Monday, November 20, 2017

Thanksgiving Week

It's turkey week! What are you doing for the holiday? Me? Oh, I'm so glad you asked. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I enjoy cooking and feeding my entire family. I hate the part of cleaning the house but I crank up the volume on my favorite Christmas music and get the job done!

The Bliss family enjoys going to the 6ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade and we have been doing it since my sister started taking her children twenty-five years ago! Of course, my husband and I had just gotten married so going with my sister's family gave us lots of practice. On a side note, we know all the best places to stop for a pee-pee break! This knowledge was a life-saver when we started bringing our children.

I still get excited after all this time to see the parade and hear the marching bands and my heart fills to almost-bursting size when I see the same excitement in my family's eyes as they watch and listen. It's such a wondrous time filled with blessings and hope and simple everyday magic that we sometimes take for granted. My children are older now and still ask if we're going and will Aunt Linda's work still have their awesome Thanksgiving spread. Her employer opened their building and allowed employees's family members to enjoy the parade and all the spoils that went with it, hot chocolate, donuts, bagels..you name it, it was there. And yes, we didn't need to hunt for a bathroom!

My eyes fill with tears and my heart fills with love knowing that I shared my love of holiday magic with my own family. I created what I needed...new souls to carry the tradition when my soul moves on and spending time with those you love made everyday magic more magical through the holidays. I can't wait for this year's parade with new little family members to add to the magic and one day my sister and I are going to volunteer and walk in the parade before we're too arthritic to do it!

I'm so grateful to have everyone I love happy and healthy and sitting at my dining room table. Nothing brings more joy into my heart than seeing everyone fed and happy. My husband worked  hard re-finishing the dining room because he knew how important it was for me to have an extra special place to watch my family grow in size and love. Each year I vow to eat more everyday Tuesday night dinners in the dining room I love so much. And each year it grows more difficult as my children grow older and add more activities and events to their schedules but I cannot use that as an excuse to not make it happen. Nothing in this life is easy and the good stuff rarely ever is that's why it's so important at this time of year and really all the time to start each day with a 'greatful' and grateful heart!

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

XO
Sheila

Saturday, October 21, 2017

OCTOBER FREE READS AND GIVEAWAY BY LOVE KISSED





Welcome to the October FREE Reads and Giveaway Event!


October 23-27, 2017!  


Click to download these romance reads.


Thank you for being loyal readers! To show their appreciation, your favorite authors have come together to offer a book for FREE. Download one or all. Maybe you'll find your next favorite author.


Please note: all sales are limited time offers.



**Please note: these books may not be free on other Amazon sites and many of these books are free for a limited time only.**


Monday, October 9, 2017

Monday, September 25, 2017

Writer Beware

I'm not exactly sure who this post is for, but I have a need to share my story in the hope it will give a person pause to think about their editing choices.

When I began my writing journey eight years ago and started publishing my own work about four years ago, I can honestly say I've learned a thing or two about content editing and proofreading. Believe me, I'll be the first to tell you I am still learning everyday about writing and everything else life has to offer.

What I wanted to share is my experience with editing my first book and what I am doing now to correct it. Since writing my third book I've learned the difference between content editing and proofreading and how they are not one in the same and one needs to happen before the other respectively.

As I beamed with pride finishing my first book in 2010 I researched different venues to find an editor for my book. I asked questions. And asked some more questions and eventually found an editor but what I want to share is simply this...do not be swayed by a fancy title and a high price tag. You do not need either. There are high-quality content editors and proofreaders everywhere that do not come with a fancy title and a high price tag.

Before I go any further, I like to take a minute to explain the difference between content editing and proofreader for those aspiring writers just starting out or for those who are mulling around outlines and ideas.

Content editing focuses on storyline, pacing, characterizations, timeline, and plot. This editing happens first once you have a rough draft of your manuscript. This is where your editor catches if your main character's date that happened on Saturday night is consistent throughout the story and doesn't change to Friday or that green dress your female lead doesn't change to yellow. Your content editor will keep you consistent and let you know if and where your story moves too fast or too slow or is confusing in parts or has some gaps in information and if any of your characters start slipping out of character.

Proofreader happens after you've made adjustments and revisions from the content editor and the line by line editing begins where grammar and sentence structure is corrected. Sometimes, a good proofreader will give you feedback about your manuscript as well, sometimes they do not. Either way, it is essential to have both done and as a self-published author this can get a little pricey, but only if you make the mistake I did.

Back to my story...I did find an editor and as I just published my third book, I know now that I certainly did not get what I paid for in terms of editing for the first one. And believe you when I tell you I paid through the nose thinking I was going to receive high-quality editing because I paid so much money! WRONG! For my third book, I paid a considerable amount less in editing and received a higher-quality, more thorough edit than I did the first time around with a pricey, glitzy website and an experienced writer. I was such a newbie! Not only did I pay through the nose, I did not receive an edit at ALL...just some notes in the margins for the first fifty pages and that's about it. You do not want that! that is NOT a thorough content edit at all! I was under the impression it was edited and so I published it not knowing how much more work I needed to do. I am now in the process of re-writing the first book fixing all the editing that should have been done the first time around. And my goal is to republish by the end of the year, hopefully much sooner than that.

So, new writer beware...you do not need to be swayed by a fancy title and a high price tag. You can find affordable, creative, hard-working editors who do a fantastic job! I have received so much support and assistance and quality work through my writing family that I am confident self-publishing high-quality products now, but I do need to work on correcting my mistakes with my first book and I am working diligently doing that now as well.

If you need help finding editors or copyeditors who aren't going to cost you a fortune, just email me at authorsheilabliss@gmail.com or leave me a comment at the end of this post and I'll be in touch.

Thanks for reading!

I hope this helps!

Happy Writing!!

Monday, September 18, 2017

Acceptance is on sale!

Wishing everyone an awesome week!

Acceptance is still $.99 for a limited time!

Get your copy today before Acceptance returns to its regular price.

Acceptance is written as a standalone if you want to jump right in!

Thanks to The Book Nymph and everyone participating in The Choices Series promotions for all the Choices, Forgiveness, Acceptance love! 😘😍

Get your copy here https://goo.gl/ky9B3c


Monday, September 11, 2017

Peace be with you

My heart and prayers are in Florida today as it has been over the entire weekend. My immediate family evacuated last Monday and I am extremely grateful as I know they are as well. I am still waiting to hear about other family members and very close friends. I feel incredibly helpless, but I know in times of need and distress the best response for me is prayer. It alleviates the feeling of helplessness and helps me feel productive. Oh, the clean will be painstakingly difficult, but with prayer, fortitude and a lot of hard work Florida will return even stronger than before.

If you have family and friends in Florida you are in my thoughts and prayers today. If you're waiting to hear from friends and family I will pray even harder for you today that you hear from them soon!

God bless.
God speed.




Tuesday, September 5, 2017

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Thank you so much for the Acceptance shares and likes!
 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

As a thank you for your support and to celebrate the release of Acceptance I am offering a GIVEAWAY!! 
Two lucky winners will receive this beautiful perfectly imperfect necklace symbolizing the theme of my latest book, Acceptance.

To enter the giveaway log onto FB and:
1. Like this post and share it!
3.Be the writer of one of the first two reviews posted on Amazon (ebook and paperback) by September 12, 2017! Here's the link to the ebook https://goo.gl/ky9B3c and the paperback
https://goo.gl/zt9no7

Love, pure and simple, is the greatest form of Acceptance!

Thanks for your love and support!

Monday, August 28, 2017

Some weeks are better than others!

That is certainly true last week. I did not do very well with my food choices and exercising. I did exercise but only for two days. Today is the start of a new work week and I am off to a good start! In spite of last week's poor food choices, I did get a lot of writing done and book number three is finished! I am super excited about that! This week's goal is to build my newsletter and get my ARCs out!

Day 35, Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Today I ran and walked.

B: 2 cups of coffee with coconut oil
L: 3 scrambled eggs with avocado
D: Skipped

Day 36, Wednesday, August 23, 2017

B: 2 cups of coffee with coconut oil I've noticed that I really do feel full with the coconut oil and eating more fat less starch.
L: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich This is where the emotional eating comes into play when the stress rises. I need ways to manage my stress better! The PB & J was always a great comfort except I'm not 22 anymore and a size 4 and eat that sandwich and get away with it. LOL!
D: Ugh, I know. This is so bad. I had a second PB&J for dinner. Everyone in the house was either working or keeping up with their social calendar and I just got lazy! Boo.

Day 37, Thursday, August 24, 2017

Today I ran and walked.

B: Oatmeal and coffee
L: Chicken salad sandwich. The sandwiches are putting me under!
D: Skipped Everyone was out again and when it's just me in the house it needs to get a little harder to cook only for myself. Definitely, need to change that.

Day 38, Friday, August 25, 2017

I'm not even going to write everything I ate today and drank. It is my cheat day, however, I've been cheating a bit all week.

Day 39, Saturday, August 26, 2017

Really starting to feel the effects of not eating well and how the craving for sweets and bread has increased not that I started eating a little more bread this week. That DEFINITELY needs to stop. It is hard in the beginning eliminating bread and sugar. My body was screaming. But it does level out. The trick for me is to not introduce back in. My body is extremely sensitive to it and then it craves it even more with a vengeance.

Day 40,. Sunday, August 27, 2017

Yesterday was really horrible. Three pancakes and three cookies after dinner! Still eating my stress.

Day 41, Monday, August 28, 2017

B: Tea today with coconut oil

I did run today too. In the beginning, my body is screaming, "What are you doing to me?" Slowly, it levels out and my breathing lengthens.

Here's to a great week, everyone! Thanks for stopping by and don't forget let me know how you're doing too!


I also have an excerpt for my new paranormal romance I have been working on as well as revamping Choices. I would be honored if you would like to read it and leave your thoughts.

Thanks, again.

XO

Sheila


Dr. Alec Easton was hot. And despite having the motherhumper of all headaches, pissing him off thoroughly, he dug harder. Chipping away at the bone dry dust, hoping he’d uncover his treasure so he could beat feet off the desert whose dust caked his throat, eyes and nose. The whispers in his head, always loudest on site, grew in urgency, repeating the same sound over and over again… raaaaa. The chanting nearly made him insane with the desire to chop his head clean off his shoulders. Instead, he worked harder, dug deeper. The deeper he dug the more agitating the whispers became, turning into harsh voices calling to him, encouraging him to go further, deeper…raaaaa.
He lifted the canteen to his parched lips, took a swallow, and wiped his brow. His amber eyes rolled over the wavy horizon, the thirsty landscape—dry and scorched like his throat. The blistering heat undulating in the air, bounced off the sand and pushed back toward the sun in steamy waves above the horizon. The searing sun at the excavation sites sucked moisture from every living thing under it, making the Sun God, Aten, very proud. No shade. No relief. But it never stopped him from coming. It never stopped him from digging. And it did little to quiet the voices ever present in his head.
The pyramids called to him even as a little boy. Studying ancient Egypt in grade school, he worked the system like a boss, never needing to crack a book, barely researching his papers for the University of Pennsylvania’s undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in archaeology. People thought him to be a genius. Ending up in Middle Egypt, with the heat pounding his head and burning his skin, raised doubts about his genius status but fueled his quest.
Penn’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology needed a few more pieces for their vast, world renown Egyptian artifacts collection. He wanted answers. The voices encouraged—no insisted—he come to Egypt, to this site. As a boy, they were mild, soft whispers of thought through his mind…raaaaa. They never frightened him, only enticed and intrigued. Never abandoning him, the whispers let him know, expanding his horizons beyond Philadelphia, Pennsylvania held promises of spectacular adventures. The older he became, the more readily and easily the whispers grew into solid ideas. Then, ideas became plans. Plans turned into a life digging in the dirt in Egypt.
“Yo, man! You gonna stand there all day looking pretty? Or are you gonna get your ass back to work?”
Alec shot a glare over his shoulder. “You think I’m pretty? I never knew you played for my team. Ava’s not gonna like that.”
“Ava knows damn well whose team I like to play with. And fuck no, I don’t think you’re pretty. I think you’re lazy.” The other tall man grunted. Sweat gluing his bandana to his forehead and dripping off his head, Jax Armstrong stood as tall as Alec, maybe a few inches taller. Where the sun burnt Alec’s skin to a crispy texture, it bronzed Jax’s to perfection. “My balls are breaking.” Jax grunted harder. “Give me a hand with this.”
“But you just said…”
“Alec, what the hell?” Angry, Jax dropped the lever he’d been using to pry away the covering of the tomb used to protect it from flood waters and pointed at his very best friend in the whole world. “You said you wanted to go home. Well, you can’t do that until we roll this…” He pointed to the rock. “…boulder back, asshat. Or did you forget that standing out here, working on your tan? Which by the way, I’ll never understand why a ginger wants to be out in the Egyptian sun? You’re frying. Did you put sunscreen on?”
Alec smiled. His best friend had the biggest heart of anyone he ever knew. He was right up there with his mom, or at least what he remembered of her from the stories Gedo told him. Gedo’s daughter, Dr. Alison Easton, a world famous Egyptian Archaeologist, split after he and his twin were born. “You know I’d laugh at that, if I didn’t already know you were serious. Frigging mother hen,” Alec said.
“Laugh away, but I’ll be the one laughing when I get to go out and bag some hot Egyptian babe, leaving your sorry, sunburnt ass crying in a tub of milk.” Jax grunted again, bending to pick up the lever he dropped.
“In all the years we’ve been digging in this dirt, when the hell has that ever happened?” Alec took his Patagonia Tenpenny hat off, the sun highlighting the auburn in his copper streaked hair. He wiped his brow, then readjusted his favorite hat over his thick locks. “But it does create an interesting image.”
“How’s that?” Jax asked while grunting and throwing more sculpted shoulder into the rock.
“Ava wiping the floor with your ass.” Alec laughed, holding his stomach.
Jax threw the lever down. The veins bulging in his neck enhanced the threat in his words. “What did I say about Ava.”
“Ah, that she’s the most wonderful woman I ever met, and I’m an idiot for not being able to commit to her,” the soft female voice said. Ava, Alec’s twin, walked out from behind the tomb. Cool and smooth as pure vanilla ice cream, she would never let Jax see her sweat. Ever. But she sure as shit made him sweat. Wrapped in a long sleeved, UVA, UVB t-shirt, her glorious long auburn curls locked tight under her own Patagonia hat, her sleek legs covered in khaki did little to hid the slim-thick curves she had going on—everywhere.
Stifling another bout of laughter, Alec walked toward his dark haired friend. “Such a crybaby. Here,” Alec proffered. He bent and picked up another lever, shoving it behind the boulder. Jax stood behind Alec. Ava stood behind Jax.
“Back up. Go sit down,” Jax demanded.
“Like hell,” she tossed back.
“Why does everything always have to be an argument with you. Jesus.” Jax turned and slowly pushed Ava away. “You’ll get your pretty little self hurt. Now do what I said and back…” He swatted her ass.
“Uh, that’s not gonna be good,” Alec mumbled.
“…the hell up.” Jax shoved her against a crumbling pyramid.

“I said, hell no.” She bent her elbows, lifted her forearms and slammed them down over his. “Someone needs to keep an eye on you two buffoons. Remember last year’s dig?” 


Monday, August 21, 2017

A week at a glance

Hey Happy Monday!

Instead of typing small blog posts every day I decided to post a week at a glance for anyone interested in checking in and following up. I will say this week was especially challenging both personally and professionally. Teenagers are hard, doubt is even harder and setbacks teach you how to rise above the resistance!

I'm picking up where I left off last week!

Day 28, Tuesday August 15, 2017

B: 2 scrambled eggs with avocado, 2 cups of coffee with coconut oil
L: I skipped lunch...really focused on editing
D: Chicken Cobb Salad with olive oil

150 oz of water

Rewrites are going well even though they are harder than I anticipated. That's okay. As long as there is movement everything is going to work out! Lots of doctors appointments getting kids ready for school and honestly, feeling a bit discouraged about the running so I walked today.

Day 29, Wednesday, August 16, 2017

B: Mango Yogurt, 1 cup of coffee with coconut oil
L: Cobb Salad
D: Chicken Cesar Salad

Still rewriting as I wait for edits to come back for Acceptance. I practiced writing a few query letters as well. I'll keep practicing. Lots of self-doubt to power through and know that the fear is powering self-doubt. Walked today too.

Day 30, Thursday, August 17, 2017

B: 2 scrambled eggs, coffee with coconut oil
L: Chinese Chicken Salad
D: Salmon and asparagus

Officially restarted the C25K app. Really bummed but hey I can't keep moving on without hitting the proper goals. I'll only set myself up for further failure. I would never move my K babies up levels if they weren't ready so I shouldn't do it to myself. I need a solid foundation and if I need to stay on day 1 week 1 until I mastered it well...so effing be it. It is what is. I actually did do better than I did the first time around. And I'll stay here until I master it. At least I'm trying, not quitting and moving!

Day 31, Friday, August 18, 2017

CHEAT DAY!

B: 2 fried eggs with toast and avocado
L: Salad
D: 2 Fontina/Spinach sausages with sauerkraut and cheese

3 glasses of wine

Walked today and worked on rewrite of Choices

Day 32, Saturday, August 19, 2017

Didn't eat much today and had so much going on my head split into a million pieces and no one told me.

Day 33, Sunday, August 20, 2017

B: Yogurt, 2 cups of coffee with coconut oil
L: I know I know
D: Cobb Salad

We traveled to NY today to watch my middle daughter, Zoe, do her guitar gig with her friend Julia. They play in a band called Solemnis. Julia sings and Zoe plays bass, electric and acoustic guitar. This outing was just the two of them with Julia singing and Zoe playing acoustic guitar. They rocked!

Day 34, Monday August 21, 2017

So here we are back to work on rewriting, editing and writing as I also work on manifesting and working through self-doubt through this awesome course on manifesting with Modern Soul Society with Kayla and Traci. Great, great stuff! I've learned so much in the two weeks I've been attending and can't wait to soak up more!

Have a fantastic week everyone!! Thanks for stopping by! I'll see you next week! Let me know how you're doing!