Tag Archives: author life

Author Interview ~ Elaine Kaye

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I’m excited to welcome Elaine Kaye, author of Halloween Ride to my blog. She is a children’s author with 6 published books and so many stories to tell. 

Elaine Kaye Author

Let’s start by finding out a little bit about you…

1. What is your name and do you write under a pen name?

Elaine Kaye is my pen name. Elaine is my given name, and Kathryn is my middle name, but I shortened it to Kay and added an “E” because it looked better. Pretty simple for me. Plus, it’s easy to remember for children’s books.

2. Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy all kinds of needlework, such as cross-stitch, knitting, crochet, and quilting. Also, on the craft side, I like to paint ceramics. Since I am retired now, I spend a lot of my time making bookmarks, reading, writing, and watching my favorite movies. I am a big fan of medical and cop TV dramas, like Station 19, New Amsterdam, The Rookie, and The Resident. I also binge watch Game of Thrones and Vikings.

3. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

Back in 1982, when I worked at a telephone company, an office worker, whose desk faced mine, told me about a novel she was working on. I mentioned to her how I’ve always wanted to write, and she told me to go do it, so I did. That changed my life.

4. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?

I prefer paperbacks and hardcovers because I like the feel of a real book in my hands. I like the pages, the weight, all of it. Also, I can use the many cute bookmarks that I make by hand.

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

1. 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?
Halloween Ride is about a boy and his teddy bear who take a ride on a broomstick on Halloween night.

Halloween Ride Cover.jpg

2. Is the above book part of a series?

Yes, it is the third installment of A Gregory Green Adventure series, although each book can be read as a standalone title, and they can be read in any order you wish.

3. How did you come up with the title for your book?

Well, it’s Halloween and they go on a broom ride, so quite simply it’s a Halloween Ride. Immediately you get an idea of what the story is about, what sort of adventure my characters will be having, which is best for children’s books.

4. What are some of Gregory Green’s favorite foods?

Pea soup! He eats a lot of it in Pea Soup Disaster, because he just loves his mom’s homemade pea soup, but something happens from eating all that pea soup thanks to the Green family curse.

Gregory also loves pizza, Cheez Balls, pickle-flavored chips, red licorice sticks, and raisins.

Sammy, his teddy bear, likes cookies (of all kinds), marshmallows, shelled peanuts, and…GUMMY BEARS!

5. What first gave you the idea for Halloween Ride?

I once had an idea of my characters flying up to the moon, which they almost do in Halloween Ride, and I wanted to start writing stories for each holiday, so the two ideas just meshed together on their own. The rest of the story unfolded naturally as I went.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

1. Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company?

I self-publish all of the books for A Gregory Green Adventure series. After many years, and I mean decades, of not getting anywhere traditionally with my children’s books, and finally having the means and resources to self-publish, I took the plunge.

2. Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.

Website: https://www.elainekaye.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16488350.Elaine_Kaye
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-Kaye/e/B06X42CV9R
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElaineKayeAuthor/

If you enjoyed learning about Elaine and her story, please click like and share this interview on your social media platforms.

Until the next interview… Happy Reading! 

Want to know more? Comment below with your questions and Elaine will answer.

Week 14 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

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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

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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

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

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

wonderTITLE: Wonder
AUTHOR: R.J. Palacio

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JULIA ROBERTS, OWEN WILSON, AND JACOB TREMBLAY!

Over 6 million people have read the #1 New York Times bestseller WONDER and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face.

The book that inspired the Choose Kind movement.

I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

“Wonder is the best kids’ book of the year,” said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy. In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.

Buy the book HERE! 

MY 2 CENTS:

WRITING (★★★★★): I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It is a truly amazing story with a profoundly important message – Choose Kindness!

I read this book because my son wanted to see the movie and I suggested we read the story first. Within the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. It took us only a few days to finish the book and we were both on the edges of our seats the whole time.

I cried… a lot!

Palacio has a beautiful way of capturing the emotion in what’s happening throughout the story. Her writing style is fluid. Wonder can be easily read by young children and still enjoyed by adults. Not an easy task for a children’s author to manage, but Palacio pulled it off seamlessly.

STORY (★★★★★): Wonder is the story of August (Auggie) Pullman, a young boy who has a congenital facial abnormality. Do to his unusual appearance, he has had to deal with a range of reactions from people he meets and others who just noticing him passing by. Kids he encounters, as well as many adults, are cruel. They use hateful, hurtful language, often displaying their disgust without trying to hide it. However, it is important to know – if you are letting your child read this book – that goodness does win in the end. Readers will learn a valuable lesson on choosing kindness and should find Auggie’s story to be both inspiring and emotionally moving.

It is hard to read a story about suffering, especially the suffering of a child. The way the character of Auggie Pullman has suffered all his “life” is devastating. Yet, he keeps a positive attitude in the face of bullying, ridicule, pain, loss, and humiliation. There are days that I wish I was as strong as he is.

This story started the Choose Kind movement and honestly, I believe it should be required reading in all elementary and middle schools across the country and around the world. We could all learn something from Auggie Pullman.

CHARACTERS (★★★★★): Auggie Pullman is the epitome of kind-hearted and selfless. Not only do I feel that the author gave us a completely fleshed out lead character, she successfully brought to life Auggie’s parents, sister, and the school staff and other children around him. There wasn’t a single character that I didn’t feel I got to know, understand, and relate to.

APPEARANCE (★★★★★): The cover of Wonder is simple and powerful at the same time. I’m not sure who designed it, but the minimalist illustration of August (Auggie) Pullman’s face on the cover is perfect.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.”

“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”

“Kinder than is necessary. Because it’s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed.”

“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

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

You can check out the Movie Trailer here:

https://youtu.be/Ob7fPOzbmzE

Week 12 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

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Today is the 12th Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Writing Wednesday 6

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 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:

When was the last time you got lost?

I get lost a lot. Not physically, that would be impossible seeing as I live in a ten-foot by ten-foot room and am followed by armed guards whenever I’m allowed out. No, I get lost mentally. I’ve found myself in a home in the suburbs, on the edge of a cliff, and sailing in the middle of the vast ocean with no land in sight.

A mind is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a very scary place when your whole life is spent exploring the thoughts of others. What I wouldn’t give to just be home. To be safe, surrounded by my family, and loved instead of valued.

© 2019 Nina Soden

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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!

When was the last time you got lost?

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51gqQbGYyAL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_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

Author Bullet Journal 8x10 Front Cover

 

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

Week 11 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

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Today is the Eleventh Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Writing Wednesday 5

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 the voice of Sophie, one of the characters in my upcoming novel The Beast Within (This is not a selection from the novel, but part of my character development journal.)

Today’s writing prompt:

What stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

Will you marry me?
He was my college sweetheart…my high school sweetheart really. We had been together, off and on, for eight years. He hadn’t asked me, so I did it. I said those four little words and changed my life forever.

Will you marry me?
He said yes and two months later, we eloped. My mother was devastated. I’m not really sure his mom even cared, they didn’t have the best of relationships. That probably should have been my first clue.

Will you marry me?
It was like I had flipped a switch, turned the lights out, released the beast. That’s what he was, a beast…a brut…a monster. He didn’t hurt me, not physically. Mental abuse is different. You can’t see the effects, not on the surface, but they’re there. They might be deep down. You might be able to hide them from the rest of the world, but they are there. You feel them in your gut. You see them staring back at you every time you look in the mirror. You can’t erase them, not with a bath or even a hot shower. Putting on a new dress can’t make you feel pretty, not when the one person who is supposed to love you has drilled into your very soul that you are nothing.

Will you marry me?
I wish he had just said no. I wish he had chosen someone else. I wish he had loved me just a little… loved me enough to leave me.

Will you marry me?
It was the stupidest question I could have ever asked.

Will you marry me?
It almost killed me.

© 2019 Nina Soden

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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 stupid question have you heard someone ask (or asked yourself)?

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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

Week 10 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

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Today is the Tenth Edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Writing Wednesday 4

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 the voice of Austin, one of the characters in my upcoming novel The Beast Within (This is not a selection from the novel, but part of my character development journal.)

Today’s writing prompt:

Were you born to shine in one special way? What makes you really stand out?

Special, what does that even mean? Sure, I’m special. Or maybe a better word would be different. When I was a kid, I was just like everyone else. I loved baseball and riding my bike and fishing with my dad. I had sleepovers at my friends’ houses and loved late nights watching movies and eating pizza and popcorn.

Then, I grew up, fast. I turned ten and my whole world seemed to change. My dad said I was given a gift, but it didn’t seem like a gift. I don’t have super human powers, well maybe a few, but it’s not what you’re probably thinking. I’m not Superman, Spiderman, or even The Flash. I’d like that though, to be The Flash. I think, if I had his power of speed, I’d run so fast and so far, that I could just escape. Escape all the problems…all the pain…escape life.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to die. I just want to be normal. That’s why I do what I do. I became a doctor to find a cure, but its hard when you have to do it all on your own. When you can’t tell anyone what you’re doing or even what you are.

I don’t shine, I’m not special, and what makes me stand out is the one thing I want to change about myself.

© 2019 Nina Soden

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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!

Were you born to shine in one special way? What makes you really stand out?

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51gqQbGYyAL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_

Author Bullet Journal 8x10 Front Cover

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

Week 9 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

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Today is the Ninth edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Writing Wednesday 3

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 the voice of Dean, one of the characters in my upcoming novel The Beast Within (This is not a selection from the novel, but part of my character development journal.)

Today’s writing prompt:

What do you look forward to every week?

What do I look forward to every week? I don’t know. A drink? Dude, I drink, so what. My job is stressful and life sometimes sucks. So, I get drunk and I get stupid, but it’s all in good fun. Honestly, it isn’t the feeling of being drunk that I look forward to, it’s the friendships I’ve developed over beers. The camaraderie. I don’t even always get drunk. I can control it. It doesn’t affect my life. It doesn’t affect my job. Ok, well, maybe. Maybe it’s effected my job, a little. I mean, sure, I’ve shown up late a few times because I’ve had one to many the night before. I’ve maybe called in sick a handful of times because of a hangover, but who hasn’t? I’m not an alcoholic.

© 2019 Nina Soden

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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!

That do you look forward to every week?

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51gqQbGYyAL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_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

Author Bullet Journal 8x10 Front Cover

 

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

On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson

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

Golden Pond

PLAY TITLE: On Golden Pond
AUTHOR: Ernest Thompson

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (4.75)

AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
A comedy for a cast of 3 men, 2 women, 1 boy. This is the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the forty-eighth year. He is a retired professor, nearing eighty, with heart palpitations and a failing memory-but still as tart-tongued, observant and eager for life as ever. Ethel, ten years younger, and the perfect foil for Norman, delights in all the small things that have enriched and continue to enrich their long life together. They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her dentist fiancé, who then go off to Europe, leaving his teenage son behind for the summer. The boy quickly becomes the “grandchild” the elderly couple have longed for, and as Norman revels in taking his ward fishing and thrusting good books at him, he also learns some lessons about modern teenage awareness-and slang-in return. In the end, as the summer wanes, so does their brief idyll, and in the final, deeply moving moments of the play, Norman and Ethel are brought even closer together by the incidence of a mild heart attack. Time, they know, is now against them, but the years have been good and, perhaps, another summer on Golden Pond still awaits.

Buy the play HERE!

Buy the movie HERE!
MY 2 CENTS: 
On Golden Pond is a classic. The way that Thompson brings these characters to live is simply beautiful. It’s about life, relationships, and the heart.

I love when an author like Thompson can take a simple story, a retired couple spending the summer at their lake house, and turn it into so much more. By the end of the script, you’re emotionally attached to the characters, you care what happens to them, and you long to learn more about them.

The father/daughter relationship between Norman and Chelsea is heartbreaking. In just the few scenes in which they are together, it is obvious how much they love each other… how much they want to be close… and yet, they aren’t. It isn’t until Chelsea brings Billy, her boyfriend’s son, to visit her parents that Norman finally bonds with a child. It’s just said that it wasn’t his own child.

The husband/wife relationship between Norman and Ethel is exactly what I believe my grandparents had. They lived a similar life and were not only each other’s best friends, but they were soul mates. They were perfect together in every way. I believe that Thompson wrote their relationship to be perfect… almost to perfect, but not unbelievable in any way.

As an actress, reading this script has just added two characters to my list of dream roles I’d love to play. If I ever get the chance, in the next few years to audition for Chelsea, I will not let it pass me by, and of course… Ethel would be a dream role when I get older.

As a director, I have to be honest… I think it would be hard knowing how emotionally connected I am with the characters. I think I’d want to be on stage too much to do justice as a director.

APPEARANCE: Plain green cover with black text… Typical Dramatists Play Service cover. I feel like the plain cover allows the reader to use their imagination when envisioning the characters.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Sometimes you have to look hard at a person and remember he’s doing the best he can. He’s just trying to find his way, just like you.”

“Well, that’s what happens if you live long enough: You end up being old. it’s one of the disadvantages of a long life. I still prefer it to the alternative.” 

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

 

on golden pond movie posterMovie Title: On Golden Pond
Director: Mark Rydell
Stars: Katharine Hepburn (Ethel Thayer), Henry Fonda (Norman Thayer Jr.), and Jane Fonda (Chelsea Thayer Wayne)

STORYLINE: The loons are back again on Golden Pond and so are Norman Thayer, a retired professor, and Ethel who have had a summer cottage there since early in their marriage. This summer their daughter Chelsea — whom they haven’t seen for years — feels she must be there for Norman’s birthday. She and her fiancé are on their way to Europe the next day but will be back in a couple of weeks to pick up the fiancé’s son. When she returns Chelsea is married and her stepson has the relationship with her father that she always wanted. Will father and daughter be able to communicate at last? (IMDB.COM)

Watch the official movie trailers here:

https://youtu.be/l-lcl2j3yf0

https://youtu.be/Y85sfYVOS84

Week 8 – #WritingWednesday Challenge

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Today is the Eighth edition of #WritingWednesday!!!

Writing Wednesday 2

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 the voice of Kim, one of the characters in my upcoming novel The Beast Within (This is not a selection from the novel, but part of my character development journal.)

Today’s writing prompt:

Complete this thought: “I wish I had paid more attention when…”

I’m stubborn, like my grandfather. It’s in our blood. I’m also trouble, at least that’s what he always used to say, “…more trouble than all my money.” Looking back, I don’t really think he had all that much money. He didn’t need it, not for happiness. He had love and joy and peace of mind. He had everything he ever wanted.

When I was twenty, I packed up all my belongings into the trunk and back seat of my car and headed West. I didn’t really have a plan, just a destination; the ocean. My love of fashion was going to be the path that led me to greatness, even if all my friends thought I was crazy. I could see it, just as clearly as the morning sun. I made it happen too. I started my own line of clothing – Kimmy Designs – and even opened my own shop.

There were hard times. I was alone, a lot. Not having family or friends in a big city can be hard, but I survived. Eventually I established a pretty good life. I loved my work, had a great apartment, made a few friends. I was healthy…happy. However, there was always something missing. That little piece of happiness that only comes with knowing you haven’t sacrificed yourself to find your place in the world. I think that was what my grandfather had tried to teach me. He wanted me to know that things and money don’t matter, it’s the people you surround yourself with that make all the difference in the world.

I wish I had paid more attention when I was younger, when my grandfather sat me on his lap to tell me stories. I have a feeling, they contained the secrets of the universe.

© 2019 Nina Soden

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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!

Complete this thought: “I wish I had paid more attention when…”

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51gqQbGYyAL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_

 

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

Author Bullet Journal 8x10 Front Cover

 

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

#MindfulnessMonday 3/25/19

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Today’s #MindfulnessMonday Tip: Meditation is an easy way to start your mindfulness lifestyle, but it takes consistency. So, check out these 6 steps to help you turn meditation into a habit: (1) Choose a time span… (2) Schedule it… (3) Practice… (4) Track your success… (5) Don’t go it alone… (6) Give yourself a break… Want to learn the details of each of these steps? Check out today’s #MindfulnessMonday video HERE!

MM

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

Breathing Meditation Exercise

Throughout the day, the majority of your minds wandering take you either into the future or back to the past. Accordingly, it is in these mental spaces where you spend most of your life. Because of this, you often miss much of what is going on around you… You aren’t present in the moment, not fully. Your breath, on the other hand, can never be in the future or the past, it is always right here, in the present moment – keeping you grounded to the here and now.

By simply sitting quietly with your eyes closed and focusing on your breathing as the air flows in and out of your body, you are instantly drawn back to the present moment. When you find your mind wandering to other things (dinner, shopping, work, kids, etc.) invite your mind back to the present… back to the breath. Through this type of breathing meditation practice you become more grounded in the moment, allowing for increased focus, improved health, and a heightened sense of peace and joy.

Mindfulness Journaling Prompt: Where does your mind wander when you try to meditate? What things do you find yourself thinking about when you should be thinking about your breath and your body?

This type of 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 this exercise affected you and what you learned about yourself through the meditation.

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

EPISODE 12 ~ How to Turn Meditation into a Habit

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InvisibleWould 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.