Five Stars for "Phillip"

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Cats, Yarn, and Words

I've had some time to process the loss of my baby girl, Cali, last Tuesday. Strange what losing a beloved animal will do to you and make you look at your life. I have been reeling for days and finally have narrowed my 'hobbies' down to a top list of three great loves of my world:

Cats, Yarn, and Words

Cats...obviously. Above is my baby boy, Jack, who has been my buddy since he was adopted as a tiny kitten. (yes, he was tiny once). This 19 lb behemoth of a cuddler is the main focus of my life, especially since the tragic loss of his sister.
He is diabetic, but takes his shots like a champ. He is pretty healthy otherwise, thank goodness!  He gets pancreatic attacks that make him sick all day and all night at times, but he gets medication and it helps.

Yarn...ha ha seems to go hand-in-hand with cats, right?  Don't let them play with it, I implore you. My first cat, Katie, ingested some and it came out the other end...ewwwwwwwwwwwww! It can wrap around their stomach and kill them. Seriously, watch the yarn.
OK, enough PSA...I love to knit and can even crochet (it just always ends up a little 'off'). ha ha. I love regular straight needle patterns (if I even follow one). I usually make up my own and run with it. Nowadays I knit for friends, or donate my creations to cat shelters.

Words...this should be obvious having written 12 books so far (plus 18 more with co-authors). I've been writing since I knew how and hope to never stop. Even if they never sell, even if they're seen as goody-two-shoes or too 'safe' for the horrific world we live in, I don't care. I love my boys, my style, and I will write purely for my love if nobody else's.

This is more of a Monday morning brain dump, if not anything grander....but I wanted to share my loves with you, my followers, fans, and friends.

Have a good Monday if you can!

Steph

In Memoriam...

My precious little Cali lost the fight Tuesday morning after a long, touch-n-go weekend that included an ER vet and her regular vet.  She had just turned 18.

End stage kidney disease, hyperthyroid (newly discovered) and high glucose was too much for this little angel. She weighed only 6 lbs as it was. When it was the end, she weighed 5.

This little darling meant the world to all of us (both my ex hubby and current) and myself. She was a very vocal, lively, moody, silly, adorable, beautiful girl and she will be missed beyond description.

If you have furbabies, let them know what they mean to you now, in this life. I am wracked with guilt over every time I got frustrated or missed a sign...but she is in the best place possible now and knows how much we loved her.

Rest in Peace, Cali! I await you over the Rainbow Bridge

T-Minus 24 Days

Only 24 days to go!!! Wahooo!

To all my fellow brides-to-be do you do a countdown?  I did, since almost the day we set 'the' date! I kept it on the fridge and marked it down faithfully every single day.

Now? With only three weeks and change to go; we can almost relax.  This is a small affair, outdoors, no big receptions. The biggest worry was getting the flowers, which I just picked up last Saturday. :)

Next? To get the actual license, candy for goody bags, choose food, and be sure the mother of the groom has a nice outfit.

Oh...and to teach the groom to dance.  That'd be nice too. LOL

Anyone else with an October wedding? My last one was too...this time of year is hot! 

What are your issues with last-minute items?

Happy weddings!

Bittersweet Day

Hello all!
As most of you know, for the past 3 1/2 years I have been the owner of Romance First Publishing.
As of Tuesday, that company will be shut down.
Why? Due to lack of time, and a very tumultuous personal life; I no longer have the resources with which to run it properly and to the extent I wish.

I want to thank everyone who's been supportive and of great help over these years, you rock!!

That said, what little time I do find to write of late is my own work, which I will be releasing in small, but hopefully regular, doses. I hope you'll join me on my continuing journey.

Thanks again!

Stephanie Danielson

It's a new dawn...

It's a new dawn for me! After a long time of being somewhat 'off the radar' as far as book releases, etc...I am very happy to report that things will be a'changing!

Perhaps inspired by age, the year, or by death itself (a reminder always that life is short and we should do what we were born to do) and part of that for me is always.... a writer.

Luckily my well did not run completely dry. There have been great stories penned between myself and Nephylim (The Upstaged series) as well as the Ice Fairy series. (finishing edits on book 2).

But that isn't enough and hasn't been enough. School took over my life, then finding work, and then again (most work now is contractor) so that's a constant.

Finally! Some stability is creeping into my world again. I am signed on to be working at least til the end of this year, we're staying put in our current abode, the cats are healthy, I'm getting long overdue medical work done, and life is finally calming down. What better time for writing?

After nearly 8 months of not putting 'pen to paper' I am finally back...and to quote Michael Buble:

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me......and i"m feelin' good!

Thank you all very much for sticking by me, with me, and supporting me during these dark times.

Much love to all and cheers!

Steph

Crazy Town

LOL...I love that suggestion; humor gets us all through the day sometimes.

Life is a little odd right now; I became unemployed three weeks ago and have been looking for a new gig ever since. The market here in STL is tough!!! But I hope to find something soon or start to price out cardboard boxes to make a shack from.

But as always, there is good news! Boy kitty, Jack, is doing so much better. Six months ago it seemed like he was just a breath away from leaving us for the great big catnip buffet in the sky. Luckily, that is not true at all anymore. His back paws are not bugging him anymore so he can jump and clamor up the steps again and play! His insulin shots are not his favorite, we hate giving them to him too; but they have helped save his far too young life. (He's only 10).

So, we feel very blessed to still have our little guy around and our little girl too, who is 14 and as rowdy as ever. Daytime you cannot tell; but nighttime she's as rambunctious as ever.

Other than that; I've left school and have decided to punt accounting entirely. Writing is my love, not numbers. I've also gotten back to drawing and painting too. I'll take some pics sometime of my old works vs the new...all I'm asking is for you to please be kind. It's been decades since I've created anything of the sort...

Writing isn't coming easy nowadays; despite dozens of wip's...but I think once I know I have an income again, I'll feel safer and able to stop worrying.

And on that note...on this Memorial Day and remembering my family members who served our country and thanking them for their contributions to help keep us free.

Cheers!

Steph