The Big Stupid: Making Adult Decisions Like an Adult (and How Not To) IWSG edition

What is your big dream? Something you thought impossible?

Every year I feel my age more and think about things I want to do. The things I have done. The things that are no longer realistic.

My husband is the same way, and this year he decided to do something about it.

So he took back up rollerblading.

At first, he was lucky to keep his balance. I kept my mouth shut...until he came home bruised from a fall.

He bought protective gear.

He watched YouTube videos and learned how to fall, new techniques, then practiced them in our garage. 

Occasionally, he came home with another booboo, but for the most part, he did pretty well -- until he could go out for an hour each day, cruising the neighborhood.

The rest is his story, and you can read it if you'd like: 

Click on me!

It boils down to this: he chased a dream, he achieved the dream, he got confident, he made a bad decision.

And now he's recovering from reconstructive shoulder surgery. For his dominant arm.

Chase your dreams. But stay humble. Listen to that little voice that warns you when you're about to make the big stupid. Hubris goes before the fall.

Our awesome co-hosts for this month are: Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

The question: Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

So, so much! Alas, if wishes were lollipops... (Don't ask me where I'm going with that. LOL!)

I think the biggest problem the industry used to have was a HUGE barrier to entry, and now it's the opposite.

Everyone should have the opportunity to reach for their dreams, but it doesn't seem there's much reaching when it's too easy to obtain. I'm not saying writing a book is easy, and there are many things to learn when it comes to publishing.

I mean that with the ease of publishing, the market has been flooded by scammers, AI agents, etc. who are looking to make a penny. And I can't blame them. Everyone needs to eat. There are even people who sincerely put out their best work...whether it's ready to see the light of day or not. And my heart aches for them -- because this is a brutal world and you learn that through reviews.

The sheer number of books released (good and bad) make for a lot of noise and sometimes a breakdown of trust between readers and the publishing world. Where is our quality control? I guess that's what I'm trying to say--because we've gone from one extreme to the other. There's a perfect middle ground somewhere. I think.

What dream are you holding back on? Have you ever made a big stupid? Broken a bone? What are your feelings on the publishing industry?

8 Questions You Should Ask Before Making Magic & IWSG

Do you ever wish you could snap your fingers and something awesome would happen?

Me too, but that's not how life works. For every action there is a reaction. I think often we just want things to work out, because we wish them to--not because we put in the work necessary to see success. Magic is like that. We want something for nothing.

But there are always consequences--both bad and good, so before you jump into anything, ask these 9, not 8, careful questions:

1. Have I made a good plan of execution? 

(It's best to think around our efforts before jumping in full storm.)

2, Have I examined my surroundings and prepared for...possible disaster?

(You can plan all you like, but no man is an island. Your choices will affect those around you.)

3. Have I asked for outside help/feedback to avoid frustration over stupid/obvious mistakes?

(Nose against the wallpaper syndrome. We all experience it.)

4. Am I prepared to try again if I utterly fail?

(Failure is the best teacher.)

5. Am I ready for the backlash (feedback) that is guaranteed to blow me over (good or bad)?

(No part of life happens in a vacuum. We have to realize that when we make a choice, we make ourselves vulnerable to the response. We can't let that part taint or damage us. It goes with the territory.)

6. Am I prepared to repurpose my efforts if necessary? 

(We may find what we want isn't really what we want, but leads us to something unexpected and wonderful. Or it may just teach us a lesson we needed to learn.)

7. Are there influences outside my power that I've not accounted for?

(Stuff happens. When failure occurs, because it always does on the path to success, don't let it break you.)

8. Am I documenting the steps leading to success?

(If you want to recreate an amazing cake, you keep the recipe. Recording how you come to your successes is often as important as the successes themselves.)

9. Am I willing to abandon ship if it doesn't work out?

(There is a point at which the cost of an adventure is too much--emotionally, physically, financially. Do you have a hard walk-away trigger?)

This has been an answer to the IWSG question for the month: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?

Huge thanks for hosting
Alex Cavanaugh, Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, 
Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery!

Last month Ellen Jacobson shared MURDER AT THE MARINA along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win an eBook.

The game:

1. I once dressed up as Lt. Uhura from Star Trek for a scifi/fantasy convention.
2. I refuse to eat anything that has a wooden stick in the middle, like popsicles.  
3. I'm allergic to tetanus shots and try to avoid stepping on rusty nails at all costs. 

The lie: #1. From Ellen: I've never been to a scifi/fantasy convention. If I had, I don't think I'd look good in one of those short skirts that the women in the original Star Trek series wore, so I probably would have dressed up as a tribble instead. For some reason, the thought of putting a wooden stick in my mouth freaks me out. Bad childhood experience with a tongue depressor, maybe? If I do have a Popsicle, I eat all around the edges and throw the middle part away. I had a bad reaction to a tetanus shot as a child and haven't had one since.

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Cathrina Constantine!

Congrats, Cathrina!

And speaking of magic, how about a magical story? Check it out:

Jasmyn blames herself for her baby sister's death, and she's confident her family blames her too. Instead of returning home, Jasmyn joins her coven to focus on developing her grandmother's magic. Her parents' grief is too much to bear, as is a home without Katarina. 

Logan understands Jasmyn's pain and respects her desire to live apart, but when he finds a way to undo Katarina’s death, he goes in search of his estranged sister. But his mission is interrupted -- an enemy clan of sorcerers claims Logan as one of their own, and a mysterious bond of an ancient brotherhood takes hold of him. 

When an ancient rivalry reawakens between Logan's clan and Jasmyn’s coven, the violence it unearths threatens all they hold dear. And when opposing magical forces pull at the strands holding them together, even the tightest family bonds can break. 

Buy your copy now on Amazon.

Ready to meet the author?

Tanya is a dreamer, writer, intergalactic superhero, and a mother of two little aliens posing as human children. Whenever she's not attending a piano lesson, softball game, soccer match, or jiu-jitsu event, she writes novels and short stories. You might find her running a 5K in the morning, drinking a Java Chip Frap in the middle of the day, or taking long walks in North Bergen in search of freshly baked bread and café con leche. You can find her other work at www.tanyamiranda.com. 

You might run across Tanya anywhere enjoying an excellent Asiago sliced thin with fig spread on a ritz cracker.

Tanya 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 the 2 eBooks of the THE FAMILY RELICS series. (Open internationally.) DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT OR AN EMAIL ON YOUR PROFILE? No problem. EMAIL crystal@crystal-collier.com to enter.

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

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I drink white vinegar straight from the bottle. 
2. I have dozens of analog clocks around my house. 
3. I could never build anything "cool" with LEGOs.

So sleuths, which is the lie? What important lessons have you learned in your journey for success? Have you met Tanya? Do you read paranormal or fantasy?

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?

BIG Mistakes

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and change things?

I'm a vocal performer. Lots of us get stage fright. Some of us have nerves. I learned long ago all you had to do was channel that nervous energy into your performance. So yesterday I stood in front of somewhere between 150 and 200 people on steady legs, ready to do what I've done 1000000000000+ times before.

One minute into the song my mind went completely blank. After the first three seconds of utter shock--when I realized that blank wasn't going to clear--I glanced down at the "safety" sheet music in front of me (the copy I always use just in case). My accompanist trundled on, trusting that as a skilled performer I'd be able to hop right back in.

But I couldn't. My eyes glazed over the music. I couldn't comprehend what I was reading.

Have you read the Michael Vey series? I felt like Taylor Ridley had rebooted my brain. This was truly and honestly the first time I had ever completely lost it in the middle of a performance!

My accompanist looped the measures and came back to where I dropped into a mental abyss, but I still couldn't crunch the words. Finally--miraculously--(someone must have been praying for me) on his third loop my brain reset and the words just came out of my mouth.

After thirty second of bewildered silence.

But what happened next is what really surprised me. I recovered. Blunder over, I hopped back in and finished the number with gusto, drawing tears and heartfelt gratitude from the audience.

As I've thought back over this experience, I decided this was a teaching one. We may make mistakes, but they're not what counts. What really matters is that we press forward and finish with all we've got.

So if I could go back in time, would I change this experience?

No.

But if you could go back in time, where and when would you go? My buddy Pk Hrezo just unveiled the cover of her NA debut novel, and I've been dying to share it.

We are a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. Family-owned and operated, we offer clients one hundred years of time travel experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.

Anxious to attend a special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?

You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply

Conference us directly from our Website. Our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.

We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Buttterman Time Travel, Inc. releases November 12, 2013--one day before MOONLESS.

So ladies and gentlemen, have you made a mistake you wish you could change? If you could go back in time, when and where would you go? 

Learn From Genius

I think true genius is being willing to imagine, experiment, and make mistakes. My oldest thinks Einstein is the ultimate role model--except for how he got lost biking to his own home, or forgot his wife's name on occasion... Well, I guess there's something to be said for balance too.

I especially loved Einstein's last bit there--as an animate believer in the power of imagination. I think envisioning our potential is how we find something worth striving for, and the fight is what makes life worth living.

Which is your favorite piece of advice and why? Do you have any heroes you think are pure geniuses? Have you ever imagined something up and then made reality?

And finally, enter an editing giveaway and sign up for my cover reveal/book release here! *squee* 

Life is like Riding a Bike

This is Random. Yes, Random. He's named after his father's sense of humor...or it's the only name we could agree on...or he's somewhat named after his one-of-a-kind uncle, Randy. Pick whichever story you prefer. Regardless, this kid's a genius. He'll either be a phenomenal architect or an advanced engineer of some kind. He's teaching me new things every day.

So I took him out to ride a bike. First time. After explaining the three necessary functions of successful bike riding (pedaling, steering and balance) he hopped on. Coordination is difficult for a 4 year old. He kept reversing the pedals and bringing us to a dead halt.

Finally I pulled him off the "machine" as he called it
(--sometimes this kids astounds us with his comprehension--), and lifted the tire off the ground so he could see that when we pushed the pedals the bike would work.

Back on the bike he went, but he was too fascinated with the chain to do any pedaling. Again he hopped off. We examined the chain and gears until he was 100% satisfied he knew exactly what made that bike tick. Then after a successful circle of the driveway we retired to our air-conditioned home.

In life we hop on the bike just like Random, trusting the education and authorities we've known. For most things (parenting, writing a book, executing a surgery), no amount of classroom experience can adequately prepare us for what's coming. Life hits hard. We fall down. Occasionally we need to climb off that bike and reevaluate what makes things tick. The problem may be our outlook on life, based on the patterning we've received. (Or understanding how the gears really work.) It may be how we're pedaling. (Or back pedaling.) And sometimes we need help, someone to hold the handlebars while we get the feel.

No matter how discouraging or how many times you have to try again, do it. The process may be painful, but the joy comes in that final ride.