Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 271

Day 7, Blogging Challenge: 5 Favorite Songs

I could literally spend forever on this question, so I’m just going to go with my gut:

Say It Ain’t So – Weezer, my go to karaoke song
Santa Fe – Newsies soundtrack, honestly, what is not to love about this song movie play?
Running to Stand Still, U2, I love a lot of U2’s stuff, but this track off of Joshua Tree is a fantastic song (runner up would be Stuck in a Moment)
Creep – Radiohead, can you tell when I grew up?
Hey Ya – Outkast, can you tell where I grew up?  There a lot of phenomenal songs by my favorite Atlanta duo, but this one always gets me up and on a dance floor.

No ladies on this list, hmm.  I do love old school Madonna, Beyoncé  and Taylor Swift, as well as the soundtracks to both Pitch Perfect films but as for my all time faves, I’m going to stick to above.  What are some of your favorites?

Day 6, Blogging Challenge: What I’m Afraid Of

I’ll take the existential version of this question, Alex.  I’m currently facing a dilemma of sorts regarding what to do next in/with my life.  Firm commitments and decisions are a few months off, but it doesn’t stop me from staying awake at night and wondering.  While ‘afraid’ is not exactly how I would define my feelings – ‘scared’ and ‘worried’ definitely are.  For instance:

What if I quit my job and never sell enough books to make it worth it?

What if I keep writing and publishing and no one ever buys my work?

Will I ever be able to support myself through my writing?

Why would I stay home and not actively contribute to my household?

Sure, these are all first world problems, but they are the things that concern me.  Furthermore, these are the worries I’ve had for awhile, so they seemed the appropriate answer to this question.  I’m somewhere between optimistic and realistic that things will sort themselves out in the next 6-12 months.

Finally – the book trailer for Life After Joe.

I’ve had iMovie open for about 3 weeks and the book trailer for Life After Joe was mostly complete.  But I didn’t like it.  And I couldn’t figure out what wasn’t clicking and why I didn’t want to finish it.  And then I realized it was the song.  I had gone with the Flaming Lips cover of Madonna’s Borderline, mainly for the extended intro.  I had also briefly considered a cover of Higher Love, which I may end up using somewhere, I’m not sure yet.

Today, while on the treadmill, Beyoncé’s XO came on and I was like, “Yup, this is the one.”  It’s not so much that I don’t love Queen Bey, or that I hadn’t heard the song a bunch of times previously, but while huffing and puffing, the lyrics popped out and I knew it was perfect.  No, I don’t have the rights to this song, but for a silly little book trailer, I think it works.

Your love is bright as ever (ever, ever, ever)

Even in the shadows (shadows, shadows, shadows)

Before they turn the lights out (the lights out)

Baby, love me lights out…

In the darkest night hour (in the darkest night hour)

I’ll search through the crowd (I’ll search through the crowd).

What do you think?

Book Review: Rebel Queen

I downloaded this book as research for the third book in my Queen of England series and I’m so glad I did.  Not only have I been introduced to a part of Indian history I had no idea about (thank you Western education), I’m also now aware of a fantastic author whose other books I can’t wait to read.

Rebel Queen tells the story of Queen Lakshmi, a Joan of Arc type figure in Indian history (which I am woefully ignorant of).  The presentation of this amazing TRUE story is a fascinating one and very well told.  That there were women warriors who defended their rami and traveled to seek audience with Queen Victoria is an incredible journey and definitely a story that deserves attention.

Although a fictionalized account, the attention to detail Ms. Moran gives easily brings the audience into the story.  I love the protagonist she chose and would appreciate seeing this as a feature not whitewashed film.

I’ve already downloaded one of Ms. Moran’s other books, Nefertiti, and can’t wait for the history lesson.

Highly recommend.

Day 5, Blogging Challenge: Proudest Moment

I’ve given a fair amount of thought to this question.  If you would ask 15 year old me the answer, she would tell you it was being awarded a spot on the bass line in the Brookwood High School marching band – a position she worked insanely hard to obtain.

As an adult, I have a lot to be proud of – a successful move abroad, a marriage to one of the best people I know, friends around the world, a day job that allows me to help others get the best education.

As a writer, I would admit that there is this moment when you finish a manuscript – it’s unlike anything else in the world.  Unless you share this information with the world, there’s this massive thing you’ve accomplished and no one can take it away from you.

However, if I could concentrate all the moments, I think one of the most emotional was this one (from last year).  A reader had contemplated suicide (like one of my characters in Room 702), but life turned her around and she’s now happily married with a child.  She was brave enough to write to me:

“I told my husband the next morning more about the book (along with some co-workers) and I really cried when I was retelling that story. I really enjoyed the book (actually my first time reading an e-book). Thank you for the opportunity to put things in perspective. One year at the Winchester was filled with ups and downs, but the memories will linger far longer than this Kindle battery.”

Serious chills (and maybe some tears of my own).  I’m hoping for more moments like that in my career as an author.

What’s your proudest moment?

App vs. App: How Many Steps per Day

So, after all the travel and umpteen course meals over the summer, you’ll not be surprised to learn that I gained a few pounds (mostly worth it, for the record).  With a trip to the Seychelles booked for September, I thought it was high time to get my butt in gear and start a diet and exercise regime (after all, it’s worked in the past).  Knowing cardio was probably going to be my best way forward, I downloaded the Couch to 5K app and off I went.  In addition to logging my calories (sticking close to a limit of 1200 calories per day) and 30 minutes of cardio, I managed to finally link my fitbit and the MyFitnessPal app yesterday.  It’s interesting to see the difference between how many steps my iPhone thinks I took vs. the actual number according to my FitBit.

With a loss of nearly two pounds this week, I’m hoping to keep the momentum going.

What works best for you?

Day 4, Blogging Challenge: Dream Job

This and this.

Also, if the Michelin Guide is hiring for someone to go around and determine the number of stars per restaurant, I would love to get that gig.

On a serious note, I am trying to make myself happy (for now) to at least be doing my dream job in a part time capacity.  I have time, creative energy and the space to write – not everyone is as lucky.

Work all day, market all night.

Ever since Life After Joe came out, I’ve tried to put at least an hour day into some effort towards marketing.  The timing of this is usually after work when I always have tons of energy #sarcasm.  As I’m easily distracted, this time almost always devolves into putting time towards many of my other seven projects and I keep wishing there were more hours in a day!

Preach, Titus Andromedon.

 

 

Day 3, Blogging Challenge: Favorite Quote

This has been my favorite quote since forever.  I’ve even contemplated getting it as a tattoo!

Day 2, Blogging Challenge: 20 Facts About Me

20 Facts About Me.  (Well challenge, we’re going from 0 to 100, aren’t we?)

1. I like to sing. A lot. In the car, on the street, in the stairwell…for no random reason. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be in a band. I’m sad I haven’t been to karaoke in a long time.

2. I almost always have girl friends as part of a trio. Leigh, Crystal. Bridget, Rachael. My train girls. Mae and Adelaide. Cora and Cami.  I’m looking for my next set right now…

3. I will probably not have kids. I don’t have anything against the MANY MANY couples I know that have had, or will have children, but it’s just not for me.

4. I want to climb the Tetons. I want to summit the Grand. After looking at for 2 summers in a row, it’s high on my list. There is a climbing school that makes this possible in a week.

5. It takes me an insanely long time to fall asleep most nights. I can count on 1-2 hours if it’s a weekday, maybe less on the weekend.  This has been a part of my life for years.  Insomnia is no one’s friend.

6. When I’m retired, I want to live a Golden Girls style life with all of my various friends close by and take a ton of college classes.

7. I want any of my books to be made into a film so bad, sometimes it’s all I can think about.

8. Although it’s been awhile, I still write fanfiction and I love it. Don’t knock it until you try it. It’s how I got started writing.

9. I don’t have a gallbladder. My first (and only) surgery took place a few years ago in Dubai.

10. I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever be able to finish all the novels and projects that are floating around as ideas in my head.

11. I really think my readers are amazing. I sometimes wonder what would’ve happened if I had waited for a traditional publisher / agent and realize I would’ve missed out on meeting so many cool and talented people.

12. 2001 and 2007 were the best years of my life – in those times I have never been more productive or got more accomplished. I wish every year could be those years.

13. I think Sprite (or 7UP) should only be consumed if it is freezing cold.

14. I will never press an elevator button with my finger – I always use my knuckle.

15. A Life Less Ordinary is my all time favorite film.

16. I honestly believe my husband and his cat were related in a former life.

17. I have a birthday twin – she was born the same day, same year in Australia. We found each other when I lived there and are friends to this day.

18. I once showed Harrison Ford to the ladies room when I was temping at Warner Brothers.

19. I can ballroom dance.  While my skills are a little rusty, I need to get back on a dance floor.

20. I could live on salmon sashimi.

Want to know anything else about me?  Just ask!