I.D.? But I'm Really 22! Honest! + Contributor Spotlight: Sean McGuire & Rick Gualtieri
I'm nearly 21! How exciting! [image error] But before we relive my 22nd year, I have a few housekeeping announcements to make:
Pop by on Monday for a big announcement! You can try and guess what that may be in the poll on the right, but suffice it to say that I'm feeling generous, so there may be benefits for stopping by…;)
Today is the last day to sign up for the Christmas Kindle Fire Event for your chance to win a Kindle Fire in time for X'mas! It's a pretty long form, but you can enter as many or as few entries as you like! I have included the Rafflecopter entry at the bottom of this post for anyone interested in signing up.
Now, back to the party. A quick reminder of the prizes on offer:
The party's winding down now, so get your entries in before it's too late! Click HERE for the main party page and information on how to enter: save for a couple of prize bundles, this contest is open internationally! So what's keeping you from joining in? 
22… That was a pretty pivotal year for me! I call it the Year I Tried to Find My Way. I'd just graduated from university and was in a "Now what?" phase. Considering my degree is in Pharmacology, the logical next step was to move into some sort of pharmaceutical research. I managed to get a Ph.D. student post studying new drugs to treat cancer. At first, the blindingly white labs and the fully-equipped staff gym and swimming pool (and this was not even a private research company!) entranced me: this is what I want to do! A cushy research job! Plus I'm doing my bit in the war against cancer! A good job and a good cause — what could be better?
Sadly, the work soon lost its glitz and glamour: every single day was spent growing and killing cells, and running tests, half of which will fail anyway. It was getting repetitive, frustrating (a whole month's work, just for one statistical statement in a report?), and lonely. Sure, I made some cool friends, but none from my department. Everyone in my department were so deep into their microscopes, we kept ourselves to ourselves. I got sick of getting in before the sun rises to check on some protein assay, and to leave the lab only when the sun has set. Locked away in the labs, I never saw the sun. 
As noble as the work is, it wasn't for me. I wanted to do something, anything but this!
So I started experimenting with different job prospects: I volunteered at a social club for mentally challenged adults (that was fulfilling); I researched possible career opportunities in the London Zoo (but sadly, you don't earn enough shovelling poop to even afford bird seeds!); I dabbled in a bit of modelling (but am too short and curvaceous for the job — here are some of the less embarrassing photos).
And, I started writing fanfiction. I played Neverwinter Nights 2, loved the game, but felt let down by the vague ending. So I decided to write a story picking up where the ending left off. That became a full-length piece called The Way of the Hunter, which you can read and laugh at (adverbs ahoy!), but I got some pretty encouraging comments, and before I knew it, I started on a sequel, The Path of the Heart, which to some of my followers' dismay I have abandoned, mere chapters from the end, to concentrate now on my other writing! I do intend to go back to it when I have the time (for completion's sake, and also because I'm dying to write the climax!), but my commercial work takes priority. In any case, it was a great first step towards writing novel-length pieces, my first attempt at pantsing, as well as my first (and so far, only) foray into fantasy.
Home-made covers! 
So I can't get my fanfiction published. So what? It was awesome practice, and it sure re-ignited my passion for writing!
What about you? Has 22 been and gone for you? Any significant events that happened when you were that age?
And now, on to the day's featured contributors:
SEAN McGUIRE
Here is an inspirational young man who hasn't even hit 20 yet! Sean is incredibly mature and single-minded, and has self-published the first in his Kingdom Trilogy: The Quest… No small feat for anyone, let alone a 19-year-old! Well done, Sean! I'm so proud of you! He's also written a short story (available FREE!) which I recommend to anyone who enjoys medieval fantasy: Die By the Sword.
Sean is kindly giving away an e-book copy of The Quest to one lucky reader.
RICK GUALTIERI
Rick's bio alone makes me laugh out loud: "In the latter part of the 20th century, Rick Gualtieri was born. The world as a collective said 'meh' and thus he began his journey through a life filled with all sorts of quirks and oddness. What better thing to do than write about it?"
If you liked that, and if you're a fan of quirky humour, then Rick's books are for you! He is kindly donating two prizes to the pot: an e-book copy of each of his two horror comedies, Bill the Vampire and the sequel, Scary Dead Things.
Contact: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Don't forget, for more information about these awesome authors, and the many other generous contributors, visit the Featured Sponsors (1 and 2) pages above!
And if you haven't entered the giveaway yet, what's stopping you? If Sean's and Rick's prize offerings aren't incentives enough, check out the other prizes we have HERE!
That's it for today, folks! Stop by tomorrow for the big 21st celebration! Till then, here's the Rafflecopter form for your chance to win a Kindle Fire for X'mas:
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