Lindsay Detwiler's Blog, page 48
July 11, 2015
A Passion That Didn’t Fade
A story of a first love, a wrongful conviction, and a passion that didn’t fade with time. Voice of Innocence is only $4.99 for Kindle and available at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TMX826K or for Nook at Barnes & Noble
I’m Terrible At . . .
I’ve read some articles about social media envy; there’s this idea that as a society, we now post everything good that happens to us on social media. Because everyone is always posting these wonderful things on Facebook and Twitter, it can make us feel envious or even depressed about how our life isn’t as awesome, even though in reality, no one’s life is actually as good as it looks online.
It is true that there’s a lot of bragging that goes on when you look at profiles. Not that I can blame anyone . . . I am guilty, too. There’s just this need for validation sometimes. When something great happens, Facebook and Twitter are just platforms for us to shout from the rooftop. It’s great when people get excited for you, and it’s awesome to get some positive feedback sometimes.
However, in hopes of breaking some of the bragging overload, I thought I’d do something a little bit different today. Instead of posting about awesome things happening in my life or things that I am awesome at . . .I thought I’d post about things that I’m terrible at. So for all of you out there tired of feeling crappy because people are bragging, read on. I promise you’ll feel better about yourself J
I am terrible at . . .
Cooking
I doubt I need to go on any further. From porkchops and stuffing that turned into pork jerky and croutons to a flaming pan on the stove, I’ve had dozens of disasters. Kind souls tell me “you’ll get better” and “you’re not that bad.” Yeah, I’m not seeing any improvement. At all.
Soccer
In third grade, my mom thought it was a brilliant idea to put me in soccer. It would build social skills and get me some exercise. In three years, I scored only three goals. And one was for the other team. Yep, I kicked it into our own goal.
Driving
During my driver’s exam, I hit what I thought was a pothole. At the end of the test, my instructor was like, “You know what you did, right? You shouldn’t even pass.” It turns out, I plowed over the curb. And didn’t even know it. I’m still terrible at parking, merging, and just plain pulling out.
Paperwork for my car
I accidentally filed my registration and proof of insurance in the filing cabinet. My husband only figured this out nine months later. Luckily, I never got pulled over. But I am constantly forgetting to file my registration or accidentally throwing out my sticker. Oops.
Mental math
Despite almost becoming an accountant, I cannot add it my head for the life of me. My mom has to calculate percentages off at clearance sales. Embarrassing but true.
Directions and navigating
I have no idea how to get anywhere. More posts coming on this later.
So what are your weaknesses? Care to share?
Inspiration in Friendship
Recently while at Bob Evans with my best friend from college, we were talking about my book and writing. She was talking about how amazed she is that I keep up with my blog and write about so many different topics. “How do you come up with all of these ideas?” she asked.
Inspiration for writing is literally everywhere. Today, my inspiration for writing is you, Jamie :)
I’ll never forget the day I met Jamie on my very first day of college. I was eighteen and scared to death. I walked into that classroom (after getting lost) with my new messenger bag (backpacks were so juvenile, right?), some folders, like nineteen pencils, a new perm (ugh. . . style rut), and a nervous look on my face. I grabbed an open seat by a girl who looked nice enough. And then we all sat in silence. Used to the incessant chatter of high school, I didn’t know what to do with all of the silence.
I don’t think we really talked on that first day other than maybe a hello, but it was in that world religion class that Jamie and I started to develop a friendship. We shared in the misery of a two hour class about world religion (which the nun turned into a discussion purely about Catholicism). We agonized over difficult quizzes and papers. Eventually, we found out that we were both in the Honors program, too, where our friendship would really grow.
Through our years in college, we made many great memories. Now, almost nine years later, we are still great friends, and Jamie is still a big part of my life. I’ve learned so much from this girl I met in religion class. A few things to note:
1. Kenra and Urban Decay Products rock
Jamie, as you will get a sense for, is sometimes bad for my wallet. She is always sharing amazing tips (she should have her own cosmetics/beauty blog because she has killer recommendations). She introduced me to Kenra Blow Spray and Urban Decay eyeshadow . . . my wallet has never been the same.
2. Maurices has great clothes that go day to night
I never really shopped here until I went one day with Jamie at the mall. I’ve found that they have great shirts that are appropriate for work but cute enough to wear out at night. Plus, the clearance section often rocks!
3. Big Memories often come from small moments
All of my favorite memories from college involve Jamie. We went to a small, Catholic college (hence there weren’t wild parties or crazy trips). Nonetheless, we have so many great memories. We danced with clay with The Black Potter (yes, that was his name); laughed about professors slurping smoothies; laughed when Chad got wedged in a heart in Philadelphia; visited a shut-down cult village; drank way too many Sheetz mochas; and shared eye rolls over a very inquisitive and odd peer. Our recent favorite memory? That time Bruce Jenner photobombed our picture at my book signing (see below).
4. Smile no matter what
I love that Jamie always smiles through everything, even when she is going through a rough time. She always sees the beauty in life and finds ways to seize the moment no matter what is happening. This has been really contagious. She inspires me to get more out of my life. I see her willingness to try anything once, to travel, to just get up and go whenever she can. It makes me realize that life is about living with a sense of freedom and zest. She does this.
5. True friendships withstand time and even spells of silence
After college, our friendship was threatened by differing careers and life paths, as most are. We even went through a few years where we really didn’t stay in touch. But our friendship always picks right back up where it left off. Whether it’s been a year, two months, or a week, we always manage to feel comfortable with each other and to pick right back up. It’s never awkward, and there’s never any hard feelings. We both get that life sometimes gets challenging and that friendships sometimes fade to the background because of busy schedules. A real friendship changes with you, growing as you grow, changing to meet the demands of new life pressures. Ours certainly has.
So thank you Jamie, for inspiring this post and me :) I can’t wait to see what new, crazy memories we make in the future!
Lindsay Detwiler, author of Voice of Innocence
The Lightbox Club
As a new author, I’ve found it overwhelming at times to figure out this whole marketing/promotion thing . . . and since I’m not a bestseller, it’s obvious I’m not perfect at it. There are so many websites out there claiming to help with marketing . . . if you have hundreds of dollars and you want to put your trust in something that sounds very gimmicky.
So I was skeptical when I checked out the Literary Lightbox Author Club. Loretta Milan has a blog and Youtube channel called the Literary Lightbox, so I came across the opportunity when I was checking out some book reviews. I watched her video on the club . . . and I was hooked! I connected with the video because for the first time, I saw someone who understood my exact position. I’m a new author with a book published who is just trying to be noticed in a sea of books. She is very knowledgeable about the business, very well-spoken, and, best of all, I feel like she has real ideas that are practical.
So I signed up. The club began yesterday, and I’m already impressed. As a subscriber, I got access to a video already in which Ms. Milan talks about marketing in general. There are going to be more videos to help you assess your marketing efforts and come up with new ideas. There is also a blog and an author forum, where you can meet up with other authors and found a community. Over the past few months, I’ve learned that authors are truly amazing, supportive, and have a beautiful community.
Take it from me: this club is awesome! I have spent hours and hours online trying to figure out how to market and promote. I really believe that this club is going to help a lot. I’ve been checking my inbox waiting for the next video. If you are a new or an aspiring author, check out the club at http://lightboxclub.com/.
Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence
July 10, 2015
Jane Green’s Tempting Fate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I saw this book on a table at Barnes & Noble, I snatched it up because I really liked The Beach House by the same author. This novel did not disappoint; I finished the novel in a few days because it was so good.
The story is about Gabby, a middle-age wife and mother of two. Gabby is feeling washed up and frumpy; she feels like her marriage has become somewhat drab. All of this changes when she reluctantly goes for a girl’s night to the local pub and meets a stunningly handsome thirty-something named Matt. The two have instant chemistry, and Matt makes her feel like the vibrant woman she used to be. Although Gabby loves her husband and her comfortable life, she feels herself asking “what if” and basking in the attention from Matt. Eventually, this leads to an affair, and, through a series of events, she ends up losing her husband. The second half of the novel focuses on Gabby trying to figure out her life, going through a major mid-life crisis.
I really liked that this book explored the concept of marriage and middle-age. It is told from third person point of view, but it still felt very intimate; I felt like I really knew Gabby by the end of the novel. I like that Jane Green humanizes the idea of cheating without glamorizing it. Gabby clearly feels that her affair is a mistake. At first, the reader wants to dislike Gabby for what she has done. However, I felt like I never really turned against Gabby because Jane Green shows the emotions behind Gabby’s choice. Green highlights the idea that we are all human and, thus, fallible, a theme that runs through the novel.
The novel had very emotional points but also a lot of humorous elements as well. I found it to be a light read, yet a read that made me think about what unconditional love is and how sometimes our lives can change from one choice. I think Green does a good job at taking issues that many women deal with and making them approachable.
I really enjoyed this novel overall, and I think I will be picking up more of Jane Green’s work in the future.
Lindsay Detwiler, author of Voice of Innocence
http://www.facebook.com/lindsayanndetwiler
Why I’m Okay With Being a Crazy Cat Lady
We have four cats.
Just saying that, I cringe knowing the judgement I face. People imagine a hairy, gross home with cats scratching violently throughout. In some ways, they are correct . . .I do have to run my Dyson every other day, and there is usually a cat scratching the back of the couch at any given moment. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Growing up, we always had cats. One of the earliest pictures of me is one of me holding a bunch of kittens as a baby. I think my fate was sealed right there. Nonetheless, growing up, I wasn’t a crazy cat lady. Cats were okay, but I was a dog person.
But when I turned 21, my mom fell for a cat in the Sunday paper. She had been in the Humane Society for an entire year, and something about that just pulled at my mom (also a cat lady, by the way. And her mom was a cat lady, so I guess it is genetic). Before I knew it, we were adopting our second cat, a cat whom I would become obsessed with.
The cat’s name was Penelope, a name we didn’t care for. While my mom was reading through name choices in the name book, the name Jimmie Dean was listed for some odd reason. The cat ran over meowing when she said this, so the female cat’s name became Jimmie. She loved her name.
From the beginning, Jimmie was a challenge. She had an ear infection and an eye infection. When we took her to the vet, we also found out that she wasn’t two like the Humane Society had told us . . .she was 12. It didn’t matter, though, because after a few weeks, I was in love with the geriatric cat.
Over the years, Jimmie and I were best friends. She would sit on my lap, scratching Chad (who was then my fiancé) if he got too close. She slept with me, her paw resting on me all night. When I bought my first house, she moved in with us. She was sassy, expressive, and truly my soul cat.
So because of one cat, a somewhat grumpy, old cat nonetheless, I became an instant cat person. I realized how wonderful cats are. They are independent and easy to take care of, sure. But more than that, they are highly intelligent and soulful. They do build a connection with you that is hard to beat. Perfect cuddle companions, sassy enough to make you laugh . . .I was doomed to be a cat lady from that day we picked up Jimmie.
My husband and I have had quite the cat collection over the two years we’ve been in our house. Over the series of many crazy events, we ended up with Amelia, who was found under a car in the 100 degree heat; Arya, who was abandoned by her mother in December at only a few weeks old; Bob, who I adopted from Mending Hearts after Jimmie passed away . . .his owner went to a nursing home; and Alice, our devilish cat, who was born to the stray cat my Mom saved. We also had a cat named Sophia who died from a rare genetic disease at four months old. I miss her every dya. All of our cats were unwanted in one way or another, making them super clingy. When you come to our house, you know we have four cats because they will all greet you.
People say we’re crazy, and maybe we are. Four cats is past the socially acceptable threshold for many people. But I don’t care. All four of them bring something to our lives. Most of all, they remind us that although we can’t save every suffering animal, we can change one’s life . . .or four.
If you’re thinking about donating to a cause that supports cats, check out Mending Hearts from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. This wonderful no-kill shelter does amazing work. It’s where we adopted Bob from. The ladies there are so passionate about saving animals.
Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence
Cover Reveal: C.A. Jonelle Zayne
Hello Dear readers, Today C.A. Jonelle brings to you the amazing Cover Reveal for her Second Book Zayne
Zayne is the Second Book on the Twisted Epiphany Series.
If you haven’t read the first one Zaryk I think you should be getting them both
Here a little teaser for the book
Here the Cover and Back Cover, the book looks gorgeous
and I leave you with the Blurb For Zayne
Time heals all wounds right? Eventually you’ll just mend that hole in your heart and it’ll be like nothing ever happened. Zayne thought so. Sex and alcohol can make you forget … for a short period of time at least. True love doesn’t exist. He has no time for it. Meaningless sex is the way to go.
Until he meets Alivia. The sexy nurse who had a hand in the care of his brother, Zaryk. Alivia is everything he could ever want in a woman. She’s sexy, confident, smart, and willing to be around him at his worst … and right now he’s at an all-time low. A horrible accident has brought him back to the hospital where she works and he’s thrust into emotions he never thought he’d feel again. Not since …. her.
Will Alivia break down the walls that surround the infamous sex fiend that is Zayne Hunter? Or will she push him away even further?
This is the second story in the ‘Twisted Epiphany’ series that follows Zaryk, Zayne, Zayden, Deklan, and Kreed as they take their band from small town success to world-wide phenomenon.
I hope everyone can enjoy the book, Remember it’s a +18 series so you can come around a lot of sexy scenes and swearing here and there.
July 9, 2015
My Five Favorite Summer Reads for 2015
I’ve been reading a lot of books, so I thought I would summarize my top five picks so far. Check them out in the video below :)
Best Hair Tips
It’s July, and I don’t even want to think about going back to school . . . but I know my days of Netflix, lounging with Henry, and reading will be coming to a close. I like to go back to school looking polished, refreshed, and like I’m ready to kick butt in a new school year. My hair is a big part of that.
I thought I’d share some of the best, random hair tips I’ve learned in case you’re also getting yourself ready for fall . . .or just needing a reset on your hair.
Kenra Products
My friend Jamie introduced these to me (and my wallet has been kind of crying since then :)). Kenra’s Blow Spray is amazing. It’s kind of pricey, but wow can I tell the difference when I use it. I don’t know that it really cuts your drying time in half like it claims, but it DOES make your hair super soft, shiny, and healthy looking. A true must if you are doing a blow out
Matrix Fibre Strong
This really does help your hair grow longer and makes it healthy. Just a small pump after your shower and your hair will be recovering from all of that chlorine and sun in no time!
Paul Mitchel Clarifying Shampoo
Is your hair somewhat gunky from chlorine build up? This shampoo is really affordable, not tested on animals, and it truly gets rid of any build up in your hair. Weighed down, heavy hair? Not after this! If you really have some major build up going on, put a teaspoon of baking soda in with your shampoo. This also helps get out the gunk (be careful if you have colored your hair, though, because it can damage the color)
Rinse in cold water
In the summer, this one’s not so bad . . . now ask me if I’m doing this in December, and I’ll probably say no. Before you step out of the shower, blast your hair with some cold water. It does help with shine.
Chi brushes
Brushes were always the last thing I spent my money on. Until I bought Chi brushes. They are truly amazing; they keep your hair from breaking and give you extra shine.
Take a day off from styling
I try to take a few days off from styling every week. I will let it air dry and put it in a loose bun for the day. It’s good to give your hair a break from the flat iron/blow drying routine once in a while.
Any hair products you cannot live without? Any tips out there for perfect fall hair? Feel free to comment below :)
Q & A with Lindsay Detwiler
Check out my Q & A session on The Bookie Monsters :)
https://thebookiemonsters.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/q-a-with-lindsay-detwiler/
Originally posted on The Bookie Monsters:
I read Lindsay’s debut novel Voice of Innocence earlier this year and really enjoyed it! I’ve since been reading Lindsay’s blog and she has so many enlightening thoughts that I thought I would gain some of her insight into the publishing world and her influences with a Q & A session! Please check out Lindsay’s social media links below!
Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads // Buy her book
Q: Hi Lindsay! First thing’s first thank you for participating in a Q & A session with me!
A: Thank you so much! I’m so excited to be a part of your blog, which is truly fantastic!
Q: When I read your debut novel Voice of Innocence I could really feel a strong influence from Nicholas Sparks, and you also cite him as one of your influences on your Goodreads page. Why is he such a strong influence for you?
A: Ever since…
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