The Clock is Ticking...

No, not the biological clock. I didn't write a single word on any of my books yesterday, and haven't updated my blog in a few days, therefore, today will be nothing but writing. Ok, well, maybe I'll take a break to eat, but that's it.

Yesterday, I spent the entire morning and afternoon playing with guns. Don't worry, it was for research. Marley and Reece love their guns, so I had to make sure they were using the correct ones. Unfortunately, my right shoulder is VERY sore from the shotgun. I do believe Marley will be using one very soon.

Stay tuned for the latest on Marley and Reece......

Heading to the juvenile correctional facility today

Today, I will fill out my paperwork to become a volunteer at the St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center. I've received permission to institute a journaling/writing group for the kids detained there. Maybe it's one of those moments of hoped for change, but I'm hoping to teach these kids to channel their rage and put it on paper, in hopes of later avoiding yet more crimes and jail time. If everyone would take the time to help just one underpriveleged child our correctional facilities may not be so crowded.
During research, I discovered that a majority of children doing time in prison came from drug addicted, abusive, neglectful homes. These boys and girls would then go looking for a family and acceptance, usually finding it within a gang. What if they had another option? What if just one adult in their life extended their hand and told them, "I'm here for you."? Would it make a difference?

Feel free to sound off!

Did you miss me?

So I've been gone for a while, my apologies. Between preparing for the first day of school, volunteer work, child care, house work, and my own novels, I have been remiss on keeping up to date with my blog. Have no fear, I'm back!
Today is Monday. When I worked out of the home, this was my most hated of days. Now, it is the beginning of being able to write, uninterrupted, for hours. Though today, I only wrote for approximately two hours. My house was literally begging to be cleaned! Yes, literally begging! I'm sure the neighbors could even hear it!

I have been working on an old manuscript for days, tightening the plot and building the characters. This is due to advice from a very respected agent, whom I hope to work with in the future! Now back to the grind. I'll be back to post as soon as possible!

Ahhh, The First Day of School

Well, my kiddos have officially started their school year. I'm a little sad, as I'm gonna get a little lonely, but overall, I'm ecstatic. I haven't been alone in over six months, and need some quiet time to finish the sequel to The Reluctant King Reece. Marley's bound and determined to make her debut as a hard ass female, and she keeps beating against the inside of my skull to finish her story.

The house is quiet, I've got my coffee, now all that's left is to sit down with the laptop and strum away on the keyboard....nah, I think I'll read in peace first, maybe watch the news instead of cartoons, and THEN I'll write a little bit.

Reece Has Laid Down the Law

Due to the recent shopping fiasco, Reece has ended my little shopping trips. He said the only way he'll "permit" it is if I take one of the elders with me. Yeah, that's what I want, some stuffy, old codger with antiquated ideas following me around the mall. You know, I'm just as deadly as Charlotte with a knife, and nearly as competent as Reece with a gun, yet no one seems to think I can take care of myself.
So, what were all those years of training for? Just to look good holding a gun, or what? I wonder what it'll take for either of them to have faith in my ability to look after myself.

Another Attempt on My Life...

Well, Damian's thugs are at it again. Charlotte and I had just finished shopping, and were headed to our car, when two jack asses popped up from behind the SUV. Unfortunately for them, they weren't warned about us. Poor guys came unarmed, thinking they were attacking two helpless females. Needless to say, we're fine, and they, well, they'll live. My fist is a little sore, though. Maybe I should've concentrated more in kicking them in the face, rather than punching them. At least my manicure held up. Oh, and Charlotte's fine, too.

Reece's blog

I figured if Marley's gonna post a blog, than I might as well. She acts like I had a choice in this matter. I was just as blindsided as she was. Hell, I didn't even want to be an immortal, but seeing as I was born that way, I didn't have a choice. As far as being king, well, I have no intention of stepping up anytime soon. Seely can rule to his heart's content as far as I'm concerned.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Marley. I love her with all my heart, but I would rather not have to put her life in danger with every turn. She says she'd rather live this life with me, or none at all, and I believe her. It's just, I don't think she really understands how very dangerous Damian and his thugs can be.

A Blog from Marley Rose

So, I've been raised and taught to believe I am the next queen of the Simonites. Did no one think this may interfere with my own plans? I mean, come on! I'm barely twenty one, I just want to hit some clubs, go shopping, and fall in love like any other normal girl. Well, ok, so I've already fallen in love with Reece. And, yeah, he gives me pretty much anything I ask for, but isn't there supposed to more? Would trading all mortal desires be worth spending the rest of eternity with my greatest love? Or, I guess that would be my only love.
Seely tells me this was all destined, planned before my conception. Sounds a little Jesus of Nazareth to me. Trust me, I'm no saint, nor deity. I'm just a normal young woman. Normal may be a bit of a stretch, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Lazy Sundays

While I should've been in church this morning, I found myself crawling out of bed around 11am. My wonderful husband got up with the kids, leaving me to sleep in. No, I'm not lazy, but I've been sick, and as everyone knows, it's nearly impossible to get a good night's sleep when you're ill. Though this is the first thing I've written today, be rest assured, it will most certainly NOT be the last of the day. I've never been able to go an entire day without writing something, anything. It's not only a passion, but who I am. I'm unable to see a simple situation without completely describing it in my head, then embellishing the scene with fictional characters and plots.
Today, I think I'll give Marley and Reece a break from their usual training, fighting, and love making, and perhaps, move on to some new characters. Let's just hope it doesn't bite me in the ass later.

Real Housewives? Really?

     While watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey, I learned something about myself…I’m doing it all wrong. As a ‘real housewife of St. Louis’ I clean, cook, do laundry, and run errands, on top of caring for my children, husband, and family pets. I missed the memo about concentrating on my appearance, parties, and shopping.

     So, does this make me an un-real housewife? Perhaps, after studying more episodes of this popular show, I’ll learn how to secure appointments for facials, pedicures, and massages. I will learn how to spoil my children until they become disrespectful, lazy teenagers. The belief that we are to raise our children to become hardworking, independent adults has been wrong all along.
     If only our parents had such an informative shows such as the Real Housewives of New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, and the new Washington DC. Then, maybe, just maybe, we would have been raised to hold material possessions, and artificial relationships with utmost reverence. We could have learned that the way to interact and debate with those we don’t agree with is by throwing tables, writing scathing tell-all books, and slandering them on reunion shows and in the press.

Children and Prison

Anyone who knows me, knows how passionately I feel about kids. I'm not just talking about babies, I'm talking about ALL kids. Over the past few years, I've watched several television programs, and researched endlessly about children in prison. A child being locked up in a juvenile correctional facility is one thing, but how many are aware of the thousands of kids incarcerated for life in prison without the possiblity of parole.


This trend of trying children as adults is quite the controversial topic, as I've had quite a few arguments with people of all walks of life. Though most feel similar to me, there are still some that say "lock them up and throw away the key". If you're one of those people think about this...it costs a minimum of $40,000 for one bed a year in prison. If a child lives for 55 years, that's a grand total of $2,200,000! Now, wouldn't that money be better spent providing counseling, education, and skill training for our younger generations?

If this money would be better spent rehabilitating the juveniles, where do we draw the line? Would Lee Boyd Malvo have been a good candidate for rehabilitation, or should there be specific mental and emotional evaluations to determine the capacity for rehabilitation?

If you're following my blogs faithfully, you're going to see a trend of posts similar to this one. Feel free to comment at any point.

How is that possible?

It's official, most people are unaware of just how many juveniles are incarcerated for life in prison without parole. Even more are unaware how many are in their own state. In my home state of Missouri, there's currently over 100 juveniles sentenced to LWOP. Though I'm not completely surprised at the lack of knowledge, I am, however, appalled at how many people are completely apathetic about the entire situation. The only way to bring it home to some people is to use their own children as examples. "That would never happen to my child, I would make sure they got the proper counseling beforehand."


Great! What about the kids whose parents are too busy smoking crack, working the streets, or gangbanging themselves to care what the hell their child is doing? Whose responsiblity is it then to help shape and mold these impressionable little people?