Lend Me A Tenor

The Dolmen Theatre Group in Dundalk is putting on Ken Ludwig's Lend Me A Tenor and I am going to be helping out backstage. I haven't helped out with a production since I was pregnant (youth theatre) and haven't done backstage at An Táin Theatre in seven years! I studied theatre in college, but always acted. Someday, I'd like to go back to acting.

I was at rehearsal last night and will be in An Táin every night this week. I really missed being part of a production. I've been involved in this kind of thing since I was thirteen, but, since Beth came along, I haven't had the free time to get back into it. Hopefully, this will be the start of more participation in loads of productions!

Tonight's rehearsal starts at 6pm and tomorrow evening will be the tech rehearsal ahead of Wednesday's opening night. It is hilarious and the actors are sure to bring the house down!

Poster for the play

The only slight snag is that I won't be able to take part in the Dundalk 10k on Wednesday evening. Running is great and all, but I do prefer a little theatre ;-)

St. Patrick's Day in Dundalk and other things

Going to do a photo post today, for something different!

First off, Beth decided a month ago she wanted her hair cut like Coraline (animated kid's movie character). Everyone in the family tried to talk her out of it but she was adamant her baby hair had to go. This was her FIRST EVER hair cut. I was a bit emotional :-(

In Kiddiecuts, where she watched cartoons and was delighted when it was all over.

Having a coffee and juice in Costa after the ordeal

The keepsake!

St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be complete without lots of green tat

Quick game of hide and seek with Pep before the parade

At the parade

My no-make-up-selfie, the craze on Facebook at the moment. Fantastic donations being made to cancer research through this. Text Pink to 50300 (from Ireland) to donate €4

Went to a hen party at the weekend. Made some penis cookies. I think they went down well ;-)

Decorated with strawberry icing and chocolate shavings

Painting a male nude model was one of the activites at the hen

Beth showing off her good behaviour star chart

Two big smiles to finish off!

Cover Reveal for Breathless by Krista McLaughlin

Absolutely delighted to be doing this cover reveal for the lovely Krista!

BREATHLESS by Krista McLaughlin

Book Summary: Eighteen-year-old Lainey is the only witness to her best friend losing her life to the depths of the ocean. She stays close to the water, a small part of her hoping to surrender to the same fate. On her birthday the waters almost overtake her, but a mysterious young man rescues her and disappears.

Lainey can't stop thinking about the stranger from the beach, and one night she finds her rescuer naked and bleeding on the shore. Jon doesn’t know what pancakes taste like, how microwave popcorn cooks, or own shoes, but he seems to be just what Lainey needs. As the anniversary of her friend’s death looms, Lainey opens herself in ways she never thought possible. But when Jon’s identity comes to light, Lainey has to save him before she loses another love to the sea.

Publication Date:  April 1, 2014

About the Author:

Krista McLaughlin graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services, and a minor in English.  She was born and raised in the Midwest with her nose stuck in a book and her hand smeared in pencil lead.  When she is not cuddling with little ones she nannies, she is reading or cross-stitching.  She loves J.R.R. Tolkien and all things Star Trek.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kristamclaughlinauthor

Twitter www.twitter.com/kjmclaugh

Website www.kjmclaughlin.com

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4659722.Krista_McLaughlin

Dundalk 10k Fun Run.... Again!

It's been two years since I did the Dundalk 10k Fun Run and I'm about to do it again, in five weeks! I just decided yesterday morning. So, I donned my, now grubby, runners and stepped out into the cold. Well, in fairness, the weather has changed a bit here in Ireland. We are now experiencing something akin to Spring! At long last. It was a bitter Winter.

When I began Weight Watchers back in 2010, running something like this was far from my expectations. In truth, I'm not a very sporty person. I hate contact sport (partaking, not watching because I actually love rugby). P.E. at school was a nightmare for me. We always had to play basketball or volleyball and being short, these things did not come easy to me. However, I really like running. It's just me and my music when I'm training and, when I did the 10k two years ago, the camaraderie was brilliant. Of course, there were people competing for first place but I was no where near that standard! You can find the original post about my first 10k here. Incidentally, when I went to get the link for that post, I noticed the comment below. I had forgotten about it. It's from my Aunt Margaret, who passed away a few months later. Cancer is such a horrible disease.

I'm also hoping to lose about a stone from the training. I've been quite bold lately and need to get back on track. Yesterday I did 2.5km and this morning 2.6km. My thighs are killing me!!

My Weight Watchers gold membership card is mocking me from my wallet!

In other news, Devil in the Clouds is entered into ABNA and I'm back to working on my third novel, Allie's Return. It's like coming home.

I got a new phone yesterday. I was due an upgrade from Three and went with the Samsung Galaxy S4. I love it! I don't know how to use all the features yet but I'm getting there. I've also downloaded the Kindle app and I'm reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I haven't seen the new movie yet but will after I finish the book. I love Leonardo DiCaprio in anything (except Titanic, which in my opinion, almost destroyed his career), so I'm sure I'll like the movie!

Valentine's Day Blues?? Not here ;-)

I’ve been single on Valentine’s Day for five years now. It might actually be longer but my life is a bit of a blur before Beth came along. I can’t remember when exactly I dated some people. There’s only one Valentine’s that really stands out in my mind and that was seven years ago!! It involved roses, chocolates, concert tickets and a gorgeous meal, amongst other things... :-)

This holiday has a tendency to make some single people bitter. In the past, years and years ago BB (Before Beth), I suppose it did annoy me when I was single on this day but I don’t feel like that anymore. It might be because I’m older now or maybe it’s the blonde beauty who lives with me!

If I didn’t have Beth I might feel differently. She treats Valentine’s like Christmas. She has been counting down the ‘big sleeps’ all week and was so excited when I whispered “Happy Valentine’s Day” as she was waking up this morning.

When it comes to being single though, I’m quite happy. Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve been on dates. I’ve tried, and got bored of, online dating. It was so hard to find an actual connection with someone through the internet. Although, after watching ‘her’ with Joaquin Phoenix I may be tempted to try again ;-)

I’m just not very good at sharing my life with someone. I only want a part timer!! Last guy I had a few dates with seemed to suit me but he turned out to be even more afraid of relationships than me! And that’s some feat!!

But, sometimes the little voice inside my head pipes up. I call her ‘The Shoulds’. In a nagging tone she asks me “Shouldn’t you have a partner by now?”, “Shouldn’t you, at 32, be settled, be married or even be planning a wedding?” All of my friends, bar one, are either married, planning a wedding or pregnant. Yet, here I am, the black sheep, single and definitely no buns in my oven and no plans for it either. Is there something wrong with me that I don’t want to relinquish sole custody of the remote control or have everyone stare at me in a white dress while I concentrate on not tripping over my own feet? *shudder*

I do like going on dates though. The anticipation, the butterflies, even the dread. Sitting close but not touching, electricity fizzing in the open space, then the inevitable grazing of cloth followed by thrilling contact sending shivers all over your body. If you’re lucky, a kiss, gentle at first, as the passion builds, swirling, tasting, passionate. Yes, I like dates!

The "Oh my God, what am I doing with my life?" moment

I'm into the forth edit of Devil in the Clouds now and having an insecure writer's moment. I re-read over all the lines, re-edited now but they began during NaNoWriMo 2012. I've been working on this particular book for over a year and it's still not ready for public consumption. Will it ever be? 

In the great scheme of things, I do consider myself a writer, now. It took a while to finally admit it when that dreaded question would eventually arise when meeting new people "So, what do YOU do?". Butterflies would immediately start thundering round my abdomen, palms sweaty, gaze shifty. Oh, the pain of getting those words out!

Now, they come easier. Of course, the inevitable questions that follow are still as painful as ever. Do you know, I even get asked how much I make!? I would never dream of asking anyone that. Even with my closest friends, I would only have a vague idea of what they make, but it's none of my business anyway!

For me, writing isn't about making money. It's about finally doing what I love. Disappearing into different worlds/lives and molding them into a story. Yes, it is very much a form of escapism. Just like reading. For a few hours, I can disappear into a life where I can imagine anything I want. What job could be better than that?

But then, something at the back of my mind whispers "Is this really what you SHOULD be doing?". Should I be pursuing a path with the great possibility of no reward? Should I be working a "normal" job, 9-5, Monday to Friday? Should I be buying a house? Isn't that what everyone SHOULD do when they reach adulthood?

If I keep on my path, there are no guarantees for a steady wage, ability to get a mortgage or be insurable under the job title of 'writer'. Do I continue? When is it time to give up my dream job? This year? Next year? Twenty years?

Sometimes I tell the voice to shut up, but she does talk a lot of sense. It's not always easy to ignore reasonable doubts about my current career. But, I wonder, would I be able to quit now? I'm not sure that will be such an easy decision to make. 

Sunshine!!!

Good morning readers :-)

How are you all on this bright Monday morning?

I'm feeling grand! Up since 7am, got Beth to school, took the dog for a walk and began the re-edit of Devil in the Clouds. I've also to do a new pitch and it's all to do with the announcement of the seventh Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award a few days ago. I love entering this competition, mainly for the camaraderie on the boards. The support there is fantastic!

I had a great weekend too. Well, apart from a little sickness yesterday but, thankfully, it passed with lots of Lemsip and vitamin C.

You know, I think it may be the reappearance of the sun that has me in such a good mood today. I may skip all the way to the school to collect Beth ;-)

Anyone else out there doing the ABNA? Join the crazy writers, it's fun!