Wait! I'm not Ready!

2017 has arrived!

How did this happen? I just finished Nanowrimo, like yesterday. Seriously. I need a huge kick in the pants to jump start this year that has taken off without me. So not fair.

Wishing everyone a Wonderful New Year filled with love, laughter and many blessings!!

And in case you've been living under a rock like me, in hopes it might somehow slow down time, here's another look at my latest release from Entangled Publishing.

All Joanna McNamee wants is to make her event planning business a success, but someone keeps sabotaging her events. The last thing she expects is to see Ryker Kane, the man she’s been crushing on since college, show back up in her life. Talk about awkward. She decides acting as if they’ve never met is the best option. But when a man tries to kidnap her in order to get his hands on her father’s secret formula, she must put the past behind her and trust Ryker. Or lose everything.

Click here to read the first chapter and order your copy: Entangled Publishing - Sinful Secrets

Or visit www.melissaohnoutka.com to find out more about my other books and what's in the works.  If you've already snatched up a copy and enjoyed it, please leave a review. Not only do I love hearing from my readers, but you'll be helping me out with marketing as well. 

Thank you all so much!

      

My New Year Revolution

Happy New Year!!


Don't know about you, but all I want is for time to slow down a bit. You know, so when I lay my head down on the pillow at night I can remember what I did that day. I hear people say how time seems to speed up as they get older, but I had no idea this is what they meant.


The sad part is, I don’t feel like I’m really all that busy. I listen to what others have on their plate and I am amazed at how much they get done.  And here I have laundry spilling over on a daily basis, housework that never seems to get done and groceries to buy.  LOL  I mean, I have three kids who take up a lot of my time, but I love that. I just didn’t realize exactly how many different projects and activities I’d participated in until I sat down and looked back over the past year.



This is why I’ve decided not to write New Year’s resolutions for 2014. Instead I’m planning a New Year’s Revolution.  That’s right.

A revolution (from the Latin revolutio, “a turn around”) is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.

A change in power. (the power I give others. Just say no.) A change in organizational structure. (the chaos. I will find order.) In a short period of time. (hmmm…I wonder if a month is a reasonable goal?)

Yep, that’s exactly what I need! I’m not getting any younger, so I better get on the ball and make it happen. LOL

In case you’re curious.  Here’s my game plan in 10 easy steps:

1. Love more.
2. Laugh more.
3. Stay calm no matter what – it’s usually never as bad as I make it out to be anyway.
4. Enjoy every moment – even the tough ones.
5. Make more great memories with my kids, family and friends.
6. Embrace nature and all its wonder.
7. Write every day – even if it’s only a few paragraphs because it’s fun not because I have to.
8. Stop trying to please everyone – it will never happen.
9. Be myself and not who others think I should be.
10. Stop trying to control everything!

The last one is a doozie. You have no idea how hard it was for me to even write it down. LOL  To be completely honest, this is the source of most of my frustration. Time to face the music. The kids are pretty self-sufficient now so I should start relaxing a bit more.  Surely I can do that. It can’t be that hard, right?  :)

In With the New, Out with the Old

2013 is off and running and I'm still trying to figure out how 2012 flew by so quickly.

It was a busy year. One with many new challenges and many new victories as well. Both in my personal life and my writing career. Most are just typical mommy accomplishments, but these are a few I'm really proud of. :)

I survived two bunion surgeries over the summer and family learned to do for themselves.
Published a short story, finished edits and published full length novel.
Sold enough copies of my first novel, Faithful Deceptions, to become PAN (Romance Writers of America's published Author Network)
Finaled in the Reader's Favorite Award contest with Target of Betrayal.
Finished NanoWriMo with a little over 50K words.
Helped middle daughter complete drivers ed and get her license.
Oldest daughter headed to Texas State in the fall.
And last but not least, got a new puppy.

I have no idea what all my goals were at the beginning of 2012. Seems I've lost my list. LOL But looking back now, I'm content.

Now to make 2013 even better!

Habits I hope to break:

Worrying so much about the kids
Trying to please everyone
Checking sales figures
Procrastinating when I should be writing
Doubting everything

That should keep me busy. LOL

Best of luck to you in the New Year!
Dare to Dream and Make it Happen!!


 

Never Give Up! Never Surrender!



My First Book Signing

New Year, new promises. I've made my fair share and broke more than I've kept over the years. At some point on this journey to meet our goals, there will be moments of discouragement and maybe even despair. Maybe a pesky set back or two has derailed our excitement and enthusiasm and we're left wondering why? Why am I doing this? Is this even worth continuing?

Trust me when I tell you, it is. If the journey was easy, always filled with laughter, encouraging people and void of failure, there would be no growth and the reward wouldn't be so special. Think about it. If everyone breezed through everything they did or wanted to, the accomplishments would hold little weight and be...well. Dull and ordinary. Where would the "Wow!" be?

On days we start to question our dreams, we need to do something different. Give ourself permission to take a break, try something new, have an adventure. Anything. :)

Don't be too hard on yourself. Tweaking or changing those goals or promises, is perfectly okay. Adjustments are part of life. Giving up on a dream is what is not an option.

I took the last two months off from my writing. After releasing Target of Betrayal, I was pretty burned out. And my body was quick to let me know I'd stepped over the line and pushed a little too hard. The short break has done wonders. I started editing my next book the second week of January and I'm already up to chapter five. Yeah! But this time the editing isn't going to get the best of me. I'm scheduling those much needed breaks whether I want to or not and listening when my eyes tell me I've had enough. It's really hard to function with those migraines. And life in general becomes no fun at all.

Looking back over the past five years, there were several times I wanted to throw in the towel. To forget how much I enjoyed my writing. But I'm so glad I pushed on. It was hard work. If I'm totally honest with myself, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done, short of childbirth. Shoot. It's still hard work. But the rewards are so worth it.

A few fun things that helped me boost my creative spark and relieve the stress:

Painting
Photography
Watching a favorite movie, again
Coffee or lunch with a friend
Playing games with the kids
Sneaking off to read a great book
Window shopping
Taking walks and enjoying the great outdoors

Ahhhh....just thinking about these things makes me feel refreshed. :)

Onward and upward! Never surrender!

I shared these quotes on Everybody Needs a Little Romance. Thought they were worth mentioning again.

“There is no success without failure.” Wish I could remember where I read this one.
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.” My eyes are wide open now! ~ Henry Ford
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Boy have I ever!
~ Thomas Alva Edison
“There is no failure. Only feedback. ” Now this one fits perfect!
~ Robert Allen

2012 - Happy New Year!

Wishing you All the BEST for the New Year!!

Sorry I just had to share!  LOL

Now get out there and Live, Love and Laugh! :)