Day 3... and I am sure by now you have a bet on how long I will last this year with blogging. (Can I wager twenty on tomorrow? Just kidding...) Oh I have a million excuses for why I end up on the couch watching television instead of blogging. Mostly, I am too distracted and too often my free moments are spent sleeping. That's why I decided to go for health factors this year (to sleep less and eat healthy so I can stay awake longer.)
Last year, I didn't really make that plan. I can say that I did publish my first book which was on my resolutions list and a huge accomplishment. Something that I always thought was more of a fantasy (like what I write) than a realistic adventure until I was determined to "get 'er done." Boy, that was... Oh wait... That was soooo last year.
Back to this year...
I have goals again this year to complete and publish book two in my Rise of the Kingdom series, which could stall my blogs (like last year) in order to bring out another fantastic book I created in my own private world, which is now public.
Do I want to quit blogging? No. But like anything, if you get too busy, or side-tracked, or just miss a day because you need a (brain) break, then one day may turn into skipping one here and there, and then a few in a row, then missing a week or writing once a month and then oh man, how do I get myself back into blogging?
But again, that happens while trying to talk with publishers and creating an audience or promoting a novel. That can be exhausting and require some downtime. Something of which I really am trying to avoid in such long stretches.
I will say this, that if I could spend ten hours a day (yes, ten hours) writing, I would. And maybe some day (when I'm old and gray) that will happen. But for now, let's take this in small doses and see if I can keep crafting this art. After all, it's what I love best.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Day two of the New Year and I'm back to work...blah. (Oh wait, maybe I shouldn't say that in case my boss is reading!) I started whining that break was almost over and at that point I still had four days left to chill and be lazy. The look my hubby gave me... well... maybe I had that look coming. Hey, it's not my fault he chose employment in something other than education. Then again he does make more money than me so who am I kidding! Oh well, I love what I do and it gives me a chance to write during the breaks (or at least say I'm going to) and spend quality time with my son (when he's not playing with his friends, who have become quite important lately).
So, I was saying (What was my point?) that I started work today. Well something like work anyway.
Now, my poor wittle puppy gave me a curious look this morning that made it tough to leave him home. For two weeks he had my son and I to play with and now the house will be silent again. (Or maybe he will invite his doggy friends and have a party!) Except for those breaks that I run home to play with him when I can escape!
(Oh yeah, back to work) It was nice to see some of my coworkers and to have a few good laughs. It will make tomorrow even easier to walk into the building with a smile.
After a hard (yawn) day (yawn) at work, my cute little friend had so much to tell me. He grabbed hold of my leg and just stretched (for my attention, basically.) up so I could pick him up. It's nice to have a puppy who always wags his tail and is so excited to see you after a tough day at work. (Now if I could get him to cuddle in my lap rather than play chase it would be even better!)
It seems I am more side-tracked today and have no real point to my story, so perhaps I will quit rambling and prepare something more enjoyable to read tomorrow.
So, I was saying (What was my point?) that I started work today. Well something like work anyway.
Now, my poor wittle puppy gave me a curious look this morning that made it tough to leave him home. For two weeks he had my son and I to play with and now the house will be silent again. (Or maybe he will invite his doggy friends and have a party!) Except for those breaks that I run home to play with him when I can escape!
(Oh yeah, back to work) It was nice to see some of my coworkers and to have a few good laughs. It will make tomorrow even easier to walk into the building with a smile.
After a hard (yawn) day (yawn) at work, my cute little friend had so much to tell me. He grabbed hold of my leg and just stretched (for my attention, basically.) up so I could pick him up. It's nice to have a puppy who always wags his tail and is so excited to see you after a tough day at work. (Now if I could get him to cuddle in my lap rather than play chase it would be even better!)
It seems I am more side-tracked today and have no real point to my story, so perhaps I will quit rambling and prepare something more enjoyable to read tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
My Whimsical Life: Starting off the New Year with a Bang!
My Whimsical Life: Starting off the New Year with a Bang!: A healthy morning of stretching and a cup of coffee (oops! It should have been water!) before I sat down in front of my computer to tell the...
Starting off the New Year with a Bang!
A healthy morning of stretching and a cup of coffee (oops! It should have been water!) before I sat down in front of my computer to tell the world all of those New Years Resolutions (Which I am doing one now!) that I have chosen for myself. First and foremost comes the typical, I'm not eating junk food and I'm starting my exercise routine at the gym (again!), I'm going to organize my life and... and well yeah, we all need to do those things, RIGHT?
But what I miss most is my mornings typing away. Perhaps all those mornings I've been too lazy to get out of bed has really altered my habits. And maybe I should suck it up and get my butt out of bed like the days of old. I can sit around whining and complaining that I have a full time job that requires me to sleep and take lots of relaxing baths (which put me right to sleep), but truth be told, I love snuggling up with the hubby, who needs lots of sleep, (even when he's already left for work his pillow is still nice and warm!) especially on the weekends.
And, I have added a cute cuddly ornery little Bear (or rather Corgi) who is a lot like me! A morning person. (With the way I'm talking, you probably doubt that.) He doesn't sleep in past six a.m. most days! I lay in bed hoping he doesn't start barking because then everyone will be awake and I will have no urge to write (once I get out of bed) because my son awakes revved and ready to quiz me.
It's a typical week Monday through Friday and I can easily talk myself into getting up with the hubby (since I have to get ready for work anyway) to give myself about thirty minutes of reading. Oops! Did I say reading? Well, yeah, I've been hooked in a series... oh let's not go there... As I was saying, I get up and try to motivate myself into writing. (There, now that was honest.) It's not that I don't want to. It's just that once I start, I get lost in my own world (which is hard to get out of when you're on a roll) and then, well, I'm running behind schedule! So then I'm hurrying to get lunches packed and myself looking halfway decent (maybe now my co-workers will read this and understand why I look the way I do most days. HA!) and shove the kiddos out the door and off to school we go. A fast paced day and I'm back home to take care of little Bear and homework with my boy and dinner to make and... and... then there's eat dinner, play with the boy (unless he's playing legos), dishes, maybe laundry, put bubby to bed, play with puppy, hang with hubby, sit on couch and close eyes for just a quick second before I write/read... Whew! I'm so sleepy now (YAAAWWWNNN!).
It seems like a lot and it is, but I used to stay up writing until one in the morning and wake back up at five thirty a.m. to continue my thoughts. Sleep never matter to me before. So, now, it's time for me to put sleep aside (who needs nine to ten hours anyway? Yep, going to bed around nine-thirty and up between six-thirty and seven will get you that much!) and get back to writing! With will power it can be done! So as my resolutions begin, hopefully they continue! Perhaps, you can encourage me with your kind and wonderful words...
But what I miss most is my mornings typing away. Perhaps all those mornings I've been too lazy to get out of bed has really altered my habits. And maybe I should suck it up and get my butt out of bed like the days of old. I can sit around whining and complaining that I have a full time job that requires me to sleep and take lots of relaxing baths (which put me right to sleep), but truth be told, I love snuggling up with the hubby, who needs lots of sleep, (even when he's already left for work his pillow is still nice and warm!) especially on the weekends.
And, I have added a cute cuddly ornery little Bear (or rather Corgi) who is a lot like me! A morning person. (With the way I'm talking, you probably doubt that.) He doesn't sleep in past six a.m. most days! I lay in bed hoping he doesn't start barking because then everyone will be awake and I will have no urge to write (once I get out of bed) because my son awakes revved and ready to quiz me.
It's a typical week Monday through Friday and I can easily talk myself into getting up with the hubby (since I have to get ready for work anyway) to give myself about thirty minutes of reading. Oops! Did I say reading? Well, yeah, I've been hooked in a series... oh let's not go there... As I was saying, I get up and try to motivate myself into writing. (There, now that was honest.) It's not that I don't want to. It's just that once I start, I get lost in my own world (which is hard to get out of when you're on a roll) and then, well, I'm running behind schedule! So then I'm hurrying to get lunches packed and myself looking halfway decent (maybe now my co-workers will read this and understand why I look the way I do most days. HA!) and shove the kiddos out the door and off to school we go. A fast paced day and I'm back home to take care of little Bear and homework with my boy and dinner to make and... and... then there's eat dinner, play with the boy (unless he's playing legos), dishes, maybe laundry, put bubby to bed, play with puppy, hang with hubby, sit on couch and close eyes for just a quick second before I write/read... Whew! I'm so sleepy now (YAAAWWWNNN!).
It seems like a lot and it is, but I used to stay up writing until one in the morning and wake back up at five thirty a.m. to continue my thoughts. Sleep never matter to me before. So, now, it's time for me to put sleep aside (who needs nine to ten hours anyway? Yep, going to bed around nine-thirty and up between six-thirty and seven will get you that much!) and get back to writing! With will power it can be done! So as my resolutions begin, hopefully they continue! Perhaps, you can encourage me with your kind and wonderful words...
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Book Signing Event!!
Gabriela Whitley: The Rise of the Kingdom
book signing event
Sunday, Dec 8th from 3pm to 7pm at Century II's ICT Winter Bazaar!
I can hardly stand the wait! The anticipation of greeting and meeting so many of you...
Let's discuss Gabriela's adventures and her future explorations together!
Century II Performing Arts and
Convention Center
225 W Douglas Ave, Wichita, Kansas 67202
Saturday, July 13, 2013
With Gabriela Whitley: The Rise of the kingdom available online for both Amazon and Barnes and Noble, I find myself searching deeply for the answer that will break it open to all the retailers. That road is perilous yet achievable and requires much more devotion than I have given it. But I have found that opportunity is in my hands and I have found the confidence to push forward and make it happen. How, you ask?
I recently submitted this novel to receive the Kirkus Indie Review. When the review came in, a shock wave of fear and excitement shot through me as I picked up the sheet to read it. At first, it started off with their summary of the novel and my impatience to skip down to the bottom of the review tried to take over, yet my fear of their opinions kept me reading it with sweaty palms. After I read it, I was astonished (though I shouldn't be with the raves I had already received) and couldn't believe what I had read. So, I had to reread it. As I read it, slowly, I giggled and felt tears sting my eyes. This was exactly what I needed to get me motivated again.
My submissions have kept me busy as well as writing the second novel (and my family, of course), which is almost complete and makes it hard to keep up with blogging (especially when you can't break free from the romance and devastation within the second part of the story). With this review, I feel my chances have increased for notice-ability and hopefully will lead to my ultimate dream.
A brief message from the review: Though this novel was described as a typical vampire story (which is true for this first book in it's series.), it also claims to be highly readable. I encourage you to visit my website and read the review in it's entirety.
lyanajo.wix.com/lyanajo
I recently submitted this novel to receive the Kirkus Indie Review. When the review came in, a shock wave of fear and excitement shot through me as I picked up the sheet to read it. At first, it started off with their summary of the novel and my impatience to skip down to the bottom of the review tried to take over, yet my fear of their opinions kept me reading it with sweaty palms. After I read it, I was astonished (though I shouldn't be with the raves I had already received) and couldn't believe what I had read. So, I had to reread it. As I read it, slowly, I giggled and felt tears sting my eyes. This was exactly what I needed to get me motivated again.
My submissions have kept me busy as well as writing the second novel (and my family, of course), which is almost complete and makes it hard to keep up with blogging (especially when you can't break free from the romance and devastation within the second part of the story). With this review, I feel my chances have increased for notice-ability and hopefully will lead to my ultimate dream.
A brief message from the review: Though this novel was described as a typical vampire story (which is true for this first book in it's series.), it also claims to be highly readable. I encourage you to visit my website and read the review in it's entirety.
lyanajo.wix.com/lyanajo
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
1st Marriage Anniversary Bliss
After an entire year of marriage, I am settled in and still very deeply, happily in love with this husband of mine. They always said that the first year would be the hardest and I admit there were some challenges to tackle, but some of the challenges weren't even in our hands and left to our lord above, yet they never interefered with our deep devotion to each other.
Every evening when we snuggle into bed, we hold each other tight and stare into each other's eyes and say something that we are feeling and leaving the other smiling before we drift off into dreamland. Every morning when we wake up, we remind each other how thankful we are to have crossed paths (three years ago), thank you to our Lord Father Above. My husband always reminds me, that because of me, it's so tough to get out of bed each morning and "go do that work thing." I giggle, not letting him go for just another minute, if only we had forever to stay here in this moment. But we do disentangle because we must provide for our family.
That moment when the clock says five p.m., I'm bustling in the kitchen cooking dinner for our family, which my husband should be home in fifteen or twenty minutes, I'm so ready to kiss him and tell him I love him, though most likely I will still be over the stove and he will walk in, smile, and after taking off his dirt-clogged, steel-toed boots, would walk behind me and wrap his arms around me, nibble on my ear and tell me he loves me, which then I find myself kissing him deeply, forgetting what I'm doing as we are lost in our passion. However, my boy or Tex, our pup, would find a way to break the moment not long after it had begun and we would resume our tasks at hand.
Finding love was the most amazing moment in my life, (next to the birth of my son) and I wish every relationship the same warm fuzzy feelings that I feel inside every day. In this lifetime, we will live happily ever after.
Every evening when we snuggle into bed, we hold each other tight and stare into each other's eyes and say something that we are feeling and leaving the other smiling before we drift off into dreamland. Every morning when we wake up, we remind each other how thankful we are to have crossed paths (three years ago), thank you to our Lord Father Above. My husband always reminds me, that because of me, it's so tough to get out of bed each morning and "go do that work thing." I giggle, not letting him go for just another minute, if only we had forever to stay here in this moment. But we do disentangle because we must provide for our family.
That moment when the clock says five p.m., I'm bustling in the kitchen cooking dinner for our family, which my husband should be home in fifteen or twenty minutes, I'm so ready to kiss him and tell him I love him, though most likely I will still be over the stove and he will walk in, smile, and after taking off his dirt-clogged, steel-toed boots, would walk behind me and wrap his arms around me, nibble on my ear and tell me he loves me, which then I find myself kissing him deeply, forgetting what I'm doing as we are lost in our passion. However, my boy or Tex, our pup, would find a way to break the moment not long after it had begun and we would resume our tasks at hand.
Finding love was the most amazing moment in my life, (next to the birth of my son) and I wish every relationship the same warm fuzzy feelings that I feel inside every day. In this lifetime, we will live happily ever after.
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