When An Idea Sneaks Up On You

Sometimes ideas creep up on you as a writer this happens often. Walking in the dark I started to feel like running heart racing I could feel the rain in the air and the wind whirling around me and then I could see her in my mind. A young girl Tanzie running and not scared but just trying to escape her life for a few moments. Unlucky for her it was raining and very windy. At that moment I rushed home a wrote this scene out and it is growing by the day. 

Granted I am still very much working on When Stars Collide but it is nice to have a story that isn't already written. New fresh different characters. This takes me back because I was very upset that Stephanie Meyer announced that she knew what was to come next in the Twilight Saga but refused to write it just yet, she wanted to work on other things. I get it now. Though I am burning the candle at both ends everything is slowly coming together and I can not wait to share these stories with my very loved and very awesome followers. 

I am having a vote going for When Stars Collide main character name. originally it was Mira and I went to Merra and now I am thinking Celeste, Zoey or Austora... Leave me a comment below on your thoughts. 

I always like to inspire with my blog, this week my son and daughter started their new schools and I was panicking trying to find something social for my daughter that wasn't to expensive, and I could get her to daily. A lady I ran into told me about Save The Children an after school program for grades 1st to 6th... After further investigation I found it was a learning based team building program. My Daughter is not a team person normally. She literally failed PE for not participating, Imagine my shock when they told me she was working in a team and helping and communicating on a Yoga routine they would do... Well she loves her program and I am a happy mommy so thrilled that she is growing and overcoming challenges  Pretty epic that 3 years ago she was Autistic and now she isn't even on the spectrum and granted dealing with ADHD ODD but always surprising her doctors and therapist with the boundaries she is willing to push. 



TTFN
KSPD :) 

For the Love of Writing

I keep hearing master pieces are not written in a day but I really do wish I could have this manuscript written out and ready for my hard edits... I try to a lot time for writing but things always come up or get disrupted I shall not give up though I shall press on. My goal was to be edited by December I suppose I better get my booty in gear. I entered a contest last year and got a lot of very great feedback I plan to enter it again this year with a beauty of a manuscript. 

I have a lot of people helping in the background of my life. My husband who literally hands me coffee and sends me to write, my son and daughter who try to help me make up characters... My family who I know think I am crazy to add anything else to my crazy day but help me in anyway they can... My Aunt Karen who is always encouraging and pushing me forward to push out that next chapter and her edits and feed back that really help developed the parts of my story that I was trying to say but couldn't depict the right wording. I suppose it is time for me to really dive into this adventure I can't wait to give you all updates and share more with you as it comes a long.... 

Other than that we are moved but we are not settled if that makes sense still unpacking and organizing, setting up the preschool I am starting and getting everybody ready for new schools... It is a fun and tiring week in this house but I will share photos soon!!! 
TTFN
KSPD 

Bound to Life

Life sometimes has a funny way of throwing us off track, and seems to think derailing is a really awesome way, to give us the want to go on and see what else can happen... The past couple months have been very trying in my life funny enough though everything seems to be falling into place. Maybe that is what life is about maybe it isn't about the day to day mumble grumble but the 10 year picture the long term.


I don't get into the personalities of my life this is the internet for goodness sake; but I will tell you that even among the flames of hell I came out on top. Now my blogging and writing on the other hand well those have suffered a bit. The blog I bring you today is to inspire you to keep going and keep dreaming and keep reaching. I haven't written in a month. Every time I sit down to write I am slammed with yet another travesty, but I will keep sitting down because I know that at some point the fire will clear and the calm of the roaring ocean will enforce my story and project greatness. 



As for amazing books for Young Adult I finished Numbers 1 to 3 of mortal instruments series which I really enjoy and am excited to finish the last two. I have fallen in love yet again with Aprilynn Pikes new amazing stories (Life After Theft and Earth Bound). I am struggling to read them both at the same time because I feel the characters fight over my attention and I am betraying one by spending time with the other but were getting through. (Yes, I am still planning on going to Illinois next May to meet her.... geeeee) I am going to start reading Terry Brooks yay! I also have began the Harry Potter books with my daughter who loves magical realism and alternate worlds like her mommy! 



So while I am moving and settling and setting up this new adventure of a home enrichment program and day care I shall attempt to still blog to you guys!! My Aunt asked me about short stories I am considering it but they all seem to drag on longer than short story material hmmmmm decisions! 



TaTaForNow 
KSPD 

Sunshine Award

I was nominated by Roberta Goodman for the Sunshine award. I haven't ever been nominated for something like this so it is really exciting. This past year has been a learning experience to say the least. I wrote half a novel chucked it wrote another 15k words saved it and then I wrote a 53k manuscript and well that is be re-written. I have learned though that no matter what challenges I face I can make it through. I have loved to write since I was very young but having dyslexia and writing are not always the easiest of things. When you love to do something though; a little word mix up is worth it. As a nominee I was asked to do a few things.... 
First thank you Roberta your blog is fantastic as well! www.rgoodman.com check her out!!

The Rules: When you receive the award, you are asked to do a few things…

1. Post the Sunshine Award Logo you see at the top.

2. Accept the nomination and link back to the nominator.

3. Answer the questions below.

4. Nominate ten other blogs and inform them of the nomination.

 

That is all :)

1) My favorite Color : I love blue's and purples they can be so vibrant and calming all at once. 

2) My Favorite Animal: Well I love animals, Turtles I love turtles. They are a reptile I know but Since I was about 3 years old I have loved turtles. I loved that they could just hide in their shell when they get scared and peak out every so often to make sure the coast was clear. 

3) My favorite number:  777 Three times the luck 

4) My favorite non alcoholic beverage: Tea I love tea with honey and agave.

5) My favorite Alcoholic beverage: Anything with Malibu Passion rum... 

6) Facebook or Twitter: I am better at Facebook because my family is on there but I do tweet as well. I am not really good at keeping up with everyone though three kids a dog and a husband, job, college and writing keeps you busy.

7) My Passions: My husband, daughter, and son's. They are my world my everything. Of course writing and I love being crafty or being outside. 

8) Giving or Receiving gifts: Giving, I try to give back in every way I can. My son has autism and I love helping other parents who need a direction or a new out look on it when their children are diagnosed. We do a lot of charity and volunteering as well for our kids schools and activities. 

9) Favorite City: I would have to say West Linn, OR It is so peaceful there and beautiful. Good schools and jobs but the part I love most about West Linn is the trees and green that surrounds it with a little vintage type town setting. 

10) Favorite TV Shows: Oh man this could be a long list. I love Grey's anatomy, Vampire Diaries, Castle, Bones, Revenge, Firefly, Dexter, Breaking Bad, anything supernatural that isn't to scary lol and funny ones like Up all Night and New Girl. 

My Ten Nominees: 

Trish Marie Dawson @Trish_Dawson

Red Tash  @redtashbooks

Elizabeth Briggs @Lizwrites

Dahlia Adler  @MissDahlELama

Kris Mehigen  @KKMHOO

Angela James @angelajames

Brenda Drake @brendadrake

Jen Malone  @Jenniferlmalone

Cassandra Marshall  @OnlyCassandra

Lori M Lee @LoriMLee

I have chosen women who inspired me to keep going even when I want to quit and are always uplifting and positive. If I ever have a question they answer it and they in so many words treat me like I am human. Even if I am some no name author right now. Their inspiration and passion helps me keep mine and they help so many others. Always volunteering for contests or just posting things that matter. Thanks ladies I pass the torch to you!

A Lesson Learned

Writing is something that has always come easy to me, I never really struggled with getting the words on paper. Now wether those words were spelled correctly and the writing murdered the english language or not I can not say. Teachers always tell me I have amazing voice in my writing and I flow well. Last year I wrote a book it was a first draft that I thought was more like an eighth until I started looking into winning contests and writing my query letter to agents. The rejection I got were hard but it was also empowering and very informative. I took a break and a couple months ago I wrote a little and then blamed life for getting busy as to not have to look upon my embracing mistake a little while longer. Well the problem with writers is we have all of these stories that flood our heads plotting murders, falling in love, going to school or college, building a family all with factious characters of course. If we don't write we block our heads with tons of voices, yes I said voices and so you wither write them out or you go crazy, I didn't go crazy I found the courage to try again. 

I read a lot of blogs about writing and how hard it is for some. i thought to myself the writing part is easy for me its the revising and the editing that are scary. Then I reminded myself how I was once scared of the dark and I got over it for the most part, (still get a little scared okay) So I sucked it up. I read through my original horrific MS and took from it what I thought I could use and began again. 

 I have learned now though that yes some writers like Stephen King can write a book and it will be a best seller but we all start some where. As I write my new book I have set realistic goals and not right now goals. I want to show the world my characters and make them fall in love with them as I have. Rushing my story will get me no where. 

So I am starting at the top writing a little each day as well as reading and completing the book. Setting it aside for a couple days and reading a book. Then Revising three drafts, sending it out to close friends and family for their eyes by the time I am ready to look into an editor I will fully revise my Manuscript 8 times. I will have my query letter hacked by Saturday night Hackers and Agent query and I will have everything looked over by other Authors who are willing.

 Then I will enter contest and query agents. something encouraging that every Author who read my first MS said was, my voice is amazing in my writing and my story was new and fun. 

Lesson learned here is that there is no need to rush the writing to get to the stress of the agent trenches. There are other options like Self Publishing and Ebook publishers and lastly if your going to share your crazy mind with the world it might as well be EPIC rather than your rushed work. 

There is always another contest, another agent and a million readers who don't know it yet but are dying to read your book. I really hope to go to LASBCWI this year to meet my favorite authors and new writer friends and build on some of my skills I am learning when it comes to writing a fantasy science fiction YA novel. 

One last lesson was to watch the news feeds of the agents I am considering submitting too to make sure I know their attitude towards certain works and a little about them before I send in my forth baby. 

Have a happy Weekend! 

                                    I am 79 lbs down from 252 lbs :) thought I would share! 

Young Children's Books From The 90's and Kids Today

I got an email about how much children's books have changed since the 90's. Biggest change being the pictures and the word choice. I think we all enjoyed these books I have listed. I also have to agree the books like Junie B Jones were not really popular when I was a kid because the language was not correct English. Now they are chart toppers. Comics were not like Diary of a Wimpy Kid they were comic books. Not saying that enjoying these books is bad but that children should probably not be reading them until they understand that the words written in them may not be the correct way to use or say enjoy a small travel back in time... 

I for one loved this book and I remember our teacher having us make our own book like it. Brown Bear Brown Bear is another one that just amazed the world of young readers. 

My 5th grade teacher Mrs. Wollery  read this book to our class. It inspired me to reach for more out of life and not let anyone knock me down. 

Every Liberian in every school was reading this book to students. Such an awesome book and a well deserved prize winner. 

I have to say this book amazed my mind I checked it out about 50 times before my Aunt bought it for me. Then I was engulfed in it all of the time. 

I love this story. I hated the movie but this story was one shared around the world and so beautifully drawn. 

If you didn't read this series you should even as adults you would enjoy it. 

Everyone had these in school. My parents didn't like them but I read all of my friends they were defiantly fun. 

Well I don't think there is anything to say other than Awesome.... 

A true classic filled with imagination and wonder. 

Think this was the first time any one saw the word stupid on a cover of a book on a book shelf... It was a good book though. 

All girls loved these as well as the American Girl series and Nancy Drew

This is Justis favorite book but it was mine when I was a kid as well.

We all know this guy! 

A nice story about sharing and friendship this also won an award and it has beautiful water color pictures. 

5th grade yep yep

The first book I ever read by myself. 

Such a sweet fun story. 

I think we can all agree these books made us laugh and cry. They taught us to read and in a way write. My kids have most of these books sadly I found a lot of them on Clarence shelves and in used book stores. I should say sad for them happy for me! Literature is lost in our society now. Everything is electronically and many of the great American literature books are on these devices people don't think to buy them. TV, Movies, Video Games and Media have taken over our young children's minds. If you buy a kid a book today most of them give you that thanks but no thanks look. It truly is sad. Every year there are book drives to help gather books for kids who do not have anything. It makes me so happy to help out with these. As a writer I worry that kids will soon not have any interest in a good book at all. As a mom I will never let my kids stop reading. I learned at a young age knowledge is power and with it you can reach the moon. My daughter is in first grade she is reading BOB books at school she is reading chapter books at home. Her teacher asked me how I get her to read such hard material. My response was, I read with her! It isn't rocket science many of us learned to read because we didn't have TV or anything else to do. 

When kids fight reading you know you have done something wrong. I am not calling anyone out but it is proven in the education journals that kids who live in homes where the parents play video games and watch encumbered amounts of TV and are never read to will not enjoy reading. In this I challenge you go to the library get one of these books and share it with your child if you do not already have one. The best part is you can tell them about the first time you remember hearing the story. Not only are you building a reading skill you are building a relationship with your child. Books are a gateway to the imagination and the heart! Enjoy! 

AWESOMENESS

I started a journey along my writing journey. That is probably the reason my 2nd book is not complete yet but it is an important one. I was 252lbs. May of last year and I am 5'8. I think you can see from the image above it wasn't a pretty picture. I also was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and since I carry a clotting disorder any weight loss surgery would be fatal. I decided I had to change my life and with a little motivation from my sister we will call her KR I started that journey. I struggled with work out videos and calorie diets. I went from 252 to 229 between May and August I sort of was stuck there. When I saw an old Friend and he lost a ton of weight plus looked a thousand times happier. He had taken a vegan approach to his lifestyle. I decided it was time I take one for mine. Between mid October to now I went from 229 to 189. Which if your adding that's 63lbs. I still have a ways to go to get to 140 but I will get there and it will be awesome.

Writing I have been doing a lot of thinking and re reading my book and many other books to try and figure out how to change my story and create a masterpiece. I finally am on track with an idea. It is about Mira and her friends but it is much bigger than anyone can see coming and it will blow your mind. I probably will be finished with it sometime this year and then the edits will begin. I want to thank all of you for supporting me and being awesome through my journey it makes me feel important and worth while.

Next week I need a topic that is fun but requires some research offer me some ideas and besure to like my facebook page. Have a great rest of the week!