Christa Avampato's Blog, page 100

In the pause: Sending out the next to last chapter of my book’s prequel today

Sending a Labor Day gift to my email list subscribers for my book: the next to last chapter of the prequel. If you’d like to be added to my list hop on over to this form and add your email address.

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In the pause: Inspiration for your writing is everywhere

[image error]I walked out of my apartment yesterday morning and found this old magazine on the stoop a few doors down. It’s just the research I needed as I am slowing carving out my second young adult book in the Emerson Page series. The stars are deeply entwined with her story and her future. Sometimes when we need inspiration for our writing, all we need to do is go for a walk and keep our eyes open.

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In the pause: You must follow your gut

I want to talk to you about following your gut. We are quick to let our minds take over our decision-making. We go back and forth and back again on a decision. We talk ourselves into, out of, around, over, and through things. We agonize over the right thing to do and why. We have regrets and we consistently second-guess ourselves.

I had a day like this last week, and it was a brutal. Finally, I wore out my brain and all I had left with was my gut decision. I just knew what I needed to do, even if I wasn’t clear on all of the specific reasons. All I can say is that the answer was always deep down in my soul, and it persistently and consistently kept rising until my decision was on my lips and refused to remain silent.

And that was it. Once I made the choice, there was no going back. My mind relaxed, exhausted. And my heart was glad. I will tell you that the decision is not without its fears. It wasn’t easy to make the choice, but I know I made the right choice for me. There’s another long climb ahead, and I’ll begin that journey next week. Now, it’s time to rest, rejuvenate, and rejoice.

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In the pause: Today my young adult book about Emerson Page arrived in my hands

[image error]Today my young adult book about Emerson Page arrived on my doorstep and I burst into tears. I’ve waited so long to see her. It’s overwhelming to say the least. Thank you to everyone who believed she would find her way into the light. Pre-order is available on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2wAhmvG.

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In the pause: How to help victims of Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey has dropped more rain than Hurricanes Sandy, Katrina, & Andrew combined. There are 5K evacuees in the Houston Convention Center. It’s estimated that there will be a total of 30K people who will be evacuated in the coming days. Please help if you can. I donated to the San Antonio Food Bank because they are the closest food bank to the impacted area in Texas and are in full relief mode to help. Here are other organizations that can use our support:

Houston Food Bank

Texas Diaper Bank

SPCA of Texas

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

Save The Children

Portlight

Red Cross

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In the pause: Looking for bookstore and community center partners for my young adult book

Do you have a great local bookstore? Do you know of a local organization in your city where I could offer writing, storytelling, and publishing workshops?

Part of my marketing plan for my young adult book, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, is to offer writing and storytelling workshops to young people and adults. Topics could include storytelling, publishing, and book branding and marketing.

If you have a great local bookstore or community center that focuses on storytelling, please let me know as I’d love to partner with them to promote and support their work. Stories change the world.

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In the pause: My young adult book broke into the top 50K on Amazon

A big note of thanks to all of you who have supported my young adult book. Because of you, I broke into the top 50K (out of 8M+ books!) on Amazon! Feeling so grateful. Pre-order for Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters is available now.

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In the pause: It’s time for happiness

“I stopped waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel and lit that bitch up myself.” ~Anonymous

“Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it and make the most of the moment

you are in now.” ~Unknown

“Never have a job that makes you wish for Friday and dread Monday.” ~Doc (Charlie) Rodgers, my former cowoker at Rollins College

My friend, Ria, sent me this first quote. It first made me laugh out loud, which I sorely needed. Then it quickly gave me more energy to keep going on my path. Why do we wait, or worse, think we’re undeserving? Of happiness. Of love. Of our dreams. Of living the most magical life we can imagine? Why do we settle for less than we want? Why do we accept and strive for patience instead of progress?

Too many of us get stuck in the trap of thinking a job is a job and happiness is something different, something we do somewhere else. It’s not. We should be happy and proud of the way we spend our time everywhere that time is spent. I refuse to compromise on that ideal. Our time is far too precious to do anything but.

I hope that today your life and work are touched with love and light, and that you will be able to give that to those around you everywhere you go—at work and at home, in your neighborhood, in a store, and on the subway or bus. Just imagine what kind of world we would live in if that were our guiding principle every day. There would be so much light that our tunnels couldn’t even contain all of it.

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In the pause: Be an early reader and reviewer of my young adult fantasy novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters

[image error]The final cover art and galley for my young adult fantasy novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, are off to the printer. I’m now shoulder-deep in marketing and promotion of the book. Are you interested in reading it and being an early reviewer on your own blog or on Amazon? Do you know someone else who might be interested? Please send me an email. I’d love to hear from you!

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In the pause: Stay close to people who feel like sunshine

“Stay close to people who feel like sunshine.” ~Anonymous

This may just be the secret to a happier, more joyful life. I love those people who lift us up just by their presence, who make us feel more alive, more hopeful, and more empowered to build a better world.

 

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