Alive and Kicking!

Hey everyone!

Long time no speak. This post is for who asked if I was leaving LJ/DW for good and I told her I wasn't and that I would post soon...so here I am, posting.



What's been going on:

Health - I had my bilateral mastectomy back in January. They did find breast cancer (stage 0/stage 1) in BOTH breasts, so having them do both sides was obviously a good decision. I go in for my final reconstruction surgery at the end of July. Based on the size and staging of the tumors and a lengthy discussion with the oncologist we decided simply taking Tamoxifen was the best course of action. I'll be on it for 5-10 years. The only 'side effect' I've experienced so far has been fatigue, and frankly most of that can be attributed to the significant iron deficiency I developed post surgery. So now I'm on iron pills LOL.

Work - One of the nurses I work with left for another job closer to her house and I was given the opportunity to absorb her hours into my schedule. It's not much money but it IS money coming and I'm happy, hubby is happy that I'M happy so any search for a new job has been temporarily suspended. Which also makes me happy :D

Family - School is over, it turned out to be an AMAZING year so we're happy about that. My in-laws are taking the entire family (us & my sister-in law's family & my MIL's sister) to the UK for two weeks - we'll spend time in London, Scotland, Wales (YES I'M GOING TO IANTO'S SHRINE!!!!!) and then back through other parts of England. After that trip the kid will be going to spend some time with my parents while the hubs and I go back to work.

Writing - I have not written anything significant. There have been a few spurts here and there, but nothing concentrated. HOWEVER - With Lillian Francis' encouragement, I've started making plans to self-publish ALL my old short stories in two single-author anthologies. It will be quite a while before they come out seeing as how I'm just now in the planning stages, but it is in the works. And again thanks to her encouragement along with LJ Hamlin I am FINALLY back into editing one of my completed novels. I'm making NO estimates as to when I might be submitting it, I'm still trying to find my footing, but at least I'm working on it. So there's that.

It feels really good to be writing/editing again. I feared it would never come back. I'm still only editing, but I'm hopeful that eventually I will be actively writing again. I went through my WIP folder and there are so many WIPs that I'm hopeful once I get my feet wet with this editing that something will inspire me.

And finally - I want to thank all of you for your prayers, your well wishes, your thoughts, and your support. This has been a really hard time for the Thrace family and I wouldn't have made it through without my friends. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

I'll check back in probably in August after my surgery.



Have a great summer!

<3333
Katherine H (Thrace)

Sales and Freebies!

Just popped in to let you all know of some sales and some FREEBIES!

First, ARE is having a MASSIVE October Giveaway! They are giving away loads of books, swag, gift certificates, etc, to random customers at check out. I am an official sponsor and donated several copies of Cast The First Stone and Fixing The Hole. So run over to http://allromanceebooks.com/ buy some books and see if you are one of the lucky winners!

I'm supposed to link via the picture, but I don't know how to do that, so I'll post the picture at the bottom LOL.

Also, starting October 15 and running until the end of the month, All Romance Ebooks will be offering a special 25% rebate for all Torquere titles! I got my start with them, you can get several short stories and of course my novella, Cast The First Stone! So run over there! You might win something and you'll save some money!

Now for non-promo stuff...writing is going VERY SLOWLY /o\ I almost have no energy most days, it's so weird. Maybe I'm pushing too hard at the gym, who knows, but I'm trying. A few hundred words at a time. RL is keeping me SUPER busy so there's that too.

Hope all is well.

Now go buy and SAVE!

<3333 Katherine

Fun Friday...so to speak

Hey everyone,

Just a brief update.

I have finally started writing again. Attempting a short to submit for Dreamspinner. It's kind of a hot mess right now and I'm not even sure how to end it so hopefully Button can work some magic just like always. Hot mess aside, at least I wrote something, mostly, hopefully if I just keep plugging away the hot messiness will go away LOL.

Hubs is back from his two week TAD, so that's good. Everyone is thrilled. The dog wouldn't leave him alone and the kid never stopped talking LOL.

School has started and mini-minion is loving it so that is a relief.

House is still in need of repair but we are optimistic. And I'm still looking for a job and still optimistic about that as well.

And that is the state of Thrace and family.

Hope all is well with you. Have a great weekend!

<333
Katherine

Just Another Manic Monday

Hi!

Long time no see! We are mostly settled in, meaning, we are unpacked and have most of the stuff put away and pictures up on the walls. The hubs still has to finish 'his' wall, and the 'library' still needs things on the walls (but those have yet to be framed so....)

As some of you know, the renters & rental management company were NOT kind to our house and we have a LOT Of repairs to do. Which would be fine if they had come one at a time over the last five years? But yeah, no, so, I'm job hunting which is taking the majority of my time so my writing & editing has taken a SEVERE backseat. I'm still doing it, but yeah, I need to find a job that will be a steady paycheck so...sacrifices have been made. I do have a short story coming out this month, the 17th, I believe. More about that later this week, maybe?

I can't really tell you what I'm going to work on, because I haven't exactly figured out which story/stories to prioritize when I do, I'll let you know.

That all said, Congrats go out to my fellow author Lillian Francis who is self-publishing a novel that was originally published elsewhere, it has a GORGEOUS new cover, she's doing a blog tour and everything!!! I'm copying her info below, go check it out.

Have a great Monday and I'll hopefully see you later on in the week!

<333
Katherine

TITLE: Lovers Entwined

AUTHOR: Lillian Francis

PUBLISHER: Finally Love Press

COVER ARTIST: Meredith Russell

LENGTH: 98,950 words

RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2015

BLURB: Ewan Matthews is one of Boston’s leading genealogy experts. When a would-be bridegroom comes looking for confirmation that there are no skeletons in his ancestral closet, Ewan considers turning the job down. Trey Capell is a jerk of the highest order and yet Ewan experiences an infuriating attraction that’s easy to justify. Trey’s exactly his type—a carbon copy of the man Ewan’s been looking for his entire life.

Harder to explain is the sense of recognition that leaves Ewan speechless the moment Trey steps into his office. Or the stomach-churning sensation at the thought of casting the job aside. Trey gets more appealing by the day, leaving Ewan struggling with forbidden desire for his client. Desire not helped by strange voyeuristic dreams that have started to haunt his sleep. Dreams that appear to be an echo of the past.

Purchase links for Lovers Entwined. 

Amazon US 
Amazon UK 
ARe 

The price will be going back up to $3.99 at some point today it just depends on how quick each of the particular sites are, at the moment they all still stand at $2.99.

Quickie Update

Hi all,

Just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still alive!

We are moved in, mostly settled, still have some work to do, still getting used to the new/old place. My kitchen is smaller so there's that :( And after five years of renters our townhouse is in desperate need of some TLC which we can't really do right now (too much all at once) so we'll have to take one thing at a time. Including me getting a job O__O - prayers, well wishes, whatnot for that would be appreciated.

I do have another short story/anthology coming out in August with Torquere. It's the First Timer's Anthology and my story is called Finding Home - my first time writing a M/M/M story O__O. Also, it's shifters :D

I really need to update my what I'm reading list because there's a lot, but that'll be for another week.

Hope all is well.

<333
Katherine

Surprise Saturday

SURPRISE! I'm here on a Saturday. Need to catch all of you up on a few things!

First, move is going and stressful. One more week until packout /o\ (hence my lack of presence here, trying to get things squared away here and at our destination so the move goes smoothly)

Second, Fixing the Hole is now available on AUDIO!! How cool is that?? A few weeks ago Dreamspinner contacted me about auditions, I listened to them, chose my favorite, and now it's OUT! And it's AMAZING!!! You can find it here: Fixing the Hole

Third: Just signed a contract with Torquere for Finding Home, it will be part of their First Timers Anthology and also sold on its own (I believe, more on that later). It's a sequel of sorts to the free read included in Please Don't Feed The Alligators which came out a year or so ago. Let me tease you with - not only is it the characters' first time threesome - it's my first time writing one! More to come :D

Fourth: I have a RELEASE NEXT WEEK! How did this happen? How did it sneak up on my like that? No blog tour, no fanfare, just little ole' me trying to get the word out. *sigh* It's called Life Happens and it's part of the Family Time Anthology from Torquere that comes out on the 17th!

Here's a quick blurb:

After a night of mishaps, Dominic Antonelli doubts his boyfriend Kit Thomas would want to tie himself to their messy family. But Dominic has forgotten there is more to being a family than a piece of paper and a circle of gold.

Just a fun little romp about how life often throws a wrench into the best laid plans. It's definitely more on the sweet side (with all the stress in RL rn it had to be). I hope you give it a shot. There's some great stories in the anthology and look at the cover!



And that's all from me for now! Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be around next week doing some promo!

<333
Katherine

Fun Friday

I DID IT! Three posts in ONE WEEK! WOO HOOOOO \0/

Except this will be short LOL. Kid has been out of school ALL WEEK due to the cold and the snow...so it has not been a very productive week because I've had to put all my focus on studying for my certification with what little time I had *sigh* Oh well, hopefully it will warm up this weekend and we'll be back to normal on Monday.

Baseball evals are this weekend, first time, since we've always done soccer, so that should be interesting. DATE NIGHT tonight! We're going for Indian (it seems to be a favorite for us LOL) and probably to see Project Almanac - I'd rather see Jupiter Ascending, but PA has been out longer & hubs really wants to see it so...Jupiter will have to wait until next weekend I guess. Also, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Kingsman again because that movie was AWESOME. Colin Firth is still SMOKIN' HOT and he KICKS ASS! And the new kid, Tarton? is a great match for Colin. If you like spies, action, and humor? Yeah, def go see it.

And that's it. I'm over at the Torquere Social LJ today blogging about weather, and what I'm currently editing and writing. Stop on by and have a chat.

Have a great weekend.

<333
Katherine

Fun Friday

Wow, thank goodness it's Friday!!!!

And I don't even know what to talk about :/ Kid's bday was last weekend or rather earlier this week. Had a MASSIVE celebration on Saturday - went to Chuck E. Cheese with a friend, then out to see Paddington (which was surprisingly entertaining! I would definitely go see it again) and then home for dinner, cake and ice cream.

Friday night was date night, we went to Olive Garden and then to see Into the Woods. Not that impressed. I don't know what I was expecting, but not that. And frankly, the movie could have ended at a particular point and I would have been MUCH MUCH happier. Definitely NOT one I would see again, paid, free, or otherwise. Sad too because I adore Anna Kendrick and Christopher Pine.

Hubs was sick this week, actually took Monday and Tuesday off from work. MANFLU. And lo and behold this morning I woke up with a sore throat. And today is our Sixteenth Wedding Anniversary. Awesome. We do have dinner plans and other then a minor sore throat I'm feeling fine. *fingers crossed* I don't get as sick as he did.

Tomorrow we take the kid to fondue for the final birthday dinner LOL. I made spaghetti for him on his actual birthday.

And that's about it for Fun Friday. Hope you all have a great weekend and HOPEFULLY I won't be too sick or exhausted to post Manic Monday!

<333

Katherine

It's The Most Wonderful Time...

Hey everyone,

Sorry it's been almost two weeks without a post AND I'm posting on a SATURDAY!!! Which means I'll be brief LOL.

My shopping is 99% done - there is still one gift I'm debating on, literally I have four tabs open & I'm trying to decide which one I like better...*sigh* Wrapping is finished and all my packages and cards have been mailed! WOOO HOOOOO

This of course means I have nothing to do except write and edit...neither of which I am doing *frowns at self* I'm trying, I think NaNo burned me out. We'll see.

My FIL stopped by on Thursday for a quick overnight. With him he brought, five LARGE bars of chocolate, two bars of Toblorone, 1 bag of Doritos, 1 Bag of Cracker Jacks, 1 package of Oreos, 1 half-eaten bag of Twizzlers, 1 open bag of chips of some sort, 1 open bag of pretzel chips, 1 open bag of peanuts, some assorted other candies and things. He bestows this upon us like he's gifting us something. >:( Being a diabetic, I can't in good conscience eat most of that stuff. I'm not saying I'm perfect, far from it, but I am VERY choosy about when and where I splurge.

He does this every single time he comes to visit. When they were here for Thanksgiving - we had TWICE that amount, plus 4 2-Liter bottles of pop (which we don't drink - at least not often enough to warrant a 2-Liter bottle which is why I buy cans and sometimes we end up throwing a half-full can out because it has gone flat in the fridge :/ )

So the hubs and I have worked out a system, because he's been doing this for almost sixteen years now. He's not going to change. We say thank you and as soon as he leaves, the open stuff gets pitched and the unopened stuff gets donated to the kitchen at hubby's office. And I bite my tongue when the mountain of junk food appears on my kitchen table/counter with my FIL.

I still get frustrated though. (as you can no doubt tell from this post)

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll do another post next week and tell you about the exciting thing we are doing with our child on Monday. (hint:...The Hobbit)

Have a great weekend!

<333
Katherine