Battling The Winter Blues and a Giveaway!

FYI: the following maybe too much information, but here I go, anyway. I can’t think when I’m in my pyjamas. I know some writers spend the day in their sleep clothes and are productive and go about slaying the universe, fictionally speaking, of course. But, me? Not so much. I put my pyjamas on when I go to bed, or possibly at some point during the evening, like if I’ve worked out and I need to shed my sweaty workout gear.

Right now I’m sitting at my desk, in front of my computer, in my pyjamas. And it just feels…wrong.

It might be that I need new pyjamas, but, I think for me, day clothes signal productivity. Although lately, some days I’m not exactly setting fire to my to-do list, even when wearing my day clothes. I blame winter!

frosty mornings and toasty mugs
www.karyngood.com

I’ve read all the lists on how to ease a winter malaise. I know I’m supposed to eat healthier, exercise, take Vitamin D. And those things work! But the cold winter still makes me want to hibernate in a pile blankets with a good book. Luckily, there is an endless number of good books out there to choose from.

I’m eagerly awaiting the release date of GONE, Aspen Lake Series, Book 3!

I’m open to suggestions on how to survive the rest of the winter! Or your opinion on pyjamas! Comment below on some of the ways you battle the winter blues, or any kind of blues, to be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Comment to win $25 gift card. Closes February 27, 2019.

Until next time…

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips it’s turn. ~ Hal Borland

Valentine’s Day Approaches!

I don’t know if it’s the brutality cold weather or the general malaise brought on by February, but I’m not exactly feeling inspired to make a big deal about Valentine’s Day this year.

Is it okay to want to stay home, drink tea, eat macarons, and play Scrabble? Of course it is! And it’s quality time together. Although, I don’t know if the person I’m married to is all that excited about word games. Then again, he married me. So, there’s that…

But all things being equal, it means I should figure out what he’d really like to do for Valentine’s Day. Something or some act that would really convey my feelings and to show I know what’s important to him. I’m kind of scared to try and figure it out because his idea of together time might involve watching sports. Ugh. To me, that is the worst kind of torture.

Apparently, someone wrote a book on how to deepen the connections in your relationships. (Okay, I’m sure there are several books out there on the subject of relationships.) I haven’t read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, but the idea of discovering my love language is intriguing. Here’s an entertaining summary I found on YouTube, that might be of interest.

If you’re interested in learning what your love language is or discovering what your partner’s love language is go HERE.

If you think that sounds like a bunch of hooey, here’s a couple of links instead!

Romance novels to check out in 2019!

Rom-coms in 2019!

Also, next week I’ll be announcing another contest! And next Wednesday my newsletter goes out and there’ll be a contest there, too!

Until then…

What’s your take on Valentine’s Day? Take it or leave it?

Winner and My Friday Read

****** Trisha Rose ******

You’re the winner! Please contact me with your email address, and if you want an Amazon or a Kobo GC, and I’ll send that out to you!

So, January is over. Thank goodness! It’s the first day of February, it’s Friday, and, of course, I’m reading a book! I have to say, I’m really enjoying this one. Time slip novels are fast becoming a favourite!

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants-—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too-smart-for-their-own-good. It’s called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it’s located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming—until one of them mysteriously disappears…

Vermont, 2014. As much as she’s tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister’s death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can’t shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced…

Until next time…

What’s everyone else reading these days?

Cover Reveal!

Oh my gosh, I’m so excited to share this cover! My newsletter subscribers got a early peek last week, along with a chance to win a fabulous prize pack of goodies. But this week, I’m sharing it with everyone! And thank you Kim Mendoza for doing such a wonderful job on my cover.

Ever since a devastating family tragedy seventeen years ago, Grace Bighill has struggled to keep her remaining family from falling apart. Then the discovery of her mother’s body in the woods unearths a connection to a decades old murder case, and Grace is dragged into a politician’s bitter bid for revenge.

Constable Mike Davenport’s days in Aspen Lake are numbered. He’s ready to take his next step up the career ladder somewhere a lot more cosmopolitan. He’s avoided any emotional attachments, despite having fallen hard for a certain stubborn local. But when a body turns up, Mike’s careful intentions collapse in the face of Grace’s grief and her exhaustive efforts to care for her family.

A search for answers leads Grace and Mike down a twisted path proving no one can escape their roots. But someone might die trying.

Karyn Good, Romantic Suspense

The release date is coming soon!

GONE is the final book in my Aspen Lake Series. Check out BACKLASH and EXPOSED to see where the series started. There will be more snippets and giveaways to come in the following weeks. For now, check out my giveaway that ends tomorrow!

Until then…

Tell me what you think of my cover!

New Year, New Goals!

Planners and Journals, Oh My!

My favourite part of a new year is new notebooks, journals, and planners. Love, love, love me some crisp, clean pages to write in. And one of my goals for this year is to keep better track of thoughts, reviews, writing time, etc. I like the idea of having a paper trail of my thoughts that I can look back on.

I feel like I need more than one notebook to record the different things I want to track, without it becoming too complicated.

First of all, I need a calendar to keep track of appointments for myself and all things family related. This one is put out by a company called Fringe that I bought at Winners for $15. I bought the least complex one I could find that was still visually appealing to me.

2019 Calendar of Choice

Next is my bullet journal, although what I do probably isn’t considered bullet journaling, per se. This is where I doodle, jot down random things, make to-do lists, etc. Most recently, I wrote down a couple of podcast recommendations: Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History and The Guilty Feminist. For this I love the Leuchtturn journals and I always go for the ones with the dotted lines versus the blank pages or lined ones.

I was lucky enough (my people know me well) to receive two journals for Christmas and I’ve found a lovely use for both of them. I wanted to give each one a specific purpose. The one with the cover quote Nevertheless She Persisted is dedicated to keeping track of my writing progress. Which, eeps, is something I’ve never done before! The other journal I have earmarked for reviews of books, plays, movies, concerts, Netflix series, etc. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time and this year is the year I start.

So, that’s my plan!

Who else loves journals, calendars and notebooks?

Karyn’s Giveaway Week Four

Holiday Winner Week Three is…

******** Annette ********

A Chance to Win!

Holiday Giveaway Week 4 ($25 Gift Card to Amazon) Karyn Good Romantic Suspense Author

We are heading into the home stretch and I hope everyone is ready, or almost ready, for the holidays. I hope you spare a minute from your busy schedule to tell me about your favourite tradition? If you don’t do the holidays, you can let me know about any tradition you hold dear. I want to hear about them, too!

I will draw a winner on December 31st! 

Our Christmas Traditions:

  • Books! We all receive a book on Christmas Eve! I love picking out books for my kids, especially now that they are older, as in they are adults, and definitely have their own opinions about things. I love hearing whether they enjoyed the book I picked for them, or didn’t enjoy it. 
  • Lights! I love hopping in the car and going on a light tour. We get into a pyjamas, sip hot chocolate and take a tour of the lights. 
  • Games! I try and find a new game every year. This year it was a trivia game for my husband and I to play together. Last year it was the pie in the face game. My daughter wants to play that one again!
  • Getting together with family and sharing a special meal. I do love turkey and all the trimmings. And, of course, the people. It’s not all about the food. Really, it’s not! Although, I do love mashed potatoes and gravy! 

Until next time…

Tell me a favourited tradition! 

Karyn’s Holiday Giveaway Week Three

Holiday Winner Week Two is

*********JudyE********

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY WEEK THREE

Karyn Good

Head on over to my Karyn Good Facebook page for a chance to win this week’s giveaway and like the giveaway post to be entered to win. This prize pack contains an adorable calendar featuring hardworking police dogs and their handlers; a candle that smells like chocolate; some actual chocolate; and an adorable button.

Buttons make me think of collections. I don’t have a lot of collections besides the obvious which would be books, but I do consider my Christmas tree ornaments a collection of sorts. One of my favourite things to do at Christmas is decorate the tree. Once I’m done I can sit beside it at night, and remember where I found them, or why I thought they were special.

Karyn Good

Until next time…

You can also share your favourite Christmas ornament or figurine here to be entered to win!

Karyn’s Holiday Giveaway Week Two

Holiday Winner Week One is…

********Brea*********

 

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY WEEK TWO!

Karyn Good, Giveaway,

That’s quite the red and green theme I’ve got going on. But I thought a lovely notebook for jotting down your 2019 goals and a pair of cheery mittens to wear while getting out and getting things done would be just the thing needed for this time of year.

I am trying very hard to become a better list maker. That is to say – organized!

So, are there any list makers in the crowd? If so, tell me your tips in the comment section to be entered to win. If you’re like me and you’re not a list maker but you’d like to be, mention that in the comments for a chance to win. If you like to wing it mention that too!

And kind of on topic – here’s one of the items on my Christmas list!

The 5 am Club

Winning starts at your beginning. And your first hours are where the great heroes are made. Own your mornings and you’ll master your life. 

The 5 AM Club

It sounds kind of terrifying. I’ve never been particularly productive at 5:00 AM. However, the older I get the early I get up, so I might as well get something done. Like lists!

Until next time…

Let me know your opinion of lists in the comments. And, good luck!

Karyn’s Holiday Giveaway Week One

Welcome to Week 1 of My Four Weeks of Holiday Giveaways!

Thank you to those who entered!

The Winner Is – Brea!

Karyn Good Giveaway

It’s already very Christmasy out there! And busy! If you’re like me, you don’t relish venturing out to malls and such. I love giving gifts! I don’t want to sound all grinchy! But I would be less than honest if I said I enjoyed shopping, especially this time of year. This time of year generally has me feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and overthinking.

Some suggestions for de-stressing!

  1. Take a sniff of citrus! Apparently, smelling a lemon boosts feelings of well-being.
  2. Experiment! Ditch some old traditions and adopt new ones. You don’t have to do the same thing every year.
  3. Spend less time on social media! Theodore Roosevelt is right – Comparison is the thief of joy.
  4. More sex! Orgasms increase endorphins.
  5. Just say no! It’s okay to say no to holiday parties by saying you already have plans. Staying in with a book and a cup of tea is a plan, after all.

In the comment section below, tell me your favourite way to relax at home during the holiday season for a chance to win a prize pack containing a candle, a calendar, and chocolates! All very Canadian, especially the calendar with its adorable pictures of Vancouver City Police Dogs, which also supports a couple of great causes.

*Don’t forget to leave your email address so I know how to contact you if you win.*

Until then…

Or until next week! Good luck!