Contrary to evidence, I still blog...

Hello world,

It’s been a while since I’ve been on here, but of course, I’ve kept this blog and all the awesome blogger people I’ve met in my thoughts constantly. Today, I just wanted to stop in and make a list of things running around my brain as of lately.

1.      I’ve really been getting into Big Bang Theory lately. I had never watched it before, and now, I’m partially in love. Anyone else?

2.      I made a promise a long time ago to talk about my Nanowrimo experience last year. I can pretty much say it was an epic fail because I wasn’t mentally committed, but my goals this year are to up the writing and the reading to astronomical levels. Wish me luck

3.      I have TWO, count them TWO, book reviews being posted this week AT LEAST. Those two are already done, and hopefully I’ll have time to read and write more.

4.       I really want to up the book review factor on my blog. I’ve had some great people ask me for book reviews lately (self-published and traditionally published), and I’m really excited to read the material from them. Keep them coming! (Romance is still key for me, fyi.)

5.      I’ve been musically deprived lately. Sad but true, but I plan on using my iHeartRadio app to rectify that situation. I’m on the lookout for new favorites.

6.      Music and reading recharge my batteries. As does sleep.

7.      I’m very much into lists lately. And you can see it’s followed me here in this post.

8.      I missed American Idol this week because of work and sleep and business. I normally don’t watch the show, but I did want to see the auditions. Ah well. I KNOW I’ll be watching The Voice if nothing else.

9.      I’m setting bigger and bigger goals for myself, so I’m expecting great things for my future. You know, positivity brings positive results and all that jazz.

10.   I’m obsessed with hot pink lately. Like bright, loud, fuchsia pink. I’ve recently gotten two sweaters and a random knit hat. Very much the opposite of the high school me. Funny how we change :) 

So what about you all? How has the new year been treating you?

And I also want to leave you with a song to write by, which I may or may not have used before (but that doesn’t matter because I heart it): “Tomorrow” by Chris Young

Happy Reading and Writing!

P.S. You can enter to win a alienware laptop here and a Macbook Air and Apple TV here. Looks aaaawesome possum. Thanks Sparkling Reviews!

Blog interview!

Hello all :)

To all my old friends, hi from a stranger who pledges to not be such a stranger, and to any newbies, big hi from a new blogger friend!

How are you all doing? Lemme know in the comments so I can blog hop and say hi back.

Coming up, I'll be letting you know what happened with me and Nanowrimo experience; I'll be posting a book review of a new self-pubbed line of ebooks (look out for this. Should be Wednesday); and I'll just be posting in general soon. If you have any blogging requests, let me know, and I'll be sure to write away about it!

I wanted to let you all know that THE awesome E.R.King who runs the Get Busy Writing Blog has posted an interview with me today which you can see here. I highly suggest checking it out (and her blog in general). Stop by and say hi!


Now to leave you with a song to write by, because we're overdue, an oldie (as in the '90s) but an oh-so goodie, "Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik:

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all!

P.S. Romi is hosting a giveaway on her blog for some dreamy postcards. So, stop on by her blog, The Dreamy Tree, be creative and enter! 

Glittering Ashes Review

Hello all!

I wanted to let you know that the awesome Melissa Bradley has reviewed my book Glittering Ashes, and I wanted to send y'all over there to have a look. Let me know what you think, won't you?

And just to let you know, I tend to put Amazon links to my book within some of the posts, but if you're interested in getting Glittering Ashes from a different vendor, feel free to look at the "My Books" tab above, where I have several links to other places for purchase.

Okay, enough plugging, how are y'all doing? Like always, it's been so many moons since we've spoken. Let me know below so I can blog hop easier!

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Oh Darling" by Plug in Stereo. It's cutesy and indie sounding, no?

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all!

Nanowrimo Update: Day Two

Hello peoples!

I've just finished my Nanowrimo requirement for the day, again using Write or Die, the online version, which I can't fully explain the awesomeness of.

If you all haven't tried it or heard of it, it's basically a simple online text program where you set the parameters (how many words and how long of a writing period you want), and then you click "write." Basically, depending on the options you chose, you write in this little text box for the period you've set, and if you stop writing for a period of time, the screen turns from pink to red and then (also depending on your settings) a noise will blare loudly from your speakers, encouraging you to continue writing (or you could choose kamikaze mode which will then delete a word for every second you don't write---SCARY, I know). But it does put the "prod" in "productivity" as the site says.

So, I've used that so far (yesterday and today), and today's total: 1724 in 36 minutes. Woot. For some reason, I can really write fast with that thing. We'll see how much I end up keeping, but that's another story. lol. Y'all's comments were awesome! I'm so glad to have blogger buddies doing this with me. And WOOHOO major for Miranda Hardy. 4350 words on day one? ROCKSTAR status! :)

Let me know how y'all are doing thus far in this craziness we call Nanowrimo, and be sure to add me as a buddy if you haven't already (I'm Writtled on there too...)

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Way Back Into Love" from the movie Music and Lyrics, because it's friggin adorbs. :) This one is Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant, sigh. (as opposed to the other one from this movie with a singer named Haley and Hugh Grant)

Happy Reading and Writing, everyone!

Nanowrimo Update #1

That little button there should have said "Write or Die: I wrote 1709 words in 40 minutes," but it doesn't because it has lost its widgety brain right now. Please excuse it. 

I feel pretty good. I didn't think I'd get anything done today seeing as I normally work in the morning and not at all. So yay for me. lol. How are you all doing with Nanowrimo? Let me know below, and yay for everyone doing it general. I <3ed the comments, and I should be able to blog hop soon. Right now this is just me popping in! 

Psst, in case you were curious. It's not sci-fi. It's a "contemporary romance, who knows what" thing. Haven't done contemporary before. Hmm. We'll see how it goes :)

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "I'm Not Dead" by Pink :)

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all!

Happy Happy Halloween

Hello, everybody :)

To those who celebrate it in some fashion or another, Happy Happy Halloween (Super Station, as my Dad would sing, in reference to some old scary movie I know nothing about....).

If you don't celebrate it, Happy Monday to ya :) I think that covers everyone.

What have I done today? Work related business, took my brother to school, felt guilty about random writing related things (but not guilty enough to rectify those situations...). As you can see, I'm one busy lady lol.

I planned on scrounging up an outline for this Nanowrimo business. If you don't know what it is, it's basically people promising to write a complete (ish) novel from beginning to end within the month of November. I've never done it before. I've lurked on the forums, though, which I have already said on here are made of amazingness. And Awesomeness. With.A.Capital.A. It's just all so inspiring, but this time I'm doing it, with no forseeable plan as of yet.

But all of that could change when I get off of here. It totally could. I have a hankerin to write the Sci-fi ish book that's been catching my eye on my big ol' list of things, but then again, winging it sounds fun. So, after I get off here, I'm going to look around the forums, get inspired, and make a decision to wing or not to wing. lol.

I am excited about it, though. And I want more writing buddies on there, so add me if you haven't already: Writtled :)

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Ohio Is for Lovers" by Hawthorne Heights. Why? Because I used to run to this song, and I like it, and that's all the reason I need :)

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all :)

Nanowrimo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol. Okay. I did it. I signed up, y'all. My name is Writtled on there too, because I like to be all consistent....I can't believe I signed up, but I have to believe it because I've announced it to the world and all of you awesome blogger friends that I've neglected. I know. I need to work on that.

But other than the awesome news that is Nanowrimo, I have some book reviews coming out soon. One romance of the adult variety that I'm finishing up now, some YA (duuuh), and 2 YA book review requests I've received. [As a side note, I am open to review requests; just check my review policy before you ask :)]

And for anyone who's interested in what I'll be writing for Nano---I'm not sure yet. I might wing it for fun, or do one of the many plots I have a plot list. I'll,  of course, let you know about my progress, and look forward to the book reviews and hearing more from me soon. Let me know how all of y'all are doing below. I miss everyone!!


Now to leave you with a song to write by, because it's soooo overdue, "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. Why did I choose this song? Because I just asked my fiance for a song to post, and he responded with that one, his current fave. :)

Psst, don't forget about my baby, Glittering Ashes, which I am recovering soon, after I make the new cover and get y'alls votes, that is....

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all!

I'm here!

Hi, everyone!

I would have had this up yesterday, but I had computer issues (whomp, whomp). Eh, what can you do?

Anywho, I wanted to let y'all know that I've though I've been M.I.A, I have been lurking via other devices; so I haven't missed lots of y'all's awesome blog posts! Woot. Good news, right? But I can never stay silent that long, so...HERE I AM! lol

Okay, enough dorkiness for a minute. lol.

I wanted to update y'all on what I've been up to and what I am contemplating at the moment.

1. I have been chugging more non-fiction than YA. I know, craziness! (think: advice, food trucks, and learning newb skills) But whenever I completely finish something, I'll review it, of course.

2. I want to design a new cover for my baby...I mean...my book, Glittering Ashes. So, if I do that, or do several, I'll be sure to let y'all see it and maybe ask for your help if I'm stuck making a final decision. You'll help me, right? right? Right? Of course. I look forward to it.

3. I'm seriously contemplating Nanowrimo this year. Seriously. Normally I'm a lurker on the forums, because the forums are beyond amazing. I mean, people talking about everything to do with writing for months leading up to Nanowrimo and months after? It's a dreamland. Check it. If I do decide to do it, I'll let y'all know so you can yell at me encourage me to stick with it and be awesome. Are y'all doing it? Lemme know below.

4. Also, to get my writing fix, I've been listening to Mur Lafferty's podcast "I Should Be Writing." It's awesome possum. Y'all should have a listen. It's always good, especially Good Cop/Bad Cop, but that's just imo.

5. Also also, "On the Page" is another great podcast, if you're interested. It's all about screenwriting, but story is story, and making a good one is hard so why not get all kinds of advice, no? It's good.

HA! Now I feel slightly less bad for being so absent because I'm sharing all kinds of linky love! Okay, I only feel very slightly less bad, but it's a start.

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Sure Thing" by Miguel. OhooOh OhooOh! It's laid-back cool. <3 Enjoy, muchly.

Happy Reading and Writing :)

Updates and Interview

Hi peoples!

Sorry I've been M.I.A. Don't you hate when business interferes with everything you want to do? Sheesh.

Well, I have some updates. Today, there's an awesome possum interview with me on Melissa Bradley's blog, Melissa's Imaginarium. Sooo if you have a hankerin' to learn more about me, Glittering Ashes, and maybe my writing process, you can check out the interview there. Thank you, Melissa for having me :)

Also, Don't forget that there's still time to enter yourself in to win a copy of my book Glittering Ashes on Misty's Book Rat blog here. It's open until September 26th, I believe. So fill out the form like a neato person and try your hand at winning, won't you?

I wanted to give a shout out to C.D. Meetens who was kind enough to mention me and Glittering Ashes the other day on the One Little Spark blog. Swoon. It made my day (and Kelley York's who has a super cool looking book coming out called Hushed). Thank you bunches!!!

And, lastly, I also seemed to have won another award, this time from Michelle Helene. YAY :) Thank you much!! Check it out:

Isn't it gorg'?

I know I'm supposed to pass it out, and I want to, but I also don't want to bug people, and since I love my commenters, I want to offer this one to all of y'all who take the time to come here and listen to me blather on :) So feel free to grab it, and I hope everyone who comments takes the time to check out all of the other people who take the time to comment on here. I know I check out everyone, and I almost always like what I see. 

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Too Lost in You" by the Sugababes. Because, why not? <3 lol

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all :)

7 x 7, Baby

Hi, everyone :) First off, I want to thank everyone for the well wishes for my sickie in the house. I have all of the best blog people :)

On that note, I feel completely weird about me not being able to blog hop the past couple of days, today included. I'm about to run out to take said sickie to a doctor's appointment so I can't run around and say hi like I want to. But I will, and I really appreciate you all's comments, so please keep them coming :)

Today, I want to give a special thanks to Krista who has a great writing related blog called I Take the Pen, which you all should check out. She was nice enough to give me this award:

I'm supposed to match a blog post of mine to each descriptor with a link and then give the award to some awesome people. So here goes!

Most beautiful: Most Wanted Book Plots: I'd like to seemore of these please: because I asked for books matching certain criteria, and I received so many responses from so many nice people wanting to help me. It was a beautiful thing.

Most Helpful: I'd say Writtle Me Your Writing Tools, because I gave some people new tools to use with their writing.

Most Popular: According to Blogger, my post popular post right now is 1st Campaigner Challenge. It had a lot of traffic from other great campaigners

Most Controversial: Decision Made/YA sub-genre roll call: Because I announced there my "controversial" decision to self-publish Glittering Ashes

Most Surprisingly Successful: that'd have to go my "most popular" post too, 1st Campaigner Challenge. I couldn't believe all the nice responses!

Most Underrated: It's IFI time!: This was a mini post directing you to an awesome cartoon about the writing industry. It was early on in my blogging career, and I doubt that many people heeded my words about it's greatness lol

Most Prideworthy: I AM NOW (self) PUBLISHED: GlitteringAshes: Because this is the post where I announced Glittering Ashes being launched into the universe :)

That was fun. Thanks again, Krista! Now to give it to well-deserving peoples.

Hmmm….How about:

J.L. Campbell at The Character Depot

The East Coaster at Published in a Year

Jen at A Book, a Girl, a Journey

Becca at Nerd Girl Reads and Writes (an absolute fave of mine since before I started this blog)

Alicia Gregoire at Slice of the Blog Pie

So be sure to check all of these blogs to see their own links, and even if they've already done this award, they will still be directing you to even more awesome people. 

 Psst, Don't forget to stop by The Book Rat for a chance to win a copy of my book Glittering Ashes!!!

Now to leave you with a song to write by...I chose "Wine Red" by The Hush Sound. I know I just did the Hush Sound, but choosing "Lighthouse"  by them somehow got "Wine Red" stuck in my head all of last night. I sang the opening like I was receiving gold coins to do so all around the house. My poor fiance...

Review: The Sweetest Thing

 I do not own this picture. It is from Goodreads and used for review purposes only (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QgaTZrVdL.jpg)

Title: The Sweetest Thing

Author: Christina Mandelski

Source: NetGalley

Publisher: Egmont USA

Publication Date: 05/10/2011

Blurb from Goodreads (which I do not own but am only using for review purposes):

In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she's decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems - only her dad's about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.

Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys, The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.

The Genre: This is a contemporary hobby/romance YA. It's heavy on Sheridan's love for cake decorating with romantic complications and emotional turmoil and decisions. No magic, just buttercream.

The Cover: I think the cover is pretty cute. It definitely matches the book, and I almost prefer that they did this as opposed to having a cake on the cover, because they talked up Sheridan's Cake Girl skills so much that if I had actually seen what they consider to be awesome cake-wise, I may have been disappointed. So, this is the safer, colorful alternative.

The Plot: This is definitely a chick flick teen novel. I picked it up because I'm a foodie TV watcher, and an entire book about cooking shows and a girl fanatical about cake decorating sounded neat to me. The food elements of the book were HUGE, with lots of romantic complications, but there was a big emotional element with Sheridan and her less than perfect family issues. My warning, though, the reader will see a lot of chick-flick-like woes and complications. It can run a little predictable as far as the romance is concerned, but that's kind of what you sign up for with a chick flick. If you want an easy breezy book that will have the necessary train-wrecks of complications that move the plot along, this book would fit the bill. Another thing worth considering is the fact that there is a religious element to the book that I wasn't expecting. It's not preachy, but it is present, in the Catholic but Baptist friendly variety.

The Romantic Element: There is a love triangle, but it's more frustrating than anything else. One of the guys, you'll know who, is great and honest, and makes the book readable, and the other…is…not so great, but the reader can understand the appeal.

The Carry-on Factor: As a sugar sweet romance, The Sweetest Thing delivers exactly what you'd expect, and tons more in the emotional department. It has all the workings of a Lifetime foodie movie for YA, plus family drama that set it apart from other books. I hadn't read a book with a mother like The Sweetest Thing had, that's for sure. And Sheridan can be a frustrating character, but it's done purposefully. As someone who watches cake shows, I knew everything Sheridan was talking about, but it could be new info for those who are interested in cakes, but haven't watched shows about them.

Overall: I can see the appeal of this book. It's sweet; it has lots of ups and downs, and when you think it's getting too frustrating on Sheridan's part, another character will try to balance things out and right the madness. I hadn't read something like this before, and I'd say it's a good read for someone in 9th-11th grade or someone who wants a breezy read that tries to pack a emotional punch (or several). 

***

For some good news, I just won Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly from For the Love of Contemporary. Woot. (FYI, the blog is/will be the bee's knees for all YA sans magic). 

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Emotion" by Destiny's Child. Because I like the song, and it matches this book sad for sad. lol.

Happy Friday and Happy reading/writing and such!!!

P.S. I did not receive compensation in exchange for this review, but there are several Amazon affiliate links within this post.

TAG

First off, YAY. I have exactly 200 followers at this very moment. That is beyond amazing to me. Thank you to everyone who took the time to press the follow button and to all of you who take the time to comment on my posts. It means a lot, and I'm glad you all are here!!!

I also want to thank Beth Kemp, who has a cute writing blog called Thoughts from the Hearthfire, which you all should check out(--> She just wrote her 100th post?!?! How awesome is that? Woot). She just tagged me the other day, and I'm excited to do it and to pass it on.

Now, I have to give 10 random facts about myself and pass it on to 5 people. Here goes.

1. I used to name my cars. My first car was Carl; second one was Bryce. My current car doesn't have a name for some reason. 

2. When I was a teen, I hated the color pink. I was way too angsty for pink. Now I like it. Go fig.

3. I thought I would be a psychologist when I was growing up, but then I fell in love with books and that took over.

4. I like learning things. I am now known to prowl the non-fiction for interesting how to's.

5. I am knitting a quilt that never ends, which I think I mentioned before. It'll be made of 5x5 knit squares of every color I thought was cute while in the yarn aisle. Only Red Heart brand yarn so far, btw. 

6. I like street rods and car shows, and even drag races, but I know almost nothing about cars. 

7. I LOVE roller-coasters. The scarier, the higher, the faster, the better.  (I used to be weak-in-the-knees terrified, really until I was about 15).

8. I really like doing my nails with nail stamp art, but I can't stand it if I have chipped nails (or nails of uneven length at that). 

9. I love SKIP BO and Phase 10 (regular, Master's, and Twist...not Dice, though I do own it).

10. My favorite basketball related game is Knockout. Hands down. No contest. I can't not play knockout if it's going on. AMAZING. 

Okay, I tag:

E.R.King at Get Busy Writing

Sangu at Echoes of a Wayward Mind

Tiffany Garner at Victim of Writing

Meredith at Fairy Tales and Cappuccino

Mark Noce at Mark Noce Stories

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Someone Like You" by Adele. A new <3. This video is especially cool because she talks about it before and recorded it in her own home.

Heads Up, I should have another book review up tomorrow :)

Blog Award. Woot.

Hi, everyone! Happy Friday. Hope yours (and mine) is amazeballs. Every weekend should be amazing, in my opinion. It should be a requirement of the weekends to make the week stuff worth it. Okay, just a thought.

Today, I want to happily announce that I've won the Liebster Blog Award very recently from Megan who is a new campaign friend, has an awesome bio, and a cute blog. Check it out!

Here's the award in all of its amazingness:

           

Because I am not good at juggling so many things, I almost missed that I received this award a little bit ago from E.R.King at her amazing blog, so belated thanks to her and a Thank you to Megan for thinking of me.

My job now is to give it to 5 people made of extra awesome who have under 200 followers...which is hard for me because I have so many amazing blogger friends on here. SO, I'm picking 5 of many people who deserve it. Here goes!

Carrie Butler: she has a super cool blog, and even made an awesome vlog like thing the other day. I recommend it and her :)

Marlena Cassidy: Because she's a sweetheart; I <3 her posts; AND she puts up excerpts of her work, and they're oh-so entertaining.

Jeff King: He has a writing focused blog, and he puts up bits of his work for critique. Really constructive site, and it makes you think about the craft of writing more :)

Michelle Porth: This isn't a writing blog, but it's adorable, and I learn a lot of crafty things from it. She also has amazing taste on Pinterest too :)

Laura + the Voices: She writes about all kinds of things, from going to college to writing to everything else. I <3 the way she words things.

Also: the aforementioned Jeff gave me and a bunch of incredible blogs a nod for being read-worthy. I highly suggest you checking out his list, because I am :) Thanks, Jeff!

Happy, happy Friday!

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "I Want You" by Kelly Clarkson. <3 this song. Has a 50s vibe to me, in fringe way, but it's a good Friday song :)

ALSO, because I can't stop adding things to my posts, Glittering Ashes is available for order as a paperback here. SO, if you were Kindle, Nook, iPod or iPad challenged, or hated looking at a computer all day (toootally understandable), you can now have Glittering Ashes minus batteries. (and if you still want it from Amazon: 

)

Writtle me your writing tools

Hi, everyone! Here's another fun fact about me, if I don't get up at the crack of dawn, I feel and am pretty worthless for the rest of the day. Today (and yesterday) are some of those days. I'm in zombie mode. I couldn't even read yesterday. Like I said, I was acting wooorthless. Lol. But, I couldn't stay away from the blog and all you awesome bloggy friends for a second day, so here I am.

The other day, I got to turn the tables and ask you all to give three fun facts about yourself, and I loved the turnout and the answers (thanks, everyone!). Today, I want to do something similar but with a writing focus. I want to talk about everyone's writing process.

When I write, I normally get struck with an idea, and I write it down immediately in the "brain book," where I keep everything from tshirt ideas I come up with, my poetry, my lyrics, titles of cool songs I like, phrases, quotes from people, doodles, you name it. From there, I normally sit on the idea for a while (not literally), and then when I can't take not having worked on it anymore, I use one of several tools:

I use an Alphasmart 3000 (LOVE it's portability. Less pressure to get out words, and for some reason, I write a heck of a lot better with it…hmm…)--> main tool now btw

Or, I used Q10 on my baby laptop, also known as a netbook, an Asus EEE 1005HA (click for pic), I believe. It's also pink, in case you were interested.

Or, if I'm feeling funny, I'll use Write or Die, but I haven't in a while. Ironically, I stopped using it when I bought my own copy of the program that I could use offline. I'm funny like that apparently.

I edit by pasting everything in good old Word OR Open OfficeWriter, depending on if I'm using my good old oldie laptop (Toshi) or my newer netbook (respectably).

Woo, I think that's everything. So I go from pen to alphasmart, Q10 (which I love for the keyboard noises and for it's being free), or Write or Die, and I edit with a traditional Word or Word like (but free)program.

Thereby, technically everything I use to write (program wise) could be used/gotten for free. I love that.

Now it's your turn, how to get the idea down AND THEN, what do you use to turn that idea into a full manuscript (tool wise)? Let me know below. I live off hearing how other people do things :)

P.S. I've linked all the titles of programs I've used to the sites where you can get them, just in case you were at all interested! :)

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Circle the Drain" by Katy Perry. I HEART this song. I really do. It sounds 80s rocker to me, and if you haven't heard it, don't just write it off because it's a Katy Perry song. I'm almost always against her radio stuff, but I love her album stuff something crazy. (or I liked the radio stuff until it gets played out on the radio, rather).

Oh, and in case you were really curious, I wrote Glittering Ashes by first writing down the idea (of the whoooole series well into the future), wrote it using Q10, and edited using Word and Open Office Writer.

Belated Intros

Hi, everyone. I'm already loving Rachael Harrie's Third Writer's Platform Building Campaign (open til the 31st), because I've found so many new great blogs from it, and so many great people have found my blog through it as well. SOOO. I want to give BIG hello's to all the new followers (and big big hello's to all my older followers because obviously y'all are awesome as well). It's really great to have so many new faces around to learn from :)

Today, I wanted to do something I've seen on a lot of blogs lately, the short and sweet getting to know you blog posts. Basically, the rules, as I saw them, are that I'm supposed to give you 3 obscure facts about me, and in return, I want 3 obscure facts about you in the comments. Let's get to know each other; the more people that comment, the more awesome this will be. Bring them on!

Here's my 3:

1. I break into song a lot around the house and out and about (really, I do), sometimes without realizing it. I once told a friend that I really liked this one song and had she heard of it, and she responded...Yes, you've been singing it every other minute for a week. Music permeates me, what can I say?

2. I love caramel iced coffee's from MckeeDees. I get them large and the world receives the consequences. (I don't drink soda, haven't in years, so caffeine is intense for me, and it shows lol.)

3. I am a catch-phrase fiend. I'm one of those people who has a new saying, something they say incessantly as in maybe a substitute for the word "cool," every week. Right now, I've been saying, "That doesn't make a lick of sense." You would think something like that wouldn't come up much in convo. You'd be wrong. I say it all of the time, or I say "like that would make a lick of sense." I think I said it to be ironic once because it sounded funny to me, and it stuck. I'm very self-impressionable.

You, in the comments below, give me 3 bits of golden nuggets of your own.

Now to leave you with a song to write by, "Mr. Saxobeat " by Alexandra Stan because it's Friday, and don't you just want to rock out privately or publicly to a dance jam? Well, if you did feel so inclined, here's a good song for just the occasion.

Also, another huge fantabulous thank you (covered in glitter) to J.L. Campbell for having me on her blog, The Character Depot. I did an interview and giveaway (drawing today, good luck to everyone!), and there was a great turnout for my book Glittering Ashes.

My slightly pouty bad news is that I can't blog hop today or respond to yesterday's comments (though I did read and enjoy them all) because I'm running about with my mother, but I will be back with a vengeance on Monday, no worries. Happy, happy, super happy weekend to everyone and everybody!

Author Interview and Giveaway (YAY)

Today, instead of writing a post of incredible awesomeness, I'm directing you to a blog of incredible awesomeness, The Character Depot, which today has a interview with me and a giveaway of my book Glittering Ashes (the blog title link will take you there). (BIG Thanks to J.L. for having me!!)

I'm SUPER encouraging y'all to check it out and enter to win (all you need to do to enter is comment on my interview post, and the drawing will be done on Friday).

Tell all of your friends, family, and strangers you pass on the street, won't you? lol.

Thanks, everyone! Have an awesome writing day.

And because I can and want to, I'm still leaving you with a song to write by, "Impossible" by Shontelle because I <3 this song, and writing can sometimes seem impossible (to do, to be successful at), but it doesn't mean it ain't worth while, right? 

I've also joined this Writer's Platform-Building Campaign on the Rach Writes blog. It's basically a blogger meet and greet, and it seems pretty neat---okay, I'll stop now, but if you're interested, definitely check it out :)

Defining Book Success

Quick Glittering Ashes update: It's now available for sale at (click location title for links)

Barnes and Nobles PubIt!

Kobo

Diesel Ebook Store

Apple's iBooks (so you can get it on your iPad or iPod)

Amazon 

and Smashwords

Now back to your regularly scheduled blog post :)

Hey, everyone. Today, I want to write about success. On Friday, I wrote a review of Divergent (Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Roth, which I consider to be a huge success in the YA world.

It has:

A huge readership (every YA book blog I've seen)

295 amount of reviews on Amazon (226 of which are 5 star)

Everyone says GREAT things about it (me included)

Movie rights have been sold--not a guaranteed marker of greatness, but darn close to it for me (because how awesome is that?).

I'd say there's a lot of reasons to think that the Divergent (Divergent Trilogy) is an extremely successful book.

To me, success is about people liking your book and being passionate about it once they read it and having a large readership because people want to pass that magic on. The movie rights being sold is amazing, but having tons of people read it and like it will always be the most important factor of success, in my book.

What about you? What do you think constitutes success in the reading world? Can you name a showstopper book of success? I'm thinking Twilight [Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)] (love it or hate it) and The Hunger Games (awesome). Let me know below.

Now, to leave you with a song to write by, "Imma Star" by Jeremih, where he explains success in a different arena :)