What I Did on My April Blog Break - And More!


I'm back! I'm back! I'm back!

And what an April!

I know all of you who participated in A-Z are saying the same thing, except for a different reason. I know what fun you had :)

I read a few A-Z posts, but very few. I hadn't planned to read any, but when I heard what some of you were blogging about, I couldn't resist. I want to give a shout-out to two. And if you have an interest in their A-Z themes, I highly recommend going over and reading all 26 posts, if you haven't already done so.

First, Karen Jones Gowen, who blogged about her new home - Guatemala. Entertaining and informative, plus lots of great photos.

Second, Lexa Cain, who blogged about haunted places. I've been to some of the places she blogged about. Plus I've had a ghostly experience or three myself. So the topic caught my interest immediately.

I'm sure everyone's posts were superb, but my reading of everything else was spotty to non-existent, and I did want to share these two in the event you missed them.

One of the things I had planned to do during April isn't finished yet. It's currently underway but not yet complete - and that's the revamping of my website. As soon as it's up and running smoothly, I'll have a surprise for you!

Also before I left, I mentioned we were hosting a crawfish boil. It was wonderful! Here is a shot just one tiny portion of the food and another of the cutest attendee caught trying to grab a beer:




The week after the crawfish boil, Live-In Handyman and I took a mini-vacation to Galveston Island. And the beach! Ahhhhhhhh.

Here is a view from our hotel window, another from the bay side of the island, and one at sunset of Pleasure Pier:




And I squeaked in under the deadline of getting my manuscript to the editor.

I also am participating ... a tiny bit late ... in the festivities for Medeia Sharif's new release, Snip, Snip Revenge.


SNIP, SNIP REVENGE by Medeia Sharif

YA Contemporary, Evernight Teen

Release Date April 25, 2014

Beautiful, confident Tabby Karim has plans for the winter: nab a role in her school’s dramatic production, make the new boy Michael hers, and keep bigoted Heather—with her relentless Ay-rab comments—at bay. When a teacher’s lie and her father’s hastiness rob her of her beautiful hair, her dreams are dashed. The fastest barber in Miami Beach has made her look practically bald. 


With all her pretty hair gone, Tabby doesn’t believe she fits the feminine role she’s auditioning for. Michael is still interested in her, but he’s playing it cool. Heather has taken to bullying her online, which is easier to do with Tabby’s ugly haircut. Tabby spearheads Operation Revenge, which proves satisfying until all of her problems deepen. After messing up, she sets to make things right.

Author Bio
I’m a Kurdish-American author
who was born in New York City, and I presently call Miami my home. I received my master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming
a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many
genres in college, I found my niche writing for young people. Today I'm a MG
and YA writer published through various presses. In addition to being a writer,
I'm a middle school English teacher. My memberships include Mensa, ALAN, and
SCBWI.


Find Medeia

Blog   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads   |   Instagram   |   Amazon


See you next Monday!



Comments

I couldn't keep up with the Challenge post, and I was participating!
Glad you got away to Galveston. The photo with the amusement park is stunning.
And congratulations to Medeia!
Mason Canyon said…
Hi, Carol. Glad to see you back. Love the photos and Galveston is a fun place to visit. Congrats to Medeia.

Thoughts in Progress
River Fairchild said…
Congrats to Medeia!
All through April I thought of you, Carol, because you had the huevos to take a blogging break and work on other projects! You're my hero now and I'm going to follow your example when I feel the need.
It sounds like you had a great vacation!
Now you pop back up. :) But you were doing important stuff for your writing.

Congrats to Medeia on her new book.
Robin said…
Welcome back!

Wow! You had an amazing April. Getting the manuscript done.... woohoo! And good for you taking a vacation.
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Congrats, Medeia!

Welcome back, Carol. I didn't participate in the A to Z in April as I also had so many other things to do. None were as fun as what you did though.
Julie Flanders said…
Congrats on getting your ms completed. Yay! And the trip must have been wonderful, great pics.
Unknown said…
I spent my honeymoon at Moody Gardens in Galveston! I also had my senior Prom there as well, we were a rich school. Did you go to Fiesta this year? I usually take the kids to Flambo but not this year.
VR Barkowski said…
Yum, I love crawfish as long as I don't have to pinch the tail and suck the head. I can't deal with food that looks back at me. Love the photos from Galveston—gorgeous!

Congrats on getting your MS to your editor and congrats to Medeia on her SNIP, SNIP REVENGE. Exciting times!

Welcome back!
VR Barkowski
Melissa said…
You came to Galveston and you didn't visit me? Hmph. :P

Can't wait to see your new website. ;)
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - A-Z is just huge now. I'm glad you like the photo!

Mason - Galveston is making a fantastic comeback after Hurricane Ike a few years ago.

River - By all means! I've never been anyone's hero before. I'm humbled.

Karen - Thanks! It's great to see everyone again.

Teresa - Yeah. Great timing - LOL!
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Carol,

Welcome back! We missed you!

FANTASTIC PICS! SO beautiful! Glad you had a great time at the feast and vacation!

Congrats to Medeia !!!!
So glad that you're back Carol. We missed you! Sounds like you had an awesome April. A crawfish broil?? I'm game!
Carol Kilgore said…
Robin - I get to tackle it again when it comes back from the editor :)

Diane - I confess I had a great time! I thought about you seeing the roller coasters on the Pleasure Pier.

Julie - Thanks! And it was wonderful :)

David - We didn't make any of the Fiesta events this year. Sad, but true. I love the Flambeau Parade, too!

VR - I don't suck the heads either. Bunches of people did.

Melissa - I'm sorry :)
I couldn't keep up with my webbie woman - too much else going on. We're starting again this week. So I hope it won't be much longer.

Michael - I missed you, too!

OE - Next time we have one, I'll let you know. It's only a hop, skip, and a jump from Kentucky to Texas, right :)
Welcome back. You have been missed. I can see that your mini vacation was a trial and a torment... In the same way the craw-fish broil was.
Congratulations to Medeia.
Liza said…
I've done shrimp boils and lobster bakes, but I've never had a crawfish. Looks like I'm missing something!
Unknown said…
What a fantastic vacation you had. The ocean looks beautiful. I'm glad you're back.

The book by Medeia looks fantastic. Love the cover.
I don't eat seafood, can't stand the taste or smell or look of it just thought you would like to know that for some strange reason.

We have a ghost in this house a nice friendly ghost that likes to sit on the bed next to me when I am in bed and who will often touch my arm while I am sleeping
Unknown said…
Thanks so much for the shout out! I'm glad you enjoyed my ghostly posts! :)

I've never eaten crawfish...I'm kinda a lobster or bust lady.

I love the pic with the amusement park in the background. Fabulous!

Big congrats to Medeia on her great new book! I'm so happy for her!!
Anonymous said…
Welcome back! I love the pics and thank you for featuring my book.
Slamdunk said…
Welcome back Carole and it sounds like you invested your time wisely while you were away.

Always good to see the beach.
Carol Kilgore said…
EC - Missed you, too! Each of us undergoes many trials and torments in this life. Some are much more fun than others :)

Liza - Only one bite in a crawfish, but it tastes much like lobster.

Clarissa - I love Medeia's cover, too. It's good to be back.

Jo-Anne - My mother-in-law is the same way. I love it. I'm glad your ghost is the friendly, happy sort :)

Lexa - There's one bite of meat in a crawfish, and it tastes much like lobster. You boil them with a ton of spices. Glad you like the photo! I loved your posts :)

Medeia - LOVE the cover!

Slam Dunk - I feel the same about the beach.
Shelly said…
Those crawdads look so good- makes me want to have one for breakfast! So glad you got to get away to Galveston- we're headed to South Padre next month and can't wait~
And a-welcome back to you, too! Looks to ME like you had a great time!

Wow, I'm really out of the loop. I had no idea Karen's living in Guatemala now. Congrats on getting your manuscript off to your editor on time. Looking forward to reading your next book.
cleemckenzie said…
Those crawfish made my mouth water! Sounds like you had a great April. Glad you did and glad you're back.
J.L. Campbell said…
Pictures of the sea are always welcome in my book.

We call those little critters shrimp in these parts.

Looking forward to the unveiling of the site and I hope Medeia's book is doing well.
Carol Kilgore said…
Shelly - South Padre is so fun!

Susan - Thanks! I did have fun, but so did you!

Lee - They were so yummy! Good to be back.

Joy - We have shrimp, but these are different. What do you call what we call crawfish?
Tara Tyler said…
yay for carol! lucky for the beach and crawdaddy fun!
and yay for meeting your deadline =)

ps - thanks for commenting on my cover reveal!
Stina said…
Congrats, Carol, on getting your edits in!!!! It sounds like you have a great time off.

I bet there are a lot of people involved in the AtoZ challenge who are thrilled it's over. It looks exhausting.
Helena said…
Welcome back! I'm so glad you had a restful getaway at the beach AND got your edited manuscript in.

Snip, Snip Revenge sounds very good indeed, so I'll check it out.
Looks like you had a brilliant April... and productive! That crawfish boil sounds and looks like it was amazing.
Welcome back Carol! Glad you had a fun vacation, and the photos are gorgeous! I can't wait to hear more about your manuscript! Congrats to Medeia on her new release!

Julie
Carol Kilgore said…
Tara - Good luck with your new book!

Stina - I did A-Z last year. It is exhausting. But fun, too :)

Helena - I would've liked to have finished editing before we went to the beach, but it didn't happened. So I had to jump back in and hustle after we got back. And all I wanted to do was still play.

Lynda - It was awesome!

Julie - Stay tuned! More coming on June 2.
Emily R. King said…
Look at that view. Heaven!

Congratulations to Medeia, and good to see you back, Carol. I hope to be back more soon.
LR said…
I love the last picture of the beach with the amusement park. Sigh. Reminds me of a place I once knew.

And crawfish looks yummy!

Nice to see you back.
LD Masterson said…
Glad to have you back. All that vacationing and you still got your manuscript in on time? I'm impressed.
Carol Kilgore said…
Emily - It was! Looking forward to seeing you again!

LR - Good to be back.

LD - Lots of work, but I did it. And I was dog tired :)
H. R. Sinclair said…
Those 'crawdads' look so good! And the beach pics look so relaxing...

Glad you made your deadline!
Jemi Fraser said…
Yay for Medeia! :)

Love your pics - the little ones make the best 'caught' pics! :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Southpaw - They were tasty! And the beach was perfect. I'm glad I made my deadline, too.

Jemi - True about little ones :)
Old Kitty said…
Revamping the blog!?!? Where will all the sand go? And the firefighters?!?! :-) Looking forward to your new bloggie home! Yay!

Awww glad you had a great break and a crawfish boil! Yay for lovely Medeia and KarenG and all the other A-Zers too! take care
x
Carol Kilgore said…
Old Kitty - Only a couple of tiny detail-type changes coming for my blog. All the sandy firefighters will still be around :)

I'm revamping my carolkilgore website because I'm finally going to do something with it.
Welcome back, Carol!
Lots of things going on...
Crawfish? Did you mean crayfish? I only know of crayfish... is it the same thing?
Love the beach getaway pictures!
Good luck with the revamping of your website.
Writer In Transit
Anonymous said…
I enjoyed Lexa's A2Z posts too. Great views -- big fan of the coast. Medeia's cover looks great.
Carol Kilgore said…
Michelle - Crawfish and crayfish are the same things. People here also call them crawdads and mudbugs.

Milo - The coast is special, for sure.

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