It’s getting colder. I have my first cold of the fall (joy. It didn’t even wait for September 23 to come in, and it’s really overstaying its welcome. But I digress.) and the leaves are changing. And you all know what that means:

It’s NaNoWriMo time again!

I’m on the site as captain_hobbes, if you want to add me. I’m going to do the next Advent story (imaginatively titled “Advent #5, Pavel takes us traveling”) and so I’ll be working on both my playlist (which will be on Spotify) and my outline for the next month. I’m determined to have everything ready to go for November 1. Despite everything, I’m going to win NaNo this year.

I’m still working on Resonant Frequencies as well, but I don’t know if I’ll finish it before NaNo. If I don’t, I’m not worried – I’ll come back to it in December.

I’m also still battling depression. It gets worse in the winter, and it’s not being helped by circumstances here in my life right now. But I’m hoping to get through it. After all, my average so far is 100% for making it through.

Hopefully, I’ll have some more blog posts for you guys as well. The website needs an overhaul and I want to get some more stuff out. But all in good time. Right now, you can also catch me blogging Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Dark Knight Paranormal’s blog, the TAPS affiliate that I’m a part of.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

I don’t get many of these anymore. I slept late, had my shake for breakfast (for those who don’t know, I’m doing the Herbalife program right now, and it’s FABULOUS), and already folded a load of laundry while watching last night’s Ghost Adventures. Now, I’ve got a cup of tea, because it’s getting cool again, and instead of iced tea, I’m craving hot tea again. That’s part of fall I love. The fact that snow is coming? Well, having the snowblower means I don’t worry as much, so yeah, I’m okay with the fact that the seasons are moving on.

 

I’m baking bread today as well. I’ve figured out that it’s not the gluten that bothers me – it’s the artificial preservatives. Which is awesome on the one hand (Yay, real bread again!), but dude, do you know how much of what is offered at the grocery store is full of artificial preservatives? I can handle guar gum, xanthum gum, salt, and citric acid. That’s about it. But that’s okay, because it means I can use my bread machine again! Yay!

 

I’m writing again too. The current novel involves a poet and a watercolorist – both things I have very little experience with. So it’s a learning experience. But I’m enjoying it. I’m also writing it without an outline, and it’s not an urban fantasy that involves the world as we know it ending. It’s a reminder that even if there isn’t a super-evil coming to destroy us all, there are stories that are woven in the tapestry of time. Hmm, I might have Mark use that. A tapestry of time would be a lovely image for Abby too.

 

In addition, I’m working on the concept for the next Advent story. Since I introduced some of Drew’s family during the Wedding story, I thought I might investigate some of the other people important in Molly, Drew, and Schrodinger’s life. And how to do that? With books, of course. (I also admit to being inspired by a Pintrest post about doing a 25-day book Advent calendar. How cool is that?)

 

Today, I’m blogging, both here and setting up the week’s blogs over at Dark Knights Paranormal. We’ve got another investigation coming up on October 12 – if you’re in the New Hampshire area (or New England, really) and want to come along, you can sign up here to join us!  We’d love to have you along!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

So, um, yeah, I haven’t been writing. *sigh* Well, I am now! Not only am I working on a new book (titled Resonant Frequencies, and quite possibly the beginning of a world that I could write a few books in, if I wanted to), but I’m blogging now over at Dark Knights Paranormal! This is the TAPS affiliate for New Hampshire that I’m a part of, and we’re going to have some interesting things going on over there! Check us out!

 

Oh, and yes, there WILL be an Advent story this year. I’ve gotten an interesting idea, and it’s going to involve Pavel. Lots of Pavel. And we’ll get to see some of the Sea Roads. So I think you’ll enjoy that.

 

In conclusion, let me leave you with a little bit of Abby, one of the protagonists of RF:

She wandered down the broken fieldstone path to the old stone bench that some former owner had planted under what might have once have been a well-groomed apple tree. Now, the tree was sprawling and gnarled, covered in the remains of blossoms that smelled of sweet decay and sent pale flower petals up into the air with every breeze, and it curled around the bench like a lover. The bench itself was bathed in sunlight, and sitting in the middle of it was a very large long-haired black cat that was snoring.

“Cats are not supposed to snore, Timothy,” she said, and he deigned to open one green-gold eye at her. “Really.”

He snorted at her and closed his eye again. Abby grinned, her mood starting to lift, and settled in next to him, stroking his soft fur. The snoring became a purr.

“Where’s your brother?” she asked. Timothy didn’t answer, but as she continue to sit and pet him, she saw another fluffy black tail come sauntering through the weeds towards them.

Sheridan burst out of the grass, his copper eyes wide and his pink tongue lolling from one side of his mouth, his smushed Persian face covered in random pieces of green. He looked as if he’d fallen into someone’s grass pile.

 

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

Good thing that it’s only electronic dust, because lord, there is a lot of it! I have been dealing with depression, family illness, and stress, so I haven’t been writing. Or blogging. Or really doing anything, to be honest. And I don’t know that the stress is going away soon, so I’m trying to pick up the threads as I can.

 

We got Molly and Drew safely married, and the stage is beginning to be set for the next Advent story that will be posted in December. Winter Secrets, the first Advent book, is off to the editor, so I have to make a decision of how I’m going to do that. I know folks want actual books, but that might have to wait until I can sell some other books (ahem). Self-publishing is expensive. But I’m still hoping to do it! It will at the very least be available as an ebook this Christmas.

 

I’m also working on two other books right now: Deep Waters, the first Sapphire Pendragon novel (yeah, I know, it was supposed to be a novella, but it decided against that); and Resonant Frequencies, which is an urban fantasy that isn’t about saving the world. Which is odd, but there you go. It’s about elves, artists, and the need we all have to be connected to someone.

 

I’m also now blogging for Dark Knight Paranormal, the NH affiliate of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society), so you can find me there Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I’m hoping that between there and here, I actually start getting a presence out.

 

I’m also going to be honest – I could use the support now. For the folks who want to know how they can help: buy my books (especially the ones I have on Amazon). Promote my books. And for the sake of all the gods, remind me to write! :)

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

 

PC1-ITA-350

It’s finally here!  Into Thin Air is finally available on Kindle!  And you can get it here!

But maybe you’re not sure.  Maybe you don’t know if you’ll be interested in an odd ghost story.  Maybe you’d like to try it out.

Sure.  Have Chapter One.  On me:

Chapter One

Beginnings

“But Detective!” The young girl’s voice rose to a pitch that made Detective David “Mac” McIntyre flinch back from the phone receiver. He could face bullets without much fear, but teenage girls gave him nightmares. “Why did this happen? What are you going to DO?”

Her last words were more sob than question.

“We’re going to investigate it,” Mac promised her, making more notes in his notebook. “Save the message and have your mother or father bring you into the station tomorrow, so our techs can get a copy of it. Okay?”

“Okay.” She hiccuped a few times, but she wasn’t screeching anymore, which his eardrums were thankful for. “Detective?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think she’s still alive?”

The question, asked almost in a whisper, tore at his heart more than her tears had. “I hope so,” he said finally. “I hope so.”

He hung up and looked over at his partner. “What the hell is going on, Javy?” he asked. “That’s the third phone call we’ve had in the past two days about these random messages from a missing girl. Is there a full moon or something?”

Detective Javier “Javy” Spenser shook his head. “Fourth, actually,” he corrected, handing over a piece of paper. “While you were talking to that one, someone else called in.”

“Same girl leaving the message?” Mac asked, taking the paper and scanning through Javy’s notes. The words all but leapt out at him, nearly identical to the notes in his notebook, and he leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “How is this happening?”

“I dunno,” Javy said. “But I’ve got something else for you too.”

“More bad news?”

“Depends on what you consider bad news.” Javy handed over a dusty file. “I found Terri Reynolds.”

Terri Reynolds. The mystery girl leaving messages on her friends’ cellphones. Mac was intrigued despite himself.

“Did you, now?” Mac flipped open the file and sneezed. “Well, let’s see what you found.” The case had gone cold before he’d transferred into the Major Crimes unit, so this was all new to him.

Javy leaned back and recited, “Terri Reynolds. Three years ago, she was twelve and heading home from school after cheerleading practice. She and her best friend walked to her best friend’s house, where Terri had a snack with her, then she started to walk home. Never made it to her own house. Her mother went out looking for her approximately two hours after Terri left her best friend’s house, and found her backpack and one shoe on the side of the road.”

“Never seen since,” Mac completed, still reading. “In the backpack was her cellphone, her school notes and her wallet, minus the twenty dollars her mother had given her that morning.” He flipped up a page. “No blood or fluids on the shoe. No other sign of her.”

“Until now,” Javy said. “When four of her friends had made calls to us, claiming to have received a cellphone message from her in the last three days.”

“Do you think it’s a joke?” Mac said, closing the folder and looking over at his partner. “Someone with a similar phone could have hacked her number and left these messages.”

Javy leaned back in his chair, obviously considering that idea as he watched the other state police officers currently on shift work. Glassdon, New Hampshire wasn’t a big town, but the disappearance of Terri Reynolds had caused enough hue and cry that the local police had shunted the case to the Major Crimes Unit of the state police, where it had promptly died for that very lack of evidence that Mac had noted – not closed, never closed, but without any evidence, what more could the police do?

And now we have evidence, sort of, Mac thought sourly, setting the folder down and eying it as if it were going to move on its own. If you can call weird phone messages evidence.

“Well, we have the phone down in the evidence room, according to the file,” Javy said, bringing Mac back to the present. “If it isn’t there, we know someone’s being a jackass. If it is, then we can have the techs look at it and see if they can figure out what’s going on.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Mac said, starting to get up. Then his phone rang again. He sighed and picked up the receiver, settling back down in his chair. “Detective McIntyre.”

“Mac, I’ve got a Mrs. Carmen Reynolds here to see you,” the receptionist said. “In connection with a missing persons case, she said. I think you and Javy are the only detectives here right now – can you talk to her?”

“Sure, send her up,” Mac said, gesturing to Javy to stay. “We’ll be happy to talk to her.”

“Talk to who?” Javy said, as Mac hung up the phone again.

“Someone about a missing persons case,” Mac told him. “We’re the only two detectives in now.”

Javy sighed and got up. “I’ll go get us coffee.”

Mrs. Carmen Reynolds turned out to be a small woman, prematurely old and frail. Her hair had once been dark; now it was colorless, not white, not silver, but a kind of grey that leached the life from her wrinkled skin and made her pale blue eyes the only color in her face. Despite her aged appearance, she moved with the slow grace that said she’d once been a dancer, sinking into the chair Mac offered her like a ballerina curtsying, every move precise.

“Thank you for seeing me, Detective.” Her voice was low, but richer and steadier than Mac had expected. “I know I should have waited, but when I heard about the calls, I had to come down and find out.” She reached out and laid an unusually strong hand on his arm as he sat back down in his chair. “Is it true? Have there really been calls from my Terri?”

Mac blinked, suddenly making the connection. “Your missing person is Terri Reynolds? Your daughter?”

“Yes.” Her pale lips trembled. “Is it true?”

Javy had come back with three coffee mugs as she asked, and he raised a dark eyebrow at his partner behind Mrs. Reynolds’ back. Mac gave a short nod as he answered her.

“It’s true that we’ve been contacted by several people regarding some phone messages,” he said gently, laying his hand over hers. “We’re definitely looking into it, but we don’t have anything substantive yet.” He hesitated, wondering if she were strong enough to hear the rest of it, then decided to take a chance and added, “We’re not sure it’s not a prank yet, so we didn’t want to say anything to you yet.” And we didn’t really know there was a case until today.

Tears welled in her eyes. “A prank? Do you really think that’s what it might be?”

“We don’t know yet,” Mac repeated. “We’re still investigating, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“You will tell me, though, won’t you?” she begged him, clutching at his arm. “Please?”

“Of course we will,” Javy said, startling her a bit. The big man could move silently when he wanted, something Mac envied. “You haven’t changed any of your contact information, have you?”

“No, the other detectives told me not to,” Mrs. Reynolds said, turning to him. “I wanted to talk to them, but the receptionist said they weren’t here.” Mac made a mental note to look back in the file and see who the detectives assigned to the case were. “I’ve kept everything the same.” The threatened tears started to leak a bit as she asked, “If it is her calling, why hasn’t she called me?”

Considering the messages were “I think I’m dead,” it’s probably a blessing, Mac thought, but he said, “You haven’t gotten any calls, then, Mrs. Reynolds?”

“No, nothing.” Mrs. Reynolds drew in a ragged breath, obviously trying to bring herself under control, and accepted a mug of coffee from Javy, who sat down at his own desk. “Which means it probably isn’t her, doesn’t it?”

“We don’t know what it means yet,” Javy said, passing the third mug to Mac. “Like Detective McIntyre said, we’re still investigating. Once we have copies of the calls, we’re going to be chasing down where they came from.”

“You can do that?” she said.

Mac said, “We can try. If Terri is still alive out there, we will do everything in our power to get her home.”

“And if she isn’t alive?” Mrs. Reynolds whispered, almost to herself.

“Then we bring her killers to justice,” Mac said firmly. “That’s what we do.”

Bold words, but two days later, he was feeling a lot less optimistic about the whole affair. Mac scowled at the report in front of him, wondering what the hell he was supposed to do with the information contained within.

The techs had taken copies of all four messages off the various cell phones and analyzed them. They hadn’t been able to trace the calls, but they had confirmed that the voice on the messages matched the voice on the message the cell phone company had forwarded over from Terri Reynolds’ old phone.

“That’s a heavy look,” Javy said, putting a cup of coffee in front of his partner. “What did that paper ever do to you?”

“Made our lives a whole hell of a lot more difficult,” Mac told him, tossing the offending file to Javy. “Somehow, Terri Reynolds is calling her friends and leaving voicemail messages. And this is now our case, because both of the detectives who were investigating it have moved on.”

Javy slid into his chair, sipping his coffee and reading the report. “I think I’m dead?” he said. “What kind of message is that?”

“I have no idea,” Mac said. “A pretty sick one, if it’s a joke.”

“If?” Javy flipped the edge of the paper down to look over at his partner. “It has to be a joke.” He faltered a little at the look on Mac’s face. “It does have to be a joke, right? I mean, what else could it be? A ghost? Come on. What else could it be?”

“I don’t know, Javy,” Mac said, picking up his own cup of coffee. “And I don’t know if I want to find out.”

<><>

They aren’t going to call.

Carmen Reynolds sat on the couch in her living room, pretending to watch the television. The phone lay on the cushion next to her, silent, accusing.

Just like it had that night.

The television droned on, some stupid sitcom with a stupid family who had stupid problems. She couldn’t watch anything but these now – Terri had loved the crime dramas, had wanted to be a lawyer, and they had enjoyed watching them together every night. Now, the crime dramas were horrific reminders of her own situation. The laugh tracks on the comedies hurt, of course, but not as much as the bodies.

She couldn’t handle even thinking of bodies.

When the phone rang, breaking through the laugh track on the television, Carmen jumped. She stared at the receiver next to her as it rang again.

On the third ring, she managed to pick it up.

“Hello?” she said, the word sticking in her throat, a whisper she barely heard herself. She tried again, louder. “Hello?”

The line was full of static, audio snow that filled her ears.

“Hello?” Carmen repeated. “Is anyone there?”

“Mom?”

That single word, breaking through the static, made her clutch at the phone. “Terri? Terri, baby, where are you?”

“Mom?”

Carmen wept into the phone as she heard the familiar voice. “Yes, baby, it’s me, it’s Mom. Where are you, baby?”

“I think I’m dead, Mom!”

And then the static surged back, drowning out Terri’s voice, forcing Carmen to hold the receiver away from her head. When she was able to put the phone back to her ear, all she heard was a dial tone.

<><>

One week later…

“No. More. Bars.”

Lance Robinett stomped back down the driveway to the now-empty van, wishing for boots rather than the soft shoes he currently wore. Soft soles were great for ghost hunting, but they just didn’t have the same satisfying sound slapping against the asphalt.

The van doors, however, slammed quite nicely. Lance took out the rest of his frustration over how the evening had turned out by slamming the doors a few more times than necessary before he stomped back into the house.

Luckily, neither of his roommates were home: it was Saturday night, after all, and they were probably out partying. For once, he wished he was with them.

He decided to leave the pile of equipment where it was until the next morning. None of them actually ate at the dining room table anyways. It was the community dump site, and neither of his roommates would care if it was covered with tripods, digital recorders and large black cases. What was more, they also wouldn’t touch them.

I’ll clean it up tomorrow, he promised himself. It’s not like we have any actual evidence to analyze. Stupid bar.

And that was the worst, most aggravating part of the whole damn debacle. According to the case file, the building was bordered by a graveyard, and it had once been a funeral home. The evidence could have been amazing. Lance and the rest of the team had been eager to investigate.

Until they got there, and realized that the owner had basically set up a party to publicize the bar. With Lance and his team as the entertainment.

Just remembering that brought his anger back up to the surface. Turning away from the pile of equipment, Lance stalked to the fridge, grabbed a random bottle of beer and headed to his own bedroom. The best way to wipe the taste of a bad investigation, he’d found, was to start planning the next one.

And there was always a next one.

“But no more bars,” he reminded himself, as he waited for the computer to boot up. “No more bars, ever.”

There were a couple of new cases in the group email box, and he flipped through them, mentally classifying them in regards to their seriousness and adding notes before he sent them off to the group’s case manager, Amari. Two of them he flagged as serious, as they were households with kids. Cases involving kids always jumped to the top of their list – no one wanted kids to be bothered by ghosts. Besides, kids often meant really good evidence.

One got a “Seriously?” put on top of it, and he knew Amari would know why. It was pathetically obvious that the guy had been watching all the stupid ghost story shows on TV – Lance could almost quote all the shows he had drawn his “experiences” from. Amari would know how to let the guy down the right way.

The other two were businesses – neither one a bar, he was happy to note – and he sent them along with his suggestions to her. One was a theater, which intrigued him. They had never investigated a theater before. The other was a hair salon. Those were always fun – mirrors everywhere.

Once he’d sent everything to Amari, Lance checked the calendar, and then signed off the computer. The beer was gone, and he was tired.

The phone woke him the next morning. He groaned and decided to let the answering machine take it. What the hell time is it anyways? He squinted at the clock, which refused to come into focus. It’s too damn early for anything good. It’s probably one of Keith’s exes calling up to give him hell, he thought. It never failed to amaze him how…prolific his roommate was. And how clueless the man was about what a woman really wanted.

The answering machine finally picked up on the fourth ring. “Hi, you’ve reached 856-9925. Please leave a message and we’ll get back to you.”

“Hello?” The voice that came out of the machine made Lance raise his head from the pillow. It was an older woman. An older woman who was in a lot of pain. “My name is Carmen Reynolds. I was told someone at this number could help me. I think my house is haunted.”

Lance reached out and grabbed the phone before she hung up. “Mrs. Reynolds? This is Lance Robinett, I’m the head of Lake Knight Paranormal. We do investigate haunted houses. What’s going on?”

“Oh, Mr. Robinett, please, can you help me?” She was all but sobbing into the phone.

“We can, Mrs. Reynolds, we definitely can help you.” Lance slid out of his bed and into the desk chair in one smooth motion, pulling a notepad towards him. “Tell me what’s going on.”

And as she told him, spilling out the story between breaths that caught in her throat, Lance’s pen flew across the page. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and yet there was no way the crying woman on the phone was lying.

When she was done, reduced to a few sniffling tears, he stared at the page in wonder.

“Are you sure you can help me, Mr. Robinett?” Her question was barely audible.

“We’re going to do our best,” Lance said to her. “Let me get my team together, and we’ll see how quickly we can come out there.”

“Thank you.” She sniffed. “Can you come out today? I don’t know if I can take another night with the activity that has been going on here.”

“Let me see what I can do.”

Once he had hung up the phone, Lance sat back and reread his notes. Then he picked up the phone again, and dialed a number.

“This had better be good.” Her voice was thick with sleep.

“Oh, Amari, my love, this is quite the best I have ever seen.”

“Tell me.” The sleep was gone, replaced with interest.

He read her the notes, his excitement growing as he did so. “This is big, Amari,” he said at the end of the recital. “If this woman is for real, and trust me, I think she is, then this house is a gold mine.”

“It sounds too good to be true, Lance,” Amari said. “Are you sure you just aren’t trying to wash last night’s experience out?”

“No, I promise,” Lance said. “She’s not that far away.” He hesitated. “She wants us to come out today. What are your plans?”

Amari sighed. “Nothing,” she admitted. “Give me enough time to shower.”

<><>

“What’s on the schedule for tonight?”

Sapphire Pendragon didn’t open her eyes as she waited for the answer; the cool glass of the limo’s window felt heavenly against her pounding head. It had been another long day of meetings, so very many meetings, and she hoped that the only thing she had left to do tonight was sink into a bathtub, preferably with a stiff drink. From how long her personal assistant was taking to respond, however, that was probably not the case.

“Spill it,” she said finally. “What other torture do you have planned for me, Danielle?”

“I hadn’t, actually,” Danielle admitted. “But your grandfather’s secretary called while you were in your last meeting, and said he is in town with your mother.”

“Of course he is.” Sapph’s hand dropped down to caress the head of the small dog currently sleeping in her lap. Bear rumbled a little but didn’t move much. “God forbid he let me actually do the job he sent me to do on my own. What does he want? And why my mother?” She had an idea, but hoped she was wrong.

“Dinner at 7 pm at the Renaissance Room,” Danielle said.

Sapph squinted at her wristwatch. “Family dinner. Lovely. Did you pack me—”

“Simple black cocktail dress and wrap have been pressed and are hanging in your hotel room.”

“Remind me to give you a raise,” Sapph said gratefully. She looked over at her bodyguard. “Did you bring your tux, Scottie?”

He nodded.

“Good. Then he can’t carp about our appearance.” She settled back against the seat, relieved. “Were there any other dictates, Danielle?”

“No, just to be there.”

“Thank god,” Sapph muttered. “Talk to you later, Danielle.” She hung up the call and sighed. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“He’s your grandfather.” Scottie’s warm voice didn’t soothe her temper. “It’s not like he doesn’t drop in regularly. That’s why Danielle knew to send your clothes to be pressed.”

“Bah.” The fact that the big black man was right didn’t make it any less palatable. “Wake me when we get to the hotel.”

At 7:05 pm, she walked into the private dining room at the Renaissance Room, Scottie trailing respectfully behind her. Her black sheath cocktail dress clung to her slender frame, but didn’t keep the air conditioning from going right through her, so she pulled the matching wrap tighter around her shoulders.

“You’re late.”

The words were delivered in the flat, spare tone she heard every day of her life. Her grandfather didn’t even look up from the soup bowl in front of him.

“There was traffic,” Sapph said, moving towards the seat left for her, nodding to her mother, who smiled at her but didn’t say anything. “I apologize.”

“If you hadn’t stopped along the way, you wouldn’t have been late.”

She bit the inside of her cheek before she responded. “You’re right, Grandfather. I shouldn’t have had the limo pull over to let the ambulance go by after the car accident in front of us. I’ll reprimand the driver when I get downstairs.”

“Don’t be impertinent.” Thomas Pendragon finally looked up at her. “You’ve lost more weight.”

“You’ve kept me busy.” She continued to stand in front of the chair, waiting. One did not sit at a Pendragon table until the patriarch said so, especially if one was late.

“Sit.”

She dropped gracefully into the chair, and handed Bear to Scottie. A silent waiter came in with her soup bowl – rather than the clear broth she could see her mother and grandfather eating, her bowl was filled with baked potato soup, and she scowled down at it.

“Don’t do that,” her grandfather said sharply. “I won’t have the papers saying you’re having eating issues.”

“As if they would,” Sapph said, stung. “Other than the tabloids, and who cares what they say? I just have no time to eat anymore.”

“Andrew did, obviously.”

Her spoon clattered against the side of her dish. “The tabloids had nothing to do with our break-up.”

Thomas sniffed. “You can continue to believe that, if you want, but we all know the truth.”

Yes, that he couldn’t stand the thought of living under your thumb, Sapph thought rebelliously. The memories of her final conversation with the handsome young lawyer everyone had thought she would marry had been shoved into a dark hole in her mind, and she refused to let the door open now. It was just too humiliating.

Mostly because everything Andrew had said was true. Up to and including the way her grandfather ran her life.

So she turned to her mother instead. “How’s the new movie going, Mom?”

Marlo Pendragon smiled at her. The actress was an older, more sophisticated version of her daughter: her dark blonde hair long instead of short, held back by a simple gold clip to fall into waves down her back, glowing against the dark blue silk dress she wore. “Well! Leo’s still looking for the perfect place to shoot some of the scenes, but he’s optimistic he’ll find it soon.”

Thomas snorted. “Directors. I don’t understand why he didn’t want to use the beach house I offered him.”

“Because it wasn’t the right venue, Father.” Marlo winked at Sapph, who trained her eyes back on her soup bowl.

A strident beeping interrupted them, and Thomas turned to his own bodyguard, who handed over a black phone. He frowned at the screen and then answered, “This had better be important, Sam.”

Sapph sighed and pushed her bowl away, half-trying to remember which office had a Sam in charge of it. There were so many offices, she couldn’t keep them straight most of the time. Korea? No, too late for that. Seattle, maybe? Not that it mattered. There was a list somewhere.

Thomas said, “No, Sam, I don’t think you needed to call me to ask that. If you can’t be trusted to make simple decisions on your own, perhaps this job is a bit too much for you.” Silence for a few moments, and then he said, “That sounds like an excellent idea. I look forward to having that on my desk in two hours.” He clicked the phone off and handed it to the bodyguard, who handed him another phone. He dialed a number and said, “Christine, I need you to run surveillance on Sam Cantor for the next few days. I don’t know that I trust him right now.” Another pause. “I don’t care about stress. This is a stressful life. I need him to do his job.”

Sapph rolled her eyes. That’s my grandfather, all heart.

“I don’t care, Christine. Take care of it.” Thomas snapped the phone off and handed it back to the silent man behind him, and then scowled at his granddaughter. “You didn’t finish your soup.”

“I’m not fond of baked potato soup,” Sapph said. “Besides, I’m sure you ordered me filet mignon or something. I’ll eat that.”

Their eyes met, and Sapph steeled herself not to look away first. The way she always did.

The way she did now, after about a minute.

Thomas snorted and waved the waiter in. “Take these. We’ll have the main course now.”

The filet mignon, bathed in a rich mushroom sauce, was wonderful, as were the honey-glazed carrots and baked potato that came with it. Sapph didn’t have to force herself to eat it all. Despite the current wave of tabloid accusations, she had no eating problems – she was just usually so busy putting out fires for her grandfather that she didn’t eat on a regular schedule. Once again, she made herself a mental note to start eating regularly.

For about twenty minutes, the only sounds in the room were the clink of silverware on plates. Her grandfather demanded silence as he enjoyed his meals, and Sapph found it preferable to listening to him harp over the business or her image or whatever. There were no “conversations” held in her grandfather’s presence that he didn’t dominate.

Then the faint strains of a single violin drifted through the room, and she stiffened. Scottie pulled her phone out as she turned around, very aware of her grandfather’s eyes on her.

“No business at the dinner table,” Thomas snapped.

“It’s Malcolm,” Scottie said at the same time. He looked at Sapph, who raised her chin and extended her hand for the phone. “It won’t take long,” she said. “Besides, he doesn’t often call this late at night. It must be important.”

“We are eating,” Thomas said. “You can call him later.”

“We were eating when your call came through too,” Sapph snapped back, standing up and putting her napkin on the table. “I am taking this now.” And she turned and walked to the back of the room, wondering where that had come from. “Hello, Malcolm. How can I help you?”

“Ah, Sapph, so good to hear from you!” Dr. Malcolm Robinett’s voice bubbled from the phone, warming her against the icy glare from her grandfather. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“No, not at all,” Sapph said, turning back around so she could see her grandfather’s face. “Dinner with the family.” Marlo waved. “Mom says hi.”

“Tell her I send my love!” Malcolm said, and Sapph dutifully repeated that. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen her.”

“Would you like me to hand over the phone, so you can continue to flirt with her?” Sapph asked, watching her mother blush and her grandfather fume. Dangerous ground, but she was somehow enjoying it.

“No, I’ll call her later to do that. I need to talk to you.”

The switch in his voice, from jovial to serious, intrigued her. “About what? Do you have another experiment you want to try?” She enjoyed his experiments. Among other things, it got her time away from her grandfather’s jobs.

“Not exactly.” Malcolm hesitated, and Sapph’s eyebrows went up. “Have I ever mentioned my nephew to you?”

“Your nephew?” Sapph frowned, trying to remember. “No, I don’t think so.”

“He called me today,” Malcolm said. “He doesn’t usually call when it isn’t a holiday, so that was the first odd part. And he asked me if there was a reliable psychic I knew that I could recommend to help him.”

“Your nephew needs a psychic?”

“Apparently. He’s a ghost hunter, but he doesn’t usually use psychics.” Malcolm paused again. “In fact, he spent all of last Christmas trying to convince me psychics were fakes.”

“So why did he call you about a psychic?” Sapph’s head was beginning to ache again, and it wasn’t just her grandfather’s scowl.

“I don’t know. He said something about this being a special case. Something very odd must have happened to him – he said he needed help. He’s never asked for help before.” Malcolm took a deep breath. “I think you have the talent to help him, Sapph. Do you have the time?”

“That depends,” she hedged. “What is he looking for?”

“He said it’s a mother with a missing daughter, who seems to be haunting her. It’s a small town in New Hampshire – Glassdon. It shouldn’t take more than two or three days tops.” Malcolm took another deep breath, and Sapph wondered if he was going to hyperventilate on her. “This could be what we were talking about after the last experiment, Sapph. You were wanting to know what your gift could be used for. From what Lance is saying, this woman is desperate, and worried. You could help settle her mind, get her in touch with her lost daughter. Give her peace.”

Give her peace. Those words resonated through her, cutting off her breath for a moment, and the entire world changed. Give her peace.

“Give me his number,” she said, holding out a hand to Scottie. He handed her a small notepad and a pen, and she scribbled down the number Malcolm gave her. “I’ll call him as soon as I get back to the hotel.” Then she paused. “You didn’t give him any information on me, did you?”

“No, not yet.” Malcolm chuckled. “I wasn’t sure you’d be able to get away.”

Give her peace. Sapph turned back and met her grandfather’s furious eyes. “I’m done with what my grandfather needed, and I’ve got some time off coming up. I’d love to meet your ghost hunter nephew, Malcolm. I think it will be good for me.” She smiled sweetly. “Give me something to take my mind off…things.”

Thomas’ face was the color of his steak, and his fingers clenched his fork like a crucifix.

Sapph said goodbye to Malcolm and handed the phone, notebook and pen back to Scottie, then retook her seat. “Yes, Grandfather?” she said, looking at him. “Was there something else?”

“You know how I feel about business calls at dinner,” he said, finally nodding at the waiter. He didn’t put the fork down, though.

“Then maybe you should have told Sam to call later,” Sapph said coolly. “And I’m sure you could have called Christine afterwards.”

“Are you telling me how to act, young woman?” Thomas said, in a tone of voice that normally made her quail. Malcolm’s words were still reverberating within her, though, and Sapph, instead of shrinking back, raised her chin.

“I’m telling you that I’m tired of being held to a double standard.”

Thomas drew in a deep breath, and Sapph, knowing what was coming next, decided to head it off at the pass. She stood up and tossed her napkin on the table. “I’m tired, and I’m going back to the hotel,” she announced, and turned to her mother. Giving her a quick hug and a peck on the cheek, she murmured, “Sorry to leave you with this.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Marlo murmured back, squeezing her. “I’m used to it. Go. And good for you for standing up to him.”

“Sit down,” Thomas ordered. “We aren’t done with dinner.”

“I am,” Sapph said. “And I’m taking the next week off.” She looked at him. “I have the time.” And then, before he could say anything else, she turned on her heel and walked slowly out of the room.

“Come back here! We aren’t finished!” he shouted.

She didn’t answer. Nor did she stop.

 

<><>

Intrigued?  Check out the remainder on Kindle – more formats coming soon!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

Because I can mix metaphors with the best!  And seriously, it’s how I’m feeling right now.

 

Why?   Because I had PLANS for October, dear friends.  PLANS in all capitals.  And real life looked at my plans, patted me on the head, and said, “You’re adorable, did you know that?”

 

I have a book coming out on Friday.  Did you know that?  No, probably not, unless you’re me, because all my plans to do a blog tour and get the word out and be giving you guys teasers all month did NOT happen.  Why?  Well, work blew up and I got sick and LIFE.  LIFE with all capitals.  Welcome to my world, where 24 hours is just not enough.

 

I could put the launch off, but I’m not going to.  I refuse to give in to circumstances.  Besides, I’m going to be on Mitchell Plested’s “Get Published” podcast on Sunday, and it’s all about the book, so you know…  But I’m not kidding myself.  There will not be a lot of storming the lists, or anything like that.  I really wish I could not be at work Friday, so I could promote the hell out of it.

 

I mean, come on!  It’s a ghost novella!  On Halloween!  And….

 

Oh, yeah, I suppose I ought to tell you what book is coming out, huh?

 

Into thumbnail

 

 

Isn’t it pretty?  Here’s the blurb:

Shipping heiress Sapph Pendragon never thought about how to use her unique psychic gifts. Not until a phone call brought her to a small town in New Hampshire to help a pair of ghost hunters discover what really happened to a missing girl. But will the detectives investigating the case accept their help? Or will Terri Reynolds be missing forever?

 

This book marks my decision to not write what “the market” (whoever decides that) wants, but to write stories I want to read, and publish them under my own name.  It combines three of my favorite things: ghosts, mysteries and police detectives.  I’ve described it as “Ghost Hunters meets Criminal Minds, with a bit of Supernatural thrown in.”  Although it could be Midsomer Murders too.  I just don’t know enough about England to set it there.

 

It’s going to be a great ride – this is the first episode of a six-novella first season.  I have enough stories planned now for 10 potential seasons of 6 novellas each, but we’ll see where the ride ends.

 

Okay, more news.  Another reason to do this now is because it means the novella will be live by the time Tales of the Tesla Ranger: The Life and Times of PG Holyfield comes out.  This is the anthology Tee Morris and I are putting together of stories starring our friend PG, who passed away far too young.  Included in this anthology is a short story called “The Guide,” which happens after this novella.  It’s a bridge between Book 1 and Book 2, which will be out in February 2015.

 

Finally, tomorrow, I’ll have the Pendragon prequel story I did for Every Photo Tells – “What’s Past is Not Always Past” posted here on the blog.  If you’d rather here Katharina and Mick read it, you can do so here.  I’ll post the link again tomorrow, with the hard copy of the story.

 

And Friday?  Friday is going to be fun.  Not just because it’s Halloween.  Not just because you’ll be able to get your hot little hands on Into Thin Air.  But because…

 

Well, you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

You know, it’s been a LONG winter.  Maybe not GRRM long, but longer than I wanted.  Much longer than I wanted.

 

But it’s finally warm out.  The snow is gone and there is music in the morning when I go out.  I’m still adjusting to my work schedule, but it’s getting easier.  I’m not fighting it as much.  Now, of course, I have allergies, but I’ll take allergies over snow pants, seriously.

 

I’m still sort of on crutches, although I’m not using them very much.  I go back to the doctor’s on the 30th, and hopefully they’ll finally give me the go-ahead to stop using them fully.  I’m walking on May 5 in a charity walk, for MS research, and I will be damned if I do it on crutches!  But hey, if I have to, I have to.

 

Writing is going good – I’m working on the rough draft for Deep Waters, the 2nd Pendragon Casefiles novella.  The first one, Into Thin Air, is on schedule to be released at Balticon, and I’m hoping to have copies soon for reviewers.  Want to review it?   Drop me a line at val at vg-ford.com and let me know!

 

I’m also working on FaeryTale Princess again.  I’m really liking this story, and my writer’s group is intrigued.  Also, at this point, the hero is kind of an ass.  Which is fun to write.  Don’t worry, he won’t always be.  It’s sort of a romance, after all!

 

I’ll have cards for my proofreading business and swag from Lake Knight Paranormal (the ghost hunting group in Pendragon) at Balticon.  I might even read from the first novella!

 

So yeah, life is looking up.  I find it usually does in the spring.  I just wish it wouldn’t take so darn long to get here.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

vg_ford: (Default)
( Feb. 14th, 2014 10:42 pm)

Wow, I really do suck at this blogging thing, don’t I?  I’m working on getting better, I promise.  Things have been stupid busy over the last two weeks, and some things have had to give.  I’m hoping to get a bunch of stuff up in the next week, though.

 

Here’s what’s been going on.

 

For starters, my new schedule is AWESOME!  I love it.  It’s just what I needed, and if that was the only thing that had changed, I probably wouldn’t have been so quiet here.  Of course, life doesn’t work like that.  There was the snowstorms, for one thing.  For all the poetic beauty of a snowstorm in New Hampshire, I personally hate them.  I hate shoveling, I hate being cold, I hate having to wear coats and shoes.  HATE IT.  I know, I know, I’m living in the wrong area.  Trust me, I know.  Winter and I do not get along.  There was my husband being let go from his job this past week.  That royally sucked.  No fault of his, either – the company was downsizing and sadly, contractors are always the first to go.  So if you are in southern New Hampshire (you know, Concord to Nashua) and you know of a shipper/receiver job, please let me know.  He’s a really good worker!  And then my great-uncle died yesterday.

 

Yeah, it’s been a rough couple of weeks.

 

But there are some good things coming too. I have a cover reveal for an author friend coming on February 17th, and I’m working on a new release of my own.

 

I’ve decided not to query Into Thin Air, but to make it the next release I’m doing.  And so, I had to commission a cover, of course.  There will be more on it later.  But isn’t it pretty?

PC1-ITA-350

So that’s been my last two weeks.  Hope you guys are doing better!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

Happy Friday!  Happy August!

 

As promised, Fridays on the blog are writing days.  I’ve been plugging away at the rewrite of Into Thin Air, the very first Pendragon Casefiles novella.  Since I do a pretty extensive rewrite, it’s slow going.  Also, I’m exhausted this week, since my schedule has been all out of whack.  I’m hoping to get some major work done this weekend, but we’ll see.

 

I’m also working on the first draft of my new novel series, which has the working title of Baker.  The series title is Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker and it’s paranormal romance.  Lots of fun.  Witches in New Hampshire!

 

What’s coming up?  Well, once I finish the rewrite of Air, I need to start working on the next Schrodinger story.  Christmas is coming, you know!  I also need to start working on some outlines, I think – there are a few stories that are niggling at my brain, and I want to at least start planning them out.  Even if I don’t get beyond worldspinning on them, that’s more than I have now.

 

And I have to decide what next year’s plan is.  I’m continuing to write every day, and I will need some new projects!  (As my bunny brain goes “Yay!” and starts offering things.  Not yet, bunny, not yet!)  I have a bunch of ideas, and I’m toying with doing a series of short stories and self-publishing them next year.  We’ll see.  I need to decide soon, but not that soon.

 

And, since I haven’t given you much yet, I think you all deserve some actual writing.  So here’s a bit from Air.  This is the first in the series that I want to write, and it’s my ghost hunters.  Because ghost hunters rock, you know.

 

Sapph Pendragon is not a ghost hunter, exactly.  She’s a psychomorph, which is a very specialized type of psychic.  Literally, she turns into a ghost.  Which is damn cool, I think.  Lance and Amari are ghost hunters, and very skeptical of psychics.  Which is a good thing in the real world, but in my world?  Not so much.  Scottie is Sapph’s bodyguard.

 

Enjoy!

 

Lance looked over at her and Scottie, wondering just what he’d gotten himself into. This was NOT what he’d expected.

 

“I don’t know how to say this any way but outright,” he said finally. “Uncle Malcolm didn’t specify what kind of psychic you were, just that you were reliable. We don’t usually work with psychics…” His voice petered out as she grinned at him.

 

Sapph removed her glasses; her hazel eyes were bright with mischief, which worried him. “Malcolm told me it was a special case. Luckily for you, he sent a very special psychic.”

 

“Oh?” Lance couldn’t help it; he raised his eyebrows at her. “What kind of special?”

 

“Do you know what a psychomorph is?”

 

His jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.”

 

Sapph nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I am serious.”

 

“What’s a psychomorph?” Amari demanded, looking back and forth between Lance and Sapph.

 

“A myth,” Lance said flatly, recovering. “A legend. There are no such thing as psychomorphs.”

 

“I hate to correct you when we just met, but they are not myths,” Sapph said. She turned to Scottie. “I like legend, though. Remind me to add that to my business cards.”

 

Scottie snorted softly. “As if your ego needed feeding.”

 

“Hey!” Sapph turned back to Lance and Amari. To Lance’s surprise, she squinted at the small dog still snuggled up under Amari’s chin. “I think it’s okay,” she said. “Bear hasn’t alerted, so that means that it’s quiet around here, parapsychologically-speaking.” She looked back over her shoulder at Scottie. “Do you sense anything?”

 

“No,” he said. “And Bear’s far more sensitive than I am. I think you’re safe for a short demonstration. But keep your jacket on, and keep it short.”

 

“Yes, MOM,” she said, wrinkling her nose. And then…she vanished.

 

“Holy shit!” The words exploded out of Lance’s mouth as he looked in awe at the spot where Sapph had just been standing – probably was still standing, he corrected himself. “She really is a psychomorph. They really exist.”

 

“What is a psychomorph?” Amari demanded again. “And where did she go? How did she do that?”

 

“She moved into the Ghostland,” Scottie said calmly, crossing his arms over his muscular chest. “That is her talent. She can physically move herself into the world of the dead.” He raised his voice a little. “And she needs to come back, as she’s not really dressed for ghostwalking right now.”

 

Lance forced himself to stare at the spot she’d stood in, and this time, he saw the ripple in the air, almost like the shimmer of heat rising from the asphalt on a summer’s day, right before she reappeared. Instead of heat, though, he felt an icy chill surround her, and her cheeks were bright red, as if she’d been somewhere very, very cold.

 

“How did you do that?” Amari asked, staring in awe at Sapph, her hazel eyes wide.

 

“I don’t know,” Sapph admitted, rubbing her hands together. “I just can. I’ve been able to do it since I was about ten or so.”

 

Lance was still staring at her, unable to look away. It was real. “It’s really real,” he said finally. “The Ghostlands. It exists.”

 

“Yes.” Sapph wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “It’s very real.”

 

 

 

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

I lost a lot of last week, due to work stuff, and so my healthy lifestyle took a bit of a hit.  However, this is a marathon, not a sprint, so I’m back up on the horse.  We will NOT discuss this weekend, when I had Domino’s pizza (and not the gluten-free type either) two nights running.  Ugh.  At least I didn’t have any soda!  I resisted that!  Go me!

 

Today, after sleeping all day (investigations wear me out), I made my first attempt at eggplant pizza.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I think (and Brian agrees) that this is how we’ll do pizza from now on.  He didn’t even miss the crust!  And it was sooooo good!  I think I know what I’m doing with that big zucchini in my fridge – “french bread” pizzas!  I have the lamb chops still in the fridge, so I think I’ll thaw those and make them as well.

 

I’m finding that you have to have a plan for the week, and it has to be flexible, or the entire eating thing goes to hell.  I have a few cookbooks about snacks and lunches that I need to read, so I can have some things ready to grab if I oversleep.   Luckily, I have a lot of eggs, and a lot of zucchini.  I think I’m making zucchini bread!  Or muffins. I have blueberries, too.  I foresee a lot of baking this week.

 

And exercise.  No swimming this week, but I plan on hitting the gym to walk/run on the treadmill two nights – right now, I’m planning on Tuesday and Thursday, but that may change (depending on the dump schedule).

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

I’ve been writing again.  In fact, my new streak is at 8 days and counting.  It feels good to write again, like I’ve found the right thing that I need to be doing.

 

I used to wish I was one of those authors who could have two or more projects going at once, because they always seemed to be getting stuff done.  However, as part of learning my own process, I’m realizing that I’m not built that way.  I have two current stories going, and I’m going to be putting one aside so I can concentrate on the other one.  I can’t switch back and forth from different worlds – not when I’m writing, at least.  So I’ll choose one (Pendragon, actually) and then, once that draft is done, I’ll switch back to Midsummerland.

 

I’m okay with this.  Yes, it takes me longer to write and finish things.  But that’s okay.  It’s my process, and I’m owning it.  I have other things I can work on as well (like the page proofs for Last Rites), and the sooner I finish Pendragon, the sooner I can start shopping it around.

 

And that’s a good thing.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

I’m trying, I really am.  I need to get myself on a schedule again, where I settle in to write before work, so it’s done.  I also need to start working on more blog posts.  I just feel like I don’t know quite what to say, so blogging feels – I dunno.  Self-aggrandizing.  Ah well, I’ll get over it.

 

So, what’s been going on?  I’m still writing.  My streak ended at 54 days – I’m starting a new streak today after missing yesterday due to a ghost investigation.  It was a FASCINATING investigation, and I can’t wait to work on my recorder tomorrow.  I have something like 7 hours to listen to.

 

Writing news – I have the interior proofs of Last Rites, which are due by the end of the month.  I’m also working on the rough draft of Midsummerland, which I’m planning on having the rough done of by June 1, so I can revise it and get it sent on the agent hunt by September.  I’m still plugging away on Pendragon Casefiles 1 too, so don’t worry.  Ghost hunters will be out by the end of the year!

 

More later.  I just wanted to make sure that folks knew I wasn’t dead.  And that I’ll be doing more blogging soon.  I promise.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

In fact, I’m doing really well.  Just amazingly busy.  (What else is new?)

 

I’m up to day 34 of writing every day.  I leveled up last week, which means in order to get my points, I have to write 300 words a day, not 250.  I’m not up to NaNo level yet, but the habit is really sticking.  I have high hopes for Camp NaNo next month!

 

The current project is Pendragon Casefiles #1 – ghost story.  It needs a better title, but that will come.  At this point, it’s going to be a novella.  I’m looking at doing a series of them.  In anticipation of that, I submitted a prequel story to Every Photo Tells…  for their March photo.  As soon as that goes live, I’ll have a link for you!

 

I’m also still in training for my 5k run in April – only like 3 weeks away! Eek!  I’m so not ready.

 

But I’ll make it through.  The current plan is to blog here 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and blog over at Cassandra’s blog on Tuesday and Thursday.  That blog is going to be more centered towards editing and proofreading, but there will be all sorts of things going on at both.

 

Also, con plans.  At this point, the only con I am planning on attending is CapClave in October.  I might go to Readercon, but I haven’t decided yet.  A lot depends on finances.

 

More info to come.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

That’s the current chain on my writing.  I have now written at least 250 words for the last 12 days in a row.  I love it.  I’m finally getting things done.  I’ve already finished the rough draft of a short story for Every Photo Tells and gotten the synopsis for the first of the Pendragon Casefiles (which is the new series I’m working on) done.  I’ve also started the actual rough draft for Pendragon 1 (which really needs a title…so does the short story, for that matter).  I’m embracing a new me – one that does, rather than says.  One that writes, rather than talks about writing.

 

Race day is coming up too – April 6.  Just a bit over 6 weeks.  Eek!  But I’m heading to the gym, and I’m working on running.  I will cross that finish line.  I will.

 

Also, I’m branching out a bit.  Those who know me know that I’ve been building a bit of an alter-ego for a while, because I’m looking at branching out in the stuff I’m writing.  However, I’m changing her focus (sort of).  I was a copy editor and proofreader at a major newspaper for several years (the Daily Campus, which is the 5th largest daily newspaper in Connecticut), and I’m offering proofreading services.  If you are self-publishing, or just want to make sure your manuscript has no typos in it before you start submitting, stop by Cassandra’s blog to look at rates and other information.  I’m not editing right now (I don’t have enough time) but I’m a good, fast proofreader.

 

That’s life lately!  I’m trying to update the blogs as I get a chance, and I have several ideas in the hopper of things that I want to do.  Including a full website redo.  At some point.  And I’ll probably do a blog post soon about being a ghost hunter.  Especially since we’re getting busy!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

Today, I stepped on the scale and blinked.  Several times.  Guys, I’ve been trying REALLY hard to moderate my eating and to exercise, and I’ve finally broken through my first goal.

 

I’ve dropped 10 lbs.

 

It might not seem like much, given I’d like to lose approximately 100 more pounds, but it’s a first for me.  Yay!  I’m so excited!  Now, on to the next goal!

 

Today, I’m working on the first of the Pendragon Casefiles, as well as cleaning up the place a bit, and maybe making cookies.  Oatmeal cookies, with coconut flour and maybe apricots.  Depends on my mood.

 

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

And yet, I fee very calm.  Not crazy, just in a zen kind of mood.  I DO have a lot to do.  And I’m confident I can do it.

 

I’ve been gluten-free now for almost two months, and I can feel differences that I didn’t realize I would.  Things are clearer –  like a fog has lifted.  I’m not even really missing much, except bread.  I need to find a good bread recipe that doesn’t leave me chewing forever.  But I’m working on it – it’s a work in progress, just like a story.

 

I’m running too – I ran twice last week, and realized that I truly need to lose a bit more weight before I run on the track again.  My knees aren’t hurting, exactly, but I’m not doing them any favors by pounding on them with the track with a 285 lb body.  So for the remainder of this pass through the Couch to 5K program (I’m on Week 2, Day 2 for Monday), I’ll be running on the treadmill, working on dropping some weight.  Once I’m running the full 5K on the treadmill, I’ll switch back to the track.  April 6 is my deadline – that’s the Todd’s Trot 5k run that I’m doing for my birthday.  The goal is to run the entire thing.  Even if I finish 2 hours after everyone else.  I WILL run it!

 

I’m feeling more focused on my writing too.  I’ve shelved my pirate story for a while – it’s not working, and I’m thinking I’m going at it the wrong way.  So it goes back into the treasure chest to marinate, and I’m working on my ghosthunters again.  Although they’ve made a change too, which I like.  And I’m plugging along on my edits – hoping to have them out the door by the end of the month as well.

 

I’m reading again too.  I’m not really going to quantify, but I’m reading two interesting books right now.  One is called The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right by Dr. Atul Gawande.  It’s about how to use a checklist to make sure you are doing everything you need to.  It’s fascinating – he’s a surgeon, so most of his examples are medical-related, but he relates it to the real world.  I’m engrossed.

 

The other book I’m reading is The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly.  Not normally my type of book, but Mom let me borrow it, and I’m loving how she’s weaving the tale of a modern day woman trying to find her way in life with letters from the characters in Little Women (who are this woman’s ancestors).  It’s a good reminder to read outside my genre.  I’m going to have to find some more like this.

 

This got longer than I thought it would, so I’ll put my to-do list on another page.  I do still have a list, after all!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

I don’t even have my Christmas tree up.  But I went ghost-hunting last night and house-hunting today, and so I’m a little behind.  Story of my life.

But!  Here we go!  Day 2!

<><><><><><><>

“Saint Michael’s Church, Father Christopher speaking.”

The priest’s deep voice rumbled through the speaker, easily heard even over the occasional static, and Drew smiled. “Hello, Father. Did you get it?”

“Drew! Yes, Luke dropped it off earlier this morning.” In the background, Drew could faintly hear the sounds of an organ. He must have called during choir practice. “It’s lovely. Where did you find them?”

“I went and talked with Catherine Taylor at the Tin Shop to see if she could get them,” Drew said, leaning back against the wall of the cabin he was sharing with the other tech and the Gate engineer. “She suggested this new artisan she’d found – an old woman who did these beautiful little beaded bottles. I went to her studio, meaning to ask how much the bottles were, and she was working on this amazing ornament.”

Read more... )

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

The investigation was…interesting.  Enough said.  Today, it’s a grey, cold day, but thanks to the Cooks’ Guild, my house smells like baking bread.  They made rolls.  It smells lovely.  I might have to make bread later this week.

Today, however, I need to write.  I have just opened a new Scrivener file for the Advent 2012 blog story.  Schrodinger will be back!  The Christmas carols are on the computer as well, and I am going to start outlining.  I’m doing the Advent Story as my NaNo novel as well, so I need to make sure that I’m doing everything I want to.  Also, I REALLY need to get this outline done.

First, I need to do my daily pages.  Then, set up the outline questions and set my timer.  I’m going in – cover my back!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

And it will never go away. *sigh*

No gym time this week – my head has been stuffed with cotton batting.  Plus, I’ve been driving, everywhere: Monday, to Mom and Dad’s after work; Tuesday, I felt terrible so just went home; Wednesday, to Northwood to pick up my car, and yesterday, staying late at work.  Bleah.

No writing, either – I’ve been trying to get myself to outline my NaNo novel, and it’s just not coming.  I think I’m hitting burnout.  I was talking to a friend at work and mentioned this – she pointed out that I basically at this point have 3 jobs: day job, writing, and SCA.  It’s exhausting, and something is going to give very soon.  I just hope it’s the SCA.  I can’t afford to let either the writing or the day job explode.

This weekend – I don’t know what I’ll get done.  I have an investigation Saturday night, I have to finish up my taxes for Tax Court next weekend, and I have to write.  But…

I just bought Mists of Pandaria.  I think I know what tonight is going to be.

Can I call in panda to work on Monday?  No?  Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

It’s a wet Beltane, but that’s a good thing – we need the rain, and it smells green and growing outside.  I spent my Beltane at the hospital, getting a Remicade treatment, and I slept through it.  I’m so tired!  But so much has happened in the past week, I’m not surprised!

I’m now officially a member of Dark Knights Paranormal, a member of the TAPS family of ghost investigators, and I did my first OFFICIAL investigation with them this weekend.  That meant I got in at 5 am on Sunday, and managed to scratch my eye taking my contact out.  Wow, an auspicious beginning. ;)

Tonight, I’m going to have a little to-do list, and I don’t know that I’ll get through it all.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

To-Do on a Rainy Beltane:

- Put away folded laundry in living room

- Fold laundry in dining room and put away

- 100 pages on beta read

- Daily Pages

- Make bbq sauce for tomorrow’s dinner

- Make lunch for tomorrow

Yeah, that’s a good list.

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

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