Photo 365 #16

August 23, 2014August 23, 2014Leave a comment

Look at the beauty I found in my mailbox today:

I love getting mail that isn’t a bill. It’s such a shame that people don’t write letters the way they used to – there’s just something about a handwritten letter or postcard or what have you that lets the recipient know the sender really cares. I mean, how many emails and text messages do we dash off without really thinking about them? They’re quick and easy to send.

But a handwritten letter requires much more thought and effort, and the results are definitely worth it. It’s like Hallmark’s old slogan, When you care enough to send the very best. Anyone can type up a quick note. But a well-written and legible letter is something of a dying art.

I’d like to thank my friend, Alisa Sibrova, for this wonderful postcard. Las Vegas is a fun place, and one I wouldn’t mind visiting again someday. 🙂

All good things…

August 20, 2014August 20, 20142 Comments

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so it is for the Summer Reads Blog Tour. Here to wrap things up is our lovely host, Lisa L. Wiedmeier, with a few thoughts on what has been, for me – and hopefully for you, too – a fantastic time.

Summer Reads Blog Tour

Week Twelve & Thirteen

I keep staring at the calendar to my left, staring at it and wondering where the weeks have gone. Are you doing the same thing? *shakes head* Twelve, almost thirteen glorious weeks of summer have already flown by and in those weeks we’ve had the pleasure of meeting other great authors and hearing a whole lot about what their favorite reads are. When I started planning out this Blog Tour with Sam, we had decided that we wanted to give to you the opportunity to learn about our other author friends, and pass on to you the pleasure of perhaps finding new reads, some off the beaten path, for your enjoyment.

As this Summer Reads Blog Tour winds down…

It’s release day!

August 19, 2014Leave a comment

InTheRearview-MariaAnnGreen It’s release day for Maria Ann Green’s debut novel, In the Rearview, and I’m super excited to help her celebrate! If you like YA Contemporary, you might like this book – I know I think it looks interesting.

So, what’s it about? Well, in case you missed my last two posts about it, here’s the blurb:

When Meagan’s secret is found out, and she realizes there is no way to outrun her habit of cutting, she tries to work through it, and her depression, before she cuts too deep, making a mistake that can never be undone.

Meagan’s problems aren’t like every other adolescent’s no matter how much she wishes they could be. Hers are worse. They’ve pulled her down into the depths of a depression that is anything but normal. She begins her pattern of self-harm as her depression threatens to drown her. She starts with one cut that leads to the next, and the next. After starting, it’s apparent that there’s no stopping, and Meagan spirals into a dark and cruel world she doesn’t understand. Meagan cuts to feel better, but that comfort doesn’t last long enough, and soon life is worse than it ever was before.

While learning to quit cutting Meagan faces life-altering obstacles and grows up in the process. In the Rearview is a story of pain, loss, confusion, and hope told through Meagan’s poems, journal entries, and a splash of narrative.

Interested? Then keep reading, because I’ve got an excerpt from the book right here:

In the Rearview giveaway!

August 17, 20141 Comment

InTheRearview-MariaAnnGreen Remember a while back when I shared the cover for Maria Ann Green’s forthcoming book, In the Rearview? Well, on Friday she announced a giveaway, and I’ve got all the details right here! Here’s Maria to tell you all about it in her own words:

GIVEAWAY PACKAGE STUFF:

*The How: Anyone who buys my book, In the Rearview, in any e-version the first week it’s out, August 19th – 26th, and sends me an email verification (screen shot your purchase confirmation, forward the confirmation email, take a picture of your computer screen – honestly whatever works) will be entered into the drawing to win a pretty cool set of prizes. Send the emails to: magauthorgiveaway@gmail.com

*About In the Rearview: When Meagan’s secret is found out, and she realizes there is no way to outrun her habit of cutting, she tries to work through it, and her depression, before she cuts too deep, making a mistake that can never be undone.

Meagan’s problems aren’t like every other adolescent’s …More details behind the cut.

It’s cover reveal time!

August 5, 2014August 4, 20142 Comments

One of the great things about being a writer is the community. There are so many other fabulous writers out there who will cheer you on, help you out, and even lift you up when you’re feeling down. Contests and conversations abound, and I’ve met more awesome authors through the few contests I’ve entered than I could have imagined possible even a few short years ago. One of them is the lovely Maria Ann Green, whose book In the Rearview, is coming soon to a bookshelf near you. And today, I’m happy to help spread the word by sharing the cover for this intriguing new book.

The blurb:

When Meagan’s secret is found out, and she realizes there is no way to outrun her habit of cutting, she tries to work through it, and her depression, before she cuts too deep, making a mistake that can never be undone.

Meagan’s problems aren’t like every other adolescent’s no matter how much she wishes they could be. Hers are worse. They’ve pulled her down into the depths of a depression that is anything but normal. She begins her pattern of self-harm as her depression threatens to drown her. She starts with one cut that leads to the next, and the next. After starting, it’s apparent that there’s no stopping, and Meagan spirals into a dark and cruel world she doesn’t understand. Meagan cuts to feel better, but that comfort doesn’t last long enough, and soon life is worse than it ever was before.

While learning to quit cutting Meagan faces life-altering obstacles and grows up in the process. IN THE REARVIEW is a story of pain, loss, confusion, and hope told through Meagan’s poems, journal entries, and a splash of narrative.

About Maria:

Maria Green currently lives in Minnesota, despite its bitter winters, with her husband. She graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in English. When she isn’t writing, Maria loves to read with a cup of strong coffee or a glass of sweet wine, craft, and spend time with her family. This is her first published novel.

You can find out more about Maria by visiting her blog. Stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks, and check out Maria’s cover reveal post for some more interesting tidbits about the author!

Photo Friday: From a friend

July 11, 2014August 22, 20143 Comments

Today, I have a lovely coaster (part of a very pretty set of four) that I received from a work friend when Seymour and I got married:

Life

The flower is courtesy of Cricket, my resident flower-picker. This morning, he gave me a sunny little dandelion.

Don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and take a look at her Photo Friday fun! 🙂

Photo Friday: Out and about!

July 4, 2014August 22, 20148 Comments

This week’s Photo Friday is all about being out and about, and since it’s Independence Day here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., I can’t think of a better place to be than out and about.

I started the day off out and about at our old house, prepping for the open house this weekend. That was followed up by a trip to the park, which is where the bulk of my hometown’s Fourth of July festivities take place:

Memory alpha

July 1, 2014July 1, 201417 Comments

The story of my most prized possession is a difficult one to tell because there are many things I prize quite highly. I’ve never been able to choose a single thing I love more than all others.

As a kid, whenever someone asked what one thing would I grab if my house were burning and I was forced to flee, I always answered, “Puppy and Blankie.” (They’re exactly what they sound like – I know, I was so creative as a kid.)

bffs Puppy was a gift from my dad and I’ve had him for longer than I can remember. We share a telepathic connection, and he has always been there to comfort me when I needed it. Despite his advanced age – 210 in dog years – he doesn’t look half bad. Oh, sure, his hat is missing, and he’s had a few surgeries over the years (he’s had several nose jobs, plus open heart surgery and a spinal fusion)*, but his heart is as big as ever. And even though he no longer goes everywhere with me…

Seven more lines

June 27, 2014Leave a comment

Anná
Artwork by Hazel Butler

The wonderful Sammy HK Smith re-tagged me in the 7/7 challenge, so I decided to share a bit more from The Lokana Chronicles, this time from the second book, tentatively titled Fog of War.

Anna stumbled on a tree root. Her backpack flew from her shoulder and landed somewhere behind her as she went sprawling forward and landed on her stomach. Groaning, she pushed herself up slowly, rising to her feet from a squat. She brushed the dirt and leaves from her clothes as she looked for her backpack, but it was nowhere to be found.

With no flashlight to help her see in the dark woods, she gave up on finding her backpack and took a step forward, causing her leg to throb. She explored her leg with her fingers till she felt something sticky on her right calf – blood. The sickly metallic scent was unmistakable.

If you’d like to join in the fun, have at it! I can’t wait to read more excerpts. 🙂

I am enough

June 26, 20143 Comments

MNO_OfficialPoster_High Remember a while back when I reviewed Moms’ Night Out? I went to see it again, this time with my mother-in-law, who’d had a very stressful day and needed a good laugh. I’m so glad she went with me, because we don’t see each other as often as I’d like and we had a ton of fun. We definitely need to do things like this more often.

Anyway, as we watched the movie, I got to thinking (a dangerous pastime, I know) about why I related so much to Allyson. I mean, I’ve been there – I stayed home with Bubbles till he was two and now that I only work part-time, I’m home alone with Cricket and Thumper two or three days a week.

It’s hard! It’s so hard. Like Allyson, I wanted to be a mom. Of course, I also wanted to be a world-famous author, but let’s just take this one dream at a time. Her reasons for wanting to be a mom are never mentioned – it’s simply her dream, and she’s lucky enough to be living it.

As for me…