Category Archives: Day to Day… and Off the Subject!

Week 16 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

Posted on by
Reply

Today is the 16th Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.

  • Read the writing prompt below,
  • Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
  • DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!

The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.

Today I am writing as if I were writing in the voice of Molly, a character in a children’s book I’ve started.

 Today’s writing prompt:

You are a children’s book writer. Write the first few lines of your new book.

Hi, I’m Molly. I’m eight, so I know a lot about the world. My little brother, he’s only six, he doesn’t know very much at all. That’s why I have to teach him. Mom says to be patient; he will learn as he gets older. I try, I really REALLY do, but it’s hard. When we’re in the woods and the Droplops come out, he doesn’t understand that he has to run away. He thinks it’s funny when their drool and slobber lands on him and makes him all wet and sticky. To be honest, I don’t even think he sees the Droplops. If he did, he wouldn’t laugh. He’d probably run away, screaming and crying.

There was this one time, I was up in my treehouse and Timmy came out and was climbing up the ladder calling for me, “Molly,” he yelled. “Molly, open the hatch. I want to come in.”

I was trying to be really quiet, so he would think I wasn’t there and he would go back inside. It didn’t work. I think my mom told him I was up there. Finally, I had to just let him in.

So, we were sitting in the treehouse and I had the windows open. They aren’t real windows, like in a house-house. They don’t have glass or anything, but my dad did put shutters on them so I could open and close them. Anyway, the shutters were open and I was staring out at the sky across the field and the clouds were getting really dark. I told Timmy we needed to go back in the house because the Droplops were coming.

He just laughed. He actually laughed.

I wasn’t going to stick around. I climbed down the ladder and told Timmy to come with me. I knew he would because he wasn’t allowed to be up in my treehouse without me.

As I was running back to the house, a huge glob of Droplop slobber landed on my forehead. I wiped it off with the back of my hand and turned back to see where Timmy was, but he wasn’t there. The only thing I could see was the tall, slime covered Droplop standing next to my treehouse, reaching in through the window with his big green arm. I could hear Timmy, still up in the treehouse, but I had no way to get to him. The ladder was blocked and if I tried to climb the tree, the Droplop would see me.

I stood there, watching, when suddenly…

© 2019 Nina Soden

* * * * * 

Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with! 

You are a children’s book writer. Write the first few lines of your new book.

* * * * * 

Would you like more sources for daily writing prompts? Click on the links below for great writing prompt journals I think you’ll really love!

Piccadilly 300 Writing Prompts

  • High quality paper
  • 204 pages of cream paper
  • Open Smyth-sewn binding and art board cover
  • Lined with prompts
  • Foil stamping

CLICK TO ORDER

Instantly Ignite Your Imagination with Over 900 Unique Writing Prompts!
Writers know that good writing is dependent on unique, interesting ideas. Kick your imagination into gear with this collection of… CLICK TO LEARN MORE!

Write More, Write Better – and Have Fun Doing It!
The Love in Ink team is composed of two passionate authors with over a decade of writing experience. We know what good writing consists of – and… CLICK TO LEARN MORE!

Writer’s Block Getting in Your Way? Destroy It, One Amazing Prompt at a Time!
As a writer, you know the woes of writer’s block. There is nothing worse than wanting to write, but lacking the right idea to get you going. We have the solution! CLICK TO LEARN MORE!

CLICK TO ORDER

642 THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT

This collection of 642 outrageous and witty writing prompts will get the creative juices flowing in no time. From crafting your own obituary to penning an ode to an onion, each page of this playful journal invites inspiration and provides plenty of space to write. Brimming with entertaining exercises from the literary minds of the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto, this is the ultimate gift for scribes of every stripe. CLICK TO LEARN MORE!

Are you working on a manuscript, but need a little help getting organized? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel

Want help meeting your writing goals? Check out JUST WRITE: The Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal

#MindfulnessMonday 5/20/19 – EAT CAKE!

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s #MindfulnessMonday Tip: Eat cake! Withholding dessert and other treats can lead to overeating and/or emotional eating.

#MindfulnessMonday

Check out today’s #MindfulnessMonday video and find out why you should EAT CAKE! You can check out the video by clicking HERE!

Today’s Mindfulness Exercise
Mindful Eating!

Mindful Eating is not a diet, it is eating with awareness. It uses a form of meditation called mindfulness, which helps you acknowledge and manage your emotions and physical sensations. Using this approach will help you reach a state of full awareness to your experiences, cravings, and physical cues when you’re eating.

Practice using all of your senses when eating and choose foods that are both satisfying and nourishing.

Practicing Mindful Eating Involves:

  • Acknowledging that there is no right or wrong way to eat.
  • Accepting that there are different degrees of awareness surrounding your experience with food.
  • Accepting that everyone’s eating experiences are unique and personal to them.
  • Giving your full attention to eating in the moment in order to avoid over eating and emotional eating.
  • Recognizing how and why you make choices involving food.
  • Developing healthy habits in the selection of your food to improve your overall health and well-being.
  • Promoting a healthy balance.

For today’s exercise, select a healthy snack (fruit, raw vegetables, cheese and crackers, etc.) and spend a few minutes of total focus and concentration while eating. What does the food look like, smell like, feel like, taste like? How does it make you feel as you eat it? How do you feel about your food selection? Why did you choose that snack?

Mindfulness Journaling Prompt:

After you’ve completed the Mindful Eating exercise, take a couple of minutes of quiet time to write out your answers to the questions above. Then, make a list of healthy snack selections to use as substitutes the next time you’re feeling stressed, emotional, or just looking for a midnight snack.

Remember, there is no wrong way to eat but making healthy food choices can make a huge difference in your overall health both mentally and physically. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a slice of cake, a cupcake, a bowl of pudding, or whatever your sweet-tooth desires. Just be mindful of your choices and make sure you reach for the healthy snacks more than the less than desirable choices. When we restrict ourselves to the point of denying things like cake and ice cream completely, we tend to binge eat those things due to stress, depression, and other emotional eating triggers.

Mindfulness journaling can be very private. However, if you are willing to share your thoughts with me and my readers, I would love to invite you to comment below and let me know what healthy snack choices you plan to make in the future.

* * * * *

Check out my #MindfulnessMonday YouTube Series and don’t forget to click subscribe so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 20 ~ Eat Cake!

* * * * *

Invisible

0286

Photo by: Mikel Healy

Would you like to take the 52-week challenge and experience a more mindful existence? Check out The Invisible You ~ 52 Weeks of Meditations, Activities, and Writing Prompts to Help you Discover You!
I’m certified in Holistic Stress Management and Mind/Body Fitness. I’ve been practicing Mindfulness for 10+ years and am passionate about helping others in their pursuit of a more mindful existence.

GREAT MINDFULNESS RESOURCES:

Mindful 1MINDFULNESS FOR BEGINNERS

An Invitation to the Practice of Mindfulness
We may long for wholeness, suggests Jon Kabat-Zinn, but the truth is that it is already here and already ours. The practice of mindfulness holds the possibility of not just a fleeting sense of contentment, but a true embracing of a deeper unity that envelops and permeates our lives. With Mindfulness for Beginners you are invited to learn how to transform your relationship to the way you think, feel, love, work, and play―and thereby awaken to and embody more completely who you really are.
Here, the teacher, scientist, and clinician who first demonstrated the benefits of mindfulness within mainstream Western medicine offers a book that you can use in three unique ways: as a collection of reflections and practices to be opened and explored at random; as an illuminating and engaging start-to-finish read; or as an unfolding “lesson-a-day” primer on mindfulness practice.
Beginning and long-time meditators alike will discover in these pages a valuable distillation of the key attitudes and essential practices that Jon Kabat-Zinn has found most useful with his students, including:
• Why heartfulness is synonymous with true mindfulness
• The value of coming back to our bodies and to our senses over and over again
• How our thoughts “self-liberate” when touched by awareness
• Moving beyond our “story” into direct experience
• Stabilizing our attention and presence amidst daily activities
• Three fundamental mental factors that cause suffering
• How mindfulness heals, even after the fact
•Reclaiming our wholeness, and more
The prescription for living a more mindful life seems simple enough: return your awareness again and again to whatever is going on. But if you’ve tried it, you know that here is where all the questions and challenges really begin. Mindfulness for Beginners provides welcome answers, insights, and instruction to help us make that shift, moment by moment, into a more spacious, clear, reliable, and loving connection with ourselves and the world.
Includes a complete CD with five guided mindfulness meditations by Jon Kabat-Zinn, selected from the audio program that inspired this book.

kidsULTIMATE MIDFULNESS ACTIVITY BOOK (FOR KIDS AND TEENS)

Amazon #1 Best Seller! Kick-start and sustain a fun mindfulness practice with kids and teens.
“This book makes it easy and is a must have for every parent and teacher!”
– Denise Besic, Mother and Teacher
Give kids lasting life skills to de-stress and calm down, navigate difficult emotions, control impulses, focus on what matters, and nurture empathy, kindness, and joy.
In Ultimate Mindfulness Activity Book you will find:
150+ playful mindfulness activities
Tools for calm, focus, joy, kindness, and emotional intelligence and regulation
A 21-step guide to kick-start and sustain your practice together
Inspirational examples of how mindfulness makes positive change
Easy to understand explanations on how to explain mindfulness to kids and youth
A FREE audio course for grown-ups and more

eatingTHE MINDFUL EATING WORKBOOK

Establish a practice of mindful eating with actionable strategies and exercises from The Mindful Eating Workbook.
Eating mindlessly is easy―eating mindfully takes practice. The Mindful Eating Workbook offers actionable, mindfulness-based strategies and exercises to adopt a mindful eating practice and nurture a healthy relationship with food.
Vincci Tsui, a “non-diet” dietitian and certified Intuitive Eating counselor, offers step-by-step guidance to core concepts and philosophies of mindful eating. Applying theory to practice, this mindful eating workbook uses a combined approach of reflective exercises and strategies to reconnect you with your body and your needs.
The Mindful Eating Workbook includes:
Mindful eating 101 explores the lifelong benefits of eating mindfully, and outlines how you can bring this practice into your life.
Real strategies to practice mindfulness while cooking and eating, and using mindfulness to recognize your body’s signals.
Reflective exercises that include assessments, journal entries, and observation logs to keep track of your journey and progress.
Savoring flavors, intuitively nourishing your body, and appreciating food’s true purpose to provide energy―mindful eating isn’t a diet, it is a way of life. Start practicing mindful eating with The Mindful Eating Workbook.

Week 15 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

Posted on by
4

Today is the 15th Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Writing Wednesday 11

Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.

• Read the writing prompt below,
• Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
• DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!

The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.

Today I am writing in my own voice. I want you to know me… understand where I’m coming from as an author. In order to do that, I have to be able to open up and share insights into my own life. Windows into my soul. I hope you’ll do the same with me.

Today’s writing prompt:

List a few phobias you have. When and how did you discover you had these fears?

Everyone has phobias, right? I’m not alone here I’m sure.

I wouldn’t say any of my phobias are really that unique nor are they extreme.

I’m afraid of heights, acrophobia, but only when it means tumbling down something. It’s hard for me to stand at the top of a football stadium or concert arena without the fear of tumbling down the steps. On the flip side, I have stood on the edge of a tall building and rappelled down. I’ve even jumped out of a plane (5 times) without much fear. The rappelling and the parachuting were both an adrenaline rush that my younger self lived for.

I’m, embarrassingly, afraid of spiders. I suffer from a mild case of arachnophobia… I really don’t think I need to explain this one… they are gross and creepy and I just don’t like them.

“Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?” Like Indian Jones, I have Ophidiophobia, a fear of snakes I’m not sure when or why this started. I remember as a kid running around catching garden snakes. I think, as I’ve gotten older, I just realize there are more harmful things in the world that I did as a kid. One of those are the numerous poisonous snakes. I don’t like them.

Needled. Enough said, right? I’m sure I’m not alone in this one. I have aichmophobia, a fear of needles. Honestly, this is the only reason I don’t like going to the doctors or hospitals in general. This is probably my worst phobia and has plagued me since I was a young child. I don’t know when it started but I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t afraid of needles.

Much like the needle fear… I am afraid of all stinging insects, but mostly bees and wasps. That is where my spheksophobia, fear of wasps comes in. I think I look at wasps and other stinging insects as flying needles with a mind of their own. At least with a needle, I know I only have to face my fear when I go to the doctors. With spheksophobia, I have to face my fear every time I go outside in the Spring and Summer months.

© 2019 Nina Soden

* * * * *

Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!

List a few phobias you have. When and how did you discover you had these fears?

* * * * *

Would you like more sources for daily writing prompts? Click on the links below for great writing prompt journals I think you’ll really love!

WP1

 

A Year of Creative Writing Prompts (Write On!)

Instantly Ignite Your Imagination with Over 900 Unique Writing Prompts!
Write More, Write Better – and Have Fun Doing It!
Writer’s Block Getting in Your Way? Destroy It, One Amazing Prompt at a Time!

 

WP2

Prompt Me: Creative Writing Journal & Workbook (Prompt Me Series)

A large variety of creative writing prompts for maximum inspiration.
Photo Prompts, Story Starters, Fill-In the Blank, Dialogue Prompts, Self-Discovery Topics, Use This Phrase, Chart It, And more!
Plus valuable reference resources and master lists.

 

WP3642 Things to Write About

This collection of 642 outrageous and witty writing prompts will get the creative juices flowing in no time. From crafting your own obituary to penning an ode to an onion, each page of this playful journal invites inspiration and provides plenty of space to write. Brimming with entertaining exercises from the literary minds of the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto, this is the ultimate gift for scribes of every stripe.

 

51gqQbGYyAL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_Author Bullet Journal 8x10 Front CoverAre you working on a manuscript, but need a little help getting organized? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel

Want help meeting your writing goals? Check out JUST WRITE: The Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal

My 2 Cents… The Jane Austen Book Club

Posted on by
Reply

Would you prefer to watch the video review, instead of reading it? CLICK HERE

JaneTitle: The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) 
Director: Robin Swicord 
Writers: Robin Swicord (screenplay) and Karen Joy Fowler (book) 
Stars: Maria Bello (Jocelyn), Emily Blunt (Prudie), Kathy Baker (Bernadette), Amy Brenneman (Sylvia), Maggie Grace (Allegra), and Hugh Dancy (Grigg)
Genre(s): Comedy/Drama/Romance

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Acting: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4)

Buy it HERE! 

BLURB:
Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships – both old and new – begin to resemble 21st century version of her novels.

STORYLINE:
The Jane Austen Book Club explores Austen’s adage that general incivility is at love’s essence. Sylvia’s husband dumps her for another woman, so Bernadette and Jocelyn organize a book club to distract her. They recruit Sylvia’s daughter Allegra; Prudie, a young teacher whose marriage may be on the rocks; and Grigg, a sci-fi fan who joins solely out of his attraction to Jocelyn. The six book club members read and discuss one Austen novel per month. While Jocelyn attempts to peak Grigg’s interest in Sylvia, she fails to see her own interest in him rising. Allegra falls in love with a woman she meets skydiving. Then, after unexpected heartache she is able to mend her heart through a new relationship. Prudie contemplates an affair with one of her students and may take things a little to far. Sylvia’s ex-husband keeps popping back into her life and eventually tells her he still loves her. By the end of the movie, the truth about each of our characters is revealed.

MY 2 CENTS:
I’m not going to lie, this is a chick-flick. I love a good romantic comedy chick-flick every now and then, but they are not my typical go-to movie. With that said, as an author and an avid reader, I LOVED THIS FILM!

The cast is amazing… In fact, I really can’t image a better cast. With Emily Blunt, Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman, and Kathy Baker taking the lead, this movie was destined to be a success. And a story line that manages to infuse the characters’ lives with pieces of Jane Austen’s fictional world is just plain fun.

Like most chick-flicks, this film isn’t about wowing the viewers with amazing cinematography and extraordinary special effects. This film relies solely on the dialogue and the actors’ abilities to communicate their emotions to the audience. The character development within each relationship as well as individually gives the viewer so much to watch, explore, and relate to. Of course, not everyone will be able to relate to every character… but that is the beauty, there is a character for everyone.

I believe that if Austin were alive today, she would be proud of the way this film utilized her themes and wove them into the lives of the characters beautifully.

Watching the film, you get a sense that Karen Joy Fowler, author of the book ‘The Jane Austin Book Club, truly has a passion for and understands Austin’s books. Although I have not yet read ‘The Jane Austin Book Club’ I do intent to add it to my ‘To Read’ list. I think that anyone who admires Austin’s books will enjoy this film.

If you have watched this movie (or read the book) please comment below and let me know what you thought of it. If you haven’t seen the movie, but are intrigued enough to watch it, then I challenge you to watching and then come back and let me know what you thought.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Let us never underestimate the power of a well-written letter.” ~ Bernadette

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

You can watch the official trailer here:

Week 14 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

Posted on by
1

Today is the 14th Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.

  • Read the writing prompt below,
  • Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
  • DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!

The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.

Today I am writing in my voice. I usually write in the voice of one of my characters, but today’s prompt really spoke to me. I hope it speaks to you too.

Today’s writing prompt:

Write about three goals (realistic or maybe a little far-reaching) that you would like to achieve in your lifetime.

I have plenty of goals… I love a good ‘to do’ list and even more so, I love to set goals. I have a huge list of short-term goals and a fairly long list of long-term goals. However, today I want to talk about those goals I haven’t had the guts to write out. Three really big, far-reaching, goals that I’d love to achieve but don’t really expect to manage.

  1. I want to make the New York Time’s Best Seller’s List! As an author, that just seems like the ultimate ‘you’ve made it’ moment. I want my books to touch someone. I want them to make a difference in someone else’s life. I want them to be read.
  2. I want to give a Ted Talk… I’d love to talk about writing, being a struggling author, and the hurdles you have to overcome in order to make it. The hurdles you do overcome if you’re really passionate about what you’re writing.
  3. I went to college for acting… I wanted to be an actress. I still do. I do theatre, I’ve done a number of commercials, and for a short period I lived out in Los Angeles and did the whole struggling actor thing booking a few jobs here and there. Hell, I’m even a SAG/AFTRA member. I want, at some point in my lifetime, to get a role I can be truly proud of. I want that ‘you’ve made it’ moment as an actress.

Yeah, those are my three really big goals. Now that I’ve put them out into the universe, who knows, maybe they will manifest. So, what are your goals?

© 2019 Nina Soden

* * * * *

Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!

Write about three goals (realistic or maybe a little far-reaching) that you would like to achieve in your lifetime.

* * * * *

Are you working on a manuscript, but need a little help getting organized? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel

Want help meeting your writing goals? Check out JUST WRITE: The Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal

My 2 Cents… The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Posted on by
Reply

Would you prefer to watch the video review, instead of reading it? CLICK HERE

pants 2Title: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008) 
Director: Sanaa Hamri 
Writers: Elizabeth Chandler (screenplay)  and Ann Brashares (novel) 
Stars: Amber Tamblyn (Tibby), Alexis Bledel (Lena), America Ferrera (Carmen), and Blake Lively (Bridget)

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Acting: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4)

Buy the movie HERE

BLURB:
Four college freshmen and best friends find that it may take more than a shared pair of jeans to help them stay in touch as their lives go in different directions.

STORYLINE:
Carmen Lowell is working backstage of a play at Yale when the lead actress, her friend Julia, invites her to Vermont for the summer to work on a play with a professional cast. Because her mother is pregnant and she believes her friends will kill her if she doesn’t visit for the summer, she decides to stay home. However, she quickly changes her mind after she finds that her friends have all made plans to leave town for the summer. Lena heads to New York for a drawing course, Bridget heads to Turkey on an archaeological dig, and Tibby is working in a video rental store and still editing her documentary.

While in Vermont, Carmen develops a crush on the lead actor Ian, who tricks her into auditioning, and she is cast as the lead female role, much to Julia’s dismay. Later Carmen learns the truth about her friendship with Julia. The broken-hearted Lena finds that Kostas has just married, with a baby on the way, and she starts dating the male model from her drawing class. Yet, Kostas is never far from her mind. Bridget finds letters addressed to her that her father has been hiding for years and finally reaches out to her long-lost grandmother.

MY 2 CENTS:
In last week’s #SundayScreening post, I talked about the first movie in the The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants duology, this week I’m talking about the second movie.

I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the first movie in this series. The idea of magical pants keeping friends together even over long distances sounded silly to me. However, it gave just enough mystical, lightheartedness to allow the film to address some pretty heavy topics. The second movie was no different.

In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, there is love loss, heartbreak, emotional awakening, family reunions, pursuit of dreams, surprise relationships, and personal growth. Lots of personal growth.

The lead actresses in both of these films are very well-known and not at all screen shy. They wear their emotions on their faces for the world to see, feel, and experience with them.

Tibby, played by Amber Tamblyn, is the resident rebel. After suffering a huge loss in the first film, allows herself to get close to someone else… so close they fall in love. Then, after a pregnancy scare, she pushes him away.

Lena, played by Alexis Bledel, best known for her role in The Gilmore Girls, plays the sweet, innocent, rule follower. Yet, in this film she allows herself to break a few rules, follow her heart, even when it feels broken, and go after what she wants.

Carmen, played by America Ferrera, is a hard-working college student at Yale. After a disappointing meet up with her three best friends, she decides to run off to Vermont for the summer to work backstage at a professional theatre. Little does she know, love just might be waiting for her on stage. She discovers more about herself, and true friendship, during that summer away than many are able to discover throughout our college career.

Bridget, played by Blake Lively, is the free-spirited wanderer. Yet, in this film, she is more grounded than any of the others. She takes a journey that leads her to discovering a way to cope with the loss of her mother and reconnects with family she thought would forever be lost to her.

All in all, this film touched on some pretty intense topics and did it in a way that people of all ages can relate.

Have you seen this film? If so, what did you think? If you haven’t watched it, I challenge you to do it. Watch both of the films, they are available on Netflix, and then come back here and tell me what you thought.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“The problem is every time I try to get close to somebody it’s like there’s something out there that just says oh Tibby’s about to be happy, better get her.” ~ Tibby

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

You can watch the official trailer here:

 

Auggie and Me by R.J. Palacio

Posted on by
Reply

Would you prefer to watch the video, instead of reading the review? CLICK HERE

Auggie and meTITLE: Auggie & Me
AUTHOR: R.J. Palacio

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (4.5)

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:
Auggie & Me gives readers a special look at Auggie’s world through three new points of view. These stories are an extra peek at Auggie before he started at Beecher Prep and during his first year there. Readers get to see him through the eyes of Julian, the bully; Christopher, Auggie’s oldest friend; and Charlotte, Auggie’s new friend at school. Together, these three stories are a treasure for readers who don’t want to leave Auggie behind when they finish Wonder.

Buy the book HERE! 

MY 2 CENTS:

WRITING (★★★★★): Palacio is a wonderfully talented author. She is an artist in the way she created the world around Auggie in Wonder, and the three short stories in Auggie & me are no different.

STORY (★★★★): Auggie and me contains three different short stories; The Julian Chapter, Pluto, and Shingaling.

The Julian Chapter is all Julian – the boy who is Wonder is portrayed as the bully. In this short story we really get a glimpse of who Julian really is, what drives him to behave the way he does, and even the remorse he feels when he realizes what he has done wrong.

Pluto is about Chris – Auggie’s oldest friend. Because of their mothers’ friendship, Auggie and Chris had been friends since birth. It wasn’t until Chris’ family moved away that he started to see Auggie as different… he started to pull away… It was interesting to see, through Chris’ eyes, how a friendship with Auggie might be difficult at times. However, when friendship wins… and kindness prevails… it is a beautiful thing.

Shingaling was about Charlotte. This story, although I enjoyed it, was the least about Auggie then the other two. It centered around Charlotte and the ‘girl drama’ that was happing around her. Honestly, it is the same as the girl drama happening in every elementary and middle school around the world. Probably every High School too. I have to admit, I’m glad to have my school days behind me. I enjoyed learning about Charlotte, and Summer who was a pivotal character in this story. The lesson of Choose Kindness was very strong in this story.

CHARACTERS (★★★★): I loved learning more about Julian, Chris, and Charlotte. These three short stories not only showed us their relationships with Auggie, they also showed us how the interact with other kids, what they are like inside and outside of school, and what is going on in their minds throughout the things that happened in Wonder. The character development in Auggie and Me built upon what we learned in Wonder and succeeded at enhancing the connection the reader has with each character.

APPEARANCE (★★★★★): The cover of Auggie & Me is the perfect fit with the original Wonder cover. The simple blue background with the minimalist character illustrations is eye catchy and inspiring.

FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Good friendships are worth a little extra effort.”

“Sometimes it’s good to start over.”

“One mistake does not define you, Julian. Do you understand me? You must simply act better next time.”

“If you want to be a star, you have to be willing to work harder than everyone else to achieve your goals and dreams! The way I see it, a dream is like a drawing in your head that comes to life. You have to imagine it first. Then you have to work extremely hard to make it come true.”

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

Week 13 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

Posted on by
2

Today is the 13th Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.

  1. Read the writing prompt below. 
  2. Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind.
  3. DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!

The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.

Today I am writing in the voice of Stella, one of the characters in the novel I am currently outlining. I’m not sure if this will be a selection in the novel, or just part of my character development journal.

Today’s writing prompt:

What area of your life do you tend to enjoy in excess instead of moderation?

I’m not really sure what that means… to enjoy in excess. I remember, when I was little, sitting on my mother’s lap and playing with her hair. It would curl around my finger like a spring. I’d pull it down then let it go and it would bounce back up perfectly into place. I remember her smell like it was yesterday. I remember the joy it brought me to sit there, snuggled in her arms, breathing her in.

Did I enjoy her touch and her attention in excess? I’m not sure. She was taken away from me so suddenly. So unexpectedly. I feel like I didn’t really enjoy her enough. I feel like I never really got to enjoy much else of life.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a good life. I’m treated well, they take care of me. They… the ones in charge… They don’t love me, not like she did, before she feared me. But they do care for me, I think.

No, I don’t think I enjoy anything in excess. I enjoy the memories I see, sometimes. Most times, they frighten me. Like the memory of Sophie and Austin. Why he would hurt her the way he did when I know he loved her… I just don’t understand it.

© 2019 Nina Soden

* * * * *

Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!

What area of your life do you tend to enjoy in excess instead of moderation?

* * * * *

Are you working on a manuscript, but need a little help getting organized? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel

Want help meeting your writing goals? Check out JUST WRITE: The Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal

Author Interview ~ Tammy Ruggles

Posted on by
Reply

I’m excited to introduce author Tammy Ruggles to my website. If you have any questions for her, that I don’t cover in my interview, please comment below and she will respond.

tammy

  • What is your name and do you write under a pen name? Tammy Ruggles, but I’ve written as Miss Tammy for my children’s book, and some fan-fiction too.
  • Obviously, we know you are an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you’re any good at it? Do you like what you do? I used to be a social worker in the child/adult protection areas, and I loved that job, but had to retire from it due to becoming legally blind. That’s when I started writing professionally.
  • If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like? Trailers mostly, but a couple of apartments and houses too.
  • Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing? Cooking.
  • What is your greatest dream? To be remembered fondly by my grandchildren.
  • What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you? I wish I could be a perfect person, but making mistakes stops me.
  • Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love? Yes, he died, but I still think of him often.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? No certain person inspired me to write, I just started on my own at about age 12.
  • What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not? Yes, I had 3 dreams come true. One, to be a social worker. The second to be a professional writer, and the last one was to become a mother.
  • Who is your role model? Jesus Christ, though I never measure up.
  • What is your greatest fear? Losing loved ones, which is always hard.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? Back when I could read regular print, it was print books. But the larger fonts of eBooks makes it easier. And audiobooks are SO wonderful for a visually impaired person.
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so, what was it? The King James Bible. And “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? I love them, as I lean toward shorter works.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? No, I don’t think so.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? I don’t have a favorite.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I don’t have a favorite.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? EL James, because she started in fan-fiction too.
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I am on hiatus from reading, but it would be audiobook most likely. My most recent is fan-fiction by various authors.
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Edgar a. Poe, Emily Dickinson, Peter Benchley, Harold Robbins. I like their writing.

Let’s shift somewhat and talk about your latest story.

  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Starsky and Hutch Next Gen Series, Episodes 1-8. The sons of Starsky and Hutch carry on the legacy in their own unique way.
  • Is the above book part of a series? I’m not sure yet. It could stand on its own.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I tried to find pictures that matched the characters, and I put it together myself.
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? No, I prefer silence when I write, but if I like music when creating in other ways, like A Perfect Circle, Beck, Bob Marley, Tool, and some southern gospel. Even American Idol’s Wade Cota once in a while.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? Based on the characters being the next generation of Starsky and Hutch.
  • Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it? 

  • In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her? There are two leads, Davis Starsky and Kent Hutchinson.
  • What is your character’s greatest strengths? Davis’ would be his resilience and willingness to learn and change. Kent’s would be his empathy and willingness to help others.
  • And what are his/her greatest weaknesses? Davis’ would be that he’s impulsive, and Kent’s would be that he feels guilty about things he has no control over.
  • What are some of his/her favorite foods? Davis’ would be pizza, and Kent’s would be Triscuits with goat cheese.
  • What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has? Davis doesn’t realize his inner strength, and Kent doesn’t realize that it’s okay to be vulnerable.
  • Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? I hope readers like them and see them as individuals instead of copies of their dads.
  • What first gave you the idea for your latest book? I wanted to explore the world of the next generation of Starsky and Hutch.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

  • What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter? I’m somewhat of a plotter, but not heavily so. I start with a beginning, middle, and end, then write a scene list of things I’d like to have happen, and them fill in the blanks as I go. I am definitely open to change, though, and have made some eureka changes along the way that take the story or character in a completely different direction.
  • Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time? I think writing is the easy part. It’s promoting that’s hard. I think if I had it to do over again, I would just hire one PR person instead of trying to do it all myself. It’s very time-consuming, but it has to be done.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company? I am a published Indie author now, but my very first book was a paperback traditionally published.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I have so many books, I think it was just easier and faster to go the indie route. I’m kind of impatient, and put out a lot of work, so Indie works better for me.
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Write for yourself. It may be cliché, but it works for me.
  • Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts:
  • You mentioned fan-fiction writing. Do you think it helped your journey to publication? Not really, since I kept my fan-fiction writing separate from my professional writing. I even wrote under different names. In the early days of fanfiction, it wasn’t something to put on a resume or discussed in an author interview like this. But the success of EL James and others has made it easier for writers to discuss it.

*****

Interested in writing your own novel? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel

51gqQbGYyAL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_

#MindfulnessMonday 4/29/19

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s #MindfulnessMonday Tip: It’s important to recognize your strengths so that you don’t allow yourself to be defined by your weaknesses.

MM3

Check out today’s #MindfulnessMonday video to learn how to choose self-love and stop negative self talk. You can check out the video by clicking HERE!

With that little piece of advice, I give you today’s Mindfulness Exercise:

Talk About Your Strengths!

With a close friend or loved one, start a conversation by explaining that you want their true and honest opinion, then ask the question, ‘What do you think are my key strengths?’ Listen, without interrupting. Then, think about their answer, ask clarifying questions if you need to, try engaging in an open dialogue so you can see yourself the way they see you. Don’t judge their opinion, take it in – and be willing to take a complement when given.

Mindfulness Journaling Prompt: After you’ve completed the ‘Talk About Your Strength’ exercise, take five to ten minutes of quiet time and create a list of your strengths. These should be the strengths you see in yourself as well as the strengths your loved ones and friends say that they see in you – Even if you don’t believe them just yet. Then, once a day, I want you to pull out your list of strengths and read over the. This shouldn’t take long, but over time it will help you to change the way you see yourself so that how you define yourself shifts from focusing on weaknesses to focusing on strengths.

Mindfulness journaling can be very private. However, if you are willing to share your thoughts with me and my readers, I would love to invite you to comment below and let me know how today’s exercise made you feel and what strengths you found others see in you that you maybe didn’t see in yourself.

* * * * *

Check out my #MindfulnessMonday YouTube Series and don’t forget to click subscribe so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 17 ~ Choosing Self-Love!

* * * * *

Invisible

Would you like to take the 52-week challenge and experience a more mindful existence? Check out The Invisible You ~ 52 Weeks of Meditations, Activities, and Writing Prompts to Help you Discover You!

I’m certified in Holistic Stress Management and Mind/Body Fitness. I’ve been practicing Mindfulness for 10+ years and am passionate about helping others in their pursuit of a more mindful existence.