Friday Free-For-All #Followup #RONEAward #celebrating #reading #podcast

Published on by Jan Sikes

Happy Friday! I have had a busy but productive week and managed to get in a bit of celebrating. (If you didn’t see my Monday tarot reading, take a look here.) I’m happy to say the reading was spot-on for me this week.

First off, an update on the health scare I had last week. I saw my doctor on Wednesday. They did an EKG, took my vitals, and reported that all looked within the normal range, nothing out of the ordinary. The only other follow-up to that is scheduling a CT scan of the carotid arteries. If that comes back clear, I am left with a mystery as to what caused the frightening incident last week. I shrug my shoulder. Who knows? These bodies are such complex machines with lots of working parts, and if any tiny part goes haywire, it throws the entire machine out of whack. I’m happy to report no other dizzy spells. Onward and upward.

My latest novel, Saddled Hearts, is up for a RONE Reader’s Award. Many of you have already voted, and I am deeply grateful. If you haven’t had a chance to vote yet, please take a minute to do so. Saddled Hearts is at the bottom of the list under the suspense category. Follow this link to cast your vote! RONE AWARDS VOTING. Thank you!

On the writing front, I finished a novella this week that I’ve been working on for a while (as in way too long). I swear, I seem to get slower and slower at writing. But I suppose it doesn’t really matter in the big scope of things. I’m not at liberty yet to make any announcement about the new story as it is part of a collaboration, but nevertheless, I’m celebrating writing “The End!”

Of course, I have a new project to start (don’t we always?). And then there’s the issue of what to do with the historical fiction novel I’ve had finished for a while. There is no lack of things to do, EVER! And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I enjoyed a visit with my oldest sister this past Sunday. She is such an amazing lady at 87. Despite her declining health and moving into hospice, her attitude is upbeat and positive. We laughed and reminisced. She told me she wanted to learn to play Skip-Bo. She has always been someone I look up to and admire, and that hasn’t changed. If you’ve read my true story series, you’ll know her as Norma. I’m so glad I got to spend some time with her and will go back again soon, if at all possible.

I made a very cool discovery on Canva this week. I have used this app for several years and love it for all things related to graphics. My daughter had a logo created for a new cabin they’re building in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Here’s the original logo:

She wanted the words ‘Hummingbird Hideway’ removed and the word ‘Welcome’ added so she could have a metal sign created to hang at the entrance of the cabin. I had no idea if I could do it, but I discovered Canva has a Magic Eraser! That’s right. A Magic Eraser. And it worked like a charm. It took me all of ten minutes to create what she needed. This is how it turned out:

I love finding new things that work! The other thing I learned this week, thanks to the genius of Staci Troilo, is that you can create a Tweet box within the body of your blog posts. You can see below I’ve done that, so you can see how it works. Thank you, Staci! Have any of you found anything really cool this week?

On the entertainment front, I have finally finished watching Breaking Bad. I started watching it because my oldest grandson loves the series and asked me to watch it so we could talk about it. I will bend over backward to do almost anything the grandkids ask of me. Anyway, now I’m back to reading and, according to my Goodreads Challenge, need to catch up. 🙂

The book I’m currently reading is so good and different. Winter Song has two things I love to find in a story—a ghost and a budding romance. My review will be coming soon, as will my review for D.L. Finn’s new collection of short stories, In the Tree’s Shadow: A collection of stories that exist in your dreams… and nightmares. I will be posting all of my reviews for April soon!

What are you reading? I’d love to know.

I hope you have plans for a great weekend ahead. I am going to be a guest on a podcast tomorrow morning at 10:30 am via Zoom. It isn’t a live show, but I will share the link to the show whenever I have it.

That’s it for me today. Thanks for stopping by and indulging my meanderings.

Celebrating #writing #reading, and learning new things! #FridayForAll #RONEAward #writingcommunity #readingcommunity @jansikes3

35 thoughts on “Friday Free-For-All #Followup #RONEAward #celebrating #reading #podcast”

  3. Good news, Jan. Our bodies can act wonky at times. Hopefully, it ends up being one of those unexplainable things that never happens again. Here’s to good health!

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  4. Wow, that’s a lot of news, Jan!

    I am so glad your tests came back clear and that you had such a nice visit with your sister (I had to look up Skip-Bo). You’ve also made amazing strides on the writing front, so congrats on all those accomplishments.

    I used Canva on the day job, but I’m not the best with it. I’m going to have to look up the eraser. That is really cool!

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    1. Thanks, Mae. I appreciate you stopping by. I laughed that you had to look up Skip-Bo. Such a fun game. I was so amazed to find the magic eraser, and it worked like a charm! I hope you have a great weekend ahead!

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  6. I am so happy it was good news at the doctor. Time for you to do some “me” time and take good care of you. I look forward to your review, thank you! Wishing you tons of luck with the contest. So glad you could spend time with your sister too. I tried the Twitter link, worked great. Love learning new things. Sending hugs xo

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    1. I agree, Denise. This weekend, I need to do some spring cleaning and lots of reading. Thank you for the good wishes, and thank you for voting. Glad the Twitter link worked. 🙂 You never know until you try, but I trust anything Staci shares. Have a wonderful weekend, and I’m sending enormous hugs back to you!

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  7. I was going to suggest that perhaps your fainting spell was due to low blood sugar exaperated by exhaustion and stress, Jan. But seeing the doctor was important and really, what do I know?! It’s important to rule out the serious stuff. Now that you’ve been to the doc, I’ll suggest it. It’s sounded like something I’ve experienced, and self care is the cure. And congrats on the RONE nomination. Of course I voted. Congrats on finishing your novella (which I can’t wait to read). And I’m so glad you had a lovely visit with your sister. You sound like you’re doing better. Hugs, my friend.

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    1. Thank you for that suggestion, Diana. Low blood sugar or a sudden drop in blood pressure could have caused it. Most importantly, I’m hoping it’s a one-time occurrence. I do need to try to take a little more time for self-care. That’s so hard for me to do. Thanks for the suggestion, and thank you for voting! I’m excited about the novella project. It’s going to be so much fun! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I’m sending hugs back to you ten-fold!

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  8. Delighted to read all your news from this week, Jan. So smiling! I’m re-reading the Cynster series by Stephanie Laurens. It’s Regency rakes–one of my favorites, lol! A dear, old friend called these types of books, “Eye candy for the brain.” 😉

    Have a fabulous weekend. xo

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    1. That’s interesting, Mary, that you said re-reading the series. I seldom go back and re-read a book, but there are a few that I’d certainly enjoy doing just that. Thank you for sharing. I love the term, “Eye candy for the brain!” I intend to indulge in that eye candy this weekend! Thank you for commenting and I wish you a wonderful weekend as well!

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  11. What a great week. Good for you!

    I used your click-to-tweet button. Worked like a charm. Glad to have helped you figure that out. (And thanks for the shout-out, though I don’t know about the “genius” part.)

    Thrilled your tests came back clean, and so happy you got quality time with your sister.

    Can’t wait to read your announcement about winning the award. I know it’s going to happen for you.

    Congratulations on finishing your novella. You really have a lot to celebrate this week! Have a great weekend, Jan.

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    1. Thank you, Staci, and I beg to differ about the genius part. So glad the click-to-tweet button worked. 🙂 Whew! Lots of new things this week, for sure. I look forward to celebrating a win, but even if I don’t, I am honored to have made it to the voting round. I appreciate all your good wishes and support! I hope you have a great weekend yourself!

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    1. While I am relieved to not find anything wrong with my heart, Jill, it leaves me perplexed as to what happened to me that literally knocked me down. But I can’t dwell on it. I can only pray that is never happens again. Thanks for the congratulations and I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead!

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  15. Sounds like you really bookended the week, with health scares and a finished MS. Everything has ground to a halt for me. I have many things pulling at my attention, and doubt I’ll be writing this weekend. Could happen.

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    1. Life moves in cycles, or phases and stages, as Willie Nelson says. You go with what is happening for you and know it will change. No situation is ever permanent. Here’s wishing you at least a relaxing weekend, Craig, and if writing comes into the picture, great! If not, great! It’s all good.

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  17. Sounds like a great week. I look forward to hearing more about the novella. I just finished reading Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, a Scottish classic. it was so good I’m having trouble starting a new book. My next book takes place in Scottland so it really put me in the mood to write. Happy weekend.

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    1. I love it when a book is so good you have a hard time starting the next one. I will check out Sunset Song. I am going to be in Ireland in July for a writer’s conference, so reading anything set in Ireland or Scotland is high on my “want” list. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. Have a great weekend!

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