Keeping Up With Kacey (@KaceyHammell) #Writing #Life #Summertime

Good morning everyone! And Happy Sunday. Mid July and this year's summer in Ontario, Canada has had it's ups and downs. With more rain than we've had in years, beach days for many have been few and far between. While my hay fields are loving the long drinks of water they're getting, I'm not as enthusiastic about it. It has to be dry longer than a day or two in order to get the fields cut and baled. Basically it's a cut one day, let it lie for a full day to fully dry out and then bale it. But with sporadic days of sun then rain, it's been a struggle. Plus the time frame of hubby's work schedule and mine are also interfering.

Speaking of which, I started a full time job outside the house recently and it's cutting into my writing. I'm doing my best but it's difficult to have the energy after a long, fast paced day and a quite physical job. I've resigned myself to weekend writing. But things are progressing well and I am somewhat managing. My online presence is dismal, but it's unavoidable these days. I've never been so grateful to sleep at the end of a day. Being a stay-at-home mom for fifteen years, I was busy and my days were always full, but I appreciate the writing time a lot more now, as well as my sleep. I could stay up until two in the morning and be up at 5:30 and go all day without needing a nap. Now, I'm in bed by nine p.m. and getting up at five a.m. is hard as hell. But we all do what we must. Adjust and adapt has always been a way of life for me. 

But I have bought myself a new car. Being on the road more now for the job and needing something a lot newer for five days a week, I splurged a bit and have a shiny new toy. I love it. So, SO comfortable! I haven't decided yet, but I may be driving it to a book signing in Kalamazoo, Michigan in October. I haven't looked at all my travel options as yet (and it's like a ten hour drive), but I know I'll have something more comfortable than my previous car, and more reliable, should I decide to drive all that way. 

And in writing news, I signed a contract about a week ago. Another story coming out in the fall with Evernight Publishing. It is the sequel to Stirring Up Dirty, and the 2nd in the Stirred by Love series, called, Stirring Up Glory. I loved writing this story a lot. Drew and Glory, whom everyone met in book one finally come to a head with their past and their ire toward one another. It's pretty intense, but oh, so yummy, too. *g*  I'm steadily working on two WIPs currently. One is a wolf shifter, the other is a suspense. I'm having fun with all the characters. It's a new thing for me, working on 2 stories at once, but I'm managing. The suspense has a firm deadline that must be met, but the wolves are demanding a lot of attention to. And a writer should never ignore the voices in their head. *g*

I also have a new member of the family. Meet, Toby, my "grandson", who belongs to my oldest son and his girlfriend. They are both on their way to college/university in Sept, and have added a bundle of joy -- of the four-legged kind thankfully -- to their lives. Toby is a handful, so very energetic that his "Grandma" can't keep up, but a lot of joy too. Peaches (my cockapoo) has warmed up to him some, but she misses her peace and quiet days. LOL

Until next month, hope you're reading some great stories and enjoying the long summer days. 

   

www.kaceyhammell.com

Winter, Wood, Coming Soon from Kacey (@KaceyHammell) #Writer #Author #Romance

Good morning all! I hope you've had a great summer, and fall is shaping up to be awesome for you. I can't believe it's November already!! I'm about 3/4 through my Christmas buying. Our kids are getting older and while the presents increase in price, they don't need as much. So the shopping is going well and quite quickly but I've found doing most of it online saves so, so much hassle. I mean, our mall is already congested with people every day, traffic is a heart attack waiting to happen and it's impossible to get down any aisles in some stores as they are also congested. And I like buying people things that aren't always found in stores so doing it online makes it fun to find those unique gifts for everyone.

I helped the hubby with a lot of wood cutting and piling over the last few months. Many days looked like this ... 

 

and were a lot of fun. For the most part! It is hard, back breaking work sometimes but he and I enjoyed it. Plus, it's a necessity. We need it to keep our tushies warm in the winter and we have enough acreage to do it ourselves.

In writing news, Evernight Publishing has contracted 3 of my stories in the last few weeks. Coming up are -- 

COVER ME (Contemporary Erotic Romance) -- Older woman/younger man

PAYBACK'S A BITCH (Contemporary Erotic Romance) -- Previous release, scene added and re-edited for re-release

GUARDING HIS ANCHOR (Suspense/Contemporary Erotic Romance) -- Canadian Muscle Book 2 

I'm super thrilled to have new books coming out and am grateful that the last year is over. It was a difficult one but I've grown in strength and knowledge that I can't control everything. 

I am currently writing the sequel to "Stirring Up Dirty" (Stirred by Love series), and am enjoying the characters again. It's always refreshing to return to old characters and catch up on their lives.




That's all from me today. I'm off to work on my WIP and my newsletter.   See you next month.

www.kaceyhammell.com

Canada Shines at Pan Am Games & Author Happenings

The Pan Am Games are well underway in Toronto,Ontario, and Canada is holding its own very, very well in the medal count! Fabulous news. Go Canada Go!!! Our water sports have been a highlight for Canadian athletes, with many medals won from those sports.


It's terrific to see so many people on social media praising the athletes and that our nation is coming together to cheer our talented athletes on. Nothing like coming together in a positive way when there is so much chaos and anger in other parts of the world. To set all that aside temporarily helps to keep me sane. 

I've been crazy busy -- yes not just watching the Games -- but with writing and farming and full time mom thing. I always laugh when people say to me "Oh you don't work, just stay at home?" I glare for a few seconds then say, "I have 3 full time jobs, #1 being a mom."  Sometimes I wonder if women I know that ask me that, understand that they too are full time mothers? Or maybe I am more involved in my children's lives than they are in theirs...?
The kids and I are having a lazy summer. Hanging around the house, a few beach days every week, and coming up with new ways to increase the farm stuff.

Hmm, but I digress. I've got two books coming out with Evernight Publishing in the next couple of months. Stirring Up Dirty releases JULY 24th!!. In it, readers will finally have Candy's story, whom they met in Dare. 

I've also finished my first shifter story!!! Huge for me. A challenge that I tried to shy away from but conquered. Fighting for Honor features a black panther and a white Siberian Tiger. First in a series, and I look forward to getting back to that.

At the moment, I'm working on a younger man/older woman story. It's coming together very well, but my heroine is way too stubborn for me! She and I are constantly battling over time, space, and the hero. So far, untitled but I have one in mind, just not sure it's definite yet.

I've also sent in a proposal for a WOLF story!! I'm challenging myself to write out of my comfort zone these days -- until they become comfy LOL -- and I am pleased with the possible story. I hope the publisher give me the go ahead on that. *fingers crossed*

And on the farm... well, the new calves are growing in leaps and bounds. Some have impeccable lines and will bring in a good amount of money. Cattle prices are up right now, so it's a plus for us.  We also have meat (browler) chickens. They don't care for the heat, we actually have a fan in their housing, but they're doing well and will be in my freezer within the month! Looking forward to that, and then starting the process all over again.



I've opened up my street team to be a Reader & Street Team, so that readers can also stay updated, discuss any books with me, enjoy in some fun there. Surprises and daily fun.
Want to join, click the image....

That's it for me this month.

Hugs and Happy Reading to all!