Hello Readers!
Thanks for stopping in for a visit. April kind of sprung up on me (pardon the pun). Mostly because there have been few signs of Spring here in the Berkshires. Despite today being one of the first sixty degree days of the year, and my driveway a clear indication of the arrival of “mud season,” I’m still inundated with snow. I can’t tell you how I long for a warm sunny day at the beach!
After a month off of writing–my first such indulgence in many years–I’m back at it. I needed a bit of rest after the frenzy of releasing HEALING WATERS and my GIRLS of THOMPSON LAKE box set at the end of 2014. If you missed those releases, here are the details of how you can add them to your collection of PJ Sharon Books!
Healing Waters (Book 3 in The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael Trilogy)
Coming soon to other online retailers!
Read a sample on WATTPAD
The GIRLS of THOMPSON LAKE
(Box Set)
(Read a free chapter of SAMI’s CHRISTMAS WISH LIST, a novella that brings together the girls from my three contemporary YA novels into one sweet, romantic Christmas story. Sign up for my newsletter and receive a full copy for FREE. The only other way to read the novella is to grab the full set for $3.99–a bargain, I’m sure you’ll agree. If you’ve already read the books and enjoyed them, gift them to a friend!)
If you’d like to hear more about how I came up with my stories, you can listen to my recent Blog talk radio interview with Librarians on the Air with Tabatha Pope.
Here’s what else I’ve been up to:
Following the holidays, my husband fell on the ice and broke his wrist, which resulted in household projects coming to a screeching halt and me picking up the lion’s share of household duties through the winter. The good news is, I’ve added some more muscle from lifting those 40 pound bags of pellets into the pellet stove twice a day. The even better news is that my darling husband is now over the worst (surgery and pins) and is rehabbing nicely–so I can now get back to my writing and he can resume his home improvement projects.
On the fiction front, I’m working on my first SAVAGE CINDERELLA Novella! I don’t have a release date or title yet, but as soon as I have title and cover, I’ll be sure to let you know. Wattpad readers have been incredibly supportive (with over 3 million reads of SAVAGE CINDERELLA and tons of wonderful comments), so I figured I’d better give them more of what they love. This first novella (I do plan a series) will have Brinn being called in to help solve a kidnapping, dredging up all of her old nightmares and threatening her tentative bond with Justin. The story picks up two years after Brinn’s return to the world, making this clearly a New Adult story rather than YA. A lot has happened and Brinn is struggling to find a purpose and a plan for her life, even if it means putting herself in danger and losing the one person who has vowed to protect her. I’m very excited to revisit these characters and hope to get the first novella out this summer! Stay tuned…
Regarding the non-fiction project, ERGONOMICS and Self-Care (A practical Guide for Writers, Readers, Desk Jockeys and Couch Potatoes), I’m slowly making progress and plan to step up my word count over the next few months. I’m looking forward to diving back in and hoping to have it finished by fall. For now, let me share some of my favorite Health Management tips from the book.
1.) SNACK HEALTHY-Pack almond butter and apple (or celery) for a mid-morning or afternoon pick-me-up, drink SMOOTHIES (the kind made with organic fruits and vegetables), try hard boiled eggs for a quick grab and go snack, eat a handful of almonds or walnuts, or enjoy your favorite yogurt (high protein, low sugar) to keep that blood sugar steady. The trick is choosing nutrient dense foods in small amounts throughout the day so those cravings and hunger pangs don’t send you scrounging for the cookies.
2.) HYDRATE-Your body weight divided by three=how many ounces per day of water you need. Fill a water bottle first thing in the morning and sip on it everywhere you go. Refill as needed.
3.) EXERCISE-Sweat for 30 Minutes 5x/week. It’s only 30 minutes! You can do anything for 30 minutes!!
4.) YES FOODS: Avocado, salmon (oily fish), eggs, nuts (almonds and walnuts in moderation), berries (organic), sprouted whole grain breads (Ezekiel 4:9), coconut oils, almond milk, goat cheese, fruits & veggies (variety is the spice of life-think rainbows!), spices & herbs (cilantro, basil, rosemary, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon), and the best “yes” food of all; dark chocolate-YAY!!!
5.) NO FOODS: Canola oil and other polyunsaturated oils. Avoid hydrogenated oils, refined sugars, soda, white flour products, highly processed foods, fast foods and restaurant binges. Pizza (make your own at home, use sprouted wholegrain crust, and add veggies with lean meats and cheeses), ice cream (okay in small amounts, but best if you can at least go organic), ditch the cow’s milk products entirely if you can.
I’ll have more healthy tips for you next time!
So there you have it. That’s what’s going on with me. How about you? Do you have Easter/Holiday plans? Spring break? Travel plans? I love to hear from readers, so feel free to leave a comment below!
