• motherhood,  my view,  videos,  writing life

    Starting with Why?

    my book 2 deadline and feeling like a real gah! “author, author.” I was near tears though, happy ones after practically gutting my poor brooding hero. You see for some reason I found it necessary to put the man quite through it and I was so happy for it. A hot ready to pull my hair out over the emotional changes that I had made mess, but in the end happy because I knew the story would be the better for it. Because you see for me, a good romance is all about the character’s emotional journey.

    But then, not long after in some sort of divine conformation, my son came to me all excited about this TEDx video that he saw and wanted to share with me about Why and succeeding in the work that you do and how that can transfer into consumers believing in you and your message. I’d like to share it with you today. And leave you with the question: Is your Why lined up with your What?

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • happy holidays,  writing life

    Like the Founding Fathers…

    Or at least like I’m assuming the founding fathers were, I’ve had my nose to the grindstone and have had quite the busy writerly weekend with my book 2 deadline fast approaching. As you can see it has been me and laptop, coffee and lens cleaner all the way.

    And shall be me and my laptop until I’m ready to finally say goodbye to this book, which I can assure you won’t be until the very last moment as the characters are still talking to me, adding lines, saying things that they should have said in scenes way back when (just like I do in real life). Oh they are quite the problem children. As if I didn’t have enough of those already. LOL.

    And just to show how mad (ie.crazy) me and my problem children really are. Check this photo of my wild clean up. Which had to happen when a squirrel popped up outside my living room window and I promptly jumped up and spilled my coffee all over the coffee table. Gah! Nice to get lost in your world. Just not that lost.

     

    Have a great Day! And Happy President’s Day if you are celebrating today!

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

     

     

  • happy holidays,  my view

    The Glory of Love! plus a giveaway!

    Well the Happy Day is here!!! It’s Valentine’s Day 2013! Blows kisses and throws confetti.

    I admit had a bit of trouble in the card shop looking for the something that could adequately express my love for all of you, my friends, over here at ye old blog who have been with me throughout the years. But alas I think I have finally found the right words, now borrowed from the great Peter Cetera… we did it all for the The Glory of Love.

     

     

     

    Happy Valentine’s Day! Wishing you all the love your heart can hold today and always and to share the love I’d love to give an e-copy of Through The Lens to one lucky commenter or the friend of their choice if they already have a copy. So please leave a comment and share the love.

     

    Love,

    KMJ and Jack

  • jack,  jack pics,  my view,  Through The Lens

    When Nemo Found Us…

     

     

    I was so happy to wake this morning and find that though Nemo had come and gone leaving somewhere around 16-20” of snow in our area, thankfully we still had heat and electricity. Honestly, after Hurricane Sandy I’m just grateful for that. The snow plows were out early and so were we, gathering Jack for his morning walk though he could barely make it over the snow mounds with his short legs.

    It was nice to get out for a walk, but I was quickly back in to leave the hard part of the major shoveling to the experts while I got on with making breakfast.

    Now it’s back to getting finished with book 2. What, you have not read book 1 yet? Well, get on that. Today is a perfect day to snuggle and warm up by Looking Through The Lens. Thanks!

    Here’s hoping everything is lovely and you are warm and safe where ever you are.

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • awards,  blogs,  my view

    La-La Leibster!

    So I was tagged by fellow Crimsonista, the lovely, Lynn Crandall and given a Liebster Award.  What is a Liebster? I’m not sure so let’s go to the old cut and paste for that shall we?

    “The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. Liebster, I’m told, is German and mans sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome, so it packs a lot of punch.” What?! Now I feeling extra special. Thanks so much Lynn

    Here are the rules for receiving the award:

    1. Each recipient must post 11 things about themselves.
    2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, plus create 11 questions for the people you tag to answer.
    3. Choose 11 people (or thereabouts) and link them to your post.
    4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.
    5. Remember, no tag backs!

    Eleven Questions for You:
    1. Favorite beverage? Diet Coke but I’m working on breaking the habit and subbing with the equally as addictive coffee so there’s that.
    2. What makes you get up in the morning? Society.
    3. Are you a countryside or city person? City.
    4. Your best day was doing what? I’m living on the faith that my best days are still ahead of me.
    5. What talent are you are willing to do in front of people? Not much. I’m in introvert. So I’ll say knit.


    6. If you could go anywhere in time for a day, when would it be? That’s a tough one. I’d be tempted to go back to where I could prevent some sort of disaster but then you get into the whole back to the future thing and we know from Marty how that can turm out. 

    7. Favorite color? Green- ish or black.
    8. Longest you’ve lived in any one place? New York area all my life.
    9. Favorite number? 4
    10. Favorite book from childhood? Little Women
    11. Best advice for others regarding anything? Get up.

     

    And now for my 11 questions to my Leibsters:

    1. Heels or flats?

    2. If you had your choice would you go out to dinner or stay in?

    3. Savory or sweet?

    4. What’s your favorite current earworm song?

    5. Did you watch the Superbowl for the game or for the halftime show?

    6. Drama or comedy?

    7. Breaking it down Real Housewives style. Beverly Hills,  Atlanta or New York?

    8. Do you have a green thumb?

    9. What is your favorite reading genre?

    10. Wine or beer?

    11. What are you grateful for today?

     

    Now as for tagging… well since this has been going around and I’m late to the party I’m sending this out to all of you my bloggy friends as you are all true “Leibsters” in my book. So if you’ve not been tagged and would like to take on my probbing questions, please say so in the comments. I’d love it if you played. Have a happy and if you’re in my neck of the woods watch out for the evil Snow Miser!

     

    All the best,

    Kwana

     

  • my view,  new york,  writing life

    Looking Good For Her Age

    This weekend I got shoved out of left my writing cave to head downtown and attend my monthly romance writer’s meeting. Besides being a wonderful and inspirational meeting, I will thrilled to find I was down in Grand Central Station just in time for the 100th anniversary! The old girl sure looks good for her age. Here are a few pics that I snapped while bustling through to get to my train. Enjoy! Now back to the Bat Cave for me! Have a great one.

     

     

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • bowling,  Men,  my view

    Win/Win

    So last night the DD and I went to late night bowling practice with friends from our Sunday church league. Now don’t ask me why I bowl better at midnight on a Wednesday than I do on a Sunday afternoon people. The mind boggles.

     

    Another thing that boggles the mind? Men and betting things like pushups if they don’t make their points. When they asked me what would women do as a sort of punishment I said nothing we wouldn’t punish ourselves. But then I thought about it some more and said I guess one would buy the other a glass of wine. Win/Win! A few laughed at that. I did say this was my church league. Oh well at least my shoes are cute-ish (now hush on my big feet). LOL.

     

    All the best,
    KMJ

  • Books,  jane austen,  my view,  videos,  writing life

    Happy 200th Birthday Pride and Prejudice!

    I’m still deep in the writing cave and can barely come out to see the sun (if there was some sun). Though as much as I’d like to spend the day with a full on Pride and Prejudice fest and go all in with my double DVD collection to celebrate the 200th birthday today, I just can’t. So that said, I’ve made do with this fun video while I enjoyed a warm bowl of soup for lunch today. If you have 10 minutes click on and enjoy.

     

    And really the warm soup and Firth’s long looks were just want I needed to get me through to the next page. Thank you Miss Austen.

     

     

    Have a great day!

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

     

    image fm here