What's Up Wednesday! November 19

November is going fast! I've been busy doing so many things lately that I can't see straight. For some reason I decided to do some unicorn and unicorn poo drawings. It's probably better that you don't ask, but I hope you do! I also have TONS of interviews coming up. I just need to sort through and remember who runs at which time!

WHAT I'M READING

Some annoying Transformers book my kid loves. Really bad story and far too old for him.

WHAT I'M WRITING/DRAWING

Doing some portrait work this week. Working on a Unicorn Poo coloring book and finishing some final artwork for a book I have.

Every Day Possible

Working on finished artwork and new dummy work.

Wed 11/19 What's Up Wednesday Post. Done!

Thursday 11/20 -  Danielle Girard's "Everything to Lose" Giveaway ends today. Also doing some much needed drawing!

Friday 11/21 - Interview with gosh, I forget! I'll get back to you on that one.

Saturday 11/15 - ARTWORK MUST BE DONE TODAY!

Sunday 11/16 - Uncorn Poo

Monday 11/17 - Money, money, money, money, MONEY! (I don't know if that will get me money, but it doesn't hurt to try.)

Tuesday 11/18 - Working on some artwork.

Wednesday 11/19 - What's Up Wednesday!

WHAT WORKS FOR ME

Unicorns. I don't know why. I don't usually draw unicorns, but whatever.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Toddler Minding 

We woke up screaming, "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!" It was 7am and I told him he could get up. Still we screamed for 10 minutes.

Ect.

I'm not doing great but I keep working out!

*What's up Wednesday is part of Jamie Morrow's summer writing intensive: "Ready. Set. WRITE!" There are other host blogs including: Erin L. Funk, Alison Miller, Katy Upperman, and Elodie Nowodazkij.

I'm Making Ornaments! Also my Etsy shop is OPEN.

I'm making some ornaments for our Christmas tree this year. I've got three of them finished so far. I have a barn owl, a reindeer and Santa Claus! These are not the only ones. I've also got an angel and a snowman I've yet to finish. Those are not the only ones I'm doing for the year, but this is the limit to the ones I've designed so far. I'm thinking about doing a panda bear, an elf, a bunny and maybe even a few other designs.

In case you don't know I also have my Etsy shop up and running again. You can see what I have here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DaniDuckArt I have a lot of recent artwork up for sale there along with prints. I also have a couple of coloring books (one is a great stocking stuffer).

I do not make any money with this website and hate the idea of having ads. It is difficult to spend unpaid time on my website. If you like my blog please see if there is anything in my shop you like. Be sure to type in the coupon code: artistobscure to receive 10% off your purchase. I'm not planning on removing this code any time soon. So feel free to use it as many times as you'd like. If you have any problems or questions feel free to contact me!

Interview with Deena Lipomi

Deena all prettied up!

I have the wonderful Deena Lipomi on my blog today. She has a wonderful sense of humor and was very fun to interview. After (and only after) you read this interview go and visit her blog for more fun! Have you read her blog? Did you see the library cat shirt donation? So hilarious! Deena has two books "Blackout" and "Deserted" I stole her link for the trailer for "Blackout" which you can view at the bottom of this post. To see the trailer for "Deserted" you have to visit Deena's website (because I can't make everything too easy)!

Dani: How does being a librarian change your writing?

Deena: Because I am so tuned in to the new YA and MG books being sold, published, and released so I can decide if they should be bought by our library, I am perhaps hyper-aware of stories/ideas that are close to my own, which can either be motivating (Must. Write. Faster!) or discouraging ("That author stole my idea!" although we've never met.) This happened to me three times this past year, twice with YA novels and once with an MG. So I don't think it changes my actual writing so much, but instead my motivation to write -- or give up on an idea.

Dani: Who left the gum on the floor?

Deena: I don't know about the floor, but it was a day of disgust when some colleagues and I went into the library on a weekend to rearrange some furniture, and when we turned the (14-year-old) study table on its side to move it -- EWWWW! The underside was COVERED in fossilized gum…AND I'D TOUCHED IT! So I guess the answer to "Who left the gum under the table," the answer is everyone.

Deena in Paris

Dani finish these sentences: 

1. Libraries are…

Deena: a place where everyone is accepted and welcomed…as long as they behave themselves.

2. I love to read…

Deena: young adult novels more than anything. But that is closely followed by middle-grade novels. Which is closely followed by great YA non-fiction. Which is followed by…OK, you get the idea. My TBR pile is about 12 books high right now. 

3. Nobody knows that…

Deena: Rather than finishing this sentence I am going to interrupt with this statement: There is probably nothing that nobody knows about me unless I don't know it myself. However, I will also say that nobody knows that public libraries are not quiet, calm, peaceful places to work unless they've also worked in one.

Dani:  What's special about your work?

Deena: I feel my writing and novels are special because they stem from places of truth. BLACKOUT was the result of a conversation with the mom of a babysitting charge I had in high school who was driving through the Pennsylvania countryside with her brother when they saw a UFO and never spoke of it again. The MG novel my agent is trying to sell is based on an old insane asylum community here in Rochester, NY. I hope the truth of the emotions related to these real places and experiences shine through the pages. 

Dani: What is your ultimate goal in life?

Deena: Wow, what a loaded question! Career wise, I would love to make enough money off of my novels to work as a YA Librarian 20 hours per week and write for 40 hours per week (now it is the opposite). But just as a general life goal, I hope to be a peaceful, loving, friendly person who makes the day brighter for others just by treating everyone well; I'd like to know I helped to dilute the population of not nice people in the world with my good intentions. 

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Follow Deena:

Website: http://www.deenalipomi.com/

Blog: http://author2author.blogspot.ca/

Deena's Personal Book Reviews: http://deenaml.livejournal.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmlkidsteens

Danielle Girard's Everything to Lose and a Giveaway!

I have lots of information for Danielle Girard's new book "Everything To Lose" on my blog today. This information was once again passed on to me by the lovely Kate Tilton. Read on and learn more about the book. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post. You have until the end of next Thursday to enter!

Everything to Lose:

When the daughter of San Francisco socialites Gavin and Sondra Borden is brutally assaulted, Jamie Vail makes it her mission to find the attacker. A seasoned Sex Crimes Inspector with the SFPD, work is what Jamie does best. She isn’t distracted by the fact that her adopted son and the victim go to the same school.

Jamie can almost set aside that the man caught on tape with the victim is a man she’s been wary of for years, her son's biological father. At home, her son is performing poorly in school, becoming more reclusive, and nothing she does can draw him out. Every piece of evidence seems to bring her closer to home.

Desperate to be wrong, Jamie must find Charlotte's attacker before her son lands behind bars, or worse…

Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Lose-Rookie-Club-Book-ebook/dp/B00O86DBNA/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everything-to-lose-danielle-girard/1119569379?ean=9781614175919

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/everything-to-lose-rookie/id927043823?mt=11

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1nhKnmh

Awards:

Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for CHASING DARKNESS

Barry Award for COLD SILENCE

About Danielle Girard:

As one of four children, Danielle Girard grew up in a house where the person with the best story got heard, and it's probably no surprise that fast-paced suspense stories have always been her favorite. Girard's books have won the Barry Award and been selected for the RT Reviewers Choice Award. Two of her novels have been optioned for movies. Visit her website at www.daniellegirard.com.

Author’s Links:

Website: http://www.daniellegirard.com

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDanielleGirard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielle1girard

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/150675.Danielle_Girard

Newsletter sign-up form: http://www.daniellegirard.com/#!contact/c1kcz

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What's Up Wednesday -

I've been really busy lately. I catch up on one thing and get behind on another! There are some good things coming for my blog so read on to find out more!

WHAT I'M READING

"What Will Fat Cat Sit on?" Hint it's not the Dog.

WHAT I'M WRITING/DRAWING

I'm working on the paintings for my final 3 illustrations for the current book I'm working on. I'm doing a portrait this month. I'm also getting lots of ideas for PiBoIdMo (I've got 30 so far, so I've already won)! Also I'm going to sew some new Christmas ornaments and maybe even sell a few! My Etsy Shop is back up and running here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DaniDuckArt

Every Day Possible

Working on finished artwork and new dummy work.

Wed 11/12 What's Up Wednesday Post. Done!

Thursday 11/13 -  Danielle Girard's "Everything to Lose" and a Giveaway! 

Friday 11/14 - Interview with Deena Viviani

Saturday 11/15 - Doing a lot of artwork!

Sunday 11/16 - Not sure yet, but it's always something.

Monday 11/17 - Candy... something about candy.

Tuesday 11/18 - Working on some artwork.

Wednesday 11/19 - What's Up Wednesday!

WHAT WORKS FOR ME

Christmas. Watching Christmas movies and making Christmas decor!

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Toddler Minding 

We screamed today because it wasn't Christmas. It was supposed to be Christmas today and he was supposed to get his Transformer Toys. I'm the most horrible mom ever for not making today Christmas...

Ect.

Had 4 workouts in the last 7 days. Yay!

*What's up Wednesday is part of Jamie Morrow's summer writing intensive: "Ready. Set. WRITE!" There are other host blogs including: Erin L. Funk, Alison Miller, Katy Upperman, and Elodie Nowodazkij.

Soulless Blog Tour

Today on my blog I have something extra special. Today I'm part of Crystal Collier's Soulless Blog Tour! Tomorrow is the last stop, so be sure to enter the giveaway! Yes, there is a giveaway and this is your chance to win AMAZON CHEESE! There's also lots of e books and a signed print copy of Soulless. For those of you who don't want to read anything now I've got a Youtube video of Crystal reading her book. Don't worry, there is a great excerpt below for those of you who are readers today. Read, enjoy and tell me what you think!

Title: SOULLESS
Series: Maiden of Time
Author: Crystal Collier
Pages: 263
Pub Date: October 13, 2014
Publisher: Raybourne Publishing
ISBN: 9781629830032

The Soulless are coming.

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.

And risk losing everything.

BUY

❀Unleashing the dream world, one book at a time ❀

  Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Website

What reviewers are saying:

"5 Stars." - Invincible Love of Reading Book Blog

"I LOVED it! So good. Seriously...exceeded my expectations." -Kristin Smith, advanced reviewer

"Entirely unique and chilling." Gabby @ What’s Beyond Forks

"Unputdownable." T.C. Mckee, BookFish Books

Excerpt:

“Here she stands.” The voice sounded as narrowly stretched as his skin, a hiss on the wind. “So nice to finally meet you, Alexia Dumont.”

The tang of a tomb rolled over her. She gagged. The blade’s edge scraped her neck, sharper than she remembered.

“What do you want, Amos?” Kiren’s voice was calm, despite his ridiculous position on the ground.

“They tell me you have chosen a mate.” The skull said over his shoulder while peering closely at her.

“Who tells you this?” Kiren huffed. “And more importantly, you believe them? I thought you were a man of reason.”

The death grin swept away, although he still looked to be grinning through the natural arch of rotted teeth. “Even men of reason possess faults.” He stepped closer, his face inches from Alexia’s, acrid breath stinging her eyes.

She closed them.

“I tend to trust too easily, as you are aware.” The rasp erupted in a fetid breeze across her cheek. “Lucky you do not seem to share that quality.” He turned. “Or do you?”

Kiren’s face revealed nothing, as unmoved as stone. The only indication he’d heard the accusation lay in his defiant glare. Alexia couldn’t decide if she should applaud him for courage, or berate him for looking so dispassionate while a blade raked at her jugular.

A finger of bone lifted to her cheek and trailed down to her neck, uncomfortably warm, spiraling a burning trail toward her heart.

A tremor ran through Kiren’s cheek, his mouth set.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your free copy of book 1, MOONLESS, October 13, 20, 27, 31 or Nov 7.

Author Bio:

Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. 

You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.

PiBoIdMo Starts Today!

Just a reminder that PiBoIdMo starts today! Click the picture below to go directly to Tara's Blog. It's excellent for all of you working on new ideas for writing and illustration (even if you aren't doing picture books)!

My family had a great time yesterday doing the Halloween thing. We had to pick up a few things for my costume, so we just happened to see The Mystery Machine along the way! 

I unfortunately didn't get a picture of Peter as Superman in his costume, but I got me as Dr. Who along with David as a Transformer.

 






David's costume was extra special this year. Grandma made it (like she always does). There are lots of Transformer costumes out there that transform, but David's was made out of fabric so he was comfortable all night, and it can easily be put into the wash if it gets too dirty! It was also really cool because if a car came, or you used a flash to take pictures, he would glow!




















That's it for my Halloween post. I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween. Also I hope parents remember to cash in on that candy tax. ;)