What Would You Do?

I have a dilemma. A few months ago, my fridge broke. So I called a repair guy, and he came out and, frowning, told us it has a leak in the coils. At the time, buying a new one seemed like an easy solution, as fixing the dang thing was going to cost about as much. But now I’m starting to wonder if we shouldn’t have just fixed it anyway.

Why? Well. Because, apparently, no one wants a fridge with leaky coils. Not the power company, or a used appliance place, the recycle company, or even the dump.

So even though it h as stainless steel doors, a working ice machine, and a compressor that’s less than a year old, it’s now this 26 cubic feet box of junk that no one wants, because it’s “not worth fixing.” And it’s taking up space in my garage.

When did we become a society of “throw it away and buy a new one” when something breaks? And what would you do with this enormous box of…um, non-refrigeration that no one wants?

I feel a story coming out of this. Perhaps it could be turned into a Bill and Ted style time machine. Or a rocket that could take a kid into space a-la Explorers. Or…what else?

"Becoming" a Winner

Get it? No? Okay, well, what I meant was that someone won a copy of Become by Ali Cross. And due to the holiday, I forgot to make that announcement. Duh.

So sorry!

So I just used the little random generator on the sidebar over there, and the winner is...

Diana!

*Claps and cheers and dances*

Diana, I will be emailing you this week to find out which type of copy you prefer (paperback or ebook) and if you'd like it signed, and how. If you choose paperback will NOT be mailing your prize until next week, after Ali's official launch party.

Thanks for playing everyone, and stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon!

A Little Bit of Both

I hate to say it, but I’m so glad to have Thanksgiving behind me. Not that I don’t love the holiday—I really do. But it was a massive stresser this year. Thirty-seven people, two giant turkeys, ten pounds of potatoes, twenty-something pies, and a Costco sized package of paper plates, all consumed and enjoyed and now in the past.

I love holidays. Family, food, fun, shopping—all things that make life worth living.

But there’s a lot of stress involved, too, and at the end of it all, I enjoy the satisfaction of having it behind me. Still, I continue to be grateful for this country in which I live, the freedoms I enjoy, and all the comforts of life with which I’m blessed. So, you know, I’m thankful for the holiday, and at the same time so relieved to have it over.

It’s one of those days I both dread and adore. Do you feel that way sometimes? When and why?

More Thankful Things

I figure I have a month’s worth of thankful statuses to catch up with, so I hope you don’t mind if I keep going for a bit. I did warn you that I have a long list, didn’t I? No? Well, consider yourselves warned.

It’s the small and simple stuff that makes life grand. So today I’m thankful for:

Twinkling Christmas lights, Little Giant ladders, and our Elves Gone Wild CD.

Online shopping, since Black Friday has turned into Black Thursday (which, IMO has gone out of control) and I have no desire to fight strangers over toys anymore. Also, special advance sales geared toward people who are prepared, and who can shop from the comfort of their bedrooms.

Free shipping!

Amazon—because they have everything, and usually at a discount.

Email. Seriously, I remember a time when I had to write letters to my long distance friends on paper and stick the paper in an envelope with a stamp, then wait days for my words to reach them. Now we can have real-time conversations via chat. Or for that matter, face-to-face ones with Skype,

Vacuum cleaners that pick up fake pine needles, dust, dirt, and sludge off my floor whenever someone walks in. Also, Clorox wipes, Awesome spray cleaner (yeah, that’s actually a brand), and melty wax cubes that make my house smell good.

My convertible Mustang, because even though it’s getting up there in miles, I continue to love driving it. (And it’s still cheaper than therapy.)

My followers, who give me a reason to write blogs every week, and who stick around and comment, even when I’m introspective or reminiscent. Or making silly lists, like this one.

Writer’s groups where I have made some amazing friends who have greatly enhanced my life. Also writer’s conferences and CON’s. Because, well, they’re amazing and fun, and great for my career plans. And the most amazing people attend them.

Take-out restaurants. Because, let’s face it. All too often this is the best way to assure the family gets fed.

Soft new flannel pajamas. Because that is my most productive writing outfit. (Now you know.)

And Chris Baty, who invented National Novel Writing Month, which thousands of authors now utilize in order to bulk up their levels of creativity to bigger, better heights. For the third year in a row, I hit 50,000 words. Yahoo!

So there you have them. My status updates that never made it to Facebook. I hope you’re having a beautiful, fun-filled Thanksgiving weekend. Oh, and if you’re out shopping, keep your eyes open and your fighting hands at the ready. And may the odds be ever in your favor.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Kinds of Things

I’ve noticed there’s a trend on Facebook this November. Every day, certain friends of mine update their status by saying something for which they are thankful. I think that’s a really great idea, because anything that reminds us about all the many blessings in our lives, however small, makes us stronger.

Being that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I’d do something similar, because, well, I am feeling rather thankful at the moment.

My kids, who are wise beyond their years, and who have worked hard this week to prepare our house for the insurgence of people coming for Thanksgiving dinner (looking at 35+).

My husband, who works extra hard to provide our family with the things we need, and other things we just want. Like turkey and pie. And who also offered to brave Black Friday if I need him. (Don’t worry, honey, I’m taking the girls.)

Friends who stand by me and cheer me on and who would break me out of jail if ever I needed. (You know who you are!)

Stephenie Meyer for creating books that were turned into movies that my girls insisted on seeing at 12:29 on a school night last week, because movies like that aren’t nearly as fun without screaming, excited girls who are hopped up on sugar and caffeine.

The Baltimore Ravens for letting us in their stadium (last fall) to look around, and then gave us all hats and footballs and signed team pictures. We became life-long fans that day, and now you’re looking at Super Bowl possibilities. This makes us happy.

Hawaii—because it exists and gives us something to dream about.

Publishing companies who produce quality books that make us love to read and who give writers a goal for which to strive. And also, for giving me a reason to stay up all night because I just have to see what happens next.

Blue glow sticks, rock candy lollipops, and Thunder—the Australian kind. Oh, and also peanuts.

Steve Jobs for inventing…well, pretty much all things Apple. But specifically, my iPhone.

**To be continued**

What are you Thankful for this year?

Apocalypse Scenarios and Being Prepared for Zombies

Last week, my oldest son and I got into a discussion about emergency preparedness. I can’t remember what got us started, but naturally, the discussion segued into extreme possibilities and possible apocalypse scenarios.

Because, well, you know. Emergency kits and food storage could be rather handy in the event the world is overtaken by zombies. And we all know that’s coming someday. Or something’s coming, anyway.

As we were trying to merge our idea of the apocalypse (as is shown in so many popular dystopian novels recently) and possible reasons for the real world to come to such extremes, this is what we came up with.

Most likely apocalypse scenarios;

1. Solar flares that scorch the portions of Earth.

2. World War III = creates a nuclear winter.

3. A rapidly spreading, highly contagious plague that eats people’s minds and bodies = real zombies.

4. Animal overlords created by science experiments gone bad (think Jurassic Park).

5. Robot overlords created by an evil hi-tech master who is then killed by his own evil robots (think Terminator).

6. Planetary realignment that flip-flop’s the earth’s poles, killing off vegetation, animal life, and changing the flow of water all over the world.

We figure knowing the possibilities will help us to plan ahead and be prepared for anything that might happen. The question is, what did we miss?

Become by Ali Cross, Dark C.A.R.M.A. Spotlights, and another Giveaway!

If you read my Monday and Wednesday blogs this week, you already know I’ve been spotlighting the Dark C.A.R.M.A. books this week. I’m way exited for these amazing women and their individual decisions to go INDIE with high quality work and a strong promotional push.

Today I’m spotlighting Become by Ali Cross.

I haven’t read it yet. Well, at least, not this version. I did read an older version of this book several months ago, and I loved it then. Love Desi, love Michael. Love the concept of the story. But I haven’t yet had the chance to read the newest version, but I’m really excited to get to it (as soon as I finish my NaNo project—you know, reward for accomplishment and all that). If it’s even half as good as the version I read, it’s really, really amazing.

Wanna know what it’s about? Here’s the blurb:

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared. When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

A little bit about Ali:

I’ve always been a dreamer. When I would tell my family what new adventure I wanted to take on, they’d roll their eyes and say something like, “Oh yeah? Well let us know how that works out for you.” Meaning, of course, that no one expected my dreams to amount to much.

I wanted to be a pilot in the Canadian Air Force, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policewoman, and Prime Minister of Canada.

I wanted to be a youth minister, an opera singer, and a ballet dancer.

I wanted to be happy.

The good news is . . . not all dreams stay relegated to dreamland forever.

I was an opera singer (five years with Opera Idaho) and tried ballet for one magical summer when I was thirty years old.

And I’ve discovered new dreams that are coming true even as we speak.

And . . . I’m happy. Thanks to my family, friends and a core set of beliefs that shape my day.

It’s true, I’m a dreamer. But man, where my dreams have taken me!

And now, I'm the sansei of the writer's dojo, the author of the soon-to-be-released young adult novel BECOME, and ninja-writer extraordinaire. 

And I should also add, Ali is a beautiful, smart woman who has an amazing capacity for friendship and I am one of the lucky people who gets to consider her one of mine. *sniffs and cheers* Go Ali!

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for. THE GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate the release of all these books, I’m giving away a copy of Become by Ali Cross. (Winner may choose between hard copy or ebook.) That's right! To enter, all you have to do is follow my blog (see the sidebar) and leave a comment on this post, telling me why you’re excited to read any of the Dark C.A.R.M.A books, or why you're dying to get your hands on a copy of Become.

That’s it. You have until midnight, MST, Saturday, November 26th to enter, and I’ll announce the winner sometime the following week. Okay? Sw-eet! Also, in case you're afraid you won't win the copy I'm giving away, there are LOTS more chances to win. Check out Elana Johnson's blog or fill out this form for a chance to win one of five more books.

**Friday, November 18 is the LAST Twitter chat during which one lucky person will. Search the hashtag #BECOME to participate and enter. 

In case you can't wait (and let's face it, who can?) to see if you win, you can buy your copy of Become on Amazon. You can also read more about the works of Ali Cross on her website.

Once more, big congratulations to Ali, Christine, and RaShelle! And good luck to all the contest entrants.

Finding Your Wings (and Bound by C.K. Bryant)

Sometimes it requires branching out, taking a different path than others have chosen.

Sometimes it means starting over or jumping into unfamiliar territory.

Sometimes it means saying goodbye to certain expectations or goals in order to make room for new ones.

Sometimes finding your wings requires the support of a number of incredible people who will stand by you and refuse to allow you to fall on your face.

But always, finding your wings requires an enormous amount of risk, which also requires bravery you haven’t always believed you possessed. But you do. You have it in spades. We all have this potential strength. It may take some digging, some serious soul searching, but when we find it—that is when we’re able to figure out how to fly.



Speaking of flying, today’s Dark C.A.R.M.A. spotlight is Bound, by C.K. Bryant.

This one, I have read, and it is really a great story. Favorite moments involve a waterfall and a shirtless hottie named Octavian, a dying girl and a best friend willing to risk everything to save her, and some great kissing scenes that leave Kira—the main character—and the reader breathless.

The one thing I was sad about was the ending, because I have to wait for book 2. *frowns*

Check it out!

The blurb:

When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.


BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite sacrifice and untamed love.


Purchase your copy of Bound on Amazon or learn more about the works of C.K. Bryant on her blog.

Blog-hop Winner!

I know, I'm totally a slacker because I haven't announced a winner for the blog hop drawing yet. But as my regular readers know, I don't blog on the weekends.

The prize was a copy of Pride and Popularity by Jenni James. And the winner is...


Carolyn V.

YAY Carolyn! That random generator must just love you! I'll get a hold of you this week and make the necessary arrangements.

Thanks for playing, everyone!

A Town Called Hell

Yes, really. It’s an actual place, and it’s here on earth. Don’t believe me? Google it.

A few years back, I visited this place. Imagine that? I’ve been to Hell and back, literally. *grins at the irony* In fact, there were vans full of people transported to Hell for the privilege of being able to say they’d been there.

Hell, the town, is located on Grand Cayman, an island in the Caribbean, and has a great deal of character thanks to the creative thinking of its founders and residents, who capitalize on the name daily.

In this case, the name of the town makes it not only memorable, but also an interesting place to visit.

I’ve also visited places like Death Valley, AZ. and Intercourse, PA. (which is doubly ironic because it is largely populated by people of the Amish faith). There are more. Wish I could remember them all. But I can think of one more. Forks, WA.

I think these real-life towns are a great example of why setting is important in fiction, and why naming our fictional towns require thought—a lot of it. In this way, the setting has an opportunity to become a character in itself. Basically, the place where a story takes place becomes as important as the characters in the story, with a personality all its own.

Do you agree with this theory? Have a story with a really amazing setting? Know of more towns or cities with really awesome names?


**This week I’m spotlighting the Dark C.A.R.M.A. books, which were released last Friday.

Today I’m sharing a little about Exiled by RaShelle Workman. I haven’t read this book yet, but it looks great, don’t you think?

The blurb:


Stubborn, sixteen-year-old Princess Venus of Kelari wants one thing, to become immortal, that is, until someone exiles her to Earth, kills her irrihunter and takes her family.


Now she wants revenge.


First she’s got to get home. But before she can return to Kelari, the Gods have commanded her to help an arrogant boy named Michael find his soul mate.


Only she doesn't know the first thing about love.


Rather quickly, her inexperience with human emotion is obscured by other matters—alien-controlled psychotic teens that are out to kill her, and a government group that is set on capturing and dissecting her.


Worst of all, Venus will suffer a painful death-by-poisoning, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere, if she remains on the planet longer than one week.


Still, Venus is a Princess and she's got a plan. Surely, with her help, Michael will fall in love with a human.


But time is running out and Michael is falling for the wrong girl—her.


You can get your copy of Exiled on Amazon.

Getting Unstuck

Just in case you’re feeling creatively blocked right now, I’d like to share a few things I do when I’m feeling unable to write or create something of beauty.

1. Journal—even if it’s about nothing, just open a blank document and spill everything that’s weighing on my mind in order to clear out the cobwebs. This is a tremendous help.

2. Drive—for me this includes music. Very often when I’m driving and listening to mood music, things come to me and I feel incredibly inspired.

3. Meditate—clear your mind and let it drift. Often this is the most productive thing you can do.

4. Clean—some of my best ideas have come when my floor is half scrubbed, or my hands submerged in a sink full of dirty dishes.

5. Shower or bathe—seriously. Because, again, the best ideas tend to come when you’re…indisposed.

6. Decide to not write and walk away from your computer with a scowl. It will most likely miss you and call you back about the time you start to feel withdrawal.

7. Accomplish other tasks that are weighing heavily on your mind. If they truly distract you, finish them so you can let them go.

8. Brainstorm with another creative minded person—for me, this is often my teenage son, who has fantastic ideas, or other writers, who are also very creative.

9. Exercise. Working out stimulates endorphins that get your creative juices flowing unlike anything else.

10. Try writing late at night or early in the morning, when your brain is either shutting down to prepare for sleep, or just waking from it. When dreamland is within reach, so is your most creative self.

I hope I’ve given you something you can use. Now, jump over that wall and get back to work.


**Also, the Dark CARMA book tour starts today. If you haven't already checked out all the awesome online events happening, stop by their blog. 

Apparently, November = the Month of Giveaways

In case you didn’t see yesterday’s post, which is totally unrelated to this one, but IS, in fact, a giveaway, here’s the link. Or you can scroll down. Either way. But first, you’re going to want to read this one.

Amusing story: A bunch of people I know decided THIS must be the lucky week to hold all types of November giveaways, and I (not paying much attention to important details like dates) signed up to do a few of them. Because, well, why not? Right? (This is not me jumping on a bandwagon so much as wanting to support my friends who are hosting events—TOTALLY different situation.)

So this is how I have come to be posting TWO separate giveaway posts in two days, and also how I will post one more next week.

For today’s opportunity to win, I will be offering a copy of Pride and Popularity by Jenni James. (And if I can track her down, I may even get it autographed.)

Check out this really adorable cover:

The blurb:

Chloe Elizabeth Hart despises the conceited antics of the popular crowd, or more importantly, one very annoying self-possessed guy, Taylor Anderson, who seems determined to make her the president of his fan club! As if! Every girl in the whole city of Farmington, New Mexico, is in love with him, but he seems to be only interested in Chloe. This modern high school adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is a battle of wits as Chloe desperately tries to remain the only girl who can avoid the inevitable falling for Taylor.


It’s easy to enter. Simply become a follower (see the upper sidebar) and then leave me a comment telling me one thing for which you are thankful this month.

And since I won’t be doing a giveback giveaway for November (sorry, my budget can only handle so much this month) , I’ll give you an extra entry if you tell me one nice thing you’ve done to give back to someone else. This thing can be big or small. (For some great ideas, check out this post and this one.)

This contest will close on November 11th. US shipping, only, please.

Celebrating Breaking Dawn: Bella's Bridal / Baby Shower Giveaway

You all know I'm a fan. I admit it. Think what you want, because I love a good story with lovable characters and the Twilight series is exactly that. Breaking Dawn part 1 comes out next week! And guess what? I'm participating in a bridal/ baby shower to honor Bella, and you're invited to attend.

Here are the deets:

Today is my sponsor day, which means you have the opportunity to win these fabulous prizes: 

1. Vampire and werewolf gummies (by Black Forest)
2. A silver necklace with pink tropical hibiscus flowers in honor of the honeymoon in South America.

Items are wrapped in a pretty fabric bag and tied with a bridal-shower style ribbon.

To enter, you have to do is answer the following question:

Name three young adult genre books which have been or are being released this fall. (HINT: I made a list of some on this post.)

Email your answer, along with your name and U.S. mailing address to Bellasshower@gmail.com. That's it. Of course, if you want to help spread the word, that is always nice and we'd appreciate it most graciously. Also, you'll get extra entries.

To find out how, head over to Inksplasher. While you're there, you can also find out how to enter to win a whole bunch of other super-cool, mega-awesome prizes to help celebrate.

Good luck, and happy Monday!

Time to Party for Bella and Edward!

The Juggling Act

About now—or sometime in the next week—thousands of authors are going to hit a wall in their speed writing process (otherwise known as NaNoWriMo).

Things come up. Our families need us. The holidays are upon us, and there is baking / decorating / shopping / socializing to be done. Really. Who has time to write?

It’s definitely tricky. But you can handle it. Know why? It’s what we do. We juggle. We shift. We move things around until all the pieces of our lives and time fit together. Maybe we get less sleep and put off some unimportant things like making dinner and scrubbing floors.

We do what we must to accomplish our goals because this is how we keep all our balls in the air. We learn to juggle. And really, all I can offer is my wishes of good luck. I hope you manage to catch them all.

It Begins

Ladies and gentlemen, November is officially here, and with it, the beginning of NaNoWriMo. Yes, I am writing, and yes, I intend to complete a 50,000 word manuscript this month.

Because of that (and other things, like going out of town and stuff), I’m not going to write a long missive of encouragement this year. But I will say this:

You. Can. Do. It.

It’s not about winning, but about proving to yourself that you have what it takes to work hard toward a specific goal and accomplish that goal to your own satisfaction. The end product or result will not be the same for everyone, but everyone will get results that matter to them. And that’s really the whole point.

Never underestimate your ability to accomplish something important.

*waves pompoms and cheers*

Now get off the internet and get to work!