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Writer's pictureL. B. JOYCE

Updated: Dec 28, 2019

Hi,

I just noticed my last post was in September and for this I apologize. But I have been sort of busy. More like side-tracked.


This all began with remodeling our kitchen in the middle of summer. What started out as my request for a double oven turned into the kitchen being gutted - the cabinets, countertops and appliances replaced with everything new. I feel like we've finally been brought up to the twenty-first century. I now have a grown-up kitchen.


A little note here, the time-frame a contractor gives you and the actual time the remodeling takes place? Double it, triple it... heck, quadruple it - there's going to be delays. Trust me on this. There are so many things that can happen.


Now, I'm not complaining. I am thrilled with the new look and yes, I have my double ovens. Which I love. But this totally threw me off balance because the kitchen is where I usually work on my ornaments, starting in mid-summer. And it's also where my computer is. So, probably much more than usual and according to my husband, I did a lot of procrastinating and complaining.


But now the kitchen is all done. And my ornaments were finished in time for my show. Christmas came and went in a flash, like it always seems to and now it's time to relax.


And... I also finished the sixth book of the series! I actually had it out and available on Amazon and other sites around the first of December.






Yes... A January to Remember can now be yours, in both paperback and ebook. It is the sixth book of the series. Can you believe this? Never would I have thought I'd be claiming such a thing. Or that I'd ever write a book, let alone a series of books.


I've found, with each book I write, I love writing even more. Every time I come to the end of what book I'm currently writing, I think the main characters have now become my favorite. But then I realize, this isn't true. I love them all. You can't spend months with these couples, writing about what they experience and not feel as though they are your friends.


So, which main characters are your favorite? Do any of the six stories tug more at your heart? Any you wish would've ended differently? Or you were completely surprised at what happened along the way? And is there any one book you wish didn't have to end?


I am already thinking ahead to the seventh book. I already know who the main characters will be and have a plot in mind. But this is all I'm going to share with you. In the meantime, I hope you can find the time to enjoy what I've written so far.


If there is anything you want to know, always feel free to contact me. The same goes for any suggestions or comments. Or just to talk! I welcome any correspondence from you.


Happy New Year!


Linda





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Hi there!

For those of you who don't know me, along with writing, I am an artist. And for the last too, too many years I have made hundreds, if not thousands, of Christmas ornaments. It exhausts me to even think how many there have been. I'm going to go out on a limb here and dare to say it could be close to a million... maybe...


And this is the time of year when this whole process of creating new ornament designs starts. At least for me, it is. If I try to start any earlier, the ideas just aren't there. I guess I work better under pressure. Or maybe it's just that I'm a procrastinator in the highest form.


I majored in fine arts in college, but the closest I ever got to landing a job in the 'art world' was an offer I received from the American Greetings headquarters in Cleveland as a contributing artist.

I had sent out samples of my work to random stationary and card companies, hoping it would turn into a freelance opportunity. And American Greetings was the only one who responded.


When I walked into the room for the interview, you can imagine my surprise when I came face to face with what seemed like about a dozen men sitting around this huge table. At first, I thought I'd walked into the wrong room.


But no, there they were... waiting for me and ready to ask all these questions. So, of course, I was feeling pretty high on myself to have all of this attention. Unfortunately, there was so much I didn't like about their job offer, starting with any design I came up with, it was automatically their property. There was also the three by five feet cubicle (if even that) I would have as my home away from home. From nine to five, for five days a week. And then there was the random bag check I was warned about, to make sure you weren't taking off with one of their designs when you left work.


Seriously? Maybe this is normal, but again... seriously? I didn't know the greeting card company business was so secretive, their designs in such high demand that someone would try to sneak them out of the building.


So, I refused the job, much to the chagrin of one of those twelve who called and offered me the job. In fact he was quite sarcastic about it, insinuating I was making the biggest mistake of my life.


Oh well, their loss, right?


Now I'm sure their hiring tactics are much different now, but I have never regretted not taking the job. Because, let's face it... I'm not a nine to five type of person. I do my best work late at night. I like the solitude of night and this seems when all my creative energy is at it's highest.

And with most artists and writers I know, they will claim the same.


So right now, I write a little, then I paint a little. I've found this works well for me, I don't get bored. Or if I find I'm staring at my computer, unable to even come up with a simple sentence, I switch to painting for a while. And usually, when I go back to the computer, the wording I was searching for comes to me. Like magic.


Okay, maybe it's not like magic, but it's there and I feel much better about what I wrote.


About the photos I posted here - the first is of ornaments laid out on our family room floor. No, this is not a good thing. I usually work in the kitchen, because the natural lighting is so much better there. But the kitchen is now out of commission - remodel going on. The second photo shows a close up of ornaments that will eventually be a full-color painted design, but now has only a basic design shape in white. Sort of like a template, I guess? The next step will be to paint in the required colors. Then I'll do the shading. And so on and so on, to finally end with the bow. It's a long process...


Since this is how I work, I live in a heightened sense of panic up until the ornaments are just about finished. This is because I think I'm behind, I have nothing done, the designs I've come up with are terrible and I'm never going to finish.


Ask anyone who knows me and they'll assure you, around this time of year, I do a lot of whining about this. But I always think about what my favorite art teacher in high school told our class. He said if an artist is completely satisfied with what they've created, they won't be motivated to improve their work. And they are shorting themselves to do better.


Sort of like the saying, 'Be the best you can be.'


And that's what I'm going to do now. Leave the computer and paint for a while. Then it will be back to the computer. Yes, I'm working on book #6 - it's coming along.


Until the next time, take care, and thanks for reading!


Linda


P.S. Feel free to comment. About anything, especially about the books in the series. I'd love to hear what you have to say!







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Yep - you read right! You can now get all 5 of the books that make up Twelve Months, Twelve Love Stories, in your favorite digital read. From just about anywhere in the world!


Amazon Kindle

Apple

Barnes & Noble Nook

WalMart

Playster

SCRIBD

24S

Apple

Kobo

Indigo

And the list goes on... and on... and on.


Here's the UBL (Universal Book Listing) for each Ebook:

A Million Decembers - https://books2read.com/u/mBOeNZ

For the Love of July - https://books2read.com/u/bM9GdV

Promise Me November - https://books2read.com/u/brVgLw

An Unexpected June - https://books2read.com/u/baWP92


Or go to the digital site of your choice and type in the title of the book you would like to check out - you can even read a sample!


Can life get any better than this?

Yeah, maybe it can... but this is also a way to make it a whole lot sweeter.


For the next ten days (Until August 20) your favorite Ebook version of A Million Decembers will be at $1.99. This is half off the regular $3.99 price.


Imagine that! Still such a great deal! And a great way to jump right into the beginning book of the series.


You can also now get the paperback version in just about any of your favorite independent bookstores - just bop on in and ask them to order it for you. Or look up their website and easily order the book of your choice.


Of course, it's always available on Amazon, both paperback and Ebook.


Just remember - Book 6 will be coming out before you know it - at least this is the plan - and you don't want to get too far behind on what's happening in the series!


Take care, and thanks for taking the time to check out this blog!


Linda


Always remember...


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