Chynna T. Laird's Blog, page 13

In The Spirit ~ An Introduction To Our New Post Day

Since my children are never here to contribute to their posting day, I have made the executive decision to change our Sunday post day to something I call, "In The Spirit".

This will not be a weekly religious post day. The focus on this segment will be all areas of spirituality and creating and maintaining a healthy inner self.

I've always believed that each of us needs to believe in a power higher than ourselves. That's what gives us hope, brings us back, keeps us focused on the good, teaches u...

Writing Prompt Saturday ~ Where Do Ideas For Writing Come From?

This is probably one of the most common questions every writer or author is asked, and they'll each have their own specific sources of inspiration.

It's a very personal thing, actually. For me, ideas are never-ending. They are always floating around in my head until I can think of great way to not only turn that idea into an enjoyable and readable story, but also discover characters who can represent that idea in the best way.

The characters I create stay with me for a very long time, before, d...

Foodie Fridays ~ Chynna's Family Favorite Pasta Sauce

YAY! It's Friday! And, please. No singing that irritating 'song' that Friday is now connected with. It's bad enough that my youngest comes home from school at the end of every week singing it.

Writing Sample Wednesday ~ A Snippet From Passing Loop (NA coming-of-age, Contemporary)

I am super excited about sharing bits from this project. I don't want to jinx anything yet, but let's just say Passing Loop is now complete and there's been some strong interest in the story.

This book is a bit different from the other work I've done in that the story almost completely revolves around women and how they've dealt with, and continue to deal with, their own experiences of tragedy. Bringing them together makes them realize that each of them fills an empty void for the other.

They d...

Music Mantra Monday ~ It Feels Like A Beatley Day Today

Alright, I don't have to tell anyone out there how much I love the Beatles. They have been a part of my life since I was in utero. In fact, they are so intertwined with my childhood, upbringing and, now, being a parent that I can relate every one of their songs to specific moments.

I've researched this band and its members as deep as I can possibly go without actually having sat down with any of the original guys. And yet I still wouldn't be able to tell you how they have managed to stay with...

Writing Prompt Day ~ Reflective Writing

Usually on Sundays we celebrate children and youth and all of the beauty and wonder they contribute to our world. However, because we missed our writing prompt yesterday I thought it would be great to combine the themes of these post days into one.

One area I seem to be known for is my reflective writing. Even in my novels, I try building a plot around a specific issue or experience, show how the characters I introduce deal with these events, then move forward through the character(s) eyes to...

Foodie Fridays ~ Conquering My Fear of the Pressure Cooker

For today's post, I thought I would talk about a new appliance I got with my AirMiles. When it arrived about a month ago, I was so excited to give it a shot. I mean, how hard can it be? It's like a Crock Pot but with steam.

I took it out of the box, put it on the counter then stared at it. And suddenly, I was taken back to my grandmother's kitchen when I was a little girl.

She had a very old-fashioned, basic pressure cooker. We're talking something that she must have gotten as a wedding gift ye...

In The Spotlight ~ National Runaway Prevention Month

First of all, I'm so sorry we missed our writing sample yesterday. We were experiencing Halloween chaos, including scrambling with last minute costume changes, that stole our attention away from the blog topic of the day. We'll make up for it next week. :)
In the spotlight today is a subject I think is very important to address and talk about more. When we hear of 'runaways', our first thoughts may stray to addiction, less-than-safe home environments or a young person who simply feels alone an...

Talk About It Tuesday ~ Are You An Introvert?

We've all seen them. Those kids in school who sat off to the side, away from 'the popular table', maybe reading or writing. They may even have a couple of other people sitting around them, but they don't usually seem to have a lot to say and they are extremely selective of who they consider 'friends'. They don't put their hands up in class, even when they seem to know the answers. You don't often see them in busy social settings or experiences that would have them in the spotlight or the cent...

Music Mantra Monday ~ Chynna's Top Five Scary Movie Theme Songs

With Halloween only a few days away, I thought it would be fun to go a scarier route here on the blog. Today we're going to turn the focus to those chilling songs from scary movies that make the hair on your arms stand up.

As I always say, music is a very powerful force. Each of us is affected by different music in different ways, depending on the memories we've attached to it. I mean, who doesn't remember that special song you relate to your first love? Or that angry band that you yell-sang a...