​This post is for those of you who are thinking of starting the New Year doing a weight loss regime. I want to take this opportunity to say – YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. The scale tells you nothing of importance. It doesn’t tell us if you are a good person if you’re talented, and most importantly it does nothing to describe the music in your soul.
Increasingly doctors are starting to realize that your BMI (Body Mass Index) is not a good indication of health, especially for women. 
 
As I mentioned in a previous post, my own weight loss journey started when I was diagnosed with bone loss and was advised by my doctor to consume 1200 mg of calcium daily. I’m allergic to dairy, and although I take a supplement for 600 mg of calcium (the maximum safe dose.) consuming the remaining 600 mg was a challenge. Eventually, after many allergic hives, I figured that drinking two glasses of soymilk was the most calorie efficient way to go. Fast-forward six months and I were 10 lbs. heavier and none of my clothes fit. 

I’m not a great fan of weight loss fads or New Year’s resolutions for that matter, but I have always had success with Weight Watchers. Plus, I needed to figure out how drinking two cups of soymilk would fit into my daily regime.
As I mentioned in my September blog post, I joined Weight Watchers on 19th August 2018. 
A month later I had lost a total of 3.5 lbs. and I had stalled, which was disheartening considering I stuck to my daily total of 23 points. I used my weekly allotment of 28 points at the weekend, never going over. I religiously weighed myself every Friday morning, hoping the scale had budged just a little. I wanted to have something to show for all my hard work and sacrifice, but it had stopped moving.
To make matters worse, I was always hungry, and a hungry me is a cranky me. I seriously thought about giving up. Then one Friday evening I broke down. I ate everything. I didn’t count points. I didn’t work out, and I didn’t stop until Saturday night. I just relaxed, enjoyed the flavors, and the feeling of a full stomach.
Come Sunday morning I was ready to get on with counting points and sticking to the Weight Watchers plan. I dreaded my weigh-in the following Friday believing my weekend indulgence would have ruined all my work. Imagine my surprise to discover I had lost 2 lbs.
After some researched I discovered I had stumbled onto Cheat Day. This is a concept outlined in a post from Dr. Oz’s blog Cheat on Your Diet and Still Lose Weight
Here’s a quote:
“Tons of dieting experts agree that you should build in “cheat days” since too much deprivation can actually lead to more cravings, causing you to break from your diet. In addition, going off your diet once in a while stimulates the thyroid gland and can “wake up” your metabolism. Cheating in a sensible way will help steer you toward success in the long-term.”
I have now reached my goal. A week before Christmas I was down 10 lbs. I’m not slim, and I most definitely do not weight the same as I did twenty years ago, but I do fit into all my clothes, and that was my goal.
If you are planning to diet think about incorporating a cheat day into your week.

As we race towards the holiday season I thought it might be fun to do another sale, and take part in another exciting multi-author giveaway. 
With that in mind I enrolled in a holiday 99 Books @ 99 Cents fair. This three-day event is a fun way to find bargain books, win free ebooks and enter to win daily free prizes.
So if your wallet is feeling the pinch during the holidays, but you’re looking for some awesome new reads, you’ve come to the right place. As the name suggests, there are 99 books on sale December 12-15 for 99 cents each. Less than a buck for hours of amazing storytelling!
Plus, check in daily for a chance to win Amazon gift cards or play instant ebook giveaways for one of 12 books being awarded to lucky winners each day.

I’ve spent the last week formatting my books files for IngramSpark. This was a pain in the butt, and took a lot of time and patience, but I believe it was worth it in the end for the expanded distribution.
When I published my first book I paid someone to format the eBook for me. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I would want to update my books to include information on my latest release. 
I have to admit formatting is not my favorite thing to do, but like all other aspects of the publishing industry it is necessary.
I don’t believe you have to pay for expensive software to do the job, especially when it comes to eBook fomatting. All you need is Microsoft Word and the right attitude. 
Here are some of the websites and software I have used to format my work. All of them are free or can be used on a free trial.

Interior files for eBook
 
Free course in eBook formatting from Book Reality 
I can’t say enough good things about this course. This course teaches you to use styles in Word to format your work. You progress at your own speed, and can redo a lesson if you need clarification. Best of all, it’s free.
 
Draft2Digital
I’ve never used this service because after doing the Book Reality course I can format my work as I go, but they claim to format your book for you. You can also download copies of your book in mobi, epub, and pdf for your own use.
 
Amazon  - Kindle Create
My full-length novels are published exclusively on Amazon through their KDP Select program. You can download Kindle Create software free to format your eBook for KDP.
This program works really well with the formatting principles I learned in the Book Reality program. 
I use this because it’s Amazon. They know what they want and by using their software I can create a book that works well on their platform.
One thing to note; you have to make all your hyperlinks for your front and back matter live before you upload your book to Kindle Create. This software is not capable of creating a hyperlink.

Interior Files for Print
Personally, I find formatting for print much more demanding. There are a lot of variables that you just don’t have to consider when formatting for an eBook; such as page size, trim, margins, page numbers, headers, and gutters. Urgh!
 
Formatting Templates
To help with all these variables I found these handy-dandy templates on a Createspace forum.
I suggest you check them out. I have found them to be invaluable.  
 
IngramSpark
IngramSpark are a little fussier about formatting and cover art. In fact, my cover artist won’t work with them.
If you decide to publish your books with IngramSpark, all your documents have to be saved as PDF/X-1a:2001. This means you can’t use Word’s save as function to create your PDF. You actually have to convert the file. To do this I used Adobe. My computer didn’t come with any Adobe software so I downloaded Adobe DC on a 7-day free trial. Then I googled the instructions for converting the file, which worked well.
​ 
As I said before, my cover artist only makes paperback cover art for KDP / Createspace and I can see why. The cover art I have been successfully using for the last eighteen months was rejected. It seems that the letters on the spine were too close to the edge.
There was a fix.
IngramSpark will send you a template to use with InDesign, which is another Adobe program. Once again, you can download a 7-day free trial for InDesign, and then google the instructions.
I had to play around with the image to make it work. I didn’t use InDesign for this. That was way too complicated. I just uploaded my work to Canva, and then downloaded the altered image.

If you want to save yourself some time and effort you can transfer your paperback file from KDP Paperback to IngramSpark. Here are the instructions.
You can transfer your files from KDP Paperback to IngramSpark. Here are the instructions they sent me:
- Make sure your IngramSpark account is fully setup first.
- If transferring a title from an existing IngramSpark or LSI account, please copy in original publisher or let us know publisher name so we can get their approval for the transfer.
- If you are transferring from Create Space the title has to first be in expanded distribution so it arrives in our system. If in expanded distribution, please remove it. If not, please add it. We will communicate on our end with CS to transfer the title. We also recommend that you reach out to CS yourself to expedite the process. You must notify us BEFORE we move title over if you need to update price or return status. We only send pricing to retailers once a month.
- Complete attached transfer form. The form is to be completed by the person taking over ownership of the title. Current publisher does NOT complete the form. If you already have submitted a form to us, do not send another one. Just notify us that you have one on file.
- Reply back to this same email with your ISBN/s you would like to transfer and the completed form. Do NOT write the ISBN/s on your transfer form.
How to complete form: (Please read this to make sure your form is completed correctly. This will help avoid delays. )
- Enter your COMPANY NAME in top line and in bottom client field. Do not enter your name in the fields (unless your name is name of your publishing company)
- Enter your FULL address in the second line. This includes your zip code.
- Physically sign the form at the bottom of the signature field (or use Adobe's digital e-sign option).
- Enter your IngramSpark account number.
- Enter the current date
Next steps:
- Your form will be reviewed and approved by our support and finance teams.
- Once approved and once we receive confirmation from the current publisher/Create Space then we will transfer title to your account.
- You will be notified when the title is listed on your account via email.
If you follow these steps it will eliminate delays so you can start ordering and managing your book. 
Please allow up to 30 days for confirmation and transferal. 
 
I take no responsibility for the transfer instructions. I just copied and pasted them from an email IngramSpark sent me, but if they're helpful to you...great

As some of you may know, I occasionally write historical romance. So for all of you who love a dashing duke, a brave Scot, and a clever maiden I decided to take part in A Love That’s Forever Giveaway
Join thirty authors of historical and time travel romance as they celebrate these genres. Will you take home a Kindle or a pack of your favorite ebooks from Amazon? Enter now! You might be one of 7 lucky winners!
 
Plus, stop by and shop our awesome sale on Medieval, Regency, Victorian, Western, and time travel romances. We even have a bonus giveaway for a stunning porcelain teapot!
 
https://bookwrapt.com/love-thats-forever-book-fair/
​

If you would like to enter the Giveaway without going to the book fair. Here's the rafflecopter

​(Sponsored by the 30 authors listed below)
 
Alexa Aston • Amanda Roberts • Angelique Armae • Annie Boone • Aubrey Wynne • Cheri Champagne • Cherie Mitchell • Christine Sterling • Dawn Marie Hamilton • Deborah M. Hathaway • Emilee Harris • Ginny Sterling • Heidi Kimball • Jennae Vale • Joanna Barker • Johanna Evelyn • Jen Geigle Johnson • Joyce Alec • K A Servian • Karen Michelle Nutt • Kari Trumbo • Kate Cambridge • Kristy Tate • Laura A. Barnes • Marie Higgins • Marlow Kelly • Natalie Dean • Rose Pearson • Sally Britton • Victoria Saccenti • Aileen Harkwood
 

​On 19th August I joined Weight Watchers. To date I have lost 3.5 lbs. Its not a staggering amount, but I’m a firm believer in the saying “start as you mean to go on.”
Which in this case means any fool can loose weight if they don’t eat carbs and sugar, but can you keep the weight off long term, or will you fall back into your old eating habits and undo all your hard work.
For me personally, enjoying food is part of enjoying life. With that in mind, I’ve been experimenting with some low fat recipes.
One of my family’s favorites is low fat brownies. They aren’t as moist as a brownie made with butter, but one serving is only 7 points.

Low Fat Brownies
 
Ingredients
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons 50% fat margarine
⅔ cup granulated sugar
½ cup cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
½ teaspoon baking powder
½cup all-purpose flour
 
Directions

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. (If you don’t have parchment paper spray with nonstick cooking spray.)
2. Using a medium saucepan, over a low heat, melt margarine. Remove from heat. Add sugar and stir until blended. Then add cocoa and mix thoroughly.
3. Stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth.
4. Mix in baking powder and flour.
5. Spread batter into square pan.
6. Bake for 25 minutes until edges pull away from sides of pan.

Makes 8 servings
 
Notes:
If you want to make these even lower in fat you can use 2 egg whites instead of whole eggs.
Feel free to add ¼ cup of walnuts. I’m not a fan of nuts in brownies that’s why I left them out.

I thought September would be a good time to do another sale. Then I learned about this awesome promotion where you can purchase a ton of books for 99¢ each and win some awesome prizes. So I've included Sun Storm in this promotion.
 
All you have to do is visit our special 99 Books @ 99 Cents Book Fair. Almost 100 books ON SALE in all genres, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, mysteries, thrillers, and more. All books less than a buck!
Plus, check in daily for a chance to win Amazon gift cards or play instant ebook giveaways for one of 12 books being awarded to lucky winners each day.
99@99 BOOK FAIR
NEW GIVEAWAYS DAILY
September 6-12
 

​Today I joined Weight Watchers. I want to loose 5-10 pounds. I probably should try for more but I like to be realistic when I set goals, and I just want to loose the weight I gained when I switched to soy milk.
Umm, I never told you about that, did I? 
Well to make a long story short I was diagnosed with bone loss in October 2017, and have lost significant bone mass in my spine. 
I was told to up my calcium intake to 1200 mg per day. I went through the variables. I could eat a lot of cheese and bowlfuls of broccoli or I could just drink two cups of skim milk every day and take a calcium supplement. My doctor told me there is a limit on how much calcium you can take in a supplement. If you exceed 600 mg then the health consequences are dire…or so she said.
So I started drinking my two cups of milk a day. I was determined to strengthen my bones so my future doesn’t include breaking my back climbing out of bed.
You would think that would be the end of it, but unfortunately it wasn’t. I started to experience severe migraines, every day. It was obvious milk was the culprit. To be honest, even as a child I didn’t like milk. It hurt my stomach and made me feel ill. 
So I switched to almond milk. Unfortunately, I have Salicylate intolerance and an aspirin allergy. Salicylates are naturally occurring chemicals found in foods, and they are chemically related to aspirin. Almonds are loaded with salicylates. I was covered in huge hives from head to toe. 
Finally, I moved on to soy milk. It was my last choice because it’s so high in fat, but it did the trick. I’m now hive free, getting the nutrients I need… and ten pounds heavier. 
When you think about it, how you look isn’t as important as being healthy. 
But I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’m cheap when it comes to buying clothes. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t go hunting through mounds of used, dirty clothes, or anything like that, but I refuse to buy new ski pants, or motorcycle pants. Those things are expensive.
So I joined Weight Watchers. I like that I don’t need to buy special foods and that I can still have a little treat every day.
Anyway, we’ll see how it goes.

​My husband and I have just returned from a two-day trip to Radium Hot Springs.
We took the David Thompson highway to Saskatchewan River crossing. From there we turned onto the icefields parkway. We journeyed through the Banff and Kootenay national Parks finally arriving in Radium Hot Springs. 
Radium is a small village surrounded by forests, mountains and the Columbia River valley. So it’s no surprise there are animals who consider Radium Hot Springs Home. We were fortunate enough to see grizzly bears, deer, and big horn sheep. I hope you enjoy my photos from one of Canada’s iconic places.

Police officer, Dana Hayden knows two things:
            
            1. The bullets holes in Ben North’s chest didn’t kill him.
            2. She’s attracted to the alleged murderer.
 
Police officer Dana Hayden has moved to Hopefalls, Montana to put her mistakes behind her and make a better life for her teenage son, but the past won’t stay buried when sexy-as-hell Tim Morgan becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
 
Tim just wants to be left alone to care for his sick father, and establish his career in organic feed sales. He doesn’t want to be tailed by a pretty cop with suspicious eyes.
​
When Local hermit, Ben North, is killed Dana must separate her desire for Tim from her job, especially when her investigation reveals corruption, lies and another murder.

Excerpt:
Dana continued typing, hoping to complete her report soon so she could go back on patrol and escape Booley.  
She had just finished when Logan slammed through the door and ran around the reception desk. 
She stood and met her son at the counter. “What happened? Why aren’t you in school?”
“Mom, we were charged by a bear. Tim sprayed it so we could get away.” A slim, dark-haired man followed Logan into the station. She was five feet eleven inches, and the man was at least a head taller than her. She estimated him to be at least six-foot-six.
He moved in the fluid, muscular way of an athlete and had the hard-eyed look of a fighter. His build was deceptive. He seemed thin, but that was just because he was so tall. The well-toned pectoral muscles of his shoulders along with his biceps told her he worked out regularly and was fit and strong. She’d wrestled a lot of drunks in her time on the force and knew how to size a man up. In her estimation, it would take three or four policemen to take him down. 
“Thanks for saving…” She couldn’t finish her sentence. Staring into his hazel – green eyes was like being punched in the gut. He was handsome in a rugged way. The weathered skin around his mouth and eyes was etched with deep lines. His hair had grayed at the temples, making him appear distinguished. Everything about him seemed masculine. It was as if he oozed testosterone. 
Booley emerged from his office and approached the stranger. “Officer Hayden, I’d like you to meet Tim Morgan.” 
The air whooshed out of her lungs. This was the man who’d killed Aunt Alice. How could he be so devastatingly handsome, so attractive? The man who was responsible for shattering her family should be an ogre, someone who looked as ugly on the outside as he was on the inside. 
Morgan blinked. His face was slightly red as if he had a mild case of sunburn, and the whites of his eyes were pink. His hands were fisted at his sides, but otherwise he showed no reaction to Booley’s introduction. 
“I’m here to inform you there’s a grizzly with cubs in the area of Wind Valley and Molly’s Mountain.” Morgan stood to attention and stared straight ahead while he made his announcement. The contained way he held himself was unnerving. His physical power was obvious, but she sensed he was a man of determination and control, which was unexpected, considering his past.
“Is that right?” Booley said as he moved to stand next to Morgan.
Morgan didn’t acknowledge Booley and didn’t react. He didn’t even blink.
“Timothy Morgan, I’m arresting you for the murder of Ben North.” Booley grabbed Tim’s hand and wrenched it behind his back.
Morgan spun around so he was facing the chief, his hands no longer in the chief’s grasp. “Ben’s dead?”