My New Life - A New Image?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

I’m twenty-eight days into celebrating my birthday today. Who knew it would be as challenging a month as it has turned out to be.

Initially I was euphoric because I had my house and life back. No one but me to be responsible for or to.

I’d also written the first two blog posts early in the month.

You’ll note that the second post was 5 days late being published because I was gob-smacked by the election results. Who knew?

My third post is about catching up. I’d gotten a bit scattered in my thinking, something that happens when I’ve overwhelmed.

And here we are on November 28^th with the month almost over. I’ve spent time with best friends celebrating my actual day of birth. I’ve had many phone calls and well wishes. I’ve continued each day to find little ways to show myself unconditional love—the best gift of all.

I’m now ready to choose an image that reflects the new me. You’ve three options to choose from. Let me know in Comments which you like best.

All who comment will receive a copy of Lily if they leave contact information.

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

My New Life - Publishing Stories

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

I’ve been writing about my birthday month and my new life and about changing my image. Below you will find a third photo of me in a different pose.

You may notice that my 11/14 post did not show up on 11/14 but not until 11/18. It was on my ‘to do’ list last Sunday to decide which of the head shots I’d add to that post before publishing—

And then I remembered that I’d submitted both Gabriella and Sophia to Windtree Press and my RWA chapter's Newsletters as New Releases! And they weren’t yet released!!!

Sunday through Wednesday I worked hard to get them finished and published. Gabriella was really ready to go except for uploading to Jutoh and compiling for the versions for Amazon and everyone else. Oops! Jutoh had been upgraded since I last used it to publish Hunter last year. I remember reading the notice when I first logged in but then something happened. My frantic brain didn’t register the information. Thirty minutes later as I struggled to do what had always been simple before, it did register. Duh!

As soon as I processed that there was a new version, and took the time to see what was new, everything went smoothly. I can attest to the reality that the new version is even easier to use than the previous one.

Now on to Sophia. I had feedback from my editor, Kelly Lynne Schaub, on one scene. I even emailed her for clarification. Another sigh (actually several of them). I really liked that scene! So, I called and talked to Sarah Raplee and emailed my #ftb group (FinishTheBook). More sighs…they all agreed with Kelly. So, back to the drawing board. I wrote a new scene, Sarah made it better and Kelly said it was what she was talking about.

On to Jutoh with Sophia.

Oops! Links!!! Yep, newsletters like to put links to your books in the announcements. Another scramble because I’m using Universal Book links now. When you go to my website and then click on books as you scroll down the list you’ll see “Buy Links”. When you click on one, it will give you a list of e-retailers where my books are available. Pick one. Click and you are at the e-retailer and can purchase the book. The Universal Link program keeps track and when you click on another book, it will take you immediately to that e-retailer. Pretty cool!

My new life this week has been consumed with publishing tasks. I’m grateful they got done!!!

Here’s my latest professional headshot. What do you think?

Check back next week and vote for your favorite.

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

My New Life - Birthday Celebrations

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

My new life is now over two weeks old. I’ve danced through my house, celebrating that it is once again “my space”. Oops! This post was due up Monday but I spaced thinking it was scheduled to publish. Sigh...added the picture and am publishing today (Friday). Will have a new post and picture on Monday. Thanks for understanding.

When I pick things up, they stay picked up. If there are dishes in the kitchen sink, they are my dishes. The only food in the house is food I eat (which is really good because I don’t always have the will-power to turn away from ice cream).

I’ve spent this past week picking up the bits and pieces that got dropped along the way.

My writing goals remain the same albeit altered because I’m not sure I can complete the final edits on Sophia and publish both Sophia and Gabriella; write four prequels and then publish the seven prequels along with creating my Author Newsletter, finalizing my new website – after all, there are less than sixty days left in the year.

Where I am right now is deciding on whether to change my author headshot. I’ve had several professional headshots done over the years. 

Last week’s blog post features one.

Today’s post has yet another option.

And, to make things even more interesting, I’ll be including more options the next two weeks.

On November 28^th, I’ll include the last choice plus the previous pictures so you can tell me which one(s) you like best. That will become my head shot on my website and social media and future blog posts.

In the meantime, I’ve a birthday to celebrate!!!

Every day I do something special for myself—not just on my actual birthday or even my entire birthday month but one day for every year of my life! Believe me, should you choose to start this practice you may begin to see your birthdays in a whole new light.

FYI: It may be something as simple as spending the day in my nightgown and robe or perhaps extra personal reading time or a phone call to a friend I miss or haven’t talked to in a while. It isn’t about spending money on myself although I will admit a massage or pedicure is a wonderful gift. It is about making a conscious choice to give myself a gift.

What do you do to celebrate your birthday? Do you give suggestions about what you’d like to do? Or maybe gifts? Or are you someone who enjoys whatever other people come up with?

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

My New Life - Creating My Tomorrow

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

November is a special month for many reasons. It’s my birthday month. It’s Thanksgiving’s month. And now it is the month that starts a new season of my life.

A little background is in order.

My granddaughter and great granddaughter have lived with me this past year. Having them here was a blessing in many ways but it also created challenges in keeping to my Writing Goals. Having a little face light up when she toddled into my office in the morning, wanting hugs, up and to share kisses? Well, sucker that I am, that took precedence over whatever I was working on. And then there were the emergency child care days when the regular people weren’t available. Of course I said ‘yes’ and turned off the computer.

Ringing my gong almost a year ago

Last Friday they moved on to their new life and that meant I either went back to my old life from before they arrived or I created a new life.

Since it’s my birthday month, I decided a new life was what I wanted to create.

Rearranging the furniture came first.

Well, not exactly—first was the cleaning. No, actually first happened over the last two weeks they were here. I went through every kitchen cupboard and shelf as well as the pantry shelves and where I store other things. If I couldn’t remember when I last used it, I put it out for her to take. Setting up a household for the first time can be expensive! And since I was going to be a household of one did I really need 8 spatulas?

When they pulled out of the driveway, I rearrange the kitchen and cleaned the countertops.

Next came changing the arrangement of my living room furniture.

Life is about choices. And I firmly believe my Glasser tagline:

Your Choices Today Create Your Tomorrow.

Since I want my “tomorrow” to be filled with love and gratitude, I’m choosing to focus on what I want to create or manifest in this new phase of my life.

What about you? Have you a defining moment in your life when you’ve made major changes, even deciding to take your life in a new direction?

Please share!

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook