The Zest & Zeal of Motherhood ~ A to Z Challenge

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!

So I thought I'd exit this year's A to Z Challenge with some ZESTY humor to show you that my almost twenty-one-years of motherhood has not stolen all my ZEAL. 

First up ~ The Angst of the Toilet Seat *** Set the scene: We only have three kids ages 7, 3, & 1 at the time. I'm putting 1-year-old for a nap and hear a bellow from the half bathroom. #2nd child--who's head is still too dang big for his short body--was on the toilet and leaned forward to play with his huge firetruck that he brought into the bathroom with him. His gigantic head was too heavy for him to hold up, and its weight pulled him towards the floor. Only ... um ... his 'thingy' got stuck between the toilet seat and the porcelain, stretching the freaking thing out. You should have seen it. It was bleeding, black and blue, and ... OMGosh ... try explaining that one to your pediatrician. (NOTE: Luckily for us, our pediatrician knew our 2nd child well. His mischievousness had already gotten him into so much physical trouble, he was a regular in her office. I could write a book about him alone. We dubbed him Denis the Menace.)

Second for today ~ High Aspirations  *** Mom: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" 4th child/10yr-old: "I want to be the forty-year-old creeper in the basement designing video games and living off YouTube."

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Lastly ~ Youngest Child's Broadened Mind *** Set the scene: I'm in the kitchen preparing dinner. The time is during the last presidential race. A political commercial airs. It's message is encouraging voters to head out to the polls to vote.  4th Child: Mom? Mom: What? 4th Child: Are those polls like stripper poles? 

I have many, many more Sherisms to share with you from my twenty years of motherhood. So stay tuned! It's been a pleasure sharing this year's A to Z Challenge with you. 
Until next time .... Have any interesting stories either you or your kiddos have done? 

I do have one other surprise for today, although it doesn't have to do with the A to Z. Those who know me know I LUV supporting my fellow author. A while back, I released a review for KEEP YOU FROM HARM by the talented Debra Doxer. Today is her cover release day for book II in the series. I just had to share for her. 

ADD to your GOODREADS

To Have and to Harm (The Remedy Series) by Author Debra Doxer  Cover Design: Okay Creations  Release Day: JUNE 10TH 
 About the Book: She kept everyone from harm, except herself… Raielle’s life was shrouded in secrets. Her power was a secret and so was her past. When she came to Fort Upton, everything changed. She discovered her family, and she found the boy who would own her heart forever. But it couldn’t last. Knowing so little about her power nearly destroyed her. She had to leave and break both their hearts.
Now she’s back in California, and she doesn’t have to hide who she is anymore. But there is no relief in that because she’s drowning in regret. She knew it would take a miracle or a sin to save her, and there was no miracle. Her survival came at too high a price. She found her father, but she can’t go back to Lucas until she finds redemption. 
 She saved him. Then she left him… 
She came out of nowhere and changed him forever, then she disappeared and left him reeling. Her whole life, she never had anyone who really loved her. Until him. Did she think he wouldn’t come for her? Did she believe she wasn’t worth it? 
 Lucas leaves everything behind to follow Raielle. When he finds her, she’s a pale shadow of the girl he remembers. Her power is betraying her and so are the people around her, but one thing hasn’t changed. She selflessly wants to save the world, and he just wants to save her. 
With more secrets to uncover and dark truths to face, Raielle and Lucas must make sacrifices to be together again. But in the end, will those sacrifices bring them closer together or tear them apart? When he’s forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, will she turn her back on everything she believes in to save him again? 
~ This book is intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and strong language. ~ 
 And now, what you’ve all been waiting for!!! Debra is give away a signed set of her Remedy Series! Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Xesturgy Writing ~ A to Z Challenge

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!
Xesturgy is the process of polishing, which will be applied to the act of writing for my purposes, today. NA Author Stina Lindenblatt has tagged me in this blog tour, where I'm to share my method for generating ideas, mapping out those ideas, and eventually writing those ideas down. Her first new adult contemporary romance, TELL ME WHEN, is available from Carina Press (Harlequin imprint). LET ME KNOW will be available from Carina Press on September 1st, 2014. Make sure to check them out!

My Writing Process:

What am I working on now?
I'm currently applying my critique partner's suggestions/notes to the fourth draft of my middle grade novel entitled MOTLEY EDUCATION: The Urd Saga. For the most part, the manuscript is ready to send to my agent. But I've decided to revamp the opening to the book and fix one character's purpose in the story. Of course, I still have to check for overly used words and such.

How does my book differ from others within its genre?
Motley Ed is set in a world much like our own, but the middle school is for students who hold psychic abilities as well as those who've adopted New Age beliefs such as being close to nature and the stars. Eventually, the story drifts to places and characters found in Norse Mythology, but written with a steampunk edge. My main character is a mystic/medium and her best friend manipulates matter. Neither are very good at what they do. Yet. ;-)

Why do I write what I do?

My first thought to this question is that I'm still a kid at heart. I have four children, so I've been blessed with see life at all stages through them, again. For me, the tween and teen years pose so many amazing challenges that can be explored from multiple angles. LUV that! I will never tire of spotlighting issues, desires, fears, hopes, and aspirations of this age group. The more I write for them, the more I learn about myself and the world in all its revolving changes.

How does my writing process work? 
Usually something inspires me. It could be a character's facial expression during a movie, the setting from a book I'm reading, something that happened in my local town, or an average day with my kids. Then I come up with a starting point, a middle problem, and then an ending. From their, I get to know my characters, and then ask myself questions about how they'd react to this or that in the particular story I'm working on. Some of this gets blotted into an outline, while some snippets end up on note cards. Guess you could say my Xesturgy process is a bit scattered. But eventually, I do make it shine.

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What's your writing process like?

Continue following the process of writing tour and see how others hammer out their stories.

NEXT UP ON TOUR: Crystal Collier, Kristin Smith, & Eliza Tilton.

Tragedy ~ A to Z Challenge

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!
Our human hearts have limited view. And in times such as the death of a young person, we can only see the senselessness of loss. We're unable to find reason in the tragic event. And it is tragic. There's loss, fear, and bewilderment. We need to find an explanation. Yet, if we look hard enough, we can take such pain and give it purpose. A greater good is hidden in just about every negative in life.Whether personally, as a nation, or on a world scale, giving purpose to suffering also gives it meaning. This can spread to positive motivations and change, transforming a devastating and senseless loss into a human memorial for goodness.

The most common thing to do when death calls a young person much too early is to ask why. Over the past five years, I've attended funerals for far too many young people. And by young I'm referring to such ages as 21, 22, 15, 22, & 27. Initially, each cut deep. Being so short, their lives felt like a waste. They couldn't have been finished here, yet. For those left behind, answers were needed. But slowly, over time, close friends, family, and even mere acquaintances were moved to reflect upon their own lives, search for meaning and--yes--purpose. And most realized that, although these lives were short in the view of time, they'd lived and left behind something for us to learn. Their time was not wasted, and the memories they've left live on, continuing to inspire, nurture, and even make us laugh.

Look at what Ryan Fischer--high school senior, straight A student, amazing athlete with offers to West Point and the Naval Academy--has done here after his death, beyond his physical state. It's worth the watch.

  )

What's your thoughts on how we view tragedies? 

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OH, The Travels My Motherhood Reading Has Gone ~ A to Z Challenge

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!

READING: A SHERISM

For those who are already Alleywalkers, this is old news. So I'll address this introduction to our newbies or visitors: I'm the mother of four children--current ages of 20, 17, 15, & 10. Each developed the skill of reading in a different way. Needless to say, I've had my share of hands on experience when it comes to reading with children and getting them to read. 
So I decided to share with you my Sherisms aka personal experience/advice for reading with children. My wisdom is not scientifically based. It hasn't undergone some litmus test, either. The chart I've created below is from my motherly experiences and mine alone. I do, however, believe it's quite accurate and could apply to many. 

PLEASE CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE SO YOU CAN READ

I designed this chart using Scrapple. As promised, I'm working on a post describing the programs uses - COMING SOON ...

If you have children or work with them, can you relate to one of my five titles above? 

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NEGATIVITY ~ A to Z Challenge

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!
Negativity

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Imagine your perfect evening. It could be with family or friends or both. You could even be alone or with new acquaintances you've met at a business meeting or writer's conference. 
Snow could gather you on a ski mountain or maybe you're all on a sandy beach somewhere in the Caribbean. A walk in your neighborhood, where you smile and wave at those who live around you, would do, too.
And then, your grouchy Aunt from up north shows up, her chains of complains and eye for the imperfect clanking behind her; she's even spatting at those. What happens to your perfect evening? Are you the sort of person to get eaten up by such negativity, or can you laugh it off? 
Despite what elements of life we encounter, WE are ALWAYS the driving force of our reactions. No one makes you negative. It's all in how you choose to absorb an encounter. Our ACTIVE perception of life around us, in us, and through us belongs to us. I'm not saying Auntie North is easy to deal with. Heck no. But how are you going to choose to let her influence you, your attitude, your mood? 
Concentrating on what we have will ALWAYS prosper us. Focusing on what we've yet to gain or achieve is like pouring steaming, sticky tar in our paths. It will only create more potholes and delay our growth. 

What Is LOVE? ~ A to Z Challenge

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!
LOVE
What is love? Is it like this quote from THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER written by the fabulous Young Adult Author Sarah Dessen: 
"THERE IS NEVER A TIME OR PLACE FOR TRUE LOVE. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment."
And like this quote from THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green: 
"AS HE READ, I FELL IN LOVE THE WAY YOU FALL asleep; slowly and then all at once."
Pretty swoony, 'eh? It can be just like that. But so often, in daily life, in the moments of our mundane experiences, we forget that everyday/constant/for-better-or-worse love is a completely different animal than at its ignition. It's effort, work, and it can be messy, crazy, sweaty, incomplete, broken, and flawed. 
Love is selfless, meaning utter abandonment of self. I'm talking about the exercise of loving within relationships, both romantic as well as genial friendships - NOT forfeiting the love of self altogether. No. Caring for oneself is vital to selflessly loving others. The key is BALANCE. Giving all self in the motivation for another's well-being, verses resulting in harm to yourself. 
We all know when we act in other person's benefit, but know down deep our motivation is more for self than that other person. It's call Examination of Conscious. It's innate. We're all born with it. The more you exercise it, the more honed it becomes. 

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Love is not a perfected feel-good. But through the lows and the highs and all the challenges, we grow and hopefully become better people. And in the end LOVE can be fabulous. 
So today, LOVE someone with a little more effort solely for them, disregarding what you might gain. LAUGH to make someone smile even if you don't feel like it. And make every LIVING moment count. 

Ditching a JOB ~ A to Z challenge

It's Featherbrained Friday, again! And within the A to Z Challenge, it's J time. So here's something to ponder: Ever ditched a JOB. Yes, I mean a J.O.B. Work. Like in high school when there was a cool party to go to and you just had to be there? Or have you ever gone to a job interview and prayed to high Heaven you didn't get it? 
Yeah. I did that last one. Wanting to still be a stay-at-home-mom with my two teeny boys at the time (we ended up having 2 more minions, lol), I applied for the bookkeeper's job at a soon-to-be-open local restaurant. Why? Because I could make my own hours, which consisted of only fifteen to twenty, and I could do most of them from home. Sweet! But I hate numbers. Any hoot, I got the job before I walked out of the interview. 
Second for today is this: I sometimes participate in Month9Books' regular Friday cover reveals. I stretched a bit to rep the LETTER J, but I think it works. So take a peek at this: 

Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway 

Publication date: November 11, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Description: 

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake -- and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn't shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron's the local Grim Reaper... and he only saved Libbi's life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now, Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place. 

And the choice goes from hard to sucktastic when her best friend shows up marked: condemned as a future murderer. Libbi could have an extra week to stop the murder and fix the mark... but only if she accepts Aaron's job as Reaper, trapping herself in her crappy town forever, invisible and inaudible to everyone except the newly dead. But, if she refuses? Her best friend is headed straight for Hell.

ABOUT the AUTHOR: 

Elizabeth Holloway is a registered nurse living in Southern Pennsylvania with her two teen children, Bam-bam the dog, and Tinkerbell the cat. CALL ME GRIM is her first novel. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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So, you ever ditch a JOB?

~The Pursuit of Happiness~

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!
H is for Happiness
Have you heard of Kerwin Rae? If you haven't, Google him. Check out his Facebook Page. Follow him. He's into inspiring and helping others return verve to their lives. 
A while back he posted an image of a room filled with balloons with names written on each. People were sent into the room to find the balloon emblazoned with their name. Here's the Post by Kerwin Rae. I hope you'll take the time to read what he shared about balloons and our pursuit of happiness. It's short. It's worth your minute and a half. 

image credit & Kerwin Rae's Facebook Page

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Our pursuit of happiness is ours to steer. It lies in our abilities to see past ourselves and into the lives of others. Be there for your neighbor. Help another student at school. Smile at a stranger. Thank the cashier at your grocery store. 
Happiness will be yours.

Car Wash FEAR

My A to Z Challenge.  What I'm doing: OFF the CUFF ~ Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words!
Fear is a word that can paralyze, demoralize, and rob us of motivation to work, live, and play. But today, I'm going to keep it light and share with you one of my quirky fears - CAR WASHES.
I don't know if it's being trapped in a car stuck in neutral that's being covered in suds or those material wipey-things that slink up the windshield, but I am terrified of car washes. I literally shake when my husband decides to spontaneously pull into one of these places.
I mean, just look at these images. Going in there would be like being the girl in a horror movie who hears shrills and raw splattering on the walls just ahead of her but still goes down the hallway to peek. 

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And what the heck is this one? With my luck, the mechanical stuff would come to life like in that Stephen King movie where all the appliances kill the people. Nope. I'm good.

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What about you? Do you have a fear people think are silly?

Bullying in a Way That Might Surprise You~A to Z Challenge

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Bullying

Over the last decade, more and more incidents of bullying have come to light. People are taking it seriously. Schools and communities open their ears, more willing to hear what's unseen. Or better worded: what
sometimes is chosen not to be seen. Support groups have been started. Others have formed foundations to raise funds and awareness. There's even anti-bullying lessons taught in schools and survival methods if one is being bullied.

As serious as the topic of bullying is, I'm not highlighting this topic in the manner most of us are accustomed to seeing. This bullying isn't about the kid that sat next to you in elementary school who always had his milk money stolen. It's not about the neighbors at the end of the street, who no one really knew much about but everyone called them names and talked behind their backs. 

This is about self-bullying.

Our society talks about suicide, anorexia (as I did yesterday), depression, and other disorders, but fails to spotlight one major contributor to each of those ~ perfectionism and the result if one doesn't live up to his/her own image of perfect self. 

I know I'm guilty of it. We've all seen someone who appears more put together than we are and find a little voice whispering inside us She's better than me or Just look at him and all he's accomplished. Wow.

We're taught to accept others for who they are, but that must also apply to ourselves. When we learn self-acceptance, our view of others clears, and our need for perfection fades. We realize we're all imperfect beings and that's what makes us individuals and ultimately special. 

So today, be kind to yourself. There's only one of you, and I'm glad you're here. 

ANOREXIA ~ A to Z Challenge

WELCOME to my opening day of the A to Z Challenge 2014!!! 
For those who don't know me, here's a quick briefing on moi.  But skip to the post if you don't care. I'm totally okay with that. ツ

• mother of 4 
• wife
• dancer 
• lover of rainstorms 
• major ice hockey fanatic 
• dog/cat lady
• writer of the average tween/teen who's not so average, repped by the fabulous Paula Munier 
• YA novel is currently on sub. MG novel almost ready to go.
• Oh, and I fear car washes. But that's for later on this month.

My A to Z gig: OFF the CUFF. 

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Basically, I'll be keeping posts short and writing about whatever moves me~themes, inspirations, causes, and silliness. I'll stick to my normal posting of Mondays & Wednesdays (possibly an occasional other day), highlighting the appropriate letter for said day. But I will visit blogs throughout the week. I am looking forward to reading your words! : 

Anorexia 

Anorexia is clinically defined by two characteristics:  

• a lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition)
• an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat 

I HAD NO IDEA is the theme NEDA-National Eating Disorder Awareness organization-adopted for 2014. Most people have no idea the truth threading that statement. 
Anorexia does not discriminate. There is not ethnic, religious, or economic barrier shielding one segment of the population from its potential destruction. Suffers are normal, average. They can be the popular guy at your high school, or the mother of your best friend. They can be the meek cashier at your local convenience store or the successful business woman at your state's capital. And they can be of any weight and body shape. Suffers are not just the bone-skinny type. Lots of times they wear a smile and involve themselves in activities. Some seem to have the world by the horns, appearing fully put together. 
The disorder begins in the mind, where a distorted image of self has developed. On some level, suffers see themselves as not good or whole enough. Sometimes the cause initiates with weight, but not always. And those weight issues are sometimes not weight issues at all. Lots of times deep seated pains and insecurities have been left to fester. Pains buried so deeply, the sufferer doesn't even realize there in lies the stem of their problem.  

Links - HERE & HERE | Click to enlarge

I know, because I'm a past sufferer - senior year of high school/freshman year in college. I wasn't overweight. On the contrary, I was thin and had a dancer's figure from dancing my entire life. But, at age seventeen, my life fell apart with my mom's diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Whoa ... that's weird to type out loud. I've never told anyone that before. Guess I'm ready to share in a future post. 
My purpose for writing today is not about me. It's to raise essential AWARENESS, so the public can better understand these sufferers and know this is real. How many times since I've recovered have I heard, That's stupid. Just eat, already. 
Anorexia is not about eating.  It's tangible.  And dangerous. 
But there is help. 
More information: NEDAwareness - Twitter - Facebook | ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) - Twitter - Facebook | LINK to more organizations
I'd appreciate it if you'd help spread this important message by sharing via social media - #NEDAwareness or #recovery. I don't have a gift or prize for you. Chalk it up to your Good Deed for the Day and that you brought an enormous smile to my face and those who've struggled with this disorder. Thank you. 

Reflections & Inflections

Originally I wasn't going to write a post summarizing my experience with this year's A to Z Blogging Challenge. But, after reading a few reflection posts, I had a change of heart. It's not that I didn't want to reflect. I'm just so backed up with reviews and interviews promised to authors and publishers, I didn't think I had the time.

I'll be taking my summer break in July and August, so I have to fulfill these promises before then. Increasing my blogging days anymore than one isn't an option either. I'm working on my sequel and need to get the first draft completed before my summer break. Plus, I've written a few new picture books, etc... I won't bore you with anymore details. Movin' on...

I'm so glad I chose the theme of Pinterest. My posts ended up being playful and stress-free, which was an amazing change for me. Posting reviews, interviews, and promotions for authors, publishers, and illustrators inspires me be more cautious, deliberate, concise, and creative with what I share. I really do take pains in developing a post for these folks that will move readers to seek them out as well as their work. I'm also thankful that I was accepted as one of Matt's minions. It was fun seeing the challenge from another vantage point. (Thanks, Matt & my minion-mates!)

This moves me to think about next year. What fun can I come up with. Maybe I'll focus on cartoon characters from the past, or maybe I should share parenting incidents I've had over the years; trust me, those would be hilarious.

SPLAT! Don't forget to ENTER Dianne's CAGED GRAVES Giveaway!!

What is your favorite stress-free subject to share on your blog or website?

X, Y, Z...The End.

To rein in the last few days of the A to Z Challenge, while staying true to my "What I've learned from Pinterest" theme, here's the top ten reasons I believe Pinterest is the X-Y-Z of usefulness all in one post.

1. There is a cornecopia of themes on Pinterest.

2. You can learn valuable skills such as sign language along with application to life.

3. Humor. Haha!! There is loads of funny on Pinterest.

4. I discovered all types of ways to braid hair. Seriously. There are some very talented peeps on Pinterest.

5. There are talent artists all over the world, dabbling in their craft and posting their masterpieces in hopes of inspiring at least one individual. (I've been inspired plenty. Thank you.)

6. More people than you think love to read. There are a ton of Pinterest boards dedicated to books, literature, and reading.

7. Health & Fitness is big on P. You can find workouts to healthy recipes to lifestyle changes that will help aid longevity.

8. Kids art projects often utilize family values, diverse materials, and loads of educational stimulation for both child and parent/guardian.

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9. Letters can make lovely jewelry, adding sentimental meaning to a piece.

10. Coffee is only needed on days ending in the letter Y.

Although social media can chomp time from out day, I feel that Pinterest can be a useful tool in writing and life in a short period of time. 

Are you a Pinterest geek??? Why or why not?

Here are my co-minions:  Jay Noel, 

Schwa Michaels, Deniz Bevan, 

Melanie Schulz, and, of course, Matt MacNish!!

U Stands for Unity

In the wake of the horrific events that rocked Boston last week, I felt the need to veer from my regular A to Z theme of "What I've learned from Pinterest" to give positive attention to the good that rose from those ashes. Boston, and our nation, became fully UNITED. Family is family, and when tragedy strikes home, Americans UNITE as a family. And so does our writing community. As always, the writing community saw a need in the world and is stepping forward to make a difference. I am honored to spread word of this valiant cause.

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We are helping to spread the word about this amazing book giveaway that was created to aid the victims and families of the 2013 Boston Marathon Attack. Many best-selling authors have donated books  in response to this cause. The books are grouped into bundle packs and a winner will be selected randomly through Rafflecopter for each bundle. Visit the book giveaway site for more details and how to enter.

If you do not want to enter to win a bundle, please feel free to make a donation using this link. It will take you directly to the organization donation site.

The auction will run from April 21-April 30th.

Book Bundle #1

In the Name of Love

SIGNED copies of:

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Easy by Tammara Webber

Fallen Too Far & Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

FATE by Elizabeth Reyes

CRUSH by Nicole Williams

Disastrous by EL Montes

Book Bundle #2

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

SIGNED copies of:

Slammed & Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

What a Boy Wants, What a Boy Needs and Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn

Sleep My Child by Eyvonna Rains
ebooks: Shark Bait & The Other Fish in the Sea by Jenn Cooksey

Book Bundle #3

Just the Way You Are

SIGNED copies of:

Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Inhale Exhale by Sarah Ross

Destined to Change by Lisa Harley

Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley

Wide Awake by Shelly Crane

Book Bundle #4

I Walk the Line

SIGNED copies of:

The Thoughtless Series by SC Stephens

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Until I Break by M. Leighton-ARC

Collide by Gail McHugh

Book Bundle #5

Stand By Me

SIGNED copies of:

Love Unscripted & Love Unrehearsed by Tina Reber

Collide by Gail McHugh

Love Em’ or Leave Em’ by Angie Stanton

On The Island byTracey Garvis-Graves

Book Bundle #6

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

SIGNED Copies of:

Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

Naked, All In by Raine Miller

Collide by Gail McHugh

Signed Wreck Me, ebook Restore Me by JL Mac

Book Bundle #7

Superstition

SIGNED copies of:

Awaken and Avenged by Sarah Ross

Darkride and Crossfire by Laura Bradley Rede

Book Bundle #8

Whole Lotta Love

SIGNED copies of:

Fall Guy & Perfectly Unmatched by Liz Reinhardt

Lengths & Depths by Steph Campbell

Charade & Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn

Destined to Change by Lisa Harley

A Prior Engagement by SL Scott

Book Bundle #9

Maybe I'm Amazed

SIGNED copies of:

A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

Inescapable, Intuition, Indebted and Incendiary by Amy Bartol

Book Bundle #10

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

SIGNED copies of:

The Proposition and The Proposal by Katie Ashley

Chocolate Lovers Series by Tara Sivec

His Perfect Passion and The Undoing of a Libertine by Raine Miller

Sponsors

The Autumn Review

All the amazing authors who donated their books

http://atomrbookblogtours.com/

Here are my co-minions:  Jay Noel, 

Schwa Michaels, Deniz Bevan, 

Melanie Schulz, and, of course, Matt MacNish!!

SPLATTER ALERT! Just a friendly Thank You for all your patience while I was on vacation. It's wonderful to be back.