5 Life Lessons a Baby Can Teach You

Do you love babies?

My dad was a doctor and delivered so many of them. He loved babies so much, he ended up having 8 of his own. Which sounds insane. Because it was. But it was also wonderful. So many people to love, and such a strong support system of family.

In honor of that, today's funnies are brought to you by life lessons babies can teach us all:

5. Don't be jealous/envious. Share.

4. Show appropriate affection.

(Beware smooches.)

3. Look before you leap.

2. Know the difference between reality and imagination:

1. We're always working on control--refining a little at a time. No one is perfect,

and no one looks graceful all the time, even if they are ADORABLE.

And now, as promised... 

I dropped off the planet last month. Perhaps I'm a little more like my dad than I thought because...

We're looking forward to welcoming baby #5, and because my health has been a little tenuous (thank you morning--I mean--all day sickness), I've been taking everything slow. Even reading. *gasp* Every addition to our family has made it sweeter, a little more chaotic, and so much more fulfilling. I'm excited to hold this new one in my arms...in 6 months.

Do you have any awesome news? Anything you're very much looking forward to?

Two weeks ago, Katherine Bogle shared HAVEN along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win an eBook. If that person also guessed the lie correctly, they would receive FYRE (a collection of short stories) as well.

The game:

1. The second time I ever voted, I was nearly killed on the way to the polls.
2. To tell my first ever crush that I liked him, I chased him around the school yard until I kissed him. He was an a**hole to me in high school. Well deserved? Maybe.
3. I once had 8 cats (seriously, all at the same time).

The lie: #1.  

From Katherine: The first time I ever went to vote, I was driving with my best friend. We reached an intersection where we had the right of way (two stop signs on the other sides). As we were going through the intersection, a huge truck flew in front of us. My friend hit the brake mere inches from the truck. We were in a tiny little Chevy at the time, and may have died if the truck struck the side of the vehicle. Thank God for my friend's awesome reflexes! 

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Lynda R. Young!

Congrats, Lynda!

And now for a YA urban fantasy you don't want to miss:

Blinded in an accident, only she can see the truth.

Losing her parents and her sight changes everything for Sibyl Forsyth. Terrified and refusing to accept the gift that she can now "see" into the supernatural realm, Sibyl stays at home, closed off from the outside world.

When she's plagued with a vision of a catastrophic event, Sibyl knows she can't possibly sit back and watch her California coastal town's ultimate demise. Reluctantly, Sibyl sets out to stop her premonition from coming true. With the help of her shifter guide dog, Vago, the two join forces to save the day as they encounter intensely evil spirits with a vicious vendetta.  In a race against time, Sibyl and Vago battle their own demons while trying to save the town from an explosive ending that nobody else sees coming. 

If you enjoy stories with supernatural visions, suspense, budding romances, and a heroine who has a lot of heart -- then you’ll love Pond's latest urban fantasy series!  

Check out Hidden Sight and "see" what's in store for you!

Buy your copy on Amazon.

Ready to meet the author?

Simone Pond writes sci-fi novels for young and new adults. She's also obsessed with Boston Terriers, Victorian dresses, and the end of the world. She's a warrior of light. 

She grew up in Kensington, Maryland––a small town just outside Washington D.C.––and spent most of her time filling up journals. In 2013, she published her first fiction novel, The City Center, which won a gold medal in dystopian fiction. She publishes a book every couple months, so be sure to sign up for her mailing list for updates on new releases.

You might find Simone sitting in her living room with a good French baguette and chevre (cheese). She loves cheese so much, it finds its way into her stories: There's a scene in Beyond Sight (the second book in the Coastview Prophecies) where the main character, Sibyl, and her boyfriend, Eli, are eating goat cheese. Simone was a strict vegan for about five years and didn't have any cheese -- at all. She was pretty miserable those five years.

(And understandably! Yikes!)

Simone gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. If you guess the lie, right or wrong, you will be entered to win a PRINT BOOK of HIDDEN SIGHT. (Open internationally.) IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL ON YOUR PROFILE, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS.

You have until Tuesday, April 4 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on April 5, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I saved someone's life giving them the Heimlich maneuver.
2. I was baptized in the Pacific Ocean.
3. I'm a hoarder.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Simone? Do you like urban fantasy? Do you have any awesome news? Anything you're very much looking forward to?

A Funeral, A Wedding, and A Baby Blessing: IWSG Edition

It sounds like the title of a book or movie, right? 

Have you ever had a season where EVERYTHING hit at once? When you've had a long stretch of calm, beware of earthquakes.

My baby was a week shy of 2 months old when we received word that my grandmother passed away. Now this wasn't a sad thing. She was 94 and bed-ridden for over a decade. We knew it was coming. Regardless, I needed to be there for the funeral...even if it was beyond crazy to fly across country with a baby. My sister-in-law was getting married 1.5 weeks later and we already had plane tickets, so we changed my flight, along with my daughter's--so she could be a second mommy. 

Ouch to the pocketbook.

The funeral happened. It was sweet. Being with so many wonderful family members--people I haven't seen in about 10 years--was awesome. Saying goodbye to Grandma, that was bitter-sweet. Singing with my sisters and cousins to honor the woman, such a great experience.

The next week was a whirlwind of family visits, clingy baby, and bouncing between "hotels" (AKA, houses)--until the wedding. With all of the family close, we blessed our baby. (60 people + a special dinner afterwards.) 

Needless to say, the last two weeks have been insanity--but a good kind of insanity. Every life experience improves our grasp of the world and teaches us how to share the human experience through our writing. The key is knowing when to pause on writing in order to live.

How was your May?

Now that we're caught up, how about the chance to win a book?

For this week's game...

Rowena thinks the Grimm’s infamous podcasts are simply another teen fad until she finds herself trapped in a land of nightmarish storybook characters. She tries desperately to flee Mezzanine and return home, but Dresdem, Mezzanine’s wicked monarch, plans to use Rowena’s access to her world to bring dark magic and absolute rule into Georgia and beyond.

But when Rowena’s dear friend Madeline falls into Dresdem’s grasp, her battle with him becomes war, and all hopes of home are temporarily thwarted. With the help of an invisible hero, a beast, and an owl, she sets out to free Madeline from a deadening sleep. But Rowena must become her own hero when she finds herself bound by the kingdom’s darkest family. She must make the ultimate choice – align herself with her enemies or live on the run forever.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author? 

Vanessa K. Eccles graduated Troy University with a degree in English. She currently serves as executive editor of Belle Rêve Literary Journal and is founder of the book blog YA-NASisterhood. When she’s not writing or devouring books, she enjoys the lake life with her Prince Charming and their four dogs.

You might find her eating pepper jack (or any spicy variety of cheese) while sitting on her couch watching one of her many favorite TV shows.

Visit her online HERE.

Vanessa 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 FABLED.

You have until Tuesday, June 16 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on June 17.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. As a child, the Grimm fairy tales where Vanessa's favorite bedtime reads.
2. When she was seven, she played a magician's assistant for her best friend's brother. When he couldn't remember how to get the handcuffs off, she pulled her arms over her head. It was the first time she realized she could dislocate her shoulders on command. Still can, in fact. 
3.) She was an avid X-Files fan as a kid, which resulted in an immense terror of being abducted by aliens.

So which is the lie? What have you been doing with May? (What has May been doing with you?) Do you love Grimm's fairy tales? Which is your favorite?

Oh, and a quick shout: The True Diary of Melanie Jane, AKA Runaway Jane
(My most recent FREE read on Lightning Quick Reads. Leave me your thoughts, eh?)