Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 58
October 10, 2014
Scary October: The Stanley Hotel
In celebration of my favorite month, October, I'm featuring a different scary place every Friday. This week it's the hotel that everyone knows from this movie:
Which was, of course, based (loosely) on this phenomenal book:
Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining while staying at this Colorado hotel:
While searching for inspiration in 1974, King and his wife checked into the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, only to find they were the only two guests. The hotel was on the verge of closing for the winter. The two checked into Room 217, which was said to be haunted...
Inspired by the grand dining room and his experience with a bartender there, King began work on The Shining. Interestingly, his editor tried to talk King out of writing the book, saying he might be typecast as a horror writer. King considered that a compliment, not an insult.
Today, the Stanley Hotel is a popular tourist destination, with many guests requesting to stay in the "Stephen King room." The Stanley Hotel also honors requests to stay in Room 401, where the show Ghost Hunters had a particularly spooky experience that was caught on tape.
Jim Carrey stayed in Room 217 while filming Dumb and Dumber there. He didn't stay long. The room spooked him so much he checked out within three hours...hotel staff say they still aren't sure what happened to scare him.
Would you dare to stay in Room 217?
Which was, of course, based (loosely) on this phenomenal book:
Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining while staying at this Colorado hotel:
While searching for inspiration in 1974, King and his wife checked into the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, only to find they were the only two guests. The hotel was on the verge of closing for the winter. The two checked into Room 217, which was said to be haunted...
Inspired by the grand dining room and his experience with a bartender there, King began work on The Shining. Interestingly, his editor tried to talk King out of writing the book, saying he might be typecast as a horror writer. King considered that a compliment, not an insult.
Today, the Stanley Hotel is a popular tourist destination, with many guests requesting to stay in the "Stephen King room." The Stanley Hotel also honors requests to stay in Room 401, where the show Ghost Hunters had a particularly spooky experience that was caught on tape.
Jim Carrey stayed in Room 217 while filming Dumb and Dumber there. He didn't stay long. The room spooked him so much he checked out within three hours...hotel staff say they still aren't sure what happened to scare him.
Would you dare to stay in Room 217?
October 8, 2014
What Do You Mean You Don't Carry My Book?
Okay, I admit it...I recently indulged in a six-season Real Housewives of New Jersey viewing binge. Hey, they're all on Hulu Plus. How can you resist?
There was one scene from Season 4 that I had to rewatch three times. It was that good. It was also something every published author can relate to...sort of. Soon-to-be inmate Teresa Giudice, who can't even say "I'm a New York Times bestselling author" correctly yet is one, walked into a Manhattan bookstore to find that her second cookbook wasn't on the shelves.
So she does what many of us have done in that situation. She walks up to the person behind the cash register--who, in this case, looks twelve--introduces herself, and tells him she's written an Italian cookbook.
The employee, having no idea that she's a "New York's Times bestseller's author," as she puts it, looks unimpressed. Apparently the camera crew that came to film her looking for her book didn't tip him off that she might be somebody people are interested in, since his exact response to her request that her cookbook be in the store was that they stock "by customer demand."
She persisted, but even after the guy found her cookbooks in the system, he showed no interest in ordering them (camera crew or not) because their store is a "really specialized bookstore." She graciously shook his hand and turned to leave as you should do...
Then told him, "I just have to go to a Barnes & Noble's so I can make the bestseller's." (Which you shouldn't do.) He informed her "We don't say the 'BN' word here."
It's just nice to know we aren't the only ones who go through this stuff.
There was one scene from Season 4 that I had to rewatch three times. It was that good. It was also something every published author can relate to...sort of. Soon-to-be inmate Teresa Giudice, who can't even say "I'm a New York Times bestselling author" correctly yet is one, walked into a Manhattan bookstore to find that her second cookbook wasn't on the shelves.
So she does what many of us have done in that situation. She walks up to the person behind the cash register--who, in this case, looks twelve--introduces herself, and tells him she's written an Italian cookbook.
The employee, having no idea that she's a "New York's Times bestseller's author," as she puts it, looks unimpressed. Apparently the camera crew that came to film her looking for her book didn't tip him off that she might be somebody people are interested in, since his exact response to her request that her cookbook be in the store was that they stock "by customer demand."
She persisted, but even after the guy found her cookbooks in the system, he showed no interest in ordering them (camera crew or not) because their store is a "really specialized bookstore." She graciously shook his hand and turned to leave as you should do...
Then told him, "I just have to go to a Barnes & Noble's so I can make the bestseller's." (Which you shouldn't do.) He informed her "We don't say the 'BN' word here."
It's just nice to know we aren't the only ones who go through this stuff.
October 6, 2014
Meet My Character Bloghop
The adorable Kelly Hashway tagged me in the Meet My Character Blog Hop. Here's Kelly:
Kelly is an extremely prolific author of books for teens and children. Check out her books here.
The mission of this blog hop is to introduce your character to the world. Today you'll meet Mia Hartley, the star of this book:
Mia is a spunky girl with a big heart. I chose her because the book isn't out yet so most of the world hasn't met her! Plus I just finished final revisions, so she's fresh in my mind.
1. What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
Mia Hartley is a fictional, modern-day girl.
2. When and where is the story set?
The story is set in the present at Stanton Middle School.
3. What should we know about him/her?
Mia has a big heart. She wants to make her parents proud, but she also genuinely wants to help others.
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Every year Mia watches on Valentine's Day as all the popular kids get chocolate roses from admirers. This year she wants the students who never get roses to get them. So she secretly purchases some. She doesn't realize that by doing this, she'll end up playing Cupid long after Valentine's Day has passed.
5. What is the personal goal of the character?
Mostly she just wants her parents to be as proud of her as they are her older sister.
6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
The book is 25 Roses and you can read more about it on Amazon or my website.
7. When can we expect the book to be published?
25 Roses comes out January 6th, 2015. You can pre-order a signed copy (put in notes what you want it to say) from Parnassus Books or (unsigned) from Amazon or add it to your to-read list on Goodreads.
Now it's time to tag two people. Feel free to ignore the tag if you want, but we'd love to get to know your characters!
Beth Ellyn Summer
Beth is a young adult author who interned for Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon. She writes about writing and life! Check out her blog.
Sheena-kay Graham
Queen Sheena is the author of the upcoming series The Sacrifice. She writes about life, books, book reviews, and more. Here's her blog.
Oh...and, by the way, if you're a reviewer and a member of Edelweiss, you can get a free digital ARC of 25 Roses for review. Check it out!
Kelly is an extremely prolific author of books for teens and children. Check out her books here.
The mission of this blog hop is to introduce your character to the world. Today you'll meet Mia Hartley, the star of this book:
Mia is a spunky girl with a big heart. I chose her because the book isn't out yet so most of the world hasn't met her! Plus I just finished final revisions, so she's fresh in my mind.
1. What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
Mia Hartley is a fictional, modern-day girl.
2. When and where is the story set?
The story is set in the present at Stanton Middle School.
3. What should we know about him/her?
Mia has a big heart. She wants to make her parents proud, but she also genuinely wants to help others.
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Every year Mia watches on Valentine's Day as all the popular kids get chocolate roses from admirers. This year she wants the students who never get roses to get them. So she secretly purchases some. She doesn't realize that by doing this, she'll end up playing Cupid long after Valentine's Day has passed.
5. What is the personal goal of the character?
Mostly she just wants her parents to be as proud of her as they are her older sister.
6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
The book is 25 Roses and you can read more about it on Amazon or my website.
7. When can we expect the book to be published?
25 Roses comes out January 6th, 2015. You can pre-order a signed copy (put in notes what you want it to say) from Parnassus Books or (unsigned) from Amazon or add it to your to-read list on Goodreads.
Now it's time to tag two people. Feel free to ignore the tag if you want, but we'd love to get to know your characters!
Beth Ellyn Summer
Beth is a young adult author who interned for Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon. She writes about writing and life! Check out her blog.
Sheena-kay Graham
Queen Sheena is the author of the upcoming series The Sacrifice. She writes about life, books, book reviews, and more. Here's her blog.
Oh...and, by the way, if you're a reviewer and a member of Edelweiss, you can get a free digital ARC of 25 Roses for review. Check it out!
October 3, 2014
Scary October: The Amityville House
To celebrate my favorite month of the year, I'm bringing you a different scary place every Friday. Today it's this house:
In 1973, a movie was released that terrified the world.
Four years later, a book was released that is now thought to have been inspired by that movie. The book?
At the time, though, the story was extremely gripping. A couple named George and Kathy Lutz said they moved into a house that was so haunted, it tormented them. Just over a year earlier, a man killed six members of his family in the house (that part is true).
The murderer said he was possessed. The Lutzes said Exorcist-like events happened while they were in the house, as well.
The success of both the movie and book led people to investigate whether the facts were true. While the Lutzes vehemently denied they'd fabricated the events in the house, Kathy Lutz's son has revealed many of the events in the book were fake. While he says some strange things happened in the house, much of what was described in the book was sheer sensationalism.
Here's an episode of 30 Odd Minutes featuring Christopher Lutz.
What's the scariest true story you've ever heard?
In 1973, a movie was released that terrified the world.
Four years later, a book was released that is now thought to have been inspired by that movie. The book?
At the time, though, the story was extremely gripping. A couple named George and Kathy Lutz said they moved into a house that was so haunted, it tormented them. Just over a year earlier, a man killed six members of his family in the house (that part is true).
The murderer said he was possessed. The Lutzes said Exorcist-like events happened while they were in the house, as well.
The success of both the movie and book led people to investigate whether the facts were true. While the Lutzes vehemently denied they'd fabricated the events in the house, Kathy Lutz's son has revealed many of the events in the book were fake. While he says some strange things happened in the house, much of what was described in the book was sheer sensationalism.
Here's an episode of 30 Odd Minutes featuring Christopher Lutz.
What's the scariest true story you've ever heard?
October 1, 2014
It's October!!!
I think it's important to take a moment to celebrate.
Why? Because it's October, of course! October is my favorite month of the year for multiple reasons. The weather turns nice.
The colors are amazing.
The sun is at a different angle.
Then, of course, there's Halloween.
I love scary stories. Visiting haunted places is one of my favorite things.
The month never seems to last long enough. This year I hope to spend more time working on my patio office.
And less time inside.
What do you like about October?
Why? Because it's October, of course! October is my favorite month of the year for multiple reasons. The weather turns nice.
The colors are amazing.
The sun is at a different angle.
Then, of course, there's Halloween.
I love scary stories. Visiting haunted places is one of my favorite things.
The month never seems to last long enough. This year I hope to spend more time working on my patio office.
And less time inside.
What do you like about October?
September 29, 2014
What Do You Really Need?
How much do you really need to get through the day?
How much do you need to be comfortable?
After reading this blog last week, I felt inspired to blog my thoughts on the issue. Optimistic Existentialist posed the idea that we have mixed up our needs with our wants. We don't need, for instance, a house like this:
Or a car like this:
Or a closet that looks like this:
It's a subject I know a little bit about. We went through the 2010 Nashville flood. Our house was in this neighborhood:
After our home sat in four inches of water for a day or two due to an Army Corps. of Engineers error, we had to tear out the drywall and flooring and rebuild.
When you're just trying to sleep in your own house--the one you're paying a monthly mortgage to live in--you seriously reevaluate what's important to you. You need just a few things to live. Four walls and a roof, basic utilities, a bed, and a kitchen. Once your basic needs are met, there are a few basic "luxuries" you need to live your day-to-day life. Among them are:
And:
Even those are more "wants" than "needs," though (unless you need a laptop to make a living).
Think about it. If you lost everything you own and had to rebuild your life, what would you really need outside of your loved ones? How much extra "stuff" do you have in your life?
Another fun video:
How much do you need to be comfortable?
After reading this blog last week, I felt inspired to blog my thoughts on the issue. Optimistic Existentialist posed the idea that we have mixed up our needs with our wants. We don't need, for instance, a house like this:
Or a car like this:
Or a closet that looks like this:
It's a subject I know a little bit about. We went through the 2010 Nashville flood. Our house was in this neighborhood:
After our home sat in four inches of water for a day or two due to an Army Corps. of Engineers error, we had to tear out the drywall and flooring and rebuild.
When you're just trying to sleep in your own house--the one you're paying a monthly mortgage to live in--you seriously reevaluate what's important to you. You need just a few things to live. Four walls and a roof, basic utilities, a bed, and a kitchen. Once your basic needs are met, there are a few basic "luxuries" you need to live your day-to-day life. Among them are:
And:
Even those are more "wants" than "needs," though (unless you need a laptop to make a living).
Think about it. If you lost everything you own and had to rebuild your life, what would you really need outside of your loved ones? How much extra "stuff" do you have in your life?
Another fun video:
September 26, 2014
The Cephalopod Coffehouse: Best Book of September
Today I'm participating in the monthly meeting of the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, where we sign up to write about the best book we've read this month.
I had a hard time finding girly chapter books I was looking for in last month's post. There are plenty of middle-grade books about cupcakes and sparkles. Not so many chapter books.
Seems most chapter books strive to be unisex. A large majority seem to be written in Dork Diaries style, with a combination of drawings and text.
I stocked up on every chapter book I could find. In the process, I stumbled on a boy-oriented book that I loved. I think it was on a "best books" list somewhere.
This author is brilliant. The main character in Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading goes to great efforts to avoid reading. Somehow a book encouraging kids not to read does the opposite.
It's an entire series, actually.
Unfortunately, like every OTHER great chapter book Google gives me when I search for good chapter books, this series is marked for children between the ages 9-12. Middle grade, in other words. Which means, in my quest for good chapter books, I once again get a big fat:
So if you're looking for a great middle grade book, check this series out. It would be suitable for younger readers, too, which is probably why it came up in chapter book searches.
Did you read a good book this month? If so, join in on the Cephalopod Coffehouse by entering your link below and posting a blog about it.
I had a hard time finding girly chapter books I was looking for in last month's post. There are plenty of middle-grade books about cupcakes and sparkles. Not so many chapter books.
Seems most chapter books strive to be unisex. A large majority seem to be written in Dork Diaries style, with a combination of drawings and text.
I stocked up on every chapter book I could find. In the process, I stumbled on a boy-oriented book that I loved. I think it was on a "best books" list somewhere.
This author is brilliant. The main character in Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading goes to great efforts to avoid reading. Somehow a book encouraging kids not to read does the opposite.
It's an entire series, actually.
Unfortunately, like every OTHER great chapter book Google gives me when I search for good chapter books, this series is marked for children between the ages 9-12. Middle grade, in other words. Which means, in my quest for good chapter books, I once again get a big fat:
So if you're looking for a great middle grade book, check this series out. It would be suitable for younger readers, too, which is probably why it came up in chapter book searches.
Did you read a good book this month? If so, join in on the Cephalopod Coffehouse by entering your link below and posting a blog about it.
September 24, 2014
Q&A with Chrys Fey, 30 Seconds
If you're a fan of exciting suspense novels, you're going to love today's guest. Chris Fey, the author of Hurricane Crimes, is celebrating the release of her latest novel. 30 Seconds follows a doctor on the run from the mob. Here's the awesome cover:
Recently, Chrys took time out of her busy promotion schedule to tell us a little about 30 Seconds and her writing process.
Q: 30 Seconds is your second e-book. What did you learn from your first book that will make promoting your second book easier?
A: I know what will work and what won’t work. Promoting on Goodreads really worked with Hurricane Crimes, but submitting to Amazon forums did not because so many other authors are doing the same thing. With Goodreads, I can directly share with people who are interested in me and my writing.
Q: Your hero in 30 Seconds goes undercover in the Mob. Did you do research on the mafia while you were writing the book? I assume that didn’t involve actually going undercover yourself!
A: Luckily, I didn’t have to go undercover in a Mob, but part of me wants to believe I would’ve done a great job! (Or not. Darn!) I actually didn’t have to do much research on the mafia because Blake goes undercover before the story starts, and I didn’t write in the Mob leader’s perspective, although that would’ve been fun. Influences from movies about Mobs and gangs and criminals helped me to write the action scenes involving the Mob as well as nail down the personalities and appearances for those characters.
Q: Tell us a little about 30 Seconds. How is it different from Hurricane Crimes?A: 30 Seconds is about a woman who finds herself in the middle of a war between a police-force and a dangerous Mob. Throughout the story, Dani falls in love with Blake Herro, the officer who went undercover and is the reason why the Mob is after her in the first place.
Hurricane Crimesis set during a category 5 hurricane and the hero is a murder suspect. The only bad weather that occurs in 30 Secondsis snowfall and a fun snowball fight between my characters. And although there’s a time when Dani doesn’t trust Blake, he turns out to be a true good guy.
Q: You help aspiring writers with writing tips on a variety of subjects. Do you feel like teaching helps you grow as a writer?
A: Definitely! The writing tips I share on my blog are all things I’ve learned, and my readers tend to teach me new things, too. It’s wonderful balance of being a teacher and a student.
Q: What has been the best thing so far about being published?
A: Getting to know and entertain readers is definitely the best thing. I’ve been writing since I was twelve, so finally seeing my name on a book cover, even an e-book, is also an amazing feeling.
Q: What advice do you have for other writers pursing publication?
A: Take your time! I know it’s tempting to rush so you can bask in the end result, but what you learn as you write, edit, and submit work will be invaluable. And I believe that when it’s meant to happen, it will happen.
About Chrys Fey
Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.
30 Seconds is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.
Discover her writing tips on her blog, and connect with her on Facebook. She loves to get to know her readers!
If you're ready to buy 30 Seconds or add it to your Goodreads list, check out the links below. You can also learn a little more about Chrys by visiting her website or following her on Twitter.
Blog | Website | Amazon| Goodreads | Facebook
Recently, Chrys took time out of her busy promotion schedule to tell us a little about 30 Seconds and her writing process.
Q: 30 Seconds is your second e-book. What did you learn from your first book that will make promoting your second book easier?
A: I know what will work and what won’t work. Promoting on Goodreads really worked with Hurricane Crimes, but submitting to Amazon forums did not because so many other authors are doing the same thing. With Goodreads, I can directly share with people who are interested in me and my writing.
Q: Your hero in 30 Seconds goes undercover in the Mob. Did you do research on the mafia while you were writing the book? I assume that didn’t involve actually going undercover yourself!
A: Luckily, I didn’t have to go undercover in a Mob, but part of me wants to believe I would’ve done a great job! (Or not. Darn!) I actually didn’t have to do much research on the mafia because Blake goes undercover before the story starts, and I didn’t write in the Mob leader’s perspective, although that would’ve been fun. Influences from movies about Mobs and gangs and criminals helped me to write the action scenes involving the Mob as well as nail down the personalities and appearances for those characters.
Q: Tell us a little about 30 Seconds. How is it different from Hurricane Crimes?A: 30 Seconds is about a woman who finds herself in the middle of a war between a police-force and a dangerous Mob. Throughout the story, Dani falls in love with Blake Herro, the officer who went undercover and is the reason why the Mob is after her in the first place.
Hurricane Crimesis set during a category 5 hurricane and the hero is a murder suspect. The only bad weather that occurs in 30 Secondsis snowfall and a fun snowball fight between my characters. And although there’s a time when Dani doesn’t trust Blake, he turns out to be a true good guy.
Q: You help aspiring writers with writing tips on a variety of subjects. Do you feel like teaching helps you grow as a writer?
A: Definitely! The writing tips I share on my blog are all things I’ve learned, and my readers tend to teach me new things, too. It’s wonderful balance of being a teacher and a student.
Q: What has been the best thing so far about being published?
A: Getting to know and entertain readers is definitely the best thing. I’ve been writing since I was twelve, so finally seeing my name on a book cover, even an e-book, is also an amazing feeling.
Q: What advice do you have for other writers pursing publication?
A: Take your time! I know it’s tempting to rush so you can bask in the end result, but what you learn as you write, edit, and submit work will be invaluable. And I believe that when it’s meant to happen, it will happen.
About Chrys Fey
Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.
30 Seconds is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.
Discover her writing tips on her blog, and connect with her on Facebook. She loves to get to know her readers!
If you're ready to buy 30 Seconds or add it to your Goodreads list, check out the links below. You can also learn a little more about Chrys by visiting her website or following her on Twitter.
Blog | Website | Amazon| Goodreads | Facebook
September 23, 2014
Time to Take 1,000 Pictures
Young superstar Ariana Grande has earned the "diva" label lately for her session with a professional photographer.
This beautiful young girl has a well-publicized fixation with her left side, reportedly refusing to ever be photographed from her right side. Why? Possibly because her right side doesn't have a dimple.
Her left side does.
But the problem isn't the fact that she demands photographers only photograph one side of her face. The problem is that she reportedly made a scene during a photo session, repeatedly asking to see every picture that had been taken. After a while, she supposedly asked to change clothes and demanded all the photos he'd taken be erased. He refused and walked out. One of her people chased him down, insisting the photographer delete those photos.
The singer/former Nickelodeon star denied the incident, but I believe it. If you have been around a young girl recently, you'll believe it, too. Just agree to take a young girl's photo and you'll go through exactly what Ariana Grande's photographer went through.
You snap a picture. They ask to see it. They tell you to erase it and take another one. This can go on for hours unless you put a stop to it. Ariana Grande is simply the product of a "duck face" generation. A generation that knows exactly how to stand to make themselves look as skinny as possible. A Facebook friend called it the "butterfly pose." The arms are the wings...
This generation has learned to control their photos. But professional photographers aren't proud, patient moms or friends. They are in charge of the photo session. So unless Ariana wants to learn how to take professional selfies...
She is likely going to have to grow up and let her picture be taken like a real celebrity.
What do you think of the way girls take pictures today?
This beautiful young girl has a well-publicized fixation with her left side, reportedly refusing to ever be photographed from her right side. Why? Possibly because her right side doesn't have a dimple.
Her left side does.
But the problem isn't the fact that she demands photographers only photograph one side of her face. The problem is that she reportedly made a scene during a photo session, repeatedly asking to see every picture that had been taken. After a while, she supposedly asked to change clothes and demanded all the photos he'd taken be erased. He refused and walked out. One of her people chased him down, insisting the photographer delete those photos.
The singer/former Nickelodeon star denied the incident, but I believe it. If you have been around a young girl recently, you'll believe it, too. Just agree to take a young girl's photo and you'll go through exactly what Ariana Grande's photographer went through.
You snap a picture. They ask to see it. They tell you to erase it and take another one. This can go on for hours unless you put a stop to it. Ariana Grande is simply the product of a "duck face" generation. A generation that knows exactly how to stand to make themselves look as skinny as possible. A Facebook friend called it the "butterfly pose." The arms are the wings...
This generation has learned to control their photos. But professional photographers aren't proud, patient moms or friends. They are in charge of the photo session. So unless Ariana wants to learn how to take professional selfies...
She is likely going to have to grow up and let her picture be taken like a real celebrity.
What do you think of the way girls take pictures today?
September 22, 2014
Guest Blog: T.B. Markinson, Confessions
I'm so excited to help T.B. Markinson celebrate the release of her third book! Confessions from a Coffee Shop is the story of a Harvard basketball star-turned-novelist. Check out the awesome cover:
Today, T.B. is writing about my personal favorite subject: her journey to publication. I think it's something that many of us will be able to relate to.
My Journey to Publication
by T.B. Markinson
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. In fact, that dream was instilled in me when I was in the sixth grade. Why then did it take me thirty-nine years to finally take it seriously? One word: life. And excuses.
The years passed. The excuses continued. Then in 2011, something huge happened. My partner was transferred to London, England. At the time, we were living in Boston, Massachusetts. All of a sudden I was unemployed and away from family and friends.
My excuses were gone. Before we agreed to move, my partner and I discussed the pros and cons of moving to a different country. One issue was what I would do. I wish I could say I was jumping up and down, shouting, “I’ll write.” Nope. It was my partner who knew my ambition and she strongly suggested that I shouldn’t be a fool and take the time to focus on my writing. It’s not every day someone is handed this opportunity. And my partner urged me not to waste the chance.
Without my partner’s love and support, I may never have had the courage to chase my dream. No one in my personal life discouraged me from writing. No one put pressure on me to put other things ahead of my dream. I did that all on my own and if it wasn’t for my partner, I may still be doing that.
Since moving to London, I’ve published three novels: A WOMAN LOST, MARIONETTE, and CONFESSIONS FROM A COFFEE SHOP.
Turns out once the excuses diminished, I’ve been able to focus on what’s important to me. Now I have balance. I still go out with friends and family. I still have fun. I still deal with life. But I also write.
So if you want to be an author, don’t let anything stop you. All that matters is chasing your dream. Never give up.
About T.B. Markinson
T. B. Markinson is a 40-year old American writer, living in England, who pledged she would publish before she was 35. Better late than never. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling around the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order. T. B. has published A Woman Lost, Marionette, and Confessions from A Coffee Shop.
Sign up to T.B.’s New Release Mailing List here. Your email will never be shared and you will only be contacted when a new book is out.
If you're ready to buy Confessions from a Coffee Shop or add it to your Goodreads list, check out the links below. You can also learn a little more about T.B. by visiting her website or following her on Twitter.
Blog | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
Today, T.B. is writing about my personal favorite subject: her journey to publication. I think it's something that many of us will be able to relate to.
My Journey to Publication
by T.B. Markinson
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. In fact, that dream was instilled in me when I was in the sixth grade. Why then did it take me thirty-nine years to finally take it seriously? One word: life. And excuses.
The years passed. The excuses continued. Then in 2011, something huge happened. My partner was transferred to London, England. At the time, we were living in Boston, Massachusetts. All of a sudden I was unemployed and away from family and friends.
My excuses were gone. Before we agreed to move, my partner and I discussed the pros and cons of moving to a different country. One issue was what I would do. I wish I could say I was jumping up and down, shouting, “I’ll write.” Nope. It was my partner who knew my ambition and she strongly suggested that I shouldn’t be a fool and take the time to focus on my writing. It’s not every day someone is handed this opportunity. And my partner urged me not to waste the chance.
Without my partner’s love and support, I may never have had the courage to chase my dream. No one in my personal life discouraged me from writing. No one put pressure on me to put other things ahead of my dream. I did that all on my own and if it wasn’t for my partner, I may still be doing that.
Since moving to London, I’ve published three novels: A WOMAN LOST, MARIONETTE, and CONFESSIONS FROM A COFFEE SHOP.
Turns out once the excuses diminished, I’ve been able to focus on what’s important to me. Now I have balance. I still go out with friends and family. I still have fun. I still deal with life. But I also write.
So if you want to be an author, don’t let anything stop you. All that matters is chasing your dream. Never give up.
About T.B. Markinson
T. B. Markinson is a 40-year old American writer, living in England, who pledged she would publish before she was 35. Better late than never. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling around the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order. T. B. has published A Woman Lost, Marionette, and Confessions from A Coffee Shop.
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