Uncategorized Archives - Maggie Wells-Margaret Ethridge

April 13, 2020

Monday Mayhem – Fail

I’ve been trying to bake bread. The operative word in that sentence is trying. I made a couple of passable loaves of white bread last week, then used some sourdough discard to make cinnamon bread, and then my new dutch oven arrived and the big day came.

Hours. I spent hours mixing and letting that damn sourdough rise. I preheated my cast iron dutch oven, and then this happened.

Yeah so…I’m back to feeding my starter and trying to figure out where I went wrong. Maybe I’ll be brave enough to try it again next weekend.

How about you? Are you trying new things these days?

March 30, 2020

Monday Mayhem – Strange Days Indeed

How are you? Are you and yours safe and healthy? These are strange days indeed, my friends. In my day job, I work with railroads, so we are considered essential employees. It’s most peculiar, being designated as essential when I’m not doing anything to aid on the frontlines of this pandemic, but there you are.

These are strange days indeed.

I’ve been doing my best not to let myself fall face-first into the news. It’s a challenge for me because my #1 strength according to my Gallup Strengthsfinder is Input. I want ALL the information. So, like many of you, I am doing my damndest to distract myself.

Saturday, I received a proof copy of the paperback edition of TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE.

Sunday morning, I wrote the first 2000 words of Scary New Story. As I type this Sunday afternoon, I have bread dough rising in a bowl, a sleeping labrador on the loveseat, and The Cure (Pictures of You) on the stereo.

As you read this, I will be back at the day job, being essential. Don’t worry, my co-workers are keeping as much distance between us as possible. Even Princess has become adept at social distancing. Now, she supervises me from afar.

So, how are you doing? What are you doing to keep yourself distracted from the strangeness? CONTENTMENT is free for Kindle today if you need something to read.

Please know I am holding all those who are on the frontlines of this battle, suffering the effects of the virus or struggling with loneliness and isolation in my heart. Be well. Stay safe.

February 24, 2020

Monday Mayhem – I’m still here!

It’s been so long. Too long. I just wanted you to know I’m still here. As I write this, I am at the kt literary retreat in Austin, Texas. It’s been a fun-filled weekend, jam-packed with information. I’m constantly amazed by the creativity and ingenuity of my fellow authors.

You guys, they are amazing.

People are doing awesome stuff. They work so hard. I’m amazed.

Anyhow, I’m super tired, but I hope to be around more in the coming weeks. TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE is in the editorial process. I have a cover, but I haven’t revealed it yet. I love it. It’s so pretty. I promise I’ll share it soon. It’ll knock your socks off!

No release date yet – Sara and I are running some world domination plans on the ancillary rights, so we need a little time.

More to come soon! Stay tuned!

January 20, 2020

Monday Mayhem – A little bit Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Mar-gar-et

I spent the weekend mainlining Grace & Frankie season 6. Man, I love that show. I’m also incredibly happy that Schitt’s Creek is back, and I get my weekly fix of Moira Rose for just a little while longer.

I’ve been working on revisions of To Make You Feel My Love. I have a slot booked with my editor for February, so it’s time to get cranking. You know how I love a deadline. I haven’t even peeked at the manuscript for almost a year, and guess what I discovered? It does not suck. Yay!

So what else is happening?

I’ll be getting the rights to some of my books back, which means I’ll be repackaging them and independently publishing them later this year. So, if you’re looking for the Coastal Heat or Worth the Wait books, hang tight!

I’m also keeping up with my list of little happy things each day. I find it’s much easier for me to pick one small thing out of my day and note it than to pick the special ones for the old happiness jar. It’s working for me, so I think I’ll keep on with it. *gratitude rebel*

At present, I’m listening to the new Audible Original version of Jane Austen’s Emma, which features none other than the fabulous Emma Thompson. Loving the production, but I realized something in revisiting this novel – I think Emma (Woodhouse) is kind of an a$$hole. Does that make me an Austen rebel as well?

I don’t have anywhere to complain about her, though, because I quit Twitter. Yep. Done. Out. Both accounts deactivated. If you’re looking for me, don’t look there.

But, hey, did I tell you I signed up for a 5k walk/run on February 29th? I can tell you it’ll be more walk than run, but I figured Leap Year day would be a good day to make a fool of myself. Plus, if I finish, I get one of these sparkly medals:

Yep. I’m in it for the bling, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

How about you? Have you done anything rebellious lately? Sign up for anything crazy? Wanna share any unpopular opinions on classic novels? Hit the comments box below!

December 2, 2019

Monday Mayhem – Well, I have no idea where this year went…

It’s December. Can you believe that? I can’t. I have no idea where the year went. I’d claim I was busy writing, but we all know that would be a lie. I can say I was busy living.

This year has been one of reflection and reassessment for me, and I feel like I’m in a much better place than I was when it started. I spent a lot of time napping. And reading. I watched a lot of Netflix and college football. Hung out with Fodder and friends, and generally stopped throwing myself at the brick wall that is the publishing business.

Does that mean I’ve quit? Take a gander at this:

I started a new project with no outline, no general plot, no idea who the characters were or really what they wanted. And it was so much fun. I made it just over the 50k mark, and little by little they are revealing themselves to me. I think this new book may even have some series potential. Stay tuned.

I’ll keep tinkering with it, but I’m glad that NaNo is over. I need to immerse myself in this whole December thing. There are holiday parties scheduled for the next two weekends, then Christmas with my branch of the family, all before the actual holiday itself.

So, yeah, time to kick it in gear. How about you? Are you ready for December?

P.S. Home in Heartsfield (formerly Spring Chickens) got a makeover! Check out this nifty new cover!

August 5, 2019

Vacation – all I ever wanted

I’m just back from vacation and it was a blast! I long weekend with my girls was just what I needed to relax and unwind a bit.

There was karaoke and cheesecake, pool time and TimTams, shopping and bundt cake. Sensing a theme here? Mmmmm dessert.

We are ten years in. There are old jokes and new bits. All the joy needed to refill the well.

And moments… those moments.

How about you? Do you ever get away with your peoples? If not, what’s holding you back?

June 24, 2019

Monday Mayhem – On Marriage

Later this week, the mister and I will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. Our marriage has finally reached the age of majority.

As I am now the proud owner of a mature (giggle-snort) marriage, I thought I’d share a few random lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Liking is every bit as important as loving.
He may only hear about 23% of the things I say, but he always hears me bitching about not listening to me.
He does not want or need my direction whilst driving, but will miss the appropriate exit 8 times out of 10 if I am derelict in my duty.
A ten minute lie-down is the key to a happy, relaxed evening.
No one wants responsibility for deciding what’s for dinner. Ever.

So, yeah, finally starting to feel like we’ve got a handle on this marriage thing, even if our selfie game is still a bit weak. Looking forward to seeing what trouble we can find together in the years to come.

How about you? What are some of the life lessons you’ve picked up in the last couple decades?

June 10, 2019

Monday Mayhem – I Kanban Do It!

A couple weeks ago, I re-purposed my bulletin board into a Kanban organizer. What was once nothing more than a collection of random reminders and goofy pictures is now a model of goal-setting organization…and goofy pictures.

Actual goals and notes redacted for privacy purposes.

What is Kanban?

It’s a method of visual project management. It allows the user to track goals, progress, and monitor success rates all at a glance. They can be set up in any number of ways, but I chose to set weekly, 30 day, 90 day, and yearly goals. By using post it notes, I’m not only committing the goal to writing, I can move them to show progress.

For me, the ‘Do It Now’ section will likely contain those items I’m procrastinating on, or am awaiting input from other parties.

The overarching goal is to get all those little slips of paper (plus any others that come along) to the bottom of the board.

This, of course, is just my latest attempt to put my thoughts in order and achieve something, anything, before the year flies by. We won’t talk about the three paper planners abandoned on my file cabinet…

How about you? Do you have a tried and true planning method? Can I borrow it if it turns out I kant-ban after all?

April 29, 2019

Monday Mayhem – Tempus Fugit

I know, I know. I should watch my phraseology, but it’s true – time does fly. I know most people apply it to the short days and long nights of winter, but for me, Spring always seems to zip past me.

Look – Wednesday is May 1st. Gah!

And this year, rather than careening straight in to the oven-like heat of summer, we are actually having a spring. Fifty shade of gorgeous green. The flowers and shrubs are thriving. Highs have been in the 70s and low 80s.

All of which means a young woman’s fancy has turned to anything BUT writing.

I mean, I’ve had to sit on the patio and read books…

There’s been a tiny dino to take on adventures:

And a kitchen garden to construct so we could plant tomatoes, peppers, and herbs:

Then there were the sexy Saturday nights spent assembling a new basketball goal so Fodder and I can shoot the hoops:

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t writing stuff happening too. I’m back to working on LOVE RENOVATION, TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE is still out on submission, and some old friends are coming back this week! I have repackage Spring Chickens – which means it has a new title and cover art. Lynne and Bram’s story will be available again as HOME IN HEARTSFIELD.

So there you have it. It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Don’t forget to add your email address in the sidebar to receive my reader group emails. Jennifer C. won a $5 Amazon gift card in last week’s drawing!

April 15, 2019

Monday Mayhem – A Little Help from My Friends

I have to admit I have been struggling with the writing thing…and by struggling, I mean I haven’t been writing. The publishing world has been a little disheartening.

I have a book on submission, which basically means I am waiting for someone to say yes or no. That’s one of the things people don’t know. The potential for rejection in his business never ends. The next contract is never a given, even when your books win critical acclaim, or have decent sales. Publishing is a business with a bottom line. If we don’t set the world on fire straight out of the gate, it’s back to the drawing board.

So yeah. I have one that’s out there waiting for a bite, another that’s 2/3 written, and an idea that scares me just enough to make me think it’s a good one, and yet… I can’t seem to get in the groove.

For the past few months, I’ve just been going with the flow, trying not to stress, etc., but at some point, I’m going to have to write or get off the Mac.

So, I did what any writer does when faced with the abyss – I hooked up with my writer friends. Yes, we did a little whining and scary soul bearing, but the magical thing about these days is the fact that we realize we are not alone. And as much as I hate the fact that my friends are struggling too, there’s also some strength in it.

By talking through our fears, or what’s holding us up, we help one another find a way through to the other side. When we take time to talk about all that’s making us feel overwhelmed, we find that our friends have a totally different perspective. Sometimes, we just need feedback from someone who is in the trenches with us to see through the smoke.

And sometimes, we need people to remind us that we have magic, bullet-repelling bracelets.