Cloud Nine Girl

Are there any books out there, written about just one person? No friends. No animals. Just a person telling a story with no one else in it?

Last week, I taught a teen writing workshop at a public library. A student posed this question to me in class which really had my mind spinning. And as the course progressed the 90 minutes and more comments and questions like this came up, I realized this young person was going through a lot in their world.

I explained to the student my thoughts on story. How usually a writer tells something about an event that has happened and a lesson is learned. The immediate scenario I came up dealt with a dog and a bite wound. I said, “Maybe a dog bit you and you learned something from the event, bad or good.” Maybe the dog changed the whole dynamic of the moment and you simply had to tell the story because it was right there in your mind, and you couldn’t get it out.

In any case, I mentioned to this student, I didn’t know of any books written about just one person without any influence of another individual or creature. I also mentioned how I could be wrong. Something like that could exist out there, I just didn’t know of it yet.

My purpose and point I’m pondering today is two-fold. First, I’m thinking about a talent most writers I know have in feeling above and beyond, sometimes I’ve heard the term hyper-sensitive used to describe me at times. Ever known someone like that? The type of person who can live an event whether it’s a second account told from someone to this person, or a real firsthand experience so powerful the body, the mind and especially the heart, all take ownership and won’t let it go?

My mother once said, “Erika, I don’t think you should consider being a high school counselor. You’ll never leave your work alone.”

It was the time in high school when we all ponder careers and what’s next for us in life. In the moment, I decided she was right. But just because I didn’t seek out that career, doesn’t mean I don’t use my feelings about people in other ways.

The ability to feel more than most, makes writing and art and music so real. I don’t want to discount other careers. It seems like if you enjoy your work you can also elicit a similar feeling in yourself and spread it to others.

So what do you do when you come across an event where you stop and are yanked straight from your own life? My second point. The constant tug many of us have to help when and where we can. I’ve realized through life we all have our own paths. Hills and valleys. And I may never understand the why in how some people have it worse than others. I may never be able to stop someone from experiencing a moment of pain or hurt as much as I would like. All I know is I can do my best and give my best to make it a little happier for someone else in my own doable way, a huge lesson I have had to learn.

So back to the student in my writing workshop last week.
I asked this person at the end or the 90 minutes, what they had learned. He tilted his chin my way. A grin graced his face. As I leaned closer, I thought he said, “A lot. There’s a lot of good stuff to think about here that’s different and new.” He thanked me. He smiled again. And that was a really great gift right back to me.  Maybe in my workshop I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do for these students, this boy and his brother, but at least I walked away feeling like I did do a little bit of good.

So shine wherever you are. Make it the best that you can. Because sometimes, your best can bring out the best in someone else. To me, that feels pretty darn awesome.

Happy Friday, all. May your day be graced with bits of happy.

Visit the official blog tour page with Chapter by Chapter to see all the stops for the entire tour. You’ll find reviews and other interesting bits about the author and book.

Good morning and happy Wednesday!

Today, I have the privilege of being a host in the blog tour for author Laura Templeton and her new book Summer of the Oak Moon. The cover is lovely, the author is just as lovely, and as you read on about this wonderful new release, Laura will steal the show and talk about her 5 tips on living one’s professional dream. So welcome to the official blog stop today. I think you’ll find you like the book and the author as much as I do. 🙂

So without further delay, here is the lovely new book.

ABOUT SUMMER OF THE OAK MOON:

 Title: Summer of the Oak Moon

Publication date: May 5, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Laura Templeton

 Rejected by the exclusive women’s college she has her heart set on, Tess Seibert dreads the hot, aimless summer ahead. But when a chance encounter with a snake introduces her to Jacob Lane, a black college student home on his summer break, a relationship blooms that challenges the prejudices of her small, north Florida town.

When Jacob confesses that Tess’s uncle is trying to steal his family’s land, Tess comes face to face with the hatred that simmers just below the surface of the bay and marshes she’s loved since birth. With the help of her mentor Lulu, an herbal healer, Tess pieces together clues to the mysterious disappearance of Jacob’s father twenty-two years earlier and uncovers family secrets that shatter her connection to the land she loves.

Tess and Jacob’s bond puts them both in peril, and discontent eventually erupts into violence. Tess is forced to make a decision. Can she right old wrongs and salvage their love? Or will prejudice and hatred kill any chance she and Jacob might have had?

ABOUT LAURA TEMPLETON:

Laura Templeton

Laura Templeton lives near Athens, Georgia, with her husband, son, and a menagerie of animals. When she’s not writing, she enjoys gardening, learning to figure skate, and taking long walks on the quiet country roads near her home. Something Yellow is her debut novel, and her creative nonfiction has appeared in various publications.

Author Links:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

AND HERE’S LAURA, All.

5 Tips To Live Your Professional Dream.

 Thanks so much for having me today—this is a fun topic, and I’m happy to weigh in!

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was in middle school, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I started putting words on paper and got motivated to write fiction. I changed my major from business to creative writing, graduated, and … you’re waiting for me to say the rest is history but that’s not quite the case. The real story is that I went to work in business, which is what I’m still doing today (and loving, incidentally). The desire to write never really went away, though, and it took my son graduating from high school (the whole “you’re not getting any younger” thing) to inspire me to sharpen my pencil and pursue that old dream.

But it certainly wasn’t a straight shot to publication. Was I ever tempted to give up? Yes, a number of times. People have said to me more than once that they admire me for pursuing my dream, especially when I have a full time job and a pretty busy life not even counting the writing. People say they could never do what I do. But I totally disagree with that. Whether your passion is writing or painting or performing or (fill in the blank), here are five tips—distilled from my own experiences—to help you get started and stay motivated.

 

1. Make your dream a priority. To stay fit, I walk five times a week. Period. And I’ve done so for many, many years. I walk in the rain. And the wind. And the heat. And when I get home late from work and don’t really want to. It’s a habit that I formed long ago because fitness is important to me. I treat writing the same way. I block out time, and then I show up and do the work. For me, early mornings work best. Sick with a bad cold? I get up anyway and muddle through the best I can. I’m there every morning without exception. If your dream is truly a passion, then it deserves to be an integral part of your life.
2. Find a professional group and join. I spent far too much time trying to do everything by myself. Finally, I admitted defeat and joined a professional writing group. I now firmly believe that if I had not done so, I would not be published. Hanging out with a group of like-minded people pursuing the same goal gave me much-needed encouragement. I learned what I was doing wrong and—most importantly—how to do it right! I learned how to write, edit, plot, pitch, and query, all of which are crucial if your goal is to get published. Don’t go it alone—learn your craft from others who’ve been in your shoes and are eager to help.
3. Keep your goals achievable and realistic. I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but there’s a fairly good chance that if you start writing, you won’t be as successful as Nora Roberts or Stephenie Meyer or J. K. Rowling. You probably won’t be able to quit your day job after your first sale…or even after your fourth. Pursue your dream for the enjoyment it gives you and ditch the expectations of stardom. Just because your book doesn’t hit the bestseller list doesn’t mean it’s not important and shouldn’t be written. And the same goes for other pursuits. Personal success is often quiet and meaningful. Celebrate it.
4. Believe in yourself. Rejection is tough. And in the writing business—and a lot of other areas that are worth pursuing—you get rejected a lot. Failure is part of learning your craft. You have to believe in yourself and keep putting yourself out there. If after two or three rejections you give up, you will never make it to the finish line. Every time I got a rejection letter from an agent who’d requested a full manuscript I’d generally quit writing…for about a week. (Typically, I threatened to quit altogether, but a week seemed to be my “reset” point.) It took me that long to process the agent’s comments and figure out what to do with them. Then, I swallowed my disappointment and got right back up on that horse. You have to. No one else can do it for you.
5. Don’t wait for the right time. You will never have “enough” time or “more” time to pursue your dreams than you do today. I was fortunate enough to spend seven years as a stay-at-home mom before my son started first grade. At the time, those days seemed so busy. It was easy to put off writing. After all, I’d have plenty of time, I was convinced, later when… my son was older, I had more experiences to write about, life was easier… take your pick of excuses. But what I’ve found is that all that time never materialized. Those years at home seem downright luxuriously uncomplicated compared to my hectic life now, and I regret not writing more. Pursue your dream today. Don’t wait for a better time because there won’t be one.

In closing, let me say that I love to meet people who are passionate about pursuing their goals. So, get in touch—I’d like to hear from you. And good luck pursuing your own brand of sweet dreams!

Enter the Giveaway and win a copy of the book.

All you have to do is click this rafflecopter link and sign up. Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Summer of the Oak Moon by Laura Templeton (INT). The drawing will take place on June 1.

Where Can You Buy The Book?

Here are the Purchase Links:

Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD

One Last Note.

Check out what other hosts have to say about Laura and Summer of the Oak Moon by clicking this official tour stop link.

Thank you all for stopping in and meeting Laura Templeton. Don’t waste a minute in following your heart. May the rest of your day be sunny and bright.

This past week I haven’t been able to shake the echo from a close friend of mine, words of advice from him to me, “Writing is you more than any other career. I hope you keep following that passion.”

Aren’t we all born with something we love? I say yes. I also say, the things we love most can influence our mood and the way we wake up every morning wondering, just maybe, are we missing something? Why can’t I be happy today?

For instance, I’ve always been one to busy myself to the point I rarely have a chance to catch a few hours of sleep at night. I’ve always worked endless hours to pay the bills, devoted my life to my second passion of exercise, and now raising my kids and being the mom involved with everything (at least whatever I can in my circle of influence). I crash exhausted on my pillow at night and the very next day the cycle repeats.

I don’t have any current writing deadlines. I don’t have a publisher banging on my door in the moment begging me to get my book done. But I have decided to wake up most mornings before the rooster can bat his lashes and cry his call, and I do a little something to tend my own personal fire in me.

And you? What is your talent? What is the desire you want deep in your heart? Maybe once you wanted to be a fighter jet pilot and it never happened. Or maybe you always said you wanted to be a model. So now? You could check out Pinterest and learn to mix and match your clothes, a new hair style, maybe you play with your makeup different and go out on the town with your besties. The question I ask is how can we give ourselves the power to live our dreams and feel happier, little things that can be doable right now?

I’m no expert on happiness. I’m certainly just a dreamer trying to live my life as best as I can with a smile most days. Life hasn’t turned out the way I really wanted and planned it to. But the point of today, is to never give up. Find something beautiful for you, in every single day.

Happy Friday, all.

~Erika

Title: Chasing Midnight
Series: Dark of Night, Book 2
Author: Ranae Glass
Published: April 21st, 2015
Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing
Genre: NA Paranormal Romance
Content Warning: Violence and adult language
Recommended Age: 18+

The Book Synopsis.

Isabel Stone’s life is far from normal. She’s a girl with problems—vampire problems to be specific and, now, she also has one ticked-off specter on her hands. Approached by a childhood friend and medium, Isabel agrees to look into the murder of a local girl, only to wind up inhabited by the solitary witness—a centuries-old ghost who is all too happy to piggyback along in Isabel’s body, and she’s not leaving until the culprit is behind bars.

With the help of her partner, Shane, and her crazy family, Isabel struggles to get to the truth, unmask a killer, and deal with her growing feelings for not one, but two, of the sexy, undead men vying for her heart. Just when things are finally falling into place, a huge revelation takes her out of the frying pan… and straight into the fire.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

About the Author.

Ranae Glass writes New Adult Paranormal Romance. A Southern girl at heart, Ranae loves feeding people, gardening, and sweet tea. She hails from Oklahoma and lives with her family out West where she spins tales of vampires, werewolves, and other things that go bump in the night. You won’t find any ‘vegetarian’ monsters here, her books are best served bloody and are not for the faint of heart. Ranae is the author of the Dark of Night novels from Crimson Tree Publishing.

Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Check Out the Tour Wide Giveaway:

Prizes include the following:

• A bookmark swag pack and winner’s choice of any Clean Teen Publishing eBook.

Giveaway is International. Click the Rafflecopter giveaway link to enter.

You can find out more about the tour by visiting the author page at Juniper Grove Book Solutions. I’ve posted an excerpt below too. 🙂

Excerpt from Chasing Midnight by Ranae Glass:

I ducked behind the brick wall just before a beer bottle whizzed past my head, exploding into shards of brown glass behind me.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I yelled, and peeked over the wall. He was running. I caught sight of him just as he rounded the far corner of the alley. “Get back here, Gallas!”

I didn’t think he would actually take me seriously enough to listen, so I was stunned at his decision to take off rather than stand his ground and fight. I was maybe 130 lbs. soaking wet, and a head shorter than him to boot. Maybe my reputation was finally preceding me. I smirked at the idea as I bolted over the top of my cover, chasing after him.

At the end of the alley there was a tall barbed wire topped fence. The sound of my boot heels hitting the pavement echoed down the dark street. He must have looked up and saw the fence because he turned, bursting through the back door of the antique shop at the end of the alley. I cussed and backtracked. Thank God I was familiar enough with these back streets to know where most of the entrances would exit. Running to the front I arrived at the glass picture window just as Dave Gallas, parole violator and accused hit and run driver, threw himself into the window from the inside, breaking through in a shower of clear glass. I shrieked and collapsed downward, instinctively covering my head with my arms. He leapt over me and kept running.

Aside from a few small scratches, I didn’t feel any severe pain from more wounds. I wasn’t planning for Gallas to be so lucky. Out of breath and patience I stood, watching him run into the night. Not human, I realized. Besides the idiocy of crashing through a plate glass window and taking off without hesitation or harm—which any meth head could manage—his gait gave him away. It looked almost fluid, as if at any moment he’d lean forward and run like an animal on all four limbs.

With a sigh that contained more than a little satisfaction, I drew the small silver whistle from under my red t-shirt, stuffed it between my lips and blew. Instantly Gallas clutched his hands to his ears and pitched to the side, falling into the middle of the street. I kept blowing as I jogged up to him.

Just as I reached him, I heard some commotion and turned my head to see that we were less than a block from Xavier’s seedy club, the Painted Lady. The bouncer at the door was mimicking Gallas’ stop, drop, and roll impression. Two men who were probably vampires rushed out of the club. Of course. It might not affect them the same way, but with their superior hearing, they could at least hear the dog whistle. I stopped blowing as they helped the burly Were to his feet. He pointed to where I stood over Gallas. Shit. I was about to have company. With fangs.