Mia Castile's Blog, page 2

Observations

A eighteen hour drivers probably too much time to spend inside my brain. As I drove while my family slept and listened as my children talked when El Señor drove I made a few silent observations that made me both smile and sigh contently. This post may be more for myself later to look back on as I’m bundled up on a cold Indiana winter day, when I miss summer, my kids because they’re in school, or whatever irritations winter brings because there are plenty.

I digress. Here are my vacation observations. They may not mean as much to you but hopefully you’ll laugh too.

1. I don’t understand why Tennessee welcomes you to it as your heading south on 24 and have been in the state for two hours. I mean I get it if you go out of the state for a few miles and come back in but where is the welcome sign at the Kentucky/Tennessee border. That’s the accomplishment. That’s when it matters when you’re like am I in in Kentucky or Tennessee? In the middle of the night state lines are accomplishments.

2. Don’t beat yourself up when you realize five hundred miles in that you forgot something even if it’s important. I forgot my protein shakes, workout mix drink, and soap. But I remembered UNDERWEAR. Hooray for me! I’m on vacation. Besides I’m sure they’ll have a vitamin shop somewhere near me.

3. I should have confiscated his the kazoo.

4. Lilman: Does it ALWAYS rain in Florida?

Me: five minutes at a time, yes it does.

5. The highway is full of migraters. And people will pack their cars up every which way. There’s the tarped luggageon the roof rack, which was our method last year. Trash bag covered, gimpy hard covers and perfectly packed travelers. I say get yours however you can. And make it count.

6. I love watching my little ones be kind to each other. They don’t have the distractions of other friends and Internet. So they talk and hug on each other. It might be my favorite.

7. That damn kazoo!

8. The farthest plate I’ve seen is Arizona. El señor: Ontario.

9. I still don’t mind driving through the mountains. I still mind driving through Atlanta.

10. Me: I’m hongrier than. A hostage.

Lilman: how do you know how much an ostrich can eat?

Kids are funniest when they don’t intend to be and when you least suspect it.

11. Faded Mohawk-mullets are popular in Florida this season.

I don’t get it.

12. Sometimes a salt-water pool is better than the ocean.

Let me (A poem)

I want to be your blanket.

I want to lie across you

with my head on your chest.

I move with you in a rhythm all our own.

Let me be your blanket.

I want to be your food.

I want you to feast on me for hours.

I want to know that I fulfilled you.

Your lips ripe with my juices.

Let me be your food.

I want to control your mind.

I want to steal your thoughts.

I want you to think of me with secret smiles.

Your time spent replaying our shared moments.

Let me control your mind.

Ode to the gym

I don’t do it to feel good,

Because it only feels good afterward.

I didn’t start because I suddenly needed it,

I’ve always needed it.

I didn’t do it to have a hot body,

That doesn’t happen over night.

I didn’t begin this journey to fail.

I go hard everyday for myself,

I’m not here to impress anyone.

If I fall I get right back up,

If you knock me down you better be faster than me.

There are no compromises.

There are no excuses.

There is only me.

The Butterfly Migration Cover Contest

The rules are simple.

1. Copy and save the cover image from this post.

2. Make it as many profile pictures and avatars as possible.

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Google+
MySpace *Yes I just went there*
Pinterest

3. Tweet and tag me so I know to add your name to the drawing.

4. The winners will be picked June 5, 2013

What you get:

Two winners will be drawn randomly, and the more places you put the image the more chances you have to win. Eligibility is also dependent on keeping the cover as your profile picture through the end of the contest. Each winner will receive an e-copy of The Butterfly Migration and a $25.00 Amazon gift card.

Copy and paste the following messages for easy entry:
Facebook:

The Butterfly Migration will be available on May 21st. I want to win a free e-copy from @Mia Castile

Twitter:

The Butterfly Migration drops 5.21 @miacastile I want to win a free e-copy and amazon gift card #tbm #tbc

Instagram:

#tbm #tbc #Thebutterflymigration drops 5.21. I want to win a free e-copy from @miacastile and #entwinedpublishing

You may have to friend and follow me if you don’t already, but remember the more places you put the cover the more chances you have to win.

Facebook: Mia Castile

Twitter: @miacastile

Instagram: @miacastile

Google+ : Mia Castile

The New Myspace: Mia Castile

Pinterest: Mia Castile

Butterfly Kisses Cover Reveal

Day two of my 3 day cover reveal is here. I’m so excited to share this cover too. This was such a fun experience, and working with the models and team at Q7Associates and Talent Fusion just made everything flow smoothly.  Here is the Butterfly Kisses new cover. What do you think? I love the romance of it and the vivid colors. Tomorrow will be a big day because we are dropping The Butterfly Migration, so be sure to keep a look out for that. Until then, have an amazing day.

Becoming a Butterfly Cover reveal

In all of my excitement from the new covers and working on formatting the new book I completely forgot to post my 1st cover. I’m a dork, but I’m me, right? What else is new. So I figured, I can add something special to my cover reveal post. I usually don’t post these, but I think these covers are so amazing. Enjoy. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These days, I am feeling like I’m being pulled in a hund...

These days, I am feeling like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions. There are so many new and exciting things happening. I talk about a few of those changes in my vlog today. It is a bit long, but holds a surprise.

P.S. If you have questions for myself or any of the mentioned attendees to the Launch party please tweet, facemail or email Jodie or myself.

Thanks!

-Mia

First Kiss Book Trailer

I’ve had the chance to read both Skid Out and First Kiss. I don’t usually participate in blog tours, but this is a project that I truly believe in. This is gritty and realistic fiction at it’s best. Sucking you into the the story, you lose hours living the lives of the characters. The best stories do that, you know. So I was practically bouncing off of the walls when I learned that the book trailer was finished. The first time I watched it, I got goosebumps. The second, chills. The third. . . well you get the idea, I guess I’m a little obsessed. Anyway, here’s your chance to feed your own obsession. ENJOY! 

About Ann Marie Froho ff

Ann Marie (“Annie”) Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult

she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beachside city up and down the coast.

The first installment in her Heavy Influence Trilogy, FIRST KISS, is tentatively set to release

June 11, 2013 — The series is a story about young, reckless love between a rising rock star

and his younger muse, spanning 10 years of their tumultuous and passionate relationship.

Each book in the Trilogy will come with a soundtrack of original music, of which the lyrics will

appear in the pages of the books.

Annie is now settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with her family.

First Kiss:

It was all about the band, until the girl next door. Her innocence is tempting. A sexually

charged coming of age story set in the throes of stardom.

About an up and coming teenage rocker on the verge of stardom, when the girl next door

becomes something more; they’re forced to face the harsh realities on his road to fame and

the expectations of their friends and family. Sacrifices are made as everything changes as they

know it.

Title: First Kiss (Heavy Influence Trilogy, #1)

Find Skid Out on Amazon & Ann’s books on Goodreads

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Ann is giving away A Kindle Fire in honor of her release. You definitely want to get in on this. click the link below and enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/sharecode/

Cyberbullying: It can happen to you and end with you.

According to Wikipedia: ”Cyberbullying is the use of the Internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner.”

We say,
     ”Teens are out of control,”
     ”How could they do that?”
     ”When will it stop?”

I say,
     ”With us.”

There is this confidence that possesses us when we get behind a computer screen. This anonymity and invincibility, that no matter what we do, we are untouchable. If someone does something that we don’t agree with, what do we do? We post it on Facebook, with screenshots, and or go to our blog and blast that person, rather than talking to them directly, privately.  We let ALL of our friends know one side of the story our side, so they can judge and attack that person. Sometimes we “take the high ground” and don’t mention the name of the person, but we give enough of the story so it doesn’t matter, everyone will know who we are talking about. Just remember, there are three sides to every story, you side, their side, and the truth.

This behavior isn’t limited to teenagers, and in recent months I’ve witnessed too many instances where grown adults are cyber bullying others. If you target someone online, and maliciously attack them, that is cyber bullying. Unless they have done something to you personally, what ever happened between them and someone else is none of your business. Part of bully behavior is ganging up on someone. Blasting someone because they offended your friend is not only unnecessary but rude.

People make mistakes. Standing up for what is right is completely different than crucifying someone for errors. People will attack you for no reason, that doesn’t mean you have to gather all your friends and return the favor. I don’t know about you, but I want to teach my children to be kind, gracious, forgiving, and generous. How can we do that if we don’t lead by example. I’m not saying let people walk all over you, if you are being harassed, report and block the person. You will feel 100% better not seeing the negativity. It’s exhausting to be a miserable person. It sucks all of your energy. It’s so not worth it! I decided a long time ago, that I would not surround myself with negative, dishonest people. I’ve had to walk away from a lot of friendships that weren’t healthy for me. But I feel like a stronger positive person in doing so.

I’ve been composing this post in my head for close to a month now. If we continue to idly stand by and allow people in our industry, (writers, publicists, bloggers and publishers) an industry that I LOVE, to behave this way, we are condoning it. Over time, it’s not going to be the happy community it is now. This needs to be said and we need to stop ignoring it. It is an issue not just in high school.

This is going on in everyday life. It starts with you and me.

The January Vlog.

I vlogged today. It’s the first one of 2013. I’m under the weather, so I feel blah, but I had the time so I went ahead and did it.

So……………..

What do you think the big announcements are?