December 9th, 2014

Our weather continues to be undecided as to if it's winter or spring! Here it is, fast approaching mid-December and it's over 60 degrees. The bad news, is that it's accompanied by rain and this equates to lots of melting snow up in the mountains, and more flooding down here on the Skagit. I posted about our local flooding less than two weeks ago, and the river predictions are looking like it's going to be the same scenario by Thursday. Praying that the rain eases up, and we get by without any local damage.

This past weekend was an exciting one for our small town of Sedro Woolley! Our local high school football team took the 2A state title! This is the first time in the history of our school, so it's pretty amazing! My son played Woolley football for six years and was a first-pick conference offensive line and 2nd pick defensive line his senior year (2 years ago), so I spent plenty of time under the 'Friday night lights'! I'm so happy for these kids and I hope it ends up creating college career opportunities that they might not have had otherwise. It's hard to get noticed in football, no matter how good you are, when you're on a 2A team...unless you make it to a state game! Way to go CUBS!

Last night I played around with a unique site called, The Imagine Film List. It gives people the opportunity to make movie suggestions based on books, etc, and even match up actors to characters. Take a look at what I have going for Bloodline, and maybe give it a bump if you agree with me that it'd make a great movie!  IF List

I haven't done this on my blog yet, but I know a fellow Indie Author who is running a 0.99 cent promo on her book, Dangerous Liaisons, and I'd like to give her a mention:

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DANGEROUS LIAISONS by SARAH STUART

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M9CU1Z6 

eBook & Paperback

Lizzie, daughter of a wealthy Scottish laird, inherits a Book of Hours passed down the illegitimate female line from a 16th century queen. It carries a Royal Command: find love. Lizzie, and Michael, a backstreet boy determined to escape the poverty trap with a successful career in the theater, develop a passionate relationship. Sparks, ignited by decoded secrets recorded by the queen’s unscrupulous, vengeful, granddaughter, break the bounds of marriage, the law, and the church.

19 4 & 5 star reviews on Amazon

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I have to admit that I haven't read it yet (now that I'm working on writing The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines), I am back to my reading hiatus. I just can't mix others words around in my head while I am writing, but I have added it to my TBR pile and I plan on getting to it soon. It looks like a good story, so check it out!

Speaking of Whispering Pines, I will be doing a cover reveal soon, so be on the lookout for that!

I FINALLY finished the audio book for Bloodline!!!!!  I'm just waiting for it to be approved and then processed for distribution. I am pretty excited about this. The editing process just about kicked my butt, but I learned a lot from it. (mainly that I am WAY too picky and need to lighten up if I also do Heritage and Descent)

I will let you all know when it is out, and offer up some free codes for it!

On the photography front, I still have my work up on display at out local hospital, United General, and I'm still averaging several sales a month. I've created a couple of new images for Christmas cards, so I will leave you with one of them!

November 4th, 2014

The rain has set in this past week and seems determined to stick around. Last night was too windy for me to get any recording on my audiobook (Bloodline) done. However, I have only six chapters to go! I seem to be on target for my end of November release date. I still have a TON of editing/mastering to do of the audio files, but at least I can accomplish that pretty much anywhere, any time. Once I get closer to completion, I'll provide a link for any readers to take a sneak 'listen' to a sample audio of it.

My artwork has been up at United General Hospital for just over three months now, and I consider it a great success! I have sold over twenty pieces during this time. I am going to be offering a sale this next week, since I will be taking it down soon and also because Christmas is coming up! *hint, hint*

The following picture has been, by far, my most popular. It was taken in Blue Bay, at Flahead Lake in Montana. This is a favorite spot of mine, and holds a ton of great, family memories. I was standing in about two feet of water when I took this, and YES, the water really IS that clear, and the rocks that colorful!

For those that are not local to me, I also offer my work through either direct sales (contact me at taraellisphotography@gmail.com), or if you prefer, through my website at FineArt. This is a complete service, with great ways to view the pieces in different formats and then purchase/ship direct from them. They use all high-quality material. Artwork

I've also recently outlined the next three stories in my kids mystery series, so I expect to remain busy in the coming months!

October 10th, 2014

The fog is thick outside this morning, but it sure makes for a gorgeous sunrise! I wish I had my camera with me, while taking my daughter to school.

The season has most definitely turned, although the temps are still mild. I've enjoyed the weather this summer/fall, although we'll see what that means for our winter. I think it's either going to continue to be unseasonably warm and dry, or else we'll get hit hard with a severe and rapid change.

I am nearing completion on my first audiobook! The Mystery of Hollow Inn should be uploaded by this weekend. Since this is my first attempt, I have no idea how long the review process takes and I'll be crossing my fingers that none of the files get rejected. I'm doing my best at the mastering level, to make sure everything meets the specs...but we'll see.

I am also VERY excited to be revealing the new and incredible cover, soon. Mel at Melchelle Designs has done it again! Along with some willing models for me to photograph, we've come up with what I see as a perfect image.

I'll leave you with a picture I took a few years ago of the fog and sunrise combination in our backyard:

Sept 24, 2014

Fall has most definitely arrived!

The sound of rain on the roof, the dry leaves littering the roads and yards. How did it all happen in just one day? We went from 80 and summer to 60 and fall, seemingly overnight!

Oh well, time to pull out the sweats and sweaters!