Faith Andrews's Blog, page 8

Thank you!

Sheesh…it’s been a while, huh? I feel like I haven’t even had the time to shower (gross, I know) let alone have a go at the blog. But so much of the reason for my lack of free time these days has been the wonderful success of Man of My Dreams.

First of all, let me just clarify what I mean by success. For many that means sales, rankings, paychecks…monetary success. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Yes, the sales have been pretty impressive (to me at least), but while chatting with a friend of mine the other day I told her that it’s not about the numbers it’s about the feedback. On September 18, 2013 my very first self-published book went LIVE on Amazon. By dinner time that night I had people–random people; not friends I hang out with or relatives who felt obligated, but actual true-to-God readers who purchased MY book–messaging me about how much they loved it!

I’ve cried happy tears while reading reviews. I’ve laughed hysterically at some of the private messages I’ve received. And my heart has grown ten sizes knowing that my words have had an impact on the readers. THIS is what it means to be a successful writer and it feels pretty darn amazing! So, to all the readers and the bloggers who have given Man of My Dreams rave reviews…THANK YOU!

In honor of feeling good, I’m doing a .99 cents blitz for ONE DAY ONLY. This Sunday 10/6 (from 12:00AM-11:59PM EST) Man of My Dreams will be on sale for 99 pennies! If you haven’t already purchased it, I hope you’ll take a shot at it now. Purchase your copy on sale exclusively on Amazon.

Then, get ready for ten full days of fun when the blog tour begins on Tuesday 10/8. There will be author interviews, character interviews, alternative POV scenes, playlists, trailers, excerpts, and giveaways! I’m so excited to spread the word about the book and I am so grateful to everyone who’s given me a shot and welcomed me into your reading world.

RELEASE DAY IS HERE!

I am so happy to announce that Man of My Dreams is finally LIVE and available for purchase on Amazon for your Kindle or in paperback! (Stay tuned for links to Barnes & Noble and Kobo).

After hitting the publish button yesterday morning a feeling of total euphoric holy-amazeballs-I-did-this came over me. But then when it actually went LIVE, okay euphoria passed and nausea set in. I was shaking and light headed and having a total panic attack, but it felt GOOD!

The outpouring of wonderful feedback and love and support from readers, friends, family and those insanely amazing bloggers has been incredible!!!! They deserve shout outs for their unselfish efforts and for making me feel totally loved!

Schmexy Girl Book Blog, A Book Whore’s Obsession, Morning After A Good Book, Love Between the Sheets, Three Chicks and Their Books, True Story Book Blog,  and Mary Elizabeth’s Crazy Book Obsession. They are all responsible for the amazing part going on right now! As a matter of fact, want to join in on the fun???

Here’s your invitation: https://www.facebook.com/events/209573295877448/ I’d love to have you there!!!!

I look forward to hearing from you all on what you thought about Man of My Dreams…don’t be shy; post here, email me at faithandrewsauthor@aol.com or go onto the Facebook page!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Faith

Once again, here is the Amazon link for Man of My Dreams!

http://www.amazon.com/Man-of-My-Dreams-ebook/dp/B00FA2H7LI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379608625&sr=1-1

Remember that awesome guy, Stuart West, who stopped by to...

Remember that awesome guy, Stuart West, who stopped by to do an interview about his book Tex the Witch Boy? Well, I was lucky enough to get a chance to stop on over to his blog and answer some questions about Man of My Dreams.

If you’d like to see the interview just click the link below and get the scoop…Man of My Dreams will be out in only 4 MORE DAYS!!!!

http://stuartrwest.blogspot.ca/

Thanks Stu for the awesome interview! It was a lot of fun

xoxoxoxoxo

Man of My Dreams Trailer

Man of My Dreams is due out in 9 days!!!! Check out this awesome trailer that my friend (and blogger from Schmexy Girl Book Blog) created for me. Who do you hope Mia ends up with???? They’re both pretty damn irresistible if you ask me!

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

With the upcoming release of Man of My Dreams (2 weeks!!!), I’ve decided to start a newsletter to keep readers, followers, subscribers…dare I say “fans” on the up and up. This newsletter will serve as a shout out for important events such as releases, work in progress news, giveaways, contests, all that good stuff. The first issue went out last night regarding the release and information about the Facebook release day party being hosted by Schemxy Girls and A Book Whore’s Obsession.

I’d love it if you would sign up here or at the email sign up in the side bar of the blog. Please feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested and as always I am so grateful for your support and encouragement…the wait is almost over friends!

It’s coming soon! Really, really soon!

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I have been really slacking lately with the blog and I apologize for that, but I honestly don’t know how anyone does it. Between writing and reading, facebooking and tweeting, mommying and just living, certain things have just taken a back seat. Guilty as charged! BUT, it’s been too long and I’ve been itching to add that Man of My Dreams is almost ready to be published.

The cover was released publically on Facebook thanks to Love Between the Sheets who hosted a very successful cover reveal. I am so lucky to have worked with Regina Wamba of  Mae I Design and Photography who created the beautiful and unique artwork. I gave Regina a few ideas to work with, but what she came up with far exceeded my expectations! I am so happy to put her work on the cover of my book…it matches what’s inside perfectly. So go ahead…judge my book by it’s cover!

I also want to add that my editor, Melanie Gilcher was a dream to work with. She saw things I couldn’t and turned simple sentences into so much more. I truly believe she made my manuscript a professionally, polished novel.

And now, the book is in it’s final round of picking, poking, and prodding with Angela McLaurin of Fictional Formats. Once she’s done her magic…ready…I can actually publish the book! As excited as I am to finally have it out there for the many readers who’ve read the teasers and begged for more and the family and friends who’ve been asking “When is it coming out already?” I am also terrified. As any newbie author will admit, putting your work out there for everyone to see is the scariest thing you’ll ever do. I’m trembling, yet giddy; nervous, yet so damn excited I can barely contain myself.

So be on the lookout for the release ad for one totally frazzled chick in the next week or two. The dream is becoming the reality people!

In the meantime, check out these giveaways where you could be the lucky winner of an ebook, an amazon or iTunes gift card, and ARC of Man of My Dreams or an autographed bookmark.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/81df7f128/

https://rafl-fb-tab-app.s3.amazonaws.com/504929156229665.html

And why not add Man of My Dreams to your to-read list on Goodreads while you’re at it too http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18072325-man-of-my-dreams

 

Interview with Author Stuart West

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know one pretty amazing guy. We met during a blog hosted query contest where we were thrown together as opponents. We made terrible “combatants” as we were rooting for the other’s query to make it to the next round from the minute we introduced ourselves. Stu kicked my butt in round one with his kick-ass entry and neither of us wound up winning the contest, BUT I can honestly say I’ve gained a lifelong writing buddy. So, when Stuart asked me read his already published tale of a teenage boy who finds out he’s a witch, I was like “Oh, no! This is so not my cup of tea. How am I going to get through this?” Little did I know that the story my friend wove together with every emotion possible, would become something I am calling a MUST READ. With the release of the second installment in his Tex series, Tex and the Gangs of Suburbia, I sat down with my man Stu to hear all about what makes him one of the coolest guys I’ve ever known.

 

Hey, Jess, thanks for having me here! Tex, The Witch Boy is a YA paranormal, mystery thriller, comedy, romance tale dealing with high school bullying. Someone’s killing the bullies at Clearwell High, and through no fault of his own, Tex, a sort of everyman character, finds out he’s a witch and uses those powers to unveil the killer. Tex and the Gangs of Suburbia is another mystery this time dealing with high school violence and identity. Oh, and there’s a new character shrouded in mystery. That’s her on the cover. Both books are based on true events (well, except for the supernatural stuff, natch).

 

Tell us a little about yourself and when you started to write?

 

I was an awful graphic artist for an even more awful company for 28 years. A couple years ago I decided to try my hand at something I might be halfway decent at and actually like. With the support of my awesome wife, that’s what I’m trying to do. Verdicts still out as to how successful I am!

 

What inspires you to put pen to paper? What I love about paranormal/science fiction is that you can’t possibly “write what you know” so how do you come up with your stories?

 

Hm, I guess I have stories to tell! Most of my books have some basis in reality. The fun part comes from wrapping wild elements around the truth.

 

You’ve said before you didn’t set out to write Young Adult Fiction, but clearly you’ve got it down pat with Tex, the Witch Boy. How did you figure out this was what you wanted to write about?

 

I’m exorcising my high school demons, Jess! I hated high school, was on the beating stick end of bullies, and counted down the days ‘til I got out. Sometimes I wondered if I’d even make it out. No, I didn’t set out to write YA fiction, it just sorta’ happened. I wanted to tell my tale, maybe even reach teens who’re going through the same stuff I went through. Sadly, bullying hasn’t really changed over the years. I think it’s even worse.

 

In Tex, the Witch Boy you explore what it’s like for an outsider—the non-jock/unprom-king/so-not-popular kid in the cruel world of high school. For me, one of the most moving messages that came through was about bullying. Tex and his friends endured some pretty harsh and outlandish acts of brutality, was bullying something you dealt with as a kid and if so were any of the scenes in the book based on real life events?

 

Every bullying incident in the book happened to either myself or a friend. I know some of the events seem outlandish, but they happened. To this day, a friend of mine still can’t fully use his hand.

 

I loved how Tex and his loveable bunch of misfits rose above what was going on around them and found a way to take a stand. Your writing is very powerful in that the deeper meaning behind the story came shining through. You’ve mentioned to me that you explore other important topics in books to come. Can you name some of them?

 

Sure! Tex And The Gangs Of Suburbia is based on a true event that happened at my old high school a few years back. The theme is about shocking high school violence and how it affects everyone. And with more tragic shootings happening all the time, awareness is needed. The third book, Tex And The God Squad (out in December), tackles teen suicide, religion and homosexuality (I ain’t nothin’ if not ambitious!).

 

I must confess, I’ve never been a big fan of paranormal or sci-fi. I’m a romance girl, that’s why I was able to fall for Twilight. But your book drew me in and made me believe. You had a way of describing Tex’s newfound witchdom that made me think, “damn, my friend Stu is a witch!” Mickey’s hilarious instruction and wacky lessons were so convincing. So, it must be asked: Stu, are you a witch or do you practice witchcraft? And if not, how the heck do you know all this stuff?

 

The only witch in this house is a sandwich! Nope, not a witch. And, um, I just made a lot of the witchcraft stuff up. Some of it was researched. I even talked to a witch online (who, ah, had mixed feelings about how I tackled witchcraft. Hope he didn’t put a spell on me!).

 

Was Tex the first book you wrote? Did you query many agents/publishers before you signed with MuseItUp?

 

Yes, Tex was my first book. Actually I lucked out and got accepted on my first submission! Everyone tells me I’m dang lucky.

 

How do you handle rejection? What advice can you offer to moving past it?

 

How do I handle rejection? I drink. Lots. Then I fall to the floor and pound it for a while. Then I pull up my big boy britches and move on. Rejection gets easier after a while.

 

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

 

Write for yourself. Don’t write to trends or best-selling genres. And don’t give up. It’s easy to give up once you’ve received your first slew of rejections. But as Kelly Clarkson sings (and I can’t BELIEVE you’re making me quote her!), “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

 

What’s next on the agenda? What are you currently working on and are there more books in the Tex series to look forward to?

 

Three Tex books. Then a spin-off for my mystery girl who was so much fun to write, she practically begged me to write her book. After that, I’m going to try my hand at some adult thrillers. I’m currently working on an epic ghost story that takes place in 1935 and 1969. It’s based on the history of a dilapidated mining town in Oklahoma. Also have a darkly comedic serial killer thriller in the works. Oh! And two children’s books.

Thanks for having me, Jess. You’re the best and your book’s great too! Read it, folks!

 

It’s been a pleasure knowing Stuart and I look forward to reading any and all of his upcoming releases…he’s that good. Please click the links below for his first two books in the Tex series.

Tex, The Witch Boy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tex-The-Witch-Boy-ebook/dp/B00B3U5OWU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374594408&sr=1-1

Tex And The Gangs Of Suburbia on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tex-Gangs-Suburbia-Witch-ebook/dp/B00E5RWBGA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374849134&sr=1-1&keywords=Tex+and+the+gangs+of+suburbia

Tex, The Witch Boy/Tex And The Gangs Of Suburbia (two for one special):

http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=759&category_id=281&manufacturer_id=277&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

BLOG: http://stuartrwest.blogspot.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/stuartrwestwriter?fref=ts

TWITTER: @StuartRWest

TEX, THE WITCH BOY Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6YA8yjNVMc

Liberation

In the past few weeks I’ve immersed myself into the deep, beckoning depths of the Indie Author world. It’s been quite a ride already, and I haven’t even published my book yet, but all I have to say is I finally feel…FREE!

“Free of what?” you may ask.

Unchained and released from the tiny little ‘ding’ of my email inbox, that’s what.

I no longer feel the need to check my mail every three seconds, hoping for an agent or a publisher’s response to a query letter. As crazy as it may sound, this feeling of not being bound by the mercy of someone else’s subjectivity is the most liberating thing I’ve felt in a long time.

Of course, with this new path my writing career is on, there are new trepidations that keep me up at night, but at least now I know I’m the one in control of what gets out there and when. And now instead of obsessively checking my email for an agent’s response, I’m obsessively checking it to see how the readers and the community are responding to what is out there. And so far, so good.

I’m overwhelmed and in awe of how amazing people are…authors and readers and bloggers have all taken interest in my work and that makes me feel so damn good. I never set out to write the next literary masterpiece, and I won’t even try to say that I have because…I haven’t, but the fact that people like the teasers and the blurbs and are asking me for a release date…this is everything I’ve been waiting for!

With this plethora of exhilarating emotions, also comes a lot of fear. I hope I’m not setting myself up for failure and I hope people will continue to cheer me on this way and read my books when all is said and done. I’m struggling with time management as I am a stress-aholic. I want everything to be done yesterday and we all know that’s just not possible. I have a to-do list over a mile long and at the top of it, right underneath promoting the upcoming release of Man of My Dreams, is to KEEP WRITING. I can’t tell you how much I long to just sit down and get more words down on paper…but it just hasn’t been possible these days with so much other “stuff” going on and taking precedence. But I’m gonna make it work…I can do this…even if it means some really late nights and a few crappy meals for the fam.

I want to thank everyone who has given me even the teensiest reason to believe in myself…anyone reading has made an impact and I helped to push me along.  Keep an eye out for news about the release of Man of My Dreams (right now I’m aiming for September 19, 2013 or sooner. You can add it to your Goodreads TBR list if you’d like: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18072325-man-of-my-dreams) and I’m currently working with CPs to polish Taking Second Chances to get it ready to send to my editor. I would love to get that out before the end of the year, too. In the meantime, besides raising my kids, living life, critiquing, and chatting with fans (holy crap I have fans) and friends on my Facebook page, I will be working on my third novel, tentatively titled Little Brother. I love that you’ve all given me the opportunity to share my dream with you.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Man of My Dreams, Teaser #2

This scene comes from my favorite part of the book–The Reunion! Mia hasn’t seen Noah since they ran into each other on a break from college, 8 years ago. With her marriage up in the air and her feelings for Declan confused, her encounter with Noah is everything she’s been dreaming of…and possibly more.

 

March 10, 2007

We sit down at our table, smiling at the others who’ve joined us and then it’s like a scene from She’s All That. Cue slow motion, forced wind, and cheesy music.

 He walks in.

 At this moment I wish I shared some kind of mental telepathy with deejay Daniel. My choice of song for Noah is Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground. The sexy, velvety melody matches everything about him. That should be playing in the background as he saunters into this room, eyeing up the joint as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

My world stops, and the sight of him makes me momentarily dizzy. He’s everything I’ve seen in all those crazy dreams. Oh my God! Those crazy dreams! My cheeks are flushed, my knees bouncing up and down uncontrollably underneath the table. I gaze down at my hands, fiddling with my damn rings again, hoping he’ll pass me by and leave me to my irrational musings.

 “Well, if it isn’t the beautiful Mia Page.”

 I lift my eyes to see that all strapping six foot, three inches of the sandy haired, impeccably dressed Noah Matheson have found their way over to this of all tables. And he’s using that word again.

 He makes eye contact with Lisa. These two were actual friends ten years ago. They had a relationship that consisted of relevant friendship-like things. Not like the non-existent, obsessive nature of our one-sided relationship. They exchange a hug and a kiss on the cheek before he starts to pull out the empty chair. Next to me.

 “Please tell me this seat isn’t already taken?”

 I shake my head, giving him permission to sit. Did I mention his choice of seat is right next to me? As he does, the spicy, musky smell of his cologne travels through the air and into my nostrils, doing orgasmic things to my mind and body.

 I’m back to spinning my rings, round and round. If I don’t quit now, the skin beneath them will turn raw.

 Noah takes notice of my hands, gawking. “So, who’s the lucky guy? And why didn’t you call me after you broke up with that boyfriend of yours?”

 It takes a minute for me to put two and two together, but then I realize he’s referring to the comment he made that night in The Room. “If you and that boyfriend of yours don’t work out, you know where to find me.” When he spoke those words all those years ago I never imagined he would hold me to them.

 “Sorry, Noah, but it ended up working out.” Well, at least it was working out until a few months ago.

 Noah looks stunned. “Wait. What? You married that guy?”

 I nod, sheepishly. Why am I suddenly embarrassed that I married so young?

 “Well, good for you and even better for him. Here I was waiting on a phone call all these years when I should have known all the good girls are always taken.”

 Suddenly I feel the urge to flirt. “You know, Noah, there was a time when I was yours for the taking. I do hope you didn’t string your wife along before making her Mrs. Matheson.”

 Thankfully, Lisa is too busy with the fashionably late Kristen. I don’t need her to hear this and risk the chance of it spreading its way through the grapevine.

 Noah cocks his head back, laughing. The way his Adam’s apple vibrates…it makes me wish my lips had the chance to travel there once. “What? What’s so funny?”

 “The ‘Mrs. Matheson’ comment. I don’t have a wife. Never even came close. I guess you can call me the ultimate bachelor. Although, if the right woman came along…things could always change.”

 I want to tell him that the right woman passed him by years ago, but that wouldn’t be fair. Not to him, not to me, not to Declan. While I loved the fantasy of being with Noah, I wouldn’t exchange the idea for what the last eight years of my life had given me.

 “So what have you been up to, Mia Page?”

 I smirk, loving how easy it is to talk to him. “It’s Mia Murphy now. And I’ve been raising two crazy daughters for the last four years.”

 His eyes go wide. “You have kids? Daughters? Oh my god, your poor husband. If they look anything like you he’s screwed.”

 His comment is sweet, but…shit, why hadn’t I ever thought about that? Cara and Charlie dating is so far off it seems unthinkable. Then again, high school doesn’t seem like it happened ten years ago.

 Noah tells me about where life has taken him. He owns a construction company two towns over. When he names some of the projects he’s worked on I’m impressed. I’ve seen some of them, even been in a few of them. The idea of walking through a building created by Noah’s masterful mind and creative hands has me in disbelief. He went to college on a baseball scholarship. I was sure that I’d turn on the TV one day and see him playing for the major leagues. I guess dreams change over time.

 A crowd has formed on the dance floor. Rowdy classmates mouth the words to that annoying song by Chumbawamba. The one about drinking. I hated this song back then and I still hate it now. When it ends, Daniel makes an announcement about slowing things down for a while.

 The beginning bars of Champagne Supernova somehow transform the luxurious Country Club into a dimly lit gymnasium. I danced with Chad Myers to this song during Homecoming. Noah waltzed around with Lila Peters. That night I wished I was Lila. I wonder if Noah wished he was Chad.

 “Wanna dance?” His hand grazes mine and for the first time all night I worry about where this flirting might lead. I remind myself that there’s no harm in a dance. It’s not like he’s asking me out on a date.

 I skip the words and let my hand rest in his as he escorts me to the dance floor.

 If someone had told me ten years ago that I’d be swaying to these words wrapped in the arms of Noah Matheson at our reunion I would have laughed in their face. It’s all so effortless. His hands rest casually at my hips. Mine hang relaxed around his neck. How many times had I longed for a moment like this between us when we were in school? Oh, like a million. I hate thinking it’s a little too late for my dreams to be coming true.

 Together we sing along to the familiar words and I wonder about their significance. Ten years ago they had none. It was just a cool bunch of words strung together to an even cooler guitar riff.

 Tonight I find weight in the lyrics. Am I a dreamer? Yes, in the literal sense, I dream—very vibrant, colorful dreams. A lot of them involve the man dancing with me. But the word ‘dreamer’ also speaks of someone’s character. A romantic, a fantasist, an idealist. Do I encompass those qualities?

 I want to believe I do. My love and my marriage to Declan is not a sham. Our love has always been the center of my universe, the power that could conquer all. But after so much distance and doubt, dancing with Noah feels pretty damn right too.

 Noah interrupts my thoughts with a husky whisper, “I should have done this a long time ago, Mia. I was so dumb back then. I can’t believe I let you slip away.”

 His admission makes me stagger. All of a sudden I have two left feet. I can’t just let his remark slide. “Yeah, you were pretty dumb. I practically followed you around like a puppy dog waiting on you to ask me out. But you never did.”

 Our song is over, but he continues to hold me in his arms, surveying me and everything I just said. “Really? I swear I had no idea. You mean to tell me if I had played my cards right and stuck my head out of my baseball cap for a damn second I could be the one taking you home tonight?”

 His words shock me. Does he mean it the way I’m thinking or is he being sweet? Like take me home to screw me or take me home to our house, where we could have lived as a happy, committed couple? I clench my eyes shut, trying to figure it out.

 “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He nods his head in the direction of the bar. “And the guys from the team have been eyeing me since I walked in. Hopefully they’ll cut me some slack when I tell them I was catching up with the one that got away.” He winks and escorts me back to our table.

 Every one of my senses is on overload from his touch, his scent, the sound of the things coming out of his perfect mouth. Ten year old regrets flood my thoughts, drowning any bit of my remaining sanity. In this moment I know what Declan felt when he let that girl from the hotel kiss him. Face to face with temptation, my love for my husband isn’t strong enough to make me turn my back on the what ifs.

 ”Let me toss back a drink with the team for old time’s sake. Can I bring you back anything?”

 

 “No, I think I’m good.” I say, even though I’m far from it. There is not one ‘good’ image running through my head. In fact they are all bad. Naughty. Mischievous. Wicked.

 And they’re making me brave.

 “Hey, Noah?” I call out to him, stopping him in his tracks to the bar.

 “What’s up?” he walks back to me and cocks his head, smirking.

 Can he read me that well? Is the act as a disloyal wife giving me away? The flirting is one thing, but what I’m about to do crosses so many lines it feels criminal. I scan my surroundings to make sure no one’s watching. When I’m positive, I pull him by his collar. Closer to me.

 His breath catches. His eyes widen. Our lips are inches apart. If we weren’t in a room full of gossipy people I would get it over with and kiss him right here. They could never understand what that kiss would mean. An answer to so many questions about my past. A retaliation—an eye for an eye—for what Declan did to us.

 I forgo the kiss, but lick my lips for effect. “I hear there’s an after party. Will you take me?”

Noah raises an eyebrow, channeling me to focus on those smoldering green eyes. His lips curl into a satisfied smile and he speaks in a growl of a whisper. “Mia, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. I don’t want this night to end because tomorrow you go back to belonging to someone else.”

Spotlight; Faith Andrews

Reblogged from Ky Grabowski:

Spotlight

Here’s what Spotlight is about; it’s an interview that promotes you! It will feature questions that are formatted to your needs. Questions will be focused on your work, upcoming work and some personal questions for your fans to get to know you more!

Today features Faith Andrews

About you;

Tell us about yourself:

My name, well, my pen name is Faith Andrews.

Read more… 2,514 more words

I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful person in the indie trenches of Facebook. Check out her beautiful and awesome blog, featuring a spotlight interview with none other than yours truly :)