Life As A Princess

Happy Wednesday!

So last week I told you I was giving away a signed copy of Sophie Jordan's Firelight! Well today I chose the winner!!! That lucky person is...

Laura Marcella

Congrats! You can thank my husband, he was my random number guy! I'll be emailing you to snag your information!

So onto something super special! I decided to email Lindsey Leavitt to tell her how fabulous I thought her novel Princess for Hire was, she was so excited that she said she'd love to give away a SIGNED COPY! Isn't that sweet?!



So I decided to ask her a few interview questions in lieu of the celebration!



1.If you could sub for a princess anywhere in the world where would it be?

Bora Bora. My goal in life is to live in a screen saver. And let's not get into the lack of Bora Bora princesses. I'd be fine as apuppet monarch. A puppet monarch who lives in one of those cool huts on the lagoon and wears a tiara just for show.

2.Ever crushed on a boy that didn't like you but you never bothered to accept it?

Remember his name?MOST of my crushes in my younger years did not recipricate my feelings. Unrequited love was a theme for most of junior high. So were The Bangs of Big, which might have had something to do with my one-sided adorations. But I was happy with these crushes. They were safe... ideas. Good practice before I got into the dating/kissing drama (and okay, so there was this one boy John. I nicknamed him Bob so I could write about him on my notebook so he wouldn't know. Then I tried to make John jealous with Bob, but the real boyfriend and the imaginary inevitably didn't like me)

3.What's the worst job you had growing up?

I worked for five weeks as a physical therapy tech for a practice run by my now-father-in-law. He was a great boss, yes, but I had to massage hairy backs and some of the patients had hygiene issues and... suffice it to say, health care was not my field.

4.Any interesting experiences at book signings, yours or someone else's you've gone to?

I had a pretty poorly attended book signing that began with three little old ladies sitting in front row for my reader. Other customers came and went, but these three stuck it out all night. We talked for a good hour, and in the end one asked, "So wait, this is a CHILDREN'S book?" They admitted that they came because the cover was pink, and asked if it was still okay if they read the book (um, yes please?). They ended up buying one for each of their granddaughters, but I'll always have that experience to reflect upon should I start to Diva Out.

Fun & Random Questions
Cloud Princess or Mermaid Princess: Mermaid. Sashimi is yum. What substance do cloud princesses have, anyway?
Lip gloss or Lipstick: Lip gloss! I'm an addict.
Beach or Mountains: Mountain beaches? Like in Hawaii.
Pizza Outfit Girl or Pet Shop Girl: Um, wow. You ask the hard questions. Pizza. I love smelling like garlic.
Favorite Food: Whatever I am eating. Presently: carrot cake.
Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird or East of Eden.
Favorite TV Show: Modern Family is my most recent favorite, but I love me some Bravo reality TV
Favorite Writing Snack: Diet Coke and lindt dark chocolate.

So now, for the giveaway! If you'd like to win a signed copy from Lindsey leave me a nice little comment below and you'll be entered! Brownie points are always welcome for tweeting, sidebar love, facebook love, you know the deal. Winner will be chosen next Wednesday!

Reality

Ninja fast typers, Clerical Monsters, Zombie Cleaning ladies, fairy school teachers, Rockstar bank workers, lobster lover servers, Stay-at-home Vampire Mom's (who don't like little children's biting habits)

We all have jobs, but I'm curious on our journey as writing and aspiring authors where we all began and where we are at now!

Are you a professional working by day and awesome writer by night?

Are you crazy job hopping loony by day and ninja fast writer by night?

Are you a stay home writer, mom, and write all day?

I'm interested to know all different walks of life! I'd love to hear what you all did before you came that full-time writer, or what you're still doing until you get there! What pays the bills until you sell that NY Time Bestseller (Yes we can all dream)!

My jobs:
Grocery and Market jobs
Retail job
Inbound call center for infomercials
Server
Data Entry

Still working towards full-time writing :)

For all you coffee addicts!!!

Calling all coffee addicts!!! Calling all coffee addicts!!!


The lovely Jennie Bailey over at Garden of Lily is hosting a fun and adventurous blog contest!!! You will not be disappointed when you drop by!

Up FoR gRaBs: $10 Starbucks GiftCard

HoW tO wIn: This is the fun part! You are dropped in a remote location with only three items...

Tent
Sleeping Bag
Backpack

In your backpack you have the following items:

Water bottle
Iodine tablets (purify the water)
Wateproof matches
Swiss army knife
Small frying pan
Book with lists of edible plans

NOW YOU MUST CHOOSE THREE ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO ADD TO YOUR BACKPACK!

The most creative answers win, so make sure you are smart with your list and give good reasons as to why you chose what you chose!!! Please visit her and sign up! It's super easy and literally only takes two seconds!! You currently have an excellent chance at winning!

WHAT ARE YOU WATING FOR?! GO NOW! Oh and be sure to tell her I sent you :)

In love with Firelight

Today I have a local author, Sophie Jordan!!!! I'm so excited to introduce her, she has a upcoming YA novel titled Firelight, debuting in September! This is a MUST READ so pre-order it now!!! You will not be disappointed!

Okay now for the awesome interview!!!! Enjoy!

1. Your upcoming YA novel Firelight is about to release September 7th, would you like to give us the run-down on what the book is all about?

Well, the blurb says it better than I ever could:
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

This story seriously rocks! I kid you not, it will have you in a trance at page one! Beautifully written, and Sophie Jordan has a gift at romance for sure!!

2. I love that Jacinda can breathe fire, what a cool power to have! Where did this idea come from? Have you always wanted to breathe fire?

I guess the idea followed immediately on the heels of deciding that my heroine is a descendant from dragons. The ability to breathe fire just flashed into my head as a natural connection to dragons. And once it hit me, I knew I was on to something good. So good I decided to make her even more special by making her the last fire-breather of her kind.

So this makes sense right! A dragon descendant breathing fire! Just wait, because she's not done yet, she has other gifts in the dragon world that creative thinkers like yourself would LOVE!

3. How did you come up with the names for your characters?

Well, the human names were fairly ordinary picks, but the draki names I gave a little more thought. They needed to be a tad exotic … since they didn’t belong to humans. I wanted draki names to sound a little “old”, too. And of course they have to “fit” the character. Sometimes you just know when a name works for the character in your mind. I knew Jacinda’s name immediately. It had been lurking in the back of my mind for a few years waiting for the right character.

The names rocked!

4. How long did it take you to write you first novel? Was it accepted by an agent?

I probably spent a few months writing it, then I revised off and how over the course of the following year … all the while actively submitting it to agents and working on a new project. I signed with an agent probably two years after I wrote that first book. And yes, miraculously, it was that first book I wrote that she sold.

I love hearing the first book stories! Shows that writers it is more than possible to sell your first book!

5. Will Firelight be a series or just one novel?

The plan so far is for Firelight to be a three book trilogy. I’m contracted for three books.

YAY! I cannot wait for two more installments!

6. Any other secret projects in the works?

Well, Firelight has been optioned for film! And the film company has asked for my input/involvement regarding the adaption of the book. That’s been somewhat hush-hush news I’ve been sitting on. Really excited!

Wow! That is such awesome news!! It would make one awesome movie!

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

As painful as it is, I probably love revising a book the most. That’s when the magic happens (and the blood and sweat). There is rarely anything magical about my first drafts! ;)

I'm finding that revisions might be my favorite as well!

Fun & Random Questions
• Favorite bookshop – KATY BUDGET BOOKS
• Favorite place to eat – HUNGRY’s
• Salty or Sweet – Both combined.
• Favorite ice cream – Any peanut butterish flavor
• Favorite book series – Hunger Games
• Dragons or Dinosaurs – Ha! Dragons.
• Chick flick or horror – Horror
• Person who most inspires you – My father
• Snow or rain – Rain
• Favorite place to write – My patio
• What are you reading right now – Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• Favorite treat while writing – Chips and guac!

There you have it!!! Isn't she amazing?! Now go and check out her website and pre-order your copy of Firelight today!!

Stuck in a writing rut?

Don't lie... it happens to everyone. We get stuck in a rut when it comes to writing at times. You know that feeling where you desperately want to produce genius work but you can't even write one sentence down? I figured why don't we combat it before it even pops up!!!

So here are some ideas to prevent writers block, or if you are currently stuck in a writing rut here are some ideas to snap out of it!

1. Take a bubble bath (my personal fav)

2. Read blogs (though at times this becomes an addiction so be careful!)

3. Meetup with friends or find a new meetup group of writers (meetup.com)

4. Visit your local library!

5. Visit a park or a museum.

6. Take a dip in your pool (if the weather permits)

7. Create a map of fantasy world you'd love to live in!

8. Braindump all of your “to dos” onto a piece of paper to clear your mind.

9. Dance

10. Or everyon'e favorite: You Tube

I only gave you 10 ideas but we all know there are a ton of ideas to get you out of your awful case of writer's block, so if you have any ideas please feel free to share, or by all means share which one of these works for you!

BTW - I'm sure you've noticed my newest layout... I was trying to be creative and super fancy with 3 columns but when I realized I wasn't gifted enough to be fancy I gave up and ended up with this! Hope you like it!

I'm reaching to 500 followers and when I do be ready for the awesomeness! I'm planning on holding one heck of a contest, so if you want it to happen sooner be sure to tell your friends to get me to 500!!

Oh and I just signed up at goodreads.com so if you are already on goodreads please add me as your friend!!!! My books are listed on my sidebar!

tough moment

Good Morning All! I appreciate all your thoughts on yesterdays Tuesday Twist... unfortunately I have slippery fingers and deleted the post, I'm sadened by it and now I know I need to watch what I'm messing with!! However for those of you who read them and commented I thank you. The third synopsis had actually been my current WIP and I appreciated the feedback and the fact that several of you wanted to purchase it!

For this morning, since it has been completely off, for more reasons than just slippery fingers I figured I'd keep it short. So here it goes...

I went to Barnes & Noble and bought three new books!

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
In The Woods by Tana French
(this is awful... I've forgotten the title so I'll let you know it later!!)

So there you have it... you can see the chaos this morning! However I will say that I'll be commenting on all of your beautiful blogs this evening, friend is officially out of town (though I'll miss him) and the hubby works overnights (I'll miss him a lot too!) which means I have a lot of free time, and you wonderful people will keep me busy!!! I also will be working on my current WIP and have a teaser for you next week!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!