Falling Into Books Blog Hop: Giveaways Galore

Pardon the interruption to our normal Friday Feature, but this is exciting. We are participating in our first Blog Hop Giveaway. *rounds of applause* *fireworks* The brainchild of Michelle Flick of Oh! For the LOVE of BOOKS, the Falling Into Books Blog Hop runs from Monday, September 26 to Friday, September 30. Winners will be announced on Saturday, October 1st.

I'm posting about this giveaway early to give my readers a heads up. I will re-run this post Monday.

We are giving away a signed copy of our novel, Depression Cookies. More information about our award-winning novel can be found at our website. This giveaway is open to all US residents over age 13. Details for entering are below.

Please click on this beautiful badge for more fantastic giveaways. Information about the giveaway will be posted Monday, September 26.

Details for my giveaway:

- Please leave a comment below answering this burning question: What's the single most important characteristic of a meaningful relationship? (this is research for our next novel about a mother and her college daughter)

- For an extra entry into the hat, please join this site with Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar. One more entry for following me on Twitter. Please note if you did one or both of these in your comments below so I can count it properly. If you are already my friend and follower, thank you. We want to thank you with one extra entry (again make note in your comment).

On Saturday morning, I will put all the names in a hat (with repeat names for extra entries) and have my oldest daughter pick. I know it's not as fancy as using an internet tool, but I haven't played with those yet and don't want to mess up my first official blog hop giveaway. I'll post a picture with my daughter pulling said name (for fun!).

Any questions, please leave a comment.

Comments left before Monday, September 26 will not be considered, so please come back then. Just wanted to give you some food for thought for the weekend. Comments about your excitement over the giveaway or our blog in general, however, are always welcome. *smiles* Wishing everyone a happy weekend!

Dear Diary: Protect my Words and my Heart

Today, September 22nd, is Dear Diary Day. Months ago, I ran across information on this special day and knew it was post-worthy. You don't need to be a writer to appreciate the value of words. Words helps us express emotion and desire, catalog memories, and communicate ideas.

For mothers, remember all the cute things your toddler has said. Their words, so priceless when said, are often lost in the shuffle of life. Take a moment, write them down. Before you know it, they'll be packing for college.

For writers, keep a journal in your car, purse, everywhere. Write every thing you see, feel, touch, taste... detail any sensory experience. Keep it for scenes and inspiration. Write whenever something touches you.

For readers, write down how your favorite book makes you feel. A friend recently gave me a book lover's journal to record cherished moments from books. I want to remember why it touched me, not just that it did.

For people struggling, write it down and let it go. Sometimes expressing your thoughts in words, in a private place, can be the first step to healing. The paper won't judge you. It takes your words without opinion. Close the cover and revisit it as you can.

Part of the inspiration for Depression Cookies came from finding my teenage diaries during a move. As soon as I read the words, the emotions were so clear. Fears, desires, disappointments... all protected in a red velvet-covered diary with a broken lock. Some things were forgotten, but came rushing back with the power of the written details.

May today remind you to record your thoughts, no matter your profession. Those words will always mean something. A diary or journal can be the simplest way to protect your heart.

Do you journal? Will you start?

Top Five Lessons from my Friends: Last Round 3 ROW 80 Check In

I'll Be There for You, Cause You're There for Me Too

Can you tell I loved Friends? Well, I also love my friends. I must admit I have some blogger and writer friends right now I'd love to meet. I'm grateful for the online relationships and support, but I'm still wishing for a more personal dinner out. Maybe we'll all pick a conference to attend in 2012 or something. Just saying...

It's hard to believe this is the final check in for Round 3 of A Round of Words in 80 Days. I am so thankful to Kait Nolan. This challenge has taught me so much.

Top Five Gifts From Round 3:

Support
I love to write, but it can be a very solitary existence. I'm a people person. I knew this about myself, but didn't think it applied to my writing. It does. Encouragment and camaraderie are essential to my writing life. Hearing about others' struggles and accomplishments makes me feel less isolated and more inspired.

Knowledge
I learned something from every post I read during the challenge: everything from writing technique, editing hints, suggestions for formatting ebooks, cover art, trailer production to not being so hard on yourself when life gets in the way.

Accountability
Overall, I'm a motivated person. I like to succeed and fulfill goals. Still, knowing my fellow writers were working toward their own goals and planning to stop by, was a huge motivator for me.

Goal-Setting
ROW 80 is unique because it allows the participants to reassess their goals and customize the challenge for their needs. This was a new concept for me. I tend to overschedule and run around like a mad woman. I rarely give myself permission to reassess. I've discovered my writing flows better when I don't force it.

Acceptance
Life happens. Writer's block happens. You have to learn to accept change and move forward or life will take over. Easier said than done. ROW 80 participants have helped me learn this valuable lesson.

Overall, I am happy with my Round 3 results. Mom and I are almost 25,000 words into our sequel. It took us 10 years to write the first book and its 176,000 words. I'm looking forward to better defining my goals in Round 4.

The best challenge I set for myself this week was to visit every blog on Sunday's Linky. Success! It was my sprint to the finish. I wanted to give back some love to show appreciation.

Round 4 starts October 3rd. I hope to see a lot of familiar faces as well as find new writer friends. Readers: this is a great place for you to check out writers and hear about some exciting book projects, most prior to publication. If you are on the lookout for new authors and books, you'll be thrilled with what you find.

New Mom Advice and Instructions: Tub-Full Tuesday

People who are willing to pass on knowledge to help others fill my tub. I've often posted about the generosity of the writing community, but there's another wonderful group who live to give... mothers. I've yet to meet a mom who wasn't terrified to leave the hospital with her first baby. I know I personally questioned the sanity of the nurse who signed my exit papers. What did I know about this little person?

My gut sent me running to my mom. She was unbelievable, so patient with all my questions. But she didn't live close by. I learn by watching, and I needed to surround myself with other women figuring it out. I needed new mom advice and camaraderie.

One of my first Mommy-friends suggested a book I adore to this day, Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions: A Journal of my Son's First Year. She didn't hold back any of her fears. I was so tired with a newborn, but devoured this book in one evening. I laughed and appreciated the author's raw honesty about tackling the unknown beast of motherhood. Truly some of the best new mom advice I've ever received. At the core, we have to believe in ourselves and embrace our struggles and thoughts. The biggest defeat a mom can have is trying too hard to be perfect, it's simply unattainable.

When I was querying my fellow moms about whether to have a third kid or not, a handful were truly honest. I so appreciated it, and I spread the love. I tell other moms all the time that they will inevitably love and cherish a new life, but they should consider the effort of different personalities, needs, wants and energies. It's a commitment, and one not to be taken lightly.

A huge thank you to all my mom friends who constantly fill my tub and help me be a better mother and woman.

Today, my mom and I are featured on WoMom.net, a wonderful site for mothers. I love their slogan... real moms. real life. Please take a moment to checkout their site and our interview.

What is the best real advice a mother ever gave you?

Books on the Run: Guest Blog by Tara Silverthorne Carter

I am thrilled to have my sister guest posting today. On this blog, you've been introduced to my mother and co-author and my baby sister and Webmaster/Blogmaster. Tara, my lovely middle sister, does not love to read in a family of readers. But that is not to say she doesn't enjoy a good book.

 

*****

 

Books on the Run

 

I admit it, I am NOT a reader. I hear myself constantly telling my children, “Go Read” but they rarely see me pick up a book. I do sit and read my USWeekly, but typically I only read over homework and notes from teachers. 

 

I have to say I am always interested in hearing what others are reading though. I had no idea about the Twilight Series until hearing my sisters and mom gab about it. I kept thinking, “I am missing something.”  So I tried to commit myself to reading a few chapters every night. And, I am embarrassed to admit this, I would end up drooling over the pages within minutes.

 

What I love to do is run. I love waking up on a Sunday morning before my family is awake and going on a 10+ mile run. It is a time where I can reflect on the week’s accomplishments, put my to-do list together, or just get caught up in my head. During one of my long marathon training runs, I decided to download Stephanie Myers’ The Host. That book took over 21 hours, but every Sunday morning I was excited about doing my long run (even the 20 milers!). I got lost in the book. I felt so good that I was able to combine working out with reading. I had found my way into the READING world!

I do not stick to one genre when it comes to downloading audiobooks. I listen to what my mom and sisters read and often download those. And, honestly, sometimes I just pick a book because the cover or the synopsis looks appealing. I have listened to books by Dean Koontz, Glenn Beck, and Jennifer Wiener. At times I like inspirational stories, scary novels and, I must admit, I love most young-adult vampire inspired novels.

I'll probably never be a part of a Book Club, but I am okay with that. I wouldn’t want to see my book any other way than what I have pictured in my head. And if listening to a book gets me excited about a long run, I've killed two birds with one stone.

Here’s to us who love books, just not in print format!

 

*****

 

I admit... I need to embrace audio books. I'd get to "read" a lot more books that way! Thanks, Tara, for the inspiration (on books, you know where I stand on running).

 

Do you listen to audio books? If so, does it replace reading or enhance it?

Learning to Read: ROW 80 Check In

Tonight, I sat patiently, okay maybe not so patiently... let's go with diligently. Tonight, I sat diligently doing flashcards with my six-year-old. The same 30 words we go over several times a week. She starts out on a roll, tearing through word after word, her confidence building. Then she hits a more difficult word, she stumbles a bit, but she gets it. A few more words give her trouble. They are the same words we've been over and over. I try to stay calm.


It's my third child. I know it takes time and practice, but we both get frustrated. By the end of the cards, we are both exhausted and ready to be done. With my first daughter, I remember thinking she might never read. One night we sat reading Hop on Pop for the sixth or seventh night in a row. Her little sister sat beside us, just happy to be in the room. When she stumbled on the word "all" the same place she always did, I told her, "remember, we read this yesterday." She started hitting the book, but her younger sister calmly said, "all, sis, it's all."

Tonight's exhausting flash card session ended up making me feel better. I realized I have thrown myself into a whole new world of blogging daily, the Twitter universe, Facebook as a writer (not just to announce my new favorite nail polish), dedicated writing, author building campaigns, flash fiction... the list is never ending. At first I was gaining momentum, taking the easier routes. As I gained confidence, I took on more, had a few setbacks. It's a lot to take in.

Sometimes I'll blog for two to three days and the ideas will flow, then day 4... nothing. Same with writing. The words will come pouring out of me for pages, then they'll slow down and often come to an abrupt halt. I seem powerless against the creative beast who taunts me with flashes of brilliance followed by moments of defeat and exasperation.

Do you ever feel this way? 

A Round of Words in 80 Days has been a wonderful outlet for me to discuss writing woes or struggles and get amazing support and wonderful tips. I am so grateful.

Question for my writer/ROW 80 friends... Mom and I work by alternating writing chapters. I don't like to work too far ahead because it throws off our rhythm and causes a lot of reworking and discussing. Should I start another novel I've had brewing, and work on that when I'm not working on our follow-up to Depression Cookies?

I don't want to over-tax my writing brain. I thought about joining NaNo to move along my solo project, but committing 50,000 words in one month to that might leave my other piece high and dry... advice, please.

My biggest goal for the following week: I slacked checking on my fellow ROW 80 buddies this week, so I'm going to visit and comment on every single person on the Linky Tool below before Wednesday's post. Wish me luck!

Please join me and visit these inspiring writers here.

Not The Newlywed Game: Friday Feature

On Fridays I like to feature the best thing I've read the past week. Some weeks it's a no-brainer, other times I struggle to find something. Or, more importantly, something entertaining!

This week my favorite thing is a little something Mom wrote and sent my way. Enjoy!

*****

It Ain't The Newlywed Game

We’ve been married 41 years. 41 years. Do you think we would know more about each other than the couples on The Newlywed Game? Well, check out this scenario.

My husband and I recently attended a church marriage seminar for seniors to strengthen our communication skills. Lovely idea! And so needed. He declares I mumble. I vow he can’t even hear himself. He says I never told him. I steam he doesn’t listen. The seminar was a great idea until... the moderator began asking questions.

It was all fun and games listening to other couples answer their questions with ease and comfort. We all laughed, ribbing our church friends that they must have rehearsed their answers. None of the questions were hard. None of them were intimate or personal. Most were common, everyday questions everyone knew how to answer. You know the break the ice kind of questions.

We were in the middle of a hardy, raucous time with our friends when the instructor threw a question our way.  “Sir, can you name your wife’s favorite flower?”

You should have seen my husband. Proud plastered itself all over his face. A smile spread from ear to ear. I must have smirked, feeling girlish, knowing he had the right answer.

He touched my hand. Tears welled. With firm conviction, he loudly declared, “It’s Pillsbury!”

The room grew quiet. The speaker looked puzzled. Everyone turned our way.

After what seemed an eternity, I gasped, shoved his hand away, and said without one stitch of hesitation, “Fool! I use King Arthur!”

Laughter erupted. Our faces grew brilliant red. My friend sitting next to me cupped her hands around her mouth, leaned in toward me and yelled, “He said flower!”

My husband and I looked at one another and shrugged our shoulders.

She yelled louder, “He said flower!”

By now, we were getting riled up. How dare she contradict what we’d answered? Was something wrong with the woman’s hearing?

When she screamed it out for the third time, we both stood up in unison, and walked out the door, huffed up and angry. Once we’d cleared the church doors, my husband flailed his arms, angry as a bantam rooster. “Well, you can tell who needed that seminar. And it sure to hell wasn’t us!”

Trekking behind him, I agreed, wholeheartedly, “Bunch of damn fools! You can tell they can’t hear a blessed thing! Did you see how she acted?”

My beloved whirled on me, shouting, “Acted? I lovingly gave the correct answer. Are you trying to start a battle with me?”

Clearly we needed to head back into that seminar, but by the time I recovered from his attack, he was halfway down the block, struggling to open someone else’s car door. Guess it’s not the right time to remind him we drove to church with the lady who insulted us. Rather than tackle the problem further, I headed home, so befuddled I wasn’t certain if I should turn on 2^nd Street or 3^rd.

****

I not only enjoyed the humor of the piece, but also the illustration of how easily misunderstandings happen. It's like the telephone game we all played as kids. One kid would say something as simple as, "The cat is up the tree" and inevitably, by the last child, it would become, "I really have to pee."

It's a nice reminder to be clear and concise, whether in a conversation or the written word.

When was the last time a misunderstanding led to humor for you?