Crystal Collier's Blog, page 4

Why You Will Always Fail, Always

Do you ever feel like a complete failure? (*points to self* On a daily basis.)


Q: What is it that makes you feel like a failure? (Barring clinical conditions.)

A: An expectation that you have not yet or are unable to meet. Does that expectation come from you, from society, from a friend or spouse?

As a mom to 4.5 (see my last post if you missed the announcement), it's easy to fall into this trap. There's a house to keep clean, clothes to mend, schedules to keep, school lessons to plan and execute, food to make... But here's one quick life hack I've learned:

Simplify.

Hate cleaning that self-stirring pitcher? Toss it. (True story. Hubby saved me AGES of sanity.) Can't make it to sewing up the holes in pants? Up the clothes budget and shop at less expensive stores. Struggling to keep up with fifteen schedules in the same house hold? Set limits. (One extracurricular per person, or less.)

And more than that. Cut the guilt. So what if your neighbor's family is always wearing the newest fashions, attends really awesome concerts & shows, goes on AMAZING vacations, has the star kid on the community baseball team AND a future concert pianist AND are 3rd degree black belts AND delivers homemade cookies at Christmas to everyone, and and and...

You are you. You're different than anyone else--in your capabilities, your sanity level, your strengths, etc, and the sooner you recognize that, the better.

So cut back on the commitments and stop trying to be everyone's perfect vision of success. Do what keeps you sane. More importantly, celebrate the fact you are a success.

Otherwise you are doomed to always fail. Always.


This has been an IWGS group post. The question for this month:

Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

Yes to all three. The results were awesome, but I wanted to sleep for a year afterwards.

THANK YOU, CO-HOSTS! Chris @ Madness of a Modern Writer, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Fundy Blue, and Chrys Fey!

Led by Ninja King, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

And now for the FREEBIE of the week...


Two weeks ago, Simone Pond shared HIDDEN SIGHT along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win a PRINT book.

The game:


1. I saved someone's life giving them the Heimlich maneuver.
2. I was baptized in the Pacific Ocean.
3. I'm a hoarder.
The lie: #3.  

From Simone: Huge lie. I actually have OCD and I'm a neat freak! I can't stand any extra clutter or things out of place. I like my house to look like a museum. Sometimes I drive my husband a little nuts with all of my organizing and getting rid of things we don't need, but our home is very peaceful. 

And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Jess!

Congrats, Jess!
And now for an AWESOME epic fantasy:


Once Alaric was a Keeper. He protected the land with his knowledge and his magic. He advised the queen.

Once he was a good man.

Until, in a futile attempt to save his dying wife, he delved deep into dark magic, betraying everything he believed in. But now there is one last chance to save his wife, buried in an ancient Wellstone. With a map from a disgruntled dwarf, and the help of an inscrutable elf and an inept wizard, Alaric just might find it.

Except there are other, darker forces searching for the Wellstone. And if they find it first, they’ll use it to awaken a terrible evil. 

To face this growing threat—and have any chance at saving his wife—Alaric needs the strength and power of a Keeper, not the brokenness of the man he has become.

Can he overcome the darkness in his past? Or will it be the shadows within himself that destroy everything?

Buy your copy on Amazon.
Ready to meet the author?
JA Andrews is a writer, wife, mother, and unemployed rocket scientist. She doesn't regret the rocket science degree, but finds it generally inapplicable in daily life. Except for the rare occurrence of her being able to definitively state, "That's not rocket science." She does, however, love the stars.  

She began writing stories and creating coloring books because these sorts of things need an outlet. And now good markers are a deductible business expense.  

She spends an inordinate amount of time at home, with her family, who she adores, and lives deep in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, where she can see more stars than she ever imagined.


You might stumble across her at The Melting Pot downing their huge fondue pot of cheese on her anniversary. It’s happiness melted into a pot. 

Yup. I totally agree. =)

JA Andrews gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. If you guess the lie, right or wrong, you will be entered to win an eBook of A THREAT OF SHADOWS. (Open internationally.) And if you are the selected winner AND guessed correctly, you will receive as a bonus, A Keeper's Tale. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL ON THE PROFILE, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS OR EMAIL IT TO crystal@crystal-collier.com WITH YOUR SCREEN ALIAS.

You have until Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on April 19, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I have aphantasia, which is the inability to make pictures in my own head.
2. I hate aluminum foil so much that I refuse to touch it. Or anything it’s wrapped in. 
3. I have a degree in rocket science.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met JA Andrews? Do you like epic fantasy? Do you feel like a failure? What is your greatest success or most unique talent?

5 Life Lessons a Baby Can Teach You

Do you love babies?

My dad was a doctor and delivered so many of them. He loved babies so much, he ended up having 8 of his own. Which sounds insane. Because it was. But it was also wonderful. So many people to love, and such a strong support system of family.

In honor of that, today's funnies are brought to you by life lessons babies can teach us all:

5. Don't be jealous/envious. Share.
4. Show appropriate affection. (Beware smooches.)
3. Look before you leap.
2. Know the difference between reality and imagination:
1. We're always working on control--refining a little at a time. No one is perfect,and no one looks graceful all the time, even if they are ADORABLE.
And now, as promised... 
I dropped off the planet last month. Perhaps I'm a little more like my dad than I thought because...

We're looking forward to welcoming baby #5, and because my health has been a little tenuous (thank you morning--I mean--all day sickness), I've been taking everything slow. Even reading. *gasp* Every addition to our family has made it sweeter, a little more chaotic, and so much more fulfilling. I'm excited to hold this new one in my arms...in 6 months.

Do you have any awesome news? Anything you're very much looking forward to?


Two weeks ago, Katherine Bogle shared HAVEN along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed was entered to win an eBook. If that person also guessed the lie correctly, they would receive FYRE (a collection of short stories) as well.

The game:


1. The second time I ever voted, I was nearly killed on the way to the polls.
2. To tell my first ever crush that I liked him, I chased him around the school yard until I kissed him. He was an a**hole to me in high school. Well deserved? Maybe.
3. I once had 8 cats (seriously, all at the same time).
The lie: #1.  

From Katherine: The first time I ever went to vote, I was driving with my best friend. We reached an intersection where we had the right of way (two stop signs on the other sides). As we were going through the intersection, a huge truck flew in front of us. My friend hit the brake mere inches from the truck. We were in a tiny little Chevy at the time, and may have died if the truck struck the side of the vehicle. Thank God for my friend's awesome reflexes! 

And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Lynda R. Young!

Congrats, Lynda!
And now for a YA urban fantasy you don't want to miss:

Blinded in an accident, only she can see the truth.

Losing her parents and her sight changes everything for Sibyl Forsyth. Terrified and refusing to accept the gift that she can now "see" into the supernatural realm, Sibyl stays at home, closed off from the outside world.

When she's plagued with a vision of a catastrophic event, Sibyl knows she can't possibly sit back and watch her California coastal town's ultimate demise. Reluctantly, Sibyl sets out to stop her premonition from coming true. With the help of her shifter guide dog, Vago, the two join forces to save the day as they encounter intensely evil spirits with a vicious vendetta.  In a race against time, Sibyl and Vago battle their own demons while trying to save the town from an explosive ending that nobody else sees coming. 

If you enjoy stories with supernatural visions, suspense, budding romances, and a heroine who has a lot of heart -- then you’ll love Pond's latest urban fantasy series!  

Check out Hidden Sight and "see" what's in store for you!

Buy your copy on Amazon.
Ready to meet the author?
Simone Pond writes sci-fi novels for young and new adults. She's also obsessed with Boston Terriers, Victorian dresses, and the end of the world. She's a warrior of light. 

She grew up in Kensington, Maryland––a small town just outside Washington D.C.––and spent most of her time filling up journals. In 2013, she published her first fiction novel, The City Center, which won a gold medal in dystopian fiction. She publishes a book every couple months, so be sure to sign up for her mailing list for updates on new releases.

You might find Simone sitting in her living room with a good French baguette and chevre (cheese). She loves cheese so much, it finds its way into her stories: There's a scene in Beyond Sight (the second book in the Coastview Prophecies) where the main character, Sibyl, and her boyfriend, Eli, are eating goat cheese. Simone was a strict vegan for about five years and didn't have any cheese -- at all. She was pretty miserable those five years.

(And understandably! Yikes!)

Simone gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. If you guess the lie, right or wrong, you will be entered to win a PRINT BOOK of HIDDEN SIGHT. (Open internationally.) IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT WITH AN EMAIL ON YOUR PROFILE, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS.

You have until Tuesday, April 4 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on April 5, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I saved someone's life giving them the Heimlich maneuver.
2. I was baptized in the Pacific Ocean.
3. I'm a hoarder.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Simone? Do you like urban fantasy? Do you have any awesome news? Anything you're very much looking forward to?

Why You Should Never Rework an Old Story, IWSG, & Fantasy Giveaways

THANK YOU, CO-HOSTS!
The awesome co-hosts for today are Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!
Led by Ninja King, Alex J. Cavanaugh.
The question this month is: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?
A BIG fat YES to this. I have story folders that go all the way back to 1994, so most of my ideas are half written pieces that have been around for years, if not decades. However, in this instance, the piece I'm talking about was originally penned in 2003. It was MAJORLY rewritten about 5 times, with at least a hundred edits along the way, but the story saw its debut in 2013:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Walmart
I think I'd call that a success. =)

In fact, I'm reworking another book originally penned in 2001. (Due to see the world around 2019ish.) Want a quick sample?



Wow. You can see how much you've grown as a writer when you decide to rework a relic. Regardless, if a story is solid, a story is solid, right? And if you love it enough, why not bring it up to the modern age? I know not all people agree with me, but some of us actually love to edit. *gasp*

So why should you never rework an old story? You might have to chop 90% of what you originally loved. If you can't go in objectively--with a big pair of scissors and determination to reshaping EVERYTHING--stay far, far away from trunked works.

Now a quick apology about this last month. I completely disappeared after IWSG. It wasn't intentional...but well, more on that next month. Exciting news on the horizon.

Last month, Cecelia Earl (Aka Christy) shared WHEN ASH RAINS DOWN along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to win their choice of a Print or eBook.

The game:

1. I've run a couple of miles...with no clothes on, and even saw a professor run in the nude once.
2. I've taught more than 300 children how to read and write.
3. Rather than visiting the normal sites to see when travelling through Europe and Great Britain, I chose to see cemeteries instead. Who needs to snap pictures of the Eiffel tower, Big Ben, or the Colosseum when there are graves to put flowers on?
The lie: #3.  

From Cecelia/Christy: I lied. I totally fangirl over the regular sights every time I visited these countries, especially the Eiffel Tower since I minored in French, but I did make  point of visiting Audrey Hepburn's grave in Tolochenaz, Switzerland. I very much wanted to put flowers on my idol's grave.

And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Doreen McGettigan!

Congrats, Doreen!
And now for a YA fantasy you don't want to miss:

Princess Haven was never meant to be Queen.

Her immortality has saved her time and time again, but when the last of her royal family dies at her feet, she is next in line to rule a nation on the brink of war. With no formal training on how to be Queen, Haven must rise to the occasion with the help of her best friends, and personal guard, or risk losing everyone she has ever loved.

With war to the West, and no escape to the East, the evil tyrant Kadia sets her sights on the six kingdoms. Haven's neighbors are quick to fall under the swords of Kadia's shadow soldiers, leaving a sea of bodies and a clear path to Haven's only home. Haven must make a choice; take her people and flee to the foreign Republic across the sea or lead a last stand against a powerful dictator.

Buy your copy on Amazon.
Ready to meet the author?
Katherine Bogle's debut young adult novel, Haven, came second in the World's Best Story contest 2015. She currently resides in Saint John, New Brunswick with her partner in crime, and plethora of cats. She can be found at www.katherinebogle.com.

You might run across her eating marble cheese or monterey jack in little cracker sandwiches while sitting on her couch. She also recommends melted cheese on popcorn. "Holy yum!"

Katherine gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. BIG CHANGE HERE. If you guess the lie, right or wrong, you will be entered to win an eBook of HAVEN. However, if you guess right (and are randomly chosen to win), you'll receive a bonus prize from Katherine: FYRE, a collection of short stories. (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, March 14 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on March 15, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. The second time I ever voted, I was nearly killed on the way to the polls.
2. To tell my first ever crush that I liked him, I chased him around the school yard until I kissed him. He was an a**hole to me in high school. Well deserved? Maybe.
3. I once had 8 cats (seriously, all at the same time).

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Katherine? Do you like fantasy stories? Are you an editor at heart? Have you ever resurrected a story/old project?

Angels, Wars, and Why Do You Do What You Do: IWSG Edition

THANK YOU, CO-HOSTS!
The awesome co-hosts for today are Misha Gericke, LK Hill, Juneta Key, and Joylene Buter,
Led by Ninja King, Alex J. Cavanaugh.
BUT FIRST, a huge shout and thank you to J. Lenni Dorner--for the fabulous 5 star review of Moonless, but more so listing me in a top ten list of authors and blogs. Whew! Totally feeling the love.
Have you ever had that "aha!" moment where suddenly you get why your mind works the way it does?

I had one of those this last week as I was preparing for a school presentation. While pondering what really got me into writing, I faced the age-old question: Why do I write about fantasy/sci-fi/historical subjects? Anything but the normal, contemporary world?
And I got an answer.
In the past, I always figured it was because I wanted to escape from the monotony of every day life. And it's true. I LOVE books that take me somewhere new, but that's not the reason.
Now I've asked myself this question a million times and gone back to my roots, but it wasn't until now I got it.
Writing/reading is about compassion. (And maybe entertainment.) It's about seeing the world through other people's eyes and understanding their perspective. Back when I got serious about writing, I was being bullied. Badly. I projected my misery into another world, onto a character, and made her circumstances the worst I could think of to prove to myself that it could always be worse. I started writing off-world, or in another era BECAUSE I had to prove to myself that the human condition is the same, no matter when, where, or how it's faced. The grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence. Everyone suffers.
For me, it's about showing how no one is truly evil. No one is 100% good. We're all just people struggling to find happiness, and if we could see everyone around us that way, life would be infinitely better.

Last week, Tara Tyler shared CRADLE ROCK along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to a print book, eBook, or swag. (Their choice.)

The game:


1. I sang at a friend's wedding, but didn't practice nearly enough so I mixed up two of the verses. I don't think anyone knew... it was from an opera.
2. I sang at the funeral of a friend's mother - hardest thing I've ever done, was shaking and tearing up, barely made it through.
3. In college I had a solo for our "Spring Sing" - was young and fearless and hit that high note with a vengeance, the video is priceless.
The lie: #2.  

From Tara: I couldn't do it at all. It was too overwhelming and I declined. And I was glad I didn't try it, because I couldn't keep it together enough to sing it in my head at the funeral. I get emotional when I sing... It's part of the enchanting, sometimes therapeutic experience.

Apparently Tara is AWESOME at lying, because not a single person guessed the lie correctly. *gasp* So, everyone who guessed got an entry. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Marcy Hatch!

Congrats, Marcy!
And now, for a book with one of the most beautiful covers I've seen:

Being crowned homecoming queen and enduring a week at the center of her classmates' attention is eighteen-year-old Julia White’s worst nightmare—even with Cole, her long-time crush, as her date. But when Julia is attacked by a green-blooded demon that vanishes in a plume of smoke, she comes face to face with what real nightmares look like—in the flesh, and all of the homecoming stuff hardly matters anymore.

As a frightening wave of crime infiltrates her small Wisconsin town, Julia tries to avoid Nicholas, a brooding, infuriating relative of Cole’s, who insists she’s the reason behind the corruption. He claims the culprits are demons who are after powers that only she—a human-angel hybrid—possesses. It’s unbelievable, of course, until he takes her to a hidden battlefield where warrior angels train to fight soul-siphoning demons—and her own angelic wings unfold.

When angels and demons draw battle lines, endangering everyone in their way, Julia has to find a way to protect them all, including herself. Because as it turns out, she’s the devil's most powerful weapon against the angels, and he’ll stop at nothing to claim her. 

The final battle between Heaven and Hell has begun.

When Ash Rains Down is the first book in debut author Cecelia Earl’s Kingdom Come series.

Buy your copy on Amazon.
Ready to meet the author?
Cecelia Earl is the pen name for Christy from Erica and Christy (http://lynneawest.blogspot.com/). She graduated with a degree in education and has been teaching ever since. She’s a wife, a mom of three boys, and an owner of a magical laundry pile that never stops growing. She lives near enough to Green Bay, WI that her refrigerator is always stocked with cheese, and the first colors her children learned were green and gold. She’s a teacher by day, a mom always, and a writer in her sleep, but that’s okay because being an author is a dream come true. She writes angel books for young and youngish adults. If you feel young, she writes for you—whether or not you feel particularly angelic.

Christy's favorite cheese is a toss up between Sartori's Bellavitano Merlot,  LaClare Farms Chandoka, and Springside Cheese's aged cheddar...and their award-winning cheese curds (They are the squeakiest and best!). She married into a cheese-making family and recently accompanied her husband on a trip to Chicago for a cheese festival and manned his company's cheese table with him. At the time he'd had a cheese he'd made that hadn't been named yet, so he labeled it Project X. It was the hottest selling cheese that day and they had fun with all the cheese tasters who offered up their own name ideas. He sold out of it and has yet to make more, or to name it, though she keep offering up HER name for it. Naming it after his wife sounds like a winner, right? She loves eating cheese, cubed, with cubed green apples, and bread dipped in oil with a glass of Malbec. Best appetizer ever.

Cecilia/Christy gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win their choice of a PRINT BOOK (US only) or an eBook. (For international winners.)

You have until Tuesday, February DATE at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on February DATE, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I've run a couple of miles...with no clothes on, and even saw a professor run in the nude once.
2. I've taught more than 300 children how to read and write.
3. Rather than visiting the normal sites to see when travelling through Europe and Great Britain, I chose to see cemeteries instead. Who needs to snap pictures of the Eiffel tower, Big Ben, or the Colosseum when there are graves to put flowers on?

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Christy? Do you like angel stories? Have you figured out what you do what you do?

Top Ten Books of 2016 + An Epic Giveaway

It's been a while since I did a top ten. Are you ready for this?
2016 was a decent reading year for me: 80 or 90 titles. As always, it's very difficult to chop my list down to JUST ten books. Are you ready for this? (And I warn you, this is an eclectic list.)
10 Very interesting book...somewhat morbid. Was it for middle graders (as labeled)? For teens? Adults? (Yes, I was that confused.) The plot, while short, presents great suspense and it was a fun read...after I got over the initial shock of some very unexpected content.
Get it on Amazon.
9 I have absolutely no idea how this one ended up on my eReader, but I consumed it over Christmas. I don't want to give anything away, but people who enjoy NA and fantasy elements will appreciate this one.
Get it on Amazon.
8 A fantastic book that paints a time period in full color--the brutality, the gender roles, the lifestyle. Meet a protagonist well worth rooting for. This book is for adults.
Get it on Amazon.
7 I love, love, LOVE, Odd Thomas. Koontz paints a rich, word-lovers world with suspense, fun twists, and the injustices. Without spoilers or saying anything more, this has been one of my favorite Odd Thomas books. This is an adult book. Very adult.
Get it on Amazon.

6
Aliens, dystopian society, strange things happening in the main characters head... I was taken right away with this story. An awesome YA book. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Get it on Amazon.

5
THE ONLY mermaid book that comfortably/realistically bridges the world between land and ocean. Although I could see how the story was going to resolve, I enjoyed every moment getting there. A wonderful NA book.
Get it on Amazon.
4
From the first chapter, I wasn't so sure. I'm pleased to say that by the end, I was 100% sold. Cute characters, a fun conflict, and a happy conclusion. Highly recommended.
Get it on Amazon.

3
It's rare I read a book where I just want to linger (because of the author's beautiful language/writing), and can't stop myself from burning through it. This CLEAN regency romance has all the fun of a historical setting, suppressed attraction, and societal expectations, PLUS an actual plot. And beautiful prose.

If you love regency romance, read this book.
Get it on Amazon.2 When I read the concept of this YA book on a blog, I immediately bought it. (That's rare for me. SUPER rare.) I looked forward to mentally living in that world--but little did I know it would end up being a SINGLE reading session. An AWESOME read. I want to read it again already.

Get it on Amazon.

1 I have never read such a cast of well developed, believable, three-dimensional, DIFFERENT characters. And the plot... I was sitting comfy, thinking status quo when BAM! Whiplash. So I thought, the author got lucky. Hah! It wasn't luck, and just wow! Superb story. SO much fun to read. The only caveat: while labeled YA, this book is TRUE TO LIFE. The characters use language you might hear in a high school hallway. Very authentic.

This one of the best books you've NEVER heard of, but you should definitely read.

Get it on Amazon.
At the beginning of the month, Tracy Clark shared SCINTILLATE along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to an eBook.

The game:

1. I eat all sandwiches and burgers in a circle, around and around until I get to the middle.

2. I was once crowned Miss Burbank, CA. 

3. I was an extra in the condom commercial in Lethal Weapon 2.
The lie: #2.  

From Tracy: I was 2nd runner up in 1988. Hah!

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Hilary Melton-Butcher!

Congrats, Hilary!
And now, for an AWESOME middle grade book:

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!
Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!
Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.
But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads
Check out the Book Trailer!
Ready to meet the author?
Tara TylerI love to use poetry and songs in my writing, there are a couple of examples of me singing on my YouTube channel. And in my fantasy books, I always seem to find a reason to add a poem or song, like this human bedtime rhyme to warn children about beasts from CRADLE ROCK:


Close your eyes and go to sleepNot a whisper, not a peepElse beyond the border creepGiant monsters, make you weep
When fathers scoldAnd mothers holdDark tales of oldAre often told
From the history of timeBeware the Mist above the lineAcross our fences, danger findStay safe within or fate unkind
Big, bad, hairyMonsters scaryPray for fairySweet dreams carry
Close your eyes and go to sleepNot a whisper, not a peepElse beyond the border creepGiant monsters, make you weep.
Since I love to sing, I have performed in front of a few audiences - but I often screw up from stage fright! It's tough!

Tara Tyler started out as a math teacher. After having a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering and living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. In addition to her novels, she has published short stories and poetry in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, and Humor. So many stories to tell!

Tara gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win their choice of an eBook, signed PRINT book, OR swag item (bracelet, t-shirt, or tervis tumbler). (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, January 31 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on February 1, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I sang at a friend's wedding, but didn't practice nearly enough so I mixed up two of the verses. I don't think anyone knew... it was from an opera.
2. I sang at the funeral of a friend's mother - hardest thing I've ever done, was shaking and tearing up, barely made it through.
3. In college I had a solo for our "Spring Sing" - was young and fearless and hit that high note with a vengeance, the video is priceless.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Tara? Do you like middle grade stories? Do you have a favorite book or two from 2016? Share, please!

There is NO New Year Here (IWSG Edition)

Friends!!!!
I'm back. Did you miss me? I missed you. And I'm kind of in denial about this new year thing. So no, it is not 2017. And no, it's not time for making crazy, stupid resolutions that we'll all break in three weeks or less. And no, it's not time to get back into a productive schedule.
But if it was, I'd celebrate like this:
[image error]

[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
So maybe I'm not as much in denial as I'd like to be. In fact, I'm starting the year with this:
Goodreads Book Giveaway      Timelessby Crystal CollierGiveaway ends January 09, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.Enter GiveawayAnd I'm dropping back to a twice a month posting schedule, but I've got an amazing lineup of book giveaways headed your way.
It's going to be a beautiful new year, and I'm wishing you the best 2017!
[image error]
And now...
The new year is about trying new things, right? Well, I finally took the plunge and signed up as a co-host for the IWSG bloghop. See what it's all about and join the ninja king, Alex J. Cavanaugh (who may or may not have stolen my cloning device), and his minions. Meet my fellow cohosts: Eva @ Lillicasplace, Sheena-kay Graham, Chemist Ken, LG Keltner, & Heather Gardner.Oh, and heads up, they're announcing the winners of the second IWSG Anthology contest TODAY.
The big hop question is: What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?
I can't answer that because there isn't a single writing rule I regret learning. *shrugs* Call me a conformist. Ignorance in the publishing industry is the same as hari kari, and maybe just as messy. Young writers, LEARN ALL YOU CAN. Readers have expectations. Those expectations have been set by centuries of patterning, and deviating too far will alienate those most loyal to the written word. There's still room for creativity--within a safe framework. Writing is ALL about your audience.

Last year (ha! I make it sound so long ago!), Kristin Smith shared CATALYST along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to an eBook.

The game:



1. I'm the mother of five boys, and when I was pregnant with my oldest son, we were told by the ultrasound tech that she was 99.9% sure we were having a girl. Surprise! We ended up with a bouncing baby boy.
2. By the time I was 18, I'd traveled from the east coast to the west coast 3 times, but the first time I ever rode in an airplane was when I left home for college.
3. I once chatted for five minutes with Woody Harrelson outside of a bathroom in a casino in Las Vegas and didn't realize who he was until after he walked away.
The lie: #3.  

From Kristin: I did see Woody Harrelson outside of a bathroom in a casino in Las Vegas, but I DID NOT talk to him. And yes, I knew immediately who he was!

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Christine Rains!

Congrats, Christine!
And now, I have a special treat for you:

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.

Cora Sandoval’s mother disappeared when she was five and they were living in Ireland. Since then, her dad has been more than overprotective and Cora is beginning to chafe under his confines. But even more troubling is the colorful light she suddenly sees around people. Everyone, that is, except herself—instead, she glows a brilliant, sparkling silver.
As she realizes the danger associated with these strange auras, Cora is inexplicably drawn to Finn, a gorgeous Irish exchange student who makes her feel safe. Their attraction is instant, magnetic, and primal—but her father disapproves, and Finn’s mother orders him home to Ireland upon hearing he’s fallen in love. After a fight with her father, Cora flees to Ireland, both to follow Finn and to look for her missing mother.
There she meets another silver-haloed person and discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and their role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—one that could change mankind forever…and end her life.
Get Your Copy HERE (for only 99 cents! You know you want to).
Ready to meet the author?
Tracy Clark is an award-winning author who grew up a “Valley Girl” in Southern California but now lives in her home state of Nevada. She has two teenagers who are a continuous source of great dialogue. Her published books include: a young-adult paranormal series, The Light Key Trilogy (SCINTILLATE, DEVIATE, ILLUMINATE,) and her latest novel, MIRAGE, an eerie YA thriller. Tracy’s a proud mom, a private pilot, a post-skydiving daredevil, a spicy-chocolate connoisseur, and an irredeemable dreamer. www.tracyclark.org

You might find Tracy munching Humbolt Fog goat cheese with amazing spicy jam (from Trader Joe's)...although she probably won't notice you while engaged in such deliciousness (about as close to food-heaven as she gets).

Tracy gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out either lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook (open internationally):

You have until Tuesday, January 24 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer (and FUN) on January 25, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I eat all sandwiches and burgers in a circle, around and around until I get to the middle.

2. I was once crowned Miss Burbank, CA. 

3. I was an extra in the condom commercial in Lethal Weapon 2.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Tracy? Love urban fantasy stories? What is your new years resolution? Are you in denial about the new year? Have you met the IWSG community?

Where's Your Light?

It's the most wonderful time of the year!
What are you doing with your holiday season?


Tis the season to be more loving, more compassionate, more patient. Tis the season to be better. Some people have gotten away from the reason for Christmas, and enjoy the commercial aspects. For me, this season is a time for refocusing. It's a time for remembering people outside of my normal circle. It's a season for family.
Because of that, I'll be on break until the new year, but before I go, three things:
1. There's an AWESOME book up for grabs below. (Don't miss out on the Truth or Lie game.)
2. As a very "Merry Christmas", my publisher has dropped the price of my Maiden of Time trilogy by 40% through December 21. You can get the entire series in eBook for ONLY $9. (Regularly $15.) And this:
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway Timeless by Crystal Collier Giveaway ends January 09, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
3. My blog tour rocked! I can't tell you how incredibly blessed I feel to have such wonderful friends on the blogosphere who shared, shouted, reviewed, and made me feel like a rock star. (Almost 100% 5 Star reviews. What?!?!) You are the best! Before you go, here's a quick run down of the posts and people who deserve epic cheese this season. Thank you, friends! (And thank you to everyone who participated. Winners will be notified via email, and prizes are going out December 1st.)

November 1Bookworm Brandee: Meet Your DoppelgangerShooting Stars Reviews: A Super Awesome Book ExcerptTF Walsh: Editing Tip: How to Fix Sagging MiddlesNovember 2The Narcissistic Rose: Medieval Funnies--Food Fascination
I Think: Therefore I Yam: Excerpt--What's Beyond the StarsWrite Stuff: Medieval Funnies--What's Up With Armor?Whip It: Writing Tips--Character ArcsNovember 3Barb Taub--Writing and Coffee. Especially Coffee: Plotter or PantserI Am A Reader: Meet Your Maiden of Time DoppelgangerThe Far Edge of Normal: Excerpt--Meet the Knight TemplarNovember 4The Write Path: Advice for Aspiring Authors & ReviewWrite with Fey: Little Known Facts: The Man Behind the Curtain & ReviewStrands of Thought: Kai Interviews Alexia Dumont, Maiden of TimeBarb Tuab: Why I DON'T Want You To Read TIMELESSNovember 5
Thoughts in Progress: 4 Tools for Gauging Your Book's Pace
Bish Denham: Medieval Funnies: Hobbies
November 7The Story of a Writer: How to Become a Beta Reading Pro
Scattergun Scribblings: Review & Where the Maiden of Time Series Came FromJust Jemi: Little Known Facts: Secrets Behind the Book CoverAlex J. Cavanaugh: Good, Clean Fun, AKA Medieval FunniesNovember 8Kimber Leigh Writes: Who is Your "Maiden of Time" DoppelgangerKristin Smith: Kristin's Doppelganger is...November 9Sandra Ulbrich Almazan: Speculative Fiction Author: Medieval Funnies: Men in SuitsThe Warrior Muse: Who is Shannon's MoT Doppelganger?Bittersweet Enchantment: Book Excerpt: A Kick Trash Time TravelerErica and Christy: Pick Your Cheese, Pick Your Alter EgoNovember 10What the Cat Read: Little Known Facts: Age and ImmortalityCelticlady's Reviews: Book Excerpt: Fear in the FireDiane Burton - Adventure and Romance: Medieval Food is Funny?Fida Islaih: Excerpt: From the StarsNovember 11Elizabeth Seckman, Author: Quiz Your Way into A Book & Book Review gotalovebooks: Book Review & a Kick-Trash Action excerptBookworm for Kids: An Otherworldly excerptNovember 12Kurt's Frontier: Book ReviewNovember 14Play off the Page: Why Fantasy & ReviewTamara Narayan: Clean Medieval Funnies & ReviewMama Diaries: Favorite CheeseH.R. Sinclair: To Improve Editing for Non-techiesNovember 15Dianne Salerni: When Characters Take Off the MaskWriting, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams: Medieval Pass-Times (Your Daily LOL)The Dabbler: How to Create Epic Blog Tours & Book ReviewHall Ways: Book ReviewNovember 16Hogwarts Sabbatical: Writing Tips--How to Balance ProseThe Five Year Project: Writing Tips--What Makes an Epic First ChapterLidy Wilks: Doppelganger Time! Who is Yours?
November 17What's Beyond Forks? : Review & Little Know Facts--Where Do the Passionate Come From?November 18
Mark Noce Stories: Excerpt: The Knight Vs the MaidenNovember 21Ellie Garratt: Meet Your Doppelganger Quizbooks are love: Action ExcerptChristine Rains - Writer: Developing Characters for Different Types of Learners
Sandra Cox: Spotlight time!
Lilica's place: Does Your Middle Sag?
November 23
Tonja Drecker: 5 Tools for Creating Deep Characters

Two weeks ago, Rachel Schieffelbein shared DON'T FALL along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to an eBook.

The game:


1. I caught a Snorlax in my living room.
2. I almost died when I was four. 
3. I saw Patrick Swayze at a horse show.
The lie: #1.  

From Rachel: I still don't have a Snorlax and I'm kinda bitter about it. Lol.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Julie Flanders!

Congrats, Julie!
And now, here's a giveaway for a wonderful author who is super supportive of other authors and whose debut novel JUST came out. Ooh!

Too pretty.Too smart.Too perfect.
In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teens, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she's ever known and loved changes in an instant.

With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.

In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.

Catalyst is a thrilling adventure of danger, romance, intrigue, and deception.
Get Your Copy HERE.
Ready to meet the author?
Kristin Smith writes young adult contemporary and science fiction novels. When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming about the beach, beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to chocolate, you can visit her at kristinsmithbooks.com.

You might find Kristin pretending she's in a fancy restaurant while sitting at her scratched-up kitchen table, eating goat cheese on a cranberry, walnut salad.

Kristin gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out either lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook (open internationally):

You have until Tuesday, January 3 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer (and some FUN trivia) on January 4, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I'm the mother of five boys, and when I was pregnant with my oldest son, we were told by the ultrasound tech that she was 99.9% sure we were having a girl. Surprise! We ended up with a bouncing baby boy.

2. By the time I was 18, I'd traveled from the east coast to the west coast 3 times, but the first time I ever rode in an airplane was when I left home for college.

3. I once chatted for five minutes with Woody Harrelson outside of a bathroom in a casino in Las Vegas and didn't realize who he was until after he walked away. 

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Kristin? Love sci-fi thrillers? What does the Christmas season mean to you? What are you doing with your holiday season?

FINAL day of Timeless Book Tour + Win cool Books

It's final day of the book release blog tour. Yippee!
First of all, don't forget to guess Rachel's lie to win Don't Fall, a contemporary retelling of Rapunzel. 
[image error]
Tis the season to be grateful. I feel like I've been drowning in cheese with all this awesomeness, and I have you to thank for reading, supporting, and being incredible you. So thank you for participating, playing, and commenting. It means the world to me. As you look around at life this week, I hope you'll take a moment to ponder what makes it rich, and the abundance of blessings you experience, even in the darkest times. (Especially in the darkest times.)
The Maiden of Time Series:
The romance of Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.
In a world where people can heal with a touch, kill with a scream, and rob a person of their memories, Alexia is struggling to find her place and learn her gifts--before the Soulless come for her.

BUYon Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or get signed print copies from yours truly!
Tour stops
November 21

Ellie Garratt: Meet Your Doppelganger Quiz

books are love: Action Excerpt
Christine Rains - Writer: 3 Approaches for Developing Characters
(For Different Types of learners)

lilicasplace: Writing Tips: Does Your Middle Sag? (And how to fix it.)

Sandra Cox: Spotlight time!

November 23

Tonja Drecker: 5 Tools for Creating DEEP Characters


(Email address is required for awarding prizes.)

After today is over, I'm taking a cheese holiday. I'll be back on November 30 with a final post and giveaway for the year.

[image error]
Where would you go on your cheese holiday? What are you grateful for this week? Do you celebrate Thanksgiving--and if so, how?

It's final day of the book release blog tour. Yippee!Firs...

It's final day of the book release blog tour. Yippee!
First of all, don't forget to guess Rachel's lie to win Don't Fall, a contemporary retelling of Rapunzel. 
[image error]
Tis the season to be grateful. I feel like I've been drowning in cheese with all this awesomeness, and I have you to thank for reading, supporting, and being incredible you. So thank you for participating, playing, and commenting. It means the world to me. As you look around at life this week, I hope you'll take a moment to ponder what makes it rich, and the abundance of blessings you experience, even in the darkest times. (Especially in the darkest times.)
The Maiden of Time Series:
The romance of Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.
In a world where people can heal with a touch, kill with a scream, and rob a person of their memories, Alexia is struggling to find her place and learn her gifts--before the Soulless come for her.

BUYon Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or get signed print copies from yours truly!
Tour stops
November 21

Ellie Garratt: Meet Your Doppelganger Quiz

books are love: Action Excerpt
Christine Rains - Writer: 3 Approaches for Developing Characters
(For Different Types of learners)

lilicasplace: Writing Tips: Does Your Middle Sag? (And how to fix it.)

Sandra Cox: Spotlight time!

November 23

Tonja Drecker: 5 Tools for Creating DEEP Characters


(Email address is required for awarding prizes.)

After today is over, I'm taking a cheese holiday. I'll be back on November 30 with a final post and giveaway for the year.

[image error]
Where would you go on your cheese holiday? What are you grateful for this week? Do you celebrate Thanksgiving--and if so, how?

When Life has Got You Down

It's day 16 of the book release blog tour. Yippee!
Are you feeling down? Feeling like life is coming at you with unfair force?
[image error]
Combat it with cheese! Let's lighten some of that today with a few EPIC and fun posts.
[image error]

The Maiden of Time Series:
The romance of Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.
In a world where people can heal with a touch, kill with a scream, and rob a person of their memories, Alexia is struggling to find her place and learn her gifts--before the Soulless come for her.

BUYon Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or get signed print copies from yours truly!
Tour stops
November 16

Hogwarts Sabbatical: Writing Tips--How to Balance Prose

The Five Year Project: Writing Tips--What Makes an Epic First Chapter

Lidy Wilks: Doppelganger Time! Who is Yours?

November 17

What's Beyond Forks? : Review & Little Know Facts--Where Do the Passionate Come From?

November 18

Mark Noce Stories: Excerpt: The Knight Vs the Maiden

lilicasplace: Series Review

(Email address is required for awarding prizes.)


Last week, Joylene Nowell Butler shared MATOWAK: WOMAN WHO CRIES along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to an eBook.

The game:


1.  Joylene trained a wild tomcat by attaching a hair-brush to the end of a yard stick so she could brush his coat at a distance of three feet without having her legs torn to shreds. 
2. Robert Goulet, singer, actor, best known for The Naked Gun 2 & 1/2, and for being portrayed by Will Ferrell in Saturday Night Live is Joylene’s cousin. 
3. Joylene once won 10 bags of jujubes by eating 15 jujubes in one-minute while being blindfolded and having to pick up the candy one at a time with a toothpick.
The lie: #3. 

From Joylene: I do love jujubes, but because I live such a boring life, I had to look up a good lie. I found this one in the Guinness Book of Records.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Hilary Melton-Butcher!

Congrats, Hilary!
And now, how about a wonderful book giveaway? (This one is one of the INSTANT prizes you can win in my Wheel of Death giveaway game.)

In this modern day retelling of Rapunzel, Anya has her books, her photography, and her daydreams. She doesn’t think she needs anything else.

She lives in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother, who goes to extreme measures to keep her daughter safe. Anya doesn’t even go to school, but instead has a private tutor. Anya tries not to acknowledge her loneliness; she puts her efforts into pleasing her mom, and gives her heart to her stories, secretly wishing for a story of her own.

Then one day at the library, the only place she's allowed to go, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy.

Before long she's lying to her mom, and sneaking out late at night to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she will have to risk her relationship with the only other person she's ever cared about.
Get Your Copy HERE.
Ready to meet the author?
Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

You might find Rachel, kicking back with her kids and eating Colby Jack in crackers. Meet her on her FACEBOOK PAGE.

Rachel gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out either lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook (open internationally):

You have until Tuesday, November 29 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer (and some FUN trivia) on November 16, 8 a.m. EDT.TRUTH OR LIE
1. I caught a Snorlax in my living room.
2. I almost died when I was four. 
3. I saw Patrick Swayze at a horse show.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Rachel? Love fairy tale retellings? What's got you down lately? And more importantly, how are you going to fight it? Now guess the lie and get out of here--on to the next tour stop!


[image error]