Alisha Sevigny's Blog, page 8

Kissing Frogs Book Birthday

The day has finally arrived! So many emotions, the biggest among them is gratitude. I am so thankful to everyone who helped this book make it into the world. I am also extremely grateful to everyone who’s tweeting, posting, reviewing and spreading the word about it. Thank you all for making this dream come true! Kissing Frogs is now available for order in the US (ebook) and Canada (ebook and Collector’s Print Edition). If you’d like a signed copy I’d love to see you at my book launch this Sunday, Nov 23rd in Toronto! I will also be signing books throughout BC and Ontario so check my Appearances page on the website!

Wishing you all a happily ever after,

Alisha

 

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A Special Thank You to the Bloggers!

I just wanted to write a post to thank all the lovely bloggers on the Canadian leg of the tour who’ve taken the time to either review the book, host me on their site and spread the word about Kissing Frogs! If you’re interested in reading some reviews and following some great book bloggers, check out the links below!

Nov 4 YA Book Shelf (review)

Nov 5 Cozy Up With a Good Read (review)

Nov 6 YA Book Shelf (Q&A)

Nov 8 Jess’s Book Blog (review)

Nov 9 A Portia Adams Adventure (review)

Nov 10 Canlit for Little Canadians (review)

Nov 11 Canlit for Little Canadians (guest post)

Nov 12 Book Drunkard (review)

Nov 13 Writing on Writing (review)

Nov 14 Feisty Little Woman (review)

Nov 15 A Portia Adams Adventure (Q&A)

Nov 17 Misbehavin’ Librarian (review)

Nov 18 YA Book Shelf (guest post)

Nov 19 Escape Through the Pages (guest post)

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An Excerpt from Kissing Frogs

Here is an excerpt from KISSING FROGS, out Nov 18th! Pre-order your copy now and save 20%!

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Author Q&A for Kissing Frogs

Here’s my author Q&A for Kissing Frogs. A special thank-you to everyone who sent in their questions via social media. If you like the video and want to help spread the word about the book, please feel free to share the link to the videos/blog post! Also, the book is now available for pre-order in Canada and the US – get your order in before it launches November 18th and save 20%!

xoxo

Alisha

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The Inspiration behind Kissing Frogs

As a lead-up to the November 18th launch of KISSING FROGS we’re releasing a few short videos as a fun way to introduce the book. The first one below gives a brief intro to what the book is all about and what inspired me to write it.

Also ongoing is a special pre-order campaign where you can buy the book in advance for a 20% discount, as well as some other cool merchandise from the publisher (like the ring from the book)! So get your order in and save cash. Who doesn’t like saving money? Or cool swag?

Stay tuned for the next videos, an author Q&A where I answer questions sourced from fans (thanks mom! ), as well as “5 Ways To Tell if He’s (or she) is a Toad…”

A special thank-you to Pierre Louis Beranek for contributing his mad skills. If you live in Toronto and ever need an amazing videographer to capture that special moment, he’s your man! (Though he just left to bike through Brazil for six months – have fun Pierre Louis!).

xoxo

Alisha

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KISSING FROGS Cover Reveals

Okay, it’s been waaaayyyy too long since I’ve written a post. But wait, I have a good excuse – I was bringing new life into this world! Now that that’s over and done with (kidding Nolan, Mommy loves you), I’ll be attempting to update this blog regularly! (Notice how I said attempting ;)).

For my first post back, I have two amazing covers to reveal! Here is my lovely and whimsical Canadian cover – just released today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my adorably fun US cover, released last month!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very big thank-you to both Swoon Romance and Fierce Ink for the beautiful covers as well as to all the bloggers who participated in the cover reveals!

If you are interested in getting yourself a copy, Fierce Ink Press is taking pre-orders starting September 17, 2014 at their online store via StoreEnvy.

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Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety with Hot Yoga

Surrounded by half-naked bodies, I looked around the room. Was everyone else just as sweaty, hot and nauseous as I was? I wanted to pass out.

“All you need to do is breathe,” the yoga instructor said, which was useful advice, as I currently wasn’t doing so.

I inhaled deeply, and along with a whiff of my neighbour’s BO, took in some much-needed oxygen to my brain.

Five years later and I’m still practicing Bikram’s Hot Yoga, which despite the pungent conditions of the room that day (generally it’s pretty odourless), had me hooked after the third class (the first two I just wanted to vomit and die – completely normal I assure you).

Burning between 600-1000 calories a class, repairing old injuries and creating flexible and toned healthy bodies are definitely great perks to the practice. But what had me coming back for more was the internal peace I felt doing something so physically challenging. It’s not only an intense work out for the body but for the mind as well.

You see, I suffer from what famed author Natalie Goldberg of Writing Down the Bones calls “monkey mind.” It’s a Buddhist expression (used by many) that refers to “mental activity that creates busyness which keeps us away from our true hearts”. Our “true hearts” are made up of our dreams and desires, what it is that we most wish to do in our lives.

Meditation is one way to calm the screeching monkey voices in our head and hot yoga for me is an effective form of meditation. I usually leave class with my monkey voices more subdued, especially those belonging to Fear, Anxiety and Self-Doubt.

Many people might recognize the screeching of these particular monkeys. The voices that tell us we can’t or won’t succeed because of whatever reason. Whether we want to start our own business, take burlesque classes or become a writer, we need to listen to our inner-most wants, or our life becomes one that is unfulfilled. And despite my mention of Buddhist philosophies, in this moment, this is the only life I have and then I will die. Depressing, but reality. And how sad it would be to live then die without having the courage to follow your dreams, whatever they may be.

So I keep going to hot yoga, because not only is it probably one of the best exercises you can do for your body, it is also one of the best you can do for your mind, which in turn enables you to find out what it is you really want and do it. And remember what Bikram’s teacher, Bishnu Ghosh said. “It’s never too late, it’s never too bad and you’re never too old or too sick to start from scratch once again.”

 

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Achieving Your Goals (or How to get a burger in Japan from a closed McDonalds)

When I was teaching writing I liked to do a lesson on setting goals. I would tell my students that the physical act of getting something down on paper makes their goals that much stronger.

We talked about short-term goals and long-term goals, career goals and personal goals. I was always interested in hearing the ambitions of these people who had traveled so far to improve their English. I already knew that they were dedicated, smart and motivated and they did not disappoint.

In turn I told them mine, not only because they needed an example, but because as they shared their secret hopes and dreams with me, it was only fair to share mine with them (and telling others about your goals holds you that much more accountable).

Many of my goals changed over the years, but one remained constant. That goal was to write a book. I wasn’t sure exactly how I would do this, seeing as how I wasn’t writing at the time, which is sort of an essential step in the process.

When my students asked why I wasn’t writing I gave the usual excuses about being too busy and not having enough time, thinking I wasn’t good enough (a common belief among many writers).

Then one of my students said something very simple. “Teacher, if you want to do it then do it, or it’s never going to happen.”

I told him that was very good advice.

I tried to think of the last time I’d pursued a goal with single-minded determination. I realized that most of my goals usually lacked commitment. In fact, the only thing that came to mind was when I was living in Japan and really really wanted an Ebi Fillet burger from McDonalds.

For those of you who don’t eat much sushi, ebi is Japanese for shrimp. An Ebi Fillet is like a Fish Fillet; plump delicious shrimps are covered in batter and deep-fried. They’re incredible and I really wish McDonalds would bring them out in Canada. (Although it’s probably for the best they don’t because another of my long-standing goals has been to lose five pounds).

Anyways, it was three in the morning, I was starving from dancing all night, and I may or may not have consumed a little alcohol that evening.

So I got on my bike and with deadly focus, rode to the 24-hour McDonalds. The farther I biked, the more my craving intensified. By the time I reached my destination I also may have been drooling.

There was just one problem: the McDonalds was closed.

Now I’m not a huge fan of McDonalds in general, but there is something comforting about seeing the golden arches in a foreign country, something that makes you feel you’re not so very far away from all that is familiar. North American crap food, it gets me every time.

Upon discovering that the doors were dead-bolted, tears of desperation sprang into my eyes. I wanted an Ebi freaking Fillet more than I’d wanted anything in my life. Not only to satisfy a physical hunger, but an emotional hunger. I wanted a taste of home. Then I noticed that the drive-thru was still open.

I wiped the saliva off my chin, pedalled my bike up to the window and gave it a loud knock.

The guy opened the window, a look of disbelief on his weary face. I smiled at him, in what I hoped was my most charming manner, and relayed my order. This might not seem that crazy in North America, but polite Japanese society does not believe in bending the rules. Not even in curving them just a little bit.

My smile must not have been that charming, because the man refused to serve me, no matter how much I begged and pleaded with him. Perhaps if I had spoken better Japanese I would have been able to convey my sense of desperation, however, no amount of convincing could make this steadfast rule-abiding employee give me that burger.

Frustrated, I scanned the parking lot, which was completely empty except for a lone white vehicle. I rode my bike over to the car and peered into the window. A man lay sleeping in the driver’s seat, fully reclined. I didn’t hesitate.

“Sumimasen!” (Excuse me/I’m sorry), I said loudly, knocking at his window. The man’s eyes flew open and he looked around wide-eyed, like a startled owl that didn’t know where it was.

He rolled down the window and the bewildered expression on his face only bolstered my confidence. After all, he didn’t seem upset that I’d interrupted his sleep. Through monosyllabic English, firm hand gestures and a few scattered words of Japanese, I tried to communicate that I wanted him to take me through the drive-thru.

He stared at me, utterly confused and said, “Waifu?” a Japanese word for wife.

I shrugged my shoulders, “Sure.” I put my bike down on the ground and got in the passenger side. Making insistent hand gestures I pointed at him, then me, then mimed driving around the building.

He turned on the car and kept mumbling “waifu” as we drove around and up to the drive-thru.

The window opened and I leaned forward in the seat with a big smile, giving the employee I’d been pleading with a cheery wave.

He looked at my hostage in the driver’s seat with an expression that said, “You know this crazy girl?”

The driver shrugged and I proceeded to order my Ebi Fillet combo, which ended up in my lap two minutes later. I thanked my enabler profusely, hopped out of his car and back onto my bike. It was a triumphant ride home in the warm night air, the fragrant smell of the food drifting up from my basket, my hair streaming behind me.

Now, normally I wouldn’t recommend hijacking strange men in deserted parking lots, however Japan is a very safe country and as mentioned earlier I may have not been completely sober. I was glad to come up with this memory. It showed that when I really put my mind to something I can accomplish it.

I didn’t take no for an answer and I was successful.

I think that when it comes to achieving goals, this is an important lesson: don’t give up and don’t take no for an answer. Especially when you’re the one who’s saying it.

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