SPREADING LIKE WILD FIRES

Last week I told you all about my dream of going TINY and it has spread like wildfire.

I have spoken about it so much that I one of my co-workers has convinced her husband that they need one of their farm.

At first he wasn't into it and then she told him all about me and showed him some of the sites I had been visiting and showing him videos.

YES, if you search +YouTube   you will find lots and lots of videos on companies that build tiny houses. You will find lots of people that are 'living tiny' and lots of people in the process of building their tiny house.

I am going to have the pleasure of visiting one such builder on Feb. 6 in Tennessee. His name is Randy and he is the owner of Incredible Tiny Homes. He also is the brain child of the "BUILD YOUR OWN UNIVERSITY" in which you build your own tiny house in about 7 days. 

Not to worry because he has skilled electricians and plumbers there to help you with your 'TINY" build. 

There are lots of people who want to live tiny but don't want to give up the comforts of modern living. Who said you had to?

I am not giving up anything. I will have a FULL sized kitchen. Which means regular kitchen appliances. I will have a FULL working bathroom. No composting toilet for me. 
Side note: I'll have an entire blog on that on a later date. 

I will also have a dedicated living, bedroom and sitting area. No sharing of space for me. 

So if you don't think you can live in a tiny; its fine. No one is forcing you but I saw a video by comedian Steve Harvey that said, "Who are these people that want to live in Tiny houses? Why are their standards so low that they can't dream to live in a bigger house. If you want to live in a tiny house, you are stupid." Yep those are his EXACT words. Well Mr. Harvey I'll tell you what is stupid.

Stupid is the judgement of people who CHOOSE not to waste money for 30 years paying a mortgage for a home that they CAN'T afford. Stupid is the thinking of small minded people who judge others because they choose to think for themselves and not like everyone else.

So while everyone else pays, on average, $1800 to $2000 a month for a mortgage, I'll pay $400 a month for 2 years and OWN my own house that I can move to wherever my mood takes me.

Yeah, if that is being stupid; I'll take stupid over being smart any day of the week.

AN AUTHOR AND A TINY HOUSE

What do these two things have in common?

ME!

I am so excited to announce that I am purchasing a tiny house and will be writing full time.

What is a tiny house?

It's just what it says; a house that is tiny. Normally a tiny house consists of square footage that is no more than 500 square feet.

If you want to see the type of house I want; Take a peek at it right here. 


If you scroll through the pictures, you will come across one that is near a pool; that is what the outside of mine will look like. Looking further at the pictures; you will see one that is mostly white. That would be mine!

I found this builder and have fallen head over heels for them. Some people might call it stalker; I call it admiration.
 
This is a local builder, located in Virginia, specializing in tiny house: Tiny House Virginia

I fell in love with the tiny house movement about a year ago. I watch TINY HOUSE NATION faithfully every week and if I can't; my DVR records it for me.

I have found many tiny homes via YouTube and if you want to see some of them, check them out on my subscriptions: Tiny House Videos

I have decided to take the leap of faith and become a full time writer and I will use my tiny house as my office and I will have all of the comforts that I need.

Some people use their tiny home as an in-law apartment. Some people use them as rental properties.

I plan on taking mine on the road! I plan on parking it in an RV park or campground. I want to move around every couple of weeks for the new scenery.

I am so eager to begin this new journey and will post updates as they come. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND NEW YOU

Well here we are; 2017.

Was anyone ready for this year to begin?

I wasn't but you know what; I am not going to stress about it.

This year I am not making any resolutions. I am simply going to enjoy this year and as a matter of fact, I'm going to enjoy EACH DAY.

I learned that I allowed stress to rule 2016 and it didn't do me any good. I also learned that you can't change people's actions, words or treatment of you. However you can change how you deal with those around you.

This year I am going to do one thing and that will be to be TRUE to MYSELF.

What does that mean?

That means I will not allow anyone to stress me. I will take each day as it comes. However that day ends; it will stay with that day. Each day will be approached with new eyes, new hope and new dreams.

Every day begins fresh and so should we.

Each day is a promise of something new. Each day brings a new chance to do something you haven't done before.

My goal for this year is simple: ENJOY the day that I am given and never worry about what happened the day before.

My motto for the year will be:

TOMORROW NEVER COMES SO LIVE FOR THE MOMENT.

What is your motto going to be this year?

NEW YEAR AND NEW GOALS

It seems as if 2016 flew by in a blur.

For most of us authors, it was a year filled with lots of activity. There were lots of edits, rewrites, conferences, submissions and rejections that occured in 2016.

For 2017, it may be filled with the same but how will you approach it?

Will you take what you learned in 2016 into 2017? Will you submit your manuscript to more publishers? Will you rewrite that manuscript in your desk drawer? Will you attend another conference or maybe your first conference? Will you look at those rejections with new eyes and make improvements on your writing?

Whatever you do in 2017, remember that being an author is a privilege that a lot of people WISHED they had the courage to do.

Remember that you, yes you, can improve on being an author if you do one simple thing.

Be the best author you can be.

That means; attending workshops, conferences and seminars geared towards your genre of writing. That means not limiting yourself to one specific audience. That means taking time to market yourself to everyone; not just your family and friends. That means taking a leap of faith and submitting your work to a publisher, editor or doing it yourself.

Whatever you do; do it to the best of your ability.

I hope that your 2016 ends on a high note and that 2017 begins on a higher one.

See you in the new year.

AUTHORS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

On December 6 80+ authors met for their annual author dinner at The Old Europe Restaurant on Wisconsin Ave in Washington DC.

This is an event that is put together by +Dan Moldea  is something that all of us look forward to. This is an event that requires only two things.


You have a published novel and a check for $35.

It's that simple.

There was a room full of authors that write everything from literary works to fiction and we all get to give a 20 second elevator pitch.

We sit with our fellow authors and talk about everything from politics to the upcoming inauguration.

Take a look at all of the pictures that were taken last night and if you want to get on this exclusive list; please leave a comment below.




We also get to take lots of selfies....

CYBER DEALS ARE FOR EVERYONE

Today starts another big shopping day.

If you thought BLACK FRIDAY was big; then you have never done CYBER MONDAY.

Consumers spend just as much during this day than any other online shopping day.

Please remember this as you are clicking your way around the internet.

AUTHORS LOVE CYBER MONDAY TOO.

This is the day that they may sell a year's worth of books and be able to travel to a new book conference. This is the day that you can buy a series by a new author, for half the price and this is also the day that you will discover brand new reading materials.

If you ever wanted to try a new genre, buy it on Cyber Monday.

Want to get a personalized gift for the reader in your family, workplace or teacher?

Give them a book signed by the author and you will be the best gift giver EVER!

I never liked mysteries until I read Austin Camacho's Hannibal Jones Series. When did I get it?

Cyber Monday 2011 and have never regretted it.

SO take a chance on a new genre, new author or better yet; give the gift of reading to the readers in your life.

And if they have enough books...well there are so many great gifts to give...but that's for the next blog!

Stay Tuned!

REJECTION IS A GOOD THING

Rejection isn’t something that anyone likes to go through.

Being a published author, I worry about rejection.

Rejection from a publisher, an editor or from readers.

How do you overcome the fear?

By saying to yourself: I will be better for it.

Yes, rejection serves a purpose. 

It allows us to remember that we are humans and make mistakes. It reminds us that we are not perfect, no matter how hard we try to be. It also reminds us that we have to, correction, we MUST continue to get better in our writing.

Readers are not going to allow authors to sit back and push through mundane work. Publishers aren’t going to let authors think that don’t need improvement and if you have a good editor; they will make sure that they are pushing you to bring out the best words you have.

Yes, Rejection is hard but it is necessary.

So don’t just sit there crying because you have gotten another rejection (or your first rejection).

Dust yourself off, pick up that pen, paper, Notebook, computer or IPad and begin the rewriting process. 

Trust me, you will be glad that you did.