2016 Spooktacular Giveaway Book Hop

Hello my friends!  It's time for the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop 2016 hosted by Mary from Bookhounds!  As everyone knows, Halloween is one of my favorite times of year.  What a better way to celebrate then to participate in a giveaway that's all about books, the scarier the better!

There are over 100 blogs participating in this blog hop with such frightfully wonderful giveaways which I'm sure you'll be dying to enter!  Books and more books are what's at stack here but I'l like to keep things simple with these hops and with my giveaway. 

I'm giving away one (1) FREE $10 Amazon Gift Card.  See the details below on how to enter:

To enter…

You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries…
+2 Subscribe to my blog
+2 Like me on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+1 Follow me on Google Plus
+1 Tweet this Twitter (limit 1 retweet)

Entry-Form

The giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Oct. 22nd - October 31st, midnight. Contest is open to

 International participants. 

Check out all the blogs participating by visiting Bookhounds!

Mina Burrows

Frenzy Friday: Something Really Scary Has Happened!

So what's happened that's terrified me?  I've just realized that I've only posted SIX posts so far this year.  And this is how I feel:

Source

Yikes, I'm so sorry about that! Anyway, I thought I'd give you an update. The house is still in disrepair. The claim has gone many rounds and we are still waiting for the insurance company to do their part. This process is exhausting. Anyway...we'll get through it. Keep us in your prayers. Writing has been terribly difficult when you're living in a complete mess. UGH.

What's Happening Next?

SpookTacular Book Hop

Tomorrow the SpookTacular Book Hop Begins.  There are over 100 blogs participating in this event so be sure and stop on by to enter to win.  This is one of my favorite blog hops and not to mention my favorite time of year.  Can you say pumpkin spice latte?  There's nothing like overindulging in these while reading a wicked good book!  Come one.  Come all.  Stop by and enter to win or just say hi!  I'll be here in between insurance claims, client work and my scribbles of course.  

NaNoWriMo Starts Soon

It's happening again!  There are so many wonderful things that happen during November and NaNoWriMo is one of them.  Have you signed up yet?  I've pulled some things together and am making plans as we speak.  Wish me luck, my friends.  The house gods have tested me these last few months and I shall do my best to ignore the construction-mode my home is under in the wake of NNWM!  Indeed I shall need to summon a creative goddess to guide me towards success in achieving my writing goals. What about you?  Are you participating in next month's NNWM?

That's all I have for now.  Check back tomorrow when the blog hop is live.  Miss everyone!  Happy October!

Mina Burrows

IWSG: Tasting Life

Howdy partners!  It's Wednesday and time for another month of IWSG.  Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, IWSG wouldn't be so awesome without support from these folks this month: Tamara Narayan, Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders!

I hope everyone's summer was fantastic!  Mine started off great with kids in camp and then a vacation, but then we cam home to a flood in our house.  Ugh.  Long story short, apparently this is a common occurrence--to go on vacation and come back to a flood.  Who knew?  Anyway, I'm dealing with insurance claims and renovations and trying desperately not to lose my mind.  That said, I'd like to share a picture of my vacation and let you fine people guess where I went.

Take a guess?

IWSG:  Tasting Life

This summer I've tasted life and then some. My writing is going okay but like many things, could be better, home issues aside.  The good news is I'm dealing with everything as best a possible. I found this quote that resonated with me and helped combat all the insecurities I'm feeling about writing.  

 

 

Source

How many things have you written about that allow you to feel you've lived another life or several? Perhaps none, but I'll bet there have been many. Reading is one thing, but as you know writing is an entirely different thrill. Ever fought dragons, wielded a light saber, or cast a wicked curse? Ever get lost in a romance story, solve a murder mystery or possibly become embroiled in an epic family dispute? If so, then you've lived. There are times when this writing gig frustrates us whether its the writing, endless editing, querying or performing the other litany of "to-dos." I guess when it comes down to it, it's nice to have a sense that we've known our characters and our story's so intimately it's not only like we've lived multiple lives....we've created them. So when you're down like I've been recently, try to think of all the lives you've created, saved and lived. How's that for tasting life?   

 

Anyway, I'd love to hear about your summer. How's it going?

Mina Burrows

IWSG: Ever Feel Like This?

Hey there blog fiends! I know I missed IWSG on Wednesday, but I still decided to do mine this weekend.  I know it's been awhile, but I wanted to get a quick IWSG post in before Summer kicks in and school breaks.  IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's host are Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!

How are things with you guys?  Like most, my world has been crazy and I'm praying Summer will give me the break I desperately need.  What about you? I feel like I blinked and 2016 is half way over.  Am I right?

IWSG:  Ever Feel Like This?

Anyway, I saw this picture and this summed up how I've been feeling for the last few months with managing life and expectations.

Source

  

Who's with me in understanding Sasha's insane moment of resting with The Walking Dead?  For me this picture describes how numbing life can be with endless and mounting responsibilities.  It's not like I view it as bad, it's just life and its there and you deal with it.  It's like the dead featured here are my day-to-day demands and I'm managing to slay them all!  HAH!  And... it's also how I feel about my stories.  My writings are like these zombies here and they haunt me and torture me in ways that are indescribable,  And yet, they are my everything.  As challenging as the writing process can be, it is my foundation.  Ever feel that way?  Eh...maybe not.  Well, these thoughts may be a bit too much for an IWSG but it's how I've been lately.

What about you?  Tell me what's been going on.  I missed everyone.  Did you miss me too?  

Mina Burrows

Romance Is in the Air Blog Hop

Romance is in the air this February and I'm celebrating by participating in the The Romance is in the Air Giveaway Blog Hop, hosted by BOOKHOUNDS, and just in time for Valentine's Day. There are over 100 blogs participating in this blog hop, so join in the fun and let's share some love!

When you think of Romance novels, you must have a favorite author, right? You know it! And what's better than getting a free book by the author you love the most? Well, hold on to your rosebuds! Today to celebrate romance and all the gushing you do when you read a great love story, I'm giving away a simple prize where you can choose your own prize.

I'm giving away one (1) FREE $10 Amazon Gift Card to (1) winner, so that they may pick to their heart's content. See the details below on how to enter:

To enter…

You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries…

+2 Subscribe to my blog
+2 Like me on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+1 Follow me on Google Plus
+1 Tweet this Twitter (limit 1 retweet)

Entry-Form

The giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on February 4th - February 14th, midnight. Contest is open to International participants.

Want to see who else is participating? Visit BOOKHOUNDS and check out all the links and hop on by.

Mina Burrows

IWSG: Writing & Reading

Today, I'm posting for The Insecure Writer's Support Group for February.  IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's host are Allison Gammons, Tamara Narayan, Eva E. Solar, Rachel Pattison, and Ann V. Friend!

Progress is slow right now.  I'm hoping things will move a bit faster, but it challenged with managing all aspects of my life.  Sometimes even keeping up with my blog is a challenge. Sigh.  I won't bemoan those everyday challenges, because they are what they are, and I'm working through that.  Anyway, I saw a quote recently from Stephen King that mentioned the importance of reading in order to be a good writer.  Sometimes that's difficult for writers since we usually have so much on our plates.  I do read often at night when I can't sleep, I'll read a chapter or two.  One of the last books I read was At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen and I really enjoyed it.  I'm not sure if I completely agree with Stephen King's comment entirely, but he does have a point.  How would be know what we like or don't like unless we read.  Right?  Anyway, I thought to ask my friends, do you agree with that statement or do you think it's a bit too harsh?  And if you don't mind, please share a book you read recently.

Hope a fantastic Wednesday!

Mina Burrows

Lost & Found - Valentine's Edition

Today's Lost & Found Blogfest - Valentine's Edition is hosted by Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out,
Guilie Castilol-Oriard at A Quiet Laughter , Elizabeth Seckman, Yolanda Renee, Denise Covey,
and Alex J. Cavanaugh.  My post is about discovering new things about love in my own life.

The Demons turned Angels

Valentines Day for me represents a time for celebration for I was gifted with my daughter almost nine years ago and found that love brought a whole new meaning to me.  She was born on February 2nd and has been making her mark ever since.  When I became a parent over a decade ago, I wasn't prepared for what parenting would bring me.  Who is though?  It's been a wonderful ride, however, filled with situations that I'd never dreamed of.  Lately, I've witnessed both my son and daughter exhibiting small acts of kindness towards each other.  I wasn't prepared for this because they are at the age where they fight like demons too--just like any siblings really.  Still, every now and then...they surprise me.  For example, my son has now started opening the door for my daughter, being courteous.  What?  That was nice.  Score one for my buddy.  Or the other day, I heard my daughter mothering my son.  "You look like you have to go the bathroom.  Do you?  Go to the bathroom.  I'll pause the movie so you can go."  It was a simple comment I overheard--one which I couldn't stop laughing silently in the other room.  She no doubt heard me say that to my son.  What I found with these small gestures was they love and care for each!  What?  My brain may explode any minute with that realization seriously.  Hey, I know they care about each other, but witnessing their kindness was a entirely different experience of love.  Remember, this doesn't happen sometimes among siblings.  I felt blessed to have even the smallest sign of that.

Lost Dog Runs a Half Marathon

This story is another lost and found love story that went viral last week.  If you haven't had a chance to watch this news click, please do.  Apparently this dog went outside to do her business and then ran off to join a half marathon.  Too funny, huh?  Talk about being lost and found...

Hope you have a great week!

 Mina Burrows