Updating the Status of the List

The ten years is flying by. After my birthday this year, I'll only have two years left to complete as many of these goals as possible.  It's been a while since I've written a post, so let's break things down and see where we're at. 

First, what have I accomplished over the last eight years?

1. I did lose 30 lbs (then I gained it all back
2. Go to Scotland (I went to Ireland
3. Publish Eleena's Story (2019, but now I want to rewrite it as a trilogy. Yeah, I'm never satisfied)
4. Make a will
5. Donate blood at least once a year 8/2014, 2/2015, 4/2015, 6/2015, 9/2015, 4/2016, 9/2016, 2/2017 9/2017, 9/2018, 12/2018, 9/2019, 3/2020, 5/2020, 9/2020, 1/2021, 3/2021, 6/2021, 8/2021, 12/2021
6. Go to Yellowstone with the kids (September 2020)
7. Set up a formal dining room--2013-15 and then we moved and went casual again
8. Finish remodeling my home (2015-2021)
9. Publish FADE INTO ME (2015)
10. Visit the Grand Canyon (Jan 2021)
11. Purchase bedroom furniture (2017)
12. Become comfortable with some level of marketing. (Yes, but I still hate it all.)
13. Have a professional looking author webpage
14. Learn how to design webpages (thank goodness pages like WIX came along so you don't need to know code anymore.
15. Learn how to not yell at my kids--This got really easy as they grew up. I haven't yelled in years!
16. Take the family on a cruise and snorkeling--(September 2016, 2018, Dec 2019, Planned May 2023)
17. Convert front room into a guest room or a really kick butt craft room (depends on what we need the most)--Revised to update Master Bath--Check 2018 (I also have a nice craft room in my sunroom now, so double check!)
18. Create an email list that my readers can join to get insider information
19. Start my own Science Fiction Short Story contest for High School students--ran it for 2 years
20. Compile a yearly anthology from the SF/F contest--did it one year but there were only three entries the 2nd year.
21. 10 day European cruise--postponed from June 2020 to April 2021 to May 2022 
22. Participate in at least one Skype bookgroup that read one of my books--I attended a local library book group that read The Magic Wakes instead.

What I am taking off the list and why:

1. Learn how to scuba dive (I had the opportunity when my son got certified but didn't even try. Mostly, I doubt I can pressurize my ears. It takes me days to do it when I fly. Also, now my hubby can't do it because of lung scarring, and I don't want to do it without him.)
2. Go to Disney World with my kids (They've all left for college and we're cruising now instead)
3. Walk the Inca trail at Macchu Picchu (There's just not enough time. I'll move it to my goals to reach before turning 60!)
4. Visit volcanoes in Hawaii (Same as above. We were going to hike up Mt. Vesuvius May 2022 but that tour was canceled)
5. Return to the Smokeys with my hubby--just the two of us since this is where we honeymooned (not enough time. I'll add it to our 30th anniversary plans maybe?)
6. Run in a Ragnar (I don't think I can get in shape fast enough, and I no longer feel the need to do it. Maybe running a half marathon again will replace this in the future though.)
7. Write a short story that is accepted by a SFFWA venue (I no longer feel the need to be validated in this way and haven't submitted anything since 2013)
8. Write and publish Last Christmas (I have too many other ideas I like better)
9. Participate in a play at the local community theater (this could just be helping with costumes or sets--bonus if it's Into The Woods) This was because Adam was involved in theater but we never had time. Now he's gone so it would be silly to do it without him.
10. Attend DragonCon as a vendor (Moving to the Before I'm 60 list!)

What I still hope to accomplish in the next two years:

1. Publish the rest of Talia's story--3 novels and 1 novella (Book 2--8/2016, Book 3--2/2023)
2. Visit the Sequoia National Forest
3. Write a letter to all the people who have made a difference in my life
4. 30 days of Random Acts of Kindness (big ones, like pay for someone's dinner, or grocery bill)
5. Make the front landscaping awesome
6. Take ballroom dance lessons--I took two back in 2015 before my hubby said never again. Does that count?
7. Enter a ballroom dance competition with my hubby
8. Take a hot air balloon ride
9. Write and Publish the unnamed Contemporary YA (Addie's Song)
10. Take my kids to see a play on Broadway (not picky about which one) 
11. Update my grandmother's genealogy book that I put together 10 years ago. (lots of births, deaths, marriages and divorces to record!)
12. Take a physics class
13. Take a self-defense class
14. Learn to draw
15. Turn The Magic Wakes into a graphic novel--as of Dec 2021 this is in the works!
16. Build up our savings so we can serve a mission one day
17. Donate to a local pet shelter (time or money)
18. Pull off a "Homemade Only" Christmas (I think this would be a great experience in perspective for my family)

Goal's that I've Completed since the last update

There have been several actually. Some are simply started, others completed, and one is in limbo due to COVID-19.

Let's start at the top of the list and work our way down.

Goal #1--in 2018 I lost that thirty pounds and it felt wonderful. I did it by cutting gluten and milk from my diet and simply walking every day. Sadly, I gained it all back in 2019 by starting to eat bread again. 2020 saw me going back to what I needed to do and then we got whammies. I'm afraid I'm eating junk for comfort and ruining all my progress. I have no will power.

Goal #4 Publish Eleena's story--This one took six years to pull off, but THE HAND OF ATUA was published in February of 2019. It's a hearty 90K young adult space opera. It's in KU and also available on audiobook.

A prince, his teacher's daughter, multiple planets, refugees, and a God waiting for a boy to grow into a man with the faith to change the galaxy. Heartache and hope, fear and love, the living and the dead are all in Atua’s hands.


Goal #5--I'm still trying to make myself rip Talia's world apart. We're 40K into it.

Goal #8--Donated blood in September and December of 2019, and donated in April of 2020.

Goal #14--We've finally started adding some more landscaping to our rocky front yard. I wouldn't call it awesome yet, but it looks so much better than it did before.

Goal #21--I finally made it to the Grand Canyon early January of this year. I made a 5-day circuit of the US with my daughter (taking her the long way back to college), my senior, and our exchange student. It was an "epic" trip as Rens would say. We've been told we visited the "ugly" side of the Grand Canyon, but it was still gorgeous. The entire trip was filled with a variety of landscapes that made my heart happy.

South Rim, Grand Canyon, January 2019

Goal #45--Hubby and I booked a Mediterranean cruise in December of 2019. It was supposed to take place June of 2020. Yeah, not going to happen. Thank you Coronavirus. *grumbles* The good news is we can simply move it. But how do you know when to re-book? When will it really be safe to travel the world again?

So, making progress, but maybe I need to print this list off and post it next to my desk. It's so easy to forget that I wanted to do some of these things. Especially as the world changes and my goals change too.

For instance, I'm learning how to podcast. I've recorded six episodes. I like some of them, and some of them I don't. The biggest thing is finding the balance between talking naturally and following enough notes to say all the things I want to say. The last few have swung to far into "reading" territory and I don't like it.

The fix? The next podcast will include interviews with my children. Yeah, that will be as natural as you can get!

In writing news, I also published Teacher's Crush in 2019. It's another contemporary romance set in my Eureka Springs (small-town) series. Check it out if you like that kind of thing. Also in KU and available in audiobook.

Jennifer Carlson returns to Eureka Springs. A newly graduated teacher, her only goal is to help her dad and get out of town. However, the good-looking biker has her second guessing what she really wants. 

High school principal, Robert Allen has never been so conflicted. Jen needs a job, but he wants her for his own. Can he convince her to stop running away?

New direction and progress on Goal #5

Now that I've been home several days, I can report things are moving along for the re-release of my Magic Wakes series. We've got new cover art for the first three books! Take a look and tell me what you think. These were all designed by Tamara Hart Heiner who is also an amazing author.

I'll be re-releasing the first two in the series sometime the first week of November. Demon Rising is about half way finished, but this amazing cover has inspired me to get writing again. My goal is to have it out by fall of 2018.

It feels so good to be excited about writing again!

Goal #5 Progress--DAWN OF THE MAGES

Goal #5 is to finish and publish all of Talia's story. Well, here is book 2, all ready for it's September release date.

DAWN OF THE MAGES

...is now on Goodreads! Go add it to your TBR pile! I'll be giving away free copies of book 1 and 2 on Goodreads starting on July 4th.

Blurb:

The Dragumon have been defeated, but the planet Sendek will never be the same.

In order to save their world, Talia and Landry Sutton had to wake the forgotten magic on Sendek. But instead of restoring peace, it creates chaos on the city streets, with those unable to work magic turning against those who can.

When Talia and Landry travel to the planet Orek to discover how it combines magic and science, they find a new, anti-magical government. The Controllers have all the tech, weapons, and natural resources. On Orek, the magical outcasts beg Talia and Landry to help them rise up against their oppressors.

The two must decide whether to help save Orek or return home and save their own planet. Talia and Landry are torn apart by the conflicting missions. Talia knows what Landry wants, but if she gives in, she could lose what she loves the most.



Buy on Amazon
Enter to win for free on Goodreads

It's Official! Talia's Sequel is with WiDo Publishing

It's official (actually it was official last Friday), WiDo Publishing has picked up Talia's sequel. All the paperwork is signed and they've announced it on their website. You can read the interview HERE.

Thankfully, we'll finish stage one of renovations on our house by the time I need to start working with an editor. I'm excited for that. It's possibly one of my favorite parts of being an author. That's when you get to take something good and make it shine. It will also put me firmly in Talia's world so I can get back to drafting book three in the series. I REALLY want to get the first crummy version on "paper" by the end of the year. With hard work, and some luck, I can get that one out in a year instead of two. That's my goal anyway.

Progress on Goal #5 Talia's Story

I've finished a couple of revisions of Book 2 in the Sendek Saga. It's now with my publisher. That's progress! I'm waiting to hear if they need more revisions or if it's close enough to work with their editor.

I'll keep you posted, but until there's news, here is the blurb for it.

The Dragumon have been defeated, but Sendek will never be the same. Lines are being drawn between those who can work magic and those who can’t. Talia and Landry Sutton have a plan to create a Mage Council to govern the use of magic. They hope it will keep the peace long enough for them to travel to Orek and learn how Jaron’s world successfully combined magic and science.  

Talia hasn’t dreamed for months, but on the eve of leaving for Orek her nightmares return. She knows they must make the journey to discover the truth about the dragons, how to use magic and how to bring peace back to their world. However, if they do, she could lose what matters most—Landry.

Kickstarter Success!

My funding project is officially over, and it was a success!

Here are the next steps in publishing FADE INTO ME.

• send the manuscript to my editor 
• finalize the back jack blurb
• plan my acknowledgements page :)
• order bookmarks
• order copies of TMW and SC needed for rewards
• figure out a new domain name since mine is taken
• Get cover finalized and the full cover wrap for print
• Get Goodreads and Amazon pages set up (this may have to wait until the end)

Once edits are finished, Amie will do the typesetting and interior design to make the print and e-copies beautiful! Then I will:

• finish the createspace creation of the print copy and kindle version
• Check into Smashwords and other Indie venues to sell my book
• Finish Goodreads and Amazon pages if not already done
• Begin mailing rewards!!!

FADE INTO ME will be available early 2015! Keep a look out for it!

Goal #15 Get FADE INTO ME published

Here's your chance to help me check off one of my 50 by 50 Goals!

For Nanowrimo 2011 I met a troubled girl named Ryanne. She had secrets I didn't want to uncover, but her desperate need to be loved in spite of her scars kept drawing me back to her. I finally finished her story in 2013. Early this year I dug into revisions with a drive I hadn't felt since THE MAGIC WAKES (WiDo Publishing, 2013).

I was on fire.

FIM has been through multiple beta readers and grown into something I never could have planned. Some people will love it. Others won't get it. It's about a co-dependent girl who protects those who hurt her and runs from those who can make her whole.  Her reactions and inner struggles are based on similar ones of many women I've met in my life. All of us had to learn we are worthy of love and embrace those who knew too.

This month I'm running a kickstarter to pay for a professional editor and typesetter. With any luck, I'll make my goal and this book will be available early next year. Please take a moment to watch my video about the project. The book trailer is at the end. Then think of it this way, a $12 pledge is like pre-ordering a signed print copy of FADE INTO ME. I will be selling the print copy for $12 on Amazon and other places when it's available, but it won't be signed!

Thanks in advance for any support you can give. Even if that's just tweeting, facebooking and telling your neighbors and family about the project.

Blurb:

Aliens live among us. Their purpose: to protect and nurture their greatest mistake—mankind.

Caedan Frey’s family has fulfilled this duty for thousands of years, but it doesn’t free him from his obligation as prince of the Reparation. Although he doesn't believe humans will evolve to see the magic, much less control it, he has two months to marry one or face the wrath of the High Council. Bitter about a responsibility he thinks prevents him from marrying for love, he figures any human girl will do. He's ready to propose when his soul mate stumbles into—and right out—of his arms.

Human, Ryanne Killian might be his one shot at happiness while still fulfilling his duty. Unfortunately, she guards a dark secret within her co-dependent personality, and she thinks the only way to protect Caedan is to push him away.

Caedan must convince her she’s worthy of his love before the men who hurt her before steal more than her virtue. If she can see her own worth, she just might save herself and his people.

What do you think? Does it sound like something you'd read?

Click HERE to read the first 2 chapters.

Early Praise for FIM--

Fade Into Me was a remarkable read. I couldn't put it down! Bradford writes the story with so much conviction, I wondered if she was trying to tell us all something about the human race. The book is clean and well written. The character building hooked me from page one. The author's imagination helps make the book come to life. I give the book a 5 out of 5 rating! Great read for all audiences! I can't wait for others to be able to discover this new Urban Fantasy!

~Alicia Rivoli - Author of The Enchantment Series

I love the glimpse into two different worlds and can't wait to see how they collide! I have a clear picture in my mind as I read, I can't help but visualize Caeden's world-not something I can usually do in the first chapter of a book. I'm only disappointed I can't read the rest yet!

~Trish

Blood Donation 2014

There's no way to take a good photo laying down, but donate blood for 2014 (At least once a year--Goal #8) gets a check.

Mentally worn out!

It has been a busy month. Lots of running here and there, wrapping up the end of the school year, getting kids ready for summer camps, cleaning the house (Boo!) and every once in a while the opportunity to work on a goal.

The two goals I'm working on at the moment are #40 and #15. That's:

• Start my own high school short story contest
• Get Fade Into Me published

I've finished a lot of the ground work for the contest. The webpage is up, so is Facebook. The best part is I now have four amazing authors signed on to help with judging this fall. Go check out their Bios! Now I just need to get the word out to students and high schools. Hopefully the dominoes are already falling on the student side, but I'm waiting until August to start contacting the high schools. Summer is the one glitch in my starting a fall contest!

Fade Into Me is mostly complete. I've sent several queries and received some requests. Those have turned into no's along the way but I'm not discouraged yet. Thanks to some great feedback from readers I'm going to add a few more scenes to build the relationship between Ryanne and Caedmon a little more. I've also had the discussion with my hubby regarding the question to keep seeking an agent or see if my current publisher is interested. 

I really enjoyed WiDo and will gladly turn to them in time. Part of me just needs to try for that larger dream a little longer. My ambition is bigger than what I think they can accomplish at this time, but I know my skills have to improve as well. 

You may recall that I started goal #34--Update Family History Book. That screeched to a standstill when I realized I would have to start completely from scratch. I just don't have the mental emotional strength to redo all my previous work at this time. So, I'm shelving it again for a while. 

#40 Update

I've created the webpage, email and facebook page for the short story contest. You can find it at boldnewworlds.blogspot.com.

And here is the link for the Facebook page.
For questions email boldnewworlds @ gmail.com

Getting Started

I wanted to update you on the progress I'm making on a few of the goals I set.

Goal #5--Publish the rest of Talia's story--3 novels and 2 novellas
Book 2 in the series, Search For Knowledge, is drafted and I've started revisions.

Goal #12--Set up a formal dining room.
We've ordered a table! All we need is for it to show up and I can start decorating and check this one off the list. This is the table we picked out.

Goal #15--Get Fade Into Me published
Fade Into Me is now finished with several rounds of revisions. The query and summary are coming along pretty good and I plan to start sending out queries in the next week or two.