Friday, October 14, 2016

Brain Surgery




Last year I found out I have two different types of brain tumors. No cancer, Thank God! A  pituitary tumor and a meningioma. In August I had another MRI of my brain done. Thanks to medication the pituitary tumor has shrunk. YEAH!!! Unfortunately the meningioma has grown one centimeter in size (pictured above.) 

On October 17, 2016 I will be having brain surgery to remove the meningioma. Lucky for me I live near Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the surgery should be fairly simple, well.... as simple as brain surgery can be. Hopefully the regular hospital rooms are full and I will get to stay in the neurosurgery ICU for my whole hospital stay 2 - 7 days. (Rooms are bigger, better brain care) If not, then I will be in the neurosurgery ICU at least 24 hours and then moved to a regular room. My entire recovery time will be around 6 weeks. The first week or two I cannot be left alone at all. My tumor is near the part of the brain that controls balance, so falling down is potentially problematic.

I would have to say, my favorite part of this whole experience so far was the look on my neurosurgeon face when she realized that I have 2 different types of tumors. Priceless! Why? Multiple tumors of the same type = common. Different types of tumors = extremely rare.

What does this mean for the blog?


No big changes. While I have been uninspired of late, dealing with all my other medical problems, I still plan to keep the blog. It'll just be on vacation for a couple of months while I recover. Hopefully there will be some updates and/or new features. Maybe I'll be able to focus better and the inspiration will come pouring back.

How am I doing?


I'm not nearly as scared about the surgery as I should be. The most upsetting part for me so far is that I am not aloud to cut my hair before surgery! I was thinking about doing something like this:


Half shaved or at least something with an undercut. There's more pictures on my brain board (on Pinterest, something else I need to organize) if you want to check them out. Feel free to leave comments on which are your favorites. I'm now planning on getting my haircut after my scar has healed.

It's a little ridiculous, but my biggest fear is not the surgery itself. It's waking up and having a total Rick moment. (The Walking Dead)



That being said, if the apocalypse happens I better wake up to this gorgeous face.

Of course I am not completely ridiculous. If the apocalypse happens and Norman Reedus is unable to magically transform himself into Daryl, then he is completely welcome to join me (as Norman) and we'll cry together.

Hell, even if the apocalypse doesn't happen; Norman you are completely welcome to come visit me in the hospital. I could always use someone to hold my hand and I'm sure that smile could make anyone feel better.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Birthright Release Day Party & Giveaway



Today we are celebrating the release of BIRTHRIGHT, the fourth full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.  We have a special book excerpt, commenter prizes, and a HUGE swag giveaway.  So grab a cupcake and some punch.  It's time to party!


Birthright by E.J. Stevens

Series: Ivy Granger #4

Release Date: July 14, 2015

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy



Birthright by E.J. Stevens Ivy Granger urban fantasy series

Monday, June 22, 2015

ARC Review: Birthright by E.J. Stevens



Title: Birthright

Author: E.J. Stevens

Series: Ivy Granger, #4


 •Source: Author (for review consideration)
 •Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
 •Publication Date: July 14, 2015

Opening Line: I grimaced at the noodles currently taunting me with their salty broth and rubbery texture, and pushed the steaming bowl away with gloved hands.

BookLikes Goodreads Shelfari LibraryThing

Being a faerie princess isn't all it's cracked up to be...

Ivy must go to Faerie, but the gateway to the Wisp Court is through Tech Duinn, the house of Donn—Celtic god of the dead. Just her luck.

Unable to share her secret with Jinx, and with Jenna called away on Hunters' Guild business, Ivy must rely on Ceff and Torn to lead her to Death's door, literally, and back again. As if that wasn't dangerous enough, there's no saying what horrors lay in store within the Faerie realm. Too bad the Wisp Court is the one lead Ivy has in the search for her father—and possible salvation.

Maybe hiding away and dodging sidhe assassins isn't so bad after all...


Private DetectiveFaeBad Ass HeroinePsychicKick Ass Couple

Friday, February 13, 2015

Cover Reveal: Birthright by E.J. Stevens


I am very excited to show off the cover to BIRTHRIGHT, the fourth full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens!

This cover does a fantastic job of displaying Ivy Granger's growing proficiency with knives. It also gives us a sneak peek at the horrors that Ivy must face in Tech Duinn, on her way to Faerie.



What do you think of the cover?


Cover Reveal Birthright by E.J. Stevens an Ivy Granger Urban Fantasy Novel


Birthright (Ivy Granger #4) by E.J. Stevens


Being a faerie princess isn't all it's cracked up to be...

Ivy must go to Faerie, but the gateway to the Wisp Court is through Tech Duinn, the house of Donn—Celtic god of the dead. Just her luck.

Unable to share her secret with Jinx, and with Jenna called away on Hunters' Guild business, Ivy must rely on Ceff and Torn to lead her to Death's door, literally, and back again. As if that wasn't dangerous enough, there's no saying what horrors lay in store within the Faerie realm. Too bad the Wisp Court is the one lead Ivy has in the search for her father—and possible salvation.

Maybe hiding away and dodging sidhe assassins isn't so bad after all...

Release Date: July 14, 2015

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Add to Goodreads.



About the Ivy Granger Series


The Ivy Granger series is an urban fantasy series written by E.J. Stevens. The series is told in the first-person point of view of Ivy Granger, a psychic detective with ties to the paranormal underworld of Harborsmouth--ties that ensnare Ivy and her friend Jinx in the Machiavellian schemes of the city's teeming population of bloodsucking vampires and psychotic faeries.

Books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe
(Ivy Granger #1.5), Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2), Club Nexus (Ivy
Granger #2.5), Burning Bright (Ivy Granger #3).


About the Author


E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series and the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series. When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

Connect with E.J. on Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, and on her Blog.



We are celebrating this cover reveal with a fantastic Birthright giveaway...



Cover Reveal Giveaway



We are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card, Birthright mini-poster, and signed Birthright postcard to one lucky winner. 



To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway begins Friday,
February 13th and ends Friday, February 27th.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Happy Friday the 13th!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Hunting In Bruges Release Party & Giveaway!!!



Today is the release of HUNTING IN BRUGES, the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.  

 

To celebrate, we are having a book and swag giveaway!




Keep reading for a chance to win a Hunting in Bruges signed book, t-shirt, and more!