Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Because We're All Idiots...and like Free Stuff

Have you made any bad choices? Well no worries. Today I'm going to make you feel 100% better about yourself because chances are you've never done this:

Or this:
Or this:
This: 
Maybe this: 
Perhaps even this:
Or definitely not this:

See? Don't you feel so much better about yourself?


And now for THE NOT SO ACCIDENTAL BLOG TOURIST HOP. (OR SKIP TO AN AWESOME BOOK GIVEAWAY BELOW.)
This wandering tour is a quick flash of blogs by artists – writers, musicians, painters, photographers, and more. I was invited by Dianne Salerni:
DIANNE K. SALERNI is the author of The Eighth Day MG fantasy series (HarperCollins) and YA historical novels, The Caged Graves (Clarion/HMH) and We Hear the Dead (Sourcebooks). Dianne was a public school teacher for 25 years before leaving the profession to spend more time hanging around creepy cemeteries and climbing 2000 year-old pyramids in the name of book research.
Now, for my part in the tour …
1. What am I currently working on?
Surviving. Yuppers. Between houses, prepping for a blog tour & book release, and occasionally working on TIMELESS (book 3 in the Maiden of Time series) or a mini series... Oh yeah, and minding those things that eat my food and dirty my house. In some realms they're known as "kids."
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I'll refer you to one of my reviewers: "Certainly there is no new story under the sun, but some stories strike as original. Moonless is this kind of story ... The specific supernatural element is not really something I've seen before, though I'm sure some readers will draw a parallel with something. I have not seen it, though."
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
When life is unfair, I trap it in a book.
4. How does your writing/creating process work?
Dream. Write. Edit. Eat cheese.
Now I’m going to pass the blog hop torch to the next artist – who will participate on Monday, August 4. 
Nata Romeo a.k.a ArtistaDonna, is the author and illustrator of her first children's book titled Alphabet Wildlife A to Z.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, she now brews and sprinkles her art and stories from the Philadelphia skies. She dreams that her work gets swept up and tangled into a massive storm front so that her world can travel across the universe and beyond.


Ready to guess the lie and win a book? 

Last week, the hilarious T.C. Mckee shared THE BONE TREATY with us, along with two truths and one lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win her eBook. 

T.C.'s game: 
1. When T.C. was seventeen, her friend stole 50 plastic Easter bunnies from a nearby neighborhood and stuffed them in the back seat of her car. They rode around with them for a week. Sometime she can still see their faces staring at her from the rear view mirror.
2. She reads the labels of almost all products and if she can't pronounce the name or doesn't recognize the ingredients, she won't buy it. Her house really is all natural.
3. It took her one whole year and seventy-seven days to write The Bone Treaty. 
And the lie is:

#3. Surprise!  

Way to guess those of you who got it right! (It was a tricky one.) And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Gina Stoneheart!
Congrats Gina! 

And now to today's feature:

Sixteen-year-old Hutch McQueen is a smart kid who can barely read. He makes one bad choice after another, trying to find a way to escape his rotten life at home and at school. Each time he gets into more trouble.
Get your copy HERE.

C. Lee McKenzie is a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains where she lives with her family and miscellaneous pets. She writes most of the time, gardens and hikes and does yoga a lot, and then travels whenever she can. 

She takes on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. Her first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, which dealt with cutting and suicide was published in 2009. Her second, titled The Princess of Las Pulgas, dealing with a family who loses everything and must rebuild their lives came out in 2010. Her short story, Premeditated Cat, appears in the anthology, The First Time, and her Into the Sea of Dew is part of a collection, Two and Twenty Dark Tales. In 2012, her first middle grade novel, Alligators Overhead, came out.

Her favorite cheese Parmesan and ideally you'll find her munching on it in Venice. 

Lee gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win your choice any of her eBook's: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Alligators Overhead or Double Negative. 

You have until Tuesday, August 5th, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on August 6th.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Lee's favorite sport is spelunking.
2. She irons her sheets.
3. She's going to Myanmar in November.

You have one more chance to win today:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
LASTLY, sign up for my blog tour. 



Which is the lie? Have you seen anyone make one of those bad choices--or something like them? Have you ever worked with a troubled teen? Do you like books that deal with deep issues? 

179 comments:

  1. Lots of information here, Crystal . Yeah, I wonder how some of those people got into those situations.

    Nice to meet Diane. and to have a peek at what you're doing. I think the lie is about riding around with the stolen stuff and congrats to Lee on Double Negative.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi J.L. Did you guess my lie? I take bribes, just so you know.

      Delete
    2. I know! The guy at the playground... I mean, he had to have looked at that thing and thought, "No, there's no way I can fit."

      Delete
  2. Ha! I actually have done the cactus thing. Landed right in them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOVE those pictures!!! Definitely helps!

    Yay for Dianne & Lee - awesome people!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great to be here and sharing this space with so much excitement and Dianne!

      Delete
    2. =) A little pick-me-up is always in order, eh?

      Delete
  4. "When life is unfair, I trap it in a book" - Love that line!

    Those pictures made me LOL.

    Sounds like you're super-busy, but in a good way! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In a good way. I sure could use a vacation though. =)

      Delete
  5. I don't know if those pictures made me feel better about myself, but I did laugh. I guess it did work then.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those pictures cracked me up and made me cringe at the same time. :)

    As for the writing/editing process - I would have to add "eat chocolate" in addition to the cheese. That's how I roll. :)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, I'm super excited I won! And will be looking forward to reading The Bone Treaty... thank you, Crystal!
    I can't say it enough how much I enjoyed reading Moonless. Your reviewer was right... it certainly is original and I've mentioned before, your writing is beautiful. I will be getting reviews up asap. It's been quite a couple of hectic weeks as I am preparing for a vacation in Cozumel and trying to get as much work done before as possible.
    I will be looking forward to Soulless and its release!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congrats on winning! And that vacation sounds perfect.

      Delete
    2. Gina, thank you so much. You are amazing and a half. I hope you have the most amazing time in Cozumel.

      Delete
  8. LOL I'm guessing the couch wouldn't fit through the door?

    I'm guessing Lee doesn't iron her sheets. That's the lie. (If not, I'm going to feel like an even worse housekeeper than I am. :P)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not telling, Melissa. Not yet!

      Delete
    2. Yeah... Sometimes I wish couches could be disassembled and reassembled like legos. I mean, seriously. =)

      Delete
  9. Yikes! I don't think I've ever done anything THAT stupid.

    Yay for Lee! I'll guess #1 is the lie, mostly because I don't even know what that is...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! That's the best reason ever to make that choice.

      Delete
    2. LOL! I love that you can admit it. I totally wouldn't if I didn't know.

      Delete
  10. Yes. I do feel much better about my mistakes.

    I love this --> "When life is unfair, I trap it in a book."

    #1 is the lie.

    Thanks for your comments on touring. That's the kind of stuff I needed to hear from that side of the touring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to help! We should all be sharing our experience and knowledge, eh?

      Delete
  11. OMG, I totally have done that first one!! Well, not ME personally, but I bribed the furniture delivery guys to do it. They couldn't get the couch up the stairs, so they hoisted it over the porch!!! Happily, I only live on the second floor... so it didn't look uite as stupid. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. Sometimes you don't have an option, eh? The second floor is not so bad, but 4 floors up? Yikes. I'm having visions of NYC and cranes here.

      Delete
  12. I loved what you said about trapping what is unfair about life in your books! C. Lee McKenzie's book sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it's amazing that I actually wrote it and got it published. I'm always amazed by that. :-) Thanks, Jenni.

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Jenni. It really is the only way to go.

      Delete
  13. Oh my gosh, those pictures! *cringe* Hilarious though. Especially the first and last one. People make the world go round. Lol!

    C. Lee sounds awesome! ^_^
    So...I don't even know what 3 is. I don't anyone who irons their sheets, so that's probably true. So I'm going with #1 today for the lie. It gives me Batman Begins flashbacks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People definitely do make the world go round. And make me laugh. ;)

      Delete
  14. Yes you have just made my day. As silly as I have been in the past none of these compared to your images

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cool! Thanks for making me feel so "competent." (Compared to THOSE folks, anyway.)

    Holy moley, I HOPE #2 is the lie. When I was younger, I ironed just about everything... including sheets. Not the most enjoyable way to spend time. I'd much rather Lee spent her time writing more books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Point taken. I do any and all ironing in front of a movie after I've wrapped up a day over a hot computer. It's kind of relaxing in a very boring way. :-)

      Delete
    2. Glad to be of service!

      I don't think I could handle the ironing either. Too many littles and wire hazards.

      Delete
  16. Ooo...I hate to say it, but that ladder sofa thing kind of looks familiar (not my idea!). *cringe* Nice review of your book. I bet that put a smile on your face.
    As to Lee's lie...hmmm...I'm going to go for #1. (Although I wouldn't really put it past her.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm grinning. People are beginning to know me out here. That's a bit scary. I'll have to tell the truth all the time. :-)

      Delete
    2. LOL! Well it seems the sofa thing is a common downfall for most. We should petition for lego couches.

      Delete
  17. We don't know who the driver of the car was, but all the others were men :)

    I think the lie is #2.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you get cheese if you're right? I've forgotten what Crystal's prize is.

      Delete
    2. I know! I realized that AFTER I posted. Awesome, right?

      Delete
  18. True...I don't think I've done any of those things (and I've done many no-so-smart things). Cool blrub on C. Lee McKenzie's book too:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mark. I'm on my way over to say hi. Waaaaay behind in my blog visits this week.

      Delete
  19. Yes, I do feel so much better about myself now. LOL!

    Congrats, Gina!!

    I am guessing #1 is the lie. I've heard of spelunking before, but I don't know exactly what it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have a contest about spelunking and see how many people know what it is. Thanks for guessing.

      Delete
    2. It's definitely not a term the general public is acquainted with .

      Delete
  20. Wow, you are filled with news today. I'm thinking Lee doesn't spelunk and the rest is true.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Does this mean I have to turn in my helmet with that super light mounted on the front?

      Delete
    2. I think it might, Lee. Sorry. I'll replace it with cheese if that makes you feel better. =)

      Delete
  21. Hey, I think I got that one right.
    I'm going to say the first one is the lie.
    When life is unfair, she traps it in a book - I like that.
    And that last image is a winner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Loved the images, and they did make me feel less of a klutz.

      Delete
    2. I know, right? The word that keeps coming to mind is "Hernia."

      Delete
  22. Ha! Fun pictures, though I don't see what could possibly go wrong with any of them... :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. My aunt drove away with the hose still in her gas tank once.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I feel like a genius at the moment. lol I'm tired reading your paragraph... I like your line about trapping 'unfair' in a book. Yay for Lee! I'm going to guess #1 is the lie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm. I wonder why you chose #1.

      Delete
    2. Mary, I'm right there with you. Tired. =) Ah, we'll sleep when we're dead, eh?

      Delete
  25. I'm so glad I haven't had any epic fails like the ones in the pictures. I enjoyed your interview, Crystal! Congrats to Lee on her awesome new novel!! (All the choices seem like lies to me! lol)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha. Yeah, I would say the same thing if I didn't know the answer.

      Delete
  26. I love that line about trapping unfairness in a book! As for the pictures ... Did you notice they were all guys? Well, we can't tell who was driving the car, but if we take the other pictures as a kind of pattern ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good observation. Was that intentional, Crystal?

      Delete
    2. I did notice. And no, it wasn't intentional. Hm.

      Delete
  27. The first one--that's how we got a lot of stuff in and out of the place I'm living now (for the next half month), but only on the 2nd floor. The stairwell is very, very narrow.

    The lie...#3.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But I love to travel. Please let me.

      Delete
    2. Someone wasn't thinking when they designed that place, eh?

      Delete
  28. I can't figure the lie out on this one. I was going to pick number 2 but I know someone who irons their sheets and pillow cases, so that's out. lol

    I can never get over those folks who work near water and electrical hazards. I mean, come on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe there's an ironing support group out there.

      Delete
    2. I know! They're in for a shocking realization, eh?

      Delete
  29. Um, in all fairness, I've done a few of those things. though I had more help for the couch and we lowered it with ropes, but I've held burning candles in my legs while fixing my hair.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have some of those house dirtying critters in my realm too!

    I'm going with ironing her sheets as the lie. And if it's not a lie, we need to plan an intervention. Life is too short to iron sheets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do think that support group is a start, Elizabeth. Then the intervention will follow in due course.

      Delete
    2. They're lovely, but keep us on our toes, eh?

      Delete
  31. I think you've got so much going on right now. Hope you don't eat a whole chunk of cheese.

    I'm guessing Lee doesn't iron her sheets.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love Dianne! I was just emailing with her today. My list of epic fails would probably crash Blogger.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Crystal,

    I'm glad you included me in such a fun post!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Congrats to Lee! And thanks for the pictures--I needed a laugh today!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Congratulations to Lee. And to you, as well, for being invited on the blog hop. Meanwhile, like Dianne and Emma, I loved the line, When life is unfair, I trap it in a book." As for which is the truth and which the lies: I seriously don't think Lee would iron her sheets. She looks like she has way more fun in life than that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great that you entered the lie contest. It's a great one to be a part of.

      Delete
    2. LOL. I love that and agree. She probably does have way more fun than that.

      Delete
  36. Wow to all those pics! But that couch one- are you kidding me?! People...*shakes head*

    ReplyDelete
  37. Everyone likes caves (in my reality) and no one likes ironing, so the lie has to be #2 ;)

    And ouch, those pics make me wince... and giggle just a little.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You like caves? I'd never have guess you'd be spelunker, Lynda. Wow! Another surprise.

      Delete
    2. Hahaha. Yes, everyone loves caves. Here's to giggling.

      Delete
  38. Yikes to those pics! Makes me feel better and a little afraid of the people out there!

    As for the lie, hm, #1.

    ReplyDelete
  39. The pictures are a great reminder that thankfully I usually have much better sense than a lot of these people... wow... scary :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Funny, I do feel a little better about myself... and I'm glad the internet as we know it wasn't around when I was a teenager, or the bad writing choices of my youth would be out there on it somewhere. Along with a really embarrassing nickname. O_o

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! It's definitely nice that things worked out the way they did if you ask me.

      Delete
  41. I was backing my car out of my driveway today and I hit the chimney on my house. I'm going to tell Favorite Young Man that I think someone hit my car in a parking lot and I didn't notice till I got home. If I tell him about hitting the house, he'll laugh at me and I'm just not in the mood for that at the moment.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! We all have those moments. Here's to laughing at ourselves, eh?

      Delete
  42. Excellent reminders that there are people lower than me on the food chain. :) Great interview, Crystal! I'm busy this summer with my kiddos too. I hope you're enjoying your time with yours!

    ReplyDelete
  43. thank you Crystal for the inviting to take part in The Not So Accidental Blog Tourist Hop :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I'm not going to admit the stupid things I've done but I think a couple would have made your list.

    I'm going with number two for the lie because I don't think someone who irons their sheets would have time to write. But I'm guessing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome. I think we all need a few of those moments to make us appreciate the brilliant things we do, eh?

      Delete
  45. I think I would just toss the couch out the window instead of trying a ladder. Upper body strength is not my strong suit. I feel a tad bit smarter today.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Snort, those pictures definitely made me smile, and yes, feel better about myself.

    I'm guessing the lie is number two. In reality it's probably not, but I'm hoping it is just to make myself feel better for not always ironing my husbands shirts, let alone the sheets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome. I hate ironing too. I'd love to move to Brazil just so I could afford to hire someone to do the ironing/laundry for me. =)

      Delete
  47. Love those bad choices - makes me feel better about mine! And I think #1 is the lie, but I'm almost always wrong. Ah well.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi Crystal - those choices look 'interesting' and messy! Lots of choices here and I think Lee's book will be so helpful to many .. I think #3 because no-one else has chosen it ... and I didn't look closely enough - is it a sofa .. I thought it was one of those masonry pipes all the stuff gets down to street and truck level, when you're renovating at a high level ..

    Well I'm off now - good luck with that move .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yours is as good a reason as any to choose. I've forgotten which one IS the lie.

      Delete
    2. Thanks a ton, Hilary. Thankfully my moving adventures won't be nearly that traumatic. (The hubby hired movers this time around. Yay for us!)

      Delete
  49. Ha1 Some of those are hilarious. I can't understand how someone can drive off with the pump nozzle still in their car!!! Yes, I definitely feel better.:)


    I think number 1 is the lie..

    ReplyDelete
  50. Why would someone lift heavy weights while standing on an exercise ball? I mean, that is just stupid!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can you just see the emergency room attendant's face? "You did what?!"

      Delete
  51. Thanks for the laughs, Crystal!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Okay so these pictures do make me feel better about some of my stupid choices. Kinda have to feel bad for these people though. Hope they had some cheese to help them recover. :)

    Sounds like you are one busy chick these days. Not that you aren't busy on any given day, but throw in building a house and a book and all of that....well, you deserve lots of extra cheese! We've built a house and I've written a book, but not at the same time, and both are monumental tasks. Not to mention taking care of the kidlets too. I think you are in the running for woman of the year. You've got my vote, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope they had cheese too.

      LOL. You're too sweet, Karen. You might be surprised to learn one of my biggest burdens just disappeared. Life feels easy now compared. Regardless, I think this is what it means to be a woman and we all have our seasons, eh?

      Delete
  53. That first photo really cracked me up.
    Hm, spelunking or ironing of sheets? I don't know what Myanmar is, so I've ruled it out. I'm going with spelunking, #1, because it's a great word.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it a great word, though? I love the sound. I now go around saying it out loud.

      Delete
    2. LOL. Yes, it's a great word, especially when you associate the meaning. Dad was a pro spelunker, and I'm not so bad myself.

      Delete
  54. LOL! I laughed all the way through. THANK YOU for that! I do feel much better considering how miserable I felt walking into the office this morning. :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. I never made any of those bad choices, some are so dumb you don't know if to laugh or cry.

    Thanks for stopping by and giving encouragement. I appreciate it a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I love Diane's solution to solving life's unfairness by trapping it in a book!
    yay for lee! i bet the lie is spelunking... i can picture her ironing sheets (ha haha)
    lots of fun here - and stupidity - but mostly fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somebody has to do it. The maid quit last year. :-)

      Delete
    2. You are pretty awesome at this lie guessing thing.

      Delete
  57. Haha!! I LOVED the pictures...hi-larious!! Thanks for the laugh.

    I will guess the lie is #1 for Lee.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Yes, I definitely feel better about my own klutziness now! There are some true idiots out there.

    ReplyDelete
  59. You're right. I feel so much better! Thanks. ☺

    ReplyDelete
  60. Personal life goal: never end up in one of those memes :) lol! They are funny though. And, I'm guessing #2 is the lie!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Great photos--lots of fun. And wow, so many awesome book launches.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! There's never enough time to read them all, eh?

      Delete
  62. I'll be checking out Timeless. I'm always in awe when an author concocts something original.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I signed up for your blog tour a little while ago (at least, I filled out and sent the form!)

    ReplyDelete
  64. I DO like the sound of the word "spelunking".
    Is that a reason enough for it to be the lie? Yes? No? Maybe not.
    So I say the lie is no.#2
    Those are great photos, Crystal!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Those pictures are hilarious. That exercise ball and barbell--why?

    Congrats to Gina.

    I think #2 is the lie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How could anyone in their right mind iron sheets? But remember, I'm a writer and that could mean I'm not exactly right in my mind.

      Delete
  66. My guess is it's between Myanmar, and ironing sheets. Lee could be researching a story in Myanmar, but I can't picture her spending so much time on ironing. I'm hoping # 2 is the lie. Loved your photos Crystal!

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  67. Wow. I do feel better about myself after seeing those. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  68. Those pictures!! Most of the people in the pics were men/boys. Hmm. :-D I'm going with #2 as the lie. Seriously, who does that???!!! All of the books you mentioned sound awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! Men. No, seriously though, that wasn't intentional. I just picked the funniest ones I found.

      Delete
  69. Gosh, those pictures are scary!

    And all those books you recommend sound good :D

    ReplyDelete
  70. I'm a super genius! The pic with the poor fellow stuck on the playground thingy is pretty hilarious. I see parents goof off all the time, and I can totally see that happening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! That one really got me too. I just had to wonder how he got himself in there to begin with.

      Delete
  71. Ouch for those pictures!

    I'm going to guess #1 is the lie because I really don't know if you could call spelunking a sport. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People actually love spelunking. Amazing, right?

      Delete
    2. I know! They're pretty crazy, huh?

      I totally call spelunking a sport. There's such a geek love about it.

      Delete
  72. Really love that bit about trapping life in a book when it just gets too unfair! ;)

    ReplyDelete

Hit me with your cheese!