Hey guys! Check out the new "Reviews" tab on the website and see what people are saying!

Also, I recently did an interview with Cheryl from A Good Day to Read.com and it was great! Here it is:

http://agooddaytoread.com/category/author/interviews/

Thanks!

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Weight the Positives

Is anyone else stuck in that midwinter black hole? You know. That vortex in January between New Years and President's Day when it's cold and gray and there isn't a holiday in sight, and you have to go from a letter size pad to a legal size pad for your to-do list, and your sister comes to your house and tells you you need to clean your range hood and you just don't even want to deal with her?
She really did, bless her heart. She sited some ridiculous statistic about home fires. Like anyone's house really burns. (Ours actually did, when I was 8 and she was 5, but it wasn't the range hood that started it, so I don't see what her concern is.)
Okay, so I shouldn't joke about house fires and I truly do know this from personal experience, but there's still that black hole issue.
My dad actually taught me how to deal with the midwinter astronomical blahhhhs. In fact, that is the point of this blog. I'm sharing one of the great truths of the universe.
You have to weight the positives.
In the middle of January, you have to find something, anything, to be the slightest bit enthusiastic about and then latch onto it with gusto!
The time my dad was teaching me this concept, he was encouraging me to buy a cantelope melon worth a small Hummer, but chocolate will work just as well and is cheaper. Mid winter rodeos are also good monotony breakers. They usually have one in Ogden about now and even if it's just bulls and I have to hide my face a good portion of the time, or suffer the "Mom, don't scream!" admonition, rodeos can perk you right up!
A good Julie Coulter Bellon does wonders too. I tried that last night and it was positively therapeutic! And now that I'm published, I can actually say, "Sorry, I need to read. Gotta keep up with what's going on in the literary world, ya' know?"
How great is that? Hey! That's another positive that I hadn't thought of today!
This works! I'm telling you! Just keep finding the positives. Give them unfair amounts of attention and ... Ta duh! February will be here and the Black birds will start to buzz and you can ski in your t-shirt and you've made it through another blaahhhh! Nice going! Jaclyn M. Hawkes

The world needs more knights in shining armor and stemware at breakfast!

It's been a week. Holy Moly! I'm thinking of getting another "I survived" T-shirt. The only thing is, no matter how hard I pedalled, it was relatively thankless and I'm sure that I'm even further behind for all of my efforts. (Whining, whining. Aaahhh!)
So... I've been thinking. You know that old piece of advice about using the nice sheets and wearing nasty underwear because life is short? Okay, so it's not a direct quote, but you know what I mean. Well, I always use the nice sheets because, well, duh! (Please don't tell my children that I said that word.) And my derwear isn't truly negotiable, but today, I used the stemwear for breakfast! It was positively liberating!
And, guess what outlandish thing I'm going to do next! I'm going into my secret chamber and I'm going to fire up that magical fairy writing implement(my laptop). I'm going to transport myself into the fourteenth century and hang with with Sir Peyton Wolfgar, hunky warrior of the kingdom and his intrepid love, Chantaya Kincraig! They are so much more fun than reality!
In case you weren't aware, I'm working on my first medieval book. I think you'll love it! I do! I've decided that the world needs more knights in shining armor. And stemware at breakfast. Life IS short, even when the week feels like a year. Maybe tomorrow morning I'll propose a toast! Jaclyn

Oh man.

I got on-line this morning and was so sad to see that Chip McGregor has decided to stop doing his blog. Dang it! He's been one of my all time favs and has been invaluable to a blithering idiot newcomer like myself. Some bloggers are all about selling you something, but Chip was great to just give of his wisdom. Not to mention that he has an incredibly funny sarcasm at times, (typically aimed at blithering idiot newcomers). I will miss it immensely. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. At least he's going to leave everything up. Thanks for all your input, Chip and good luck in what's ahead. Jaclyn

Attitude

I have this marvelous old red horse. He's 20 and he has arthritic knees and navicular disease and laminitis in one foot and he's a great old beast. I slept at the barn the night he was born and I love him dearly. I need to put him to sleep this fall before really nasty winter sets in and that's a horrible thing to have to do. He must have begun to suspect or something because yesterday he actually trotted across the field with his other old buddy to greet the other horses. He doesn't trot much these days. And today... Holy Toledo! He came loping across that field like a two year old! It was awesome!
You know, in this life, sometimes we just have to have the attitude of a two year old. It's a beautiful thing! It can give you a whole new lease on life! Literally!
So kick up your heels today! The other horses love it! Jaclyn

Living here in the Emerald Isle

We've gone way past monsoon here in Oakley. It's been raining for more than a week off and on and I am LOVING IT! We're talking the coolest thunderstorms ever! Yeah, it's looking a lot like Ireland out there. I think we'll be green here right up until we're buried in snow -which may be soon. Thousand Peaks got it last night.
Don't worry, I just gather all my little chickens under my wings by the fire and... Well, I mean after football practice and soccer and achievement day activities and, oh, are there any hunts going on? Oh, that's right. I was wondering what had happened to all the men I love. They can hunt all they want. Predation is a guy thing. Us feminine chickens are going to sit by the fire and listen to the thunder. Maybe read a good book! Hope you all have a great thunderstorm to fall asleep to. Jaclyn