Make sure to spend time with your family and friends. Express your thankfulness to them, for them, and celebrate a feast! So why are you here? Go, get back in the conversation that’s going on around you and put down your tablet or smart phone!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Tomorrow begins the Holiday season and I will be spending the day transforming our home into North Pole, the Midwest edition.
OK, well I’m off to eat some turkey.
Greta Garbo, and Monroe
Deitrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine
Grace Kelly; Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rodgers, dance on air
They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katherine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you
Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it
Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it
Vogue, vogue
Ah, those flashback moments. When I received my finished cover last night, I was singing this song to myself. Weird maybe, but there it is. Particularly this section of Madonna’s song Vogue, They had style, they had grace . . . . ladies with an attitude.
Have you ever seen pictures of some of Hollywood’s darlings without their makeup? It gives hope for the rest of us! Seriously, some of the stars in the raw have you scratching your head and asking How?
There have been tons of makeover shows on TV. Biggest Loser’s most viewed episodes are makeover week when they transform the former fatties into Haute Couture Hotties.
My book, Red Wine & Roses was originally published from Eclectic Bard Books last year, September 19, 2015.
While I loved the elegant and understated cover, readers found it confusing. Some thought that it was perhaps like a Steeple Hill Christian romance, like this reviewer: 
TADA!!!And, 
I will share the release date just as soon as I have it, but until then . . . enjoy the eye candy!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends, and happy by proxy Turkey day to all of my no ‘Murican friends. Enjoy the family, friends and celebrations. No Black Friday shopping for me, I’m not into that. Instead, that will be the day we transform our modest home into a Christmas time capsule akin to some of the old department store displays.
This is my favorite time of year! What better Christmas gift to myself than a makeover of my debut novel? OH I know, starting on revisions for my next one, Roxy Sings the Blues, which is planned for release in early 2017!
Now go eat some pie! Tell ’em Ellie said so!
Write on my friends, write on!
The past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for me. It’s times like this that I question Cassidy’s sanity. I mean, who would choose this?
We had such a good day on Saturday, I suppose it was inevitable that the wheels should fall off on Sunday. While tackling one project, I was being pulled by someone else’s project, continually asked questions until I reached a point where I had to stop what I was working on.
First off, this project was one that I had procrastinated on to the point that I couldn’t put it off any longer. I needed to get it done. So I was already aggravated.
The project that my husband was asking questions about, was valid for him to ask me questions as it was pertaining to our finances. Then everything degenerated down from there. *hangs head*
How many of us know, I mean really know that you can’t compartment your life like a waffle into little squares? If you can manage that then message me and share how you do it.
In my world, things are all interconnected like a woven cloth. The white strand touches twenty others. Or you can look at it like the plate of spaghetti. Well, I got my spaghetti all over his waffles.
If we are being honest, it’s more like spaghetti. How we view our finances are affected by a) our upbringing, b) past problems c) expectations d) fears e)our relationship with the financial partner. All of those factors come into play at some point and are often expressed through what we communicate.
I’m not going to tell you all about our finances, that’s not what this is about. We have some differences between us about them that we will work out. My problem is the underlying problems that come out in moments like this.
I have been so guilty of this in the past, that I am acutely aware of carefully choosing my words and not blasting my first thoughts without a filter. The filter needs to be applied to similar problems in the past, past words that were spoken, past situations that you’ve been through, past fights over the subject. . . it all plays a part to the emotions that come up with the current topic.
In a microsecond, our brain goes to our retrieval file and pulls up the entire folder on how we feel about finance anything. Last time we got into a fight – shields up. We’ve been married for a few years, there has been more than one fight over finances. In most marriages, there is one that spends and one that saves. I’m the spender and I know you aren’t surprised.
My issue with this whole thing is not the finances. It’s not about how much I spent because I know that I spent too much. It’s the comments that cut me to the core that are outside of the topic that are affecting the statements made.
The current plan isn’t working, so I need to rethink, reevaluate, and make a new plan. How ironic that I got a notification this morning that two readers liked my post, Unceasing. Wow, thank you for that reminder. I needed to hear that. I needed to be reminded that it’s not the negative words of someone else. It’s not getting validation from anyone else. The reason I write, and that I will NOT stop pursuing my dream even if it is at a snail’s pace, is because it is part of who I am.
I had some amazing friends encourage me in this matter, some were kind loving words, others were straight and to the point, and yet others were tactlessly pointed out, but valid all the same.
On one hand, it is devastating to hear that a loved one doesn’t believe in your vision. That’s ok. It’s not his vision after all but mine. It’s not his place to validate me or give me approval. I need to do this for myself. On the other hand, it’s good to know where they stand so that I can adjust my course, my expectations accordingly.
Giving up on my dream isn’t going to make him think any differently but it will certainly make me think differently. It would be quitting on myself and I can’t do that.
I’m not angry anymore. I’m not hurt either. I know that I am taking the road less traveled. This is my path and it needs to coincide with our path as much as his career path does also. Neither of us is wrong, just different.
Sometimes we embrace the differences, other times we accept them.
Soon I will have important news to share and to think, I almost quit just before the finish line – tsk tsk.
It’s all good! Write on my friends, write on!
Ellie
I’m excited to share my freind Vicki’s latest release. I shared the cover reveal just a short time ago now here it is:
V.L. Locey
M/F Erotic Hockey Romance Novella
Buy Links:
Amazon-http://tinyurl.com/zwwxrug
B&N-http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/roster-addition-v-l-locey/1124779670?ean=2940153767611
Smashwords-https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/670272
Blurb: Veikko Aho, Wildcats star goalie, and his wife Liz are about to add a new player to their family roster. The open adoption of Maggie and Derrick’s granddaughter will help to heal the gaping hole infertility has left in the Aho’s life. Finally, that huge mansion on the Main Line will hear the sweet laughter of a child.
But the birth that the Aho’s are so looking forward too seems to be stirring up some anxiety and unspoken fears for the grandparents. As the seemingly endless night of labor drags on, power struggles that threaten to break up a long-standing friendship rise to the surface. Can both families put aside their petty differences or will this precious new Wildcat tear them apart?
I got the chance to preview an ARC copy for Vicki, and wow has she outdone herself with this one. Here’s just a little tease of what you can expect:
Excerpt:
A Little from Derrick
The phone died just as I knew it would. “Love you too, Mags,” I said anyway then shoved my deceased phone into the front pocket of my trousers. A stiff wind whistled through the parking lot, making me move a little faster. Stepping inside the Doughnut Den, warm, moist air and the smell of freshly made doughnuts embraced me. My belly rumbled as I stepped up to the counter to order coffee for four adults and a box of a dozen assorted doughnuts. The cashier was a tiny little gal who seemed a little intimidated by the ugly old bear buying glazed and chocolate-covered. Even when I give her a smile and a tip, she hung back, never looking me in the eye. I was used to it. Ashley, the girl having my grandbaby, she was real quiet and backward around me for months until she got to know me better. Guess I was one scary type. Must be the beard and scars. You don’t play hockey for twenty years and not get battle scars.
I took my purchases to a table by the window so I could see Aho’s spiffy white Jaguar XJL Ultimate when he pulled up. Imagine my surprise when I saw the goalie climbing out of a metallic blue BMW coupe about ten minutes later. Aho took a moment to button up his long black coat then tuck a white scarf dangling around his neck into the front of his coat. He hurried across the parking lot, looking like some sort of high paid fashion model instead of a hockey player. I reached up to rub the knob on the bridge of my nose, a reminder of ten stitches needed after taking a high stick from some chucklehead from Boston. Hell, that musta been ten years ago now. Veikko, he didn’t have no scars. Not a one, and that was good. If you’ve never seen pictures of the old goalies back before they started wearing masks, you’d be terrified of what you were seeing.
“I was wondering if you’d be having a snack while you waited,” the Finn said after he entered the shop. I held up a half-eaten peanut-butter crème filled. Aho smiled then walked up the counter. That little girl didn’t seem to have any troubles chatting and blushing all over Veikko as he ordered drinks.
“I already got you some,” I informed him when he walked over to the table by the window.
“Ah, well, we’ll have refills.” His eyes dropped to the open box of doughnuts.
“Dig in,” I said then pushed the last bite of my peanut-butter crème filled into my trap.
“Thank you, but I’ll have to pass,” he said in that precise, refined way he spoke.
“I ain’t playing no more so I can grab a sweet now and again,” I informed him.
“It looks like you have grabbed five sweets,” he countered then gave me a wink. I closed the lid then pushed to my feet. The man was just rubbing me wrong for some reason. Probably, I was still pissed off about the train ride and was taking that out on him. “I envy you,” Veikko added as I gathered up my dirty napkins. My gaze jumped from the trash in my hands to the Finn. There wasn’t one damn thing I could think of that Aho would envy me, or anyone else, about. “You’re free now to enjoy the delights of life and not be so concerned about a few extra pounds and how they slow you down on the ice.”
“Oh, yah, being retired is about the best thing ever,” I lied like a rug then whipped my garbage into a can by the front door. Out into the cold we went, both of us carrying containers with coffee, and me with a box of doughnut under my arm. “So where are we, you know, in terms of the baby coming?”
“Not far yet,” he replied, turning his face from a gust of wind that sent papers flying up over our heads. “Elizabeth tells me that first time births can take many hours.”
“Yah, so I hear.” We stopped by the blue BMW. “Where’s the Jag? I didn’t think you ever left home without her.”
Aho grinned at me from across the roof of the Beemer. “That was before we were to be parents. As much as I love my Jaguar, it is not exactly the kind of car one carries a child in, is it?”
“Guess not,” I replied then slowly lowered myself into the car. I looked into the backseat, hoping to find a place to put the doughnut box, and saw a brand new car seat all strapped in and ready for use. I kid you not, seeing that car seat hit me puck between the eyes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads.
Author Links:
Website: http://vlloceyauthor.com/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452
Twitter- https://twitter.com/vllocey
Pinterest-http://www.pinterest.com/vllocey/
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey
My blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/
If you like hockey, if you like romance – Vicki’s got something for you!
Gone Writing Publishing Backlist Books and Upcoming Releases
Pink Pucks & Power Plays (Book One of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
A Most Unlikely Countess (Book Two of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
O Captain! My Captain! (Book Three of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Reality Check (Book Four of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Language of Love (Book Five of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Final Shifts (Book Six of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Clean Sweep (Book One of the Venom Series)
Twirly Girl (Book Two of the Venom Series)
Tape to Tape (Book Three of the Venom Series)
Roster Addition (A To Love a Wildcat Novella)
Torquere Press Backlist and Upcoming Releases
Two Guys Walk Into an Apocalypse (Part of the He Loves Me For My Brainssss anthology)
Two Guys Walk Into an Apocalypse 2: It Came From Birmingham
Two Guys Walk Into an Apocalypse 3: He’s a Lumberjack and He`s Undead
Love of the Hunter
All I Want for Christmas – A Toms & Tabbies Tale
Early to Rise – A Toms & Tabbies Tale
Every Sunday at One (Part of the 2013 Charity Sip Anthology)
An Erie Halloween
An Erie Operetta
An Erie Garden Party
Back to the Garden (Also part of the Mythologically Torqued Anthology)
M/M Independent Releases
Coming October 12, 2016…On Broadway (part of the Changing on the Fly M/M hockey romance charity novella)
Coming Dec. 5, 2016…Holly & Hockey Boots (M/M erotic holiday hockey romance)
Coming in 2017 …
The Brighton Wood Blades (an LGBTQ erotic hockey romance series)
Two Man Advantage
Game Misconduct
Full Strength
Shutdown Pair
Long Change
Sorry folks I know it’s been a while. I haven’t been lollygagging around or chilling on the beach. Sadly, no. I’ve been juggling hot irons anxious to remove a couple of them from the fire. My goal is to reduce the number of irons, simplify and streamline to become an efficient writing machine!
As most of you know, November is NANOWRIMO Month. It’s a guilty pleasure that I along with numerous others giddily or insanely commit to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. * insert cackles of laughter here* We’re all mad here!
I am behind. My word count is lagging. The fear monster is threatening to overtake my rational mind, but I’m determined to keep the hound at bay.
Why is my word count lagging?
While the decision to set aside my NANO novel was a difficult one, It had to be done. I think in the long run it will pan out but that means that for the next two weeks I have to be an insane writing machine to the tune of about 5000 words per day in order to hit my mark.
Also, be looking for announcements in the next few days for the 2nd edition release, with a brand spanking new cover and extended scenes for Red Wine & Roses. I’m still working on the revisions. One of the complaints from a reviewer was that it seemed rushed. Well, yes. In the initial edits, several scenes were cut that lead up to a crucial scene and a couple afterwards. I am rewriting those now. I think it flows a lot smoother and tells a complete story instead of having small vignettes with pieces missing. But that’s just me.
Today I will wrap up the revisions and be ready to share my brand new cover- I’m stoked! It’s gorgeous!
Be looking for the cover reveal soon, and a couple of guests coming up! After I get this off of my desk, I have a new master plan to share! Be patient young padawans, all good things will come in time. Like a release schedule! How cool is that?
Have a great Friday! Get out there and spread some happiness to your fellow man, woman or child! Share some love! Buy someone a coffee or open a door.
My Holiday giving plan starts now – at least one act of kindness every day!
Write on my friends, write on!
Ellie
quotidiandose 
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