Tag: Jen IRL

Rip Van Winkle-ing

Posted December 28, 2015 by Jennifer Ellision in Author business, blog, IRL / 1 Comment

Rip Van Winkle-ing

You guys. What year is it? What day?

Just kidding, I know all of that, but with the activity around the past couple of weeks, I’ve barely used the internet. I feel a little like Rip Van Winkle, waking up after twenty years.

That’s because last week, I visited my best friend in Virginia. She and her fiance (who is also an friend from college), both graduated with their master’s degrees and decided to celebrate that, as well as their engagement with a party. It worked out to be something of a college reunion, and was a great time all around. While I was there, we also went to Top Golf (please build one in South Florida, powers that be) and visited a winery, which was fun despite the fact that I don’t drink wine ^_~.

VA collage

I was pretty sad to leave such good friends (and a respite from the heat!) behind, but as Christmas (which is what I celebrate) was approaching, I had to head back home, with a cold in tow, but nothing too crazy.

Izzy is doing much better, for which we’re all very grateful. My parents, the dogs, and I had a pretty quiet Christmas, but it was enjoyable nonetheless! Last year, our house was packed with 2 dogs, my parents, brother and I, my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and 3 cousins sleeping under the same roof. This year, my brother lives out in Colorado and the rest of the family couldn’t make the trip from North Carolina.

So the parents and I went to church on Christmas Eve, and then had dinner at a family friend’s. We had a relaxing Christmas morning. We opened gifts. (Some of my favorites are in the collage below). We Facetimed my brother. We went to Buca di Beppo and ate our weight in Italian deliciousness, and then came home and watched a movie. A different Christmas from what we’re used to, but a good one.

xmas collage

(Some of these photos originated as Snapchats. You can follow me as JenEllision ^_^)

And now, today, I’m getting back into the swing of things. I’ll be taking over the YA Book Lovers Winter Party at 4 PM EST. The event itself starts at 1:30, and there will be a ton of great giveaways and authors participating.

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Other than that, I’m working on fulfilling my Patreon patron perks, and working on finishing production on an audiobook–my cold’s been fought back enough to get back to work on it, but not quite enough to put in the long hours I’d like to.

And, of course, I’m excited for Breathe In‘s release tomorrow! If you’ve pre-ordered, it will be on your Kindle shortly! And if not, feel free to jump on it! I’ll see you guys back here for a release day blog tomorrow. Consider Rip Van Winkle awake– alive and kicking. ^_~

A look back and looking forward in 2014

Posted January 1, 2014 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 1 Comment

As 2014 opens, I’m realizing something:

I’m not where I want to be with my life, and you know? That’s okay.

Because all things considered, I had a pretty good year. I have my ups and my downs. Sometimes my downs are really low and it’s hard to remember the good in my life.

But when I put it in a list like this, the good overwhelmingly outweighs the bad and I think focusing on the good things in my life will help when those times inevitably roll back around.

  • I transitioned from a temp job to a permanent position, where (some days) I actually get to use my English degree.
  • My  best friend lives several states away, but we still managed to see each other for four different trips.
  • The bevy and I talk more than ever and it’s fantastic.
  • I interviewed several awesome authors and three New York Times bestselling authors in person.
  • I met my awesome CP Alex IRL.
  • I finished writing and editing my third book– and the first one that I felt could GO somewhere, and got largely positive feedback from my readers.
  • I started the arduous, nerve-wracking, and sometimes tear-inducing process of querying and pitching said book. And even got a few requests.
  • I began researching my publishing options–  really researching them. I don’t know at this juncture whether I’ll self-publish or not, but there’s a whole wide world of options out there and I feel good about whichever path I take.
  • I visited North Carolina, New York, and Virginia. I made 2 trips to Disney World and attended two tailgates at my alma mater and caught up with old friends– both ones that I’ve kept in touch with and a couple I’d lost touch with.
  • I STILL don’t enjoy working out, but I’ve grown accustomed to it and have a new found confidence in myself these past few months.
  • My sorority chapter finally got an on-campus house… three years after I graduated. BUT, I attended the alumnae tea this year and got to see it. GORGEOUS.
  • I ran(/walked) my first 5K!
  • At the start of this year, I had never seen a Broadway musical. As the year ends, I’ve now seen three (Wicked, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Book of Mormon). And, I saw the Rockettes Christmas show!
  • My holiday season was wonderful, filled with fun, family, friends… and of course food.
  • And I’m working on a “group project” that I’m truly excited about

And in 2014?

Of course I have small goals: find another vegetable that I like, whittle down my bookshelves, be more… open to things. But I feel that my main focus need to be on my major, concrete goals.

Because my few major goals are simple… but BIG:

1) Finalize a plan for Threats of Sky and Sea. I’ll make a final decision on my path in the next couple months, so stay tuned!

2) Write and revise another book.

3) Purchase my first home.

We’ll see how I do in about a year!

Homecoming

Posted November 18, 2013 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 0 Comments

As I so often do, last weekend, I journeyed to Orlando, home to my alma mater. Although this time, it was for Homecoming.

Homecoming as an alumna is (not unexpectedly) an altogether different experience from homecoming as a college student.

For one thing, Homecoming at UCF is a competition. It’s not just students concentrating on one football game and hoping that the team emerges victorious. Instead, the whole week is rife with events like Philanthropy Knight or Skit Knight.

As a student, I was INTO Homecoming. I loved it. I tried to participate in every event possible with my sorority; helped write the skits and performed in them. The night before the game, participating organizations had to build a float for the Homecoming parade. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, helping to build our float, caught a couple hours of sleep, and then had to be back there to be on the float. And I loved it.

(Since we’re doing the flashback thing, this was my last homecoming skit as a student. I’m “Alice”)

As an alumna, homecoming has a much more NOSTALGIC factor. Seeing old friends, talking about old memories… it was nice in a quieter sort of way. I hung out at a tailgate with them and marveled at how many unfamiliar faces there were in “our” area. I once would have known them all. And walking on campus was sort of surreal. So much is the same that it was like stepping through a time warp. And yet, there are little changes that make it hard to forget how long it’s been.

Still, I had a wonderful time staying with one of my best friends/old roommates and seeing so many of my old friends that I don’t get to see nearly enough.

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With my hostess for the weekend/former roommate!
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Sigma Nu Sweethearts: 2010, 2011, 2012
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Fun tailgating times!

I had such a great time, that in a couple of weeks, I’m going back– and this time I’m actually going to a football game too!

November, November.

Posted November 7, 2013 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 1 Comment
November, November.

How is it possible that we’re in November already? It seems like New Year’s was last month; like BEA was last week; like my trip to Virginia and D.C. to see the BFF was yesterday. And even that was already two months ago. October was a pretty calm month. I elected not to do much in the way of Halloween– I didn’t relish the idea of going out on a Thursday when I still needed to be at the office by 9 A.M. No costumes this year! My one concession to the Halloween season (besides the candy. So. Much. Candy.) was an afternoon spent carving pumpkins with my friends. Alas, art is not my calling. My pumpkin was supposed to be a graveyard scene. But my pumpkin wound up with a very odd sort of… face instead. My adventures in […]

A happy list

Posted October 18, 2013 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 0 Comments
A happy list

Stuff that’s made me happy in the past week: This song: Best Day of My Life by American Authors– It’s just such a HAPPY song, and I’d be lying if I said that the band name didn’t also make me smile. Celebrating a friend’s promotion with a nice dinner at Salt. Seriously, one of the best burgers and mac ‘n cheese I’ve ever tasted. Plus I got to wear a new favorite maxi dress for the evening. On Saturday, I Skyped with Angel and Aimee to watch Itazura Na Kiss: Love in Tokyo, which is a J-Drama based on one of my favorite anime (and which I’m convinced is secretly an AU of Sailor Moon). I also grabbed lunch with a couple friends on Sunday. Friend-filled weekends are nice sometimes, y’know?      This happy pink sweater which is so “me” […]

3 places in about 3 days

Posted October 3, 2013 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 2 Comments
3 places in about 3 days

A few weekends ago, I visited my best friend and her boyfriend for the first time since they moved out of Florida. I had to keep my trip pretty short since we all have only so much time that we can take off of work, but I had such a great time! I basically traveled to Virginia, D.C., and Maryland in about 3 days. I arrived in Virginia on Thursday night, and on Friday morning, I woke up prepared for my first trip to Washington D.C.! The leaves were just starting to change colors, and I was excited that fall was starting to inch its way in. We don’t really have seasons in Florida, unless you count Hot (spring), Scorching and Humid with a chance of STORMS (summer), Pretty Dang Warm (fall), and Downright Pleasant (winter). Suffice to say, I […]