My sister Rachel and her husband Raj were married this day nine years ago! Congratulations! Nine years later, one beautiful three-year-old girl and a little boy on the way, I'm so proud of my sister and her husband for their love and covenant. Congratulations Rachel and Raj!

My Saturday plans start with going to the San Diego Christian Writers' Guild Spring Event!

Spring Fellowship Brunch: April 26, 2014. The Cove at The Church of Rancho Bernardo.

Special guest speaker: 
Bob Hamer. Bob retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation after 26 years as a Special Agent. He worked organized crime, gangs, terrorism, and child exploitation. Much of his career was spent undercover.

In assignments lasting anywhere from several days to more than three years, Bob successfully posed as a drug dealer, contract killer, residential burglar, fence, pedophile, degenerate gambler, international weapons dealer, and white-collar criminal.He worked undercover against such diverse groups as the La Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian, Mexican, and Russian mafias, Asian organized crime groups, and Los Angeles based street gangs. His successful infiltration of NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) resulted in the arrest of eight members of what one defendant called the organization’s “inner circle.”

Bob received numerous awards throughout his career including the coveted FBI Director’s Award for Distinguished Service, five United States Attorney Awards for Distinguished Service, and numerous letters of commendation including one from then US Attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Bob is a member of the San Diego Christian Writers Guild, the Writers Guild of America and has written for television. He has worked as the technical advisor for The Inside and Angela’s Eyes and has consulted for Law & Order: SVU and Sleeper Cell. He has appeared as a guest on numerous TV and radio programs including Oprah, Sean Hannity, The 700 Club, and Laura Ingraham. He is the author of three award-winning books: THE LAST UNDERCOVER: The True Story of an FBI Agent’s Dangerous Dance with Evil (Hachette Book Group, USA, Center Street Press), a novel, ENEMIES AMONG US (B&H Publishing, Fidelis), and a second novel, TARGETS DOWN (B&H Publishing). He also collaborated with New York Times best-selling author Oliver North to write AMERICAN HEROES ON THE HOMEFRONT (Simon and Schuster).

A Marine Corps veteran, Bob is married and has two children.




Then I'm going to go to the Bonita-Sunnyside Library for:

Meet mother and son authors Mary Gale Hinrichsen and Greg Reid. Hinrichsen has lived in Bonita 25 years, and now resides in Eastlake. She has authored five books. She will discuss her first novel, "Ethics of a Thief," released this winter. Reid is the author of "Stickability," he is also a motivational speaker and movie producer. Both mother and son will speak about their books as well as sign and sell copies of them following the event.




Then I'm going to go home and write! :-) It's going to be an incredible Saturday!

Do you ever feel half in something? Like, you can't fully commit to something because there are so many things that you're working on?

I was driving home from work tonight and thinking about this idea, and I've come to realize that if I really want to be a professional author, then I can't be half in. I've never really thought of myself as being half in writing, but as I was driving, I realized I really was.

No, I'm not talking about quitting my amazing job to pursue writing full-time, but I think there are some things which I have to prioritize in my life better than I have been. As a writer I have to be willing to promote myself and my work, and by promote I mean something other than online. I have to be an actual person and do book talks, signings, etc. That idea scares me silly. I don't want to put myself out there like that, but I really have to.

So that is now going to be one of my 2015 writing goals. My 2014 writing goal in this area is to go to at least one writing event every month. I've been doing an okay job at this goal, but next year I want to step this up. I would like to promote myself and my work at least once a month next year. I want to be able to do book talks at libraries, set up my very first book signing, and put myself fully out there.

After this semester ends (five more weeks!) I am done with school (unless sometime in the future I decide to pursue my BA in English. I got into State once [this year] I can do it again!). Once school is done, this will free up a lot of my time and energy. I'll continue working full time, running my critique groups, and working with the Youth Groups, but I'm going to be able to jump fully into writing.

I don't want to be half in anymore. I want to be submerged, and I know with support, 2015 will be an exciting year!

As I'm writing tonight, a huge part of me wants this book to be written and done. I feel distracted, partially because I'm sick and hot right now, and also because I am so excited. I love my books. I'm writing my fourth book right now. I've always wanted to be able to say that, but it's completely true right now. I am writing my FOURTH book! I have two published, one in its third draft, and I'm working on the first draft of my fourth novel. It's kind of crazy to think about how much I've accomplished in such a short amount of time. It was November 2011 when Child of Prophecy was published as an e-book and January 2013 when Child of Prophecy was published as a paperback. August 2013 when Mysterious Warriors: Unity was published as paperback and Kindle. It will be May 2014 when Child of Beauty is published as paperback and Kindle, and November 2014 when Mysterious Warriors: Broken is published as paperback and Kindle.

I've been thinking about my cousin, who has a book of poetry published, and I'm so proud of her for following her dream. It's crazy to think that two cousins can be published authors.

My life has changed drastically within the past few months, with a new job, new car, and writing. The past three years of my life have been life-changing years between all that, publishing, critiquing, marriage, and joining the SD Christian Writers' Guild. I am so excited by all the possibilities which are coming my way, and I think I finally have an understanding of where my life's supposed to go and where I'm supposed to be.

I am so blessed to have such an incredible support system, and I love my husband and family so much! I thank God for them all the time, and He has put talented, loyal, and incredible friends in my life as well. Thank you to everyone who supports me!