What To Do When You Don't Want To Do Anything by Joan Reeves

I've never been really sick before other than a cold or allergy stuff—until this summer.

After visiting for a granddaughter's high school graduation and my brother's birthday, I returned home feeling quite well and happy.

Two days later, I came down with a horrible "unknown pathogen" according to lab tests. I spent the rest of the summer too sick to go anywhere or do anything.

Gradually, my immune system fought off whatever it was, and I began to get better. Unfortunately, it's been really difficult to get my energy back. For almost 3 months, I couldn't eat, lost weight, and could do little more than lie in a recliner and watch TV.

What To Do When You Don't Want To Do Anything

Being sick is tough on the body, the emotions, the brain, and the spirit. I was so sick I didn't even feel like reading! Now that's bad.

For weeks, all I felt like doing was watching TV. I became well acquainted with all of the streaming services.

In the belief that 'laughter is the best medicine," I sought comedy in whatever intelligent form I could stream on the big TV where the recliners are. Funny dog videos on YouTube were my favorite along with DryBar Comedy.

I caught up with all of the new RomComs on Netflix, Prime, etc. and the classics too. When I couldn't find anything funny, I watched British police and detective procedurals—anything that made me think to figure out a mystery.

4 Ways To Feel Better When You're Sick and Tired

1. Laugh. There's a reason RomComs are so popular. If you're too sick to read, find something funny with streaming.

2. Think. That's what the myriad mysteries and suspense TV series and movies made me do. Puzzles are good for the brain.

3. Listen to uplifting music. I have a few favorite Pandora stations I created. They are: string music, Classical Romance, and pop music from my high school era. Set up a free Pandora account and create a radio station featuring the kind of music that makes you feel good.

4. When you start to feel better, manage your energy level. Those with chronic diseases know all about the "spoon" philosophy of energy management. Just because you start to feel better, don't overdo it.

Figure out what you can do without exhausting yourself, or you'll end up back in the recliner instead of making progress. It's better to consistently spend an hour each morning working at something than spending 5 hours one day and then having no energy for the rest of the week.

You can build on an hour a day, but when you end up flat on your back and exhausted there's no way you can build on that.

Back to Basics

Today begins my first writing day in a while. I have a backlog of work—an edited manuscript to rework, 2 Kindle Vellas to draw to a close this month, a new book to start, promotion to get sales to pick up, blog posts to write, and so much more.

Since, I can only do 1 project at a time so I'll kick off this "back to blogging" with a sale on Second Chance Bride, a  delightfully romantic and emotional love story about second chances in life and love. 

For the next week, this book will be on sale for 99¢ at your Kindle store. If you love this book, please do me a favor and leave a short review so others can find this romance.

I wish you cooler weather—it's been triple digits here since July—and happy reading!

 Joan Reeves participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. She may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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WRITING A MYTHIC HISTORY

By Juli D. Revezzo, Guest Author

I’m a research nerd at heart. After all those years I spent in school, you’d think I’d be done with it, but I’m not. I may be crazy but I love to research. Luckily, I’m a writer so it comes with the territory. Even though I write—mainly—fantasy-laden stories, I always have something that needs a bit of research to get right, even if I’m well-versed in whatever it is I happen to include in the story.

For instance, in my paranormal romance novel Passion’s Sacred Dance, is influenced by Celtic Myths, specifically that of the Second Battle of Mag Thuried (that was a battle between the mythic Tuatha de Dannan and their foes Balor and the Formoire). I’ve studied Celtic mythology for a long time and therefore read about that battle here and there over the years. Still, I had much research to do in the course of writing Passion’s Sacred Dance.

How far back, exactly, was that battle? Where did the Tuatha de Dannan actually come from? Beyond that, there were scenes that take place in Celtic history. What was going on at the times when the Celts clashed with the Romans and Greeks? What did the landscape look like? Worse yet, the battles happen every five hundred years. Where did the first one take place, and what did the world look like?

All these nifty little pieces of the story demanded research from me, and brushing up on what I already knew, led me to new discoveries. (Or new discoveries for me.) Did you know the Celts built some of the world’s first fireplaces? Did you know there was more than one Ice Age? Did you know there was a period in time where the human race almost completely died out? 

I didn’t, before I started writing the novel. J Where I could’ve just thrown in the towel, no, I went diving in looking for the answers I needed. Luckily, I’m a research nerd, so this was a learning experience as much as a novel. 

How about you? Have you ever stumbled across a bit of information that begged you to learn even more?

Here’s an excerpt from PASSION'S SACRED DANCE:

Note: In this excerpt, my heroine is on the trail of her ancestor’s diary. Hopefully, it will tell her about the coming battle. She’s found Aaron, her love interest and mentor in this search, in the local college library, doing a little reading of his own:

“Ms. Macken’s here from the Bitter Thorn Grove Historical Museum about the Hazeltine letter.”

“Hazeltine?” Stacy shook her head. “No, no. It’s the Macken letter, isn’t it?”

Mr. Kaplan nodded. “You mean the Hazeltine letter. It is by Ruth Macken. As we understand it, it was turned over to the college collection by…” he paused, thinking, “Veronica Hazeltine, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “I’m sorry. Ms. Grenwich didn’t say that. If you have it, I’d like to see it.”

He stood and waved a hand to the main room.

“Take a seat anywhere you like while I retrieve it for you.”

She did as he suggested while Mr. Kaplan turned to the task of finding the letter. Stacy settled into a chair at a table covered with magazines. But she soon grew bored and turned her attention to studying the architecture.

On a floor above, she spotted a handsome man with strawberry blond hair leaning against the shelf. He was reading something. Aaron.

She smiled and stood, hurrying up the stairs.

Aaron looked up as she hit the landing. “Well, I think my luck’s holding out.”

She came to his side and he took her hand and gave it a light kiss. “What are you doing here?”

Delight lit to her toes at the polite, gentlemanly greeting, though she wished it was a little more.

“I was going to ask you the same thing.”

“Me? I’m just doing a little reading.”

She tilted her head to read the title in his hands. Eternal Journey: A Guide to Peace and Self-Mastery from Ancient Warriors. “Light reading?” she guessed.

“Depends on what the author has to say for himself.” He tucked the book under his arm. “What

brings you so far from home?”

She nodded to the bookcases. “Research. You’ll never believe what I found! Ruth wrote a letter to someone that isn’t in my collection at the gallery.”

“A letter? One you’d never heard of?”

She nodded.

Aaron paused for a moment, eyes narrowed intently. She wondered what thought distracted him.

“What’s it say?”

“We’ll find out.” She scrubbed a hand through her hair. “My source says she may’ve mentioned her diary to someone in it. I’m hoping it’ll tell where I can find it.”

Aaron pursed his lips and nodded. “That would be quite a coup.”

Stacy peered over the railing, wondering when the archivist would arrive. “Wouldn’t it, though?”

She felt a touch on her arm and turned. Aaron winked at her. “On the other hand, you could’ve helped my ego by saying you were stalking me.”

She tapped her finger against her lips as if considering her answer. Then she shook her finger at

him, once. “That’s the true reason I’m here, you’re right.”

****

PASSION’S SACRED DANCE Synopsis:

Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise--but can she trust him?

Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.

If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.

If you’d like to read more, PASSION’S SACRED DANCE is available for Kindle and in paperback. The Ebook is on sale for $.99 this week at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Passions-Sacred-Dance-Harshad-ebook/dp/B00E4WOBWI

All Romance Ebooks:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-passion039ssacreddance-1351775-143.html

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/passion-s-sacred-dance

The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=1064

Paperbacks are available from Amazon, The Wild Rose Press, and Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passions-sacred-dance-juli-d-revezzo/1117518183?ean=2940148871422

Thanks for having me, ladies!

Author Juli D. Revezzo

Juli D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century. Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two out there. But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of Independent Authors Network and Magic Appreciation Tour. Passion’s Sacred Dance is her first romance novel.

You can find out more about her at her homepage: http://julidrevezzo.com/

Blog: http://julidrevezzo.com/blog

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Revezzo/233193150037011

Follow her on Author’s Den http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=167318

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111476709039805267272/posts

On Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002694572/Juli-D-Revezzo/

On twitter: @julidrevezzo

Readers Change Lives!

By Kimmie Easley

As writers, we hope to give something to our readers; joy, hope, inspiration, direction, laughter, or even a sense companionship for a few hours. We have a goal in mind.

What we don’t always expect is when a reader takes the time to give something back; to give us insight into how our work has impacted their own personal lives.

I have been blessed with one such reader. I’ve asked this reader, and now friend, if I could share a little piece of her heart and she graciously agreed.

Like any other day, my daughter asked to check the mail. When she came inside she was bubbling with excitement when she handed me a handwritten envelope addressed to, ‘Author Kimmie Easley’. I quickly opened it and started reading. When I was done, I couldn’t move or talk. I was blown away.

Kimmie,

I wanted to let you know how excited I was to learn that I had won a copy of your new book “Souls Set Free” in the Goodreads giveaway. Fortune and luck are not familiar to me. I also wanted to let you know that it couldn’t have come at a better time. When the package was delivered, I found a book I had been hoping for; and autographed none the less, and my sister (whom I live with) looked at me and said, “Finally! You need something good right now.” Which gives you an idea of the hand that the universe has dealt me the last few years.

Then I read the first paragraph, those three sentences and cried a little. I don’t do that. Ever. Especially due to a book or movie. The book was put away because I knew that I wasn’t ready to read it yet. But eventually I did, and what I read will stay with me. It is beautiful how, as an author, you wrote the story through the eyes of someone who feels like the bad guy, who “happy people” could never sympathize with, yet make her the single most human character I’ve met in years. The familiarity was harrowing. At one point, I c aught myself realizing that I wasn’t simply sympathizing with the troubled main character, that I WAS her. That I didn’t want to hug Emma, I wanted to hug Jansen, and because I was already Emma and I knew how inexplicably important it was that Jansen was the man he was. The book proves that strength can help you up, but it can also pull you down. I know that your intention for the book was most likely NOT a lifeline, but it turned out that way. Like I said, it showed up on my doorstep at the right time.

The day I finished the book, I went to visit my mother at the restaurant where she works. When she saw me she was happy and asked, “What do you want to eat? The usual?” I told her I wasn’t getting take out, that I just wanted to swing by, give her a hug, and say hi. She stood and stared for a minute, then asked what I wanted. J These spontaneous drop-ins should happen more frequently, she sees me roll with the punches and move on. She doesn’t see me improve or rise above.

I’m hoping that when an opportunity arises, the voice of Emma will remind me to TAKE that opportunity!

Now that my spiel is done, THANK YOU again for your gift, and for understanding the power of writing! I can’t wait to see what’s next. Maybe another haunting tale of empowerment, I could use a reminder! J It’s a great work, and it’s found a permanent home in my library. Good luck in everything! You make a difference!

*

Now, I’ve probably read this letter twenty times. I pull it out when I feel down or unmotivated. I made sure to touch base with this woman, and found her to be a beautiful, kind, and giving soul. She’s continued to give me uplifting words and she helps drive me more than she knows.

To show my appreciation, I wanted to give something back to my amazing and encouraging readers. In addition to offering Souls Set Free for .99 CENTS over the Holiday weekend (SOULS SET FREE on AMAZON), I wanted to do a reader/reviewer giveaway to say thank you!

After reading Souls Set Free, you can link your review to this event (SOULS SET FREE HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY) and be entered to win goodies, including a $25 Amazon gift card! Tell your friends and let’s make it a party and remember, YOU READERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The Inspiration Behind Historical Romance Novel Red Bird's Song (and a sale)

Red Bird’s Song is a 2012 EPIC eBook Finalist. The setting for this story is the same as the other novels in my Native American Warrior Series, Through the Fire, Kira, Daughter of the Moon, and The Bearwalker's Daughter, the spectacular Allegheny Mountains, On a clear day, the ridges of the Alleghenies are visible from our farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Much of the history depicted in Red Bird's Song was inspired by accounts I came across while researching my early American English/Scots-Irish roots (among the first settlers in the valley) and the Border Wars. 

The French and Indian War is the most well-known, but there were others. Pontiac’s War followed on its heels, and is the war taking place in Red Bird’s Song. Dunmore’s War came after that one and so on it goes. Life in the frontier was unsettled even after The American Revolution had ended and warfare a reality. The boundaries of the frontier just keep shifting farther west.

(*Images of the Alleghenies by my mother, Pat Churchman)

In the early to mid 18th century, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and surrounding mountains were the colonial frontier. Only hardy souls dared to settle here. The bulk of these were the tough Scots-Irish. If the Indians had only had to fight regular British troops, they might ultimately have won because they scared the crap out of men trained for conventional warfare, but the long knives weren’t easily intimidated and soon learned from their cunning enemy. The famous rebel yell came from the Cherokee.

Although Hawk Eye in The Last of the Mohicans is an adopted Mohican, his lifestyle is that of a colonial frontiersman. The more rugged of these men dressed as he did, much in the Indian way. They hunted and fought with muskets, tomahawks, and their famous knives. Skilled marksmen had long rifles. Indians soon acquired these weapons and blended traditional ways of living with the new-found tools and warfare of Western man. A highly adaptable people.

The attack at the opening of Red Bird’s Song is based on one that occurred to my ancestors in the Shenandoah Valley and is recorded by Historian Joseph A. Waddell in The Annals of Augusta County. A renegade Englishman by the last name of Dickson led the war party that attacked them.  Initially I’d intended to make the Colin Dickson in Red Bird’s Song a villain but as soon as he galloped onto the scene I knew differently.

Wicomechee, the hero in Red Bird’s Song, is based on the Shawnee warrior by that name who lived early in the nineteenth century and to whom I have ties. The Moffett’s, an early Valley family I’m related to, include a reference to him in their genealogy. Wicomechee’s father, John Moffett, was captured in Kentucky by the Shawnee at the age of eight and adopted into the tribe. It’s said he was a boyhood companion to the great war Chief Tecumseh, a chief for whom I have enormous admiration. The accounts of John Moffett and Wicomechee are recorded by Waddell. It’s also noted that during the Black Hawk Wars Wicomechee recovered the captive daughters of a Dr. Hull and brought them safely into camp, which reminds me of Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans. I’ve included more on this amazing warrior at the end of the novel as a bonus for those who read it.

“With “Red Bird’s Song”, Beth Trissel has painted an unforgettable portrait of a daring and defiant love brought to life in the wild and vivid era of Colonial America. Highly recommended for lovers of American history and romance lovers alike!” Amazon Reviewer Virginia Campbell

Blurb: Can a Scots-Irish woman terrified of warriors fall in love with her Shawnee captor?

Taken captive by a Shawnee war party wasn't how Charity Edmondson hoped to escape an unwanted marriage. Nor did Shawnee warrior Wicomechee expect to find the treasure promised by his grandfather's vision in the unpredictable red-headed girl.

George III's English Red-Coats, unprincipled colonial militia, prejudice and jealousy are not the only enemies Charity and Wicomechee will face before they can hope for a peaceful life. The greatest obstacle to happiness is in their own hearts.

As they struggle through bleak mountains and cold weather, facing wild nature and wilder men, Wicomechee and Charity must learn to trust each other.~

"A beautifully written story filled with adventure and suspense...This book touched my soul even as it provided a thrilling fictional escape into a period of history I have always found fascinating." --Night Owl Book Review by Laurie-J

"I loved the descriptions...I felt I was there...Many mystical episodes are intermingled with the events...The ending is a real surprise, but I will let you have the pleasure of reading it for yourself."  --Seriously Reviewed

***Red Bird's Song is reduced from 2.99 to .99 in kindle and nookbook, and other online stores, through November 1st.