Monsoon Reign is indie book of the day today :)

https://twitter.com/IBDBookoftheday/status/372732176950755328/photo/1

Well, kids are back in school and I've spent the past several days reviewing my last ten chapters of book two just so I could remember where I was and where I'm going with this story. It felt good to actually write some new material today. I didn't get tons of new stuff down but at least I finished chapter ten and got a good start on chapter eleven.

For any who have read Monsoon Reign already, I have to say that this book is sort of a transition. Driscol is growing up and taking over the story. Plus there's a new character who'll be right at his side in the third and final book.

Also Monsoon Reign is finally up on smashwords and made it into the premium catalog. Yay! You can find it here. Now it is available in any format you could hope for.

Monsoon Reign is up on Kobobooks.com
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/monsoon-reign

Still waiting on Smashwords. Seemed to get stuck in a queue and I'm awaiting help on that. I updated on Amazon and createspace as well. Fixed a couple typos I had somehow missed. The print version will be back up in a few days.

Once it gets closer to the relaunch with California Times Publishing it will come down from Amazon for a few days.

Exciting news today! I've just signed Monsoon Reign with California Times Publishing. It will mean a cover change is coming in the future among other things. I will update as the process moves along. This can only be good for the book as I'm not very good at marketing and they will be a real help with that aspect.

You know what's NOT funny? Every time my husband has to go out of town without me something major happens. It's an unwritten law that I will have to deal with something unpleasant or unusual in his absence.

I remember clearly the day he left for his second deployment to Iraq, I managed to plug up the kitchen sink with rice so bad that I was forced to re-plump the pipes and relay the bottom of the cabinet with my dad coaxing me over the phone.

I'd rather do that again any day than deal with the trauma I just endured. And here I thought I'd made it through his time away this time with no issues.

He was only gone a week this time and only 4 hours from returning home. I cleaned the house then sat on the couch to relax with my laptop. Suddenly the curtain next to me moved and I heard a scratching sound. Naturally, I freak out and grab a broom to beat on the curtains.

But nothing's there. I pull the curtain back and notice (gasp) droppings. I've never lived in a house with mice and now I'm moving from one piece of furniture to the next. My feet aren't touching the floor until I find the source of my anxiety.

My 8 year old is the first to actually see it, notifying me with her shrill screams as she jumps onto the coffee table. Let me just pause to say that this is the same child that has a pet dwarf hamster she constantly handles. So why she's terrified is beyond me.

It's now under the couch and with a desperate call to hubby it's decided that I should pull the couch out and surround it with blankets to trap it in. Yeah, I know right.

So I do as told and the little thing starts poking its head through the blankets as if to show me that blankets won't hold it. It keeps popping it head out and back in before I can cover it with the bowl I'm holding poised and ready.

After over a half an hour of this, the kids are growing bored with helping me watch for it and I know I must take more drastic measures. So I give a bowl to my 10 year old son and instruct him to be ready to catch it when I lift the couch.

This maneuver isn't so easy as it's a heavy leather couch. I tip it back and it escapes into a blanket. I toss the extra blankets aside and focus on that one, but it runs back under the couch. I tip it again and with only one blanket for it to hide underneath and boy drops the bowl. It squeals but escapes and runs toward me (gulp) along the edge of the couch still on the ground. I try to catch it but it runs back toward the boy. After several rounds of this it gets past him and heads to the kitchen. He misses again with the bowl, but finally I got a bowl over it.

By the way, this thing really stinks! Just thought I'd let you know.

I get a cookie sheet, slide it underneath and take it outside to release it. I'd kill it, but... yuck! So once we get a good look at it and further viewing of the pic. I think it was actually a baby mole, or maybe that's how big they are when grown. I don't know.

I think the best part was the conversation with my sister afterward.

Me: We had a baby mole in our house. (I sent her above pic)
Her: OMG!! YUCKY!!
Me: Yeah! I was freaking out but I caught and release it.
Her: You caught it! You're a ninja!
Me: A screaming ninja! 
Her: Oh yes! Is there any other kind?
Me: Not when it involves rodents.
Her: Or bugs...or...gulp...ducks!
Me: No with ducks I'm the laughing ninja.
Her: Nice...just keep rubbing the salt in my wounds...my scared, fire breathing, ducks are evil wounds. (Okay there's a story there I'll tell another time perhaps.)
Me: But oh so hilarious! I love our conversations.
Her: I know! I'm at Secretary of State, laughing to myself...I look crazy...so I totally fit in.

I love my sister.
By the way here's the aftermath of our escapades.

Also I just noticed there is a stain on the bottom of the couch. It is true you learn something new everyday.

*****Update***** Upon further research and looking at pictures. I'm almost convinced it was a shrew. I'd be happier with a mole, that would be a fluke. A shrew means possibly more of them somewhere? Maybe? Hubby needs to hurry up and get home already!

I have a confession. I've not been spending any time writing the past two weeks. I started summer off with good intentions. I had plans to take the kids to the park, bowling, the beach etc... AND still make time for my writing.
Now that summer is winding down and we're preparing for back to school, I'm burned out. It seems every time I sit down to focus on my book my youngest pops up with questions just for the sake of asking questions. You know what I mean, "when is Halloween?" "Why is the sky blue?" She wants attention in any shape or form.
So I made the decision to take a break from my writing schedule and pay more attention to the kiddos. It's difficult and a little frustrating, but school will be here in just a couple weeks and I'll have time for writing again.
Oh and I'm totally addicted to these.

Midnight tonight is the drawing for 10 signed copies of my book. I'm so excited to see who wins and send them out to the lucky few. I added in an extra little surprise just because. Here's a pic of the interior packaging I chose.

Best of luck to all who have entered!