Remembering....

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 39 Comments

Remember:
Some problems are bigger than others.
Absentmindedness can come naturally to me. In my frenzy to do too many things at once, I sometimes drop balls all over (the juggling sort, I assure you). Two weeks ago, I cleaned out my mom's freezer (remember, she got married and ran away to Alaska?) because I promised her I would get her house shut down for the winter. 

Anyhow, while separating frozen food into bags (fruits & vegies and meats don't mingle until they are in the pan, right?) I set a package of steaks on the pantry shelf. 

Then I left.

A week later, I cam back to mow and there was a funky smell in the house. I checked the freezer and assumed the melted water was going bad. So, I scrubbed it out and left. 

This week when I went to mow, the house smelled worse. I searched the pantry, and there I found the culprit. A package of steaks rotting on the shelf. By the time I got that scrubbed up, it was getting dark, but I came to mow, so I mowed.

It was a cloudy evening, so darkness was thick quickly. As I mowed, I couldn't really tell if I was keeping my lines straight, so I imagine there are plenty of missed strips of grass. 

With that, I can officially say- I gave my mother's yard its first mowhawk.

Why am I telling you this? 

Because I also forgot to give the fabulous Rachel Schieffelbein  some cover lovin' on her new book coming out in September. Rachel's stories are always good reads, so I look forward to this one.

So without further ado, here it is!


Erwin is in hell--- Locked in his high school with his ex-girlfriend, her new pain-in-the-ass boyfriend, and a handful of others while zombies claw at the doors trying to fight their way in.

The bright light in the dark is Sylvia, whose strength helps hold Erwin together
when everything is falling apart.

When they realize the school is no longer safe,
Erwin is determined to keep the group together and get them all to safety.
But he can’t save everyone.


Release day is September 17th.
Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads list!

And don't forget this. It's never too late to remember a friend. Join the blogosphere on September 8th in a cyber memorial for Tina. 


In memory of Tina Downey, the A to Z Team is hosting a sunflower tribute on September 8, 2014 – Remembering Tina Downey.

Prior to that date, purchase or plant a sunflower in her honor. (If you have to resort to plastic, that’s cool.) Take a photo of your sunflower and post in in her memory on Monday, September 8. Tina loved her sunflowers, and we want to splash the blogging world with sunflowers that day and honor a truly amazing woman who was friend and family to so many.

You can sign up now or add your link when you post your sunflower.

Please help us spread the word! Let’s brighten the Internet with sunflowers the way Tina brightened the lives of so many.






photo credit: JD Hancock via photopin cc

39 comments:

Me and My Shelfie*

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 34 Comments

How could you ever look any more prettier* than when standing in front of your fancy book shelf? And how could you ever get any more connecteder* to blog buddies than by snapping a selfie...or a SHLEFIE and sharing them with each other? 

Hops are cool. All the popular bloggers are doing it. At that lady of hipsterness, Tara Tyler, is the kooool kid in charge of this one. Come one. You know you want to do it...


Dates: Now thru Monday, Oct 6
Entries: Take a picture of you and your book(s) - your favorites or your own novels. Or you can just arrange the books in a special way and take the picture - but you do get extra points for being in the photo.
Formats: Tweet, Facebook, Blog - just make sure to include a link(s) to each.

The lovely co-hosts, co-conspirators and contributors: Heather M. Gardner,Christine RainsVikki BiramCD CoffeltM.J. FifieldElizabeth Seckman, and Rena Rocford

But that's not all - check out the fabulous prizes! It's easy and profitable! I hope you'll join us and spread the word =)

*All grammar errors were made in earnest. Just because I wanted to and I am the boss of this place. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

34 comments:

Farewell to a Friend

12:44 PM Elizabeth Seckman 32 Comments

Last night I heard the news that Tina Downey was gone. 
Stunned doesn't cover it.
Tina was one of the nicest bloggers with such a wonderful sense of humor.
She had her medical issues, but she never seemed to to let them get her down.
She was so full of hope.
I never dreamed she wasn't going to be all right.

When I got the email from Alex that Tina was gone, reality and feeling were at total odds. 
It just couldn't be.
Sadly, reality, on Earth, always wins.

So, today...we say good bye to a friend.
One consolation is that as long as her words survive, she is still with us.
Her humor, her insight, her caring spirit...
you can find them all here on her blog.

Heaven is a little brighter today. Our world a little dimmer. 

Tina Downey
Read her "Getting to Know You"
interview here. 

32 comments:

Some Books, An Award, and an Update!

2:23 PM Elizabeth Seckman 38 Comments


Chatter around the blogosphere says some bloggers have disappeared. You may have started to think I was one of them...but come on...you know me better than that! I may not arrive in a timely fashion, but I always arrive.

The summer wrap up was pretty chaotic. So many things to do during a time when all I really wanted to do was slow down and absorb the last of the summer fun and memories.

But I can't complain. We had a great summer. Sent all the boys back to school on Monday and I am slowly getting all the odds and ends caught up.


Kristin Smith of Swords and Stilettos welcomed me back with this little award! Kristen is all sorts of amazing and sweet. And she's a fellow mother without a daughter, so that pretty much makes her a pal soul mate. Thanks much Kristin :)

(Now I must admit, I've never really understood what a versatile blogger is...perhaps it means I can blog in jammies or jeans. On laptop, desk top, or hand held?)

The challenge is to tell you seven things about me.

1. Bitchy people annoy me. They make me bitchy and then I feel guilt.
2. I hate guilt.
3. I think the people who complain the most, work the least. I suppose the others are too busy working to stop and gripe.
4. I do not regret not having a daughter.
5. I believe God guides all things in my life, and no matter how bad things seem, He will work them for good.
6. I flip coins after praying to make the hard decisions.
7. I don't see why people say I'm a red head. My hair's blond. It says so on the bottle.



A few other things I need to catch up on!!! 



Mary Pax has a new book out and it's on sale for .99, might be FREE if Mary is able to have it her way with the book masters at Amazon. Get your copy HERE!!



Jay Noel and Miranda Hardy's new book is on pre-order. Sounds like an awesome read. 
Pre- order HERE!!!



Champion in Flight
This book is at the top of my read list. It's the second book in a trilogy, so when they are all three available, I'll have a read fest!

Get your copy HERE!!


38 comments:

International Potluck

1:55 AM Elizabeth Seckman 54 Comments


 The International Pot Luck BlogFest, hosted by Beth Fred, Lexa Cain, and Medeia Sharif, is a celebration of books and taste buds. Pick a story and suggest a recipe inspired by its pages.

I chose Medeia's story, Snip, Snip, Revenge. All these ladies are talented writers, but slow-reading-me has only made a tiny dent in her reading list, and Snip, Snip was one of the books I've enjoyed this year.


Buy It Here!

Talented, vengeful, and loving...this sassy little diva teen doesn't ever worry about making it big in the kitchen. She's going to be a star and stars don't sweat over pots and pans. She'll have five star chefs whipping up delightful smorgasbords of wonder.

One day.

But for now, she's a teen who can't cook much more than a toasted cheese sandwich.

Since star dust sprinkled dreams may be years off, here's a couple of recipes for Tabby. Super easy. Super quick. And teen palate friendly.

Pizza

No delivery, or even the braggadocious  Digiornos can make a pizza as tasty as one made at home.

Start with a box crust mix.
Stir it up (just follow the directions on the box) and spread it over an oiled cookie sheet. Then add some butter and some garlic salt and bake it until it's half cooked (about ten minutes).

Now add the pizza sauce. Lots and lots of sauce. I like a jar and a half per pizza*
       (*this is the reason for the pre-baked the crust, so it's not a doughy mess!)

Then add cheese. Then for good measure add some more cheese. And since you can never add too much cheese...just pile a little more on there.

Then add your toppings. Me? I like everything- peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms...if it makes a six year old say yuck, I probably like it on my pizza.

Then bake. How long? Who knows...just be sure to take it out before it burns. Keep checking. When the cheese is melted and it starts to smell like Heaven, it's probably about ready to eat.

That too hard? Here's another, simpler teen friendly feast-

Pepperoni Bites

Pop open a tube of biscuits


Break each biscuit into three pieces. Wrap those pieces around a few slices of pepperoni.
Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet until golden brown.
Now you have bite-sized pepperoni rolls that are certain to make the Doughboy giggle.




54 comments:

Picking Winners

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 46 Comments



The Bella's Point Challenge has a winner!



All I can say is- 
I'm glad I didn't have to choose. 
You guys rocked this challenge!
I had so much fun reading all the posts- 
so many clever ideas. 
I don't know why I was amazed...
you are all so talented!
But sadly, there can only be one winner-
and the judges have chosen and the winner is....



Special thanks Alex Cavanaugh and this months awesome co-hosts:

Before we get to the winner- let's talk insecurity.
My insecurity this month comes from beta reading.
I always wonder- who am I?
It's not like I've written a run away best seller and know all the secrets.
So, I'm always a wee bit hesitant to be totally truthful...to say- I think it would be better if you did this. 
It's easier with friends, because they know I know that opinions are like noses, everybody has one and in the end we all must pick only from our own. 

How about you? Does beta reading give you anxiety?

And don't worry! I didn't forget. 

Congratulations to Melissa Maygrove!


 Melissa's post stole the judge's hearts, so here is her badge of honor and her writer friendly surprise package is headed her way (right after I email her and get her address!)





46 comments:

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