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Sunday, June 4, 2017

Beta-Readers, Sob-Worthy Songs, and a Workshop // May Recap

And here I am again, writing a recap post. (A couple days late I might add.) But can I just say I'm so glad summer is here?! :D 



// Life. // 

>> Random conversations... 

Tucker: *sitting beside me watching YT vids*
Person on the vid: *says something about 4-wheel drive motorcycles*
*both of us start laughing*

Mom: *points out the mini pies in the freezer section of the grocery store* How cute! 
Me:...that's lonely. 
Mom: Um...what?
Me: That's lonely. Who would want to eat pie alone? 

Me: *looking in a mirror* these curls around my face make me look like an 1850s baby doll. 
Mom: I don't think they had baby dolls back then. 
Me: Well, they did on Little House. What was that, 1870s? 
Mom: Yeah, but wasn't that more like cornhusk dolls? 
Me: No, Nellie Olson had like porcelain dolls. 
Mom: But she was a brat, no wonder she had ugly dolls. 
Me: ...You just called me ugly. 
Mom: I did not!! 

Me: *sitting on the porch editing*
Tucker: *walks out the door with several pieces of bacon*
Me: You're just...eating bacon?
Tucker: I'm a baconator.  


>> I got a first draft copy of War Tears. *obnoxious squealing* Actually I got two. (Shipping one off to my critique partner was painful. *tears*) They're 404 pages of beautifulness though... 




It's as thick as A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin. Like, WOW. I can die happy. 


>> I realized how discriminating my search engine history is. Or would be, should the wrong person browse it. You'd honestly think I was in love with a wounded warrior. (Speaking of which, am I the only one who legit tears up through those ads? Am I alone in this?!) It's research...I promise...stop giving me that look... 

>> Our church youth group took a trip to a nearby amusment park. My first time on a roller coaster...pretty fun. :P 




>> School is ooveerrrr!!! *throws confetti* On a scary note...I only have one year left. O.O 

>> I was in a pottery workshop the last week of May/first week of June. That will be in my June recap... XP 

>> I saw my DD characters like EVERYWHERE. For those of y'all who've read it...here's Ryder... 




>> I'm skipping the blogging segment this month's (sorrryyy), so I'll add this here. I added a new blog page!! Go check it out. :D 



// Books. // 

#forgivemefortheterriblepic

So basically I failed at reading again. *cries* What is wrong with me, y'all? 


I read 8 books... 
Deliver by Tricia Mingerink -- 5 stars -- Review HERE
A Stranger on My Land by Sandra Merville Hart -- 3.5 stars 
Philippians: The Joy of Christian Living by Darlene Schacht -- 4 stars 
The Secret Slipper by Amanda Tero -- 4.5 stars -- Review HERE
A Question of Courage by Jesseca Wheaton -- 5 stars 
Rose of Prophecy by Hope Ann -- 3.5 stars 
Love Me Tender by Janice Hanna -- 5 stars 
I Hate Reading by Arthur Bacon -- 2 stars 

Plus two books I was beta/alpha reading :D 
The Nobles Contest by Hann Remraf (alpha-reading)
Sunlight and Shadows by Livi Jane (beta-reading) 


And I acquired three books this month and they're all so lovely like YUS. *nods* 


Millie's Steadfast Love by Martha Finey, adapted by Kersten Hamilton -- Thriftbooks 
True to you by Becky Wade -- review book 
Deliver by Tricia Mingerink -- author's site (yup, it's signed. Personalized. Be jealous) 



// Writing. // 

Writing wasn't that much of thing this month. But I did edit a TON. I applied beta-reader comments to DD and now I'm working on the final edit! :D 

Just look at my big ol' mess. XD 


But I did get in some words this month -- 10,346 to be exact. *loves exact numbers* 

8,127 of those words were in A Soldier's Story which is coming along nicely...and becoming much longer than I thought it would be. :P (It's up on my stories page now, but there currently isn't a blurb. *is so bad at writing them*) 

Another thing writer-related that happened this month (and which I mentioned earlier in this post) was about WT. So my critique partner and I basically swapped books with each other. (Wanna bet on who's is best? I already know. XP) Which was so super fun and... *happy sigh* All the WWII loveliness. 



// Music & Movies. // 

I DISCOVERED PANDORA, YALL. *shoves a list of songs y'all's way* Just look at all the patrioticness.  

The Impossible // Joe Nichols 
If Not Me // Craig Morgan 
He Didn't Have To Be // Brad Paisley 
Airborne Ranger Infantry // Kristy Lee Cook 
POW // Darryl Worley 
Letters From Home // John Michael Montgomery 
It's America // Rodney Atkins 
Two Soldiers Coming Home // Lori McKenna 
Find You Here // Ellie Holcomb 
Who You Are // Unspoken 
Tears // Matt Hammitt 
Soldiers Light // Rylee Preston 
Travelin' Soldier // Dixie Chicks 
For Your // Keith Urban 
Semper Fi // Trace Adkins 
The Call // Matt Kennon 


The only 'new' movie I watched was The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and it.was.so.cute. 




// Goals. // 

~ May Goals 

>> Order first-draft copy of War Tears. *squealing*              Got it!! :D 

>> Finish A Soldier's Story.            Ehh, no... But I'm getting closer, I think. XD 

>> Host another Imagine This writing challenge.       Yep, sure did! 

>> Apply beta-readers suggestions/critiquing to Dandelion Dust.       *faints* Yup, got it. 

>> Finish an alpha-reading project.        Did it!! 

>> Read 12 books.     ....not quite. 

>> Write 10,000 words.     Barely...hooray! 


~ June Goals 

>> Hit 30k or finish A Soldier's Story. 

>> Finish final edit of Dandelion Dust. 

>> Publish Dandelion Dust. (Details coming tomorrow!) 

>> Beta-read another book. 

>> Read 10 books. 

>> Go on a mission trip. (Yup, I'll be out of the loop like the third week of this month. :D) 



Alrighty, you know the drill... How was your May, folks?! :D 

~Faith 


P.S. I found this and laughed my head off for the next hour. 


15 comments:

  1. Haha, I thought all of your conversations were great! Especially the one about dolls. :D
    Eeps! That’s exciting that you got your first draft copy of “War Tears”!!!! Wow!! That is so cool that it’s the same size as “A Distant Melody”!! :D
    That’s great that school is over for you for the summer! One more year left! :) Even though it’s a bit scary is it a bit exciting too?
    “Love Me Tender” was great! I’m hoping to read “Deliver” pretty soon. Should I read “Destroy” first, I can't remember? ;)
    *smiles* “Millie’s Steadfast Love”. :)
    Even though you didn’t get that much writing done in May, good job with all of the editing! :D
    I enjoyed your monthly recap, Faith!! :D

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    1. Haha, thanks! I was laughing so hard after that one. :P
      EEPSS I KNOW IT. I was sooo happy to discover that!! :D
      Hehe, yes, it is exciting as well as intimidating... A new chapter of life, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it brings! :)
      It was! Hehe, yep, I would suggest reading "Destroy" first. ;)
      *beams*
      Thanks so much, Rebekah! I'm so glad. <3

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  2. Oh my word, that's incredible that War Tears is so big, and BEAUTIFUL!! I stare in awe. <3 Can't wait to read it!
    And you DID read a lot of books in May - I'm impressed. :)
    Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on "True to You" - it looks good!
    I hope you have a good time on your missions trip! Where are you going, if I may ask? (If it's "classified" info, ( ;) ) I understand!)
    That sign is hysterical!

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    1. *beams* I am still sooo in love with it!! <3 :D
      Hehe, okay. ;) Just doesn't feel like much compared to some months!!
      It does look good! Have you read "Then Came You", the series prequel?
      Thanks! Hehe, nope, not classified. ;) We'll be going to a fairly small town in eastern NC, north of Raleigh.
      Isn't it?! XD

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  3. WOWWWWW. That's a LOT of writing!! "War Tears" is huge!! You must be proud. xD
    You read so many more books then I did this month. 8 books is not bad at all!
    A mission's trip? I hope you have a fulfilling time and stay safe. :-) I want to go on one sometime. My church hosts one for high schoolers every year, so hopefully I'll be able to do one of those at some point.

    ~Lydia~ <3

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    1. Haha, it is. XD I should have mentioned in the post that it took about 25 months... I'm pretty pleased. :)
      Hehe, good then! :D
      Thanks so much! Oh, that's cool! This one is through our church, and we're 'grouping' with a couple other churches. :)

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  4. WAR TEARSSSS!!! I think I've made some people jealous on Instagram. xD Also, yes, swapping books was SO.MUCH. FUN. And we all know who's is better. Want a hint? The one who actually printed it off and sent it to her friend. ;)
    Also, yes, that sign. It still makes me laugh. xD
    *is impatiently waiting for DD info*

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    1. Haha, ya think?! XD That's okay...I made everyone on GR mad with my AQOC updates. :P It was the BESTTTT. <3 Pfftt, naw. I don't believe that for a minute... ;)
      Me too! :P
      *cries because you didn't sign up*

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  5. Hahaha that pic of Ryder!! Love it!! <3 Wow, you read eight books? Me too! :D Well, according to Goodreads, I read nine, but one was that short story Dare by Tricia Mingerink. :P Hahaha oh my word, that SIGN!! I'm dying over here! *falls out of chair because I'm laughing so hard*

    Sounds like you had a great May! I hope June treats you well! :)

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    1. Haha, is that him or what? XD Yay for us! *high five* Ahh, yes, the short story. I...count short stories toward my book goals all the time. :P Isn't that insane?! My mom, brother, and I were stopped in traffic for road construction and we saw that out the window. We were trying to read it from the car but no one was sure what it said, so I hopped out and snapped a pic...and climbed back into the car laughing hysterically. XD

      You too, girl! :)

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  6. *screams* Pleaseeeee can I read WT???
    Haha, love that pic of Ry. XD I can't wait for the DD blog tour!!
    Ugh, you always get so much writing done! I feel like I've written nothing when I see what all of you girls get done each month!

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    1. *covers ears to block out the screaming* *wink*
      Haha, same! XD Thanks!! <3
      Hey, don't feel that way! We all have different writings styles and speeds, right? ;)

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  7. The stone! HA HA HA!
    Goodness, that's great! XD XD XD

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    1. Isn't it though?! XDD

      My mom, brother, and I were in the car on the way to Bible study/youth group, and we got stopped in road construction traffic. We saw that on the side of the road, and I ended up hopping out to take a closer look. Its so crazy funny!! XD

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