Mara Valderran's Blog, page 19

My Personal Fitness Challenge: Intro & Week 1 Summary

I'm not a fitness nut. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I practically live at my computer with publishing two book series and just being a nerd in general. I can't even read on a treadmill, so asking me to write while on one is probably a bad plan.

Image from QuickMeme.comBut I do understand the importance of being healthy and fit, especially now that I've reached 30 and am painfully aware of my age. Before we moved to Vegas, I had a personal trainer. Sure, he was related to me, but trust me--that never worked in my favor. Now that we've moved across the country from him, I might be safe from his withering glare when he finds out I drank a soda, but I'm also without his guidance. Which sucks.

I've seen a lot of the 30 day fitness challenges out there on social media and decided to start one of my own. Why? Because there's no way in hell I'll stick to someone else's. And because every person has their own way of doing things, so while the fitness challenges are great and work for some people, they don't work for others.

So here's my challenge: Stick to a fitness plan consistently for 30 days. Sounds easy enough, right? Not for me. Consistency is my biggest problem. I've had weeks where I go to the gym three or four times each week, and then I'll skip for like two weeks. Not the best recipe for results. (And there's really no good excuse since my apartments have an awesome gym) So my plan consists of two parts. The first is to go to the gym 3-4 times a week and workout for at least an hour each session, starting with cardio and then moving on to strength training with a full body workout.

The second part sounds easy, but might be harder for me than the first: Eat three meals a day. I'm terrible at eating. Not over-eating. Just eating. I don't like food. Food and I have never really gotten along. Most of the time, I work on a calorie deficit. Which means working out doesn't do much for me. It's the main reason I didn't see much in the way of results when working out with a personal trainer. He kicked my ass six ways from Sunday, but when you have a severe calorie deficit vs intense workouts 4-5 times a week, results aren't going to be very good. (If you want to read more about the myths behind Starvation Mode vs the real Starvation response, I suggest this post) Yup, I have food issues. Most of my calories used to come from soda, but kicking that habit left me in a daily deficit. I actually get cranky when I have to stop what I am doing and eat.

Gif from Yup That's MeSo you can see how both parts are pretty challenging for me. My food goal isn't going to be as easy to keep track of since I am vehemently against counting calories or food diaries for obvious reasons with my food issues. I will be posting my workouts and any poundage I lose, but no selfies or before and after shots. This isn't about getting thin. This is about getting healthy. And getting healthy means being active and eating right. Right? Right. Good. So let's do this! Let's take a look at the first week and see how I did:

QUICK REVIEW: I didn't meet my gym goals this week since I only had two hour long sessions and skipped one in the middle, but it is a good start. As for food, I'm adding more color to my diet with fruits in the mornings and veggies with lunch and dinner. I'm already pretty good with veggies (asparagus is my favorite food and it was on sale this week, so it will not be a problem), but fruits always go bad. Which is why I'm making myself have apple slices, strawberries, and a banana with my bagel and turkey sausage in the mornings. Right now I am of the opinion that that means there is far too much chewing far too early in my day, but hopefully I'll get used to it. (See the above meme)

DAY 1: JUNE 2ND
Cardio: Started off with 8 minutes of cardio on the elliptical. Why only 8 minutes? Because my earphones kept dropping out of my ears with my sprints and I got pissed. I usually have a goal of 10-20 minutes of cardio to start, so I've made a note to do better next time. And find my headphones with small earbuds for my freakishly small ears.

Strength training: I had a few more exercises lined up, but ended up cutting them out because I was spent. I'm not gonna kick myself too hard for that since I had a pretty good workout. I'll work my way up to doing everything. Also, going to up the weights for arms. 5lbs seems a bit light, so I think I am going to move it up to 10 lbs and cut back to 8 reps if needed, and then work my way up.
Dumbbell bicep curl 3x10 5lbs Leg press 3x10 90lbs Dumbbell raise 3x10 5lbs Calf press 3x10 90lbs Dumbbell lateral raise 3x10 5lbs Leg extensions 3x10 50lbs Dumbbell fly 3x10 5lbs Leg curls 3x10 70lbs Machine supine press 3x8 10lbs Bent knee leg raises 3x10 Bridges 30 Crunches 30
Summary: Pretty good for a first day, I think. There's always room for improvement, and I'm looking forward to Day 2. =)
DAY 2: JUNE 4TH Summary: Skipped. And for the lamest reason too. I laid down with a massive headache and ended up sleeping for four hours. I don't do that whole "nap" thing very well. I like sleep too much. I was going to make it up Thursday, but other things came up. Then I planned on just pushing my make up day to the weekend (and I still might), but I decided honest reporting is really the best way to hold myself accountable here.
Picture from Funny Quote

DAY 3: JUNE 6TH Cardio: 15 minutes on the elliptical at 5 resistance, going a distance of 1.2 miles. 
Strength Training: I am way too proud that I nearly made myself puke on my own. I found 10lbs to be too much for dumbbell raises and dumbbell flies, so I'll be upping the reps next time.
Dumbbell bicep curl 3x10 10lbs
Leg press 3x10 90lbs
Dumbbell raise 3x10 5lbs
Calf press 3x10 90lbs
Leg extensions 3x10 50lbs
Dumbbell fly 3x10 5lbs
Leg curls 3x10 70lbs
Supine press 3x10 10lbs
Bent knee leg raises 3x10
Squats 3x10

Bent knee hip raise 3x10
Cross body crunch 3x10
Crunches 3x10

Summary: I'm beat, so I'm happy! Especially since I skipped a day. 
DAY 4: JUNE 8TH Cardio: 15 minutes on the elliptical at 5 resistance, going a distance of 1.21 miles.
Summary: Screw you, Spotify for an epic fail update (Windows Phone) that left the service I pay for NOT WORKING. Cardio without music is torture for someone who already hates cardio. 15 minutes is my minimum, though, so I'm going to pat myself on the back for making it without music. Every victory counts, people! =)

DragonCon 2014 Cosplay Part 1: Decisions

DragonCon is exactly 86 days away as I type this. 86 more days until fangirling, geekery, panels, photos, souvenirs, and cosplay beyond your wildest dreams or expectations. To say I am counting down the days is an understatement. One of the ways I have been passing the time is by thinking about my cosplay this year. For me, the hardest part is narrowing it down. With so many things that I fangirl over, how can I possibly decide which costumes to choose? Don't believe there could be that many options for me to choose from? Check out the list I've come up with of some of the cosplay ideas I'd love to follow through with, and then tell me what you think of the ones I've chosen.

DragonCon 20131.) A TARDIS. I mean, I'm a Whovian. So it seems pretty obvious as to why I would choose this. It's the easiest cosplay of Doctor Who to spot, in my opinion. And after seeing so many kick-ass Doctor and Companion cosplayers last year, I don't think my husband and I will ever be brave enough to attempt that again.

THE PROS: It's. A. Frelling. TARDIS. And the dress just looks amazing. There are many different versions of it, including a short one that would probably be much more bearable in the Atlanta heat. Mad props to the woman here, who was out during the day (read: hot sun) in hers. Also, the shorter ones are more affordable than something like this one.

THE CONS: Dresses exactly like this one can be expensive and hot to wear. Also, being a TARDIS isn't the most unique cosplay there is. It's kinda like all the Waldos running around. And though the shorter ones are less expensive, they still range from $30-60. Also, tennis shoes probably wouldn't go well with the dresses. Maybe. But flats would work better, though they might not be as comfortable to walk around in.

CONCLUSION: Probably not. If I want to sport my Whovian pride, I have a few T-shirts and pieces of jewelry I can wear around during the day.

DragonCon 20132.) Kahlan Amnell from the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind and the Legend of the Seeker television series (very loosely) based on the books.

THE PROS: Kahlan is one of my favorite characters in literature, so depicting her would be beyond awesome. Also, the dress design looks airy enough that the heat might not be an issues. Kahlan wore boots, which given the right inserts could be comfortable to walk around in.

THE CONS: Getting the dress made. I have yet to find anywhere that sells the costumes already made, so it would be custom ordered. There is a corset also, which can be helluva uncomfortable. Boots are also not ideal for walking around in the heat. And also: It's white, which means dirt will show up really well.

CONCLUSION: Maybe another year. While it would be completely worth it to rock the Mother Confessor look like this woman, it is more money than I am looking to spend on cosplay right now. But I am holding the idea in reserve for another year because I am too much of a fan to pass it up.

DragonCon 20133.) Stargate cosplay. Jaffa? Unnamed Stargate personnel? Nox? Vala Mal Doran? Ori? I'm not even sure yet. But if you know me, you know that this one is a really big possibility. Especially since this is the 20th anniversary of the movie that started it all, and with the (somewhat disappointing) announcement that Roland Emmerich is planning on rebooting Stargate with a new movie trilogy (that has nothing to do with the series--he wasn't a fan so don't get too excited).

THE PROS: If you are dressing as Stargate personnel of any kind, you are bound to be comfortable walking around. The jackets and vests might get a little hot, but you don't have to go that far. You can just dress in BDUs. If you are going as a Goa'uld, you are bound to be very cool since they didn't wear much in the way of clothes. Even the Nox outfits look pretty comfy. And the good thing is that you can get BDUs for fairly cheap (as I understand it) from army surplus stores. The Nox outfit looks like it might not be that expensive to find the pieces for, and definitely something a crafty person can do at home. Goa'uld outfits can be simply enough if you just go to a local costume shop and look for Egyptian costumes since the Goa'uld posed as Egyptian gods.

DragonCon 2013THE CONS: Well, like I said, if you wear the jacket and the vest, it can get hot. The biggest cons really have to do with getting specific beyond SG personnel. Vala's pre-SG1 outfits were made of leather, which has got to be uncomfortable to walk around in. I saw a few women in Vala cosplay though, so it is doable. The Nox outfit needs a lot of attention to detail in order to not look ridiculous, and has makeup. This woman pulled it off beautifully, but I'm not sure I'm patient enough for it. As for the Goa'uld outfits, whereas the Egyptian costumes are probably pretty easy to find, they might also look hokey. The footwear isn't the most practical to walk around in, and it is best paired with the Goa'uld hand device, which would need to be purchased or made. As for the Jaffa, while I am excited to see them in their armor and with their helmets, it is also something that would need to be custom made or that you would make yourself, and probably not the most comfortable costume to sit through panels in.

CONCLUSION: Going as a Stargate personnel, even Vala during her SG-1 days, is definitely doable, and it is something my husband and I can team up with. As for the rest, I am probably not crafty enough to pull off a Nox or making anything to do with a Goa'uld or Jaffa. I'd love to go as a Goa'uld one year, though. That would definitely be fun. What with this being the 20th anniversary, Stargate cosplay is definitely high up on my list.

4.) Farscape cosplay of Aeryn Sun, Chiana. Jool, or Sikozu. I'd add Zhaan to the list of possibilities, but it's hard being so blue. And bald.

Image from Johnny HavocTHE PROS: This year seems like it would be the absolute perfect time to cosplay as Farscape characters with the announcement of the new movie. And my husband has expressed interested in going as Crichton. Jool and Sikozu's outfits (and even some of Aeryn's) would be comfortable and cool enough to walk around in, and the footwear wouldn't be terrible. And Farscape cosplay isn't near as prevalent as Doctor Who.

THE CONS: Leather pants and lack of abs. Okay, those aren't the only cons. We're again talking about getting things tailor made if we are talking Sikozu, Jool, or Chiana. Aeryn is a little easier, unless you go the leather vest route. Also, with Chiana and Jool, a lot of makeup is involved. With Jool, Sikozu, and Chiana, wigs are also involved. In fact, lets just go ahead and rule out Jool unless you double as a makeup artist and can pull off her hairline. But mostly, we're talking expense and how much of your body you want to show off (Sikozu). I'm not sure I'm brave enough to pull off any of it--even the leather pants.

CONCLUSION: On the fence with Aeryn. My husband might be able to talk me into it, but probably not for this year.

5.) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. cosplay. This show turned out to be one of my favorites this season, and it is a more generic way to celebrate the Marvel universe if you aren't yet bold enough to go as your favorite Marvel hero (Rogue).

Image from Lady SkywalkerTHE PROS: Like I said, this is a fun and generic way to celebrate the Marvel universe. It looks like it would be comfortable to move around in, and the shoes wouldn't be too bad since it is supposed to be designed to be good for combat. The patches would be easy to find and not that expensive, and the black outfit would probably be pretty easy to put together. You could even get the Black Widow costume if you wanted to go that route. In keeping it generic, the black jumpsuit look would be fairly easy to create, and you can always add the rest of the little pieces like the holsters and patches.

THE CONS: Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I don't actually recall seeing anyone else in the black outfit besides Black Widow. And possibly Agent May, but sometimes her outfit looks like a mix of navy blue and black. May's outfit would be easy enough to pull off but I am way too OCD and not enough Asian to dress as May. Same reason I'm hesitant to dress as Clara--I'm way too pale. I know, I know. It's supposed to be the spirit of the character. But I digress. As for the blue outfit or going as Agent Hill...I'm just not a fan of the blue, and that would probably involve getting the outfit custom made for it to look as spot on as the woman's in the picture above. Also, the long sleeves might get kinda hot.

CONCLUSION: I'm going to rule this one out just because I am not confident enough to try Black Widow, and don't want to put in the money for the blue suit.

6.) Dragon Age cosplay. Morrigan, Hawke, Merrill, Isabela, Lilliana--they all sound appealing. And my girl crush on Claudia Black definitely approves of going as Morrigan. I'm a huge fan of the games.

Image from the KiranaTHE PROS: Um, just look at them. The characters are in some of the most amazing outfits. And some of the outfits look like you wouldn't sweat to death. In fact, the Morrigans out there might want to grab a blanket for the panels since they are bound to get cold. Also, this is something my husband and I can do together since we've talked about going as characters from the game for Halloween.

THE CONS: There are probably too many to list. First of all would be the obvious: The expense or time to create it all. I say expense because I am not crafty. At all. So I would end up paying someone to make it for me rather than waste the materials trying (and failing) myself. There's a lot of attention to detail that needs to be paid for you to pull this one off. You can't just drape a magenta scarf around your neck and call yourself Morrigan. You need the hair, the makeup--everything. Same goes for any of the other characters. And then there is also the ab issue. While I am working on getting into shape (see my upcoming blog post about my own personal fitness challenge Sunday), I don't think I'd want to show off that much skin even if I had the abs for it. That wouldn't be as much of a problem with Lilliana or Hawke. Not even Isabela, really, but her outfit is a bit more showy than I would want.

CONCLUSION: I'm not ruling out a future cosplay as Hawke or Lilliana, but for now I am going to say no. The cons outweigh the pros in this case, even if I am a big fan.

DragonCon 20137.) Game of Thrones cosplay of Daenerys or Sansa Stark, because those are the two characters I'm the most familiar with of all the females. Well, and Arya, but I would feel a bit old to dress as her.

THE PROS: Daenerys has outfits that are comfy to travel in, and you can find a lot of the pieces at Halloween shops now. Sansa's dresses are long enough to hide comfy shoes.

THE CONS: I would look terrible as a blonde, wigs are hot, and Sansa's dresses would need to be custom made. Really, all of it would need to be made custom in order to look good and not cheap. Sorry, Halloween costume shops, but you've got nothing on the Daenerys pictured here. Sansa's hairdos are also pretty elaborate.

CONCLUSION: I'm still on book one in this series and have yet to catch up on the latest season, so I wouldn't claim to be a big enough fan to make it worth the effort and money.

8.) Arrow cosplay of Black Canary, the Huntress, or (I wish) Felicity. I add Felicity in there even though it would be hard to recognize and I wouldn't do it since I'm not blonde, but because she is my favorite character on the show.

Image from PinterestTHE PROS: My husband and I watch this show together, so it is something we could dress as together. Black Canary wouldn't be too terribly hard to piece together with a cropped jacked (which I already own and could have taken up a few inches to look closer), a black corset (I think), and leather pants (or black leggings with a criss cross pattern added on). I already have black boots that would work and wouldn't be too uncomfortable to walk around in. The mask makes it okay to be blonde since that should hide the fact that I would look terrible as a blonde.

THE CONS: The wig and the leather pants, and the uncertainty of walking around in an outfit that clings so very much. Also, did you see the part where I said I think there is a corset involved? The jacket would be hot, but at least it can come off (if I was brave enough to walk around in a corset, which I'm not sure I am). The Huntress outfit would be even worse, heat wise.

CONCLUSION: Believe it or not, I'm not ruling this one out. And not just because all I can think about is how hot my husband would look as the Arrow. Okay, maybe that's a big part of it. But still. It's a doable outfit with the pieces I have already, and putting together the Arrow outfit shouldn't be too bad either. Getting a believable bow, maybe. But since we are such big fans, I'm putting this in the maybe category.

Image from Rigetzu9.) Full Metal Panic cosplay of Sousuke and Kaname

THE PROS: FUMAFU! Again, something my husband and I both love. We watched this anime together when we first started dating and it is something we still quote and still rewatch together every couple of years. It also helps that my husband sometimes rolls out of bed with his hair already looking like Sousuke's, so he wouldn't need a wig or possibly even to use any product.

THE CONS: The costumes are custom made and not cheap. Also, the wig for Kaname. I've yet to find one online that even comes close to looking like her color or style

CONCLUSION: This year, we don't have the budget for it. But I am definitely not ruling it out for another year. Especially since we would totally rock these costumes at Halloween parties.

10.) Firefly cosplay of Inara, Kaylee, Zoe, or River

Image from Capes and CartridgesTHE PROS: WHEDON. I'm not just a Browncoat, I worship at the altar of all things Whedon, so getting to dress as someone from his universe (S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't count because Jed and Maurissa run it mainly and it was Marvel's first) is this fangirl's dream. And it is another thing my husband and I enjoy, so we could dress up together. Kaylee's mechanic jumpsuit and River's outfits might not be very hard to replicate, or expensive.

THE CONS: While Mal's outfit might not be that hard, anything Inara wore would need to be custom made. Also, River's outfits aren't very recognizable. The outfit in Serenity, maybe. But Inara would be my first choice. I don't think I could pull of Zoe at all, and would need a wig for her hair (mine doesn't hold curl at all).

CONCLUSION: You can't take the skies from me. But you can tell me that I don't have enough money in my pocket to invest in Inara's outfit. Sigh. Maybe another year when we are willing to put more money into it. Browncoat for life.

11.) Katniss from The Hunger Games because...well, Katniss.

Image from Geeks of DoomTHE PROS: This costume, along with the one from Catching Fire, is actually available from Halloween stores. Easy to move around in, comfortable to sit through panels in, and footwear meant for traveling and action. So good things. Also, the hair is doable for me, and having an excuse to keep it off my neck is always welcome.

THE CONS: This costume is everywhere. I love the movies and the books, but there is such thing as over-saturation, and I'm dangerously close. Also, neither outfit looks particularly cool to walk around in the heat. Granted, with this outfit pictured, you can take the jacket off and still look like the character. But that means you are now carrying your bow and your jacket everywhere. Meh.

CONCLUSION: Probably not. I'd be more likely to try one of her outfits from the parade or the tours, and those would be a bitch and a half million to create and move around in. So this is probably going to fall under the category of least likely cosplay, unless something happens to reignite my passion for the books/movies.

Image from Cosplay Champions12.) Belle from Beauty and the Beast...or another fairy tale princess. Like Anastasia. Oh, or Merida! Oh, or Ariel! Oh, or Rapunzel!
...You get my point. Call it a childhood dream of growing up to be that magical princess (even if the dream is different and my magical princesses in Heirs of War tend to kick a lot more ass than the typical Disney heroine.)

THE PROS: Pretty princess! And also, most of those costumes are available online and don't have to be custom made. Halloween shops, Amazon...these costumes are everywhere. And people do dress up as Disney characters at cons. I saw Cinderella crossing the street last year. I was gonna laugh if she lost one of her flip-flops, but she didn't.

THE CONS: Big dresses + wigs + Atlanta heat and humidity = Heat Stroke. Seriously, these dresses don't look the least bit comfortable or cool. If I wanted to go to a panel dresses as Belle like the woman pictured here, I'd end up taking up like three seats, which I'm sure would make people happy. There's the option of only wearing the costume at night, but I'm not looking to make a lot of costume changes.

13.) Harry Potter cosplay of Ginny or Hermione. Or pretty much anyone else, because all of the characters rock.

Image from Michael BradleyTHE PROS: If you paint a lightning bolt on my husband's forehead and give him round glasses, he already looks the part. Plus these costumes are really easy and available everywhere. Just buy a robe or some Gryffindor (or whatever house you want) accessories like a scarf, and bam! Insta-Harry potter. With some effort I could get my hair to be as ginger as Ginny's.

THE CONS: Again, a bit over-saturated. That's really the only con since the costumes are cheap. The robes might get a little hot, too. But you could just go with a House T-shirt. If you go as other characters, like Bellatrix or Tonks, then things could get a little detailed, expensive, and warm.

CONCLUSION: Possible. There is a Harry Potter ball, so it might be fun to get some dress robes and go. Not high up on my list though, even if my husband already does look the part.

14.) Anything Lord of the Rings. Hobbit, elf, Arwen, Eowyn. Anything.

Image from geridevilTHE PROS: Since The Hobbit is out, these costumes are everywhere. Well, they were already. I even went as Arwen for Halloween a few years ago, so I already have one of the costumes and would just need some elf ears. And it is something my husband and I could do together because we love LOTR so much we even have a little display of pictures and memorabilia. Depending on what or who you go as, travel-ready outfits might be available. And the dresses are long enough to hide comfy shoes anyway.

THE CONS: So. Much. LOTR. Everywhere. The costumes from Halloween stores look okay, but not high enough quality for cosplay, in my opinion. I hold cosplayers in very high regard. They are some of the most talented people you might meet, and definitely passionate. So to dress in a Halloween costume seems almost insulting. Also, Arwen's dresses get hot, and I remember having a hard time keeping my elf ears on.

CONCLUSION: While we love LOTR, I'm going to go with probably not for the above mentioned reasons of feeling like a complete tool dressed in a Halloween costume around these awesome cosplayers.

15.) Kenzi from Lost Girl because I adore her and she has really fun outfits.

Image from Drinks at the DalTHE PROS: Like I said, I adore her. And I've always wanted to do the trendy goth thing, but was never brave enough to stand out so dramatically. (Plus, getting all that eyeliner off has to be a bitch.) And the great thing about Kenzi is that you can shop for her style in actual stores instead of having to get things custom made or depending on Halloween costume shops to sell what you need. Heck, if you were thrift store savy (I'm not), you would probably be able to find what you need for under 20 bucks. Not counting the wig, of course. But speaking of the wig to pull off the Kenz-hair, it's pretty standard and easy to find.

THE CONS: Last season. Lost Girl kind of, well, lost me. I loved seeing Kyle Schmid on there, but that was about the only good thing about the season. I mean, did you see it? Heartbroken doesn't even begin to cover it. Also, the wig might be kinda hot and her shoes are probably not something you'd want to walk around the convention in.

CONCLUSION: Still a possibility since the panels last year were fun and the show hasn't lost me completely yet. It's pretty cheap to do, I can substitute flat boots for her heeled ones, and it also fulfills my lifelong dream of playing goth dress up.

16.) The Guild cosplay. Because...um, Felicia Day. Geek Goddess Supreme. Whedonite. Fun on social media and helped me to feel comfortable in my own geek skin over the years instead of hiding it or feeling like an idiot. Hell, I'd cosplay as her.

Image from Deep Dive CosplayTHE PROS: This costume is available from Halloween shops, and it doesn't look that bad. Well, the pictures online don't look that bad. Also, it would be comfortable to sit in panels (possibly) and cool. The costume from stores isn't very expensive either--I found one for $30 online.

THE CONS: The wig. Ugh. HEAT. I know from experience last year that having hair is enough to be a sweaty mess within an hour walking around or standing outside in line, and wigs have to make that worse. Also, the footwear. I look at those sandals and get blisters. I can't wear normal sandals without blistering up, so I would probably not last an hour in those. Also, the costumes available from stores for Zaboo and Vork look pretty terrible, which rules out cosplaying this with my husband unless we create his.

CONCLUSION: Maybe Halloween one year, but not for DragonCon. Codex's shoes are the deal breaker for me.

17.) A Nerd Herder from Chuck because that would be awesome. And very fitting since my husband and I just rewatched the show.

THE PROS: These outfits are so easy. White button up shirt, black skirt or slacks, converse or whatever shoes, grey tie, and badges, which you can find online for cheap. And if you have long hair like me, you can pull it into a ponytail, wear it in pigtails--whatever.

THE CONS: Maybe that you don't get recognized? I don't know, really. I haven't been able to think of any cons. Comfort, cool, cheap...what's not to like?

CONCLUSION: My husband and I have already agreed on this one, and I'm trying to get the friends coming with us on board too. So this is a definite DragonCon cosplay this year.

There are other obvious cosplay choices too, but I just don't feel like I'm a big enough fan (here's looking at you, True Blood) or even a fan at all (Star Trek, Star Wars, etc) to dress up as those characters. And some shows I might be a huge fan of, but the outfits aren't distinct enough for my tastes. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Teen Wolf come to mind. Though it would be fun to go as Illyria if I ever got really good at makeup...

So I'm sure you can see why I am trying to decide on cosplay in June, when DragonCon is still a little less than three months away. There are so many options, and so many things that I am such a huge fan of that I would love to pay tribute to by dressing up as someone from those worlds. And I didn't even really get into the book series that I've fallen in love with lately. Right now, it looks like Kenzi from Lost Girl, Nerd Herder from Chuck, and random personnel from Stargate are the most definite, while I am still holding out hope to get my husband into the Arrow outfit (he says unlikely) and he is toying with the idea of dressing as an adult Harry Potter. Which I have to say is a pretty cool idea. Auror Harry? I'm sure the fanfiction is already rolling about those adventures.

I'll be sure to post more once I actually start preparing the outfits (most likely to be well after I have completed my fitness challenge). What are your thoughts? If you could choose any character to cosplay as, who would it be?

Marketing Tools: My Wattpad Experience

Over at the #NALitChat on Twitter (Thursdays, 9pm EST), we've been talking a lot about marketing. And one subject that has come up a lot is Wattpad and discussion about what kind of marketing tool it is. There are lots of success stories of authors gaining popularity there and selling tons of books--sometimes even getting publishing contracts like Abigail Gibbs who landed a six figure publishing deal for her vampire novel. But like all forms of marketing, these success stories don't spell out a guarantee for other authors. The big question seems to be this: Is Wattpad worth it?

Short answer from me? Yes.

I posted an older version of my first book Heirs of War  on Wattpad last summer, and the book was featured in September, just a month before the release of the published version (read: the version that had an editor). The people at Wattpad were great. I originally had the book listed as Adult (it's actually New Adult, but there isn't a category for that) but they suggested I switch it to Teen in order to reach a larger audience. The promotion they gave the book was stellar--they posted a "Cover Off" for readers to choose between two covers (which ultimately helped me decide) and posted about it on Facebook and Twitter.

Eight months later, my book is still ranking on their lists. It's currently #146 for Fantasy with over 800k reads. (Quick explanation: The amount of reads you have is actually a total of every chapter. For me, Chapter 1 has almost 600k reads, but Chapter 25 has almost 10k. So I think around 10k people have finished the book.) I have 2k followers on there and am constantly getting new ones. People are still commenting on the book, and I love getting to see what they think of specific parts.

Now, the big question a lot of authors might have for Wattpad is whether or not it will help drive sales. I can't really say until the second book comes out this summer (though I will be sure to post an update), but I can try to answer some of the questions I've seen about Wattpad based on my experience.

If you post your book for free on Wattpad, won't you lose sales? 
Mmmm....yes and no. On the one hand, if you have the book for free, then why will people buy it? But some people will. The great thing about Wattpad is that there are loyal readers there. You give them something, and they are going to give back and continue to follow you. One on one interaction is key in building strong reader-writer relationships, and Wattpad is the perfect place for that. And Wattpad has put my book in front of an audience I might not have been able to reach otherwise as a debut author.

But won't people expect you to post all of your books for free on there too? Especially if it is a series?
Again, there's some truth to this. First of all, your book might not be available to every country that Wattpad can reach. I've had quite a few readers from the Philippines and Africa who have told me that they can't find the book for sale in their areas. So what do I do? I ask them to tell me who they shop through, and assure them that I will do everything I can do get my book out there. Recently, this meant expanding my distribution to Google Play, which is something that hadn't occurred to me before.

That being said, there's a negative side to this as well because *some* people will get mad that you aren't offering your other books for free. I've had maybe a handful of people get snotty with me when they found out the second book won't be available in its entirety on Wattpad. And that's after I explained in my FAQs that I have an editor and a cover artist I need to pay (and those little things called bills that adults have to deal with). But those people are few and far between, even if they are quite loud. More often than not, I have people telling me how excited they are to buy the next book or promising to buy everything I write for the rest of time. Will all of those people follow through? Probably not, but the support still means something.

Isn't Wattpad a huge time commitment? I'm already on every form of social media known to man.
I guess it can be, depending on how you use it. It isn't for me, but I skipped a lot of the audience building by having my book featured. If you are doing a serial, then it can be more time consuming as you try to engage readers in the "clubs" (forums) and leave reviews for other works in hopes that the author will return the favor. I haven't had experience with this side of Wattpad since I skipped ahead with getting featured. I do take some time with it, but much less than with other forms of social media. I try to respond to every message and comment I get, and some days they add up more than others. But I wouldn't call it a huge time commitment. It's honestly one of the best parts for me. I love seeing what people have to say and answering their questions and theories about my series.

Isn't Wattpad just another place to post fanfiction?
Yes, but there's a lot more to it than that. With big name authors who have best sellers under their belts like Kevin J Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Kim Harrison, and Jessica Sorensen (just to name a few) joining in and featuring their works there, it's hard not to see the benefits of Wattpad. Brandon Sanderson's WarBreaker was featured the same week as Heirs of War. Is there fanfiction on Wattpad? Yes. After all, fanfiction is where some authors (like me) start. Are there original works on Wattpad that will make you cringe to read? Yes. Heck, the version of Heirs of War that is on Wattpad is enough to make any professional writer cringe. But as the Wattpad site and community continue to grow, so does the level of professionalism that might be seen on there.

If I'm not using Wattpad to drive sales, then what is the point?
To connect with readers! Thanks to Wattpad, Heirs of War has been embraced by readers all over the world, and I've been able to connect directly with those readers. And I continue to engage them with things like my Fan Favorites Contest and Shipping Wars, where they vote for their favorite character or relationship and are entered to win a chance to appear in an extra scene or write a scene with me. I get a lot of requests to read people's stories on there or to cowrite, so getting a chance to work with a reader is great. I hate having to say no, but realistically I have to because there just isn't enough time in the day. But contests like this allow me to still get that opportunity, which is so rewarding. I've also posted preview chapters for the second book and will be using Wattpad to post deleted and extra scenes for the entire series. I might not be able to give the readers all of my books for free, but I can do my best to give them as much as possible as a thank you for their enthusiasm and support.

The bottom line is this: Word of mouth is essential for authors. While Wattpad reads don't necessarily equate to sales for everyone, what it does mean is that you are reaching more people and building direct relationships with those readers. And they'll remember that. To me, those relationships are the best marketing tool you can have. You might not reach a million followers like some of the other success stories, but that doesn't mean the ones you do gain don't matter. They do, and I think it will pay off in the long run.

What are your thoughts on Wattpad? Do you have questions about it I didn't cover? Let me know! I'm always happy to help.

The Soap Box I Stand On

Let me preface this by saying that if you know me, you know that I work very hard to live in a very naive bubble in life. One where hate doesn't exist on such a violent scale and where all people are treated equal regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, skin color, or socioeconomic background. See? Pretty damn naive. Especially given the topic of conversation lately.

If you've been living under a rock (or in a naive bubble), you might not have heard about the Isla Vista attacks, where a very disturbed young man who espoused his hatred not just for women, but for everyone living a better life than him, went on a killing spree, taking the lives of six people and wounding 13 others. As a result of his misogynistic rants about women, the conversation #YesAllWomen began on Twitter and across social media, outlining the daily struggle women have against gender inequality.

First, I'd like to say that I do think that this conversation needs to be had. Women deal with sexism every day. Just like homosexuals deal with homophobia. Just like people of pretty much any skin color deal with racism. Just like poor people and rich people alike deal with socioeconomic prejudices. It's all disheartening and sickening to see these daily struggles laid out. It's enraging. Something needs to be done.

But is this tragedy really the platform on which to do it? I feel like this horrible occurrence--one where men and women alike were targeted by hate and killed--is being overshadowed by this hashtag. And moreover, I feel like it is the wrong hashtag to associate with this event. This didn't happen because our society encourages gender inequality. This happened because our society encourages hate. See someone driving a nicer car than you? Mommy and Daddy must have bought it for them. See a person using foodstamps in the grocery store? They must be lazy pieces of shit that do nothing to contribute to society. See a black kid in a hoody walking in your neighborhood? Better shoot them before they shoot you.

Our society today, especially with the internet allowing us to be so heavily involved in one another's lives and the lives of people we don't even know like celebrities, encourages that jealous spark of hatred. That sense of entitlement. You might not want other people to have access to things like free healthcare, foodstamps, and financial aid for college, but if you get laid off and can't find a job no matter how hard you try? Well, you must be the exception to the rule. You are different and better.

But that's the thing we need to address--this idea that one person can be better than another. That one person deserves more than the other for whatever reason--gender, education, socioeconomic backgrounds, skin color, religion, political views, sexual orientation, etc. The list goes on and on. Until we ALL start looking at one another as human beings deserving of the same thing, then these problems will continue.

I'm not trying to diminish what people (yes, people--it's very encouraging to see men speaking up with this hashtag too) are saying with #YesAllWomen. These are real problems that real women face every day. But instead of focusing on the symptoms, I'd like to see us start a real conversation about the disease: Hate. Because that's what it all boils down to. Whether someone is sexist, racist, homophobic, what have you, the root cause is hate. These are all problems that add up to a larger whole, and until we address that in our society, it is never going to change.

Now if you will excuse me, I am going to step off of my soap box and back into my naive bubble.

Review & Giveaway: Five Stars to Thereafter by Terri Bruce

About the Book: Nothing in life is free. Turns out, nothing in the afterlife is, either.

When recently-deceased Irene Dunphy decided to “follow the light,” she thought she’d end up in Heaven or Hell and her journey would be over.

Boy, was she wrong.

She soon finds that “the other side” isn’t a final destination but a kind of purgatory where billions of spirits are stuck, with no way to move forward or back. Even worse, deranged phantoms known as “Hungry Ghosts” stalk the dead, intent on destroying them. The only way out is for Irene to forget her life on earth—including the boy who risked everything to help her cross over—which she’s not about to do.

As Irene desperately searches for an alternative, help unexpectedly comes in the unlikeliest of forms: a twelfth-century Spanish knight and a nineteenth-century American cowboy. Even more surprising, one offers a chance for redemption; the other, love. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to have either if she can’t find a way to escape the hellish limbo where they’re all trapped.

Purchase Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble

About the Author:
Terri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats.

Website/Blog: http://www.terribruce.net
Goodreads Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450132.Terri_Bruce
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Terri-Bruce-Fan-Page/325830544139030
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@_TerriBruce
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/terribruce

My Review: Five out of Five Stargates: Out of this world!Thereafter (Afterlife #2) by Terri Bruce
I am so glad I stuck with this series. I've gone from hating Irene Dunphy to adoring her. And I have to say that one of the best things about this series is the character exploration. Just as Irene is peeling back the different layers of the after life, the after life is peeling back the rough layers of Irene. She's stripping away all of the baggage and we get to see her for who she truly is--an incredibly stubborn woman who loves so big and has such a huge heart that she is terrified of using it.

After Irene goes down the tunnel, she finds herself in a city with a strange cat guiding her. The cat leads her to the forest, where she gets rescued from the Hungry Dead by Andras, a knight who died 800 years ago. The Hungry Dead are exactly that--dead that are starving for memories. Irene's ability to sympathize with them once she understands them is so telling. She also comes across a flirtatious cowboy named Ian, and long story short (without giving away too much), the three unlikely companions set off trying to find a way to cross the river.

Andras is such a great character, and I love the parallels he has to Jonah. That says good things about him. Those two really represent that inner voice deep inside Irene that is telling her who she wants to be and who she really is. Ian, while fun, is more of a representation of who Irene let herself become while she was alive. Watching her interact with them is like watching her go at war with the two parts of herself that have been battling this whole time--the part that wants to go back to her shallow existence that gave off appearances of being happy, and the part that wants to be better and wants to do more.

This book is well-written, well thought out, clever, and the most intriguing exploration of the layers of a person that I've ever read. While I might be worried for Jonah in the next book, I have faith that the Acorn will once again come through.


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Reading Wrap Up: Review & Giveaway for Hereafter by Terri Bruce

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Hereafter by Terri Bruce to review for the tour of Thereafter, the second book in the Afterlife series. Just to preview my review: This series is definitely one I would recommend sticking with. I'm already on the second book, and have purchased them both to add to my collection officially. Before I get to my review, let me fill you in on the books and the author, and then stick around to learn how you can win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or a signed copy of the book!

About the Books:
HereafterAfterlife Book 1Terri Bruce
Why let a little thing like dying get in the way of a good time?

Thirty-six-year-old Irene Dunphy didn't plan on dying any time soon, but that’s exactly what happens when she makes the mistake of getting behind the wheel after a night bar-hopping with friends. She finds herself stranded on earth as a ghost, where the food has no taste, the alcohol doesn’t get you drunk, and the sex...well, let’s just say “don’t bother.” To make matters worse, the only person who can see her—courtesy of a book he found in his school library—is a fourteen-year-old boy genius obsessed with the afterlife.

Unfortunately, what waits in the Great Beyond isn’t much better. Stuck between the boring life of a ghost in this world and the terrifying prospect of three-headed hell hounds, final judgment, and eternal torment in the next, Irene sets out to find a third option—preferably one that involves not being dead anymore. Can she wipe the slate clean and get a second chance before it’s too late?

Goodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  
Thereafter
Afterlife Book 2
Terri Bruce

Genre: Contemporary fantasy/paranormal
Publisher: Mictlan Press
Date of Publication: May 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9913036-2-5 (print) /
ISBN: 978-0-9913036-3-2 (ebook)
Number of pages: 318
Word Count: 99,000

Cover Artist: Artwork by Shelby Robinson;
cover layout by Jennifer Stolzer

Book Description:

When recently-deceased Irene Dunphy decided to “follow the light,” she thought she’d end up in Heaven or Hell and her journey would be over.

Boy, was she wrong.

She soon finds that “the other side” isn’t a final destination but a kind of purgatory where billions of spirits are stuck, with no way to move forward or back. Even worse, deranged phantoms known as “Hungry Ghosts” stalk the dead, intent on destroying them. The only way out is for Irene to forget her life on earth—including the boy who risked everything to help her cross over—which she’s not about to do.

As Irene desperately searches for an alternative, help unexpectedly comes in the unlikeliest of forms: a twelfth-century Spanish knight and a nineteenth-century American cowboy. Even more surprising, one offers a chance for redemption; the other, love. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to have either if she can’t find a way to escape the hellish limbo where they’re all trapped.

Author’s Note:

I am THRILLED beyond all measure to finally be able to bring you Thereafter, and I want to thank all the fans who have waited (more or less patiently) an extra year for this book to finally come out. Thereafter would not have been possible without your support—thank you all! I hope you love this beautiful new cover as much as I do, and I hope you find Thereafter to be worth the wait.


About the Author:
Terri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats.

Website/Blog: http://www.terribruce.net
Goodreads Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450132.Terri_Bruce
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Terri-Bruce-Fan-Page/325830544139030
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@_TerriBruce
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/terribruce


My Review: Four out of Five Stargates: Definitely worth the read!Irene Dunphy is a huge pain. But...she's worth the patience.

Hereafter is definitely not your typical book about ghosts and the after life. There's no choir of angels, and Irene is the type of person that would probably mock them if they appeared. She's spent her life basically flailing about--a job that means nothing to her, surface friendships, and resentful of the mother that she has to assist. Her poor judgment calls are what ultimately lead to her death after having one too many out with the girls and driving home drunk. In fact, it's hard to have any sympathy for this woman whatsoever.

But then she meets Jonah, a fourteen year old boy who has found a way to straddle the line between the living and the dead. Something about how this boy sees her makes her a little bit more tolerable. She's terrible to him, and yet he keeps coming back. And that pulls you in.

The book seemed very well researched, and I was fascinated to get the random factoids about the afterlife in other cultures from Jonah. I also loved watching these two grow together. In the beginning, Irene was selfish and vapid even, but she starts to really care about Jonah and want to protect him. He forced the caring adult out of her. And in the beginning, Jonah just put up with everything she dished out. It really made you wonder how much he put up with in his life since he was probably bully-bait at school. But Irene's confidence began to rub off on him, and in the end she forced him to have a backbone. I cheered when he smashed the bottle because you just knew that he had been wanting to do that for a while.

What's beautiful about this story is that Irene is so unlikeable and real that the growth she encounters after dying is made all the sweeter. Her path is ugly and rocky and raw at times, and I really have to give Terri Bruce credit for that. By the end, I was crying alongside Jonah and Irene, and I really hope we haven't seen the last of Jonah.


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Thursday Takeover: Sharon Bayliss Tells Us What's Next for the December People Series

Have I told you guys lately how much I adore Sharon Bayliss and her series, The December People? No? Well, I do. I'm really anxious to read the next book and see what is ahead. Luckily, Sharon is stopping by today to give us some hints about what is to come in the hopes of tiding us over until the next book.

(And yes, this is going to backfire on her and I am probably going to hound her even more about the series, but who doesn't love teasers?) Take it away, Sharon!


My recently released novel, Destruction is Book One in The December People Series. I don't want to giveaway too much, but I do get a lot of questions about what comes next in the series, so here are a few key facts:

The December People Series will have four books, one for each season.Book 2 is tentatively scheduled to release this fall, and will be the summer book.Book 3 is spring and Book 4 is fall.I have plotted out all the major plot points in all the books, but I expect the characters to make unauthorized plot changes.Book 2 is finished and being edited. I'm currently writing Book 3.Book 2 takes place the summer after Book 1, a little less than a year later.In Book 2, David and Patrick are still major characters, but Emmy also becomes a major character and much of the book is in her POV.In Book 2, we meet another wizard family--the Prescotts, a summer wizard family that are sort of like the "bizarro Vandergraffs."More time (story time...not time between releases ;)) passes between each book than I think is common for a series. I do this to allow time for character and relationship development, especially to allow time for the younger characters to age up and develop and change. Also, I do it for realism. I mean, how much crap can happen to one family in one year? ;) They would explode if I did that to them! The whole series will cover about 4 years.This passage of time makes the kids feel like my own. In book 3, Patrick is filling out college applications, and it freaks me out that the kids have grown up so fast. And, they're not even real... lolThroughout the series, there will be death, and new life.I'm not an overly emotional person, but just thinking about what will happen in Book 4 makes me cry.Hopefully, that's enough to simultaneously satisfy and torture some of my readers. :) If you're new to the series, check out book one!
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Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series. BUY NOW
THE BOOK SPOTAn independent family-owned bookstore. The ONLY place to buy signed copies!</ div>
BOOK PEOPLEA locally owned book store in Austin, Texas.
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.
Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without. 
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.  

Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.




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The Author

Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge . When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.

www.sharonbayliss.com -  @SharonBayliss -  https:// www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Forever Kinda Love by Clara Stone

Title: Forever Kinda Love Author: Clara Stone Release date: August 15th, 2014 Genre: Contemporary Romance Age Group: Mature Young Adult Cover Design: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design & PhotographyEbook will be available at: Kindle | Nook | Kobo |Smashwords |Paperback

FOREVER KINDA LOVE Synopsis:

Life’s. Little. Surprises.

The last thing seven-year-old Carrigan "Ace" Casper foresaw was an eight- year-old Heath Lovelly walking into her life the day her mother died. From that moment on, Heath sticks by her side, slowly becoming her strength, her confidant, and her entire world. What she doesn’t know is, she's his saving grace, too. 
Ten years later, Ace is handed another crippling challenge that threatens everything in her almost perfect life. Only, this time, she doesn't turn to Heath, hiding the truth instead. But Heath knows Ace too well and won't back down easily. He's ready to do whatever it takes and will stay by her side until she accepts that their love is the kinda love worth fighting for. Will he be her forever triumph or her unexpected downfall? 
Two lives. One story. And an unexpected journey to falling in love. 

About the Author:

Priya Kanaparti lives in the beautiful city of Boise, ID. Unlike what most believe about Idaho, it’s more than a sack full of potatoes. When she’s not writing, you’ll catch Priya reading YA and NA books, mostly romance, and enjoying time with her family. She is a proud CW TV addict. She also write Mature YA and New Adult romance under the name Clara Stone. She is published through Reuts Publications.


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Thursday Takeover: Character Interview with Betty Bright from Dead Man's Drive by Michael Panush

It's Takeover Thursday, and today Betty Bright from Michael Panush's Dead Man's Drive is stopping by to answer some hard questions and tell us about working at Donovan Motors--and going up against the biggest baddy in La Cruz!

About the Book: La Cruz looks like an average Southern California small town in the 1950s Post-War Boom, but it has some dark secrets - and its guardians. They are the supernaturally adept drivers of Donovan Motors, including former Okie bank robber Wooster Stokes, Zoot Suiter and part time shaman Angel Rey, college girl and burgeoning sorceress Betty Bright and --their latest member -- an amnesiac zombie known only as Roscoe. The drivers stand between La Cruz and chaos with only their wits and some fast hot rods to help them hold back the darkness. But an onslaught of demonic attacks heralds a new danger. Reed Strickland, a ruthless tycoon with unholy assistance, seems intent on making La Cruz his. Only Roscoe and the drivers can stop him. But Strickland's allies stir painful memories in Roscoe and even an undead gearhead is no match for his own past. Roscoe will need to overcome his memories, stand with his friends and keep his motor as the battle for La Cruz begins in a tale of white hot vehicular action, arcane Noir, and Hollywood horror that reveals the rotten heart of California's Golden Age.

Buy it on Amazon or add it to Goodreads

About the Author:
Twenty-Four years old, Michael Panush has distinguished himself as one of Sacramento's most promising young writers. Michael has published numerous short stories in a variety of e-zines including: AuroraWolf, Demon Minds, Fantastic Horror, Dark Fire Fiction, Aphelion, Horrorbound, Fantasy Gazetteer, Demonic Tome, Tiny Globule, and Defenestration. He published his first novel, Clark Reeper Tales, for his high school senior project. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Michael currently serves as a City Year Corps Member at Rosa Parks Middle School. His books with Curiosity Quills include The Stein and Candle Detective Agency, Volume 1: American Nightmares, Volume 2: Cold Wars, and Volume 3: Red Reunion, all featuring a pair of occult detectives in the 1950s, Dinosaur Jazz-- where The Great Gatsby meets Jurassic Park -- a story about a Lost World battling against the forces of modernization; and El Mosaico, Volume 1: Scarred Souls and Volume 2: The Road to Hellfire, a Western about a bounty hunter whose body was assembled from the remains of dead Civil War soldiers and brought to life by mad science. Dinosaur Dust and El Mosaico, Volume 3: Hellfire are expected to be released soon.

Read excerpts from his work, or you can follow his blog and follow him on Twitter.

Michael began telling stories when he was only nine years old. He won first place in the Sacramento Storyteller's Guild "Liar's Contest" in 2002 and was a finalist in the National Youth Storytelling Olympics in 2003.

In 2007, Michael was selected as a California Art's Scholar and attended the Innerspark Summer Writing Program at the CalArts Institute. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 2008 and currently attends UC Santa Cruz.

Interview With Betty Bright
Hello, Betty! Nice to meet you. Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself to get us started?

Um, let's see – my name's Elizabeth Bright, but my friends call me Betty. I live in La Cruz, California, a small town a little south of Los Angeles. My father's Professor Horace Bright. He teaches folklore classes at UCLA, which is also where I go. I'm majoring in folklore as well, actually. It's very helpful for my current job with Donovan Motors. What's also helpful is my passion for cars. I've been tinkering with engines my whole life. During the war, when I was a little girl, you had women working in factories, playing with machines, and having real power. I never fit in too well in suburban La Cruz, so that seemed like a fine escape. Now, knowledge of folklore and skill with cars comes in handy for working at Donovan Motors. Our job is protecting La Cruz from ghosts, monsters, demons, and everything else that goes bump in the night. 

Motors help with that – and so does magic. 

How did you get involved with Donovan Motors?

Well, I've always known about Donovan Motors. Everyone in La Cruz does. The people working for the Captain – he's the guy who owns Donovan Motors – are always spoken about in hushed whispers. La Cruz is a pretty square sort of town, so the drivers operating out of Donovan Motors sort of stick out. That's fine with me, of course, as I've never exactly fit in. But how exactly did I get started? Well, it involved a vampire attack in my senior year in high school. A bunch of European vampires tried setting up a base of operations in an old mansion in Redborough. That's the countryside around La Cruz. I nearly got my blood drained, but my skill with automobiles and my knowledge of vampire lore helped me survive. The Captain found out about it and offered me a job. 

What can you tell us about your coworkers? 

There's the Captain – he's the boss, though. He's a very quiet sort of man. Reserved, I guess. He was a veteran of World War One and supervised America's occult defense programs during World War Two. But he's a good man, even if he's a little button-down. There's Wooster Stokes. He's an Okie who became a big time bank robber during the Great Depression. Wooster's a nice fellow, but he's a bigot and can be a real jerk at times. He is a master at using a Tommy gun, though. Angel Rey is much nicer. He was a kid during the Zoot Suit Riots, in Los Angeles during the War. They didn't get reported in the papers much, but the US Navy and the LAPD pretty much declared war on anyone with brown skin. It got pretty brutal and poor Angel has that in his past. He's a great driver and his mother was the neighborhood shaman. There's also Roscoe – the newest member of the drivers. Roscoe's a zombie – a living dead guy with no memory. Angel actually ran into Roscoe while he was shambling down a road. Roscoe may look a little weird, but he's a really great guy. He's an ace with a car and with a gun – especially the sawed-off shotgun he uses. He struggles with not knowing his past. I think he's afraid of it. 

What is your work environment like? 

Donovan Motors does operate as a legitimate garage. We take in cars from La Cruz and repair them. That's just a front, though. The real business is that we get requests for help, either from the sheriff or the Captain's government contacts, or local folks, and we try to help. That means dealing with things like haunted internment camps, infestations of fish monsters along the coast, demonic biker gangs, and more. For extra cash, we sometimes moonlight as stunt drivers for Hollywood b-movies – pretty exciting stuff, even if the movies are strictly garbage. Donovan Motors has a few apartments behind the garage where we stay and there's a kitchen and everything. I guess we're kind of like a family. 

I understand that you are a burgeoning sorceress. How did you get started as a sorceress? Was it something you discovered on your own or are you continuing a family tradition of practicing?

Oh, I'm strictly an amateur – the magic is all from books. My father's an expert at magic, but from a very academic angle. I started that way as well, but once I started working at Donovan Motors, I realized that I could use magic to really help people. There's no witches in my family, as far as I know. 

You also attend college. How do you balance your work obligations with things like finals?

Oh, my classes tie very nicely into my work. We'll be studying golems in class one day, for instance, and then get called up to deal with a golem in Glendale. Finding time to study is pretty tough, but I've got practical experience with the occult due to my job. That's not something that a lot of my classmates can say. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Boy, that's a tough question. I can't tell where I won't be – slaving over a stove in one of La Cruz's many suburban homes, with a couple kids playing in the next room and a husband coming home from work in the big city. That's what most girls in La Cruz are expected to do. Being a housewife just doesn't appeal to me. Even when I was a little girl, I'd rather play with engines than dolls. That sort of made me an outcast in La Cruz. I guess it would be the same anywhere in America – and it's the same for everyone who works in Donovan Motors. Washed-up bank robber, Mexican Pachuco shamans, and gearhead zombies just don't fit into larger American society. Luckily, we have each other. I think I'll be working at Donovan Motors in five years, if I don't go into the occult business for myself. 

Who is your favorite coworker and why?

Another tough question – but it's got to be Felix Tannenbaum. Felix isn't really a coworker, though. He's the Captain's adopted son, a little fellow who is only thirteen-years-old. Felix's parents were big name scientists in Germany, and the Nazis captured them during the War. They were Jewish, you see. I've bet you've read the new and don't need me to tell you the kinds of things they faced. Those Nazis made Felix and his folks work for them. The Captain found out about it and arranged a rescue – but it was too late for Felix's parents. Then the State Department snapped up Felix and put him to work in its own top secret occult warfare programs. Pretty terrible, huh? The Captain put a stop to that, pulling Felix out and adopting him. Since then, he's been Donovan Motors' own miniature mad scientist. He's smart as a whip and has a lot of practical experience with the occult. Also, he's got a wonderful mix of dignified, old world manners and adolescent nervousness. He likes me a lot and he looks up to Roscoe. I guess he's part of the family now. 

What is one of the oddest jobs you’ve had before Donovan Motors?

Sorry, but I really haven't had any jobs before joining up with Donovan Motors. I signed up my senior year of High School and never looked back. I did a few summer jobs here and there, but nothing compares to my current job. 

You and your coworkers are going up against a very wealthy and powerful man. What motivates you to fight Reed Strickland? 

I guess I could get in trouble for saying this – my father's been accused of being a Fellow Traveler, you know – but Strickland is a businessman and I don't trust businessmen. You know the kinds of things that the owners of the orange groves around La Cruz do to their workers when the poor fellows try to unionize? It's not pretty. If that makes me Red, then so be it. Anyway, Strickland's been around for a long time. He built himself up during the Depression, using organized crime connections to shut down any attempts of his workers to unionize. He made weapons for the army, but he's no patriot. I've heard that Strickland was a big admirer of Adolf Hitler and sold them weapons as well. He's got this imaginary orderly version of La Cruz planned, where everyone's church-going and square as can be, and there's no room for Donovan Motors. He wants us gone and he'll do anything to achieve that – including make deals with the devil. Trust me on this – Strickland is bad news.

Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with me, Betty!

Review: Destruction by Sharon Bayliss

This week's review isn't actually the book I read this weekend, but one I read while on the way to Las Vegas. I have to say, I missed a lot of beautiful scenery because this book kept me enthralled and turning every page anxiously. Worth. It. Let me fill you in on why you want to read this book!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.

David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.
Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without. 
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.  

Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge . When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.

www.sharonbayliss.com -  @SharonBayliss -  https:// www.facebook.com/authorsharonbayliss


MY REVIEW Five out of Five Stargates--Out of This World!I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. In short: I loved it.
This book is a whirlwind of emotions right from the start, and continues to build intensity with each chapter. The story starts with a bang as David Vandergraff gets the phone call he has been waiting for and dreading for eleven years--the call that tells him what happened to his missing children.

His secret missing children that his wife knows nothing about.

His secret missing children that also happen to be wizards.

As David's world begins to unravel, he discovers that he wasn't the only one in his marriage with secrets. His wife Amanda has her fair share as well. And not just that she is also a dark wizard.

This book might have wizards and magic, but the story is in this family and the problems they have, which are very rooted in reality. Their disfunction makes them feel so normal, but when you add magic to the mix, disfunction doesn't cover it. The characters are beautifully flawed, and sometimes do unforgivable things, but you still find yourself rooting for them. The Vandergraff kids aren't just accessories to David and Amanda's story, but are integral parts of the whole, and have their own enriching plots that will tug at your heart. The demons they are all facing are more within themselves than some evil wizard out to get them. They are their own villains, which makes the face off with the real villain so much more intense. Even if they win, will they truly win? Or will they be their own defeat?

Right when the plot heads in one direction, Sharon Bayliss throws you for a loop. Predictable is not in her vocabulary, that's for sure. Definitely a must read, and can't wait for more.



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