Wacky Wednesday’s Miscellaneous Thoughts

I decided to have some more direction on my blog this year. Here’s what I’m thinking:

1st Wednesday of the month: IWSG

2nd Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday, where I post my miscellaneous thoughts (will probably focus more on faith and family, movies and music)

3rd Wednesday: Mash-up of Awesomeness (guest posts, interviews, cover reveals, blogfests announcements, etc . . . )

4th Wednesday: YA/NA Book Club–a review of the books I’ve read in the past month *anyone interested in reading the same book for March and posting about it? I’m thinking of Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans, but I’m open to suggestions!

Of course, I’ll always make an exception for my blogger buddies and post whenever they need me to do a cover reveal, ect . . . when it’s not a Wednesday. For instance, I’m revealing Alex Cavanaugh’s cover on Friday and Ciara Knight’s Escapement cover on Monday, so be sure to check back then. But I figured with this schedule, I’m fitting in a little bit of everything:-)

And just in case you missed it, here are the links for my 18 Things blog tour since the last time I posted:

Michelle Ziegler’s blog, where I shared about the time I almost drowned in a septic tank, and I’m not even shitting you right now!

Lindsey Loucks blog, where she asked me 18 fun questions, and I tried to give equally fun answers!

Jessa Russo’s blog, where I shared a deleted scene *paperback and ebook giveaway still up for grabs here!!*

And now for my random thoughts segment . . . .

On Valentine’s Day, my 9yo daughter gave me a list of “18 Things I Love About You.” She’s wanted her own blog for about a year now, but I told her she has to wait until she’s in middle school like her sister . . . so I thought she’d get a kick out of me publishing her list on here. And let’s face it, I only have 4 more years of her saying nice things about me, so I have to document this while I still can! Here’s her cute list (and I kept her spelling the same):

1. Nice

2. Funny

3. acts like a 9 year old kid *coincidentally, this is often my 12yo biggest complaint about me*

4. FUN

5. cool

6. everydays funier with you

7. good cook (hey, I never said all of this was true)

8. shouting out squril

9. prettey

10. sweet like candy

11. kindhearted

12. good friend

13. awesome

14. brave enough to kill spiders

15. careful, except when driving like Jeff Gordon *hindsight is 20/20–probably not a good idea to have my h.s. boyfriend teach me how to drive*

16. nice, small eyes *both my daughters have their dad’s eyes, which people are forever commenting on how big they are. You can watch this video to see for yourself–my daughters would be forever grateful since they really want to become YouTube sensations since their mean parents won’t let them become child actors*

17. great writer

18. And the last thing I love about you is that it wasn’t even hard to think of 18 Things that I love about you

*Awww! Did you have any sweet surprises this past week? What do you think about joining my YA/NA Monthly Online Book Club? Any book suggestions for me?!?

Writing Paranormal: Do You Believe What You Write?

Hi, ya’ll!

It’s been a whirlwind week since my debut novel, 18 Things, released last Thursday. Terrifying and thrilling all at once! I’ll go into more details on next Wednesday’s post for the IWSG.

But today, I’m guest blogging at Gwen Gardner’s site, a wonderful YA Fiction Author and half of the Indies 4 Hire business. The topic is Writing Paranormal: Do You Believe What You Write? My post focuses on angels, and I share my personal encounter with one when I was eleven years old.

This is just one of 18 blogs I’m stopping by during my six week blog tour! Here are some others in case you missed it:

Stop 1: Ciara Knight’s blog (1/21) My Mash-Up of YA Awesomeness guest post

Stop 2: Laura Jordan’s blog (1/22) My School Visit Outline

Stop 3: Krystal Wade’s blog (1/24) *This is my wonderful, steadfast editor who talked me off the edge a time or two*  I answer the question: What part of me is in Olga?

Stop 4: Alex Cavanaugh’s blog (1/25) My super shout-out from the Head Ninja Master!

Stop 5: Ayden Morgan’s blog (1/28) 10 Rues for Creating Bucket Lists

If you’ve read the book, created your bucket lists, and acknowledged the vast empty hole in your heart that is exactly Jamie Ayres shaped, I hope you’ll recommend it to others and share your thoughts about 18 Things on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble *which you’ll find yourself wanting to do—Jedi Mind tricks were included in your purchase, so I left you no choice*  The sales have stayed in the top 100 books on Amazon in one category or another (and those categories are a hoot!), until today *wipes tear* So now it’s up to word of mouth to push it forward.  

I’m really BLOWN AWAY by your support. Kimberly at Art of Infiltration shared twenty-two books she enjoyed reading last year (or wanted to read this year) with her seventh grade class. She said the kids were excited about three books – Possession by Elana Johnson, CassaStar by Alex Cavanaugh, and 18 Things!!! WOWIE, WOW, WOW!!! Kimberly, can you see my HUGE grin all the way from Florida? 

Well, I hope to see your beautiful faces around the blogosphere during the 18 Things tour!  And if you have a book coming out, please let me know. I’ll gladly return the favor and be your biggest cheerleader! I’m really good at those high kicks;-)

18 Things cover print sample