Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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What Do Boxing, Romance And Water Have In Common?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                     (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Those are the topics of the current books I’m reading. Seems no matter how I try, I’ve always got a rather eclectic reading list. At breaks at the day job I’m reading “Blows To The Head – How Boxing Changed My Mind,” by Binnie Klein.

Is this a great book cover or what? Girls box too!
Is this a great book cover or what? Girls box too!

Came across the title on Amazon.com while I was doing research on using speed bags. My Dad trained me on a boxing speed bag he set up in the basement when I was growing up. Loved the rhythm and sound of the bag going back and forth. Dad did some boxing in the Army, including aboard a Navy ship on his way overseas during World War II.

He taught me how to hold my arm straight, not bend my wrist and punch the mauve leather Everlast bag. With the onset of flabby upper arms and bingo wings, I’d been researching to try it again. (FYI – Tons of boxing instruction videos on YouTube.)

This non-fiction book is written by a middle-aged therapist who takes up boxing lessons. She explores how it changes her thought processes and views on life. Great read!

Before bed the book I’m reading now is “Life Drawing For Beginners,” by Roisin Meany. Stumbled upon this gem while cruising the books at Target. Love to find new authors on their shelves. It’s fiction about a group of students taking an art class and how their lives intertwine. Only started this last night, but enjoying it so far.

Last but not least on deck is the non-fiction, “Blue Mind – The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do,” by Wallace J. Nichols. How’s that for a secondary title? This is part of my plan to figure out  how to get more trips to Maui and claim it on taxes as research. It’s a goal! Or to fire up that little fake candle water fountain for my office; perhaps more realistic.

So right now I have boxing, romance and water on my reading plate.  To write we must read. What’s on your reading list?

Who Is Your Snuggle Bunny?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

The leaves are throwing themselves off the trees and the temperature is heading lower. With tons of Halloween candy in the store, thoughts turn to snuggling and baked goods. These two guys seem to be old friends and are enjoying a leisurely cuddle on the floor.

Wishing you all warm snuggles and furry friends this coming weekend. Happy Quirky Friday!

Have You Taken A Pumpkin Photo Break?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

This time of year I dread the coming of the dark season. To distract myself, besides imagining writing I can get done on rainy days and baking tons of cookies, taking pictures with Fall light becomes my passion. Trying to catch the last rays of the year and the amber light is an exercise in patience and quick draw with a camera.

Since I always have a camera with me, besides my cell phone camera with no zoom, it becomes a game to see where and when I can capture the waning golden light of the season.

A herd of pumpkins waiting at sunset to be taken home and carved.
A herd of pumpkins waiting at sunset to be taken home and carved.

This first picture I had to take last week while grocery shopping. I’d only stopped for a few things, but I couldn’t resist the golden light on the pile of pumpkins outside the grocery store.

Since I long ago got over what anyone thought who might see me taking pictures of produce, life is good. Lately I’ve even taken pics of some great displays inside retail stores, since many are works of art.

So if it’s not pumpkins, then leaves are a big deal this time of year. This next picture I snapped after work at the day job. In the parking lot! One does not have to be in exotic locations to get great photos. There are several malls and one post office where I’m always watching the trees and plants because they are great for close-ups.

Sun slipping into the night - over the parking lot.
Sun slipping into the night – over the parking lot.

So, if it were not for the dratted cross walk sign you can barely see in the bottom right corner, people might think this blissful scene was way out in the woods, not surrounded by asphalt. Look around for big and small details this season. For Pete’s sake look UP too.

We have the first big rain storm coming in today after a summer of high temperatures. So while we all huddle inside and work on our creative projects, clean things out and plan the killer list of fun baking projects for the holidays, remember to take some great pictures.

You never know what you might want to send on a holiday card or in a family newsletter. Try something out of the ordinary. Let’s all celebrate the season of photography!

 

Isn't he cute? Happy Halloween photo hunting!
Isn’t he cute? Happy Halloween photo hunting!

It’s Time For A Bunny Break!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                     (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

There’s a bit of Fall snap in the air, even though we still have high temps here in Oregon. So what better way to get ready for the coming cool weather than to practice snuggling? What better role model than two baby bunnies!

How cute are these guys who are eating very carefully and sharing. Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Are You A Cubie Bunny?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

It’s the end of another week and us writers who have day jobs can celebrate the weekend. For those of you who are a cubie dweller like I am during the week, this video is too cute. At certain points I was exactly like the last bunny in the video. It must be August!

Have a great weekend and have a Happy Quirky Friday!

For The Love Of Fiction Writing?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Seems I’ve been overdosing on Hallmark Channel movies lately. Saturday’s preview “Stranded in Paradise” was pretty fun. The usual fired from job, what makes you happy dilemma. Since this last year has been all about what the heck do I really want to write, the “what writing makes you happy?” popped in my brain from the movie.

Fiction is and always will be my first love. Yes, I’m a control freak. Able to orchestrate all my characters and events, I get to make happy endings happen. New acronym! HEH! That doesn’t always happen in life and the news.

When you wish upon a super moon....... writer dreams can come true. Taken Aug. 10, 2014.
When you wish upon a super moon……. writer dreams can come true. Taken Aug. 10, 2014.

Then I read author Bob Mayer’s latest blog post about what 10 things he was grateful for as a writer. That hit home too. One big one for me is all we need is our imagination and pen, pencil or crayon and paper or keyboard to write down our dreams/stories.

Widget manufacturers do not have this luxury. They have to do business plans, get loans, build factories, hire people, get widget making products, make the widgets, package the widgets, ship the widgets, on and on. While writers do those things when we indie publish on a different scale, it’s all very craftsman type of work, boutique manufacturing if you will.

So while we physically have to create our books/widgets, we can get started with very little equipment. Plus if you dive in the recycle bins you can find used paper and if you visit places with free pens you are set with minimal start-up costs. Not a lot of capital outlay.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is figuring out what you want to write. Spoiler alert; it will change as you gather experience in life. That’s okay. VHS tapes are gone too, so some things last a certain time and then morph into something else. Same with what we choose to write.

So is there one certain part of writing fiction that makes me happy? Yes, it’s the “I’ve got a secret” part. I know what’s going to happen next in the story. Most of the time. Tried a new creative writing exercise last week. Getting back into my fiction book has been a challenge so I reviewed the last couple chapters.

For several months my characters have been in an airplane ready to land, but I’ve just left them up there. Quite the feat if you think about the fuel supply issues. Well, last week I told myself, “I’ve got to go home and land a plane in Afghanistan.” On Sunday that’s what I did. Gave my brain a task and it worked on it while I was doing the whole daily life thing.

Thinking about my writing “to do assignment” in such a personal way made me quite accountable too. I had characters almost Lost In Space for heaven’s sake!

One of the fun clandestine things about being a writer is we get to live the adventures we create. We write from the security and comfort of our writing hidey hole and explore the universe. We get to do research too, which is a blast. And make Happy Endings Happen in my case. How cool is that?

Have you left your fiction characters up in the air? Writers, rescue your characters!

Bob Mayer’s Blog Post: http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/an-authors-attitude-of-10-gratitudes/