When other little girls were dreaming about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett set her sights on conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. And though she's prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys' club, or duck the occasional errant football, she quickly realizes she's in over her head when she's relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker—Girlie—inscribed in Wite-Out across the back. No matter. She's determined to make it in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street's most esteemed brokerage firms. Keeping her eyes on the prize, the low Girlie on the totem pole will endure whatever comes her way—whether trekking to the Bronx for a $1,000 wheel of Parmesan cheese; discovering a secretary's secret Friday night slumber/dance party in the conference room; fielding a constant barrage of "friendly" practical jokes; learning the ropes from Chick, her ...

Poor Herbie Bear is having issues again and has to go on a diet. As you can imagine in a household with 4 cats who are all on different feeding schedules and like to munch throughout the day, this has thrown them for a loop. But...But...But... Why is he getting something different. I want what she's eating. I'll just wait til she leaves the room and dip into the bag when she isn't looking. Quick he's outside, give me food...Now!   They are learning to eat when the dishes appears because they could disappear at any moment. And hubby is learning not to give when sweet faces peer up at him, meow longingly and wind their way around him. Writing wise, I haven't accomplished much this week. I'm just not happy with the opening of Blue Steel . Since I didn't take much of a break from it when originally finished the first draft and seem to be stuck, going to set it aside and give it a rest while I work on  Eyes in the Ashes .  My goals for this we...

The Priest and The Peaches by Larry Peterson Synopsis: Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral. They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The Priest and the Peaches is a sweet wonderful story about faith, trust, family and friendship.   When the Peach kids dad passes away unexpectedly, the five kids -Teddy (18), Jeanne (17), Dancer (14  - also known as James), Beeker (10 - also known as Robert) and Joey (6) are left orphaned and stunned.  Teddy is suddenly thrust into the world of being the responsible adult and not only has to deal with the death of his father and his guilt over ...

Silent Victims by Lynda La Plante Synopsis: "Chief Detective Inspector Jane Tennison has moved up the ranks, fighting every step of the way to break through the station house’s glass ceiling. Now, on her first day as the head of the Vice Squad, a case comes in that threatens to destroy everything she has worked for. As Vera Reynolds, drag queen and night club star, swayed onstage singing “Falling in Love Again,” a sixteen-year-old rent boy lay in the older man’s apartment, engulfed in flames. When Tennison’s investigation reveals an influential public figure as her prime suspect, a man with connections to politicians, judges, and Scotland Yard, she’s given a very clear message about the direction some very important people would like her investigation to take. Suddenly, in a case defined by murky details, one fact becomes indisputably clear—that for Tennison, going after the truth will mean risking her happiness, her career, and even her life." Silent Victi...

I finished that whale of a tale, Moby Dick by Herman Melville.  It was long and yes ended up skimming some parts. It was educational, poetical, dramatic, and for the most part interesting. Now know more than I even wanted too about whales.  I honestly couldn't have read this book in high school and done it justice.  I would have been bored to tears and given up on it.   Speaking of giving up - I picked up Story Engineering by Larry Brooks based on some great reviews.   Started reading it and could not separate the wheat from the chaff. It seemed to be one long infomercial with very little substance.  One book that is short on chaff and full of wheat is James Scott Bell's Revision and Self Editing .  I'm learning much from it.  And talk about synchronicity.  Yesterday I was pretty disgusted with my opening chapter of Blue Steel . The beginning is just not popping and rethinking the whole thing.  What do I come across in Bell's b...

Happy Sunday!   Our weather has been absolutely gorgeous.  I think spring has sprung early here.  And with Spring comes creativity because we all seem to making a lot of progress with our various projects.  James lessons are going well and he's showing some incentive in doing things independently and Father's making progress with his latest electronics project.  I'm feeling a bit more creative myself and getting more writing done. Left Coast Crime is having their convention in Sacramento this year from March 29 - April 1st (yeah!) and I signed up for the writing workshop.   I'm psyched because Jennifer Sawyer Fisher, a former editor for Kensington, Penguin, Morrow/Avon and HarperCollins, will teach a session on self-editing. Participants were asked to submit pages for Fisher's session.  Since I wasn't done rewriting Blue Steel' s first chapter, I spiffed up Eyes in the Ashes first chapter and submitted it.  It's the one story hubby actu...