First Interview!!

Hello everyone, 
I am pleased to announce that this Friday there will be a web interview, right here on Wonder and Wanderings, featuring none other than award winning author, 

Angela Scott. 

She is known for her zombie western trilogy and the amazing Desert Flower and Desert Rice. 
Her book Anyone? was just released on December 1, 2014. 

On Friday, January the 16th she will be answering some questions right here! So check back and get to know this awesome author. 

*Anyone? photo taken from Amazon.com

Buy Anyone? here @

http://www.amazon.com/Anyone-Angela-Scott-ebook/dp/B00OC9F5JG

Check out Angela's Website @ http://www.angelascottauthor.com/

Asthma sucks...that is all

For those of you that don’t know, I have asthma. It stems from a traumatic birth where I ingested a lot of blood and got an infection in my lungs. I was also born with Right Middle Lobe syndrome and my trachea was shaped like an L, until I was like 7.

Anyways, it sucks. I am 28 years old, I have to do breathing treatments twice a day (when I am healthy), and even more when the weather is bad (like now) or I get a cold or sinus infection. Today, my doctor was joking (well not really) and said I just need to stay inside for the next two months and maybe one day get a prescription to live by the beach.

I am not a fan of complaining, but I do understand that sometimes people just need to vent. Most days, I am positive. But someday, I get pissed because my reality does not add up to my expectations (realistic or fantastical).

I was sick as a child the majority of the time but some part of my mind knew it was going to be different when I was an adult. I was going to be like the adults on TV or like the adults, I knew in real life even though what I knew of them was derived from short meetings and the lenses of childhood. I saw put together people that were active and happy and worked, took care of a family and played softball three days a week.

Now I understand that my expectations were unrealistic but how often do we KNOW something but it still takes a while to soak in or we just keep saying we know to try to convince ourselves? No matter how much knowledge I have, some days it is hard to accept that my chronic condition followed me into my twenties. I still have to wear the mask when I use my nebulizer because I can’t breathe through the ‘adult’ attachment. I have to check my oxygen level before going outside. In the winter, if I go out in the night air, I have to wear a scarf or a gator. I can’t run outside, or walk fast. I can’t work out cause I can’t breathe. I get loopy and emotional when I don’t get enough oxygen or too many steroids.

I have to take steroids when my two inhalers, oral medication and nebulizer treatments can’t manage my asthma. Steroids jack you up. I gain weight (no matter what I do), I get paranoid and antsy and sometimes I hallucinate. It is awesome…. But I can breathe and my chest doesn’t feel like I am having a heart attack or a hug from a boa constrictor….that is a great thing.

Anyways, life goes on. Some days I get pissy. I get frustrated. I just want to pretend for two minutes that I’m not sick. But life goes on. Being sick does not make me less of a person. It does not make me a bad wife, friend, aunt, sister, teacher. It does not give me reason to look down on myself even if that mean little voice in the back of my mine says differently.

I will never be a marathon runner, a professional swimmer, a singer, a gymnast, or a whole list of other awesome things but that doesn’t mean I’m not awesome.

Do I believe this every day? Hell no.

Self-consciousness gets the best of me more often than I care to admit. Negative thinking is a daily challenge. But deep inside, in my soul, in my grounded mind, I believe every word and I believe it is true for you too. 

9 Hours

I have 9 hours left in my Pubslush campaign. This campaign is helping raise money to cover the initial costs of publishing.

After years of researching and contemplating and praying, I have decided to self publish, at least my first series.

Publishing of any kind comes with costs, it is a business after all. With contracts and artists and attorneys, it is rather a daunting task. It is starting your own business, launching your own career and it is as terrifying as it is exciting.

If you are in a similar boat, take heart you are not alone.

I would like to raise my glass (mug of coffee at the moment) to the artists, the entrepreneurs, the lone wolfs and risk takers that go it alone, the self employed, the business owners of every kind...here to you who are scared shit-less but continue on anyway.

May your dreams always start out as impossible. May your glass never be empty. May your moments, face down in the mud never stop you from trudging onward and may you never be afraid because someone says you should be. And, may all the no's be the epic drum roll to your own voice raised in a resounding YES.

And may you always take time for cheesiness. Because a good cheese is one of life's greatest joys.

Sometimes

Sat down this morning to write, I let my fingers lead and this is what came out.


Sometimes, the day is what you make
Sometimes, the day is what it is
Sometimes, the sun gets in your eyes
or the rain puts you at peace
Sometimes, it feels good to be sad
that is when ice cream tastes the best
Sometimes, it hurts to be happy
Feeling how we shouldn't feel

Water ruins shoes and cleans the soul
Dirt is the enemy or the joy of summer
Callouses may be rough but oh so necessary

Alone is lonely
Alone is needed
Tears fall from joy and from pain
Fear is natural
Doubt is certain
and joy can come through rain

Forever never comes, until you least expect it
Wishes only exist until they come true
Sometimes, our dreams can guide our future
but our nightmares can too
Sometimes, a smile is only a mask
but a frown can be one too

Sometimes, we think we are alone
until we step back from the mirror
Sometimes, the world is unforgiving
Sometimes, it is bitter sweet
Sometimes, our feet never leave the ground
and sometimes, the ground will leave our feet.

Pubslush Crowd Funding

A lot goes into writing a novel but there is a lot of other things that go into being published, (regardless of traditional or indie publishing). Legal fees, business licences, editors, formatting, art, design, more editing, marketing and so on. This campaign is to help me with those things that needed to be addressed before publication. 

Please consider contributing.
 https://pubslush.com/project/4238

Veteran's Day

Today we celebrate those who have served in the military. I want to extend my gratitude to the soldiers and their families. This country may have issues but so does my family and I love them just the same. 

Thank you to our veterans. 

Thank you to our service men and woman, active duty and contract civilians. 

Thank you to those who have died. 

Thank you to those who have suffered. 

Thank you to those who protect, who teach, who build, who guide, who write, who speak, who encourage and who fight. 

Thank you to those in the desert, on the front line, in the air and on the sea. 

Thank you to those behind the desk, on the phone, in the classroom and in the trenches. 

Thank you to those who are scared, who are lonely, who are homesick. 

Thank you to those who are strong, who are driven, who are proud and who put on that uniform. 

Thank you to the oldest man at the veteran center and to the newest recruit going through the ropes.

 Thank you to the wives and husbands who have to stay behind. 

Thank you to the boyfriends, girlfriends, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters (all family) that live day to day with their loved one serving. 

Thank you to those who have lost dear ones.

 Thank you to the children that live their lives with parents in the service, the kids that move and change and always have to be the new kid.

 Thank you to all those I have not mentioned, my forgetfulness should not reflect on your importance. 

Thank you to our Marines Corps. 

Thank you to our Air Force. 
Thank you to our Army. 
Thank you to our Navy. 
Thank you to our Coast Guard. 

Thank you to our Leaders, our Soldiers, our Military. 

Crowd funding

Greetings all on this lovely November day. I trust those of you participating in NaNoWriMo are merely taking a short break to read my blog. (Thanks and good luck!) 
I am still in communication with publishers that have expressed interest in picking up my work, however, there are still things I need to pay for...licenses and such....
I used to hate asking for help. I didn't want to see needy or be a burden on sometime because even though my life has been tough at times, there are always others that have it worse. Part of me still hates asking for help but honestly, it is selfish. I don't want to be a bother. I don't want to be looked at down the ridge of someone's nose. I don't want...I don't want...
In reality, I do need help. That doesn't make me a lesser person, a lesser author, a lesser anything....it just means I ain't got the money. 
So if you are willing to partner with me and help get me off the ground, I would immensely grateful. It doesn't have to be a lot, just $5 or $1...anything. (If you choose to drop a few Benjamins, I won't stop you but I might faint.) 

My Pubslush campaign will launch in 5 days and will only be open for a short time. I urge you to become a FAN of the campaign and place your donation within 30 days. Thank you. If you have any questions, you can contact me on facebook. Lora Douglas. 

Thank you and if you are unable to donate but want to show your support, just became a fan and throw some good vibes or prayers my way. Thanks. 

https://pubslush.com/project/4238