Showing posts with label hot cocoa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot cocoa. Show all posts

Friday, July 22, 2022

Me Time - We All Need It by Tena Stetler

 

Me time is defined as time spent relaxing on one’s own as opposed to working or doing things for others, seen as an opportunity to reduce stress and/or restore energy.

What do you do for me time?  What? You don’t have me time? It's Friday, schedule some me time this weekend. Me time is as important as breathing less you succumb to a stroke, heart attack, mental shutdown or meltdown. A writer block can be the result of unreleased stress.

Believe me, I’ve been there, as have most of you. In recent months, two acquaintances have succumbed to strokes. They were not authors, but worked in a high stress, time demanding industry. They’ll survive, but--learned the hard way about the necessity of me time. Take a deep breath and insist on me time. Tell everyone in your life, you’re taking an hour, a day, a weekend  or longer for me time. Don’t feel guilty! It’s not selfish, it’s necessary. Nothing is worth your health, mental or physical.

Publishing is a tough, ever-changing industry. It can be rewarding, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Between promo, signings (these are fun, the prep isn’t), deadlines, manuscripts, reviews, edits, and creativity, melt down is inevitable, at the least, if you don’t stop, take breath and break out of the vicious cycle the profession entails.


For me, it’s camping trips (see out most recent view from our campsite on the 4th of July above) with hubby and pets. Also I enjoy time in my sunroom with Taco, our parrot, and Mystic our dog where we discuss what's wrong with the world. They listen intently, but offer no opposition. Long walks around the neighborhood with Mystic, if I can’t get out and do a little hiking in the mountains. Even just sitting outside our fifth wheel trailer parked in the mountains working a word scramble, reading a good book, or enjoying the sights and sounds of a babbling brook, roaring river, wind through the aspens, or wild life frolicking near our camp site. During the Spring, Summer and Fall this is how my me time is spent. Okay, I admit that sometimes a story concept comes to mind and must be written down in the middle of my me time. During the winter, I make time for a great read, curled up by a crackling fire in the fireplace, a bowl of hot buttered popcorn, and a HUGH mug of cocoa.


Well, that’s about all I have for you this month. It doesn't matter what industry you're in, remember to schedule ME TIME. I'd love to hear what you do for me time. To help you with that, let this heart-warming book, A WITCH’S JOURNEY, whisk you away from your ordinary world with tales of redemption, magic, wildlife rescue, true love & paying it forward that will leave you breathless.  A stress reducer for your pocketbook with my Christmas in July sale e[book only 99cents. Download a copy today! Pssst...it's also available in audiobook.

A little more about A WITCH'S JOURNEY part of the series by the same name. Pepper McKay comes from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, magic brings her nothing but trouble. She learned the love of wildlife rescue and rehab from her Aunt Ashling. After graduating from college, Pepper works for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and lives from paycheck to paycheck until she inherits the McKay property in Lobster Cove. With the family land and resources, she dares to dream of starting her own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Lathen Quartz, a former Navy SEAL turned handyman maintains the enchanted McKay property for the McKay estate. But someone is trying to steal the McKay magic. Lathen offers to help Pepper achieve her life-long dream of building a wildlife center. During the long hours spent together on the project, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. But each harbors a deep, dark secret. Will they overcome their demons and give love a chance?

See you next month. Can you believe it will be August already? Where does time go?

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

No tricks, just treats!




The holiday season is upon us, and I have a gift for you! My very first holiday themed novella, Blue Christmas, is now available on Amazon. It’s also available for pre-order on B&N, iTunes, and Kobo (release day on those platforms is November 1st.) 

Blue Christmas
A Prophecy Series Family Holiday Novella

Four-year-old Maggie Bock loves living aboard her parents’ space cruiser, but it’s almost Christmas. What if Santa doesn’t know where she is now? Someone will have to find him and tell him, of course. But when she stows away on her mother’s transport to Terr, she sets off a chain of events that brings the holidays to the Atlantis.

Join Maggie and her family for a hilarious and heart-warming adventure as Matirans and Terrians come together to celebrate what makes the holiday season so very special.

(Blue Christmas is a companion story to my novel Prophecy, Book One of the Prophecy Series. This story takes place three months after the end of Prophecy.)

Amazon * B&N * iTunes * Kobo


Those of you who read my first book Prophecy, and have been asking for more Alex and Gryf, your wish has been granted. For those of you who haven’t read book one of my series, have I got a treat for you... 

A SALE! Through December 31, 2018, you can get both Prophecy and Blue Christmas for less than Prophecy at regular price.

Prophecy
Book One of the Prophecy Series

A nightmare of galactic proportions...
One normal day turns into horror when Earth is attacked. Now ER nurse Alexandra Bock is imprisoned aboard an alien slave ship with no way out. She deems all aliens untrustworthy, including the handsome blue-skinned Matiran captain who shares her cell.

A betrayal from within… One night of treachery leaves Senior Captain Gryf Helyg a prisoner of his enemies. Because of him, Earth’s inhabitants face extinction and his home world is threatened. But his plans for escape are complicated by his inexplicable draw to the Earth woman imprisoned with him.A chance to save both their peoples… One ancient prophecy holds the key to free Alexandra and Gryf’s war-ravaged worlds. Can two wounded souls who have lost everything learn to trust and forgive in order to fulfill the prophecy, and find a love that will last for eternity?


Amazon * B&N * iTunes * Kobo 


Hope you all enjoy this new, sweet, family oriented story. Happy holidays!

~Lea Kirk

USA Today Bestselling Author, Lea Kirk, loves to transport her readers to other worlds with her sci-fi romances. When she's not busy writing about the blue and green aliens of her Prophecy series, she's hanging out with her hubby, five kids (the nerd herd), and spoiled Dobie mix puppy.

Her series includes ProphecySalvation, and Collision (all full-length novels); her series related short reads, All of Me and Blue Christmas. She also has one PNR, Made for Her, part of S.E Smith's The Worlds of Magic, New Mexico Series.

Connect with Lea: