Wednesday Wordies

This week I didn't plan for a theme at all. In fact, I opened up Amazon searched for young adult books and looked for the most interesting title or the first cover that caught my attention. Turns out the theme created itself... ages in the first sentences! Without even trying my subconscious took me on a wild ride in age land. So, is this simply a coincidence or are there just that many books that start off with an age?

1. I'm eighteen now, just turned eighteen last month.

2. I was seventeen years old when I saw my first dead body.

3. I was seven and living in Los Angeles when Japan surrendered at the end of World War II, and my first vivid memories are of how happy and excited everyone was.

Number two is one I really need to get my hands on! I've met this author and he was sweet as pie!

Any interest you?

Marketing Monday - Ridding Writers Block

We’ve all had a moment where a scene isn’t working. We’re tired and the words are spilling out as we hoped. Our little ones are carrying around dirty diapers and you have to leave the chapter behind to care for them.

Writer’s block comes in many forms. There are those wonderful individuals who never have to experience it but for those who do I have some tips and my own personal solution for climbing out of the rabbit hole.

1. Choose fresh ideas. I like to be creative here. Everyone loves a good writing prompt but making the story especially weird allows me to climb out of this dreary attitude I’ve been harboring and dive into the creative juices. Keep yourself guessing.

What would happen if a child’s toy dinosaur came to life in the house? Tell the story from the mother’s perspective… chances are it’d take you completely out of your comfort zone (especially for those YA writers out there). Or how about Zeus ends up in the mortal world as a complete nerd… how would you handle people treating him with such disrespect where his trident wouldn’t work?

2. Don’t judge yourself. I know several of you have that inner critic constantly judging you but allow yourself fifteen minutes of freedom. Write whatever comes to mind… grocery list, rhymes, or just how much you hate the fifteen minutes of no judgment.

3. Inspire yourself. When writers block hits I love to read a good book. Pick up your favorite writers novel. Were they the ones who inspired you to write? Chances are twenty pages in you’ll find inspiration all over again.

4. I work out *dances to LMFAO*. These rockstars know all about writers block… hence these crazy songs that become so addictive they don’t leave your brain. Go for a walk… dance around your house… get out of your head and let the words leave your mind for an hour while you relax or sweat out all the toxins holding you back.

5. And if all else fails… eat chocolate.

Funky Friday - Adoption Edition

So I know all of you love to keep informed on how the adoption is going so I figured today was the perfect day to shed some light on the process!

The five truths about preparing for adoption with Jen...

1. Cats suck. So we needed to update our lovely cat records and in doing so this requires our Siamese to step outside his comfort zone and enjoy a peaceful car ride to the vets office, or not. Picture this: pooping, peeing, hyperventilating (and no, this isn't me), while I'm shoving him the car as he screams at me (in meows of course) of all the awful things I am. Thank you vets for your incapability of in home visits.

2. Homework. When someone tells me that buying a house is a lot of paperwork I want to give them my best Russian accent and say "you are so wrong". Why Russian? Sounds more mysterious and firm. Adoption paperwork takes the cake. I suppose it makes sense, after all you're not buying a house... your investing in a bundle of joys future. It's worth it... but it doesn't mean I wasn't overly optimistic that people were lying about the paperwork.

3. Fingerprinting. The gig is up. Soon they'll find that I enjoy wearing striped neon socks to bed, neon sports bras to work out, and that I think my Coca-cola shirt and red rimmed sun glasses on Fridays make me look so cool. I knew this day would come. When all the quirks were laid out on the table. You win fingerprint guy, you win.

4. Budget. If I had stupid money I'd have one girls room decorated and one boys room. You know... to give the birth mother options. We are that excited. I want to start buying things and yet I know it isn't smart. During nine months of pregnancy birth mothers get to watch and feel their baby grow. Mines growing inside someone else. Someone I have yet to meet. Patience has never been my thing. I'm just still impressed I haven't at least but a onesie... don't worry, it's coming.

5. Home Study. The day of judgement. An individual comes in and will ask my husband and I series of questions. Am I scared? HECK NO... I eat animal crackers for breakfast... wait... what was I saying? *bites fingernails* So my nerves are a little higher than usual. After all, no one wants to be told they'd suck as a parent when they've yet to even have a child to test out the truth behind the words.

Author note: We are overjoyed to still be in the game. It's a roller coaster ride but we are enjoying every dip and climb that comes our way. In the end we'll have a sweet baby to care for!

Wednesday Wordies

Seeing as this month is International Chick Lit Month I wanted to share with you three novels that are chick lit style! I've also included a few that just so happen to be wonderful bloggers!!!

1. If I see another set of boobs, I'm going to lose it.

2. She needed a man. Preferably one with $150,000 to spare.

3. Oh my dear, dear egg, I've finally done it.

Yes, I realize I cheated on number two, but that's where it got interesting! Any catch your eye this week?

Marketing Monday - Blog Hops

I figured with all the marketing tips I’ve been handing out I’d do well to have a little fun and show how it’s done.

This is a chick lit author blog hop. Since May is known as International Chick Lit Month it’s only fair to give a day to the blog on the subject! As an extra incentive to stop by and visit all the ladies participating there will be TWENTY-NINE different e-books up for grabs! That’s right! Comment below for the chance to snag some amazing reads!!! (Stop here for details!)

Instead of telling you about my writing or why I love chick lit I thought it’d be best to invite a very special guest to the blog so they could do a bit of sharing on their own. She’s what I like to call a closet chick lit lover.

Hermione Granger here!

Jen invited me back to explain why I love chick lit. Well my writer JK Rowling may have had her hand in the magical world but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like to get dressed up and go to dances. I also think the Three Broomsticks would do well to find something a little more girly than butter beer, but I don’t exactly think the bar owners were in the mood to hear my rant on the subject.

That being said, as much as I loved reading about my adventurous tales with Harry and Ron I can’t always live that life. Not that they’d ever know. They just assume that all I ever do is read books on literature, history, and religion. What they don’t know is that I take time to sit in the corner of the library and read about my favorite ladies.

Have you read the Shopaholic series? Sophie Kinsella is my absolute idol! I cannot believe how brilliant she is. There isn’t a day that goes by that I wish I could climb out the pages of this book and land right smack dab in the middle of one of her escapades. I want to wear her heels, wear her dresses.

Do you think we could do a genre hop? I’ve been working on my American accent. I agree, it’s not the best, but she doesn’t have to be great with the English accent (<--secret word *giggles*). I don’t mind. Harry and Ron would probably enjoy having me gone for a day.

So there you have it. I read girly books. They’re filled with just as much knowledge as the other reading material I have stacked up by my four poster bed. After all, it’s always good to remind myself what it’s like to be a real girly girl.

(If you were wondering… Yes, I did read Hermione’s letter in an English accent.)