Sutton Shields: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Characters, Characters Everywhere

My hands simply aren't fast enough to keep up with the voices in my head. And that makes me sounds just a little crazy...or a lot...but then we already know this about me: odd comes naturally. After years of denial, I've chosen to embrace it.

So, what do you do when your characters are vying for control of your brain and each one is from an entirely different story set in vastly different atmospheres? Right now, I'm mentally traveling from Christmas to vampires to angels (Mr. Sorta-Angel, to be precise) to a cozy mystery to a summertime romance.

I'm convinced these characters have grossly overestimated how quickly I'm able to write.

(And this would be two months in a row of posting! Definite progress!)

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Happy Holidays!!!

I just wanted to wish anyone who pops by my quiet little piece of the blogging universe a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Magical New Year!

Lots to come in the New Year, starting with a little surprise some readers have been asking for...

Lots of Love, Tons of Joy, and Mounds of Merry to you and yours,

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Back Now

First and foremost, much love, many thoughts, and countless prayers to the brave people of Houston and surrounding areas devastated by Hurricane Harvey. You will get through this and be stronger than ever before, that much I know. <3

Well, it was a long winter. And spring. And summer. The bottom line: The sinusitis that ultimately led me to some not-so-fun procedures between January and July is still an ongoing thing. Yeah, the infection was really, really bad. Snot monsters. Who knew? Then, from December through March and some of April, my dad could barely walk (and sometimes just plain couldn’t) due to gout and the return of a medical condition that nearly took his life. During the same time frame, my poor mom struggled and is only just now feeling better after going back and forth to the doctor since February.

On the bright side, Dad is pretty much back to form and Mom is doing much, much better. As for me, I’m praying there are two more procedures before everything is back to normal again. I feel horrible for my absence and more so that my writing has been slow going since all of this started. I’m trying like all heck to get back on track, but it is a slower process than I would like.

At the very least, I plan on keeping the blog & FB updated more regularly, even if it’s with a bunch of nonsense (kinda like most of this post, right?). Twitter, however, will be where I release my annual crazy. Yes, it’s that time of year again: LSU FOOTBALL. All sense of reason (what little remains, that is) quite literally flies out the ears when LSU takes the field. Apologies in advance to anyone who may witness my wackiness—you may conclude I need professional help. To those cheering for teams who may take the field against LSU: Nothing but good sportsmanship here & may the best team win…so long as it’s LSU (just kidding…kind of).

Now for the big news: In December, before the chaos unleashed, I became a mama to a precious little angel. Please meet my fur-baby, Crosby St. Nick (yep, he was totally named after my favorite crooner, Bing Crosby, and the one and only Santa Claus). I realize my holiday addiction comes through in his name. Well, I've never hidden my crazy, so...yeah.

Baby Crosby

And, yes, he's fast becoming a big LSU Tigers fan!

Okay, I will see y’all soon with new puppy pics and new updates…including one that has been requested a few times from readers. ;) In the meantime, I hope to see you on Twitter for some serious fun on game day & Geaux Tigers.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The Final Wave Has Landed! BACKRUSH is Here!

Now Available on Amazon

The Mer-Nor Gang's final adventure has finally arrived! It's the conclusion I've been waiting to write for, oh, over a decade, now, I reckon. Writing BACKRUSH was probably the most emotionally exhausting, yet gratifying journey of the series. So much has happened over the course of ten years--I'm not sure what I would've done without The Merworld Water Wars. This world has been my home and the characters have always been, and will always be, my family.

The Mer-Nor Gang and I hope you will love its conclusion.

Ride the Final Wave on Kindle (paperback coming soon):

BACKRUSH, Now Available on Amazon.

Friday, December 4, 2015

The Christmas Season is Here & Long Overdue Anthology News!

It's Christmas! With the world the way it is today, it just feels like we need the magic of Christmas and miracles and joy more than ever. 'Tis the season of tree-trimming (which was done before Thanksgiving...yeah, I know. I can't help it), decorating (yep, also done before Turkey Day), Christmas carols (been singing them since Halloween), Christmas movies (bet you can guess how long I've been watching these), present hunting (in total elf mode), present wrapping (starting soon), cookie eating (on it), and just an endless amount of wonder, whimsy, family, friends, love, and jolliness. Even though I've tried in the past to temper the Obsessive Christmas Disorder, it's pretty much impossible to hide my elf self. Mom says I should work for Santa. Maybe someday...

Computer: Well, I'm still relying on borrowing a computer (although, hopefully, I will soon be able to borrow one a bit more often). Mine is still acting ridiculous. I just have to kind of tiptoe through my computer's drama until I can get a new computer.

Anthology News: I'm embarrassingly behind on blogging about another amazing anthology I was fortunate enough to be a part of with a truly wonderful group of authors.

Spectral Tales: A Ghost Story Anthology. From Amazon: Whether they are spirits of the departed or figments of an overactive imagination, ghosts are a staple in fiction. Storytellers have portrayed ghosts as scary, friendly, or annoying across many genres. Now, eight authors offer their own interpretations of ghosts through a collection of short stories that will appeal to fans of horror, fantasy, or young adult fiction.

Here are the stories and storytellers featured in this year's anthology:

“Deathwatch” by Katie French

“Tides” by Sarah Dalton

“Shadowspirit” by M.A. George

“The Little Girl” by Jamie Campbell

“The Ghost Below” by Ariele Sieling

“Slave Runner” by H.S. Stone

“Farewell Ohana (A Ghostly Mini-Wave)” by Sutton Shields

“Ghost Girl” by Susan Fodor

For my part, I decided to reveal a little backstory on Maile, Gus, and Gully from The Merworld Water series. Here's the blurb for my crazy little short story: Farewell Ohana (A Ghostly Mini-Wave): Maile Lahela is under attack by someone in the Kauai Camp for the Curiously Creepy. When she awakens one morning unable to see, her peculiar, yet loyal friends decide it’s time to escape the institution—something that’s never been done. But before they can leave, Maile has a mission of her own…one that could cost them their lives.

Farewell Ohana is a short, fun-filled, emotional prequel to the events occurring in Overfalls, Wave Two of The Merworld Water Wars series by Sutton Shields.

You can pick up a copy of fun, scary, & emotional goodness here (Psst: It's FREE!):

AMAZON

I should have some Wave Five updates & spin-off updates very soon! In the meantime, maybe put on a Santa hat and get your jolly on! :) Happy Holidays!!!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Roundup: Racing, Writing, Random, & Contest Peek!

Well, I finally did the thing I dread doing: changing my blogger background from Christmas to something non-Christmas. I know, it's pathetic, but I hate seeing all the Christmas goodness disappear for another year. You should see me with the tree and decorations--most depressed self-professed elf EVER.

On the plus side...RACING IS BACK! Yeehaw! I geaux ('geaux' is an LSU thing for those who haven't witnessed the circus sideshow that is me on Twitter during football season) kinda blah between the end of football & holidays until now, when NASCAR returns. Dale Jr. finished 3rd. Great race. Very glad Kyle Busch is safe after that horrific accident yesterday. Scary, scary thing to see. I felt so bad for his wife--she must have been absolutely terrified. Safer barriers should be everywhere. Just my less-than-two-cents opinion.

The writing cave has been a busy place. Book 4 of The Merworld Waters Wars is coming along steadily. I'll be kicking it into high gear here soon. I'm still looking at a summer 2015 release date. And...we have a cover!!! It definitely sets the tone for the fourth book, especially since the story really leads to the fifth and final book in the series. I'm a crazy mix of excited, nervous, and sad to be so close to the end of this series. Oooh, can't even think about how finishing the last book will feel! Nope, can't think about that right now. No, no, no, just no.

Anyway...on top of that, I've been working like mad on my first New Adult Contemporary Romance/Suspense trilogy. There will be danger, love, deadly secrets, betrayal, and some, um, steamy-sexy grown-up fun. It's been really fun to write. I've had these characters nagging me for a looong time--kept notebooks in an attempt to keep them at bay while writing Merworld Water Wars, but they finally lost their patience and came bursting out of my brain. I'm not absolutely sure about a release date for the first book, but I'm aiming for the end of summer, maybe sooner.

Oh, and Mother Nature can take the cold away any dang time now. Seriously. Getting just a little tired of having to leave the faucets on a drip and shivering and brrr and blah! Elsa, I most definitely am not, despite 'Let It Go' being a theme song and my love of snow for the holidays. Pre-Christmas snow & Christmas snow...yeah, totally different from after-Christmas snow. This made a lot more sense in my head than it does now, staring back at me. :/

Lots of things coming up, including a big contest taking place in False Key...details coming this week!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Author Spotlight: Susan Fodor Brings the Mermaid-Merry!

It's a mer-Merry Christmas today! I'm thrilled to have one of my very favorite mer-authors on the blog: Susan Fodor! She was one of the very first authors I met when starting this journey & I'm truly blessed to call her my friend. <3

What Christmas carol could you not live without?

If you could be in a Christmas movie, which would it be and who would you play?

Finish this sentence: It's not Christmas without...

Susan's Biography

Susan is the author of The Silver Tides Series.

A dreamer. Wife. Mother. Friend. Dessert enthusiast. Theologian. Australian. Bi-lingual. Passionate. Overly involved with fictional characters. Avid supporter of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Has eclectic taste in music, food, and clothing. Enjoys taking random photos of Tuvok her cat.

And always has time to look for the best in people.

Connect with Susan & discover her novels:

*Giveaway: For a complete list of prizes and terms & conditions, click here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pick up a copy of Celestial on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Author Spotlight: Marijon Braden Brings Festive Fun!

The elves are ready for some festive fun with the amazing Marijon Braden!

What Christmas Carol could you live without?

If you could be in a Christmas movie, which would it be and who would you be?

Finish this sentence: It's not Christmas without....

Connect with Marijon & discover her novels: