• Skip to main content

Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

  • Home
  • About
    • Spec Ops Cat
    • Warrior Tales Press
  • Romance Books
    • Vintage Veterans
    • Matchmaker Cat
    • Moonstruck Makeovers
    • Single Santas Club
  • Nonfiction Books
  • Sign Up
  • Blog
  • Book Store
  • Amazon Store

Blog

Life Gives Us Unexpected Pleasures When We Slow Down

May 27, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook                 (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Spent the past week on an unexpected stay-cation at home and it was wonderful. Seems we run around so fast we never get time to just be. While visiting my favorite antique mall and café, I spied a marked down jar of jewels. Score!

Marked down from $25! Happy Dance!
Marked down from $25! Happy Dance!

I snapped it up and kept it until I had time to enjoy the sorting process. Got my favorite bead storage container, I keep a stash, and spent a pleasant hour discovering new treasures. It feels like bead therapy to me, bringing order out of chaos and finding surprises.

The process was interrupted by Spec Ops Cat wanting to help out. Whether it is checkbooks, knitting, composing on the computer or trying to read anything, he thinks a RECON is in order.

There were more pins and buttons than I expected in the jar, but it made me wonder about who wore the pins and why I had four from one convention. The little mysteries of life. I’ve read research which says women can start to lose their passions at age 10, so figure out what you did then and try it now. Reading, writing and jewelry making were big for me at 10 and still are among my favorite things to do.

Spec Ops Cat helping out. Kinda.
Spec Ops Cat helping out. Kinda.

Of course, in those days, I’d get these same jars filled with broken jewelry parts at Goodwill for a few dollars and have a field day sorting my finds. This $15 jar was a big bargain since everyone has caught on to recycling and making “steam punk” jewelry these days.

But I spent a wonderful time playing with my new jewels and dreaming up new creations I want to make.

When we’re not thinking about creating characters, building plots and editing, a childhood pleasure can give us a quick vacation without even leaving home. When did you last take a break and just play?

Fini!
Fini!

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading…

Filed Under: Creativity Tagged With: author, crafts, creativity, jewelry, vacation, Warrior Tales, Writing

Remembering Our Heroic Military Animal Warriors

May 22, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook                (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Monday is Memorial Day to honor and remember all who have given their lives defending our nation. Along with the brave women and men who have given the ultimate sacrifice during war and peace, during and after service, we also honor the heroic military animals who stand beside our warriors and pay the price of freedom.

This Monday remember the sacrifices of all our warriors and veterans. Military animals and especially military dogs have shown their love and duty by giving their lives to protect their country and fellow troops.

Remember; Freedom isn’t Free.

(You have to watch this video on YouTube, but here is the link)

 

 

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading…

Filed Under: Veteran Stories Tagged With: dogs, Memorial Day, military dogs, retired military, veteran, veterans, Warrior Tales

Writers Must Be Young Reader Book Pushers!

May 20, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook                        (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Read a wonderful article on Friday by Frank Bruni of the “The New York Times” about the importance of literacy in our nation and the disturbing pleasure reading figures for young adults. Seems the current digital natives are veering away from reading to plug-in and zone out even more than we thought.

Original keeper books from my salad days.
Original keeper books from my salad days.

It made me think of my book favorites from grade and middle school. I promptly went to the keeper shelf and gathered a few and took their picture.

Interesting to note what I read in my early years is what still drives me now; romance, mystery, suspense. Seems we might know what writers we are to become by what we read as children.

Kids not reading for pleasure is a huge issue. The article quoted a statistic from the Common Sense Media report that reading for pleasure has declined for ages 13 to 17. It goes on to say “Fewer than 20 percent of 17-year-olds now read for pleasure ‘almost every day.’

Whoa! I know teens are busy, but this is not good for many reasons. The article goes on to talk about the symbiotic link between reading and intelligence. Just like exercise the more you do it the fitter you become, body or brain.

It has never been more important for our youth to read for pleasure. This crusade does not belong to only the Young Adult authors, this is a mercenary business need for all writers. If we don’t make young adult readers, we won’t have adult readers!

It’s time to become a book pusher today!

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/opinion/bruni-read-kids-read.html?_r=0

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading…

Filed Under: Writing Biz Tagged With: amwriting, authors, books, literacy, read, Reading, Warrior Tales, writer

Great Course Run Guys!

May 16, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook                      (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

It’s been a wild week here at Quirky central and now it’s time to sit back and relax for the weekend. While I contemplate which of the 3,000 things I may not do on my get it done list, here are two brave foragers out for their morning nuts. Love the play by play calls!

When all else fails, the animals entertain. Happy Quirky Friday!

 

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading…

Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: assault course, author, humor, squirrels, Warrior Tales

What Type Are You?

May 14, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook                          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Back in the ancient days, I was a business trainer for the federal government. Some of the fun things we did were take tests to know ourselves better and help teach others. Enjoyable tests, not the SATS or anything. One I really enjoyed was the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test.

We answered questions on a large form and then our results came back to tell us which of the 16 “types” we were. The great thing is there are no wrong answers and it explains a lot about group and family dynamics. Mine came back as an INFJ, which translates into a writer and emotional sponge. Always good to know.

Moon pic from last night since today is the Corn Planting Moon. What type of plant are you?
Moon pic from last night since today is the Corn Planting Moon. What type of plant are you?

One of the best books we used is “Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type” by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger. Not only does this book help you for your own career choices, but it is a goldmine for information to use when creating characters.

The four letters specify if you are an Extrovert or Introvert, Sensing or Intuitive, Thinking or Feeling and Judging or Perceiving. When you get all the combinations possible, it ends up being sixteen.

Each personality type and their motivations are explained in a chapter in the book. Perfect for building fiction characters, figuring out yourself and your family. My sister had taken the test  at one time and we found out we were exact opposites except we both wanted to be in charge. That explained a lot about our childhood! There is usually always one type opposite from the other types in any given biological family. The cliché of a black sheep in the family might really mean a different type!

Learning about ourselves as writers and how we fit into the world is fascinating from a creative and personal standpoint. What type are you?

(P.S. I know I’m a day late posting, but the Trailblazers won Game 4 with their backs against the wall! Rip City!)

 

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading…

Filed Under: Writing Muse Tagged With: amwriting, author, INFJ, Myers-Briggs, Warrior Tales

Two Military Mules Get A Well Deserved Retirement

May 9, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook                          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

While trying to distract myself from the NBA playoffs, go Blazers, I came across this great video about two Ft. Hood Cavalry mules who retired in 2011. Now I have a very soft spot in my heart for mules since I was the last handler for Windriver, Windy to her friends, believed to be the last official Army pack mule when I served at Fort Carson, Colorado.

So this was a great video to see. It appear you can buy anything from government liquidation! Happy Quirky Friday!

 

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading…

Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: Cavalry, Fort Hood, military, Mules, veterans, Warrior Tales

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 72
  • Page 73
  • Page 74
  • Page 75
  • Page 76
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 118
  • Go to Next Page »

Copyright © Kimberly A. Cook 1997-2026 All Rights Reserved

Loading Comments...

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d