Alison G. Bailey's Blog, page 4
March 11, 2016
Thank You, Italy!
Many thanks to all the bloggers who read, reviewed, reached out to me, interviewed me, and shared beautiful pictures of the cover and teasers on social media . . . your support has been overwhelming. I will never forget your kindness.
A huge THANK YOU to all my new readers. The gratitude I feel toward you is hard to put into words. Your sweet words of support, love, and encouraging have touched me deeply. The fact you felt Tweet and Noah’s story shows I’ve done my job as an author. I appreciate you spending your hard earned money and taking the time to read and review my book. I’m blessed to have your support.
None of this would have been possible without my incredible agents, Flavia Viotti Siqueira and Meire Dias of Bookcase Literary Agency working with co-agent Silvia Donzelli of The Silvia Donzelli Agency.
I’m not sure how you thank someone for making a dream come true. I will be eternally grateful for the support and belief you have in me.
~Love, Alison
Here is some of the awesomeness that is Italy!
March 9, 2016
Freebie Frenzy
Hey, y’all,
A group of fantastic authors have teamed up to offer one of their books for free all this week. It’s a great way to discover new authors. See details below.
Happy reading!
★★★ FREE BOOKS – who doesn’t love one? How about 48 completely FREE, no strings attached books?! All you have to do is enter your email address here http://bit.ly/FreebyFrenzyaweber and you’ll have almost 50 new books to devour!!!
February 24, 2016
Let’s try this again . . .
New Release Date for the Dance is . . .
MAY 11
Cover Reveal
May 4
If you are a blogger and would like to be a part of the fun, please sign up at the links below. The lovely ladies at Gossip Girls PR will handle the rest.
Cover Reveal: http://goo.gl/forms/D5VufexHge
Release Day and Blog Tour: http://goo.gl/forms/ogRAhqVmlN
ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST TODAY
Here’s a little music to get you in the mood. For the life of me I can’t get it centered on the page so don’t pay any attention to the asymmetry. :-)
February 12, 2016
Life’s Balls
Oh the curveballs life throws our way. I caught one of those balls right in the left kneecap last week. While walking my dog Jack I slipped on wet concrete and fractured my patella. Thank god for great neighbors. A ton of folks came out to help me. It was such a surreal experience.
I’ve had a lot of health issues over the years but I’d never broken anything. I’d never been in an ambulance. And I’d never been to the ER.
To top off an already crappy day I found out I had another squamous cell cancer on the same leg as the fracture. This will require surgery once the splint/cast comes off.
Just call me Debbie Downer.
A few things I learned while lying on the stretcher in the ER.
-Dilaudid is the best drug ever created. (Disclaimer-kids don’t do drugs.)
-The ER at Saint Francis Hospital in Charleston has the cutest doctors. Mine was fantastic. He was sweet, patient, and explained everything that was happening.
-At certain times ignorance is bliss.
-I have a very strong aversion to the word exposed being used. Specifically when its referring to something that was meant to stay inside the body.
-When I’m in pain modesty goes out the window.
-My sister is the most incredible sister. I knew she was a great older sister (notice how I made sure you knew she was older?) but she blew me away that night, holding my hand every second.
-Just when I didn’t think it possible to love and admire my mom anymore than I do, she amazed me with her selflessness. Not only is she staying with me while I recover but she’s walking my little dog Buster. Now you have to understand my mom doesn’t like dogs in any way, shape, or form. But she stepped up and said she’d walk and feed Buster until I was able to. A mother’s love in action.
In case you were wondering, Jack’s on a mini vacation staying with my Uncle Jerry. It was just easier since he’s such a big boy. He’s enjoying a large yard and lots of attention. Jerry has already brought him home for a visit.
So, what does all this mean you guys?
Well, I’m postponing the release of The Dance. I was in the middle of revisions when the fall happened. I could push and rush to get it out by March 23rd but that wouldn’t be fair to you guys. I won’t short change you. You deserve the best I have to offer. I love the story of The Dance and I’m beyond excited to share it with you. It’s just going to be a little while longer.
Look on the bright side . . . I’m on some awesome pain meds so no tellin’ what type of blog posts will be coming your way in the weeks ahead.
Let’s end this baby on a fun note.
I’m excited to announce that Tweet and Noah are headed to Italy! The Italian publisher De Agostini bought the rights to Present Perfect and will be releasing it in March. They had the reveal of the beautiful cover this week.
I’m so appreciative of all the sweets notes and prayers from readers and author friends. I’ll get through this. The ride is just going to be bumpy for a while.
~Alison
January 16, 2016
Dinner is Served
If your New Year’s resolution was to go on a diet don’t read this post. Just kidding.
I’ve always loved cooking (and eating). I have fond food memories of my mom and both grandmothers.
When I was in first and second grade my mom was one of the hot dog ladies. The hot dog ladies were a group of moms who came once a week to each class, carrying a wooden crate full of hot dogs and the fixins’ (ketchup, mustard, relish, and potato chips.) I know it might not sound appetizing, hot dogs in a crate, but they were nice brightly painted crates. Anyway, back in those days everyone at my school brought their lunch. Not having to brown bag it for a day was a big event .
The excitement in the air was palpable the morning of hot dog day. During roll call the teacher would ask if you were ordering lunch that day.
Stupid question.
All the cool kids ordered lunch on hot dog day. A sense of independence ran through me as I walked up to Mrs. DeStefano’s desk and plopped down my 50 cents (75 cents if you wanted to order milk). I was responsible for purchasing my very own lunch. And what pushed the day over the top of the awesome chart? My mom was one of the hot dog ladies. It was as if I had an in. Like I had access to an unlimited supply of hot dogs and chips because my mom was the hot dog lady. That wasn’t true, btw.
I remember Sunday dinners at both of my grandmother’s homes. I’m talking big southern spreads in which the closest thing resembling a vegetable were the butter beans with bacon we put over the white rice.
My MaMa (my mom’s mother) always made grits for me when I stayed with her. She’d load them up with butter and set the bowl on the kitchen windowsill to cool. MaMa and her sisters also used to work at a small local sandwich shop. Some of my best days ever were when she took me to work with her. I loved everything about that shop—the racks of bread, the ladies making all different types of sandwiches, the big containers of salads (chicken, roast beef, pimento cheese, etc.) and the giant fridge.
My grandmother (my dad’s mother) had this pot she always cooked those butter beans in (with bacon). The lid had a small opening to let the steam out. I remember sitting in her kitchen surrounded by all these wonderful aromas listening to the clang of the tiny piece of metal that covered the steam spout. And there was always a dense pound cake for dessert.
So, when I sat down to create, Bryson, the main female in The Dance, I decided to give her my love of cooking. She’s a foodie who dreams of a career in the culinary arts. Bryson’s style is much like mine when it comes to cooking, casual. The recipes are accessible and not scary to fix.
About a year ago I was introduced to the Blue Apron service. If you don’t know what Blue Apron is check out the site here. https://www.blueapron.com/
I love this service because all the food is fresh, the meals don’t take long to prepare, and everything is measured out for you, so there’s no waste. I use the service about once a month and it’s introduced me to some fantastic dishes.
Because I’ve been using Blue Apron, every once in a while they give me free meals to share with others. Currently, I have five up for grabs and would like to share them with y’all.
GIVEAWAY!
The first 5 people to comment below with your email address will win a meal.
*Full Disclosure-I don’t work for Blue Apron and I don’t receive anything by giving away the free meals. Also, you do have to enter a credit/debit card when you claim your meal but you can go in and delete once the food is delivered, no obligation.
Butternut squash casserole I made.
ADD THE DANCE TO YOUR TBR LIST
January 8, 2016
Cover Reveal & A Bit of Sparkle by Mary A. Wasowski
This month’s guest post is very special. Not only is it the reveal of Mary’s beautiful cover for her next release, but she also wrote an article to start 2016 off on an inspiring note.
SPARKLE ON, MY SISTERS
By: Mary A. Wasowski
Happy New Year! Another year of wishes, dreams…maybe even one or two coming true!
Thank you to my sparkly friend, Alison Gaskin Bailey, for asking me to write a post for her blog. She is not only one of my favorite author sisters, but I also get to call her a friend. Alison and I have this long-running joke: we always seem to release our books at the same time! So far, we have been neck and neck with our publishing dates!
The journey Alison and I have embarked on is not an easy one. You would go mad if you believed that you were this army of one and could do it all. That is where the sisterhood comes in: friends who are there to offer a shoulder when I need a good cry or just to say, “I’m here.” Along my journey, I have met some incredible women, Alison being one of them.
In the few short years I have been in the writing world, I’ve seen it change and not always for good. Once upon a time, Facebook was for connecting with old friends, making new ones, and just sharing a happy moment in your life. But these days, some would say social media has become the breeding ground for haters. A once-united front now has been divided, and rants from every topic is always at the top of the newsfeed.
Everywhere you turn, there are negative forces blackening one’s day, bottom feeders who hide behind their computers and spread the negative around like manure in a cow field. While the ground is covered with steaming piles of sh*t, you have two choices. One: Join the rest of the cows and spread more piles. Two: Maneuver around it and be careful where you step. A crazy metaphor, but it works for this post!
Which brings me back to the sisterhood. Surround your inner circle with people you trust. Help one another without asking “What’s in it for me?” The indie community has grown to huge proportions. Every day, writers from all walks of life are hitting the publish button on their dreams, hoping to get the brass ring. Sometimes you can be in such a rush to get to the top that you lose sight of those who kept you company at the bottom. Have your sisters’ backs and know they will do the same for you. Lead with your heart, and do not follow behind someone who doesn’t know the difference.
Whether you had the dream your entire life, or you just decided one day to go for it, once you embark on this journey, you have to remember why you did it and why you want to keep moving forward. It cannot be just about hitting a big payday or making a reading list. I have known writers that have given up way too easily on their dreams. Dreams they carried for years, but because they didn’t reach the level as quickly as others did or were threatened with negative posts, they simply gave up.
My advice to anyone who is about to take the leap of courage into the writing world is to breathe. Take it one step at a time. It is not a race to the finish line. Your words will be written and your voice will be heard on the pages of your book. Be honest. Be kind. Be smart. Always be professional. Stay above the haters.
I can only speak for myself, but writing for me is food for my soul. Every day when my fingers pound on my keyboard, it feeds my spirit and makes me reach new heights. I don’t need to tear someone down to look better.
When I give interviews for blogs, the first question I’m often asked is: Why did you become a writer? Sometimes my answer surprises the interviewer, but it is as true now as it was three years ago…
In a family of five kids, sometimes my voice was not heard, so instead of acting out to get my parents to notice me, I expressed myself by writing daily in my journal. Friends I grew up with (who are still my besties today) always told me that I had a gift for storytelling. Most of the time, I shrugged it off. As it often does, the crazy ride of life took me on many different paths. Some dreams did not work out the way I envisioned, but I still had my words that I added to my journal every night. I always believed that one day I would be a writer but never knew when.
When I lost my beloved sister Jeanie unexpectedly, I was lost. How was my 48-year-old sister dead? One sunny day in September 2009, she went into a Florida ER with an infected tooth after a routine dental surgery, and ten hours later was diagnosed with Acute Monocytic Leukemia. I lost her two months later, and I believed she took a part of me with her. Thank God, I had my husband, children, and amazing friends to get me through it. I had no choice but to move on. It had been years since I wrote consistently in my journal, but I did write occasionally through the years. And when I did, I would simply print it out and add it to a folder that would be tucked away collecting dust.
Then one day after a conversation with my husband, I made the decision to do what I always dreamed of: becoming a writer. I dug up my old journals. I dusted off that folder. I fixed up an area in my basement to write in. I printed positive slogans and taped them on the walls around me. “Dream Big” and “Never Give Up” always keep me going, but what provided the most inspiration was a picture of my sister Jeanie taped to my computer beside me.
I didn’t know anything about the publishing world nor the people in it. It was a learning process from day one, and three years later, I’m still learning. I don’t believe you ever stop learning. I have a tattoo on the inside of my left wrist: “She believed she could, so she did.” It reminds me to keep moving forward, a reminder that tells me that I have a voice—a strong one that will be heard, no matter what.
Judy Collins said it best, “I think people who are creative are the luckiest people on earth. I know that there are no shortcuts, but you must keep your faith in something Greater than you and keep doing what you love. Do what you love, and you will find the way to get it out to the world.”
My dream finally came true on August 6, 2013 when I published my debut novel, A Changed Life. It changed my life forever. It’s amazing how something I envisioned as a teen became my entire world nearly three decades later. I feel like my sister Jeanie was there next to me, cheering me on the whole time. And now I also have author sisters to provide me with a similar support.
Write what you love. Love what you write. Chase the dream…one book at a time.
Support your fellow authors. Never let anyone dull your sparkle. Be the light that brightens a room.
I promise you…your spirit will thank you for it.
XOXO,
Mary
Title: An Unfinished Life
Author: Mary A. Wasowski
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Mystery/Suspense
Cover Design: Mindy Guerreiros
Release Date: March 16, 2016
Blurb
“You have my past…I need my future.”
Two men. Two pasts. Two goals.
One connection.
Both men have suffered tragedies they wish they could forget. But can’t and won’t. Not without a fight.
One has made a promise of revenge. The other…an oath of justice.
These silent vows have haunted them both for years.
Which rival will prevail? Or will they both succumb to An Unfinished Life?
Author Bio
I am a dreamer. I’ve always been a dreamer. Some may not have worked out the way I hoped they would, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason.
Writing has changed my entire life. It brings happiness and fulfillment to areas in my life that I didn’t even know I was missing. It’s also one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done. It takes me away from my family, friends, and the little day-to-day tasks that once upon a time seemed normal. Sometimes I like to revisit my portfolio of old short stories, poems, and the inspirational quotes I have kept for many years. Reading through it all shows how far I’ve come and that the journey I am on now is exactly what I dreamed of many years ago. This makes me smile.
A long time ago, I used to write short stories and poems in journals and kept them privately to myself. It took quite some time and many sacrifices, but now I have four published books and have my very own writing cave. What the heck is that? Well, it’s my second home where I laugh, dream, imagine, and write my heart out to hopefully produce something that will make other people smile
Author Links
January 2, 2016
New Year, New Book
I hope y’all had a wonderful holiday season. It seems as if we spend such a long time getting ready and then in the blink of an eye its over.
I’m very excited for what 2016 has in store for me personally as well as professionally. I’m not gonna lie, 2015 was a rough one. But in the end I found myself with more confidence, happiness, and contentment than I’ve had in a long, long time. Know that if things aren’t going your way at the current moment, don’t give up. Stay focused and be easy on yourself. You will get to where you want to be in time.
Some of my personal goals for the new year are to take better care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally. I also want to push myself to have new experiences, try new things. Once a month I’m going to go somewhere I’ve not been before or do something I’ve been wanting to do but haven’t. I’ll keep you updated on that.
As for books . . . the Dance will be a full length novel coming out this spring. After that I want to try my hand at a straight up romantic comedy. There’s humor in all of my books and I love writing it. I also plan on releasing 2 novellas. And I’ll be attending Indie Book Fest in Oct in Orlando. I’ll put all the dates of releases and signing up on the site soon.
The monthly giveaways will continue on my website and I’ve got a fantastic line up of guest posts from other authors for y’all.
Any questions, comments, criticisms, contradictions?
I’d love to hear any feedback from y’all about the website or the weekly blog. Is there a topic you want me to discuss or someone from the book world you’d like me to interview or do a guest post?
Comment below or drop me an email at alisongaskinbailey@gmail.com
As you can see, 2016 is going to be a fun and busy. I wish you and your family many blessings in the coming year.
What better way to start the new year off than with a brand spanking new book synopsis.
ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
December 21, 2015
A Gift for You
As a THANK YOU from ME to YOU.
Amazon bestseller, Stop! is FREE FOR ALL! You heard me right. For the next few days you can read Stop! for FREE.
Kindle Unlimited membership NOT required.
Stop! Amazon Bestseller, Teen and Young Adult
http://tinyurl.com/oh5ugne
December 19, 2015
Holiday Fun
During the entire month of December, I’ve been sharing some of my very special toys from my childhood as part of #throwbackthursday. I had a lot of fun pulling these toys out of my closet and reminiscing. For those who missed the posts on my social media sites, here ya go! Hope they bring you some sweet holiday memories.
Happy Holidays!
Me and my older sister, Kelley. There must have been something awesome in those stockings.
MONTHLY GIVEAWAY!
Only a few more days to enter. Comment anywhere on the site as often as you like. December’s prize fits in this box.
December 7, 2015
Ho Ho Ho
Add to Your TBR List!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25875674-the-dance
I can’t wait for y’all to meet the new cast of characters in my upcoming contemporary romance novel. I love all the characters I’ve written in each of my novels, but I’ve never fallen in love as quickly as I have with the ones in
The Dance.
Sneak peek coming soon!
DECEMBER GIVEAWAY
This month’s prize will fit in this box. To enter comment anywhere on the website as often as you like. And remember, sharing is caring.
