Where Has the Time Gone?
Author: Nikki
• Monday, August 23rd, 2010

In about a week and a half, on September 2nd, my youngest will turn 3 years old. It seems like it was just yesterday that I brought Blake home from the hospital, scared and clueless about how to take care of a baby boy.

I can still remember sitting down to dinner that first night and holding him in my arms and thinking how happy I was to have him and his older sister in my life. At that moment, my life seemed perfect.

The 2nd is also a big day for someone else…Mikala.  It’s her first day of third grade. But how can that possibly be?

I still remember her first day of school, and how excited and nervous we all were to send her on her way. Prior to her first day, we took her to her school, where she met her future classmates and teacher. Us parents were informed of what to expect the following day. But nothing the teachers or principal said could reassure me that my baby would be okay without me.

When she stepped on that bus for the first time to head off to school, I swear a piece of my heart broke free. My baby girl, my beautiful baby girl, was finally venturing out into the world that I had tried to protect her from from the moment she was born. I had to trust her teacher and others in her school to take care of her and protect as though she were their daughter. I had to relinquish control, and that was extremely hard for me.

It’s no secret to those that know me that things haven’t been easy for me for awhile now. Life has been far from perfect. But through it all, my kids have been that one constant. They’re always there with smiles, hugs and laughs. Whenever I feel like crying, they’re there to brighten my day and remind that things could be a heck of a lot worse.

So as Blake turns 3, and Mikala starts third grade, I hope they both realize how much I love them and how proud of them I am. I could not ask for two more beautiful children, and I’m thankful that I was given the change to be their mother.

Mikala and Blake, I love you two more than you could ever know.

Category: It's My Life  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Why I’ve Been MIA
Author: Nikki
• Monday, August 16th, 2010

As some of you may have noticed, I haven’t posted anything on here recently. I also haven’t written much on a personal level either. My articles at Examiner were put on the backburner too. I didn’t make any of these decisions lightly, but it was something I had to do. But why?

July started out wonderfully. I was hired to write for KidGalore, which came at the perfect time. Money was super tight for my family. We were struggling to get by and pay our bills, as are many people I know. My husband was barely getting 40 hours a week. Many weeks he’d had to take a vacation day just to reach 40 hours. So KidGalore offered the perfect solution. It would have provided us with much needed additional income. However, it wasn’t meant to last, I guess, because about a week and a half after I started writing for the site, I got laid off, as you all know.

Since then, I’ve been trying to put in as many hours as possible at Take 2, while busting my butt at DS, not writing, but titling (TQA) since it’s quicker. I really haven’t had any time to work on anything else. I’ve written a couple posts for Jennifer Hudock’s Kid Wonderful site, but that’s it.

There comes times in life when we have to put certain dreams on the backburner. The past month and a half has been one of those times. My kids are depending on me to keep a roof over their heads, clothing on their backs and food in their bellies. As a mom, it’s my responsibility to do all that I can for them, and if that means holding off on my writing for awhile, then so be it. It sucks, but my kids are worth it.

I’m not giving up on my dreams, though. I’ve been playing with a storyline in my head that I can’t wait to begin writing. I’m hoping everything that’s been going on in my life is completely straightened out by Novemeber, so I can work on this new idea during NaNoWriMo. So cross your fingers for me.

I apologize to all of my friends who I haven’t talked to much recently. When I haven’t been working, my focus has been on the kids. It is summer vacation, and I don’t want to send my daughter back to school thinking her summer sucked.

I can say that things are beginning to look up some. I can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel, so I’m just going to keep walking towards it.

For those of my friends who’ve been struggling, as well, I hope things are looking up for you, too. You’ve all been in my thoughts.

Category: Demand Studios, Examiner, Jennifer Hudock, NaNoWriMo  | Tags: , , , ,  | 3 Comments
Two of My Good Friends Need Some Help
Author: Nikki
• Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Newsflash: OUR ECONOMY SUCKS! But you probably already knew that. Last night, I found out firsthand how much it truly blows.

This month started out fantastic but it went to hell real quick like. And while I could easily bitch about the unexpected turn of events that last night delivered to me, I’m not going to. Sure, it sucked to lose a job that I really liked, but I at least still have something to fall back on. It’s not a lot, but it’s more than some people have, so I’m counting my blessings. Unfortunately, my buddy James Melzer, along with others, was not so lucky.

When I was told the news last night I was upset, but my thoughts instantly turned to James and his fiance Jenny, who is one of my best friends. See, these two want to get married, but it’s not as simple for them as it is for most of us. Jenny is from the U.S. while James is from Canada, which means he has to jump through hoops in order to marry the woman he loves.

Due to last night’s unexpected turn of events, it looks like their dream of marrying may have to be pushed back.  I love these two to pieces. They’ve made me laugh when I’ve felt like crying. They’ve accepted me the way I am and have not asked me to change, so I can’t sit idly by and allow them to go through this without some help from me.  I know money is tight for many of us, so any way that you can help would be appreciated.

If you are interested, there are several ways that you can help them out. Please check both of their sites, jamesmelzer.net and jennybeans.net for more info.

Thanks!

Category: James Melzer, Jennifer Hudock  | Tags: ,  | 9 Comments
Progress Report #5:
Author: Nikki
• Sunday, July 18th, 2010

This week has been an ubër busy one. I’m not sure how I managed to make it through the week without feeling stressed out, but I did. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I REALLY like my new writing gig at KidGalore.

This week, I accomplished quite a bit. I’m actually surprised by how much I managed to complete. As before I’m darn proud of myself.

In addition to my 20 hours of Take 2 work, I:

  • Wrote one personal blog post (I have to try and write at least two posts per week.)
  • Worked TQA for at least one hour per day during the week. On the weekend, I worked at least two hours each day.
  • Wrote 8 articles for KidGalore
  • Wrote one LDE article
  • Wrote 300 words on my current work-in-progress
  • Worked out for an hour a day, three days this week

I also spent some time outside with my kiddos this week. Last night we visited my parents. My aunt and uncle were up, so we had a barbecue. The steak and chicken from the Meat House was SCRUMPTIOUS!

Once I got home, I worked on a KG article that needed to be finished.  After that, I kicked back on the couch to watch the SyFy movie Goblin, It was cheesy, as most of their movies are, but that’s okay. The kids were sleeping and the house was quiet, so it was nice just to veg.

Category: Blogging, Porgress Reports, Writing  | Tags: ,  | 2 Comments
Progress Report #4
Author: Nikki
• Sunday, July 11th, 2010

It was hotter than Hell this week in the great state of Maine. We had a few days that weren’t as bad, but for the most part, the slightest movement made me break into a sweat.

Despite the heatwave, I did manage to have a very productive week, and I can honestly say, I’m darn proud of myself. Here’s hoping that next week is even better, which I suspect it will be because I’m supposed to start my new writing gig. I’m so psyched to once again be able to work with my girl Jenny.

In addition to my weekly Take 2 work, which is actually increasing every week, it seems, I also managed to accomplish the following:

  • Worked between one and three hours each day on TQA
  • Wrote two LD articles, totaling 637 words
  • Posted four blog posts, totaling 1,628 words (Three of the posts were dedicated to promoting the From the Dark Side Anthology.)
  • Began outlining a new story idea (I’m REALLY excited to start writing this one. I’m paying homage to a well-known location in the town I live in.)
  • Drafted up some interview questions that I sent to Patrick Pillars regarding his poem “Veil”
  • Answered my own interview questions per Pat’s request (Can find here.)
  • Reviewed and edited two articles for a friend and helped her apply to Examiner

This week, I also took the time to finish reading Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. I also am half-way through Blind Side by Christoper Rice and 3/4 through the Anthology.

All in all, I can’t complain about this week at all.

Hope you all had a wonderfully productive week, as well.

Category: Blogging, Examiner, From the Drak Side Anthology, Interviews, Jennifer Hudock, Lee DeWyze, Novels, Writing  | Tags: , , , ,  | 8 Comments
The From the Dark Side Anthology is Now Available for Purchase
Author: Nikki
• Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Happy Saturday!

Yesterday was a big day for those of us involved in the From the Dark Side Anthology. Why? Because it was the official release day.

Prior to yesterday, Ms. Jenny sent each of us a copy of the anthology. I haven’t quite finished it yet, but I can tell you this, it’s full of awesomeness. None of the stories or poems are the same, and that’s what makes this anthology great.

As of last night, we had sold 29 copies. After Smashwords took their cut, we ended up with $104.34 that will be donated to The Office of Letters and Light.  Our goal is to hit 100 by the end of the day tomorrow. Yes, it’s a high goal, but I think we can do it.

If you haven’t purchased a copy of the Anthology yet, please do. The cost is $4.99. The links for purchase are below:

AMAZON
SMASHWORDS

To those of you who have purchased a copy, thank you very much. Your generosity means the world to those of us involved in this project. If you know of anyone that would enjoy reading this collection, please direct them to the links above.

Thanks and have a great day!

Category: From the Drak Side Anthology, Writing  | Tags:  | 5 Comments
An interview with Patrick Pillars, a From the Dark Side Anthology contributor
Author: Nikki
• Wednesday, July 07th, 2010

From the Dark Side Anthology

Today is a very exciting week for those of us involved in the From the Dark Side Anthology. We’re all busily promoting it in many ways.

One way that I’ve chosen to do it is by interviewing my good friend Patrick Pillars, who, you may remember, guest blogged on this very site in May.

So, without further ado, here is my interview with Patrick Pillars.

Q: First, can you tell us a little about who Patrick Pillars is?

A: I was born in 1965 and being a part of that generation has shaded my writing as much as my life. I was a typical Michigan kid until I went to the University of Tennessee where I got an education in more then just English Lit.

I have been lucky to be married for 21 1/2 yrs and have 3 sons, the youngest being 4. I have dabbled in art, a rock band, and always writing. I have loved poetry since I was a wee lad and until the past couple years, few knew I was even writing poetry. Like most poets, I am also a frustrated short story writer and someday novelist. That is the condensed version.

Q: Can you tell the readers a little bit about Veil? What inspired it

A: Veil is my nemesis. Some poems just come right out, and I don’t tinker at all with them. Some are more difficult and require some writing and tweaking. Veil was tough right out of the gate. I had a vision standing on a balcony in Traverse City, MI, looking out across the bay. With that came a scene of the vanishing woman type thing and the way I went. This poem has been floating around for awhile and I never really did much with it until the Anthology came along. Then the idea of mirrors and alternate, dream-like reality took over and I worked it for over a month. I think, much like the poem, that I never quite touch what I am looking for, and maybe that was the point. Poetry can be weird that way.

Q: How did you come to be involved in the anthology?

A: One day I was talking with Jennifer Hudock and I asked her if she ever thought about doing an anthology. She said yes, a little, what did I have in mind. So we chatted about some ideas and how to get folks who write in all kinds of genres and styles together to do an anthology, and we would do it for charity. I just kinda gave her an idea and she ran with it and did all the really hard work.

Q: What do you think is special about this anthology? What sets it apart from others?
A: I think there is a big difference between this type of combined effort and other anthology works. Most anthologies are genre specific with a theme and standard submission guidelines. For this book, the people involved are poets, podcasters, and short fiction writers from a wide variety of genres. This makes this collection unique. The response has been very good from folks willing to donate their creative effort to charity, this also makes this work special. I believe that there is something in there for everyone and for the cause of literacy makes this project fun and fulfilling.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I will have a story appearing in another Anthology this summer. I also have been submitting poetry and short stories here and there and hope to have a few more published this year. Still working on that novel too.
Q: Where can fans go to find out more about you?
A: You can get a copy via Amazon or Smashwords this Friday, July 9th. You can catch updates here, from Nikki, or my blog, or from Jennifer Hudock’s blog, as well. Cost is $4.99 and benefits literacy through the fine folks at NaNoWriMo and The Office of Letters and Light Program.
A big thanks to Pat Pillars for taking the time to do this interview. Now here’s an exciting video for you to watch courtesy of Jacqueline Roth. Enjoy!
Category: From the Drak Side Anthology, Interviews, Jennifer Hudock, NaNoWriMo, Videos  | Tags: , ,  | 7 Comments
From the Dark Side Anthology News
Author: Nikki
• Sunday, July 04th, 2010

From the Dark Side Anthology

As many of you know by now, Friday is the release date of the From the Dark Side Anthology. And I have to say, I’m VERY excited. This is the first time I’ve had a short story published, so it’s a big deal for me. How lucky am I to be included in a group of such amazingly talented people? (I’ve actually been battling a “I’m not worthy” feeling.)

So, if you were wondering what cool peeps are included in the anthology, here you go:

  • Nicole Godin
  • Joseph Bowley
  • Josh Crummer

If you would like more information on the From the Dark Side Anthology, you can visit Jennifer Hudock’s site or you can read the press release below:

From the Dark Side: A Charity Anthology

In March 2010, a group of creative types got together in search of ways to showcase their work. There were talks of collaboration which evolved into the From the Dark Side Anthology. Because there were so many people involved in the project, an equal distribution of earnings seemed silly, and so those who gave birth to the idea decided to ask contributors to donate their work.

A worthwhile cause creative-types could stand behind was not hard to find. We turned our attention to the Letters and Light Organization, a non-profit charity that promotes youth creativity.

Since most creative people have a special memory of someone who encouraged and supported them, nurtured their gift and inspired them to pursue their dreams, it seemed like an obvious choice to donate all the proceeds earned from this charity endeavor to The Letters and Light Organization.

Details: Will go on sale electronically July 9, 2010 on Amazon and Smashwords for $4.99 per copy.

Readers do NOT need an eReader in order to download and read the anthology. Amazon offers a download of their Kindle software for PCs and Macs, as well as the iPhone and iTouch. Smashwords has a wide variety of downloadable mediums, from direct browser html and PDF to eReader and Kindle, just to name a few.

Category: Authors, Fiction, From the Drak Side Anthology, James Melzer, Jennifer Hudock, Writing  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  | 4 Comments
Progress Report #3
Author: Nikki
• Sunday, July 04th, 2010

Fireworks Happy 4th of July everyone!

Today’s progress report is actually a day late. I’ve been posting them on Saturday nights because that’s the end of my work week. However, last night we took the kids to York Harbor for the fireworks display.

I was a bit worried that my son would end up screaming through the entire show, but in actuality, he only screamed for about five minutes before deciding the fireworks were pretty. Now he can’t wait for the ones next weekend in Waterboro. Truth be told, neither can I. I look forward to this time of year each year.

All right, I’ve digressed enough. Onto what I actually accomplished this week. Again, I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but that’s okay because this work week will be better. Why you ask? Well, I finally went out and bought a new keyboard to hook up to my computer. Several keys on my keyboard  “shit the bed”. (For you non-Maine residents, that means the keys stopped working.)

Now that I have a working keyboard, I sound like my finger-heavy buddy James Melzer who’s always clickety clacking through our TCA meetings.

Anyway, here’s the list of things I got done in addition to my Take 2 work, which isn’t showing any signs of slowing down in the near future.

  • Wrote two Lee DeWyze articles, totaling 636 words
  • Brainstormed new article ideas
  • Promoted my Examiner pages
  • Wrote 1,000 words on my current short story
  • Sent out two mass emails to friends and family regarding the From the Dark Side Anthology and promoted it on Twitter
  • Began editing a submission article for a friend
  • Wrote one blog here on my site and started another that needs to be finished
  • Worked 1 to 2 hours of TQA per day

Well, now that I actually see what I did this week, I don’t feel so bad. It definitely helps to see it all written out.

I hope everyone else had a productive week. Until next week, adios!

Category: Examiner, James Melzer, Lee DeWyze, Porgress Reports, Short Stories, The Creative Alliance, Writing  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,  | 4 Comments
A Time for Reflection
Author: Nikki
• Friday, July 02nd, 2010

Wells Beach

Today, when I woke up, I was greeted by quite a few birthday wishes. It was a nice way to wake up and begin the day. As I’ve thanked those who have wished me a great birthday, I’ve had time to reflect back on the past year.

As those closest to me know, it hasn’t been easy year. In fact, suffice it to say, it’s been one of the toughest. I spent the first six months of my 27th year with very limited use of my left hand. It was a very frustrating time for me.

Last Christmas, though, I was the lucky recipient of a miracle, of sorts, by way of my parents Wii. (Don’t ask.)

My injury was just one problem I dealt with this year. While I won’t post info on my other trials, I can say that there have been days that I’ve wanted to stay in bed, pull the covers over my head and cry. It hasn’t gotten easier to handle, though, in recent months.

It was back in March, or thereabouts, that I started writing again following my hiatus due to my hand injury. It was slow going, at first, but what really got me motivated was The Creative Alliance, created by author James Melzer.

TCA has given me so much over the past few months. I’m surrounded by a group of insanely talented people who accept me just the way I am. They provide me with support and laughs when I need it.

Because of their support and love, I want to take the time today to thank those who made the second half of this year better than the first.

Jenny, you have been such an amazing friend to me over the past couple of years. You’ve believed in me and helped me to grow. You’ve been a shoulder when I needed one. So thank you for that and thank you for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing anthology.

James, thank you for starting TCA. Without it, I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have the past few months.

Acadia, I know it cramps your style and makes you look less tough, but thank you for believing in me and for nagging me about this site. I’ve made myself accessible to a lot more people because of you. I owe you one.

Pat, thanks for being a great friend and allowing me to guest blog on your site. It was a blast, and we must do it again.

Edit: yesterday, I forgot to include the most important person at The Superificial Gallery — Vange. (We just allow Acadia to think he is.)

So Vange, thank you for reminding me every week to floss my teeth. :-) I’d be lost without you.

And as a whole, I must thank Jenny, Leslie, Jackie, Mary Lou and Annie for your time, friendship and support of Second Chances. I truly appreciate it.

Before I forget, as cheesy as it sounds, thank you, Lee, for your Slumberland album. Without it, I would never have figured out my lead character’s name.

As always, I must also thank my mom, dad and brother for their support. They’ve seen me at my worst and yet, they still love me. I love you guys!

OH! One more thing, to commemorate today, here’s a look at the cover for Second Chances, which, as most of you know, is part of the From the Dark Side Anthology. Enjoy!

Thanks to Jennifer Hudock for creating this beautiful cover.

Category: James Melzer, Jennifer Hudock, Lee DeWyze, The Creative Alliance, Writing  | Tags: , , , , , , , ,  | 13 Comments
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