Carrigan Richards's Blog, page 4

Cyberbullying

We’ve seen it happen time and time again. Teens, adults, kids are cyberbullied. It’s easy for a bully to call someone names or harass them behind a screen. I’ve read so many stories where teens were cyberbullied to the point they committed suicide, or started cutting themselves, or turned to drugs & alcohol.

As an author in the indie community, I see this quite often, and it’s awful. I’ve seen authors quit because people have bullied them. I’ve seen authors bully other authors, readers, and bloggers. It’s all over and there are no limits.

I’m not sure there’s a way to actually stop cyberbullying, other than I believe people need to act maturely since this is their profession, but even in the workplace, bullying happens. It’s happened to me. I ignored it at first, but I went to my supervisor. Luckily, my supervisor took quick action, but I know this doesn’t happen in every situation.

Most of the websites I’ve come across focus on kids & teen cyberbullying, but the same tactics can apply in adult situations as well.

Here are ways to combat cyberbullying: (source: www.connectsafely.org)

Know that it’s not your fault. What people call “bullying” is sometimes an argument between two people. But if someone is repeatedly cruel to you, that’s bullying and you mustn’t blame yourself. No one deserves to be treated cruelly.

Don’t respond or retaliate. Sometimes a reaction is exactly what aggressors are looking for because they think it gives them power over you, and you don’t want to empower a bully. As for retaliating, getting back at a bully turns you into one – and can turn one mean act into a chain reaction. If you can, remove yourself from the situation. If you can’t, sometimes humor disarms or distracts a person from bullying.

Save the evidence. The only good news about bullying online or on phones is that it can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help. You can save that evidence in case things escalate. [Visit ConnectSafely.org/cyberbullying for instructions on how to capture screens on phones and computers.]

Tell the person to stop. This is completely up to you – don’t do it if you don’t feel totally comfortable doing it, because you need to make your position completely clear that you will not stand for this treatment any more. You may need to practice beforehand with someone you trust, like a parent or good friend.

Reach out for help – especially if the behavior’s really getting to you. You deserve backup. See if there’s someone who can listen, help you process what’s going on and work through it – a friend, relative or maybe an adult you trust.

Use available tech tools. Most social media apps and services allow you to block the person. Whether the harassment’s in an app, texting, comments or tagged photos, do yourself a favor and block the person. You can also report the problem to the service. That probably won’t end it, but you don’t need the harassment in your face, and you’ll be less tempted to respond. If you’re getting threats of physical harm, you should call your local police (with a parent or guardian’s help) and consider reporting it to school authorities.

Protect your accounts. Don’t share your passwords with anyone – even your closest friends, who may not be close forever – and password-protect your phone so no one can use it to impersonate you. You’ll find advice at passwords.connectsafely.org.

If someone you know is being bullied, take action. Just standing by can empower an aggressor and does nothing to help. The best thing you can do is try to stop the bullying by taking a stand against it. If you can’t stop it, support the person being bullied. If the person’s a friend, you can listen and see how to help. Consider together whether you should report the bullying. If you’re not already friends, even a kind word can help reduce the pain. At the very least, help by not passing along a mean message and not giving positive attention to the person doing the bullying.

I hope these tips help you or someone you know who is being bullied.

Carrigan

Stomp Out Bullying

October is National Bullying Awareness Month, and as I’ve stated before, this should be a year long campaign. I recently watched the documentary, Audrie & Daisy which discussed two teenage women who were sexually assaulted, then later bullied. Sadly, Audrie Pott committed suicide because of the bullying, and Daisy attempted it several times. This seems to be a rising alternative to teenagers who are bullied. It breaks my heart hearing such stories, but even when I was a kid, I knew a guy in my school who took his life because he was taunted at school. I, myself, was taunted, and even today I’ve noticed adults bullying others in workplaces, online, or anywhere.

This month, I plan to share stories, statistics, and ways in which you can stomp out bullying! Feel free to share your own stories, let’s open up a discussion.

First, let’s talk about the different types of bullying. (courtesy of Stomp Out Bullying)

Physical Bullying is the most obvious form of intimidation and can consist of kicking, hitting, biting, pinching, hair pulling, and making threats. A bully may threaten to punch you if you don’t give up your money, your lunch, etc.

Verbal Bullying often accompanies physical behavior. This can include name calling, spreading rumors, and persistent teasing.

Emotional Intimidation is closely related to these two types of bullying. A bully may deliberately exclude you from a group activity such as a party or school outing.

Racist Bullying can take many forms: making racial slurs, spray painting graffiti, mocking the victim’s cultural customs, and making offensive gestures.

Sexual Bullying is unwanted physical contact or abusive comments.

Cyberbullying is one or a group of kids or teens using electronic means via computers and mobile phones (emails, Web sites, chat rooms, instant messaging and texting) to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarrass or target another kid or teen.

The StompOutBullying.org also has a HelpChat for kids & teens if they need to talk to someone. If you or anyone you know is in a crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the GLBT National Youth Talkline at 1-800-246-PRIDE (1-800-246-7743).

Let’s end bullying!!

Carrigan

Author Interview with Susan Stielow

Greetings everyone! Today we have the beautiful Ms. Susan Stielow with us. She is a young adult author currently living in Georgia with her husband, and one of her four children. Welcome Susan! Thanks for being here!

Carrigan: What is it about writing that you love?

Susan: The creating part. The part where you just sit back, close your eyes, and imagine what you want that world to look like. Will the sky be purple, red or blue. Will it be of this world, or one completely made up. That’s the part I love the most.

Carrigan:  Why do you write for young adults?

Susan: To feel what it’s like to be young again. That’s why we have so many adults reading YA books these days. To remember what it was like to meet our first love, or first crush. Or to be the underdog who saves the day. Writing YA keeps me young at heart.

Carrigan: Amen!  What is your favorite quote?

Susan: The greatest pleasure in life is doing what other people say you cannot do.

-Walter Bageholt

Carrigan: Ooh, I love that!  How many books have you published?

Susan: 2 – Bloodborn Series: Book 1 Bloodborn, Book 2 Scarlet Butterfly, Book 3 coming soon.

Carrigan: How do you come up with your characters?

Susan: I don’t, really. They sort of come to me. I will have an idea for a book, and the characters just sort of present themselves. I’ve never really had to think about what a character looks like, or personality traits. It just comes to me as I write.

Carrigan: What do you like to read?

Susan: I read a lot of Romace like J.R. Ward and Darynda Jones. They’re two of my favs. However, I read even more YA. My newest favorite is Ransom Riggs, Home for Peculiar Children. His books are amazing.

Carrigan: Ransom Riggs is on my list! I can’t wait to read his! Tell us about yourself:

Susan: Well, I grew up in Michigan in a single parent home, and have a younger sister. I lived through some pretty wild teen years, and made my fair share of mistakes as a young adult. But I came out the other side okay. I’m now married to a wonder man and have four incredible children/adults. My 3 oldest sons are now grown and making their own way in the world. My youngest and only daughter, is twelve. She is beautiful and spoiled rotten. A few years ago we moved to Georgia when my husband had a job change, and we’ve been here ever since.

Carrigan: Georgia is lovely.[image error] What inspired you to become a writer?

Susan: Boy, where do I start? I would have to say it all started when I was young. I was kind of a lonely kid living in a home with a single parent who constantly worked two jobs. I was alone a lot, and writing was a way to create a world other than the lonely one I lived in. It wasn’t until later in life when an idea for a book struck me, and wouldn’t go away. That was the day I sat down at the computer, and haven’t stopped writing since.

Carrigan: That’s incredible.  What is your favorite young adult book and why?

Susan: Harry Potter. And I’m sure you hear that a lot, but it’s true. The world J.K. Rowling has created is none other than spectacular. They’re books you can completely lose yourself in.

Carrigan: Oh yes. I love Harry Potter myself. That’s a series I wish I had written! How did you come up with your ideas?

Carrigan: I think my love of all things paranormal has something to do with it. Plus, having a daughter, as sweet as mine, I wanted to write a book with a character that wasn’t always strong or even well liked. I wanted a character that life wasn’t always good to. One that only became strong and beautiful because of what life threw at her. Then one night when I couldn’t sleep, Gracie Ambrose appeared on the scene. She was as clear as day, and I knew, she was the character I had been longing for.

Carrigan: Are you self-published? If so, how did you decide to become self-published?

Susan: Yes, I am self-published. Being a writer isn’t easy. Especially when it comes to publishing houses. They can be brutal to a new inexperienced writer. I submitted my query letters, my 3 first chapters, and so on; that the publishers ask for. At first I received no responses. Then the rejection letters starting rolling in. And when they say you need a thick skin for this business, they’re not kidding. Some letters were nice and even gave some advice. While others were downright mean. It was tough to take. I started to doubt my writing and whether my story was even good. It wasn’t until a friend read my book and loved it! So I looked into self-publishing and never looked back.

Carrigan: Aww, yay! Give thanks to your friend! Publishing world is tough!  Do you have any pets?

Susan: Two cats, actually. Sophie and Phoebie. They’re true sisters from the same litter even though you would never be able to tell that. One is gray and skinny, while the other is black and orange and quite portly. They’re my babies.

Carrigan: Haha. What music do you listen to while writing?

Susan: Everything from REO Speedwagon and Tesla, to Selena Gomez, Adele, and Ozzy Osbourne. I have a huge playlist.

Carrigan: Wow, what a mix! What was the moment in your career that you knew this was what you wanted to do all along?

Susan: Oh, that’s an easy question. The fans. Talking to them about my books, and reading the reviews they leave. There is no greater feeling to know all your hard work paid off.

Carrigan: Do you like cheese? What’s your favorite kind?

Susan: Um, odd question, but okay. I happen to looooove cheese. I put it on everything. Cheddar is my fav.  

Carrigan: Haha yes – I’m quite an odd person. But cheese is a fact of life! What’s one fact about yourself that is unique?

Susan: I’m 42 and can still do a cartwheel? That’s about as unique as it gets with me.

Carrigan: Wow! Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Which ones make you screech and hide?

Susan: Ever see those facebook posts of a house on fire, and the tagline is: “I saw a spider.” Yeah, that’s me.

Carrigan: Haha. Do you have any strange writing habits?

Susan: Not that I can think of, no.

Carrigan: What book do you wish you had written?

Susan: Twilight. My vampires would not have been sparkly, and they would have had actual fangs. I mean come on, you’re not a vampire if you don’t have fangs.

Carrigan: Very true.  If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Susan: Teleportation. I could go anywhere I wanted within seconds.

Carrigan: Have you ever gotten in trouble with the police?

Susan: No comment.[image error]

Carrigan: Hehe. What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told?

Susan: When my daughter found out Santa Claus wasn’t real. She didn’t speak to me or my husband for 3 days. There was crying…lots of crying – on both parts.

Carrigan: Awww! What are you working on now? Any future releases?

Susan: Yes. I’m working on the third and final book of the Bloodborn Series, and the first book in a new series. The series focuses around witches and a plethora of new creatures.

Carrigan: Ooh witches! Those are my favorites! That’s what my series is about. I can’t wait to read yours! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions! If you would like more information on Susan, please visit her links below.

Bloodborn Series

 

Three Little Birds

Hello,

I’m reminded of Bob Marley’s song, Three Little Birds, especially when times are tough. I really try to maintain a positive outlook even in the worst of times, but it’s hard. Things haven’t been easy for our nation, for me personally, and I’m sure for a lot of people. I am unable to do a lot of things that I want or that I love, but I make do, because I’m still fortunate.

I try my best to be the best that I can, but sometimes people don’t see it as my best. They can be hurtful, they try to tear me down, they make me feel like I’m not good enough. But when I’m pushed too far, my defenses are up and that’s when I push back. I try ignoring these things, but it gets tough when I’m met with them almost daily.

I know it won’t be like this forever and that I have to keep my head up. And for now, I will just let music and my writing lift my spirits and hope for better days. I strive for those days, and I will get there. I’ve been through so much in my life and persevered. This too shall pass.

Thanks for being my sounding board or just for being there for me.[image error]

Carrigan

 

Author Interview: Kristi Cramer

Greetings!! Today I interviewed the lovely Kristi Cramer! She is the author of young adult historical fantasy, The Bonnie Isles Trilogy. Thank you so much for being here!

Carrigan: What is it about writing that you love?

Kristi: I love being able to create my own worlds with characters who are challenged to be bolder, stronger, and smarter than I feel like I can ever be – at least in real time. (On paper, I can kick some butt, but in a true crisis, I’m the one who stands back and tries to figure out what to do before jumping in).

Carrigan: Why do you write for young adults?

Kristi: It seems like there is so much heartbreak in this world, and so many challenges kids have to face as if they’re adults. As a kid, I loved reading the books that let me escape from the world I saw as too harsh, just for a while, and when I came back to the real world, I felt better able to handle it. I hope to provide that kind of relief to today’s young adults. My reads are kind of throwbacks to the stuff I loved back then, with clear-cut heroes and a subtle, wholesome message woven into the action and adventure.

Carrigan: My sentiments exactly. What is your favorite quote?

Kristi: I’m something of a Shakespeare nerd, and one of my favorite lines is from A Comedy of Errors. Antipholus of Syracuse is baffled when he is mistaken for someone else—the twin he was separated from at birth. He says: “Am I on Earth? In Heaven or in Hell? Sleeping or waking? Mad or well-advised? Known unto these and to myself disguised? I’ll say as they say, and persever so, and in this mist, at all adventures go!”

Basically he’s saying, “I don’t have a clue what’s going on, but I’m going to ride this out and see what happens.” I love the idea of that kind of surrender to adventure.

Carrigan: Haha, I love Shakespeare, too. How many books have you published?

Kristi: I’ve published four adult novels as Kristi Cramer, and two Middle-Grade to Young Adult Fantasies as Kristi L. Cramer. (The 2nd book is up in pre-orders, but won’t be out until July 10th). I’m currently working on the 3rd book of the Trilogy, which I hope to have ready for a September release.

Carrigan: How do you come up with your characters?

Kristi: I don’t come up with characters, they approach me and demand to be heard. At least that’s how it feels, sometimes. It could be in the form of a dream, or more often a daydream. I’ll see a person, and wonder what their story is. Or I’ll watch a movie or a show and think of a “better” way to respond to a situation. But most often, I’ll have the seed of my plot in my head, and the characters take shape in response to what I put them through. It’s very organic, and can sometimes throw my story outline for a loop when they dig in their heels and say “Nope, I wouldn’t do that!”

Carrigan: That’s what I do! My characters tell me the story and guide me throughout. What do you like to read?

Kristi: I mostly read indie work, and I’m kind of across the spectrum these days. I’m only just discovering Young Adult works by contemporary authors. In adult fiction I’m digging a lot of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, although my fallback is always suspense, the stuff that puts me on the edge of my seat. I like Steampunk, and I think that is generally family friendly—at least everything I’ve read so far is. I also like the older Sci-Fi Fantasy stuff—not the stuff I feel like I have to be a rocket scientist to understand, just the fantasy that happens on other planets.

Carrigan: Tell us about yourself:

Kristi: Lordy, I’m 48 years old, so that’s a long story to tell. Let me try to nutshell it. I was born in Missouri, but have lived over ¾ of my life in Oregon, and I love it here. I’ve held some interesting jobs, from cleaning hotel rooms, to cashier at the carwash, to underwriting houseboat insurance, to shipping blueberry plants around the world, to driving truck over the road with my husband in our own trucking company. I flew a Cessna once, I had a 15’ sailboat, and rode my own motorcycle. I’ve been to 49 of the 50 states (only Alaska to go!) but I’ve never climbed a “proper” mountain. I don’t have kids of my own, and I’m happy with that, but my husband has three grown sons that I didn’t meet until we’d been married for 8 years. Right now I’m working from home at being a full time writer. I hope to be able to continue living this dream. I also love to garden, and have a great vegetable garden growing this year.

Carrigan: Wow! What a life! I love to garden, too! What inspired you to become a writer?

Kristi: I don’t remember NOT being a writer, although I’m sure I haven’t always been. I wrote my first complete story in 6th grade. I think it was after reading Terry Brooks’ Sword of Shannara, as there are some similar elements to my story. It wasn’t very good, but it had a beginning, middle, and end, and more to the point, it got me hooked on sharing my imagination with others in the form of the written word. It was also a place to immerse myself away from what I perceived as my troubles—it was an escape. (Not to say I had a bad childhood. On the contrary I think mine was better than most, except that my family didn’t know how to deal with emotions and when puberty struck me, I had nowhere else to dump my angst).

Carrigan: What is your favorite young adult book and why?

Kristi: I haven’t read much recent YA, but the books that have stuck with me since childhood is Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall Trilogy. I thought Menolly was so brave and talented, and I very much wanted my own fire lizards or a dragon. The world building of Pern is brilliant, and I really related to Menolly as a kind of social outcast who comes into her own.

Carrigan: How did you come up with your ideas?

Kristi: I touched on this above, but so far all of my stories have grown from the smallest seed of an idea, usually in the form of a question. I couldn’t tell you where the seeds come from—there is no one source. For my YA Trilogy (mild spoiler alert), I was thinking of twins separated at birth, but what if they actually grew up together and just didn’t know they were twins? I went on to answer the question of how that could have come about. The second book just begged to be written, because…well…spoilers! And for the third book, my mom got done reading the second one and said, “Now, you know he’s going to mess things up, right?” So #3 is courtesy of my mother. LOL

Carrigan: Haha That’s awesome! We should thank your mom for that! Are you self-published? If so, how did you decide to become self-published?

Kristi: I am self-published. I had tried to get an epic time travel adventure romance published when I wrote it waaaaay back in the early 90s, and was rejected just enough that I thought I would never get into one of the big houses. I never really stopped writing, but I’d pretty much given up on the dream. Then along came print on demand and eBooks, and I decided to give it a try. The rest, as they say, is history. Except for today, and the future.

Author Interview: D.A. Roach

Hello! Today I’m featuring author D.A. Roach! She is the author of young adult novels, Between the Bleeding Willows (The Demon Hunters Series), and Rarity. She has been telling stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli.

Carrigan: Thank you so much for being here today! I’m so excited! What is it about writing that you love?

D.A.: For me, writing a story is a lot like reading a story. I have ideas where I’d like the story to go, but it often takes on its own life and goes in whatever direction it feels like going. So for me, writing is an adventure and I always look forward to seeing where it will take me.

Carrigan: Why do you write for young adults?

D.A.: I write for YA because I enjoy reading YA. Life is so exciting during this time of life, as we change from child to teen, then on to an independent adult. There are many influences that shape people and so many experiences to live. You change physically, emotionally, and sometimes spiritually. People fall in and out of love, friendships are made and broken…it’s exciting time to write about.

Carrigan: What is your favorite quote?

D.A.: “Leap and the net will appear.” – John Burroughs

It was this quote that kept me writing when self-doubt crowded my mind. I didn’t wait for someone to tell me I was good enough at writing to become an author. If I waited for that, I might still be waiting. Instead, I took the leap, wrote a book, read reviews and talked with other authors and editors. Took what I learned from that experience and wrote another one. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. So far, it’s worked out well for me.

Carrigan: That’s amazing. I love that quote. How many books have you published?

D.A.: I self-published 3 books with Createspace.com. I have left the very first book up there but it’s super short and very rough…it was the starting point. The other 2 books belong to a series that I am re-editing and getting new covers for. I also have 2 novels published with Limitless Publishing. Rarity, a YA drama, was released last summer and Between the Bleeding Willows (Book 1 of the Demon Hunters series) was released this past March.

Carrigan: How do you come up with your characters?

D.A.: In Rarity, the characters were inspired by people I know. Meg is a lot like my daughter while Brogen is a lot like myself. For the Bleeding Willows book, I looked at pictures online and shaped the lead character’s personalities first, then the minor characters take on their own life. It’s funny, because Tyler initially was a very minor character. He was just something cute to add some interest to a scene, but he became so much more…he was so charismatic and became a major character, in fact, most of book 2 is about the changes he endures.

Carrigan: Ahh…that has happened to me several times. Minor characters becoming more. You never realize that they might have a story to tell. What do you like to read?

D.A.: YA/NA drama, paranormal, thrillers, and romance.

Carrigan: Tell us about yourself:

D.A.: I’m a Midwestern girl who has worn many hats. From factory worker, to pharmacist, to teacher, I’ve explored many careers. I live in a suburb of Indianapolis with my husband and three kids. When I’m not writing, I’m working in the garden, watching movies, listening to music, or creating art.

I’m hard working and wanting to help others, both qualities have helped me excel at all the jobs I’ve worked.

Carrigan: What inspired you to become a writer?

D.A.: My dental hygienist. She was cleaning my teeth and asked where we were vacationing that year. My family was going to drive to Gatlinburg, TN to visit a friend of ours. How we met that friend 30+ years ago was an interesting story and after I finished telling it, the hygienist said, “You have got to write a book about that. The story is so amazing.” So I took her advice and wrote my first book to pay homage to the kind people who helped my family years ago.

Carrigan: What is your favorite young adult book and why?

D.A.: Right now I would say Me Before You. It made me ugly cry and it takes a lot to make me cry. The characters were so likable and you couldn’t help but cheer on the relationship between Lou and Will.

Carrigan: I’m reading that now! I’m prepared for the ugly cry! How did you come up with your ideas?

D.A.: Rarity was inspired by the emotions I went through when my son was diagnosed with VEDS. It was a very dark time in my life and I eventually rose above the situation and became a fighter, but the emotions I felt were very intense and I wanted to share that experience with the world. VEDS is a hidden disorder. The patients seem normal but they are very fragile. People passing them on the streets have no idea what they endure each day and what major medic traumas they have probably survived.

Carrigan: Oh wow. I’m going to check out Rarity right now. That sounds so fascinating and inspirational. Are you self-published? If so, how did you decide to become self-published?

D.A.: Half and half. I enjoy working with the indie publisher but it’s not a guarantee that they will want all my stories. For the tales they pass on, I will self-publish. A fellow author once told me that just because a story doesn’t get picked by a publisher does not mean it is not a great story. Also, one perk to self-publishing is that there are more royalties for them as I don’t have to share the profit with the publisher.

Carrigan: That is true. Do you have any pets?

D.A.: I have two cockatiels, Gimli who is 19 years old and grumpy as ever, and Poppy who is less than a year old is cuddly and sweet.

Carrigan: Aww, my best friend has a cockatiel. Sweet birds. What music do you listen to while writing?

D.A.: Indie Alternative. Wolf Alice was my soundtrack for BTBW book 2 and book 1 was Silversun Pickups.

Carrigan: I love Silversun Pickups! What was the moment in your career that you knew this was what you wanted to do all along?

D.A.: It became clear to me when I began edits on BTBW. As I was reading it, I thought “this is actually pretty good.” Lol, sounds funny, but it was my “ahh ha” moment where I had confidence in my work. I always enjoyed it, but was not sure if I was good enough to gain an audience. Writing takes a lot of time and there’s a point where you question if it’s worth the effort that was put into creating the book. Will anyone besides Mom and Aunt Jenny read it? But when I read through BTBW, I was proud of the story telling that was before me on the laptop.

Carrigan: Do you like cheese? What’s your favorite kind?

D.A.: ***laughing over here*** That is so random. I used to LOVE all kinds of cheese. In fact, my mom used to joke that I must be part mouse. As I grew older, I ate less of it and had less appetite for it. I still will never ever pass up a slice of cheesecake though…so I’d say Cream Cheese is my favorite cheese as it’s a major ingredient in cheesecake.

Carrigan: Mmm…What’s one fact about yourself that is unique?

D.A.: I am emphatic. Not in the mystical way…but I am very sensitive to energy around me. Public events are very draining. Movies, books, and music can bring me to tears and leave me in a funk for hours. I can “sense” if someone if bad (mean or evil) just from meeting them. My poor kids better pick good mates to pass my empath meter! And while it seems like it might be a cool thing to have, it’s very draining and limits what I can do.

Carrigan: Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Which ones make you screech and hide?

D.A.: Only the ones in the house. Big spiders, especially thick and hairy ones are terrifying. I used to be a complete arachnophobe but then I married a man who was more terrified than me so one of us had to get brave or we’d be infested. Now I am the official spider killer in the house.

Carrigan: Omg…that sounds like my house haha. Do you have any strange writing habits?

D.A.: When I brainstorm, I have to leave my house and go where there is no wifi. Otherwise I am distracted by the web/facebook and can’t get my thoughts out on paper. Sometimes I’ll go to a quiet diner with a notebook and tell the waitress to keep my drink full and tip her generously when I’m finished. Removing myself from distractions is the best way to hammer out the full picture and for me, that’s the hardest part of creating a book. (well, besides all the long edits)

Carrigan: Hmm. That’s a great idea. I should try getting away when I need to brainstorm. What book do you wish you had written?

D.A.: The Reason to Breathe series by Rebecca Donovan…it’s amazing.

Carrigan: If you had a superpower, what would it be?

D.A.: I’d want to be able to read people’s minds. I’d love to know what secrets people are hiding deep within them.

Carrigan: Have you ever gotten in trouble with the police?

D.A.: Never.

Carrigan: What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told?

D.A.: In Spanish class, two popular girls were suspected of cheating on a test. Lucky me, I was sitting near them and happened to be the teacher’s favorite pupil. She called me out into the hall, hoping I would verify that the girls were indeed cheating, but I lied and told her that I did not believe they had cheated. I did not lie because I hoped to gain favor with them, instead I did it because they both looked scared and I thought it was enough to teach them the lesson to not cheat…not worth the risk.

Carrigan: What are you working on now? Any future releases?

D.A.: I’m currently writing book 3 of the Demon Hunters series. Releases for this year include Then Came You (short story in Detours in our Destination anthology) and Anesthesia (short story in 13 Limitless Publishing Thriller anthology). I’m also waiting to hear if Limitless will sign on Within the Darkest Hollows (Book 2 in the Demon Hunters series), if they do, it will probably release later this year. Once I finish penning book 3, I will rework my self-published series that I mentioned in a previous question.

Carrigan: Wow! Sounds like you stay very busy! I’m looking forward to reading your books! Thank you so much for taking the time with me, I greatly appreciate it and I loved getting to know you!

Check out Between the Bleeding Willows on Amazon!

And of course, Rarity, the YA Romance that readers are falling in love with. You can find out more about D.A. Roach here:

WEBSITE: http://daroachbooks.blogspot.com/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/DARoachDA/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/daroach12books
BOOK GORILLA: http://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00AQNBVH2/d-a-roach
AMAZON AUTHOR PG: http://www.amazon.com/author/daroach

 

Happy writing everyone![image error]

Carrigan

 

 

 

Author Interview: Michelle Murray

Hello! Today I have an interview with Michelle Murray! I’m so excited to have her here today. Michelle is the author of The Dream Walker Series and a poetry book titled, “Rainbows And Dreams.” Welcome Michelle!

 

Carrigan: What is it about writing that you love?

Michelle: I love the creativity, being able to create something out of an idea in my head. I love being able to shape words into ideas and pictures. I love being able to take ideas from my imagination and giving them tangible format in print. I love being able to connect with people through my writing. I love being able to express myself without judgement, without comment. The paper does not judge. It is always my faithful friend. It is always there, just waiting.

Carrigan: Love it! Why do you write for young adults?

Michelle: I write for young adults because I have always had a passion for children. I have volunteered in schools, and tutored children in high school and college. Their young and curious minds are a delight. I decided to combine my two passions, writing, and children. I wrote a fantasy series that is fairy tale inspired, without any of the adult themes a lot of books seem to have these days.

Carrigan: That does seem to be a trend. What is your favorite quote?

Michelle: My favorite quote, if I had to choose, would be “There’s Always a Rainbow Behind the Rain.”It helps me to remember even when I have a bad day, or things are not going my way, to look for the light, and keep hope in my sights.

Carrigan: That’s beautiful! How many books have you published?

Michelle: I have three in my Dream Walker Series, Dream Walker, Land of Mystica Series Volume One, Dream Walker Returns, Land of Mystica Series Volume Two, and Dream Walker’s Destiny Land of Mystica Series Volume Three. I also have a poetry book out called Rainbows and Dreams.

Carrigan: How do you come up with your characters?

Michelle: I am inspired to create my characters from my own family, people I know, books I’ve read, fairy tales, and just plain imagination. The wizards in my Dream Walker Series came from their names. Each of their characteristics and magic abilities were based on the names I created for them. Miranda, my main character, was created a lot from myself and as the story came along, what I imagined her to be like.

Carrigan: I think a lot of us base some characters from ourselves. What do you like to read?

Michelle: I like to read the classics, fantasy, and mystery. I am quite an ecliptic reader, and will read anything that’s a good story, or strikes my fancy at the time. About the only books I really don’t enjoy are romances and erotica.  For a while, I was getting tired of vampire books as well.

Carrigan:  They are everywhere! What inspired you to be a writer?

Michelle: I’ve always enjoyed writing. In high school and college, several of my poems and short stories were published in anthologies. I was even featured in Who’s Who Among American Poets! When I had my children, I put my writing aside to concentrate on them. Now that my children are older, I decided to pursue this passion of mine once again.

Carrigan: What is your favorite young adult book and why?

Michelle: I love the Tigers Curse trilogy! It has a combination of magic, tigers, history, romance, and parts of it are set in India! What’s not to love? I highly recommend this series!

Carrigan: I’ve not heard of that one. I’ll check it out now! How did you come up with your ideas?

Michelle: Dream Walker was an idea that came based on mists and dreams. I’ve always been fascinated by both. My poetry comes to me from a number of sources. I get a lot of inspiration from nature. I enjoy spending time outside. I also get ideas from songs I’ve heard, phrases I’ve heard or read, or pictures I saw. It could just be about anything!

Carrigan: Are you self-published? How did you decide to become self published?

Michelle: Yes, as of right now, I am self-published. I knew Dream Walker was special when I was writing it, and I really wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Little did I know how much work self-publishing was! Yet, I don’t regret following my dream and publishing Dream Walker.

Carrigan: That’s awesome! Do you have any pets?

Michelle: Currently, we do not have any pets.

Carrigan: What music do you listen to while writing?

Michelle: Typically, I do not listen to music when writing. Though my son has got me into Korean pop. I don’t understand the lyrics, but it has a good beat!

Carrigan: Haha. Was there a moment in your career that you knew this was what you wanted to do all along?

Michelle: The two moments that validated my pursuing my writing was when one of my poems was featured in Who’s Who Among American Poets, and when I won the monster story approved award for Dream Walker. The Monster Story Approved Award is voted on by children in the age group the book was written for. I was so glad the audience I wrote the book for enjoyed it and voted for it to win this award!

Carrigan: Do you like cheese? What is your favorite kind?

Michelle: I like cheese. I like just the regular plain boring American kind.

Carrigan: What’s one fact about yourself that is unique?

Michelle: I guess I would have to say that when I was younger I liked to do adventurous things.  I would go rock climbing, jump off barns, and swim in Lake Michigan with no life jacket. I was always looking for adventure and stories. Now, I make up the stories!

Carrigan: Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Which ones make you screech and hide?

Michelle: I do not go out of my way to kills bugs, but if I see one, I will kill it. I do not like creepy, crawly things. Though none of them make me screech and hide.

Carrigan: Haha, lucky! Do you have any strange writing habits?

Michelle: I don’t really know if it’s strange, but I write everything by hand. Pen and paper are still my preferred method of penning my tales.

Carrigan: Oh me too! I always start out handwriting, then I type it up. Which book do you wish you had written?

Michelle: I love the classics, so if I had to choose, I would have to go with one of them. Chronicles of Narnia or Alice in Wonderland would be great tales to pen my name to!

Carrigan: If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Michelle: To help my son pass algebra! Seriously, I don’t know if I would want a super power.  It’s a lot of responsibility to use correctly. The temptation would be there to use it for the wrong reasons, especially if someone was messing with my children!

Carrigan: Have you ever gotten in trouble with the police?

Michelle: No, I have never gotten in trouble with the police. I lead a pretty boring normal life.

Carrigan: What’s the biggest lie you ever told?

Michelle: When I was in college, I snuck out and went to visit some friends in the dorms at their college. I told my parents I was spending the night at a friend’s house. I was really in a college dorm with a bunch of friends including boys! I felt so guilty about it, I ended up confessing at a later time!

Carrigan: What are you working on now? Any future releases?

Michelle: I am working on the fourth book in my Dream Walker Series, The Dream Walkers Fight, land of Mystica Series Volume Four and a prequel called Lightning’s Journey about the wizard Lightning before he was turned into stone. I hope to have Dream Walkers Fight done by the end of the year.

Awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time today! I look forward to reading your books and I’m so grateful to have gotten to know you!

Check out Michelle’s books here:

Amazon.com       Barnes n Noble      Facebook          Twitter          Pinterest          Instagram

Author Interview: Kyra Dune

Hello!!

Today I am featuring young adult author, Kyra Dune! She was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of two dozen fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. Thank you so much for being here, Kyra!

Carrigan: What is it about writing that you love?

Kyra: Everything. Creating new worlds and people to inhabit them is my passion in life. Has been since I was a kid.

Carrigan: What is your favorite quote?

Kyra: My favorite quote is not from a YA book, but from an epic fantasy novel. “I wanted to tell her that sometimes, in my long sleep, I dreamt of her,” Raistlin Majere, Dragons Of The Summer Flame.

Carrigan: That’s a beautiful quote! How many books have you published?

Kyra: 26, but only 15 of those are YA. I also write NA and adult.

Carrigan: Wow! That’s impressive! What do you like to read?

Kyra: Most anything fantasy. I occasionally stray into other genres if something catches my eye, but it’s mostly fantasy.

Carrigan: Tell us about yourself:

Kyra: Aside from writing books, I do cover art and freelance editing. I always listen to music when I write. I’m a big Star Wars fan, and I might be slightly obsessed with the TV show Supernatural. I like to play X-Box and I read a lot.

Carrigan: Supernatural! Are you Team Dean or Sam?

Kyra: Dean!

Carrigan: Yes…Dean is my favorite, too. He’s so dreamy. What is your favorite young adult book and why?

Kyra: That is a hard question. I guess I’m going to have to go with Harry Potter. It’s a wonderful series full of great characters and I just love it.

Carrigan: Harry Potter is amazing. It’s hard to beat.  Are you self-published? If so, how did you decide to become self-published?

Kyra: I started out on the traditional route, then moved into self publishing. At first, it was just something I wanted to try out to see what it was like. And I love it. There is so much more freedom with self publishing. I control everything. It’s also way more work, but I wouldn’t go back. Plus, I make more money, which is always an important consideration.

Carrigan: Freedom tends to be the main topic when self publishing. I, too, enjoy the freedom. Do you have any pets?

Kyra: No, but I claim my aunt’s two dogs as my own. LOL

Carrigan: Haha. Surrogate mom.[image error] What music do you listen to while writing?

Kyra: I tend to take my music on a song by song basis, so I’m pretty open to lots of different genres and artists. My current favorite band is Three Days Grace.

Carrigan: Love Three Days Grace!  Do you like cheese? What’s your favorite kind?

Kyra: What kind of a person doesn’t like cheese? LOL I’m partial to extra sharp cheddar.

Carrigan: You’d be surprised at how many people don’t like cheese. It makes me a sad panda.  Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Which ones make you screech and hide?

Kyra: Actually, I have these bug catching cups which I use to gather the bugs up and deposit them outside. I try very hard not to ever have to kill them. Wasps freak me all the way out. If they’re in the house, it’s not good at all.

Carrigan: *shudder* Yeah wasps are creepy. We had a mild infestation of them last summer. If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Kyra: I have always wanted telekinesis. When I was a kid I used to try so hard to move things with my mind. 

Carrigan: Haha. Have you ever gotten in trouble with the police?

Kyra: Nope. Proud to say that I’m a very law abiding citizen.

Carrigan: Nice!  What are you working on now? Any future releases?

Kyra: As far as YA books go, I have a Paranormal Romance releasing in June. I’m working on the final novel in my Urban Fantasy Series, Dragon Within, and also on a Post Apocalyptic. Then I have several other projects in the works, but they’re all adult.

Thank you so much for being here Kyra! I really enjoyed getting to know you! I’m excited to read your books!

Check out Dragon Within on Amazon!

Have you ever noticed how life can shift all of sudden? You’re going along thinking everything is great and then WHAM, you get hit by a bus. Well, maybe not a literal bus, but you get what I mean, right? I’m talking about that moment in time when everything changes and life as you know it comes to a crashing halt.

My name is Abigail Freeman and for me, that moment came on my sixteenth birthday. It wasn’t anything so dramatic as getting hit by a bus. In fact, it was so subtle, I didn’t even recognize it for what it was. Not until later could I look back and say that was the moment my life changed forever.

For more information on Kyra Dune, please visit her Amazon.com page.

Why Do People Joke About Suicide?

Good afternoon! It’s been a tough week, but as promised I’m still upholding my promise to blog or post important facts regarding mental health. I feel this is a very important topic that so many people need to learn about.

As to the answer to the title of this post, I have no answer. Lately, I’ve seen more and more people joke about suicide. At work when they get frustrated with something or someone, they make a gun signal out of their hand and pull the trigger to their head. Or they’ll say ‘omg, I could just kill myself.’ I’ve actually seen EMOJI’s with a face and a gun pointed at it. Each time I see or hear someone act this way, I immediately imagine my father in law and that tragic day. And I think of my husband who is left with so much pain.

How did we get to this point? I know ages ago people didn’t think mental health or illnesses were all that serious and they would bypass it, but I had thought that maybe now that it’s 2016, people would be a little more educated about such topics. You never hear people joke in the same manner about cancer. I’m not here to censor people or the way they speak. But sometimes I wish some would think before they speak. Yes, I have known quite a few people who have committed suicide or contemplated it. It is no joke. Especially for those people who are left behind. Suicide, like cancer, affects everyone in some way, whether you’ve experienced someone dying by it or had suicidal thoughts yourself. If people continue to joke about it, how will anyone take someone seriously when they are reaching out? How will anyone know what to look for when someone really needs help? Joking about it will only desensitize people to it and when someone actually confides in another, they won’t take them seriously.

In case you were wondering, here are some warning signs of suicide:

Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
Talking about being a burden to others.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
Displaying extreme mood swings.

If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Line – 1-800-273-TALK (8255). http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

I hope this post helps someone or at least makes those who joke about suicide to think about it more seriously.

Carrigan

 

 

 

Wedded Bliss

Hello!

Now that the wedding is over and things have settled down, I can get back to writing. Except I haven’t. I’ve been trying to find that muse again and write the sequel to January Dreams, but it hasn’t come yet. And maybe after months of stress, happiness and stress again, I’m just not ready.

The wedding was beautiful. The best day of my life so far! Everything was perfect!

We went to the beautiful San Francisco for our honeymoon and loved it! The weather was perfect and we saw and did a lot. Walked a lot! We had to cut the trip because my husband ended up in the ICU (he’s ok now). It was one of the scariest moments of my life. And one day we’ll go back to San Francisco.

During the wedding planning, my husband got a new puppy. So yes. We have 4 dogs now. Haha. His name is Beckett. He’s a good boy for the most part. Loves to cuddle and play. Sounds exactly like the tazmanian devil when he plays.

It’s quite busy around here, especially now that it’s garden season. My roses have been blooming like crazy and I have so many buds! It’s exciting!

Soon I’ll be planting tomatoes and cucumbers and other vegetables.

That’s what’s been going on with me. I promise I’ll get back to writing soon! I’ve missed you all!

Happy writing

Carrigan