Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Christina Marie

Please welcome the next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. 

I couldn’t wait to meet Christina Marie this year. She reviewed Fractured Glass and loved it, and she has such a presence. I began following her blog and watching her YouTube videos and fell in love with her. I’m thrilled to say she’s even more amazing in person. She’s a bright ray of sunshine and always opening her arms for a hug.

Christina with me & Jo Michaels

Thanks for hanging out on my blog today.

CM: Of course, Tia! I’m excited to be here!

When did you decide to share your love of books through a blog and YouTube channel?

CM: It was actually three years ago on July 19, 2012 that I started both my blog and my YouTube channel, but I didn’t decide to start sharing my love for books until I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green back in April 2013! I felt the need to express my feels in a different way and book blogging & book tubing became my home that year!

When I watched your YouTube reflections on UtopYA, I was thrilled to find out you are a writer at heart. I truly believe the best writers love to read. Can you tell us what your book is about?

CM: Yes! I can. I am finally confident and comfortable enough to tell people that I am writing something! My book is about a young girl, Brette, who is abandoned by her mother at a very young age, and so she’s raised by her father. One day her father gets into some trouble and disappears, leaving her to fend for herself as a teenage girl. She becomes homeless because of this — until she is saved by a man that turns out to be her mother’s new husband. So, she’s thrown into this new life and new family with a mother that she’s hated all of her life. My book is about her adapting to all of that, while learning how to love her mother again and fall in love with her new family.

It sounds amazing. I can't wait to read it. I loved the story you shared with me at UtopYA about Marissa Meyer’s influence on you at a young age. Can you share that here? Oh, and tell us how it felt to meet her in person.

CM: Oh gosh! Marissa Meyer was a part of my childhood. When I was about 10 years old, I started watching Sailor Moon when I was at summer Day camp and fell in LOVE with the show — and anime in general. I found myself — really, my mother — buying the soundtracks, the dolls, the manga, everything Sailor Moon related. I was THAT in love. But then I also found myself mentally rewriting the episodes in my head. That was right around the time my mom started letting me on the computer and using the internet, so I found out what fan fiction was. And I happened upon a lot of Sailor Moon fan fiction. It was amazing! I used to print out the stories and keep them in a binder near my bed. I loved reading people’s re-imaginings of characters and episodes that I’d seen.

Anyway, there were about 3 fanfiction stories that I loved so much that I kept reading over and over again. They were by a person with the pen name Alicia Blade. I loved reading her stories. I just loved how real she made these characters feel to me. I still have those stories to this day… those stories got me through really bad days. When I just wasn’t feeling like myself, especially during my teenage years. (Fun Fact: I even wrote my own Sailor Moon/Digimon fan fiction because of Alicia Blade… and I may still have it *wink, wink*)

Turns out, Alicia Blade is none other Marissa Meyer. I love that woman. I love The Lunar Chronicles — they’re some of my favorite books. So, I almost cried when I found out that she and Alicia Blade were the same person!

When I found out she was going to be at UtopYA, I could NOT wait to meet her and tell her about everything she’s done for me. Well, funny story, I almost bulldozed her over when I was looking for her. But she and I got to talk for quite a while about what her writing, published and non published, meant to me. 

It was seriously one of the BEST conversations I’ve ever had with an author. I was literally starstruck. I think I was more starstruck at the fact that I was talking to Alicia Blade, as opposed to Marissa Meyer! haha

I really do love that story. So, you and Ethan Gregory, of One Guy’s Guide to Good Reads, are attached at the hip. I’m also featuring him in this interview series. How did you two become friends?

CM: Funny thing — he and I just talked about this. Ethan and I met in Des Moines, IA at a book event. We had a mutual friend who sent us both there with books we needed to get signed for her. Ethan had to give me the book he had gotten signed, so I could mail them back all together. 

According to him, he didn’t like me at first. He thought I was intimidating… Ha!

But, interestingly enough, our closeness came from a growing distance with our mutual friend. It was one of those “some relationships are only for a season” kind of deals. And he and I bonded over the loss of a mutual friendship. Through that bond, we learned how similar we are — with opinions, with music, etc. We started partnering together on projects — and we’ve been good friends ever since!

So sweet. I think you are both amazing. I've been asking everyone so far... What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

CM: I’m a music girl. It’s where my creativity stems from. So, when I think of a quote, it’s always from a song. 

“Your love will be my last — until my life runs out”.

It’s from my favorite song called “Where You Are” and it’s by Gavin DeGraw.

When I first heard that line, I cried. Because it’s what I call “my life verse”. When I love, I love hard. When I’m passionate about something, I am all in. And I try and live my life that way. 

My love for music, for the written word, for people, for life in general runs deep — it will continue to be fast and hard, slow and steady, strong and constant until I take my last breath on this earth. That’s how I want to be remembered. Life is so short; I want to love everything I do and everyone I know with every fiber of my being.

You know what... you totally come across that way, which is why everyone is so drawn to you. I loved meeting you in person in Nashville. What do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

CM: Utopia is seriously the field of dreams. It’s a magical reality. It’s where ideas go to become tangible. I have never felt a better energy and a better support system than Utopia. For it being my first time, I didn’t even feel like I was new! I felt like I knew everyone and that everyone was my family. I didn’t feel like a spectator or a “fan” meeting “celebrities”, like I’ve felt a many other conventions. 

I felt… home. I felt welcomed. I felt included. I felt important. I felt known.

That is what makes Utopia special.

Christina with Mindy Ruiz

 ✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮ 

Last Movie you Saw: Forrest Gump (my all time favorite film)

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Romance (I’m a hopeless romantic)

Last book you Read: Shades of Treason by Sandy Williams

First Job: Cashier at Old Navy

Gift cards or Cash? Cash!

Favorite Vacation Spot: Rome, Italy

More about Christina

LuLo Fangirl is a website run by me, Christina Marie. Founded in 2012, I wanted to create something for me. Not for anyone else, but me. Because that’s where it needs to start. If you’re not doing it for you first, then it’s not healthy. I get so much joy from talking about things that I love, from books to music to beauty to fashion. Even film (but that’s usually associated with books).

The name name “LuLo” comes from “Luscious and Lovely”, which is the name that this site originally possessed because it was primarily a beauty/fashion site. But in 2013, I decided to expand my focus on ALL things that interested me, not just beauty. Not just fashion. So “LuLo” was born. 

“Fangirl” was added in 2014 as my personal statement. A statement of ownership. Of pride. I used to get made fun of for being too excited about books or makeup or fashion. And I used to hide it. Not anymore. I wear the term as a badge of honor. I am a fangirl. And screw what you think.

LuLo Fangirl is a place for those who yearn to be understood. To squeal unnecessarily about the latest Cumberbatch photobomb or the new Cassandra Clare book. It’s for the fangirls to just fangirl; but it’s also for me. This site gives me permission to just be myself and I hope you enjoy me.

Other media outlets:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lcmarie19
Tumblr: http://lcmarie19.tumblr.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/krazytina05
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lcmarie19
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lcmarie19

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.

Lose Sight of the Shore : #IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (or IWSG) is a wonderful group put together by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh (which now has an equally cool Facebook group). 

The first Wednesday of each month is the perfect opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch, get encouragement and support about such insecurities, and to read how other writers are faring.

With the insanity of summer and kids being at home (my girls just started 10th, 8th, and 5th grades), I missed last month's posting. I'm glad to be back and look forward to checking in on as many people as I can.

Lately, my biggest fear is playing it too safe.

I've reached a point in my writing career (that shows a great first step, I called it career instead of something else) where I am not unhappy with my successes. However, I tend to be conservative... always playing it too safe.

To get to the next level, I have to take bigger chances and push the envelope. Which, inevitably, means there will be some failure.

Ugh. I. Hate. That. Word.

I know I can't get to the next step with a spotless record of success. I can't fear failure.

So, please help me out. Inspire Me! What are your favorite inspirational quotes surrounding success? Please share in the comments. I would greatly appreciate it.

My self-confidence thanks you.

Lies Facebook Party & Indie Podcasts : Indie News & Highlights

Happy Monday!

I have some great stuff to share with you today. Are you looking for entertainment from the Indie world? If so, you'll love this post.

First up...

Today, 8/31/15, starting at 2pmEST, head on over to Facebook to enjoy a fun release day party for Christina Benjamin's Lies.

Some information:

I'll be hosting starting at 10:30pm EST (it's perfect for me, because it's only 7:30pm EST). Join us here.

*****

Next up...

If you love podcasts, there's an awesome new series from Jo Michaels, A Daily Cup of Jo. She features awesome interviews from the world of Utopia. All Indie, all the time. It's so awesome. I'm started listening to them on my run/walks.

To find out more about the shows, visit Jo's blog page here.

Just in case you are like me (not tech-savvy), I wanted to show you how easy it is to listen to Podcasts (this one is free, by the way).

Simply click this icon on your iPhone...

Then, search for "A Daily Cup of Jo". You should see this graphic...

Now all you need to do is enjoy.

Since I'm new to Podcasts, please let me know some other ones I should be listening to in the comments section below. Thanks in advance!

Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Ashley Bodette

Please welcome the next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2016 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. I’ve followed her blog, Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous, for a while. But this year was the first time I sat down and really got to know her.

She’s funny, inspiring, and just plain awesome. Let me just say, there’s no better way to get to know someone than by playing Cards Against Humanity.

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today!

AB: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to be here! And I have to agree, Cards Against Humanity is a pretty great way to get to know someone!

You are the heart and soul behind Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous. What inspired you to start a book blog?

AB: Mostly I was just looking for a way to connect more with other readers and authors.  It took me almost a YEAR to convince myself to finally start it.  I didn’t really know that book blogs existed until 2012 when I joined Goodreads to keep track of what I was reading.  I started devouring other blogs’ posts, and I wanted to do it myself, but I was really scared that I would be putting my words out into the void, and no one would read it.  But if these other people could do it, I could to. And let me tell you, starting my blog changed my life.

You have some exciting things happening for the rest of 2015. Later this year, you are moving to London to pursue a Masters in Publishing. How did this come about?

AB: From August 2013-August 2014 I was Rachel Harris’s assistant.  As part of the internship, Rachel showed me everything she could about the publishing industry. I did a lot of beta reading/critiquing for her, and she kept on encouraging me to pursue an actual career in editing, or at least somewhere within publishing.  I looked into MA programs here in the states, but none of them seemed to fit. So I started looking in other English speaking countries. And once I found Kingston University, I knew that was it for me. I did a ton of research about their program, and the area outside of London where I would be going to school. I wrote the hardest essay of my life (my personal statement), filled out the rest of the application, and hit submit. A week later, I was sent my acceptance letter, and the rest is history.

I can't wait to hear all about your adventures. What non-book related thing are you most looking forward to doing in London?

AB: Hmm…well, this is just outside of London, but I’m REALLY looking forward to visiting the Doctor Who Experience. And I’m also excited to see lots of things on stage! (Musicals, plays, etc.)

Can I please come visit? :-) So, I also happen to know you are writing a book. Can you tell us anything about it? And when did you know you wanted to be an author?

AB: This was another Rachel Harris idea. She kept telling me I should just try to write something, so I started writing short stories a year ago. One of these short stories, it turns out, is not a short story at all. Although it started out as a funny, fluffy piece, the more I wrote, the deeper and darker it got. (I am a pantser, if you couldn’t tell.) 

I guess you could say the platform of my novel is that dating abuse is happening to teens across our nation, and abuse doesn’t just mean being physically hurt. My main characters, Becca and Asher, have pretty much been best friends since they were eight. Or at least, they were until Becca started dating Trip. Trip asked her to stop spending time with other males, and she did, because she thought it was cute that he was jealous. But over time, his requests and ‘suggestions’ isolated and hurt Becca more and more. After a HUGE bad moment, Becca broke up with Trip, but she’s having a hard time rejoining the rest of the world. This is the short blurb one of my beta-readers help put together for it:

A teenage story of acceptance, love, and finding the calm after the storm.

After losing herself during an abusive relationship, Becca is on a journey to find herself again, whether she knows it or not.

And Asher is going to help her get there.

That sounds awesome. Congrats. Oh, and I'm a proud pantser, too. I can't wait to read your work. Knowing you love books, I have to ask... what was your first favorite book?

AB: The Boxcar Children. My first grade teacher handed it to me because I was bored with all of the picture books we were reading in class. Once I worked through The Boxcar Children, I was hooked.  I haven’t stopped reading since.

Ah, I love that series and my girls did, too. So, I've been asking everyone... What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

AB: Alright, this is kind of a tie between two, but they’re related. First, “She needed a hero, so that’s what she became.” Second is a quote from Coco Chanel: “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”  

These are my mantras, both for myself, and my main character.  I personally got out of an abusive marriage three years ago, and I know how hard it can be to get out of an abusive relationship. But, we should never have to change ourselves in order to make someone else happy. And in order to get out of those relationships, we have to become our own hero. No one can save us but ourselves.

I love those quotes. By the way, congratulations on again being named an official Utopia blogger. What do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

AB: Hands down, it’s the people. These people are MY people. We truly are a family. I don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed of being ME, my book-loving self. Of course the workshops, awards, and other chances for industry interaction are phenomenal as well. But without the people, those workshops and awards wouldn’t mean a thing.

 ✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮ 

Last Movie you Saw: Disney Pixar’s Inside Out

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Can I have them all mixed together? J

Last book you Read: The Forgotten Mountain by Heather Lyons

First Job: Nanny

Gift cards or Cash? Depends who it’s coming from…

Favorite Vacation Spot: This one’s tough!  I’m going to go with camping in The Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota.

More about Ashley

Wow. My life is really in the middle of a lot of change, making this hard to write.  I grew up on a small hobby farm in Minnesota, and lived in/near the same small town for (almost all of) the first 25 years of my life!  I moved to Florida in 2012. Although I have missed seeing snow at Christmas time, I definitely haven’t been able to complain about the warmer weather!  In September I will be moving to London for a year to study my MA in publishing at Kingston University.

My grandpa taught me how to read when I was 4 years old, and I haven’t stopped reading since!  I have a BA in English literature, with a minor in music.  I currently dabble in beta reading, proofreading, and critiquing/editing, as well as writing.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter @AshleyBodette, author Facebook page, and Instagram.

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.

Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : CJ Pinard

Please welcome the next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series.

Me with CJ & Jo Michaels at UtopYA2015

When I first walked up to greet CJ this year, my daughter was already there. She made it clear I was ruining her mojo, so I went back later. CJ is a gorgeous person, inside and out, and she’s always got a smile and kind word to share.

Thanks for hanging out on my blog today.

CJ: Hey! Thanks for having me! It was sooo great seeing you at UtopYA2015, and meeting your beautiful daughter.

My daughter lives for UtopYA. She actually asked for the ticket as her birthday gift. Speaking of birthdays, happy belated birthday. I'm a summer baby, too. Oh, and congratulations on your new release (and book birthday) for Soul Release (Rebel Riders #3). Tell us about Soul Release.

CJ: Well, Soul Release is the third installment of this trilogy. This series, like all my books, was supposed to be one book, but this story continued to stretch into more books. This will probably be the last. 

I think my characters like to get into so much trouble and have adventures that their stories just keep going. I really enjoyed this series, kinda sad to see it come to an end. With that being said, there’s a character who sort of tried to take over and I had to put a leash on him, so to speak, and he may be getting a novella for all his troubles!

You write both young adult paranormal and new adult romances. Which challenges you more as a writer? Do you have a favorite?

CJ: Definitely the romances. Paranormal is my first love, and those seem to flow pretty easily for me. But the romances I feel I need to put a bit more emotion into (which is why these are written in first person, versus my paranormal, which are written in third). I don’t want to write a flat and boring romance that doesn’t make the reader at least get some emotional investment from the characters and/or the storyline. I have cried while writing all of them, especially Tour of Duty. I have a soft spot for our military men and women. That one is my favorite to date. We’ll see after my new series comes out if I can outdo myself.

I have no doubt you can do anything you set your mind to. By the way, I'm impressed with the number of books you’ve published. What’s your writing schedule like?

CJ: Haha, thank you! I hear that a lot. Believe it or not, I still have a full time day job that I can’t leave because I’ve only got six years left until I can draw a partial retirement, so I plan on sticking it out. I write in the evenings mostly, but not every night. I just sometimes can’t or don’t want to. I think once I get on a roll, though, that I can produce a lot of words in a small amount of time. I think typing 100 WPM helps too, heh.

I bet it does. That's awesome. I've been asking everyone... What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

CJ: “Scars are souvenirs you never lose.” That one small lyric has resonated with me for years. We all carry scars, some on the outside, some on the inside. I decided a long time ago that mine were going to be something to treasure and learn from, not something I was gonna let break me or weaken me (and I have a lot!). I will use mine to better myself, and I teach my children the same thing. If only I could guard them from obtaining any scars, ya know? I truly believe scarred people are the most genuine and kindhearted.

I won't forget that one now. Thanks for sharing. So, what do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

CJ: I think it’s sort of an original concept that has now been copied. Not just a one-day book signing, but several days of panels, keynotes, and fandom. I think it’s great that it appeals to both future/wannabe writers and current seasoned vets. I love the ‘big’ names who come to speak, too. You can never learn enough about this industry. I really enjoyed Sylvia Day last year. What a nice gal too. I really enjoy watching the friendships develop and the excitement build on Facebook in the weeks and months building up to it.

CJ with Sylvia Day at UtopYA2014

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮ 

Last Movie you Saw: Fifty Shades of Grey (I just had to!)

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? For movies? Comedy. For reading? Horror

Last Book you Read: The Mortis Vampire Series by J.C. Diem (still reading this, it’s addicting!)

First Job: Deli Clerk

Gift cards or Cash? Gift Cards

Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere in Florida

CJ with her book model, Nathan Weller

I hope to see you next year in Nashville! I’m gonna try my darndest!!!

More about CJ

C.J. is a west coast native who has lived on both coasts and now lives near the middle, in Colorado! Coming from a family of writers and editors, she feels writing is in her blood and hopes people will lose themselves for a little while in the fantasy and fun of her stories. She also loves sweet red wine, the SF 49ers, and unlike most authors, doesn't have any cats (allergies!). When she's not writing, she can be found chasing around her kids or working at her day job, which she totally feels interferes with life, but it also gives her inspiration for her books, since reality is sometimes way more interesting than fiction.

She also loves getting notifications that people have sent her an email, added her on Facebook, or on Twitter. So stop by and say hi - don't be shy! She's not! :)

Email me: cjpinardauthor@gmail.com

Find me: http://cjpinard.com/

Like me: https://www.facebook.com/CJPinardAuthor

Friend me: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007822338176

Follow me: https://twitter.com/CJPinard

Add me: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565787.C_J_Pinard

OTHER BOOKS BY C.J. PINARD:

Enchanted Immortals (Book #1)

Enchanted Immortals 2: The Vortex

Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre

Enchanted Immortals 4: The Vixen

BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (An Enchanted Immortals Novella)

Patriotic Duty (Duty & Desire, #1)

Tour of Duty (Duty & Desire #2)

Boots Beneath My Bed (Duty & Desire #3)

Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4)

Unscathed (A paranormal romance collaboration with Tim O’Rourke)

Three of a Kind: Tales of Luck, Chance & Misfortune (short story collaboration)

Summer Sizzle: Stories of Love, Lust, and Passion (short story collaboration)

Blood Bites: Three Vampire Tales (short story collaboration)

Tidal Wave: Tales of Deep Passion (short story collaboration, a Duty & Desire short)

Soul Rebel (Rebel Riders #1)

Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2)

Soul Release (Rebel Riders #3)

Coming soon:

Imperfect Heroes Series (3 book contemporary romance series)

Unraveled (Paranormal romance #2 with Tim O’Rourke)

All books available where eBooks are sold.

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.