Open Minds Virtual Launch Party - inspiration + PRIZES!!

In honor of the debut of Susan Kaye Quinn's new YA novel, Open Minds (BTW - isn't that an awesome cover?), we're going to be celebrating tolerance and #keepingOPENMINDS today.  Susan is an amazing person for wanting her launch party to be filled with messages of love instead of messages of hate and I commend her for it! So, here's my story about someone with a surprisingly open mind and how it made my life better.
Despite the things my mom and I disagreed on when I was teen, her world view wasn't one of them. My mom is the most open-minded person I know.  When I wanted to paint animal murals on my walls in watercolors, she told me to go for it.  When I was 15 and wanted to date an 18 year old, she had no problem with it because he was smart and worked hard in school and in music.  When I wanted to apply to college for early admission, she said sure, why not go to college a semester early? (Btw - I wasn't accepted, so I had to actually spend 4 whole years in high school.)

But the point is, she never rejected my ideas because they weren't conventional.

And I'm trying to carry her open mindedness into my own child-rearing practices. I have 2 daughters, ages 5 and 6.  The six year old is your typical girly princess.  The five year old is as tomboy as they come.  She wants to wear Star Wars clothes and get her hair cut short (like a boy).  As much as it pains me, I'm doing my best to indulge her in these things.  It's either a phase she'll grow out of, or it's not... either way, who am I to stifle her young personality as long as she's being a good kid?

So to my mom, I say "THANK YOU." Thank you for letting me follow my own star and express my personality.  Thank you for showing me by example how to be a tolerant parent to my own children. Hopefully one day they'll grow up to let their children's personalities shine and continue a cycle of open-mindedness.

Now, before we leave, here's the information on Open Minds (Book 1 in the Mindjack Trilogy).  I bet you'll be as intrigued as I am!  And don't forget, you can win Open Minds goodies.  Details at the bottom of this post.
**********************************************************************************************************************When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) by Susan Kaye Quinn is available in e-book (Amazon US (also UK, France and Germany), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords) and print (Amazon, Createspace, also autographed copies available from the author).****************************************************************************************PRIZES! Susan Kaye Quinn is giving away an Open Books/Open Minds t-shirt, mug, and some fun wristbands to celebrate the Virtual Launch Party of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)! (Check out the prizes here.)
Three ways to enter (you can have multiple entries):1)      Leave a comment here or at the Virtual Launch Party post2)      Tweet (with tag #keepingOPENMINDS)Example: When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. #keepingOPENMINDS @susankayequinn #SF #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMindsExample: Celebrate the launch of OPEN MINDS by @susankayequinn #keepingOPENMINDS #SciFi #paranormal #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
3)     Facebook (tag @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn)Example: Celebrate the launch of paranormal/SF novel OPEN MINDS by @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn for a chance to win Open Books/Open Minds prizes! http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds**********************************************************************************************************************