Do You Love Your Mother? & IWSG

You have a mom. I have a mom. Everyone has a mom.

Not all mothers are created equal, but generally speaking, no matter who she is, she wants what's best for you. Before I was a mom, I was a driven, multi-talented individual who was going to take the world by storm. For 10 years after I became a mother, I clung to those aspirations.

Hollow aspirations?

But things happen--moving to NYC and having no option but to home school (I was NEVER going to home school), chronic sicknesses (being down and out for 3+ years really takes a toll), being far from extended family and forced to rely on my individual family alone...

I found the joy in nurturing and raising children. I was pouring all my creativity into home schooling and mothering.

My books were part of my young girls aspirations, and finally getting a few of them out there felt amazing...for a moment. Being published blew my mind. Literally. It contributed to the stress that kept me down during my chronic illness. I was already juggling so much to keep a household and 3 separate grade curriculums going, and to those who haven't experienced it, publication has the potential to take over your entire life. Forever. Because it never ends.

Ah, the lessons we can't learn except in doing...

For the time being, I'm on a publishing hiatus. I admit, occasionally there is a twinge of jealousy when I read about other people's successes, but these are the best years of my life, and I plan to enjoy them to the fullest.

After all, when I get to the end of this life, my greatest successes won't be my abundance of novels. It will be my children.

Even the bad moments.

This mother's day, be sure to say thank you to your mother. You never know what she gave up on your behalf. If she's not around, pass on stories of her goodness to the next generation. And if you're like me, stuck in the middle,

Keep at it.

On a related note, how about the IWSG question for the month:  It’s spring! Does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?

So when you have wicked allergies, spring is not the most productive season. (But it's awesome for sinus infections.) =P

Huge thanks for hosting
Alex Cavanaugh, E.M.A. Timar, J. Q. Rose,
C.Lee McKenzie, and Raimey Gallant!

Last month, Michelle R. Reid shared ALICE GAMES along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win a print copy or eBook.

The game:

1. I'm a certified falconer.
2. I was seriously studying to be a Manga artist when I was 18 years old.
3. The first time I saw Jurassic Park, I was eight, in a dark basement, alone, at Crystal's house! 

The lie: #1. She specialized in raptures in zoology for a time while at college, but never did actually become a falcon pro.

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Tyrean Martinson!

Congrats, Tyrean!

Moms, and all of you who read YA, I've discovered a fabulous author whose works are mom approved (aka clean), and fun to boot. Check it out:

A dark Chemistry lab. A fake British accent. It's all fun and games until somebody falls in love.

When sixteen-year-old, Ashlyn Brooks, runs into a sweet British guy in the dark Chemistry lab, she has no idea she's actually sitting in the pitch black room with her longtime rival, Luke Davenport. She also doesn't know that she's stepped into another one of the football captain's pranks. It isn't long before she's sharing things she's never told anyone, and starting to fall for the mysterious guy with a sexy accent who seems to understand her in a way no one ever has before.

When Luke's mom dies the summer before his senior year, he turns to pranking Ashlyn to keep his mind off his loss. But the more he gets to know her, the more he regrets using his fake British accent in the first place. Soon Luke is walking the thin line of keeping his lies a secret and wishing he could tell her that the boy she's falling for is really him.

Meet Me There is a standalone novel in The Ridgewater High series, a collection of simmering YA contemporary romances. If you like sweet romance with ballad-worthy chemistry, swoony kisses and endearing characters then you'll love Judy Corry's latest book.

Buy your copy on Amazon.

Ready to meet the author?

Judy Corry has been addicted to love stories for as long as she can remember. She reads and writes YA & Clean Contemporary Romance because she can't get enough of the feeling of falling in love. She graduated from Southern Utah University in an area that has nothing to do with writing. Some of her favorite things are chick flicks, singing, and playing the piano. She believes in swoon-worthy kisses and happily ever afters.

Judy met her soul mate while in high school, and married him a few years later. She and her husband are raising four beautiful and crazy children in Southern Utah.

You might run across her snacking on cream cheese and Triscuits, or laughing cow swiss cheeses--especially while she's writing! 

Judy 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 signed PRINT copy of MEET ME THERE. (US only.) DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL ON THE PROFILE? No problem. LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS OR EMAIL crystal@crystal-collier.com to enter.

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

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I broke my toe doing a cartwheel into my friend's back.
2. I lived in 4 different houses on the same street.
3. I speak fluent Italian.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you thanked your mother recently? What's one life dream you've given up for a different one? Do you like contemporary stories?

Why You Will Always Fail, Always

Do you ever feel like a complete failure? (*points to self* On a daily basis.)

Q: What is it that makes you feel like a failure? (Barring clinical conditions.)

A: An expectation that you have not yet or are unable to meet. Does that expectation come from you, from society, from a friend or spouse?

As a mom to 4.5 (see my last post if you missed the announcement), it's easy to fall into this trap. There's a house to keep clean, clothes to mend, schedules to keep, school lessons to plan and execute, food to make... But here's one quick life hack I've learned:

Simplify.

Hate cleaning that self-stirring pitcher? Toss it. (True story. Hubby saved me AGES of sanity.) Can't make it to sewing up the holes in pants? Up the clothes budget and shop at less expensive stores. Struggling to keep up with fifteen schedules in the same house hold? Set limits. (One extracurricular per person, or less.)

And more than that. Cut the guilt. So what if your neighbor's family is always wearing the newest fashions, attends really awesome concerts & shows, goes on AMAZING vacations, has the star kid on the community baseball team AND a future concert pianist AND are 3rd degree black belts AND delivers homemade cookies at Christmas to everyone, and and and...

You are you. You're different than anyone else--in your capabilities, your sanity level, your strengths, etc, and the sooner you recognize that, the better.

So cut back on the commitments and stop trying to be everyone's perfect vision of success. Do what keeps you sane. More importantly, celebrate the fact you are a success.

Otherwise you are doomed to always fail. Always.

This has been an IWGS group post. The question for this month:

Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

Yes to all three. The results were awesome, but I wanted to sleep for a year afterwards.

THANK YOU, CO-HOSTS! Chris @ Madness of a Modern Writer, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Fundy Blue, and Chrys Fey!

Led by Ninja King, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

And now for the FREEBIE of the week...

Two weeks ago, Simone Pond shared HIDDEN SIGHT along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win a PRINT book.

The game:

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

The lie: #3.  

From Simone: Huge lie. I actually have OCD and I'm a neat freak! I can't stand any extra clutter or things out of place. I like my house to look like a museum. Sometimes I drive my husband a little nuts with all of my organizing and getting rid of things we don't need, but our home is very peaceful. 

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Jess!

Congrats, Jess!

And now for an AWESOME epic fantasy:

Once Alaric was a Keeper. He protected the land with his knowledge and his magic. He advised the queen.

Once he was a good man.

Until, in a futile attempt to save his dying wife, he delved deep into dark magic, betraying everything he believed in. But now there is one last chance to save his wife, buried in an ancient Wellstone. With a map from a disgruntled dwarf, and the help of an inscrutable elf and an inept wizard, Alaric just might find it.

Except there are other, darker forces searching for the Wellstone. And if they find it first, they’ll use it to awaken a terrible evil. 

To face this growing threat—and have any chance at saving his wife—Alaric needs the strength and power of a Keeper, not the brokenness of the man he has become.

Can he overcome the darkness in his past? Or will it be the shadows within himself that destroy everything?

Buy your copy on Amazon.

Ready to meet the author?

JA Andrews is a writer, wife, mother, and unemployed rocket scientist. She doesn't regret the rocket science degree, but finds it generally inapplicable in daily life. Except for the rare occurrence of her being able to definitively state, "That's not rocket science." She does, however, love the stars.  

She began writing stories and creating coloring books because these sorts of things need an outlet. And now good markers are a deductible business expense.  

She spends an inordinate amount of time at home, with her family, who she adores, and lives deep in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, where she can see more stars than she ever imagined.

You might stumble across her at The Melting Pot downing their huge fondue pot of cheese on her anniversary. It’s happiness melted into a pot. 

Yup. I totally agree. =)

JA Andrews 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 an eBook of A THREAT OF SHADOWS. (Open internationally.) And if you are the selected winner AND guessed correctly, you will receive as a bonus, A Keeper's Tale. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL ON THE PROFILE, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS OR EMAIL IT TO crystal@crystal-collier.com WITH YOUR SCREEN ALIAS.

You have until Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on April 19, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I have aphantasia, which is the inability to make pictures in my own head.
2. I hate aluminum foil so much that I refuse to touch it. Or anything it’s wrapped in. 
3. I have a degree in rocket science.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met JA Andrews? Do you like epic fantasy? Do you feel like a failure? What is your greatest success or most unique talent?

The Secret to Success (IWSG edition)

Priorities. How do you make sure you get the most important things done in a day?

The IWSG question this month got me thinking--and not just about writing. The question is:

How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

I read this excellent article that wasn't even about the same subject. The primary idea behind the article was how we become products of our environment. The way it struck me, I started thinking about my surroundings. What things am I exposed to just because they're happening, and which elements do I try to control? Am I giving things passive permission to my brain--like a TV show, a radio song, or a debate because someone else is engaging in them around me? (Or because I didn't bother to silence those distractions?)

We all take the path of least resistance, but that doesn't mean we have to take whatever is put in front of us. We can create our own "path of least resistance" to our ultimate goals. It will take some work to shape the path, but once it's there, it's there.

So for me, writing in the day isn't a question of FINDING TIME, it's a question of MAKING TIME. And with 4 kids (1 a toddler and two full time home schooling students), I MAKE TIME. (Is it any wonder I write about time manipulation? LOL.)

What is hindering your productive time?

BTW, next week is my COVER REVEAL for TIMELESS (3rd book in my Maiden of Time series). Are you as excited as I am? (You know it's going to be epic.)

Two weeks ago, Mark Noce shared two truths and one lie with us. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to win a PRINT copy of BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

The game:

1. I once ate a package of plastic C4, thinking it was chocolate (it was nighttime people).
2. I take a car, two trains, and walk a mile-and-a-half in order to get to work each day.
3. I may actually be related to the second-most-prolific man in history (King Niall of Ireland).

The lie: #1. As fun a story as that would be, it's a total fib.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Quanie Miller!

Congrats, Quanie!

And now, how about ANOTHER truly great book up for grabs? (And yes, I read and reviewed this one. It is excellent.)

He came looking for a ghost. Instead, he found a girl. 

Tucker Boone is a war-hardened Marine on a ghost hunt. Fresh out of the corps, Tucker learns he has a missing half-sister, Maddy. The only clue to her whereabouts is a cryptic note…I’ve gone Mad, Mags. Tucker agrees to search for her and heads to Ocracoke, North Carolina where a ghost named Mad Mags is said to haunt the ancient graveyards dotting the island.

The note doesn’t bring him any closer to finding Maddy, but it does offer him a diversion to the doldrums of civilian life—his new island neighbor, Josie McCoy. Tucker is drawn to her quiet spirit. There’s something special about Josie…a connection he can’t quite explain.

By summer’s end, he’s mixed up in deception, murder, and the love of a lifetime. Logic tells him to head home and forget the truths he found on the island. But can he walk away? Josie offers him more than love; she offers him hope. When the clues pile up and it looks like she can never be the girl for him, he has to make a choice—play it safe and break her heart, or risk everything for a chance at being swept away.

Get Your Copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Elizabeth Seckman is a wife, a football mom, and a believer in dreams. She is a multi-published author and the best-seller on her street. There may not be any other writers on her street, but that doesn’t matter. She still outsells them all. 

She doesn't have a favorite cheese, but loves them all equally, even with jam. And she would eat cheese anywhere, be it land, sea, or cheesy air. Hold the questions, but never the cheese. That you pile on as high as you please!

Elizabeth gave me two lies and one truth to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out either lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of SWEPT AWAY. (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, September 13 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on September 14, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. My first week of college, I got the flu and threw up in the elevator. Fortunately, everyone on the elevator just thought I'd been drinking and didn't make a big deal of it.
2. When I was a little girl, my sisters tried to turn me into a beauty pageant queen, but I'd never walk on a stage.
3. The first time I took my driver's test, I backed into a police officer (barely bumped her...no harm done!) and failed the test.

Oh, and it's not too late to sign up for the cover reveal of TIMELESS. (But almost.)

So sleuths, which is the lie? Do you love romance stories? What is your great distraction?

Books, Boogiemen & IWSG

What is it you fear is hiding under your bed?

And no, I don't mean something like this:

source

I'm talking about your proverbial bed. We all have fears that seem far too large to overcome, the monsters that haunt our souls. Today I'm facing one of those monsters, and it look like this:

If you met me face to face, you might never guess I struggle with social interactions. That's because I'm a FABULOUS actress. It didn't used to be this bad. In high school I worked hard on developing relationships and hanging out, but the truth is, I was more comfortable like this:

source

than this:

I went to a birthday party with my daughter yesterday and after 10 minutes I was like, "GET ME OUT OF HERE." No desire to stick around--even to chat with some awesome neighbors. It's a lack of practice, I know, but after a long season of illness that left me too exhausted to get out, and finally a new baby, I just don't have the willpower or energy to invest. And that's a bad thing. Life is about human interaction. It's about relationships. It's about LIVING.

So how do I reconcile that?

Well, I joined a book club. I'm in social media groups with other people. I'm planning some coops for my home schooling kids.

See, the only thing constant in life is change. We're either expanding outward, exploring and growing, or we're shrinking in on ourselves. I'm pretty tired of shrinking. How about you? What are you doing to expand your horizons?

This month I'm highlighting fellow authors from:

BUY NOW 

(Unless you already have, in which case, you rock!)

Last week we met the very kind Sandra Cox and had an opportunity win her urban fantasy novel, LOVE, LATTES and MUTANTS. Everyone who guessed her Truth or Lie game correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook.

The Game:

1. I was the third generation in my family to be married on Christmas Eve.

2. My husband was born in IL, I was born in KY, my daughter was born in OH and my son in WI.

3. English is my second language.

The lie: #3. English actually is her first language.

Way to guess everyone! That was tough. And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Susan Gourley/Kelley!

Congrats, Susan!

And now for something a little different today. 

I'm excited to be contributing to

(Releasing June 30th!)

I had the privilege of reviewing an Advance Reviewer Copy, and this is what I have to say: 

Anthologies are always such a mixed bag. You may love one story and hate the next. Knowing the number of contributors in this anthology, I anticipated there’d be some back and forth, but I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised. Strong stories, some very unique ideas, and some great reads. I enjoyed the experience...

(Read the rest of the review HERE and add it to you TBR list)

And now the clincher. If you mention the word "CHEESE" in your comment, I'll put you in my magic hat for the chance to win THE THING THAT TURNED ME in eBook. (Awarded on release day.)

You have until Tuesday, June 14 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back to see the winner and for a chance to win another AWESOME book on June 15, 8 a.m EDT.

Are you socially awkward? What monsters are hiding under your proverbial bed? Did you add the anthology to your list?

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life: Deep Thoughts

Life gets so crazy. I find it hard to round up a quiet moment and just sit. When I was a teenager I had a "thinking rock" conveniently located in the back yard. It was large enough to sit on and presented a panoramic view of the rocky mountains, my mountains. I'd go out there when life got too loud, plop down, and wait for the crazy to abate.

It's been years since I've had that opportunity. NYC didn't exactly have any "quiet" places--not even in Central Park. Upstate New York was temperate about one month out of the year, and Florida for the most part has been the same story--but reverse. Too hot to go out. Well, that and I've let myself get busy.

Today I took a moment, a quiet moment while waiting for my son to take a "state" test at the local school. I ran away to a park and sat.

For me, sitting is when inspiration hits. When I'm listening, when I clear the distractions away there are voices. No, I'm not talking the crazy characters in my head. I hear music: choirs, orchestras--incredible melodies, sounds so grand they can't be fully voiced by any mortal experience. They turn my mind to where answers lie.

My husband tells me I'm a bit of an anomaly. I don't believe him. Everyone has access to that channel of inspiration if they can just get still enough to hear it. It may not come through music. Yours might be a path of poetry, or observations, or conversation, but inspiration is out there. It's waiting for all of us in a most personal form. The question is, when will you stop to hear?