My First Rafflecopter Giveaway! Your Chance to Win an Autographed Copy of Secret Shopper!

I'm joining in on the Rafflecopter fun, hoping to bolster LIKES on my Facebook page, Twitter and Blog! So, knock yourself out with this Rafflecopter giveaway of an autographed paperback copy of my romantic comedy, Secret Shopper!

If you've read the novel, tell me about it in the comments and/or Amazon's rate and review option. If you haven't, I hope you do and thank you all!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Year...

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.
~Albert Einstein

This time last year, I was driving back to Vancouver, WA from watching The Smashing Pumpkins in concert in Everett. I had been in Washington State for just over 24 hours and was already recovering from my solo adventure to see Billy Corgan live.

With my bestie in tow, we checked out a local favorite for breakfast and drove around the city that would shortly be my home.

A year in the Pacific Northwest has been a whirlwind of fun, adventure and adjustment. Thus is the life of a Navy family.

The weather is turning cold again, and the leaves on the trees separating our home from the house behind us are beginning to change hues and are starting to thin. This means about six months of seeing into the lives of the neighbors I have yet to meet and vice versa. Although, we've met the lovely neighbors on our own street. Not to mention that we've met nearly all the Chamorros there are to meet in a 50 mile radius.

I’ve attended four concerts in the last year, one Comic Con and have traversed up and down this coast from Portland to Canada.

There’s something lovely about our new state. It’s green. It’s fresh and the notable change in seasons keeps us interested.

I self published Secret Shopper. Joined NaNoWriMo last November and wrote a draft of Wonder Summer, the YA adventure I am editing and shining up for, hopefully traditional publication. I’m joining again next month, ideas brewing in my writer brain.

My children have made friends. My husband has embraced hunting and fishing. And I continue to be a Goddess in Training.

All in all, I give our first year in Washington State 5 stars. It has helped our family evolve into better versions of ourselves.

Cover Reveal! Jackson Paul Baer's The Earth Bleeds Red

Guam Goddess in Training is happy to help fellow author, Jackson Paul Baer reveal the cover of his upcoming novel, The Earth Bleeds Red (Pandamoon Publishing-October 2013).

Jackson graciously interviewed me in July 2013. Click here to check it out. So, helping him with his cover reveal is an honor.

Read the book summary here.

Scott and Jessie are a couple in love. Ashley, their only daughter, is 17-years old and has vanished; leaving behind nothing but a pool of blood. Her strange disappearance is quickly thought to be a homicide. Her cozy, northwest town is stunned when police find the body of another girl at the bottom of the Willamette River. The eerie signature found on the girl links to a monster dubbed the Hail Mary Killer. While Scott searches for Ashley, the FBI feels convinced that she is the killer’s latest victim.

In spite of three other bodies with the same distinct marking, no one prepared themselves for the discovery in southern Oregon. Local hikers stumble upon a car in the mountain brush and a tattooing needle with an evil history surfaces inside. A cabin appears nearby with another gruesome discovery. Scott finds some solace in his friendship with Father Henry as he and Jessie try to salvage their marriage and move on beyond the loss of Ashley. The FBI finally catches a break when they unearth the dark past of the Hail Mary Killer’s family. What emerged in his basement is more terrifying than anyone could have possibly imagined. What happens to the Miller family and Father Henry will shake your soul and keep you reading till the last page.

LIKE Jackson on Facebook.

Check out his website.

Thanks!

With 2.5 Hours of 'Free Time', Comes Great Responsibility.

Two and a half hours alone…kids are in school(s).

What I feel like doing…



What might happen…




What I SHOULD do…

What my family THINKS I do…

What I really want to do…

1) Read this *I hit the Library day one to pick up this hold.

2) Enjoy that *The lovely rain and greenery, the view from my home office.

3) Edit like a beast

But, I've dwindled a third of my time on Pinterest and with this Blog....okay, dirty dishes and unfinished novels, I'll be right there!

First world problems, wish me luck!

Nerd Girl Gives Secret Shopper 5 Stars and a Glowing Review!

"The romance is chivalrous and fairly chaste which is a refreshing change from the current trend."--Julie

The 5 Star review by Julie of Nerd Girl has been posted on their website, Goodreads, Library Things (which I have to join now), Facebook, and Twitter; and she also took the time to support my indie efforts by adding the review and rating on Amazon.

The Nerd Girl Facebook page is followed by nearly 4,500 folks. I hope this boosts my story's reach.

I love the cool chicks at NERD GIRL! Click here to read.

Just Saying Friday....

I may have to start a Just Saying weekly blog post...I tend to notice trends, patterns, but not at a genius level...just a mere mortal level.

Rachel McAdams has met her quota on romantic movies involving time travel (Time Traveler's Wife and the upcoming, About Time). I get it, men will risk their molecular structure to travel time to be with her, again and again....she may as well be in a Dr. Who episode or two--give her a tardis (or this sexy dress), stat!

*Just saying.

I will say this red headed actor is intriguing.

The Perks of Being a 'Chamorro' Wallflower

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

In the span of 24 hours, I rented and watched (twice) The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And, aside from waiting to hear the lovely Emma Watson (aka Hermione Granger) slip in her American accent, I was totally engrossed in this movie. Logan Lerman plays the main character, Charlie, a flawed, hurt, nervous and shy car wreck, who despite all his history is determined to feel normal. He fortunately finds friendship with an older crowd and later realizes that his dark secret of abuse is shared by the one he loves. “I feel infinite.” Is a great mantra in this movie.

I’m a bit late in this review and revelation, but that happens, I’m a mom busy with other things in my reality. Don't let me go off on a tangent about the movie's awesome soundtrack either.

The movie I fall in love with always leads me to the author and book I want to sink my teeth into and sometimes, vice versa.

Stephen Chbosky was hands on with this project from day one. Writing the novel, penning the screenplay and ultimately directing the movie. I love when that happens and I’m happy for his literary and film success.

I’ve always loved teenage angst movies, from being a preteen and devouring flicks such as Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire. I always rooted for the shy girl/boy who was the wallflower. One who comes out of the shadows when he or she finds the strength. In many ways, I’ve been that late blooming wallflower.

I’ve found inspiration in Perks and I’m edging towards the final first draft edits of my Young Adult novel, Wonder Summer. I have my very own wallflower and she is finding her strength to bloom.