Weekend Update: A Slice of Life Post

 

 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you! I’m back today with another Slice of Life Post. I enjoy writing these posts and getting to know some of the other Slice of Lifers, too.

Today, I’m reflecting back on our weekend. Both boys had a friend spend the night Friday night, and it was interesting to see how they occupied themselves. Their most favorite thing they did was make You Tube videos.

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How fun is that? The creator of You Tube has made an amazing product. My boys get creative with their videos, and they’re actually quite funny. You have to remember both of my kids are in elementary school.

It’s great they can get online, share their videos, and talk about it with their friends using Skype. I love this App myself. I’ve used it a number of times. Technology certainly has made communicating with others much easier, but we have to be careful, too.

The Internet can be a dangerous place. Predators hang out there just like they do at bus stops and parks. They’re just looking for that one kid who’s lonely and unattended. The same thing applies to the Internet.

We make it a point to know all of our boys’ friends. So when they’re Skyping, we know who they’re talking to. We’re that involved. Some might call us helicopter parents, but I don’t care. My kids are safe and that’s the most important thing.

Photo courtesy of allthefreestock.com

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We allow our boys to have their friends over quite a bit. It can be a lot of work, but we’re okay with that because we can keep an eye on them. We also get to know their friends, too. We listen to their conversations as they sit around the table and eat. It’s a great group of kids, and I feel blessed that my boys have such good friends.

It reminds me of my friends back in my elementary and junior high days. I had awesome friends, too. I don’t think we ever have friendships as close at any other point in our lives as we did back in those days. I don’t know how anyone else feels, but my friends and I were so tight back then.

We still meet occasionally, but we’re all so busy with our own families and commitments that it’s hard to get everyone together at the same time. It’s interesting to see how far all of us have journeyed on our path.

We didn’t have Skype back then, but we did have the telephone. Remember those old landlines? Wow. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? Thanks for reading my post. How do you feel about your kids using the Internet? Do you feel the Internet has helped or hindered them as they grow into adulthood? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you!

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If you’d like to read other Slice of Life Posts, click the link below.

Slice of Life

 

 

Please Welcome L.R.W. Lee as she shares her New Release with Us!

 

JUST RELEASED!

Vision of the Griffin’s Heart, Andy Smithson, Book 5

Four years ago, Andy Smithson discovered he is the Chosen one to break a 500-yr-old curse plaguing the land of Oomaldee when he unexpectedly and mysteriously found himself there. To do so, he must collect ingredients for a magical potion. Thus far he has gathered the scale of a red dragon, venom from a giant serpent, a unicorn’s horn, and the tail feather of a phoenix. Now he must ask a griffin for one of its talons. There’s just one problem…humans have poached griffin treasure, causing these mythical creatures to attack on sight.

 

Complicating matters, the evil Abaddon, sovereign of Oomaldee’s northern neighbor, is turning more and more citizens into zolt in his ongoing campaign of terror as he sets in motion the final steps of his plan to conquer the land. Things really start to heat up in book five!

 

If you loved Harry Potter, you’ll love the Andy Smithson series chalk full of mythical creatures, newly invented animals like zolt, herewolves, and therewolves, a complex plot with evolving characters, and positive themes including responsibility, diligence, dignity, friendship and more.

 

Purchase Kindle and Paperback

 

 

THE BUZZ

5 Stars! – “A marvelous book in a great series!” – Erik Weibel (Age 14) This Kid Reviews Books Blog

“Readers of this series have come to anticipate a host of challenges, intense battles, and on an epic scale. In Vision of the Griffin’s Heart, you won’t be disappointed. For lovers of fantasy, I consider it a must read.” – Richard Weatherly, Author

“One of the admirable qualities I like about the entire series is seeing Andy’s growth from a self-absorbed kid to a more thoughtful teen as he learns how to deal with the various crises which face him, all the while knowing that the future may hold unpleasant consequences.  The watchword for Vision of the Griffin’s Heart is “courage.” – Wayne Walker, Home School Book Review

 

OTHER BOOKS IN THE ANDY SMITHSON SERIES:

 
 

Blast of the Dragon’s Fury (Andy Smithson, Book One) ebook is FREE. Download a copy at Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Google, B&N.

Listen to the FREE podcast of Book 1 by L. R. W. Lee on Podiobooks.

Book one is also available in paperback.

   

Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning (Andy Smithson, Book Two) is available in Kindle and Paperback.

Download the professionally recorded audiobook at Amazon

It’s only $1.99 if you download the eBook first…Savings of $16!

 

Disgrace of the Unicorn’s Honor (Andy Smithson, Book Three) is available in Kindle and Paperback.
     

Resurrection of the Phoenix’s Grace (Andy Smithson, Book Four) is available in Kindle and Paperback.

 

     

Power of the Heir’s Passion (Andy Smithson, Prequel Novella) ebook is FREE. Pick up a copy at Amazon, Google, B&N, Smashwords. It’s also available in paperback.

Download the professionally recorded audiobook at Amazon

It’s only $1.99 if you download the eBook for $.99 first…Savings of $1!

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

1. R. W. Lee credits her love of fantasy with her introduction to C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. Later on, she enjoyed the complex world of Middle Earth brought to life by J. R. R. Tolkien in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The multiple dimensions of the worlds mixed with a layer of meaning, captivated her and made her desire to invent Young Adult Fantasy and Epic Fantasy worlds others could get lost in, but also take meaning away from. More recently, L. R. W. Lee has found inspiration from J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series as well as Brandon Mull and his best selling Fablehaven, Beyonders and Five Kingdoms series.
2. R. W. Lee writes to teach her readers principles that can transform their lives – overcoming frustration, impatience, fear and more. She also shows why responsibility, diligence and dignity are the keys to true success in life. She lives in scenic Austin, TX with her husband. Their daughter is a Computer Engineer for Microsoft and their son serves in the Air Force.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Email

 

 

 

L.R.W. LEE INTERVIEW

1. How did you come up with your main character, Andy Smithson? Did he just pop into your imagination or did you specifically develop him?

Andy is patterned after my son. After our first child who was what I would call compliant and seemed to need little to no correction, our son arrived on the scene. As with most 2^nd children, he was polar opposite and provided much fodder for an engaging main character.

2. How did your experience with building a business help with your writing?

It has been invaluable for I understand that writing is only 50% of the writer’s success equation. Unlike Field of Dreams, with so many good books available today, just launching it, even on a well trafficked platform like Amazon, does not get recognition. Because of my corporate background, from day one I began working to build a platform – Twitter and Facebook primarily and now also Book Nerd Paradise. As well, I understand the importance of the author community, for no author can succeed these days without the support of fellow authors. My background has also helped in understanding the need to optimize my books to rank well on the variety of sites they are listed on. There’s much more, but those are the biggest helps I would say.

3. Was there any particular book or author whom you feel had the most influence on your work?

I have to say JK Rowling. The imagination she revealed, the strength of her characters, the world building, the depth of plot over multiple books…she definitely shaped how I think about writing.

4. What do you love the most about writing for young people?

Young people are moldable. My passion for writing is to share with readers principles that from my experience can help them live more peaceful lives. A few of these principles include overcoming fear, frustration and impatience as well as understanding that true success in life is not from riches, fame or power, but rather responsibility, diligence and dignity. If they can finish any of my books closer to understanding these principles, I feel very fulfilled.

5. Which part of the creative process is your favorite? Least favorite?

Designing the story arc is my favorite part of the creative process for you can take a story anywhere your imagination can go. My least favorite part is editing/revising. Even though I know the narrative gets much stronger as a result, it’s still my least favorite part.

6. How long does it usually take you to write one of your stories from when you get the idea to when it’s finished?

Usually about 6 months.

7. I know that most authors love all their characters but which of your many “children” is your favorite (besides Andy) and why?

I have to say Mermin, the kindly old wizard who speaks with a lisp. I love him most after Andy because he’s so warm, humble and approachable. He’s fallible and he knows it, which is why he doesn’t apologize for his mistakes, rather he is comfortable in his own skin.

8. Do you ever plan to branch out into other genres besides middle grade/young adult fantasy?

Funny you should ask. Yes, I’m actually noodling with a story arc of a YA Sci Fi story.

9. How do you feel your writing has evolved since your first novel?

I can see how much I’ve changed and improved in showing rather than telling my readers what’s happening. I want them to engage and to show – providing sight, sounds, touch, smell, and taste cues is a big part of that. I was particularly thrilled when my editor came back a full week sooner than expected with this current book because I had improved so much between book three and four. My pocketbook also appreciated that J

 

 

THE DEPTH OF THE ANDY SMITHSON SERIES

If you’re an adult looking for a clean series you can sink your teeth into, Andy Smithson is definitely it! In it I develop four layers simultaneously: 1) Andy Smithson in Lakehills, TX 2) Andy in Oomaldee 3) the Afterlife 4) a meaning layer. A few examples to demonstrate the depth…

Symbolism is used extensively (a couple examples):

• The fog of the curse symbolizes blindness and oppression.
• The magic key unlocks doors, brings stone statues to life, as well as revives. Put another way, it symbolizes bringing forth, opening up, and revealing (aka taking responsibility).
• Methuselah is not only a weapon and helper, but also represents justice as it divides good and evil. Consistent with life, justice requires diligence to uphold.

Names are also important in this series (a few examples):

• Andy means brave or courageous.
• Alden means helper.
• Hannah means favor or grace.
• Imogenia means blameless.

Alchemy used throughout the series (a few examples):

• Alchemy played a significant role in the development of modern science. Alchemists sought to transformbase metals into the gold or silver and/or develop an elixir of life which would confer youth and longevity and even immortality.
• In the series, the first instance of alchemy begins with the gold weavers, Max, Oscar, and Henry, spinning straw into gold to manufacture the wealth of the kingdom.
• The four elementals: air, earth, fire, and water are then seen on Methuselah’s hilt.

 

The titles of the books manifest yet another layer of meaning and reveal Imogenia’s evolution.

• Beginning with Blast of the Dragon’s Fury, Imogenia is furious at what has happened to her and she fuels her emotional hurt.
• In Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning, Imogenia turns venomous (or spiteful) and cunning in seeking ways to continually punish her brother.
• Disgrace of the Unicorn’s Honor has Imogenia act in a manner disgraceful to the honor of royalty.
• In Resurrection of the Phoenix’s Grace we see Imogenia’s grace reborn as she begins to reflect.
• In Vision of the Griffin’s Heart, Imogenia realizes she is gripped by hatred and distrust she has harbored for so long. Unlike griffins who choose to trust others, Imogenia cannot yet make that leap when it comes to her brother.

Did Someone Say More Cowbell?

 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today and I’ve got nothing. I can’t think of an interesting blog post to save my life. I’ve got the dreaded disease Blogger’s Block.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had it, but mine came on gradually. I’d start writing a post and it would start off good, but then it’d dwindle down until I found myself asking, what am I trying to say? Who is going to read this?

When no answers came to me, I trashed my words and started over. I did this three times. Now I’m confessing. I have Blogger’s Block and I need a cure.

Did someone say More Cowbell?

This image courtesy of allthefreestock.com

http://allthefreestock.com/

More Cowbell is definitely the cure for this horrible illness. Don’t know what I’m talking about?

Check out this YouTube Video and you’ll understand:

More Cowbell

I know I’m dating myself here, but this was one of my favorite skits on the great Saturday Night Live show. This show started in 1975. I remember, I was a skinny teen then and it was a big deal to watch it.

I’d have my best friend spend the night. We’d stay up late eating popcorn and drinking fizzy coke, while we watched this amazing comedy show.  We’d laugh and laugh. Our fears and insecurities would become non-existent because we were having too much fun.

We’d get to school on Monday and the buzz through the halls was, “Hey did you see Saturday Night Live?”

“Wasn’t that the best?”

We’d go into great detail about what skit we thought was the funniest. Then we’d discuss SNL shows of the past, ones that were truly iconic.

Saturday Night Live has been around since 1975. This show has been making people laugh for forty-one years. It is the longest running sketch comedy show on American television.

Many young comedians have gotten their start on Saturday Night Live. Dan Aakroyd, Bill Murray, and Will Farrell, just to name a few. These stars have gone on to have major success on the big screen.

Laughter truly is the best medicine. I’m sure you’re aware that laughing secretes endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are hormones that activate our opiate receptors. They make us feel good. 🙂

Laughing also exercises your abdominal muscles and the muscles in your face. Which means it also burns calories. I bet you can see where I’m going with this one, can’t you?

But the best time to watch SNL skits is when you’re going through chemo. Because you’ll laugh, and you’ll feel better even if it’s just for a little while.

So whether you’re dealing with Blogger’s Block, or something much more serious like chemo. Just remember, the cure is More Cowbell. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post today. I’ve got some other SNL favorites for you to check out. The links are below.

Steve Martin’s Skits

Top Ten Picks of SNL Skits

Weekend Update

Funniest Cats

Church Chat

Another Top Ten List of SNL Skits

What are your favorites? List them in the comments. I’d love to check them out!

Please Welcome Krysten Lindsay Hager as she shares her New Release with Us

 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you! I’ve got Krysten Lindsay Hager here and she’s sharing her new release! Check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series Info: The Landry’s True Colors Series is a clean reads young adult humor series about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, crushes, and self-image.

Genre: contemporary clean teen fiction

Landry in Like (Landry’s True Colors Series: Book 3) by Krysten Lindsay Hager

​Blurb: Things seem to be going well in Landry Albright’s world—she’s getting invited to be on local talk shows to talk about her modeling career, her best friends have her back, and her boyfriend Vladi has becoming someone she can truly count on…and then everything changes. Suddenly it seems like most of the girls in school are into hanging out at a new teen dance club, while Landry just wants to spend her weekends playing video games and baking cupcakes at sleepovers. Then, Yasmin McCarty, the most popular girl in school, starts to come between Landry’s friendship with Ashanti. Things take a turn when Yasmin tells Vladi that Landry is interested in another boy. Can Landry get her relationships with Ashanti and Vladi back or will she be left out and left behind?

Excerpt:

I wanted to call my friends and tell them about being on the talk show, but Mom said we had to be at the TV station super early — even before school started. She said I could text them, but I had to turn off my phone and go to bed.

“I’m waking you up at four a.m.,” she said. “You have to be there at five-thirty.”

“Can I just call Peyton and Ashanti? Please?”

“Fine, but you have five minutes and then that phone is mine and you’re in bed.”

I dialed Peyton, but her mom said she was in the shower. I told her mom about the show tomorrow and said my mom wouldn’t let me stay up any later to call Peyton back.

“How exciting! I will make sure Peyton knows, and I will be watching you tomorrow. Good luck, honey,” Mrs. Urich said.

I called Ashanti next and told her.

“Get out. Get. Out. No way. This is so exciting!”

“I’m so nervous. My stomach is already doing cartwheels. I can’t do one, but my stomach can. Seems unfair. What if I throw up before I go on? I did that right before I went on at the statewide Ingénue modeling competition in Detroit, and my mom had to give me a cough drop to cover up the smell.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine, but… just in case, take a cough drop with you,” Ashanti said. “Good luck. You’ll be great and I’ll go set the DVR now.”

I hung up and sent a text to Vladi, India, Devon, Thalia, Tori, and Ericka, so no one would be mad and feel left out. Then I shut off my phone. Mom poked her head in the door to make sure I was in bed.

“Night, hon. Try to get some rest,” she said.

Easier said than done. I stared at my ceiling while thinking about all the things that could possibly go wrong tomorrow. Seeing as the show was on in the morning, I never got to watch it, so I had no idea what the set was like — did it have super high chairs and I’d struggle to get into them? And what if it had those higher stools that were kind of tippy and my rear overshot the seat and I fell off? Or what if the prep questions got lost and the interviewer asked me random things like my feelings on nuclear war or asked me about some foreign political leader who I had never heard of before, and I appeared stupid? Why did I say I’d do this? I tried to get comfortable and it felt like I had just dozed off when I felt my mom shaking my shoulder.

“Rise and shine, TV star,” she said.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CsGREKFQco&feature=youtu.be

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Landry-Like-Landrys-True-Colors-ebook/dp/B01AL6AUA2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Landry-Like-Landrys-True-Colors-ebook/dp/B01AL6AUA2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453196883&sr=8-2&keywords=krysten+hager

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/landry-in-like-krysten-lindsay-hager/1123253456?ean=2940157767242

Nook UK: http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/landry-in-like-by-krysten-lindsay-hager/2940157767242

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/landry-in-like

Itunes/ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/landry-in-like/id1076225388?mt=11

 

Author bio: Krysten Lindsay Hager is the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series, a clean reads young adult series and the new ​Star Series. Krysten writes about  friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, modeling, crushes, values, and self-image in True Colors, Best Friends…Forever? And Landry in Like, as well as in, Next Door to a Star (Star Series). Her sequel to Next Door to a Star will be out March 22 2016.

Krysten is a book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes YA, MG, humor essays, and adult fiction. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in southwestern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Follow:

Website: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/krystenlindsay

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/e/B00L2JC9P2/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystenLindsayHagerAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrystenLindsay

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8298036.Krysten_Lindsay_Hager

Author talk show interview: http://wdtn.com/2014/11/06/true-colors/

True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book 1):

What people are saying about True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book One):

From Teenage Book Recommendations in the UK: “This is a fantastically relatable and real book which I feel captures all of the insecurities and troubles which haunt the modern teenage girl. It is about a young model who has to go through tough times when she is torn between a life as a model and managing her friendships. You learn which friends she can most trust and which will create the drama typical of teenage life. Follow the life of Landry and try to see if you can find out which are her true friends before their true colours are revealed. This book is all about relationships, hopes and truth. I loved this book!”

Failure is a Stepping Stone to Success

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today with another Slice of Life Post. Today, I’m talking about dealing with failure. In my opinion, failure is just a stepping stone to success, but not everyone feels this way.

The event that brought this subject to light is the Battle of the Books at my son’s school. This is an event, where students read a number of books approved by their librarian. When the students have read ten books from this approved list, they’re eligible to participate in The Battle of the Books. This is where they answer questions on the content they’ve read. I watched it poised with anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see those young eager minds answer questions from the books they’d read.

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I watched as these kids nervously picked at their fingernails or bit their lips. I’d forgotten how scary it can be to answer questions in front of a panel of adults and your peers. Not to mention the humiliation they must’ve felt when they didn’t answer correctly. I remembered how intense those emotions can be.

It was a crushing event for one young man and my heart went out to him and that’s when I realized young people need to learn they can survive failing. It’s not the end all drama that they imagine it to be. It’s a painful lesson and we as parents need to remember that as we guide our littles through life.

After all, it took Thomas Edison one thousand attempts before he got the light bulb right. Then there’s J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, who was rejected by twelve different publishers before Bloomsbury Publishing accepted it. This series went on to earn over four hundred million dollars and made Rowling the first female billionaire author.

Image Courtesy of allthefreestock.com

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We’re very fortunate Thomas Edison and J.K. Rowling didn’t give up, they persevered and our world is better for it. We need to teach this to our kids, this belief in their dreams. We need to teach them everyone fails before they get it right.  If we don’t, what will the future be like?

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. If you’re looking for other Slice of Life Posts, click the link below.

Slice of Life

 

 

My One Little Word for 2016

 

 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today and I’m sharing my one little word for this year. This is my first time participating in the One Little Word event, so I’ve put a lot of thought into my word. I came up with a very simple one, but it does illustrate what I want to achieve this year.

That word is:

LISTEN

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I know. A little anti-climactic, after all I was thinking about words like Intuition, Commitment, and Inspiration.

However, as I thought about my one little word. I realized that I needed an action word. Something that would guide me in my everyday life.

That’s why I chose Listen.

I want to turn down the volume and Listen to my Intuition. My inner voice will guide me and help me to make the choices I need to make, but I’ve got to get in the habit of really Listening to it.

I also need to listen to my kids and hubby. And when I say listen I mean, listen to understand and not listen to reply. As a society we tend to think about how we’re going to respond to someone as opposed to trying to understand what they’re saying. So I’m going to work on this one.
I want to listen to my friends more so they feel more understood and I’ll get to know them on a deeper level.

So there you have it. My one little word for 2016. Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. I’d love to hear what you think of my word, leave a comment. Do you have one little word you’d like to share?

If you’d like to check out other Slice of Life Posts click the link below:

Slice of Life

 

 

My Thoughts on the Movie Spotlight

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’ve just sent my WIP off to my beta reader and I’m crossing my fingers that she likes it. 🙂

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I went to see the movie Spotlight with my mother. I wanted to see how the Catholic Church had been exposed for the abuse they had allowed to happen.

The movie was well done. I liked the characters and the way they instilled humor while discussing a very dark issue. The plot development seemed realistic and I feel that it was as close to the real life events as we’re going to get.
The truth of the movie sickened me. It enraged me to think about the priests who perpetrated the crimes and all the church did was move them to another parish, or put them into some kind of rehabilitation program. When they moved, they continued their abuse and the church did nothing for the victims.

 

This is the part that upsets me the most. How could they ignore the victims? I mean here they are supposedly teaching us about morality and they not only allow this type of abuse, they cover it up.

 

This tells me that we must be our children’s guardian at all times. If this type of abuse can happen in a church, it can happen anywhere.

 

Here are the warning signs of abuse:

• Acting out in an inappropriate sexual way with toys or objects
• Nightmares, sleeping problems
• Becoming withdrawn or very clingy
• Becoming unusually secretive
• Sudden unexplained personality changes, mood swings and seeming insecure
• Regressing to younger behaviors, e.g. bedwetting
• Unaccountable fear of particular places or people. Outburst of anger.
• Changes in eating habits
• New adult words for body parts and no obvious source

• Talk of a new, older friend and unexplained money or gifts. Self-harm (cutting, burning or other harmful activities)
• Physical signs, such as, unexplained soreness or bruises around genitals or mouth, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy. Running away
• Not wanting to be alone with a particular child or young person

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I found this list on this site, and for more information click here:

http://www.parentsprotect.co.uk/warning_signs.htm

This movie opened my eyes to how vulnerable our children are. These abusers seek out professions that put them in contact with kids. They’re not just priests, they’re Teachers, Child Psychologists, and Childcare Directors. Thankfully we do have some checks in place. I know my local school conducts background checks on all their employees, most schools do, but that doesn’t mean we should be lax about picking up the warning signs.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. I’d love to read your thoughts! Please leave a comment!

 

Do Blondes have more fun? A Slice of Life Post

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today with another Slice of Life Post. Today, I’m discussing the question, do blondes have more fun?

Now, I can do a survey and ask a random sample of blonde women whether they agree with that age-old theory or I can tell you about my experience as a blonde versus my experience as a brunette.

I bet you’re wondering how I can do this objectively. Well I’ll tell you. You see before I went through chemo. I was blonde. I had some chemical help too, but that’s beside the point. 🙂

Anyway, then I started chemo and I lost my hair. It all fell out. I was bald. This was quite a shock for me, but my family took it in stride. So I bought a wig and I was fortunate enough to find one that matched my former blonde locks to a reasonable degree.

I finished chemo and to tell you the truth when I was going through it, it seemed like it would never end. Now that I’m done, and I’ve been done for about a year, it seems like it happened a lifetime ago. Isn’t the human mind a wonderful thing? It can take some horrific event and make it seem faraway and small.

Well, when I finished chemo, I started to recover and my hair started growing back, but it came back very dark, almost black.  It’s still in the process of growing in, but it’s long enough so that I can style it a little now.

Because of this experience I feel that I’m qualified to answer the question: Do blondes have more fun?  After all, I’ve been a blonde and I’ve been a brunette.

And the answer is: It doesn’t matter if you’re blonde or brunette. The people who have the most fun are the healthy ones. Take care of your health and you’ll truly have wealth.

This image courtesy of all thefreestock.com 

http://allthefreestock.com/

 

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Leave a comment and let me know what you think! I’d love to hear from you.

For more Slice of Life Posts click here:

Slice of Life

 

 

Multi-Author-Middle-Grade Book Promotion

Here’s Andrea Pearson sharing her Book Promotion with us! Take it away Andrea!

I’m excited about this promotion because it’s geared to one of my favorite audiences: middle-grade readers! I’ve always been passionate about books written for kids ages 9 through 12. Harry Potter, Percy Jackson,Fablehaven, Diary of a Wimpy Kid… all excellent. 🙂 I wrote The Key of Kilenya when my younger brother, Josh, who was 12 at the time, told me there weren’t enough books for him to read. He’d ripped through everything our local library had and was hungry for more.

I dedicate this promotion to him and to all other readers who love and are searching for books written for middle graders!

The Multi-Author Middle-Grade Book Promotion starts January 4, 2016 and ends January 7, 2016.

******Please double check the sale prices before you buy the book. Some retailers may not have lowered the price for the sale yet. We’re working on that. (shakes fist at retailers)*******

 

From $5.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook  * iTunesAll Jacob wants is to make the basketball team. All the Lorkon want is to control the magical powers Jacob doesn’t know he possesses.	From $2.99 to $0.99 KindleTwelve-year-old Steven never wondered where the Loch Ness monster or Big Foot came from until he found a stone box with a dangerous secret–one people are willing to kill for!	From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * KoboMore than anything, Benjamin Ravenspell wants a pet, but when he buys a mouse named Amber, he gets more than he bargained for.

From $0.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesCassandra’s ordinary life is riddled with hilarious and sometimes heart-breaking mishaps as she guides herself through the world of pre-teens on the brink of adulthood.	From $2.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * KoboPart Neanderthal, but raised as a human, Arken Freeth finds that he doesn’t fit in either world as he struggles to survive.	From $3.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * KoboAn eleven-year-old girl discovers she has the power to grant any living thing its one true wish.

From $3.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * KoboWhen a malnourished horse shows up as a rescue at the farm where she volunteers, Jacinda, a bullied girl, takes it on as a project horse, and the mare’s sweet nature inspires her to spread kindness around to make a positive difference in the world.	From $0.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * KoboJenni Kershaw and her eighth grade science class take a field trip they will never forget. Dragons and goblins and spirits, oh my!	From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesWhen Colin suddenly learns he has magic, he discovers that Atlantis is real, and that his new mermaid friend, Alleya, is in trouble.

From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesBed bugs, burglars, and a missing mother. For Doodle, it’s just part of a day’s work. A laugh-out-loud mystery for dog lovers of all ages.	From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * KoboTo save her brother, the banshee Seven must save Atlantis.	From $1.99 to $0.99 KindleOne girl with a nightmare to live through; one ghost with a dream to live. With so much to lose, can anything be gained?

From $3.49 to FREE KindleEnter a world of myth and magic as young English boy Thomas Farrell seeks to discover the identity of his late father, and why he left him a strange glass orb containing a serpent…	From $2.99 to $0.99 KindleWhen eating dog kibble on a dare gives 10-year-old Tawny special powers, her life nearly goes to the dogs!	From $5.49 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * KoboTwins Justin and Janine discover a mysterious egg … can they protect the hatchling while lost in Montana’s Absaroka wilderness?

$3.99 to $0.99 KindleDaniel doesn’t think there’s anything worse than spending a week at Camp Bigfoot . . . until he loses his prized possession: a pencil that brings his drawings to life.	From $4.99 to $0.99 Nook * KoboLaughing and Learning Little Life Lessons	From $3.99 to FREE KindleWhen a blast from the past shows up and makes her BFF go nutburgers, Ginnie is torn between helping her friend and getting some very important questions answered.

From $3.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * KoboHarry Potter and The Hobbit rolled into one captivating and humorous epic fantasy series that will have kids begging for more.	From $0.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * KoboWinner of the Mom’s Choice Award honoring excellence in media for children. Classic fantasy adventure – quirky, funny, sinister, and action-packed	From $3.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesTo save his friends from a dystopian future Earth, Nikolas leads them to a fantastic Moon in the past. But what happens when the fantastic becomes fatal?

From $3.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * KoboExplore the magical history of Kendra Kandlestar’s world in this collection of bonus tales from the Land of Een.	From $4.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * iTunesDREAMS: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.	From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesWhat’s worse than stumbling upon the dead body of the Cat Lady? Being accused of her murder. Sarah Cole and her friends take it upon themselves to catch the Cat Lady Killer. .

From $2.99 to FREE Kindle * NookWhen Turik finds a special egg his Grandfather is kidnapped and he must balance his power for good with the strength of the evil that wishes to consume him.	From $2.99 to $0.99 KindleFelicity, an ordinary sparrow learns that she can do extraordinary things!	From $3.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * KoboWhen a group of crazed ninjas take over their school, the Smartboys fight back. And it all happens on a day when Monkey has the worst case of flatulence imaginable.

From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * KoboGeorge, the magical basset hound, is on the trail of the mysterious ghosty haunting his Packmate, Tillie.	From $2.99 to $0.99 KindleThe legend of the little red hen, as told by the acorn that smacked her in the head. NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO CHANGE THE WORLD!	From $2.99 to FREE KindleCarter’s life changes when an old man entrusts him with a book of magical spells, one of which grants the power to raise people from the dead.

From $0.99 to FREE KindleEver wonder what it would be like to be pulled into your computer? Sarah is about to find out.	From $2.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesIt takes more than a school trip to change Christy’s life. It takes murder.	From $2.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesWhen a savage pirate and a corrupt businessman join forces to steal the treasure for themselves, Christopher and his crew get caught up in pirate chases, time travel, and an underground network of spies!

From $0.99 to FREE Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesSemi-autobiographical adventures from a 20th Century Northern California outdoorsman	From $2.99 to $0.99 Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesThe future looks bleak unless eighteen-year-old Lance and his young New Camelot Earth Warriors can save the planet from catastrophic climate change.

 Check out all these books! There are some great reads here! Including my first book in the Super Spies series!

From $2.99 to $0.99
Kindle * Nook * Kobo * iTunesWhat’s worse than stumbling upon the dead body of the Cat Lady? Being accused of her murder. Sarah Cole and her friends take it upon themselves to catch the Cat Lady Killer.

*****Sorry about the size of the covers, for some reason WordPress wouldn’t let me shrink them down to fit. 🙂 So sorry!

*****Please double check the prices some of the retailers may not have adjusted to the sale price yet! (Shakes fist at Retailers)

The War on Perfection

 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today and I’m talking about New Year Resolutions. It’s funny, but I’ve noticed the same goals find their way back on my list year after year. It seems like I make these resolutions, but somewhere along the way they get forgotten as I get busy with my day to day life. As I made my list this year, I added the old “lose weight and get back into shape.” A repeat goal from previous years.

Then one of my favorite speakers, one I was able to see in person, wrote this Facebook post. She’s brilliant and strong and vulnerable all at the same time.

Her name is Anne Lamott and here’s the article.  https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott/

In a nutshell, she talks about accepting our bodies the way they are, that dieting doesn’t work, and you’ll gain the weight back plus five pounds. It happens every time.

Then I read this post. http://www.scarymommy.com/oprah-winfrey-weight-watchers-commercial/?utm_source=FB

This one’s about Oprah Winfrey and how she bought stock in Weight Watchers and made close to seventy million dollars in one day. Now she’s their spokesperson and she’s encouraging women to step up to the plate and lose weight. She understands your battle. She’s going to fight with you and make millions off of you while you do it. I’ve always been a fan of Oprah. She’s accomplished so much in her life, but this article made me uneasy, especially after reading the previous one.

That’s when I had an epiphany. I realized our society has always socked it to us women. I’m not being sexist here. It’s true. We have millions of makeup companies who preach to us about covering up our flaws and we buy into this crap because we want to be perfect. We want to look like the air-brushed models on TV and in the magazines. But who is defining perfection for us?

The makeup companies?

The Clothing Manufacturers?

How do they know what perfection is? How did they become experts?

These companies are making millions marketing to our insecurities and selling the idea that their products will help us reach that magical state of perfection if we purchase them. Don’t feel bad. I fell for it too. But now I’m older and wiser.

I realize, we’re already perfect. All of us. How do I know? Well, here’s the thing and I realized this back in college, but forgot it somewhere along the way. No one in the world looks exactly like us. So no one can be more beautiful than us.

Our perfection is in our uniqueness.

Why in the world would we want to look like someone else? If we strive to copy someone else, we’ll always feel second best, because no one can do better than the original.

Enjoy your uniqueness. Your originality. Be the best you, you can be.

 

Image courtesy of all thefreestock.com

http://allthefreestock.com/

With that in mind, I changed my resolution from the old losing weight and getting back in shape to maintaining my health. Instead of becoming a slave to the scale and counting calories, I’m exercising to stay healthy. I may change a few of my eating habits too. I’ll eat more fruits and vegetables because they’re good for me.

My hope for the future is that our culture will change its focus. Instead of focusing on perfection. Let’s focus on health. Let’s focus on appreciating the wonderful miracle our body is and taking care of it.

Let’s focus on fighting Anorexia and Bulimia, on building women’s self-esteem instead of tearing it down.

Let’s start a War on Perfection. We can do this, you know. We’ve changed history before. We can definitely do it again.

 

Thanks for reading my post, leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you! Are you going to join me in the War on Perfection?