Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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  • Tag: 52 Week Challenge

    • A Time For Remembering #MFRWauthor

      Posted at 8:48 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on January 12, 2018

      #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop

      Week 2: My Earliest Memory

      This isn’t a good topic for me. My earliest clear memory was a sad episode involving two young lives—mine and my youngest and only living brother. It had a lasting effect on both of us. However, I didn’t know he remembered it until later years. This isn’t the early memory I’ll write about today.

      For this topic, today I’ll go with an earlier memory that happened before the one mentioned previously. For this memory, I have a blurred vision of being on a porch at about two years old. (according to pictures) My dad and favorite uncle were there. I see myself sitting on a high post above the railing around the porch. Maybe my dad held on to me, because after all, it was a post. I’m picturing my dad in a white t-shirt and my uncle in a button-up shirt.

       Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western Romance, Week 2 Earlies Memory, Blog Hop Challenge

      I remember laughing, but I would if my dad and favorite uncle were there. My uncle Eddie was a funny man until the day he passed away. My cousin takes after him. I know I wanted down from the post. If my memory is correct, my uncle lifted me down. As a little girl, I always wanted to be around he and my dad when they were together.

      At the time, my older brother by nine years must’ve been around somewhere. He and I would’ve been the only kids in the family, not counting my other uncle “Up North” who had three kids by then. This is an uneventful and boring memory, but picturing myself laughing at such a young age, can’t be bad.

      It’s funny how every now and then flashes of a memory pop into our heads—some of which are triggered by scent. The smell of Chanel No 5 perfume reminds me of my maternal grandmother. The smell of asphalt reminds me of walking to school one day and seeing a dog lying on the ground near where men were laying asphalt. The dog had gotten into hot asphalt.  😦  Crayons remind me of both going to school and then working in school. In life, there are things we don’t want to remember but we do.

      Albeit, there are some things we don’t want to forget…but sadly, we do.

      I’m curious to learn about other early memories. You too? Come along and visit the Marketing for Romance Writers BLOG HOP website with links to the other participants.

      Y’all can share your memories below.

      I’m in the middle of revising and cutting half a book so I can add another book to it to make a new second edition. I’ll catch up with your blogs this week. I haven’t forgotten you.

       

      Photo credits: Pixabay (Except for the MFRW Blog Challenge Logo.)

      Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 14 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52 Week Challenge, A Time for Remembering, blog hop, Marketing for Romance Writers, mary j mccoy dressel, memories, My Earliest Memory
    • #AmWriting Does Writing Manage Me? #MFRWauthor

      Posted at 4:36 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 8, 2017

      Here we go again with Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. #MFRWauthor

      Week 36: Managing my Writing Time

      You want to know how I manage my writing time, huh? I think it manages me.

      I’ve been writing full-time for six years. My writing time is my own. Each morning I turn on my iPad, accompanied by a cup of coffee, and check social media, email, and my blog to take care of comments, email, and messages. By the time I’m finished, I need to eat then get ready if I have to be somewhere. If I have somewhere to go, writing happens later in the day.

      I manage my writing time much better by beginning after the above-mentioned wake-up routine with iPad and coffee. Otherwise, if I turn on my laptop and continue with social media, etc., I am distracted and time gets away from me. By writing first, I am more productive. Later, I can do more of the non-writing related work.

      Sure, at times I take mornings off (like today) for doing my own personal paperwork, paying bills or scheduling marketing. After hours and days of writing, many things tend to be ignored—shopping, cleaning house, trying to exercise, and all that kind of stuff. Whether I write first thing in the morning or not, I still write again during the day. Some sessions are short. Others are long.

      However, there are days when I don’t write, and sometimes two or three days in a row go by, depending on what else is going on. This happens, mostly, and especially, after sending a book to my editor. I don’t know what to do with myself. I miss the book and characters. I have to take a few deep breaths and some days off. By this point, the next book has already been started, and there are new characters to fall in love with while my editor polishes the others.

      It’s rare to write in the evening anymore, but I’ve been known to get back up after going to bed to write notes either into my iPad or phone. I use the Google Keep App now for notes. It syncs with all my devices. When I can’t sleep, the laptop comes out.

      Admittedly, there are some negatives. Spending time writing like this justifies being an introvert and not socializing. Dust gets thick before cleaning occurs. Cupboards and the refrigerator can get bare. Friends and family worry because I, you, we stay home so much. Health gets neglected. I looked forward to writing full-time all my life. It’s like I’m making up for lost time now by keeping my butt-in-the-chair.

      Remember, folks, this is a blog hop for authors at Marketing for Romance Writers Blog. Please visit the author blogs if the notion strikes you. Are you curious about how other authors manage their writing time?  😊

      Side Note: My heart is sad for all the devastation happening in our world right now, including the earthquake in Mexico. Hurricanes, floods, and fire are taking a large toll in my country. I’m still praying for you Texas, and now my prayers are extended to those in Florida, and to all of you living in fear of what comes next. I know of three people who are staying. Bless you all and good luck. Please get in a safe place. After seeing the devastation in Texas, don’t push your luck.

      Do you know you can donate to many charities via PayPal, including the American Red Cross? Hurricane Harvey is one of them. Why not check it out? PayPal makes it easy with only a couple clicks. Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with PayPal or Red Cross. Please, be safe.

      Thanks for reading.

      Photo credits: Pixabay and Dreamstime

      Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 12 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52 Week Challenge, blog hop, computer, iPad, laptop, managing writing time, Who manages your writing time.
    • #AmWriting ~Life Lessons in Books~ #MFRWauthor Blog Hop

      Posted at 11:42 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 14, 2017

      Week 28 – MFRW 52-Week Blog Challenge ~ Blog Hop #MFRWauthor

       

      Week 28: Life Lessons in My Books

      Well, folks, this has been an awful week. Last Sunday I had to have my dog put down. She was fourteen. My son got her when she was ten months old. She’s been mine 24/7 for the last seven years. We are all devastated, but she deteriorated rapidly the last two days of her life. I miss her like crazy, and it feels like she’s pressed up against my office chair as I sit at my desk. I still look so I don’t roll into her. I check the floor beside my bed before stepping down. I wrote her into my book, Whispers of Forever, as a tribute because I knew our days together were limited. She’s on the cover, too.

      RIP my sweet girl, Kasha.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance

       

      As if that wasn’t enough, on the same day before we knew we’d be putting her down, my son and daughter-in-law told me they’re moving to Virginia. They now live seven miles from me. My older son lives on the other coast. I’m going to miss him so much. If I’m not crying over the dog, I’m crying over them leaving. Deep breath. I know life goes on. That should be my life lesson.


      So…

      I wasn’t in the mood to write a post this week but the topic is kind of important. Life lessons? How do I get the point across to readers in my books?

      Here’s an example. In my Bull Rider Series, the first book shows that my heroine, Howdy, Ma'am, Bull Rider Series, Mary J McCoy-DresselVelia, is living with an abusive husband. How ironic for her since she is on a plane returning from a funeral for her aunt in Italy who died at her husband’s hands. She left three children behind. Velia has an awakening, and begins her plan of escape and she carries it through.

      This is one life lesson I want my readers to get.

      No one needs to live in a mental or physical abusive relationship. Do I speak from experience on this topic? Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. Do I think it’s easy to walk away from an abusive relationship? Hell no. It isn’t. After a while it seems like the normal way of life. That’s all I’ll say about that. Referring to the book and in reality, I wrote a short post about Domestic Abuse.

      I’m talking for women though men are abused too in a relationship, but I know most of my readers are women.

      Outside of abuse, I want to let readers know through my heroines, they are allowed to be independent and have their own minds and opinions. Through my heroes, I want to show that, sure, they can get mad about something, and maybe not approve, but no matter what, they will respect their heroine, and vice versa in this scenario.

      Someone close to me wasn’t allowed this in her life. She had to live under her husband’s thumb to a certain extent. She accepted it because he provided for the family, and she didn’t feel like she deserved to have more than she’d like to have. My mother lived a hellish life with my dad, and he tried the same thing with me growing up. He realized early that I was an independent soul whether he liked it or not. He eventually embraced the idea that I stuck up for myself. I try to relay this message in my books.

      Shouldn’t everyone have a right to an opinion in a relationship?  MJ McCoy-Dressel

       

      A friend had turned all finances in their family over to her husband. He gave her a small allowance each month. I mean small, and some of the income had been her earnings. She scrimped for months to buy an outfit when her husband didn’t have to ask permission to buy a new…anything. How is this fair? Fairness isn’t an option. Is it? Am I wrong? Maybe it’s my own independent mind thinking love should be fair.

       

      I hope the life lessons in my books show that a person should expect to be treated with:

      • Respect.
      • Fairness.
      • As an equal.
      • Without fear of being slapped or worse.
      • Without FEAR.
      • You have a choice.
      • Independence isn’t a bad thing.
      • Love.

      Thanks for reading today.

      Remember, this is a BLOG HOP. Please visit the others.

      Week 28 – MFRW 52-Week Blog Challenge Participants #MFRWauthor

      Participants, I’ll do my best to get around to your blogs. If nothing else, I will share your posts. Thanks for understanding.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 31 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, 52 Week Challenge, blog hop, bull rider series, cowboys, domestic abuse, fairness, fear, Howdy Ma'am, independence, love, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, respect, Treated as an equal, western romance
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    • Daily Prompt: Canopy Walk
      Daily Prompt: Canopy Walk
    • Sharing Time with Family & Friends, or Not: Thanksgiving
      Sharing Time with Family & Friends, or Not: Thanksgiving
    • Revisions? Questions Answered
      Revisions? Questions Answered

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