Alyne Hart's Blog, page 21
May 26, 2017
Friday Top Five
I decided to have a little fun and start a thing here. My Friday top five. Seeing as how I am one, eight hour day away from my beach vacation, I suppose some fun is in order! Today’s topic? My generalized top five favorites!
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Favorite artist of all time? Joshua Radin. I love his acoustic style, I love his lyrics, I love his voice. I listen to him constantly! And he makes up more than half of my writing playlists! The song What if You…kills me every time.
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2. Favorite Band. Manchester Orchestra. The album Simple Math is probably one of the best concept albums I’ve ever heard. Every song ties together the story of a man’s relationship with his wife and his music in a rocking, emotional gut punching style. Followed up by Cope and Hope, their sheer genius is quantified. Listen to the different ways one simple song can make you feel with Every Stone from Cope and Every Stone from Hope.
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3. Favorite TV show. Heart of Dixie. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart. And I love me a good bad boy. Throw those two together with a witty and wise-cracking heroine and tons of cute clothes. I’m hooked. I am embarrassed to say how many times I have watched this short-lived series through!
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4. Favorite book ever? Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. I’ve read this book through probably five times. Each time I was at a different place in my life, and I found new things that struck me each time. To say that this book just really speaks to my soul is an understatement, and it will remain a forever favorite on my bookshelf for a long time.
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5. Favorite Movie. Nights in Rodanthe. Romance-a-holic remember? I’ve often joked that I am one Nicholas Sparks movie away from a complete emotional breakdown. While I don’t personally enjoy his books, I LOVE all the movie adaptations. Give me romance, give me tragedy…I’m yours. And I am not ashamed to say I cry every damn time!
May 25, 2017
The Island
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Three people. One relationship.
“I’m saying, I love you,” Gabe shook his head.
“And I love you,” Michael nodded.
“This makes no sense,” I muttered quietly.
“No,” Gabe chuckled softly, “it doesn’t. But it’s happening.I think we all knew it would happen too, right from the beginning.”
Thirty-one-year-old Amie Graham is moving on with her life, or at least she’s trying to pick up the shattered pieces of it anyway. Just after her father’s death, came the devastating blow that her now ex-husband had been cheating on her. A lot. Lost and confused, she follows the advice of her best friend Tony to take some time away from work and find out who she is again. Following a whim, Amie signs up for Global Humanity a charity group that specializes in rebuilding homes and communities lost to natural disasters.
When she finds herself sent to the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii life is supposed to be more straightforward, less complicated and definitely less dramatic. But fate has a sense of humor and throws a complication or two right in her path.
Gabe and Michael are childhood friends, both coming from tumultuous pasts. Gabe is calm and serene, walking through life with the stride of a lion. Michael is boyish and charming, with all the grace of a grizzly bear. Amie finds herself falling in love with both of them, and they with her. But can three people really love each other, or is it just the air of the island messing with their hearts and minds?
Get it now for &2.99 at
Absolutely Humbled
In 2013, as my father was dying from liver cancer, and in the months that followed, I wrote a book.
I had a dream one night about these three people in a tent. They were all kind of snuggled up together and when the woman got up in the morning, she found a note taped to the outside of the tent that said “threesome” and she joined several other people at a big table in the jungle for breakfast, laughing about the note. I literally became obsessed with it. Who were they? Why were they all in the tent? I forced myself to dream about them again and it kept evolving.
I sat down to write what I thought might be just a quick little erotic story. Not even a short story, like something you might post on a blog or something – and it eventually evolved into the story that exists today. As I fell deeper and deeper in love with these three, I kept going back and toning down the sex more and more so it wouldn’t wind up being some dirty book that you might read in secret. A lot of people have asked, and yes, a lot of myself came out through Amie. Though no, she is not me. (But I wish she was … I mean, those two guys???…)Her name was something else in the beginning, but I ended up hating it. I scoured Facebook friends for names, and that one popped up and I loved it.
I sent the book off to some e-pub romance store that I cannot remember the name of. Ninety days later the editor wrote me back saying she loved the first three chapters and wanted the rest. Ninety days after that she wanted to publish the book…but the terms were bonkers. Even as a brand new unknown author, I couldn’t do it. So I sat on it.
I shared it with a group who fell in love with it – and that’s when I started to see some flaws in the story. And I sat on it again.
But my dream has always been to write. I have stories upon stories in my head. Some sweet. Some dark. Some steamy. I decided now was the time to try and make it happen and I sat down with my laptop and began poring over the story again. Re-writing the scenes that bugged me, or didn’t have the emotional depth I wanted. I edited. I re-wrote. I edited. I re-wrote, until one night I anxiously hit that publish button on Amazon.
My book has been live for exactly a week. And I want to thank my friends first for reading it and giving me the confidence to realize it IS a good story. I want to thank my friends who have recommended it to their friends. And to everyone who has purchased it, and left me reviews. I feel like I’ve been walking around on cloud nine! Reading the comments I’ve been left literally puts me in tears that people see what I saw in these three! So thank you!
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May 24, 2017
Why a Pen Name?
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I’ve been getting asked this question frequently from my friends. The answer is pretty simple.
For the last eight years, I have been a digital scrapbook kit designer. My real name is very “internet” associated with that business. If you google my name; stores, galleries, other people’s blogs using my products, features…etc…all of those will pop up. I need to create a new web presence.
My pen name isn’t some crazy alter ego! I mean, man, I wish it was…that would be rad. But it’s just a simple play on my name. It’s my first initial, my middle name and my maiden name. I like the way it looks and sounds too.
So all you authors who have pen names. What’s your story? Why did you choose it? Or why did you choose NOT to use one? Inquiring minds want to know.
Location Research
I’ve chosen a location for a story, and now I’ve begun the research. This might be one of my favorite parts of creating.
Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska. The biggest city in the Aleutian Islands and the largest commercial fishing port in Alaska. I’m finding this town incredibly fun to research, and the landscape so unique to describe.
I love choosing places I have never been to, I suppose it’s my endless thirst for knowledge that pushes me!
May 23, 2017
Writing Rituals
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*also spoiler alert if you haven’t read The Island yet*
I always wonder what other writers rituals are.
As I was sitting yesterday and outlining my ideas and researching a particular town, I lined up my cup of green tea just so. I had my pen and paper. Candle lit. I had my earbuds and I made a playlist.
Michael’s story is exciting me. When I first sat to write The Island, he was my baby, my favorite. In fact, the whole time I thought it was going to be Michael that Amie found herself closer to. As I wrote (my stories tend to unfold for me as I go along despite my best efforts to stick to the plan) I realized it just wasn’t plausible for it to work that way. I cried like a damn baby when he left because that hadn’t been my original intent – yet it made SO much sense.
He was underestimated, and while Amie has a deep emotional connection to Gabe, her connection with Michael starts out as very physical.
So when readers asked for a prequel or even for the stories of the guys – I knew Michael would be first. I want to get in his head. I want to go on his soul-searching journey in Alaska. I can’t wait to flesh out his depth since I purposely left him only skin deep in the original story.
So back to my ritual.
It’s always the same. Green tea (won’t lie…sometimes there is wine) pad and pen. I burn different scents to get me in the mood too…I’m scouring stores as we speak for the perfect scent right now! And my playlist of course. The Island was A LOT of Joshua Radin. I can’t even listen to him now without thinking of that book!
So what are yours? Do you have any? Do you have anything that you HAVE to do or can’t do in order to write?
Inquiring minds want to know.
May 22, 2017
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS IN THE ISLAND? PART THREE: MEET GABE.
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Name: Gabriel Johnson…if I have a middle name, I don’t know it. Its not on my birth record anyway.
Place of birth: Los Angelas, California
Parents: Don’t know them, but I was born, so I assume I have them.
Ethnic background: Yeah…you’re asking me a lot of questions I don’t have answers to.
Places lived: Los Angelas, Sacremento, San Diego, Ghana, India, Hawaii, and Tucson.
Relationship with God: I’m a little more Buddhist in my beliefs, but I’m not opposed to the idea of there being a higher power.
Overall outlook on life: Letting go gives you power. It gives you power over your suffering, sadness, attachments and past. It’s easier said than done, but it’s how I survive.
Do you like yourself: Yeah. I’m a good dad, a good husband and a good friend. I treat everyone with respect and so yeah, I’m cool with me.
Political leaning: Are you trying to start an internet argument? Whatever…I lean left if that’s what you want to know.
Best way to spend a weekend: Just hanging with the kids and the wife. We barbecue a lot, swim when it’s warm, work in the garden a lot. We’ve decided to try a self-sustaining lifestyle and we have a great garden going on – homesteading is where we see ourselves going. I learned to make soap and stuff…it’s pretty cool. I think it teaches the kids a good lesson.
Biggest trauma: yeah, let’s skip that one.
What does he care about most in the world: Family
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS IN THE ISLAND? PART TWO: MEET MICHAEL.
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Name: Michael James Frey
Sex: As often as I can
Age: Twenty-Nine
Background:
Where and when were you born? I actually don’t know where I was born. It could have been a number of places my mom wandered to.
Family members? Next question.
Interview:
In what situation is your self esteem most at risk? Everything. I’m pretty hard on myself.
Is there anyone in your life that you are attracted to? Besides Amie? Shit…no one.
What scares you about this person? That she’ll finally figure out that I’m not good enough for her.
What do you think he/she can do for you that no one else can? She pushes me to be a better person all the time. Not, you know, by what she says – it’s just how she makes me feel. Like I wanna be constantly better.
How would you change the world? The things around you? The people around you? That’s a really hard fucking question. Can I just say that maybe people should just stop being dicks to each other…I don’t know. Sometimes I can’t even watch the news, it just makes me too mad.
How do you learn best? Hands on, I’m not much of a reader. So I learn when someone shows me, after that – I’ve got it.
What are your goals in life? Right now? To be the best Dad I can be…maybe have another one?
What do you like best about your best friend? He’s always there for me, no matter what I do or what I fuck up along the way. Which is a lot. Dunno, I don’t know where I’d be without Gabe.
What do you like least about your best friend? That he knows me better than I know myself…and he’s always right.
What do you think other people think of you? I really don’t give a shit.
If you could change anything about your life what would it be? Nothing. My life is pretty close to perfect now.
In praise of frozen yogurt
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Alyne, what on earth does this have to do with writing? Um….everything and nothing all at the same time.
First of all, who doesn’t love Fro-Yo? It’s slightly naughty, but you can still pretend you’re eating healthier than a big bowl of ice-cream. The possibilities are endless. Could I have gone plain vanilla with raspberries and kiwi boba like I had planned? Absolutely. Did I? HECK NO.
I was celebrating a bit. I’ve sold about twenty copies of The Island as of this morning, and gotten three really great reviews! (Thank you to those who did that!)
Then, as I was eating my delicious, creamy, sweet treat I sat down to re-read the story. And I found myself mortified. TYPOS. Now, I had read, re-read, edited and re-edited this thing to death…and I ran a last minute (and not the one I usually use) program to catch anything left behind that I hadn’t caught. I noticed it changed some things, removed some words and ….. yeah, it’s not horrible, but I’m not happy. Being a brand new author…I don’t want that to be what people take away from my story.
Cracking my knuckles and using my Fro-Yo power to go back and fix all those today and re-upload my manuscript.
May 21, 2017
Who are the characters in the Island? Part one: Meet Amie.
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Name: Amie Ruthann Graham
Sex: Pretty sure I’m female
Age: A lady never tells
Interesting physical characteristics: You mean the fact that I’m short? That’s rude. *laughs and cocks her eyebrows*
Background:
Where and when were you born? A long freaking time ago in Hood River, Oregon
Where have you lived? I grew up in Oregon for the most part. When my parents split, I was like twelve or thirteen and I lived with my Dad in Tucson, Arizona. *shrugs* probably weird to choose my Dad, but I didn’t like the idea of him being alone.
Interview:
1. What do you carry in your pockets/purse/backpack, etc.? Well, now that I’m a mom, my purse is…interesting. I used to carry a lipstick, phone and debit card. Now when I reach for my lipstick I usually wind up with a graham cracker or a band-aid in my hands.
2. How do you feel about your home/living space? Oh wow, I love our house. It’s perfect, quiet…our garden is growing like crazy. It’s a little messier now, and I’ve learned that the pain of stepping on a lego is a real thing!
3. What early event shaped you the most? Probably my relationship with my Dad. We used to do all kinds of special things together when I was little. When he and my mom divorced, it just made sense to me that I would live with him.
4. Where is your favorite place and why? Do I have to tell you? Kauai. We’ve gone back a few times now, and it never fails to bring back that rush of memories. In fact we’ve discussed relocating.
5. What are your most important values? Honesty before anything else. Being honest with yourself and everyone around you. I think living in your own truth is important.
6. What emotion/feeling are you afraid to experience? Failure. Is that a feeling? I’m my own worst critic so failure might mean something different to me.
