Updates updates...or nothing at all.

It's been awhile...
I've been super busy. I've been reading like nobody's business and working the same. Has anyone ever told you that book writing is slow??? Well, I'm here to tell you that it IS!
I was rereading some of Surviving last night and I must say that I had to do some rewriting and I still need to do some rewriting.
If I'm going to put my words out to the world I might as well have it the way I want it. Ya KNOW???
Also, I've been struggling to find some really good books. There seem to be so many but I want something good. I don't want the same ole same ole.
If you haven't read any of Colleen Hoover's books I will tell you (yet again) to go read them. Her newest addition is FREE! And it is a really good book. It's technically a novella but... it's not too short. It's called Finding Cinderella.
Next:
Go read ALL of Kristen Ashley's books.. Her newest is Jagged.
I know I know! I tell you I love these ladies all the time. But I don't care. When I find a writing style I like I stick with it!

So, yet again this is a boring post so I'll let you all go about your day.

J.L. Sprague

A day in the life...

...of me.
I try to write when I can. Sometimes this can be at night, in the morning or in the middle of the day. Yep. At any time of day except in the middle of the night cause I like my sleep.
I love to read as well. This happens basically when I'm not writing, sleeping or doing my "real job".
For me, I might get to write for 10 minutes, an hour or if I'm lucky a few hours. Most of the time however it is like an hour or thirty minutes here and there.
If you have ever had a child you would know why. My husband works a lot and isn't often home so it is me and the three year old chillen out.

Last night I finished a chapter. I'm pretty proud of that chapter but it leads into something crazy. I have yet to write this "crazy". I am doing this today. Or SUPPOSED to be doing this today. But my child has my iphone and keeps playing this spongebob game that I want to throw out the window because #1 he is just too young to understand how to play the game and #2 he keeps making me play it.
I don't like playing games. I never have. And he is driving me insane.

Okay so I have a new neighbor and he is fixing up the house. All morning (as well as last night) I keeps hearing sawing and hammering and such. Well, I don't really mind but again, my three year old keeps saying "what's that sound? Is it a ghosty ghost?"  OMG!

Also, I have another neighbor who likes to do drag racing or something like that. Every evening he is out there working on this racing car. IT IS THE LOUDEST CAR I'VE EVER HEARD! Again, I don't really mind. But really don't be working on it at 9pm. I've gotta write sometime and I've gotta put my son down to sleep (and I do this at 8pm).

So yeah.
Maybe you'll also want to know that I almost hit a cow the other day. It was fan-freaking-tastic!
NOT!
But, now my break is over, back to writing or reading or playing that stupid spongebob game that I freakin hate!

J.L. Sprague

Reading List

It's 10pm. My son is asleep and my husband is at work. So, what am I doing? I've been reading.
Now it's time for me to to get into the writing mode. I was going to go to sleep but my brain seems to have awaken now that it's getting late.
So, what am I reading?
Why, Kristen Ashley of course! I'm currently on Lacybourne Manor. It's pretty good but I've still got a bit to go. I think however, I prefer her Rock Chick series, Mountain Man series, Colorado series and so on. I'm still not big on paranormal. She does however have a fan-freakin-tastic writing style that I just can't give up.

I'm trying to figure out what I want to read next. I do NOT want to read a book that is short. Oh! On this thought, this is another point for KA; her book tend to be longer. I LOVE this fact!

OK! So, anybody know a good editor? One that isn't waaaaayyyyy expensive? I've been doing my best but... well, I want my book to be well put together and I want success. This means I will have to do all that I can in order for it to be as good as it can be.
ALSO, how can I market this thing?
Ideas??? Anyone??

Click, click, click

mic check.

I'll do my best to write something a little more fantastic next time. Right now I'm dead on my feet and I have lots to write..

J.L. Sprague

I don't know a good title...mostly RAnDoM

I have been reading, like A LOT!
YeS! A LOT!
I've been trying to write but within the last week I've been kinda...slow about it. This sucks.
I want to get this book finished mostly to get it out of my head. But I also want to do a good job and write something people will like. So there are flips sides to the coin. There always is I suppose.
My most recent excursion has been through Kristen Ashley's Fantasyland series. Wildest Dreams, The Golden Dynasty and Fantastical. 
I'm not big on otherworldly things and crazy stuff like vampires and werewolves but thankfully this doesn't have those but it does take place in another world with witches, curses, a place where birds speak and crazy things happen.
That said, I freakin LOVED these books!
I have officially read Thirty (30) - yes THIRTY of Kristen Ashley's books. I'm thinking I need to open my mind to her other books. And I am going to. I'm a little nervous to open my mind up to the genies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and such BUT I'm going to do it! Then she has more she is releasing soon, therefore I'll get my KA fix soon enough without all the crazy shizz happening.

Anyhow if you haven't, please go over and check out my prologue and Chapter 1 of Surviving on Fiction Press. I need reviews badly. Someone needs to tell me if my writing is halfway decent.
Here is the link:
http://www.fictionpress.com/s/3149021/1/Surviving

It will take you to chapter 1. But you should really read the prologue first. It is easy to change chapters on your device.
please, please, please go check it out.

love ya peeps,

J.L. Sprague

HEY HEY Chapter 1

Hey hey! It's been a while since I blogged but.... who cares! I write when I feel like it. I write when I need to and I write cause I like it. It will never be forced, not if I have my way with it!

SO Guess what???

My cover is FINISHED! AND I published Chapter 1 on Fiction Press. I did NOT however post the prologue. :(
But I thought maybe you might like the link for chapter 1,
Here it is:
http://www.fictionpress.com/s/3148655/1/Surviving

Have fun reading and leave a review...whether it's good or bad.

J.L. Sprague

It's a rainy day

A rainy day...

It's a day...that is rainy. 
My son doesn't understand that we can't play outside on this rainy day...
I don't understand why I can't get any work done. I have no point to this particular blog, besides the fact that I want to write. Write out crazy thoughts that have no meaning. I feel like being silly and lazy and productive all at once and it is not very conducive to getting ANYTHING done. 
I have looked at some choices for my book cover. I saw something I liked but NOT quite perfect yet. I want it to be perfect. Although I really shouldn't be tooooooo crazy about it. I tend to be a perfectionist. 

In my book I have gone over one chapter about a million times just to make sure I what I said and how I said it and what I did not say. I know I'm crazy. 

Can I be a mechanic when I grow up? I know random thought. But seriously, we should all be mechanics...we all have cars...and they all mess up...and none of us ever have the money to fix these dang cars...

okay enough about that. 
Can I take a nap on this rainy day? OH wait! I can't I have to leave for work...my real work.......soon. 
What do I do? 
Well, that is for me to know and for you to...

J.L. Sprague

FINALLY!

So, since I'm such an awesome person I'll finally give you the name of my book.

Surviving

Yep that's it.
Also, there is plans for a sequel to Surviving. Do you want to know what it will be called?? Well, sorry you'll have to wait for that one. I DO know the name but I have to keep some secrets. This is the first time I've told anyone the name (other than my family and those helping with the book).

I always think of this:

Silence surrounds the floorboards. A thin line of evening sun shines, peeking through the heavy drapes of the old abandoned cabin. Nothing but her and the dust shining off the tiny strip of sunlight. Heavy breathing cut through the silence, echoing off the walls. I couldn't decide if the noise was me or simply my imagination. I groaned at the thought, that I was truly alone. I was truly alone. No one knew where I was. I didn't know where I was. My eyes tried to bounce off each of the four bare walls, searching for some sign of life. This was something I hadn't expected. It was never in my plans to get kidnapped. 

Slowly rolling to my right side, I couldn't help but groan in my anguish. My entire body was on fire. My wrists were bound behind my back. I was pretty sure some of my ribs were broken, but I forced myself to stay on my right side. I needed to take in every bit of the space I was surrounded by. ...

Okay that's all I'm giving you for now. I know it's not a lot but whatever.

My son is now sitting in my chair watching Rudolf the red nosed reindeer. Yes. At the end of July. Go figure.

See you soon.

J.L. Sprague

Title? What title?

HEY! Would you like to know the name of my book? Of course you would! I haven't set a release date yet but it will be out before christmas. (I HOPE) I've been doing a lot of research the last couple of weeks.
I've also been doing a lot on designing my cover. I'm really loving it. I got the rights for the picture I'm using. (WAHOOOOOO!) And I'll tell you who the photographer is.... His name is Neal Fowler.
That should be all I tell you right now.
Should I let you know my current books?
ok.

I just got through reading the Too Far series. YES! Three books! Fallen Too Far, Never Too Far and Forever Too Far, by Abbi Glines.
Those were some good books. I thoroughly enjoyed them. I have read several others but I'm not gonna tell you what they are.
What I will tell you is my current books. I read Forever Black. LOVED IT! (By Sandi Lynn) I'm really looking forward to Forever You in the male POV. The last Is Forever US which comes out in November (I think). I'm looking forward to that one even more.
I also just got finished reading The Last Boyfriend by J.S. Cooper and I'm in the middle of The Last Husband. Yes. I read a lot.
I'm looking forward to reading Beautiful Bastard as well. I haven't bought it yet but I hear it is a good book so ....yeah.
I've also been thinking about reading Real by Katy Evans. I honestly can't believe I haven't read Beautiful Bastard and Real before now. I read so much much it is hard to keep up. BUT, I LoVE to read! I LOVE to write. I just hope I can tell the story in my mind in a way that is captivating. :)

OK!
So my son is getting on my ever loving nerves. We just had his 3rd birthday this past weekend and it was fabulous! My husband and I bought him a trampoline and he made us get out of the bed at 6:30 AM the other morning to go jump. NOT COOL! Especially when I just needed sleep.
Alrighty then, see you all soon!

J.L. Sprague

Sometimes I just need to write.

Sometimes I just need to write. I usually have a journal I leave by my bed, but my book has taken over my journal. So this post, just so you all know, is purely all me. Not to be entertaining in the least.
Over the last few days I have learned quite a bit, gotten depressed quite a bit, been a little happy over some things, then I flew right back to depressed. This is part of the reason I like being in a book world. Real world poop doesn't take over my mind. I love to read. Sometimes I read and I go to bed and my brain starts making scenes in which are most definitely are not in the book. This happening over and over led me to start writing my own books. I currently have 4 in the making on computer. And a brief description for another.
I am pursing only one at the moment to finish and publish.

This publishing a book thing is the scariest thing I've ever done and I haven't even done it yet. I'm so stressed out about it. The more I research the more I want to keep on keeping on but wondering if I'll ever get there. I keep wondering if I should even try at all. I know that doesn't make sense because I totally contradicted myself, but it's true.

I write slowly. My book, I mean. I take my time and figure out what's going to happen and I may only write a thousand words a day over a period of a week. I should say that I different way. I type only a thousand words in a week. I write scenes in my journal all week long. This way I can edit it or redo my scene any way I like. Plus, I just like handwriting my work. I don't know why, I just do. This doesn't mean my book isn't constantly on my mind. My brain is constantly working. But this also doesn't mean I'm a good writer or storyteller. I try. That is all I can say.

My mom isn't much of a reader, she never has been. So when I let her read one of my scenes today, she finished, and just sat my journal down gingerly. Then she didn't say anything. This made me feel very very unworthy of writing. I wanted to cry. I hate to say it, but I am an emotional person. I can't help it, I am. I like to take critique of my work. I want to know if it sucks and if I need to try again.
My style has almost transformed completely from the time I started my current book to 40,000 words later.

So, what do I do? What did it mean? I don't know. My mom is my best friend and I'll take everything she can give me and I'll try to give it right back if I can. My mom and I have the best relationship. But don't mistake me, we go through our ups and down just we should. We fight and we resolve, just like we should. We are not perfect but we are mother and daughter. I love my mom.
She proceeds to tell me that she has nothing to compare it to. She cannot critique my work.
You know what this tells me? She hates it. My heart can't help but sink. My husband doesn't like my work, my mom apparently doesn't like my work. My cousin who is supposed to be reading my current material is refusing to get back to me and the other person who is reading my material seems to just agree on everything, not giving me hardly any feedback at all.
Right now, I'm in a pit of despair. Or at least that's the way my heart feels.
I feel like I can't do anything right except read some awesomely awesome books and go into another world to escape mine.
But my world is amazing. I'm just not happy at the moment. I know I'll get over it. Because life happens.
If I have to write and rewrite, I will.
If I have to spend a fortune (that I definitely do not have), I'll do it. (well, maybe not).
What I won't do is give up.
I've given up or been pushed to quit many things in my short life. I've tried many things because I want to find my place in this world. Where do I go from here? How can I make my life what I want it to be?

I'll tell you this. When I publish my book. I want you to read it, then I want you to review it, even if it sucks. I'll read your review and take your critique. After that, I do one more thing, I'll try to learn from it.
If my book doesn't sell, it will not be because I didn't try. I will try. I will keep trying.
I do not have perfect skills. I do not have perfect grammar. I do not always spell words correctly. Well, who cares. I will try to correct my non-perfect skills and I will try to correct my non-perfect grammar. I will use the spell check and I'll try to find my misuse of there, their and they're. Yes I know the difference, but it doesn't mean I won't screw it up.
So, what about you? Will you keep trying to do all the things you want to do? I hope so. I hope that I have the courage to keep on keeping on. When my book comes out. I pray that even if I only sell one or two books, I'll feel like a success.

I'm not writing for money. To be honest, I'm not even writing for you. I'm writing for me. I hope there will come a time when I can say I'm writing for the fans. Even if that never happens, I just hope I can continue to grow and to learn. That is what I'm going to do.

Thankfully my son is asleep, so I don't have to deal with him while I'm wallowing in my self pity. I'll get over myself soon enough.

Thanks for reading, even if it's only one person.
Thank you,

J.L.

Graphic Design Whaaa???

Yes. Whaaa? I'm in the process of designing my book's cover. Yes design is not something I know poo about. That's right. I know nothing. I also know nothing about marketing. SO, I'm in the process of learning. I also found out I went to school with someone who is into all things geek. Which means...a graphic designer is now at my fingertips.... YES!  I just hope he can do what I want done. I'm pretty sure he can.

Now, I did finally finish that book...you know This Man Confessed. I must say, I really did like it. I kept thinking one thing at the very end though. I'm not going to say what it is because if you haven't read it and you want to, then well, I'm not going to spoil it for you. I hate spoiling things.
I'm not sure what book I'm on to next. I've tried reading Tangled by Emma Chase, but it's just not my cup of tea (at least not right now as I go through phases). I've started reading The Auction by Claire Thompson, and so far it's okay. I also started reading Masters of My Desire (Doms of Genesis) by Jenna Jacob, but again, it's a little cheesy and not what I'm looking for at the moment. SO, I'm looking for a good book. I may reread Thoughtless by S. C. Stephens but I'm not sure.

Now, I know I tend to write short blogs and guess what? Today is no different.
My son is screaming like a freakin banshee right now. He says he wants food in a bowl. But what kind of food does he want??? NO IDEA! I've given him some yogurt and then 2 gummy worms. Guess what? Neither of those were food in a bowl and although he ate those things, he still wants food in a bowl. Go figure. So, off I go to get food in a bowl
See ya,

J.L.

Yo Yo Yo! #LosingHope

Yep, it's that time of the day. The time of the day where I wow you with my utterly plain linguistics. yup.
OKAY!
So, I stopped reading This Man Confessed last night because I couldn't wait to read Losing Hope. And I just finished. All I can say is ... wow! Some people could critique it I guess but for me, it is exactly what I wanted. From beginning to end. I will not spoil it for you, so don't worry.
I apparently love Holder. I have learned so much about him and I have learned so much about Les and I feel like I have learned about myself, but yet, I haven't. Weird huh?
I feel so emotional and happy and sad and just...everything.

I learned a lot while I was reading this book. Something I have been talking to myself about the entire time I've been writing my book. I learned that I don't have to be perfect and my book can be exactly how I want it. I don't have to conform to other people's set of rules. I don't have to have my chapters to be so many words or any of that.
I am SO glad I finally learned that today. I don't have to conform. I can be me. I'm pretty fricken happy about that. I can write in my form, I can abbreviate how I want and I can pour my soul into my works. If everything doesn't go right, I can try again. All I have to do is delete and retype.
I want to publish my book before the end of the year. I am so close to having it finished.
I do need to design the cover though. How am I supposed to do that? Someone needs to help me.

Anybody want to help design a cover?

Tonight my child says there is a "big boy ghost" in our house and he is wearing sunglasses. He promptly made me turn the living room lights on. Yep, that's my boy. He also said the ghost is not a monster, it is a ghost.
Oh well, have a good night y'all.

J.L.

Guess what, guess what?!?!

I am so happy! Want to know why? Well I'm gonna tell you....!!!!! I'm just so ExCiTEd! #LosingHope will officially be released at midnight tonight! I have been looking forward to this book since I knew Colleen was writing it!
Yes! Colleen Hoover. Author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless and now Losing Hope...(and later Maybe Someday). If you haven't read any of these, you better hook yourself up and get to reading.
I am trying my darndest to read the rest of my current book, This Man Confessed (book 3 in This Man trilogy). And this too is a darned good book. I will have to admit, right now that so far I liked the second book better than this one, BUT I'm not finished with the book and finishing it could make all the difference!

Ok, that all I really have to write about today. I really have so much to do. I'm writing and reading and trying to do research and I'm getting nothing accomplished by sitting here writing about nothing but how excited I am.
Sooooooooo.....
No three year old junk today, he is just watching Spongebob and acting oddly normal...for once.

See you soon,

J.L.

What a day!

So, I'm writing and writing and writing. I'm feeling good and then BAM! Something I don't like happens. Just something stupid. Ya know, being human and all I just want things to go my way. I wish people could be on my schedule so I could get things done. And WHY are people so afraid of voicing their opinion? I need an open opinion.
My son is sitting on the couch with me now while I'm typing. He keeps looking into his room saying that there's a bear in there. Then he asks me if I ruined his dreams?
Seriously? Kids are the freakin funniest things ever. And here I am typing away ignoring the world (except of course for the annoying sounds of my three years old trying to lick the fly swatter) and my say stops looks at me and says "I said be quiet momma".
I could go on and on about my three year old.

I haven't talked about it much but I am a book enthusiast! Love love love books! The more I read the more I have determined that I have a writing style. Some of my favorite authors are: Colleen Hoover, Rebecca Donovan, and Kristen Ashley.
~I love Kristen Ashley for a good book fix.~

I am in the middle of reading This Man series. I read the first book when it came out. I started to read the second book, Beneath this Man, but I decided to wait until the third and final book came out. Thus, this is what I did. I finished Beneath this Man (book #2) last night. It was awesome! Like freakin amazeballs. Now, I am continuing my journey onto the last book, This Man, Confessed. I am only in the sixth chapter and I can tell you right now, I'm not really sure why I stopped reading. Oh yeah, I know why! I'm an idiot. Oh, wait no I'm not, I have a three year old and he doesn't allow me to do anything for very long. I've already had a stop/go relationship with this blog.
Does anyone know of an awesome good read? I've got a bunch I need to read already on my kindle but I like books that go deeper into each character. I hate that superficial crap. I hate feeling like I'm on the outside shell of a character.
Also, for some strange reason, I hate Novellas. I just don't like 'em. I would much rather have a good book that will take days to read (and I'm a slow reader- how in the heck some of you can read a book as long as fifity shades in a day is beyond me).
So, this is my sign off. I really must get to writing my own book and finishing it or I'll never get it done.
See you soon,

J.L.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July! It is quite rainy in my area so most of the fireworks have been cancelled. So, I'm having a wonderful day inside. I did go buy a new desk chair. It is fabulous! My son, however, has decided it is his new toy. This does not make me happy. I've also discovered that my hardwood floor is not level. It is very frustrating. I have a very old home, so there's not much I can do about it.

In other news...I've finally decided on the name of my book. I kept deliberating back and forth between two different names. I think the one I chose suits the book well. I've done a lot of research lately and I am ready for anything when it comes to this book of mine. I love it. I just hope others will at least like it. I've sent it to my cousin - my most honest cousin - to read. I'm nervous. If she likes it then I'm not sure I have much to worry about.
My book is not finished yet, which is sorta frustrating. I have all these things in my head that wants out and it is a slow process for me. I do most of my writing in a journal. This way I can write down what I need to quickly and I can rearrange what I need to when I type it out. This is a good and bad thing. I'm not about to rehash that for you though.

So, I will sign off with this little tidbit from my son... He says "My dinosaurs are supposed to go potty outside."

J.L.

slow day...

One of these days I'll get this dang book done. I am such a slow writer, but I guess time will tell how good/bad it will bed. I'm really really looking forward to it though.

Today so far, I've mostly been editing, with only just a little writing. Tonight will be lots of writing. I do all my best work at night. ;)
I have been all over kingdom come this morning. Lots and lots of errands. I hate errands. But I'll tell you right now, it's a fact of life.
Because you really want to know, my son is currently smashing his crayons with his scoobydoo booblehead. It's awesome. It doesn't, however, lend itself toward good writing conditions.

For now, that is all.
Have a great day and come back when I start writing something a little more interesting.

J.L.

So.............

So......
This is my first blog post here and I must say I'm a pretty boring person so this just might be a pretty boring blog.
All morning long I've been trying to get my ducks in a row. Computer... check, Microsoft office... check...
Oh gross, my son just sneezed on me, give me a sec.
Okay I'm back. That was just nasty, but that is my world. I write, I drive, and I get sneezed on my a three year old. Not necessarily in that order. I've been writing my first book and I'm not going to say what it's called just yet. I loved the name when I first started writing it, but now I'm not so sure it fits as well as it could.
I have a few different books started but the one I'm currently working on is well... I don't know it has just stuck with me. My brain starts one idea and then has another idea and I must write them down or they just leave me.
So that is all for this blog. Hopefully stuff will get a little more interesting in the writing world of mine. It is a slow going process that I really love so I hope you love it too.
See you all soon...
J. L.