Warm Days and Cool Nights. Is it Fall already?

Can you believe it's September already? Now that my kids are back in school, I'm trying hard to get back into my work routine. But that isn't the only change happening around me. 

The nights here have been much cooler, going below 10 degrees Celsius. When I take my dog out for a pee early in the morning, my breath condensates in the air. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a frost before the end of the month. We've brought out the heavier blankets, but aren't quite ready to turn the heat on yet.

The trees in the neighbourhood have started loosing their leaves, and some of them started changing colour at the end of August. The plants in our vegetable garden have stopped producing new vegetables, with the last of them almost ready to pick. And my dog is shedding like crazy. Though with all the hair she has, she enjoys the cooler weather much better.

What seasonal changes have you noticed where you live?

With this cooler weather, it's the perfect time to curl up with a great book. Back in July, I released by New Adult Romance anthology, LOVE IN A NEW WORLD. 

And on October 10, the Sci-Fi Romance anthology, EMBRACE THE ROMANCE: Pets in Space 2 releases, which contains a NEW Galactic Defenders story. 

If you'd like to read a FREE sampler from EMBRACE THE ROMANCE, containing the first chapters of each story included in the anthology, you can download a copy here: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/EZz5p And if you like to colour, you can get a FREE colouring book here: http://www.petsinspaceantho.com/embrace-romance-coloring-book/.

HAPPY READING!

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you can not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers.

http://jessicasubject.com

HAPPY CANADA DAY! #CoolCanuckStuff #Canada150 #CanadaRocks @LDBlakeley

How are you celebrating? I have family and food on deck at my house and am keeping my fingers crossed the weather forecast is wrong for this afternoon (sunshine, please!) Who am I kidding? We’re Canadian. We BBQ in the snow. A bit of rain isn’t going to stop us when there’s celebrating and good eats to be had.

As an aside: did you know Butter Tarts aren’t a thing outside of Canada? I know. How tragic!

Since we’re celebrating 150 years since Confederation, it seems like the perfect time for a bit of Canadian horn blowing (and yes, as a romance writer, I’m aware how filthy that sounds, but get your mind out of the gutter for a moment and let me regale you with some awesome things you probably didn’t know were Canadian.)

Hail, Caesar(s)!

Everyone knows about basketball (invented by a Canadian PE teacher), the Canadarm, and the drink that eats like a meal, the Caesar (also not a thing outside of Canada, for shame!) 

But did you know about these:

THE EGG CARTON 

Invented in 1911 by newspaper editor Joseph Coyle of Smithers, B.C.

THE ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR

In 1952, engineer George Klein made the world more accessible with a motorized wheelchair.

THE FOGHORN

Robert Foulis invented a steam-powered foghorn in 1854, but died penniless because he didn't patent it. Boo.

GREEN CURRENCY INK

In 1862, Thomas Sterry Hunt invented the ink that makes U.S. bills green.

IMAX

Filmmakers Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroiter, and Robert Kerr along with engineer Robert C. Shaw founded IMAX in 1967. (This one holds a spot in my heart since one of my besties works in their sound department.)

INSTANT REPLAY

CBC TV producer George Retzlaff used a kinescope when he created the first-ever Instant Replay in 1955. Not surprisingly, it was during a broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada.

INSULIN

Toronto scientists Frederick Banting, Charles Best, and James Collip discovered insulin (obviously they didn’t invent something that's naturally occurring) and learned how it could treat diabetes.

MCINTOSH APPLES
In 1811, farmer John McIntosh began grafting a wild apple tree at his South Dundas farm; by 1835 he had a marketable product.

THE ODOMETER

In 1854, Nova Scotia inventor Samuel McKeen created a device to measured distance with every revolution of a carriage wheel.

PEANUT BUTTER

Montreal pharmacist Marcellus Gilmore Edson patented the most gloriously perfect foodstuff EVER in 1884, as a food option for people who couldn't chew.

THE ROTARY SNOWPLOW

Toronto dentist, Dr. J.W. Elliot, first conceived the idea to clean up train tracks. 

STANDARD TIME

Engineer Sandford Fleming brought standard time to U.S. and Canadian railways in 1883. Time zones became U.S. law in 1918 and were accepted worldwide by 1929.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT

Invented in 1979 by Montreal sports editor, Scott Abbott, and photo editor, Chris Haney.

THE WALKIE TALKIE

Don Hings invented what he called the "packset" in 1937. When Canada declared war on Germany two years later, he went to Ottawa to redevelop it for military use.

THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BUS

Walter Harris Callow, a blind, quadriplegic veteran, invented the first wheelchair-accessible bus in 1947.

Yay, Canada!

And with that, I leave you with perhaps the most Canadian news story since the Maple Syrup Heist of 2012 (no, I’m not making that up):

Police remove 'angry' beaver that stopped traffic in Barrie, Ont.

Read the story for yourself. And enjoy your long weekend!

Oh yeah – we’re sorry about Justin Bieber, eh?

Until next time,

www.ldblakeley.com

Finding Story Inspiration in New Places with @jsubject #romance #amwriting

Happy June! It's hard to believe we're almost halfway through 2017. Right now, I'm trying to tie up lose ends in my writing obligations before my children are off for summer holidays. No matter how I set goals for myself during July and August, I hardly ever meet them. So, I'm trying to get as much done now, and whatever I accomplish over the summer months is a bonus.

Now, onto the topic for today's post, finding inspiration in new places. I don't know about other authors, but I'm a very routine-oriented person. I see the same people and places day after day, week after week. Every now and again, something changes or is new, but that's usually completely accidental and only lasts until I can get back into my routine.

Sometimes, I have to plan something completely different, something new that I've never tried or experienced before. I did that two weekends ago, and now I'm filled with story ideas that are making it hard to write my current work in progress.

What did I do? I went rugged...

On June 3, I joined several hundred people to run the Rugged Maniac course at Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort in Kitchener. I went there with a smaller group of close to 30 people from the studio where I take fitness classes.

Team Inspired before running the course.

Some had run the race before, but many of us hadn't. Except for what we'd read online, and what many of us had trained for, we didn't know what to expect. But, we were ready to do it together.

The one thing I did notice is that there were people there from many walks of life; different races, religions, and body types. Everyone was welcome to participate.

And as an author, my muse started running wild. While many races ran the first elite heat, many more participated simply for the fun of it. And throughout the 5k, 25 obstacle course, people helped each other, whether they knew them or they were a stranger. We went through mud, lots of mud, over walls, leaped over trenches, crawled under barbed wire, climbed many obstacles, and got very wet and dirty. I have three basic story ideas already based on this race. Like I didn't have enough stories planned. LOL Anyway, here are some more pictures from the event...

Commando Crawl - crawling through muddy water under barbed wire

Warped Wall - I made it up, but needed help to get over

Mount Maniac

Accelerator 3.0 - a giant water inflated water slide

Crossing the finish line felt so good.

Team Inspired after the course.

While I was a bit bruised and scratched up after the course, I definitely want to run it again. Not only was it so much fun, I also need more story inspiration. Maybe by next year, I'll find time to fit in writing those stories. ;)

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you can not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! (@KaceyHammell) #Writing #LuckOtheIrish #Sale

It’s a day of everyone in the world putting their best green and having the luck of the Irish. Being over 70% Irish, I used to do the day up huge for the kids. Green pancakes, juice, potatoes, cupcakes and decorated the whole house. Now, I don whatever green I have and appreciate the memories and stories learned at my Grandfather’s knees. The kids have grown and don’t find the same enjoyment in the day like they used to. I wish my Grandfather was around as they grew up to share the stories from Ireland that he told me as a child, which some he remembers from being a boy and then from his folks when they moved over here. Even as a storyteller myself, there’s something missing when I retell them to the kids. Sad and true, but they do get some enjoyment over hearing the old tales.

Nonetheless, I love watching the news for all the St. Pat’s celebrations on the news, and still wish it was a national holiday. I mean, it would be great to drink Irish Whiskey all day and not have to worry about work. Oh right, I work from home at present, and I can. LOL But I don’t. Long gone are my drinking for hours kind of days. I’m not that young any more. *g*

One interesting thing about my Irish heritage as well, is that unbeknownst to me when I decided on a pen name, I didn’t know that “Hammell” was indeed a surname dating back centuries from Ireland. I’d come up with the name because it was the surname of my favorite figure skater, Dorothy Hamill, who I greatly admired. Imagine my surprise when I learned it dated back many ancestors of mine. Things happen for a reason I believe.

On a side note, my one publisher, Evernight Publishing (and sister site, Evernight Teen) is having a St. Patrick’s Day sale of 25% OFF your website purchase Friday and Saturday (17^th & 18^th). Take advantage of the sale and get yourself some great stories for yourself. Sit back with some Irish Whiskey and relax.  

Click the links below to go shopping!

 

Evernight Publishing
Evernight Teen

May the luck of the Irish always be with you!!

www.kaceyhammell.com

An Authors Guide on How to Survive Writing in the Winter (Deadline Looming Version) @LaynaPimentel

Do you realize that the mound of snow at the end of my driveway is actually taller than me? Well, most people and things are actually taller than me, what can I say? LOL Welcome to Sault Ste. Marie! haha

Hi all! I'm baaaack! :)

So this girl has a super seekrit Regency novel due very soon with my editor, and with the temperatures consistently dropping, I can’t afford to be delayed by writing in a room that’s too cold. Not that we don’t have the heat on, but if you live in Ontario, you know our electricity bills have been soaring through the roof. Keeping room temps between 17 to 21 degrees is our typical range at home.

55k in 30 days is no small feat, not to mention writing a sexy historical romance. So with this month being my version of #nanowrimo here’s a few handy things that anyone writing, working on homework, or even gaming can do to keep those nimble fingers moving and warm.

•        Drink warm beverages. Whatever your choice is, keeping yourself hydrated with warm fluids is a must. Be it dirty bean water, tea, or even broth, it does a great job in keeping you alert and your phalanges warm.
•       Take a break and stretch it out. You’d be surprised how much you can improve your circulation and warm up with 15 minutes of stretching, or walking up and down your stairs. Physical activity is a bonus and good for you.
•       Dress appropriately. I mean if the room is 17 degrees and I’m not lucky enough to experience a hot flash while writing, I’m certainly not going to be sitting there in a tank top and shorts. 😂😂😂
•        Fingerless gloves anyone?

Did I miss anything? What tips would you add to keeping warm while working at your computer?

- About The Author -

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Layna discovered her love of reading at an early age. She’s a bestselling author at All Romance eBooks and a multi-published author of historical, paranormal, and contemporary erotic romances. When she isn’t devouring salacious romance novels or writing, she enjoys hiking and researching ancient history, mythology, and weaponry. She lives in Northern Ontario with her husband and two daughters.

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