Earth Day...so?

I used to plant tons of trees, when I had a lot of acreage–I love forests. But I was so disappointed to learn the people who bought my home in Oklahoma clearcut most of the trees. Beautiful pines, helped to stop erosion on the hillside, and they provided homes for birds, beauty, solitude. There’s no prettier sound than wind blowing through a forest and hearing the rustle of branches or pine needles.
We have old forest in and around our neighborhood. Most new home developments, they just clearcut the trees, leaving barren land. But here, I have several old pines. And behind me, one of my neighbors has beautiful oaks. He wants to cut them down. Why? Because they drop leaves and twigs and he has to pick them up. Really? He has to cut the grass too!  Maybe he should dig it up?

In Texas heat, shade trees are at a premium. They’re beautiful. You see them towering a hundred feet above the homes. Why would you want to cut them down??? I had to have one of the pine trees taken down because it had died, but that’s the only reason to do so, or if the roots are getting into the foundation.

But with such a small lot, which I’m thankful for in that it’s much easier to water and maintain, I’m restricted to small shrubs and flowers and such for the most part. Though….I’d like to get some more crepe myrtles, they’re like small trees.

I have planted all of the flowers here, the zinnias from seeds which should turn into flowers soon, the marigolds and daylilies and Mexican heather, the dianthus, and much more. Many will come back next year as they’re perennials. Many will reseed and return even if they’re annuals. I started last year with the daylilies and a few salvia and coneflowers, and the builders had planted coreopsis and snapdragons. So each year, the flowerbeds should be even more beautiful. Oh, and sunflowers.

They’re coming up from the seeds dropped by the birds, but I love seeing them in the garden as they remind me of my father who used to plant them.

What I love about the flowers, besides the color and vibrancy, is that the honeybees, bumblebees, hummingbirds and butterflies love them.

So think about Earth Day, and if you can, plant something to give back to nature.

Have a lovely day!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Thunderstorms and Rain? Or Just an Illusion?

Have you ever thought you were crazy? Last night we had a terrific thunderstorm, woke up the puppies and scared them. Both of them were barking their heads off because of the thunder booming right overhead. I don’t want them to be afraid of storms. So we settled in for a long winter’s nap. Well, spring bedtime, really. It was around 11 pm and I didn’t want to have my computer fried.

It poured. I could hear the rain coming down next to one of the windows. This morning, I expected to see wet pavement. My driveways were all dry on the side of the house. I couldn’t believe it! The grass was wet, but it can be wet with a heavy dew.

So I went to get the mail from yesterday and the telling place would be the front driveway. It has a couple of low spots that if it really rained, some water might still be there. And voila! Two big areas of wet stuff. Now, I feel exonerated. It poured rain last night and I’m not crazy!

Have you ever thought you were imagining something and it turned out to be real? Or you thought something was real and you only imagined it?

Happy Easter!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Weekend!!! Dragon Fae audiobook just came out! And I've got to proof Hawk Fae's, and I have final proofing on Silver Wolf Christmas. Love those Silver boys. And I'm still working on The End of She-Wolf. Love those Silver boys. And...well, I guess that's enough for my Easter weekend! Hope you have a grand time!!


See what happens when I think I'm getting close to The End? Other stuff happens.

Happy Easter!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

So Close...

The miniature roses are in bloom!

I'm so close to the end of word count, but the way it always happens is I end up writing about 7,000 or more words as I'm finishing up the story.  But that means rereading and rereading to make sure that I catch all the changes I've made as I've gone along in the story, and explain any loose ends. And flesh out some of the scenes. Like in one, they were talking. And talking. And talking. Which is really important. But, I needed to have some action and show something of their surroundings while they're talking so that the reader still feels grounded in the story.

So things like that start to add up word count, but at a much slower pace. Which is why I still haven't reached it, but am getting there. 8900 words to go.

It always amazes me when I start a new book and I have Chapter 1. That's it. The title. And somehow get to THE END.

Off to whittle some more of the word count down. I can't wait until I have really written the end, and can read all the way through for just enjoyment.

Have a super great TGIF!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Beware!! April Fool’s Day!! All Fool’s Day!!

In one of my fae stories, I talk about April Fool’s Day and some of the outrageous things people have been doing for centuries to play jokes on their friends, family, and society in general. The fae were known to be tricksters, and so they loved to play tricks on the humans. But they also do so with their own kind.

What you need is to be cognizant that it’s going on TODAY. That if someone does it tomorrow, they are the fool. And that if you don’t get them first, they will get you.

My dad, historically, got flies in his food at restaurants. In his drinks. In a hamburger once, and when he opened it up to add ketchup, yep, extra protein. Now, when he was starving in a POW camp in Germany and eating wormy potatoes, the extra worms could be important nutrition. But not any longer.

So we got some plastic ice cubes filled with water and the usual: a nail, a fly, etc.

He got the fly ice cube. It’s hot in Florida, so we all drank water with ice cubes and of course he swore. He said that was because of the army. He was in the AF, but he enlisted in the army first. I was in the army, so he always said that anything bad he learned, it was because of the army.

My dad had a great sense of humor. So it was fun teasing him. He was a great tease back.

But you have to be REALLY careful, and only joke about stuff that would be so unreal, no one would fall for it. Then when they do, gotcha. But if it’s something that no one would realize it wasn’t true, then well, it won’t work.

So one year on my blog I said: I QUIT.

I had so many fans get upset thinking I was quitting writing. I figured NO one would believe me.

*sigh*

So even when you figure no one will believe you–I have deadlines up to a gazillion, sometimes it won’t work. And it can’t be upsetting, even if you believe NO one would believe you, because it makes an impact anyway. Like–an alligator ate my neighbor’s dog. Well, first, my neighbor doesn’t have a dog and second, I live in Central Texas and we have NO alligators, except at the zoo, and if they ever escaped, they’d never make it this far. I could say I gained 150 pounds last night after eating a whole package of brussel sprouts. No way could anyone believe that. :) And that’s no fun!

So instead of making something up, I just thought I’d share about April Fool’s Day, and not try to tease you.

On April 1, 1698, a lot of people were fooled into going to see the lions being washed at the Tower of London. So April Fool’s Day has been going on for a long time.

Okay, got to get off and write. I’m so close to the end, but still need to write several more scenes before I’m at the end.

Here’s Max all pink chalked up to be ready for Easter and putting out Easter eggs for the kids. He really doesn’t mind being all pink. Really. Even my dad wore pink shirts.

Pink Max

Of course, no way am I taking him to obedience training like this.
Have a great hump day!!!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Need vs Want

Have you ever been pulled and tugged and pushed to fill a want when you know you have other needs you need to fulfill first? Like…obligations?

I am behind on word count. It’s a need. I need to get 5700 words done today on She-Wolf. I need to work on a bear and get it finished this weekend so I can ship it on Monday. Those are deadline needs.

But I also needed to vacuum and mop the floors. And dust. I did the floors, and some of the dusting. I also washed all the puppies’ bedding, towels I used on them, etc. I have too many needs.

Tanner the Hunter

Then there are the darn wants. I’m usually good about fulfilling needs first, then wants as a treat, just like if the puppies do what they’re supposed to, they get their treats. :)

So, I started watching Outlander. I bought the tape. Can’t get it on my limited channels and I’ve done the free premium channels for 3 mos and rarely ever watch them. But while working on the bears, I’ll watch a movie. And I’m hooked. And I want to watch more. Love anything that’s historical, love time travel. Love the Highlands. So enjoying so far. And I want to watch more of it. I could fulfill a need while I do so–make up the remaining bear for the  order.

But, I have to get my word count. And that’s nagging at me. So first the writing, and then the bear. But I also want to play Dragonage Inquisition. RPGs are really addictive. I’m goal oriented. I want to solve quests, fulfill missions, take down the bad guys, rescue the good guys. I work long hours on writing and promoting. I enjoy it, but I also need a break from it–I tell myself, just to go and fight monsters, etc. :)

Again, I tell myself–yes, you can. You can play all day long! IF you get your word count. *sigh*
So I have to post another blog [need] and then after that? I’ll play my game for a while, then stop and watch the movie and work on the bear some more.

But what I really want to do is skip writing and play the game.

Writing prevails. I write 2500 words a day, but as you can see with needing 5700 today, I’m behind.

Off to write another blog and see what wins out. Writing? Or…..Gaming.

I have to say that some of the reason I’m not getting tons of word count is that I’m getting closer to the end. I have to wrap up loose ends and figure out how I’m going to end it, how I’m going to get the hero and heroine to say I do without it sounding like any of the other books. So that means lots of thinking…

Have a super great day!
Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

What Are Friends For???

I took this picture at a sculpture park of one of the three muses. And I thought she was perfect for the role.

What are friends for? Helping me to get unstuck. Our brains aren’t computers. We can do research online or elsewhere, but sometimes it’s fun to just ask the question of friends, and I mean Facebook friends. I had used a crock pot meal in Cougar’s Mate–Irish Stew, love it, and so my hero made it for himself while he was repairing the cabin rentals he owned. But he’s also a part-time deputy sheriff and so he gets a call. Long story, he doesn’t make it home to turn off the stew. But friends can be a lifesaver. Dan, the sheriff, goes to his place and puts the stew away, but he had to taste it first. Thankfully, he left enough for the hero and heroine to have for eats the next day.
I also make Wassail in it at Christmastime.

But I couldn’t think of something a hero could use in She-Wolf. All the males in my family cook, so if you wonder why they often cook something in the stories, that’s why. In fact, my mom hated to cook, so dad did most of the cooking. Early on, mom did. But after dad retired, he did most of the cooking. I just always thought it was neat. We had a neighbor who wouldn’t lift a finger to fix a meal for himself when his wife had to be away on trips, so she would prepare a bunch of meals for him for while she was away. He was not hero material.

But I was stuck and so I asked what could be cooked in a crock pot. I had an outpouring of ideas. I loved them. It made me hungry. I want to try a bazillion of them for myself. Forget waiting for a hero to step in and make it! :)

So if you get stuck in everyday life, sometimes, just asking for help/direction/tips will get you to where you need to go.

Were you waiting for me to share the ideas? Here they are! I was getting hungry just reading over them again.

Pot roasts, chicken tortilla soup, Lamb Shanks – can you tell I’m a kiwi? But they are so tasty and the meat melts off the bone in the slow cooker, Chilli, although I do Dill Cream Chicken so good
Chicken breast , potatoes, carrots, onions salt and pepper and Dill lots of dill. pour whipping cream over the chicken and veggies and let your crock pot do the work
goulash is amazing
stew, with Guinness or Irish whiskey
wings,
New Mexico Green Chili!!
I make onion soup – water; several onions; bit of olive oil, bit of cider vinegar; little bit of beef, dredged in flour; I make chili from scratch; chicken soup from scratch; tomato soup from scratch = low sodium tom juice; toms, onions, carrots, peppers – mostly toms – water, bit of brown rice; etc
Just about any soup but the one I make with winter squash is a family favorite!
ham (we use turkey ham) and scalloped potatoes
goulash is amazing in the crock pot
We make gluten free chili in the crock pot.
Also great for a pork roast that you later cover with bb’cue sauce and fork into strips for pulled pork.
Pinto beans, chili, pulled pork…, Baked beans, pork Bar-B-Q, chili, any type of chicken or beef stew.
You cold be different and bring a hot drink like spiced cider., we cook just about everything in the crockpot including oatmeal during the winter so it is ready in the morning, shredded pork, http://teespring.com/crock-pot-superstar
Lasagna. It’s fabulous! Tastes just like Stouffers.
Pork and veg’s mushroom soup.
or chicken with veg’s chicken .or mushroom soup they come out like a stew
BBQ beef, Oh, pork loin, seasoned with salt, paprika, dry mustard, brown sugar, cooked on low for hours with beer (one bottle). When it’s super soft (almost ready to pull) drizzle bbq sauce over it. Cook a few more hours on low, then pull. (Last half hour, pop cornbread in the oven and pull the cole slaw out of the fridge.) Fave easy meal for friends that looks like you’ve slaved for hours in the kitchen, pot roast, chicken pot pie, Shepherd’s pie
For the meat eaters in my house: make a whole roasted chicken, BBQ chicken, enchilada casserole, meatballs, all sorts of soup, breakfast pot–eggs, cheese, sausage and potatoes. For myself I make TONS of vegetarian things!
brisket
chow mein
Mac and cheese
New England Boiled Dinner
Corned Beef & Cabbage, Chili, just about anything – some people even “bake” cakes
Chicken with a can of mushroom soup. Serve with rice. Super yummy and chicken is so tender it almost falls apart.
Actually you can do a beautiful Dr Pepper/Root Beer pork loin for bar-b-que, Pork butt bbque sandwiches, manwiches, stew, Salisbury steak, roast, lasagna lol use mine for everything…
Cabbage rolls are good.
Settlers’ Beans. Uses 3 or 4 different kinds of canned beans plus spices and browned ground round.
chicken soup
Corned beef & cabbage or pot roast or pork chops & sauerkraut
Taco Soup. Great eating too!
Pot roast or beef tips using onion soup mix cream of chicken or mushroom soup and water.
Bite-sized meatballs in marinara sauce…all you need is pasta to complete the dinner…maybe some Italian bread.
Crockpot apple pie is still out of this world.
I made Sicilian Chicken over Egg Noodles yesterday !!!
Asada with pork loin. Not sure that’s how to spell it.
I made an awesome sweet and sour chicken to serve over rice.
Bread pudding
Chicken and Dumplings
Roast and veggies
bbq pork roast.
Simplest pot roast there is. Take a piece of beef, salt and pepper it, dredge it in flour. Brown it. Take it out of frying pan, add a can of French Onion Soup (Progresso works great), add a packet of onion soup mix, bring to a boil, scraping all the bits from the pot, for flavor. Add a tablespoon of flour to thicken it. Then put meat and liquid in crockpot, cook for -6-8 hrs on low.
cowboy hamburger stew (tomatoes, chopped onions, corn, cooked hamburger, green chiles, black beans (canned variety). When it gets hot and bubbly, you can place canned biscuits or cornbread on top and allow it to cook for another hour.
Chicken in either cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken goes great with either mashed potatoes or elbow macaroni. OR Ham cabbage and potatoes
Coca cola pulled pork, or u could use root beer or dr pepper too
Fiesta Chicken – boneless chicken breasts, cans of diced tomatoes, black beans & corn – +spices (Mexican flavors) – served over rice or cornbread with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream & guacamole – plus margaritas of course!
Cougar story. Hmmm…how about a brisket? Make a rub with a jar of paprika and the same amount of sugar. Rub it into brisket and cook on high 4 hrs. If you have a smaller brisket, use half ingredients.
My mom used to layer the following: floured cubed steak, carrots, and potatoes, then sprinkle a pkg of dry onion soup and cover everything with water. Cook on high a couple hours, then on low for 6 hrs( in those days there wS only one temp! ). Falls apart, it’s so tender and yummy!
Go to getcrocked.com she has some fabulous recipes
London broil, new potatoes, baby carrots, 1 large can of cream of mushroom soup, salt, pepper and garlic powder. 1 cup of water. Throw it all in, cook on low for 6-8 hours and you’re done.
A roast with potatoes,carrots and onions. Using beef broth instead of water?
Layer some onion, add chicken pieces. 3 hrs on high. Drain the juices. Add a can of cream of ck soup, or mushroom soup, or some BBQ sauce. Cook for another 30 min. Done!
I love making chili verde in a crock pot.
cheesecake, apple crisp, chili, hot chocolate, mulled wine.
Split pea and ham soup.
Now I’m hungry. Sweet potatoes are awesome in the crockpot.
Slice Kielbasa into bite size pieces. Mix 2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups ketchup, 1 can pineapple chunks with juice in crock pot. Add Kielbasa. Cook on low for 3 hrs. Serve over rice.
Chicken and dumplings is a good meal too.
Chili, pot roast, BBQ beef, corned beef, potato soup
Or shredded chicken with hot sauce to make buffalo chicken sandwiches
Meatballs with grape jelly and your favorite bbq sauce
BBQ pulled pork or chicken, shredded salsa chicken for tacos or burritos, pork carnitas…there are so many options.
I make meatloaf and also lasouna I can’t spell Italian with the long flat noodle layer meet sauce feta cheese
Caveman chili!
Beef Stew, Pork Roast, Roast Beef and Vegetables, Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage, Chili, BBQ Beef, Pulled Pork for Sandwiches, Swiss Steak with Vegetables, Mexican Chicken, Chicken and Noodles, Vegetable Soup, Macaroni and Cheese, Southwestern Chicken with Rice, and the list goes on…
I put chicken breast in and add a jar of salsa to it. Cook until you can shred it then add a couple of cans of beans-drained and rinsed, and some frozen corn. Add more salsa if needed. Use in burritos or on top of rice.
I do a whole chicken–http://kitchenexcursions.blogspot.com/…/slow-cooker…
Chicken Cacciatore
BBQ pork
Cook pork roast in the crock pot
After meat is finished add BBQ sauce and simmer
Cacouli is spicy Portuguese pork butt.Delish.Can make a sandwich with Portuguese rolls,great in an omelet or burrito.Its so tender you shreds it.
I love mushroom soup! Another good crock pot recipe is Corned Beef
ratatouille, posole, pasta sauce, chicken soup.
Beef bourguignon, pot roast, lobster bisque, Turkey pot pie, Seafood barley risotto, Chili, Seafood soup. Chicken and dumplings, Barbecued brisket.
Home made beef or turkey soup. My grandmother makes it on very cold winter days and she throws in anything around the house from (for the beef soup) carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, mushrooms, and (for turkey soup) rice she calls it a “dump soup” because you are just dumping in random things to utilize them
I make pulled pork. Pork butt, seasoned salt, pepper to taste 6-8 hrs. Depends on size. Let cool pull apart with a fork. Serve with favorite side dish or add BBQ and serve on Keiser rolls. Yummy simple no fail
My familiy enjoys ‘Pork Chop Slop’. lol Don’t let the name fool you. It is delicious. You just toss a little tomato sauce in the bottom of the crock pot, add your seasoned your pork chops, then a can of corn (water and all), a can of green beans, several cut up potatos, a chopped clove of garlic, a few slices of onion and green pepper, then top it with a can ot tomato soup. It is my husband’s favorite meal.
Beef stew. I cook whole chickens in mine
***
I love some of the titles: Caveman Chili, Pork Chop Slop, Cowboy Hamburger Stew.

So what do you think? Ready for some crock pot cooking??? What was fun was that some commenters wanted to try the recipes of other commenters, and I know for me, I certainly do. :)
I’ve done the same with asking about shampoos–dog grooming tips, just all kinds of things.

Okay, enough goofing off. I’ve got to get back to writing, now that I have the hero preparing lobster bisque to win the she-wolf over. Would it work for you? I love lobster, never had lobster bisque, but it sounds intriguing.

I took my garbage out, Wednesday hump day is garbage day around here, and I had only one bag. Usually I have two. I keep feeling like I’ve misplaced a bag of garbage. Ever feel like that? Watch me find it when I’m looking for something else.

Have a super great Wednesday!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Fun with Fog! Remember The Wizard of Oz Movie from Black and White to Color?

This is not Oz, but the fae world. :)

It’s time to take those gloomy days and make them bright. :)

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

What Do All These Have in Common?

The rainforest. I might not actually be in the rainforest, and when I asked a group of writers who wanted to go with me to one, everyone said no, but if I wanted to take them to Scotland they were game.

So I took these “rainforest” pictures in simulated rainforests. Did you know that the tiny little poisonous dart frog is so bright to warn predators it’s poisonous? That its poison is so toxic it can kill 20,000 mice? Scientists believe their toxicity is due to the toxic insects they eat. They’ve had some bred in captivity that aren’t fed insects that cause this toxicity and that those taken from the wild will lose their toxicity after some weeks. Several species are on the critical endangered list. But what I thought was interesting is that they will become attached to their human caregivers, exhibiting signs they’ve missed them. They also are social and often live in groups called jumbles.

Okay, enough frog talk. I’m off to write. Have to take Max in for his last individual training session and another group session. Which really cuts into writing time! And I need to ship bears!

Have a great Monday!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Portrait of a Lion and a Cross-Eyed Tiger

Lions and tigers and bears….as in the teddy bear kind, oh my!

I took these pictures at our local zoo. Love the big cats. Need my word count on She-Wolf, over halfway done on the book and need to work on teddy bears! These are last years Matheson Clan Bears

I've just finished 4 more for Vonnie Davis who is having a Facebook Party on April 7, and I'll be attending. She's giving away a bear at least for her new Highland bear shifter release! So be sure and attend and comment! As soon as it's light out, I need to take pictures of the 4 new bears.

Have a super Sunday!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Escargot…on the lamb…

Do you ever notice the small things in life? The dewdrops on the grass? The snail slithering around?

Who would ever have thought taking puppies out for a bathroom break would yield such treasures?

Anyone for escargot?

He’s the one that got away.


Happy Saturday!!!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Are You a Multi-Tasker???

I am. Okay, today, I’ve got to start proofing the final copy of SEAL Wolf Hunting. Don’t you love this cover? Besides the guy, I LOVE the wolf. Since I write about wolves, as  in werewolves, but they’re so human and so wolf-like that it seems sacrilegious to call them werewolves–as in a horror version of them, I love to see a beautiful wolf on the cover taking up center stage too. Why? Because the man is not just a man, but a wolf. I love this time with the book–it’s nearly done–just checking to make sure there are no other mistakes, but there are so few, that it’s a time for me to have that one last read that’s more for pleasure than anything, before you get it!

So that’s one of my number one priorities. I also want to continue to work on bears. I finished two last night. I finished making a 3rd, but still need to embroider the paws. :)

Plum bear with plum faux suede paws, 19″

Purple Bear with faux suede paws, 10 1/2″

And I want to get my word count in on She-Wolf. 2500 words a day. I need to be at 8500 today. I’m at 7200 right now. So moving right along. Usually when I get in edits, I have to quit everything and concentrate on only the edits. Then I’m playing a horrible game of catch up. So I’m trying to work on my blogs, word count, then proofing, then bears so I don’t get behind on anything. :)

It’s kind of like playing an RPG, role-playing game. I’m playing Dragon Age: Inquisition for my break time at night once I have all my other stuff done. Yesterday, besides word count, I was critiquing 10 chapters of a critique partner’s book, and while I was playing the game, I was finishing up the bears. Now, I also have to constantly stop to take puppies out, to play with them, cuddle with them, train them, feed them. So I do have other stuff going on. But in the RPG–there’s always a decision to make. Do I concentrate on the Big Boss, the guy with all the strength that is really, really hard to kill, and then work on his minions after he’s dead? Or do I tackle everyone at once? Then once the little guys are dead, I can use all my strength against the big guy?

Well, oftentimes I’ll go after the big guy while the little guys are beating at me too. And when I’m working on my projects, often I’ll tackle the one that needs to be done first–just all day long for every day that it takes to get it done. Then my stack of things to do goes down a little before it goes up a lot again.

So this is kind of a new experiment for me. Working on all things–having a goal for each, and getting each of them done, and not just working on one big project. I think it’s working, so far, because I think when I do just one major thing, I tend to take breaks anyway, and I don’t get as much done. Time will tell.

I want to get half of the proof book done today, and the other half tomorrow. That’s my goal. I need to start sewing up the other bears–4 of them, so another goal. And word count on She-Wolf.
Other than that, that’s it! :)

When you have jobs to tackle, do you go after the tough ones first, or the little ones until you’re ready to tackle the big one? I do that with first line edits. The simple stuff first. Then I tackle the bigger issues. :) When I see a page of issues, I want to reduce the number quickly. Then it doesn’t seem like so much.

Have a terrific Saturday and hope all your issues are little ones. The Big Bosses can be a real chore to deal with.

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Jaguar Pride Review and Kissing the Highlander is OUT!

Loved this review from: Harlequin Junkie Recommends, and thanks so much to Angela for sending me the link!!!
http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-jaguar-pride-by-terry-s…/…
Excerpt from Jaguar Pride:
In one giant step, he grabbed her up. She squealed, never expecting anything like this, and laughed. She loved it. He tossed her over his shoulder and stalked back to the bedroom.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’ve had enough babysitting duty. It’s time for some grownup action.”

And the Review continues:
So. Much. Fun. Jaguar Pride was an exciting mix of pulse-pounding action while our hero and heroine tracked down bad guys, as well as playful scenes that showed off the cat side of their shifter personalities.
This is the first novel I have read in Terry Spear’s Heart of the Jaguar series and I have to say, I am pretty wowed by the world she’s created. I have read some of her other paranormal titles so I had an idea of her “voice” and writing style, which I’ve enjoyed quite a bit. I thought that this was just as solidly written and that it was actually very unique. I loved that there was an underlying message of how important it is to protect animals, especially exotic breeds, against poachers and ultimately, extinction. There was almost a reverence to the storyline in how the JAG agents protected their fellow shifters and all other creatures in the rainforests.


With so many books in the wolf and jaguar series, this is book 4, but I have 16 wolf books out, 2 cougar shifters, and tons of other books out, I have to do something really different with each one. With this one, they were already seeing someone else. It’s the first time I’ve done that because I didn’t want there to be a stigma about jumping from one situation into another, but also that they were working together before this, and NOT having an affair. Sorry, affairs don’t work for romances, unless the one having the affair is the villain.  But it can’t be the hero or heroine. Soooo, it means setting up the situation so it’s clear they really enjoy working with each other, and admire each other, but it doesn’t go beyond that, until their boyfriend/girlfriends call it quits.

Even though we write what we want to an extent, and each book must be different as readers don’t want to read the same story only with the names changed, we are limited by what is acceptable for the genre–the hero and heroine must be heroic, for one. They can’t be bed hopping when they’re in a relationship with the hero or heroine, lying, cheating, or stealing.

Now there’s a caveat. If the hero and heroine are doing these things for a heroic purpose, then it’s acceptable. It all comes down to motivation. He’s lying to her because if he doesn’t, she’s going to be killed. Castle comes to mind where Rick has to keep secrets from her or the powers to be will kill her. So lying is not a heroic thing, but in this case, it has to be.

Anyway, sometimes we have to write something different that might border slipping into that gray area, but again, we have to have something different in every book so that readers will look forward to it.

If you have read Jaguar Pride, did you enjoy it? I always have fun writing these books. Does it show?

The characters are real, the places real. I often use trip reports to flesh out the reality of the setting–like the donkey braying in one when they were eating at a jungle village cafe. And the woman who rented cabanas and fed wild animals and offered for them to feed them. Only jaguars actually eat those in the wild, not that my hero or heroine wanted to, but they declined. These were in fun trip reports written by folks who had visited the parts of the world that I used as settings and of course, small details were used to create that reality–in a jaguar shifter, or in a wolf shifter world.

Goodreads ~ Shelfari ~ Amazon ~ Apple ~ BAM ~ B&N ~ Chapters ~ Indiebound ~ Kobo –

Daytona Beach
The Raven

On Puppy News: Max is doing so well on his collar, I had it set on 1. Hmmm, maybe I had the collar on too tightly. But he really was paying attention to me despite Tanner attacking him from time to time, and that’s the ultimate distraction. The puppies are still having accidents on the tile floor after their stay in cages for the duration at the Vets. It was better yesterday and we have been fine this morning. But then, they’ve only been up an hour and are now sleeping on my lap. More pictures to come. Need to get back to story. I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!

I should have finished SEAL Wolf Diving for Trouble already so I could be working on my edits. Still trying to come up with an ending. I printed out pages and was editing it on the couch last night as the puppies will sleep on their bedding on the couch and I have total peace.
But, it’s time to get cracking! Deadline quickly approaching!


Five new Highland novellas by Bestselling Authors of Highland romances that will delight with mystery, intrigue, romance, drama and much more! From the authors who have provided countless hours of reading pleasure so that fans can slip away to the past and live among all those hot Highlanders.

BUY LINKS:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
ARe Books (All Romance ebooks)
Kobo
Smashwords
Apple/Itunes/Ibooks

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,813 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Historical Romance > Scottish
#10 in Books > Romance > Historical > Scottish
#58 in Books > Romance > Anthologies

Have a wonderful day!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
http://www.terryspear.com
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website:
http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears
http://www.celticbears.com

New Release: Phantom Fae!

Human turned phantom fae Brett has to survive mage trials when he has only just learned he’s a mage. And dragon fae shifter Ena is warned that the dragon fae kingdom is in turmoil, something that she vows to help put to rights.

When Brett is forced to fight alongside the phantom fae, which means take a stand against Ena and her kind, he’s not doing it. She will always have his loyalty, though when she learns he’s one of her enemy fae, and a mage on top of that, she might not feel the same about him.

Still, Prince Grotto is their common enemy, and if it means fighting him, maybe they can work together. Yet, Brett wants more than that with Ena. Will she ever see him as more than just a human fae seer she took as payment for rescuing the kingdom’s princess?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SKCY59C
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512923
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/phantom-fae
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phantom-fae-terry-spear/1121100973
All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-phantomfae-1732037-143.html
Google Play: Coming

Normally, I like to have a story that is ended, no cliff hanger because it frustrates readers when they don’t know when the next book is coming, and I never know when I can finish a book when I have so many other deadlines that absolutely have to be met: ie for a publisher.
With Hawk Fae, book 5, it had to be left like it was or it would have been two books in one. And truly, I loved the way it was ended, with resolution, but with something more devious going on coming up.

With Phantom Fae, book 6, resolution. I have two covers for two more fae stories, no idea where I want to go with them at the moment, or titles for them. But when I have some time, I’ll share.
Because I worked on finalizing this up all day yesterday, I didn’t have time to work on SEAL, so I’m behind, but I’ll hopefully catch up on word count today. I will be working on the Phantom Fae print version soon, but needed to get my word count for SEAL because it’s so much harder to manage when it gets really behind. Hopefully, I’ll be at the halfway point today, if I get caught up.

It’s been raining a lot, which is unusual in the winter, but we so needed the rain again. I slipped on the wet pavement when I went to take the dogs out at 4:45, so need to find a different pair of shoes that hopefully are less slippery, or figure out something else. I have a conference to go to in a little bit and I don’t want to be running around in airports on crutches.

Oh, and I had asked my editor if they’d be interested in a historical wolf story series some time ago because I love writing historical, but she said no. My wolves also have long lives, so often I slip some of the historical aspect into them. So I thought it would be neat to have two series, the historical ones and the contemporary ones. But when she said no, that was fine with me. A rejection means an opportunity to excel. With today’s publishing options, I can just smile and say, “Okay,” and go on my merry way and write the books of my heart anyway.

A couple of years ago I listened to a NY Times bestselling author who was writing a historical series, and she had this idea for a really cool Irish historical romance series. She was so excited to write it and her agent said if she tried to push it, he’d dump her. Now, she was a highly successful author and he was making a ton of money off her, but he was afraid if he didn’t squash this far out notion, she wouldn’t make any money and he wouldn’t. So she dumped him and got a new agent, sold the series, and made bestseller status on those books. We have to write what our heart tells us and hopefully our readers will love them every bit as much.

I wonder if the agent is regretting his decision. Even if the sales hadn’t taken off, the author had to do this. It’s what we do. Create. From the heart. And if that creativity is squashed, we end up hitting a brick wall of writing block.

Editors and agents will sometimes steer us in directions that aren’t right for us because they think that’s what the market wants. But we’re still creating the stories and we have to be able to write what we can to an extent because otherwise the story just won’t come.

So here is the cover, still need to come up with a series name and title, but I think for series name: Highland Wolf Clan. Not sure on title. It will be historical, wolf, Highlands.
And I thought this was such a fantastic cover, I had to buy it for the first book. :)

That’s it! I’m listening to the rain, and it’s pouring out, typing this up, working on making the changes to SEAL that I worked on when I went to bed last night and then I’m off to write.
Have a super great Thursday. Puppies are sleeping on my lap and all is well.
:)
Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Sick Puppy and Playing Catch Up

Max was throwing up all late afternoon, then got me up at midnight and didn’t make it outside for some of his other hurried business. But despite all the drama and cleanups, I managed to write 7,000 words. Then they wanted back out at 5 and so I stuck them in their crate for another hour of sleep afterward. But of course I didn’t sleep.

I was thinking of my next scene in the book. I left it at a cliff hanger. Heroine is in wolf form, lunges at hero. Normally, this means play time. In A Howl for a Highland Wolf, the heroine tackles the hero because he was late for a date and broke into her house, for good reason. But still, she was the perfect little guard wolf. In others, purely wolf play time. But in this one, she’s totally pissed off.

So that makes for a really fun, different scenario. :) She’s brand newly turned. And what does that mean? A puppy that doesn’t know its own bite power, only she’s armed with adult WOLF teeth, which can crush bones. And he’s in his human form, so stopping an angry wolf makes it a tad difficult. I so love conflict. In my stories. Not in real life. I much prefer no drama. Like yesterday with a sick puppy.

You’d think that if a dog got sick on something, it would teach it not to eat it again. At least one of my dogs that I took in was not that smart. Every time she could get hold of any chocolate, no matter how much I safeguarded it from her, she devoured it and would be just as sick as Max. Didn’t matter. Next time, she’d do it again. I wish I knew what he got hold of. I have them both on leashes when we go out, but he’s tugging one way and Tanner’s tugging the other, so I have a time watching both sometimes.

Okay, so though I wrote a great number of words yesterday, I didn’t write enough. I needed 11,000 to catch up. That means 6500 today, at least trying, then I’m back on track tomorrow.

Max with his hair pulled back

The little devil behind Max that ruined his coiffure.

Max has been so good to allow me to rubber band his hair. I still need little ones. This was a big one and I had to wind it around his hair a number of times to get it to be tight enough. He was sooo patient with me.

Then? You see the little devil dog, Tanner, an angel in disguise behind him, chewing happily away at a piece of rawhide? Well, later, they were playing and Tanner pulled out Max’s rubber band and bit it in two before I got it away from him and threw it out. *sigh*

For those of us who love to read romantic stories, I thought this was so cute.

SEAL Wolf Hunting

This dude sat down next to me on train. He’s so romance novel handsome I’m going to assume he’s a rancher navy seal billionaire werewolf.

All I’ve got to say is I hope she caught her man!

 Okay, puppies sleeping for the moment, so off to finish writing the scene with the lunging wolf. Yep, there she is, mid-air and what’s going to happen next. That’s a real cliff hanger. Oh, and my editor always wants the first kiss by page 60. So I try to have it before because with edits, my pages grow and then I’m past page 60. Dumb, I know. The kiss should happen when the kiss is supposed to happen, not on some arbitrary page number. But still, I was worried about it when I was thinking of the lunging scene.  Have I missed the obligatory kiss by page 60????

Yes, see the dilemmas I have when I have a moment to contemplate the novel?

And OMG, yes, I missed it by 5 pages. I was thinking in the lunge he was going to have to kiss her. Wonder how I was going to do that. But now, can’t do it. It’s got to be at least 5 pages before that. Bummer.

Have a super great wonderful…Saturday? Whoops, need to write another blog. Have fun!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
http://www.terryspear.com
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website:
http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears
http://www.celticbears.com

Juggling between Edits, Writing, Blog Tour, and Publishing…oh yeah, and Puppies

I spent hours yesterday getting Kissing the Highlander ready for preorders and it’s up now at Kobo and Smashwords. Amazon to follow.

Five new Highland novellas by Bestselling Authors of Highland romances that will delight with mystery, intrigue, romance, drama and much more! From the authors who have provided countless hours of reading pleasure so that fans can slip away to the past and live among all those hot Highlanders.

His Wild Highland Lass by Terry Spear

http://www.terryspear.com

The Highlander’s Charm by Eliza Knight

http://www.elizaknight.com

Heart of Stone by Willa Blair

http://www.willablair.com

Kilts and Kisses by Victoria Roberts

http://www.VictoriaRobertsAuthor.com

My Captive Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

http://www.vondasinclair.com

His Wild Highland Lass by Terry Spear

Lady Sorcha Barclay fled her brother-in-law’s castle because of his unwanted advances. An awe-inspiring circle of standing stones captures her attention and she captures the attention of the laird who owns the land.

Laird Ronan Daziel takes Sorcha to his castle to protect her and give her a home. Before long, he wants much more. He’s duty-bound to take a wife whose clan wishes an alliance with his. So why does he long to have something more? Everyone loves the lass as much as he does. But he has pledged his loyalty to his clan. Taking Sorcha to wife could lead to battle on several fronts. How can he wed another when she stole his heart from the first moment he laid eyes on her near the ancient standing stones on his lands?

The Highlander’s Charm by Eliza Knight

They should be enemies… But passion and love know no bounds.
Returning from battle to England, Samuel de Mowbray discovers that his two younger sisters have been stolen by Highlanders. Determined to save them from vicious warriors, he convinces the king to send him north. While there, he discovers that his loyalties are wavering and that a headstrong, feisty lass could destroy everything he believes.

Catriona Buchanan must travel north to ask for help in saving her brother and ridding her castle of brutal English knights. Unfortunately, to do so, she must trust in the thing she mistrusts the most—an Englishman. Minute by minute, the man who should be her enemy breaks down her defenses. There is something different about him and she can’t help but be captivated by Samuel, and his steamy kisses.

Heart of Stone by Willa Blair

Riding home after two years away, Gavan MacNabb encounters a lass and her deerhound in a moonlit circle of standing stones. Little does he know the garland of bluebells she weaves and the spell she sings will change the course of his life.

Marsali Murray doesn’t really believe the old wives’ tale that making a chain of bluebells by the standing stones under a waxing moon will bring true love, but she’s desperate to try anything to escape the boring, everlasting sameness of her life.

Gavan has already seen much of the world denied to Marsali. He’s ready to settle down. She is eager to spread her wings. Can they find what they need with each other?

Kilts and Kisses by Victoria Roberts

Since the deaths of her parents, Ceana Gunn has lived in the shadow of her uncle and his family. She wants nothing more than to see her clan the way it was when her father was still laird. But her uncle has other ideas. Ceana soon discovers that the only refuge to be found is in the last place she expects—the arms of her enemy.

Luthais MacKay wants to be left alone. His only interest is training his prized hawks. He certainly doesn’t have time to listen to the petty squabbling of his clan when his father travels to Edinburgh and leaves him in charge. But when Luthais discovers a mysterious woman on his lands, he’s determined to unravel her secrets…one layer at a time.

My Captive Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Can unexpected passion and a little ancient magic turn enemies into lovers?

During a fierce storm on the west coast of Scotland, Shamus MacKenzie barely survives a galley wreck only to be captured and held for ransom by the enemy MacDonalds. Aided by the gift of second sight, Maili MacDonald, sister of the ruthless chief, senses the handsome, dark-haired stranger will somehow be important in her life. Compelled to help him, she insists on providing him food and a healer to see to his injuries. She knows she is daft to fall in love with this captivating warrior after one forbidden kiss but cannot help herself. With each visit from Maili, Shamus finds his thoughts consumed by the enchanting lass. Can he convince her to help him escape the dungeon and prevent the impending battle between the two clans?

BUY LINKS:
Kobo
Smashwords, which includes Barnes and Noble (because they don’t have preorders available except via Smashwords) and Apple/Ibooks

It will also be out in print!

But you know you have to have glitches. So for whatever reason when I tried to convert the docx in Jutoh to epub/etc, the chapter headings didn’t show up on two of the authors’ works. Have no idea why not. They are formatted exactly the same as all the other chapter headings. Anyway, so it’s a total pain and I’ll have to probably go in this morning and manually book mark the links. That’s why I love Jutoh so much. It does it automatically, no mistakes, normally and it’s done.

So Amazon’s will take a while longer.

Because: I got SEAL Wolf Hunting back for final copyedits. I’ll have one more final proof to go over after this. And I will be getting first edits on Silver Wolf Christmas next. And I received two more blog requests for Jaguar Pride’s release on Feb 3. And I only wrote 300 words of 2500 on SEAL Wolf Diving for Trouble. argh.

I really need to get 2500 done a day. With so much to do on the other stuff, Amazon formatting, finishing up SEAL Wolf Hunting, NEED to proof the audiobook on Call of the Cougar, which has been on the backburner now for about four days, bought another book cover (did I ever mention I’m a book cover hoarder, but it was so neat!) and that means figuring out a title, tagline, etc, etc, etc, write the 2 blogs, including this one and another this morning, and now write 4700 words today on SEAL Wolf Diving for Trouble.

And then there are the puppies. Well, they got me up at 4 am, so the routine is they go to sleep in my lap so I can write, for an hour or two. They don’t get to eat until 7 or 8, but that means as soon as they wake, it’s time to potty again. *sigh* The adventures of puppyhood. Luckily, they’re not having accidents, and they’re not chewing on things they shouldn’t, for the most part. I caught Tanner with two of my socks yesterday.

Max is wearing a cone to keep him from chewing on his stitches from being neutered. He’s been grouchy with Tanner, partly because Tanner keeps grabbing his Elizabethan collar and tugging. But I think he might just not feel well either. So I’ve been trying to keep them separate to chew on chewsticks so Max has more time to rest up.

Okay, got to get to work.

Have a super wonderful and fun…Saturday?

Wow, the time is galloping away!

Do you ever feel that way? That when you want to do something, take a trip to the islands, or something great like finishing the week of work and you’re OFF, that it takes forever to get there? But if you have a deadline or multiple deadlines looming, the time flies? It’s like if I leave early for an appointment, I hit every green light and have no traffic and am there even earlier than planned, then have to sit and wait. But if I’m running late? Yep, you guessed it….I get behind the tractor trailer traveling 15 mph in the no passing zone, hit every red light and get stuck behind every Sunday driver.

Funny how life works that way. :)

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
http://www.terryspear.com
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website:
http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears
http://www.celticbears.com

Picture Bloopers with Pets

Don’t you love bloopers? I thought it would be fun to show a couple of the Christmas pictures that didn’t turn out and a couple that did.

Puppies a Blur

Squirmy Corgis

To better. In the shot with the corgis, I think I had my puppies in the bedroom, which was why both were looking that way and not at the camera. Oh, well, at least they weren’t blurs.

And there you have it!  Lots of bloopers and a few nice shots. I might have to include some of this stuff in a story. I actually have a lot of “real” life stuff in my stories, no matter how imaginary they may be.

So, are you doing anything fun today? I’ve been awake since 3, up since 4, so doing anything exciting beyond writing this blog just wears me out thinking about it. :) The audiobook for Call of the Cougar came back last night, so I might start proofing it today.

What about you? Have any plans? Eat special dishes? Black eyed peas? I’m having stuffed bell peppers since I bought them for when my daughter and SIL were here and we didn’t eat them. So that’s on the menu. :)

Happy New Year’s!!!

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
http://www.terryspear.com
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website:
http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears
http://www.celticbears.com

My Birds are Back!

I've been seeing a lot of my birds come back after the hawk trouble I was having.  And my neighbor's cat was prowling and so when I began to take two little puppies out all the time, the birds watched from the trees and shrubs. Then I saw the whole colony of cardinals feeding. Though I think they lost one of their brothers to the hawk when I was gone a while back.

But it was fun seeing them again. It was getting to be dusk, and I need to clean my windows, and I was afraid to get closer to the window to really be able to stabilize the camera, so my pictures weren't all that great, but it was so much fun seeing all of them I had to try and get a few that might have turned out somewhat.

How many cardinals do you see?

All male cardinals

This really was an amazing sight to me because the hawk got one and then another bird, I found red feathers, so one day I saw a cardinal on top of the feeder that sits in the shrub. He was so wary. This time, all of them were flying down, feeding, sitting in a tree and I couldn't believe it. I would have thought that me going out with the dogs constantly would have made it worse as far as the birds being skittish. But they must realize that we're keeping the hawk and cat away.
The birds eat a lot of bugs, so I'm glad to have them.

Cardinal in the tree closer to the kitchen window

Happy New Year!
Hopefully I'll be back before that, but it's been so hectic with working on housebreaking Tanner, the youngest pup at 8 weeks. Max was housebroken when I got him at 5 1/2 months. And With company.
I started putting away some Christmas decorations, only because it's a chore with having two puppies underfoot. :) So I figure it will take me a while.

And I need to do another new release blog for Jaguar Pride. And I'm still working on Phantom Fae every day, have word count, just need to finish the book. But I have a confession. My daughter and SIL got me PC game Dragon Age: Inquisition. I love the Dragon Age stories, and I'm having a ball. Got all my characters killed off over fighting a dragon, so need to figure out how to do that, but hey, here I'm writing about dragon shifters in the fae world, so this is research. Right???

My daughter, Jennifer, and Max, me, and Tanner

We had to take a lot of pictures of both her dogs and Mike and Jenn and my dogs and Jenn and me. They were all moving, or we were moving to hold onto them.

My birds are back. The puppies are the best. I had a lovely Christmas with family, and it's time to begin the new year with lots and lots more books to write and share with you.

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
www.terryspear.com
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website:
www.terryspear.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears
http://www.celticbears.com