Silencing the Negative Voice: Why You MUST (IWSG)

How often do you hear that inner voice telling you you're not good enough, not smart enough, not talented enough, not awesome?

THAT'S BULL.

Source

It's easy to get caught in a mental rut. And yes, picture a rut. The brain is like a series of ruts in the mud that we reinforce by running the same track again and again. It can be difficult initially to get over the ridge of those ruts to brave new paths, especially if we've been on them a long time, but YOU MUST.

So how do you go about doing that?

Start each day with a stern talking to--no I'm serious. Stand in front of the mirror and recite:

I am beautiful/strong/powerful.

I will succeed today.

I am awesome.

Success starts with believing in yourself. Greater physical health results from a positive mental dialog, and who doesn't need some of that?

Source

When negative thoughts begin to intrude, KICK THEM OUT. That's right. Don't carry that kind of weight with you. Replace those messages by counting your successes.

Along that vein, the IWSG group proposed a question today:

What is the best thing someone has said about your writing?

I have a hard time believing the words of praise I hear. I keep listening to the inner dialog with excuses like, "They only said that because they know you." "They didn't really like it, but saying otherwise would be rude, so..." BUT, I'm listening to my own advice today and focusing on the positive.

I've heard so many wonderful things throughout the years, so I'll pull up just a couple short snatches:

"Enthralling."

"The most entrancing thing I've ever read." 

"I fell head over heels for the characters."

"I fell off my chair with jealousy over your writing."

"Crystal Collier is a genius of a wordsmith."

Huge thanks to all the amazing people who have built me up, and more importantly, supported my writing through beta reading, reviews, book purchases, and word of mouth. You are amazing. You've made my career. I LOVE YOU TO CHEESE AND BACK!

Are you stuck in the mud? What mental rut are you working to overcome?

And speaking of great writing, time to give some away, eh?

Last week Melanie Schultz shared two truths and one lie. The winners were entered to win their choice of eBook: THE NEWSTEAD PROJECT, ERRON, 2084, or BLACKBIRD.

The game:

1. I am a concert pianist.

2. My husband used to drive a race car.


3. I have three dairy sheep: Daisy-May, Lucy-Lu, and Sunshine that I plan to milk and make homemade cheese with.

The lie: #1. Melanie says she has musical talent whatsoever. So yes, she really does make cheese from 3 dairy sheep! Is she awesome or what?

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Nicola!

Congrats, woman!

And now for today's giveaway: 

“First, do no harm.” Blake Ryan swore that oath to become a doctor. Ironic, given that he spent most of his thousand year life sucking souls out of other immortals. 

Things are different now. Using regular shots of morphine to keep his inner monster at bay, Ryan has led a quiet life since the Second World War. His thrills now come from saving lives, not taking them. 

Until a plane crash brings Aleria into his hospital. Her life is vibrant. Crack to predators like him. She’s the exact sort of person they would hunt, and thanks to a severe case of amnesia, she’s all but defenseless. 

Leaving Aleria vulnerable isn’t an option, but protecting her means unleashing his own inner monster. Which is a problem, because his inner monster wants her dead most of all.

Get Your Copy HERE.

Today I'm giving back a little of that writerly love I've received. I had the opportunity to review Misha's book, and this is what I had to say:

Secret societies. Battles and alliances. Unique powers and humanity’s survival in the balance… This story has it all. Follow three characters whose immortal histories are intertwined and will only become more so.

Read the full review HERE:

Ready to meet the author?

Misha Gerrick lives near Cape Town, South Africa, and can usually be found staring at her surroundings while figuring out her next book. Her favorite cheese is haloumi.

If you’d like to see what Misha’s up to at the moment, you can find her on these social networks:

Tumblr | Twitter | Google Plus | Writing Blog

Misha 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 an eBook of ENDLESS. (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, July 19 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on July 20, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I'm currently wearing my hair the shortest I've ever worn it. 
2. Mashed potatoes is my ultimate comfort food.
3. I've recently resumed my classical vocal lessons.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Are you stuck in the mud? What mental message are you going to overcome?

The 4 Commandments of Celebrating

What are you celebrating this week? 

Come swim along for the Four Commandments of Celebrating, but first, I've got two celebrations.

First, Beverly Stowe McClure totally made my day. That's right, she reviewed MOONLESS. Want to make an author's day? It's just that simple. SEE WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. 

Second, Monday is the 4th of July! (Independence Day) So if you're outside of America, that holds less meaning, but think of it this way: The nation that is a world super power and supports the majority of the world's economy came into existence the day it declared independence. Now that's pretty monumental in my book. And although my country has had its ups and downs, I still love it--land of the free (ish) and home of the brave. So I'll be out celebrating on Monday.

BUT how to do it right?

I give you, THE FOUR COMMANDMENTS OF CELEBRATING:

1. Reflect: What is it about any event, day, or circumstance that makes it worth celebrating? Looking back on life and reviewing the reasons helps us identify their meaning and evaluate their weight.
2. Let Go: Sometimes we just need to let go of the restrains on normal life--and no, I don't mean do anything illegal. I mean, forget the day job, financial stresses, school & home work, etc. Free your mind to enjoy the moment.
3. Make noise! I'm not kidding. Yelling and screaming releases pent up energy and emotions. Singing, likewise. Laughing has all kinds of benefits. Freeing the mind enough to let loose a "whoop" of joy can be difficult sometimes, but it's healthy and NECESSARY.
4. EAT CHEESE: You knew that was coming. But seriously, no celebration is complete without a little splurging--be it food, money, or time.

So what are you going to celebrate this week?

And speaking of celebrating, time for some giveaway love, eh?

This month I'm highlighting fellow authors from:

BUY NOW 

(And if you already have, go buy another and gift it to someone!)

Last week Yolanda Renee ( author of EVER-TON) shared MURDER & OBSESSION, along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie was entered to win a SIGNED copy of either MURDER & OBSESSION or the PARALLELS anthology.

The game:

1. My Sunday school teacher was dismissed for taking our class to see the movie the Bible.

2. One of my favorite past times was drag racing. On the way to work one morning I raced a fellow driver on the highway. He asked me out and we are now married.

3. I've been married three times.

The lie: #2. While Yolanda didn't marry the man she was drag racing, but he did ask her out.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

L. Diane Wolfe!

Congrats, Diane!

And now meet a story from the author of HAUNTED in the Parallels anthology: 

Alphabet Soup is a collection of flash fiction from the darker side—all done Ubook style. What’s a Ubook, you might ask? It’s a brand-new, patent-pending book format that combines the story with music. And the best thing? It’s completely free.

Experience it HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Melanie Schulz is planted in upstate New York with her husband and three kids on a smallish plot of land she likes to believe is a farm. She plays at being a writer, same as she plays at being a farmer, and nurse, and overall enjoyer of this thing called life. One of the things she enjoys most are people who delight in discussing all things listed above.

Join in the conversation at:

Website
Blog
Facebook

You might run across Melanie at her computer with a glass of wine munching on room-temperature camambert topped with an ooey,  gooey carmel/dried apple/peacan mixture.

Melanie 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 their choice of eBook THE NEWSTEAD PROJECT, ERRON, 2084, or BLACKBIRD. (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, July 5 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on July 6, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I am a concert pianist.

2. My husband used to drive a race car.

3. I have three dairy sheep: Daisy-May, Lucy-Lu, and Sunshine that I plan to milk and make homemade cheese with.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Melanie? What are you celebrating now/shortly?

The Moonless Book Tour is HERE!!!

Yeah, it's like that.

Or at least, it is for me. I've had such an outpouring of help and love from my amazing blogging community that I'm seriously shedding tears of joy. You bloggies ROCK!!! 

So here's the deal. This tour is EPIC. And I mean E-P-I-C. We're talking 60 stops in 18 days, massive giveaway throughout, and gross amounts of cheese. 

Let's party, eh? 

Special Event: 

Mystery Sentence Game: Unravel the mystery of the Moonless night! Hidden in each of the 8 blog tour excerpts is a single word. Gather all 8 and figure out the sentence to win a free copy of Moonless. Send your mystery sentence to crystal (AT) crystal-collier.com with the subject MYSTERY SENTENCE before December 10, 2013, and you will be entered to win one of 10 copies of MOONLESS—just in time for Christmas. Happy hunting!

Truth or Lie Game: It's Writerly Wednesday on STERIODS! (Minus the Wednesdays...and the steroids.) You'll have 6 chances to guess the lie and win a copy of MOONLESS. Each post has different truths and lies, so here's a chance to really test your human lie detector skills. Winners will be announced here December 11th. Are you a human lie detector?

On to the main Event!!!

Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless. 

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

"MOONLESS is powerful, compelling, and packed with soul." --Bethany Kaczmarek, editor at A Little Red, Inc. 

"I fell head over heels for the characters." --TC Mckee, BookFish Books 

"Power-packed action, heart stopping mystery, unpredictable twists and turns..." --I Am a Reader Not a Writer

Buy MOONLESS HERE or add it on Goodreads.

TODAY

Just in time for dinner, join Lynda R. Young to learn about the powers of procrastination with The Top Ten Ways NOT to Make Dinner.

Join Jennifer Bielman for Excerpt #1 in the Mystery Sentence Game, and our first giveaway. That's right. One lucky winner will take home a book FROM THIS BLOG. 

Read a review of Moonless by the fabulous poet, Fida Islaih.

THE BLOG RING OF POWER with Sandra Ulbrich Almazan. What do Elephants, kittens and bunnies have to do with a writing career?

Melanie Schulz, author of the Newstead Project shares her feelings (ahem, review) about Moonless.

Learn where my title came from and other cool tidbits with Connie Keller.

What are the top ten reasons you'd like to be a millionaire? Come read mine and share yours on Angela Brown's blog.

Now tell me, is that not some intense awesomeness? 

(And there will be second servings tomorrow!) 

What are you still doing here? Go. Go! GIT!

A quick SHOUT for my buddy Jessica Bell. Her wonderful book, Bitter Like Orange Peel is also on tour today. (Warning, this book deals with adult content and the cover may not be appropriate for all audiences.) 

Oh, and enter for a chance to win, eh?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My First IWSG and a Writerly Wednesday

Are you ready to win a book? It's time for Writerly Wednesday!

A quick thank you... I got BLITZED yesterday, and I'm left feeling oh so loved. Thank you everyone. Don't know what the Blitz is? DL Hammons explains it HERE. 

AND my first Insecure Writers Support Group post. I've been hanging out with the IWSGers since the conception of the group, but haven't jumped in because of what we'll call an insecurity. Since living in NYC (where you fight uphill to accomplish even the simplest tasks) I never take on a project unless I'm 100% certain I can complete it. It's the same reason I've never hosted a bloghop, or why I've had a couple completed books sitting in my digital storehouse for over ten years.  

BUT, with the publication of MOONLESS next week, it's time to take the proverbial plunge. All of them. So IWSGers, here I am! Here's hoping I don't fall off the map, but if I do, I know you've got my back, just as I've got yours. 

Okay, who's ready for the winner of last week's game? Sherry Auger shared two truths and one lie about herself and those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for 7 chances to win, one paper signed copy, one eBook, and 5 books marks of her amazing new release, Willow Brook. 

The options were:

1. Every book Sherry reads, she reads on her kindle.
2. She wrote Willow Brook in 30 days and took 3 years to edit it.
3. She researched a topic for a year before starting her WIP adult novel. 

And the lie is: 

#1. Most of you nailed it! Sherry still likes the feel of paper.

Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winners are: 

...DRUM ROLL...

Paper Copy: Kelly Steel
eBook: Sherry Ellis
Book Marks: 
Christine Rains
Aldrea Alien
Dana
Keith (also known as Optimistic Existentialist)
Suzanne Furness

Congrats, winners!

And now for this week's special feature in three power packed sentences...

Joel is searching for Rachel.


Newstead is searching for Joel.


Bashan wants them both.

The Bashan Agenda is book two in the series and was released November 1st. You can pick up both books HERE.

Shall we meet the author?

Melanie says: I'm not really a writer, storyteller maybe, but not a writer. I'm a wife, a mom, a psychiatric nurse. So then why did I write this trilogy? I don't know. Some stories, like this one, just write themselves. 

You can find her pretty much anywhere eating a nice ripe Camembert with warm caramel and pecans on top--along with a glass of ice wine.

Connect with Melanie on her website or blog.

She gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win one eBook of The Bashan Agenda. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, November 12th at 1 p.m. to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on November 13th.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Today is Melanie's birthday.
2. She's developed a field training game people can play to live out her books.
3. She is a vegetarian.

Okay human lie detectors, which is the lie?