Angela Rae Harris's Blog, page 48

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Dead Plains (The Zombie West Series) by Angela Scott

 

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Title: Dead Plains (The Zombie West Series)

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Horror Romance

Publisher:  Evolved Publishing LLC

Release Date: October 21, 2013

 

Blurb:

“…Sometimes, the ones you least suspect are the ones that should worry you the most….”

People aren’t always what they seem, as Red has experienced all too well. Strangers are feared, towns are avoided, and everyone’s intentions are scrutinized… even those closest to her. Her coveted ability has been revealed to far too many people, and now that a tiny heartbeat thumps and grows beneath her own, the risk has never been greater.

As the group of ten searches for a safe haven, a place to finally call home, the sobering reality of it all finally settles over them: nowhere is safe, nothing is permanent, and death is everywhere. One by one, Red’s reluctant posse grows smaller, as death claims some, and circumstance claims others.

It couldn’t be a worse time to bring a newborn into the world… but the baby is coming.

 

Author Bio:

I hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author. For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.

As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.

You can subscribe and follow me on my website, where I blog obsessively about my writing process and post updates on my current works. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook, but be forewarned, I tweet and post more than a normal person.

Review:

I jumped right into Dead Plains without having read the previous two books. I can honestly say I enjoyed the last book in the series without the backstories. However, I would recommend reading the entire series. Not because you’ll be lost if you don’t, but because Angela Scott is such a masterful writer that you wouldn’t want to miss out on ANY of her books. This love story is filled with zombies, yep zombies. Dead Plains is original and the characters take you to another place. I can say that I laughed often and I cried a couple of times. If you love zombies you NEED to read this series! I mean really, who wouldn’t want to read a zombie western romance? If you are looking for something to do between passing out candy to the tick-or-treaters tonight, I suggest reading The Zombie West Series! This is the perfect Halloween book!

Buy Dead Plains (the third book in the series) here:

Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes and Noble

Buy Wanted: Dead or Undead (the first book in the series) here:

Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes and Noble

Buy Survivor Round Up (the second book in the series) here:

Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes and Noble

 It’s giveaway time! Just leave your email in the comments. I will pick a winner (at random)  the morning of November 1st.  Angela Scott will send the winner an ebook of you choice (WANTED: Dead or Undead or SURVIVOR ROUNDUP).

Don’t forget, one the best things you can do for an indie author is to leave a little review on the site where you purchased their book!

See you next time!

-Angela

Guest Post at Becky’s Barmy Book Blog

Today I was able to share a guest post about my hero. He is someone very special to me who I have lost touch with over the years.

To read my guest post go to Becky’s Barmy Book Blog.

And don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Stolen Time!

I hope you all enjoy it!

See you next time,

Angela

Interview and Giveaway

Today Liz Crowe invited me over to her bar for an interview. (I knew she would hackle me for ordering water ) I was very honored that she asked me to be a guest on her blog. I love her books and am a big fan.

Thank you Liz!

To take a look at the interview, and a change to get a free copy of Stole Time, here is the link:

http://www.brewingpassion.com/2013/10/a-glass-ofann-arbors-finest-with-new.html

And be sure to check out  Liz’s books! You can go to her Goodreads page and see all of them listed

See you next time,

Angela

 

Guest Post by Jana Wilde

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I have somewhat of a sad-sap tale to begin with, of a time when my young family was completely broke for Christmas. I had a bag full of scrap yarn, and a faint (very faint) memory of my Mother teaching me how to knit when I was eight. With that vague recollection, the help of online tutorials, and the drive to create something extraordinary for my children, my knitting days began.

 I love to knit. Love it. Actually, I have somewhat of an addiction. I just can’t get enough. I’ll start into a project, get three-quarters of the way through, and jump to the next one. My mind is constantly two projects ahead of my fingers, and I get so excited about it that I just have to start, feeling the combination of wool and fibers slip through my fingertips. It’s sort of like knitting ADD if there is such a thing. I would horde yarn if I could, always having a stock of ammunition ready to fuel my ongoing knitting madness.

 So, whether it’s on a long road trip in the passenger side seat, watching the news at the close of the day, or finding a few quite minutes during naptime, I am a knitter. With the encouragement of a good friend, I have recently opened a shop on Etsy. My Inventory is still being built up, and due to my stock-pile of mostly finished/unfinished wonders, check back often for more amazing quality knits for your home and family. Also, since you took the time to read through my story, use the coupon code: freeoctober, to get free shipping on anything in my shop today!

wildeknits.etsy.com / www.facebook.com/jwildeknits / Now on Instagram @wildeknits

I would like to thank Jana for being my guest today and wish her good luck with her Etsy store! Make sure you use her coupon code and check out her cute knitted pumpkins!

If you would be interested in being a guest on my blog please email me at contact@angelaraeharris.com.

See you next time,

Angela

20 Questions

Since Stolen Time is releasing tomorrow I knew I’d have some new visitors to my blog. Welcome! I wanted to do a post that would be somewhat of an introduction to me and of course fun! I found Twenty Questions from creativity portal and thought that would be a great post!

Here you go:

1. What’s your name?

Angela Rae Harris

2. Where are you from?

I moved through out Utah most of my life. I call Price, Utah my hometown. That is where I graduated high school and I loved living there. Right now I live in Layton in northern Utah.

3. Who are you today?

Today I am a mom who gets to be home with her kids but still has a part-time job which I do from home. I love being able to be there for my kids. I’m luck enough to love my job and people I work with and have the flexibility that I do.

4. What do you do?

Well, today I took my oldest to preschool and then hung out with my two year old. He loves the one on one time he gets when his sister is at preschool. Usually the request is to watch a movie and eat pop corn.

When I have time in between the kids and work, I love to write. Stolen Time is my debut book and it’s official release is tomorrow, October 22nd! I’m very excited!

5. What’s your story (how did you get here)?

Over a year ago I was doing book reviews. After a few months all the stories I was reading where inspiring me to write my own story. I wrote Present Thought and submitted it to a few publishers. I signed with Tri-Destiny Publishing five months later. They encourage me to write a prequel to Present Thought to improve my writing and so that I can get experience in the publishing process. That is how Stolen Time can to be.

6. Why is creativity important to you?

I think it expands your mind. When I watch my five year play and her imagination just takes over, she tell really funny stories. But what you don’t see is that they are leaning. I also think that being creative, in an form, is a stress reliever. I know many people who have etsy stores and I think that they are so talented and skilled. I could never do the things they do. Many of them started their shops because they like when they make things it relaxes them. Then someone saw their work and asked them to make another one.

Doing something creative that you love is like taking your brain out for a nice relaxing walk. Stretching it out and breathing in the fresh air. Its good for you!

7. When/how did you realize you had a creative dream to fulfill?

I never saw myself as an author growing up. I found my dream not that long ago and at first I thought it was a silly dream. Then I realized there is no such thing as a “silly” dream and if I wanted to write a book, I should write a book. At first I was writing it for my teenage cousins and thought perhaps that they would be really the only ones to read it. Then I challenged myself. I wanted to publish my story. I had heard stories about how hard it is to find a publisher, and I did get a few rejection letters. They were always positive rejections and full of suggestions. I never really saw the “dark side” of the business. Tri-Destiny Publishing accepted my story and I met my goal. Then I made another goal. That is how you reach your dreams. One goal at a time.

8. How did you embrace it?

One of the many things I find myself telling people who want to write is, “Just write it.” You’ll never reach your goal if you don’t try. That is what I did. I just jumped right into the pool and ignored the cold water.

9. How did that feel?

Cold. haha I’m mostly just kidding! It is a surreal feeling when you reach your goal. Especially that goal at the very top that all your smaller goals are leading to. Then you make another goal. It’s an on going latter, and you just go higher and higher.

10. Where has your journey taken you?

I can now call myself a published author. I’m living my dream.

11. What challenges have you faced?

There are challenges on any road you take. Everything depends on how you face those challenges. Some people see them and turn around and find another path. I think you should ask yourself what will make you happy in the end. If you take an easier path, will you be happy? Or will you be happier knowing that you took your challenges and over came them. I would suggest taking it one step at a time.

12. What worked for you?

I write down my to-do list. It helps me organized my time and keeps me focused on what I need to do. It reminds me to take one step at a time. It also takes my list out of my head so I’m not constantly thinking about everything I have to do. Doing that only makes the list seem longer and more impossible. I’ve done this all my life though. In college that was the only way I could remember what homework I had to do. I was probably one of the few people that actually used that day planner they give you at orientation.

13. What didn’t work for you?

Stressing about it. If what you love doing becomes something you feel miserable doing, then you need a break.

14. What three tips can you share to help others starting on a similar path?

1) Just write it! 2) Everyone has a story to tell. 3) When you want to give up, that is when you shouldn’t. The trail is hardest going up hill but once you reach the top you can look back on all you’ve accomplished.

15. What are you working on now?

Write now I’m doing a blog tour for Stolen Time and also working on Present Thought, the next book in The Time Series.

16. What’s coming up for you in the next year?

Present Thought will release! And more writing. I love doing what I’m doing!

17. What else do you desire/dream to do?

I would love to travel a bit more. I probably won’t get to do that much until my kids are a bit older, but I have fun looking forward to it. I’d also like to have a house in the country soon.

18. How will you make that happen?

Keep working towards it!

19. What one question would you like to answer that hasn’t been asked?

What do I do for fun?

I love the outdoors! Hiking and four wheeling are relaxing for me. I also try to find time to take my kids to the park or on a walk when the weather is nice. Doing things that they love or things they haven’t done before are always fun because you get to see their reactions. We just went to a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch and my two year old loves trackers and has found a love of pumpkins this Halloween season. He was just in heaven because they had a tracker pull a wagon out through the pumpkin patches. Doing things as a family is very important to me.

20. What’s your Web site and/or blog address?

Website is www.angelaraeharris.com

Blog is www.angelaraeharris.com/blog

You can subscribe to it on the right hand side and also find links to my Facebook page, Twitter page and Goodreads profile! I hope to see you around!

See you next time,

Angela

Stolen Time Cover Reveal Day

I’m so happy to be able to share Stolen Time’s cover today!

I was so in love with this cover when I first saw it and nothing has changed. To me it is perfect!

Thank you to the wonderful blogs for hosting the cover reveal today! Here is a list of links:

 

Here are all the wonderful blogs that hosted Stolen Time’s Cover reveal! Be sure to check them ALL out

Cajun Book Lover – http://cajunbooklover.blogspot.com/

Foxylutely Book Reviews  – http://foxylutely.blogspot.com/

Read, Rate, Review – http://www.readrateandreview.com/

Bookworm Diaries – http://bookworm-diaries.blogspot.com/

Paranormal Tendencies – www.paranormaltendencies.com

Turning Pages – http://www.theturningpages.com/

Sizzling Hot Young Adult Books – http://sizzlinghotyabooks.com/cover-reveal-stolen-time-by-angela-rae-harris/

Be sure to give them all some love!

Thank you everyone!

See you next time,

Angela

Book Spotlight: The Moon Dwellers by David Estes

Title: The Moon Dwellers (The Dwellers Saga, #1)

Genre: Young Adult Dystopain

Publisher: David Estes

Release Date: June 30, 2012

Blurb:

In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground, into the depths of the earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms.

After her parents and sister are abducted by the Enforcers, seventeen-year-old Adele, a member of the middle-class moon dwellers, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for her parents’ crimes of treason.

Against all odds, Adele must escape from the Pen and find her family, while being hunted by a deranged, killing machine named Rivet, who works for the President. She is helped by two other inmates, Tawni and Cole, each of whom have dark secrets that are better left undiscovered. Other than her friends, the only thing she has going for her is a wicked roundhouse kick and two fists that have been well-trained for combat by her father.

At the other end of the social spectrum is Tristan, the son of the President and a sun dweller. His mother is gone. He hates his father. Backed by only his servant and best friend, Roc, he leaves his lavish lifestyle in the Sun Realm, seeking to make something good out of his troubled life.

When a war breaks out within the Tri-Realms, Tristan is thrust into the middle of a conflict that seems to mysteriously follow Adele as she seeks to find her family and uncover her parents true past.

In their world, someone must die.

 

Author Bio:

Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children’s and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012.  Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David’s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad -skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Excerpt:

 

Prologue

Adele

7 months ago

Hands grope, men shout, boots slap the rock floor.

Clay dishes and pots are smashed to bits as the Enforcers sweep recklessly through our house. There are more bodies in the tiny stone box that I call home than ever before. The walls seem to be closing in.

My mother’s face is stricken with anger, her lips twisted, her eyebrows dark. I’ve never seen her fight like this. I’ve never seen her fight at all.

It takes three bulging Enforcers to subdue her kicking legs, her thrashing arms. For just a moment I am scared of her and not the men. I hate myself for it.

I realize my sister is by my side, watching, like me. I can’t let her see this—can’t let this be her last memory of the ones who raised us. I usher her back into the small room that we share with my parents, and close the door, shutting her inside alone.

When I turn back to the room, my mother is already gone, taken. Undigested beans from our measly supper rise in my throat.

My father is next.

The Enforcers jeer at him, taunt him, spit on him. As he backs his shoulders against the cold, stark, stone wall, five men corner him. Smart. They don’t underestimate him.

He makes eye contact with me; his emerald-green eyes are hard with concentration. Despite the inherent tension in the room, his face is relaxed, calm, the exact opposite of his eyes. Run, he mouths.

My feet are frozen to the floor. My knees lock, stiffen, disobey me and my father. I am ashamed. After all that my father has done for me, when it counts the most, I fail him.

One of the men lifts an arm and a gun. I hold my breath when I hear the shot, a dull thwap! that doesn’t sound like a normal gun. The man moves backwards slightly from the force, but his le gs are planted firmly and he maintains his balance.

Father slumps to the floor. I feel my lips trembling, and my hand moves unbidden to my mouth. My frozen feet melt and I try to run to him, but a big body bars my way. I kick him hard, like my father taught me. My heel catches the Enforcer under his chin and his head snaps back. Like most people, he underestimates me.

The next Enforcer doesn’t.

The Taser rips into my neck and tentacles of electricity slam my jaw shut. My teeth nearly snap off my tongue, which is flailing around in my mouth. They don’t take it easy on me just because I’m a kid, or a girl—not after what I did to the first guy. Still stunned by the Taser, I barely feel the thump of their hard boots as they kick me repeatedly in the ribs. My eyes are wet, and through my blurred vision I see the arcing nightstick.

Strangely, it feels like destiny, like it was always going to happen.

I hear my sister’s screams just before I black out.

 

Tristan

A brief history of the Tri-Realms

They say the meteor was enormous. Any life left on the surface of the earth when it hit was wiped out by either the shockwave caused by the collision, or the resulting tsunamis unleashed across the world’s oceans. Humans were forced to move underground. Or so the story goes.

Secretly, government scientists expected it for years, using covert teams of miners to dig the world’s largest caverns in preparation for the inevitable. But still: There wasn’t room for everyone. It would’ve been terrible: the Lottery. Families ripped apart; friends lost; blossoming relationships cut off at the knees. Of course, key individuals, like politicians, doctors, scientists, and farmers received a free pass, but all others just got a number. The number gave them a one in a hundred chance of getting selected to move into the underground facilities.

All the rest were destroyed.

And that was just the United States. No one knows for sure what happened to the rest of the world. Perhaps they weren’t so prepared. Perhaps they were all dead.

Year Zero would have been difficult for everyone. Losing relatives who didn’t make the cut; eating from the rations of rice and beans and hoping it wouldn’t run out before the leaders and their teams of advisors could com e up with a way to grow food underground; most people becoming miners; living in darkness.

Now all of that is just a part of everyday life.

These days, time is measured from the day the meteor hit. Its 499 PM (Post-Meteor). Time before Armageddon is referred to as Before-Meteor, or BM. The funny thing about Armageddon: we survived. Well, some of us anyway.

Year Zero’s first president was Stafford Hughes. Things were run much like before Armageddon, albeit in a slightly more haphazard manner.

The U.S. Constitution was upheld, laws were revised as required for our new living situation, new laws were created.

But it didn’t last. It couldn’t last.

Things were too different. People were too scared. There was too much chaos.

More structure was required.

The first Nailin was elected to president in 126 PM. His name was Wilfred Nailin. He was my great-great (and a lot more greats) grandfather. At that point elections were still held regularly. Congress decided that given the state of America, elections should be held every five years instead of four, with the opportunity for reelection after the first term. But Wilfred wasn’t satisfied with ten years in power, so after his first reelection he pushed a new law through Congress that allowed for a third presidential term, but only if supported by the people, of course.

There were rumors of ballot-rigging.

After his second reelection, he passed a law that allowed him to remain in power indefinitely, assuming he obtained approval from Congress every five years. At the same time he passed a law that also permitted Senators and Representatives to maintain their elected positions indefinitely, unless the president released them from service. It was a circular system, one where bribery and deep pockets ruled. Who you knew meant much more than what you knew.

The people had lost their voice.

That wasn’t the end of it.

Wilfred’s next move was to secure his family’s future. He had one son, Edward Nailin. With the full support of Congress, Wilfred managed to pass a law that allowed positions to be handed down from generation to generation within each family, so long as Congress and the president unanimously approved it. Public elections continued to be held, but they were fixed so that no new contenders could infiltrate the inner circle of the government, which was holding all the cards.

It worked for a while. In fact, people seemed to like the more rigid and consistent structure. Soon, however, the gap started to widen between the classes. The wealthy began to take more and more liberties, much to the mid dle and lower classes’ frustration. The complaints started pouring in from those who were being disadvantaged, but they were largely ignored. It got to the point where fights were breaking out in the streets. “Elected” officials couldn’t walk down the street without being accosted by the poor and depressed. Something had to be done!

The Tri-Realms were created from 215 PM to 255 PM. First the Moon Realm was excavated, using the advancements in mining technology to create massive caverns deep beneath the original caverns, to build more cities in. Natural caves were used as a starting point, widened and heightened to the extensive size required to house thousands of people. Heavy beams of rock were used to support the caverns’ roofs, which were prone to cave-ins. Middle and lower class citizens were used to do the work, having been convinced by large salaries and the opportunity to “advance our civilization for the good of humankind.”

Once the caverns were complete, the workers were forced to take their families to live in them. Then the work on the Star Realm began, digging even deeper below the earth’s surface. Fewer resources were allocated to excavating the Star Realm, and therefore, the caverns were smaller, more confined, more densely populated. The poorest citizens were sent to live in the deepest caverns.

The top level was given the name of the Sun Realm.

Each of the Tri-Realms was split up into eight chapters, and each chapter into between two and six subchapters depending on its size, each of which was populated by between ten and a hundred thousand people.

Over time, taxes were increased annually for the moon and Star Dwellers, as those living in the Moon and Star Realms were called, until th

Sun Realm was receiving significant resources to improve their own caverns. Life was good for the Sun Dwellers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for anyone else.

The U.S. Constitution was legally abolished in 302 PM.

A Nailin has been in power for more than 350 years.

My father told my brother and me the whole story when we turned twelve. I still remember the smug smile on his face when he finished. He’s proud of what Wilfred accomplished.

I’m disgusted by it. Sometimes I think about it, and it makes me sick. Like now, lying in bed and wishing my mother was still around. I don’t know why I’m thinking about history right now, but I am.

 Buy it here:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Moon-Dwellers-Saga-ebook/dp/B008FJV8SQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370543400&sr=1-1&keywords=the+moon+dwellers

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/The-Moon-Dwellers-Saga-Volume/dp/1478150742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378804974&sr=8-1&keywords=the+moon+dwellers

 

See you next time!

-Angela

Yellowstone Vacation

Every year my family goes on a vacation. This year it was just me, my kids and my Uncle Ray. Traveling with little ones isn’t easy. Mine are ages four (five in a week) and two. I came up with a few ideas to keep them entertained on our long car rides.

First of all, I don’t go anywhere that is going to be longer than an hour without my in-car DVD players. We just bought the kind that strap onto the back of the front seats. Best investment ever!

Another must have, clipboard. The are great for coloring!

We made a travel bingo for my oldest to do in the car. I just printed on off for this trip. It had simple things like a cow, a horse, an airplane, a bus, a stop sign. Things that would be typically seen on the road. Next time I might make one more specific for the trip. When we go to Yellowstone again I’ll add a buffalo, and a cowboy. (Wyoming has many cowboy signs)

Those magnetic coloring boards. This was most entertaining to my two year old. He loved it! He also had a few picture books to look at.

My Uncle Ray is a wonderful, talented photographer and was kind enough to let me post some of his pictures from the trip. If you are interested in any of the pictures you can message him on facebook.

Ray awoke early one morning and decided, at 6 a.m., that he might as well see what the dawn might offer. Well, it was 20 degrees and foggy along the Snake River Valley and below the Tetons and the full moon. Chilly, but not toooo bad. (Sept. 20, 2013)

Morning mists have burned off, and a crystal clear blue sky and Mt. Moran reflect in the mirror-like Snake River Oxbox, near Grand Teton National Park’s Moran Junction, (Sept. 20, 2013)

A mama and youngster elk sample the same tender grassy stalk – and perhaps a tender moment, as well – along the south bank of the Madison River, near West Yellowstone, Montana. (Sept. 20, 2013)

 Summer demonstrates that Old Faithful is faithfully bursting forth, during our visit to Yellowstone National Park. (Sept. 20, 2013)

Steam rises from beautiful, intriguingly deep Black Pool, in the West Thumb geyser area beside Yellowstone Lake in – where else – Yellowstone National Park. (Sept. 20, 2013)

A distant, handsome bull elk bugles at twilight in a fall-tinted meadow near Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. (Sept. 20, 2013)

See you next time,

Angela

Book Spotlight: Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Sedgwick

 

Title: Not Your Average Fairy Tale

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Release Date: August 1st 2012

Blurb:

Ash Summerland has it all-good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings. Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. but when he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings- aka the head fairy godmother. Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a “happy ever after.” But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father’s death, she doesn’t want anything to do with Ash. And worst of all, she doesn’t believe in happy endings.

 

Author Bio:

Chantele Sedgwick grew up playing the harp and singing. Little did anyone know, she always had stories floating around in her head. After she had her second baby, she finally realized she should probably write them down. Pursuing publication was something she only dreamed about, but now her dream is coming true.

The discovery of a first love, first kisses, and the many emotions teens go through, pushed Chantele to find her niche in writing teen fiction. Some of her stories share a few of her own experiences, but most of them are just fantasies she wished happened to her as a teen. She’s a sucker for a great love story and always enjoys a happy ending. She tends to have a thing for the “bad boys” in books, unless they’re total jerks. Then she’ll root for the good guy.

When she’s not writing, Chantele can be found spending time with her husband and four beautiful kids, or driving her sisters crazy with random story ideas. NOT YOUR AVERAGE FAIRY TALE is her first book.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Review:

This is such a cute book! Great for all ages, and trust me, even the boys will love this one. Very light and smooth to read. Yes, I did cry! The characters are both genuine and intriguing. I don’t want to give anything away! You’ll want to read this one for yourself.  I couldn’t put this book down when I read it. Now is a great time to start it because Mrs. Sedgwick’s sequel to Not Your Average Fairy tale which has an planned release date of March 2014.

Buy it here:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Average-Fairytale-ebook/dp/B008RANSN6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378783097&sr=1-1&keywords=not+your+average+fairy+tale

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-your-average-fairy-tale-chantele-sedgwick/1112170164?ean=9781937254650

Don’t forget, one the best things you can do for an indie author is to leave a little review on the site where you purchased their book!

See you next time!

-Angela

New Schedule

This week started a new schedule for my family. I’m a born scheduler (although, I’ve had to taper off because my husband isn’t). I like to plan out my week every Monday. It keeps me organized and I have been called a scatter brain before and this helps with that. I’ve been doing basically the same thing every week for the last ten months. I was setting aside the hours that I can work and the hours that I can write and keeping up with housework and the kids’ needs. I was thrown for a loop this week.

My oldest started preschool. Now my mornings involve dropping her off and picking her up. I’ve found it is hard to find something to fill those two hours with. I tried to fill this time with writing or work. Instead of being productive, I was watching the clock and wasn’t fully invested in the project I was working on. So, starting next week I will dedicate that in-between time to going to the gym.

Now that I have my new schedule set up, I have to force myself to follow it. I have to adjust to change. It isn’t that I don’t like it. More that I ned that time to get used to it. I went through the same thing the start of every school year growing up. I had drill team practice at six in the morning before school everyday and new classes on top of that. I’m pretty much a zombie that first week until I get the schedule down. College was even harder for me because I had more opportunity to slack off.

Writing things down, like my schedule, helps me tremendously.

The responsibility you have over your time doesn’t end. The ability to manage it doesn’t necessarily get easier. Once I get into my groove, I am better with my time management.

I know that a fair bit of us are going through something similar right now. College class are going in full force, kids are going back to school. Just know that support from friends and family helps and we will all hit our groove. Until then, don’t give up because you feel overwhelmed with your new schedule.

I’m rooting for you!

See you next time,

Angela