I'm drunk ~ Not on alcohol or even love. I'm drunk ~ Grief pulls me under and rattles my shell. I'm drunk ~ It's not a tipsy sort of dizziness. I'm drunk ~ It's a heavy, sinking feeling sweeping over me. I'm drunk ~ Hollow... Senseless... Desperation I'm drunk ~ Vacant... Void... Agony I'm drunk ~ Plummeting... Falling... Sinking I'm drunk ~ It's the sting of your loss pulling me under! I'M DRUNK!
Dedicated to my Uncle Dan (Danny Tapaninen Feb. 19, 1955 – June 24, 2019) You will forever be in my heart!
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 are you feeling, right now?
Are you an author who
is looking for ways to stay organized and on track with all your writing goals?
Check out my author workbooks below. They are full of all the tools I use in my
writing process!
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
It isn’t just for indie-authors. I have filled it with all the tools I’ve learned over the years and use on a regular basis with each book I write
It’s
Thursday afternoon and usually I post my weekly Writing Wednesday post on, well…
Wednesday. Unfortunately, or maybe luckily, I was on vacation this last week
and my blog got put on the back burner. I think we all need a little me time,
but right about now, I need more work time.
I’m
trying to catch up, with everything. I have a stack of books about a mile high
that I need to get through, a list of movies about two miles long that I need
to watch and review, a number of author interview requests, blog posts to set
up, and a self-publishing course to create.
So
yeah, I need time. If you have any extra that you’d like to loan me, I’d
forever be in your debt.
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 do you need right now?
* * * * *
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!
This Self-Discovery Journal provides more than 200 thoroughly unique & enjoyable writing prompts. Skyrocket your self-esteem, develop your creativity and explore all area’s of life: Writing Prompts about your love life, Writing Prompts to better deal with social anxiety’s Writing Prompts for finding empowering strategies to deal with worries, stress and failures. And much, much more
Do you want to know yourself better? Self-discovery and self-revelation aren’t easy. With simple but provocative questions about wishes and fears, memories and beliefs, secrets and dreams, All About Me will reveal everything you ever wanted to know about yourself but never thought—or dared—to ask. Whether you fill it in or answer questions out loud, this is the perfect gift for your friends, your family, your loved one… and you.
Are you an author who
is looking for ways to stay organized and on track with all your writing goals?
Check out my author workbooks below. They are full of all the tools I use in my
writing process!
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
It isn’t just for indie-authors. I have filled it with all the tools I’ve learned over the years and use on a regular basis with each book I write.
Want help meeting your writing goals? Check out JUST WRITE: The Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal
JUST WRITE is the Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal designed as a planner-journal hybrid to help new and experienced writers stay organized while still fostering creativity. Track your project progress, plan your writing and publishing goals, maintain your personal/business to do list, never miss another deadline or appointment again, keep track of writing ideas, schedule and log social sharing and blog post ideas, keep a record of books you’re reading or want to read, maintain a running playlist, etc.
Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder
into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a
modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming
the lives of countless readers across generations.
Paulo Coelho’s
masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy
who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him
to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined.
Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our
hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along
life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
WRITING (★★★★): Paulo Coelho is a wonderfully talented author who’s storytelling ability draws you in and keeps you reading. His writing style is intriguing and yet simple. With that said, The Alchemist is a very fast read. It took me all of maybe five or six hours to get through.
STORY (★★★★): On the surface, The Alchemist is a
simple story of a sheep farmer who sells his sheep to set out on a journey to
follow his dream… his calling… his Personal Legend as it is called in the book.
Yet, in reality, there are
deeper messages weaved throughout the story. Lessons we are all meant to learn,
but maybe in each our own way.
Paulo Coelho is a philosopher. The
over-arching theme I believe he is trying to get across is that everyone and
all things are connected. The past, the present, and the future are all intertwined.
One could read this story and take away that
you must live in the moment… be mindful of the life here in the present because
the past and future can not be changed.
Another reader may take away that the author
is telling you to stop working to live and just start living. Follow your
dreams and give 100% of yourself to the journey to reach your Personal Legend. If
you’ve ever heard Arnold Schwarzenegger talk about his life – this is similar
to the message he tries to get across; that you must be all in – with no backup
plan.
I’m sure there are a dozen other life lessons
that one could read in the passages of The Alchemist and I would argue that
each and every one is right, for the reader that interprets them.
If you’ve read The Alchemist, I’d love to
know what lesson or message you took away from it. Comment below and tell me what
you thought of the story and what your major take away was.
I highly recommend this story for teens and
young adults. They are still trying to find themselves and figure out exactly
what they want out of life. I would argue that this story is a great source of
encouragement to never give up and always strive to achieve what you are truly passionate
about.
CHARACTERS (★★★★): I enjoyed all of the characters, for what they
were. However, the lead character, the young sheep farmer named Santiago, was written
extremely well. His backstory was laid out beautifully and I felt a connection to
him and an investment in his journey.
The
character development and connection from chapter to chapter flowed
wonderfully. It was nice, for once, to read a book where the author didn’t introduce
a thousand new characters in every chapter.
APPEARANCE (★★★): The
cover is simple and yet aged. I don’t think I would have picked this book up if
I had passed it in the book store. However, because it was given to me by
someone I trust, I ignored the cover and jumped right in.
FAVORITE
QUOTES:
“What you still need to know is this: before
a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned
along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in
addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve
moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up. It’s
the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of
thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.’”
“Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And
every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
“Don’t give in to your fears, if you do, you
won’t be able to talk to your heart.”
AUTHOR:
The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO is considered one of the most influential authors of our times. His books have sold more than 165 million copies worldwide, have been released in 170 countries and been translated into 80 languages.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, he soon discovered his vocation for writing. He worked as a director, theater actor, songwriter and journalist. His collaboration with Brazilian composer and singer Raúl Seixas gave some of the greatest classic rock songs in Brazil. In 1986, a special meeting led him to make the pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela (in Spain). The Road to Santiago was not only a common pilgrimage but a turning point in his existence. A year later, he wrote ‘The Pilgrimage’, an autobiographical novel that is considered the beginning of his career.
In the following year, COELHO published ‘The Alchemist’. Slow initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time.
Check out my YouTube channel and the video
review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.
Brida, a young Irish girl, has long been
interested in various aspects of magic but is searching for something more. Her
search leads her to people of great wisdom. She meets a wise man who dwells in
a forest, who teaches her to trust in the goodness of the world, and a woman
who teaches her how to dance to the music of the world. As Brida seeks her
destiny, she struggles to find a balance between her relationships and her
desire to become a witch.
This enthralling novel incorporates themes that
fans of Paulo Coelho will recognize and treasure. It is a tale of love,
passion, mystery, and spirituality from the master storyteller.
A Magical Tale
About Forgiving Our Past and Believing in Our Future
The
enchanting true story of The Valkyries begins in Rio de Janeiro when author
Paulo Coelho gives his mysterious master the only manuscript for his book The
Alchemist. Haunted by a devastating curse; Coelho confesses to have seen my
dreams fall apart just when I seemed about to achieve them. In response he
gives Coelho a daunting task: He must find and speak with his guardian angel. The
curse can be broken; he replies; if you complete the task.
Rarely does
adolescent love reach its full potential, but what happens when two young
lovers reunite after eleven years? Time has transformed Pilar into a strong and
independent woman, while her devoted childhood friend has grown into a handsome
and charismatic spiritual leader. She has learned well how to bury her feelings
. . . and he has turned to religion as a refuge from his raging inner
conflicts.
Now
they are together once again, embarking on a journey fraught with difficulties,
as long-buried demons of blame and resentment resurface after more than a
decade. But in a small village in the French Pyrenees, by the waters of the
River Piedra, a most special relationship will be reexamined in the dazzling
light of some of life’s biggest questions.
In the ninth
century b.c., the Phoenician princess Jezebel orders the execution of all the
prophets who refuse to worship the pagan god Baal. Commanded by an angel of God
to flee Israel, Elijah seeks safety in the land of Zarephath, where he
unexpectedly finds true love with a young widow. But this newfound rapture is
to be cut short, and Elijah sees all of his hopes and dreams irrevocably erased
as he is swept into a whirlwind of events that threatens his very existence.
Written
with the same masterful prose and clarity of vision that made The Alchemist an international
phenomenon, The Fifth Mountain
is a quietly moving account of a man touched by the hand of God who must
triumph over his frustrations in a soul-shattering trial of faith.
Warrior of the Light: A Manual is an inspirational companion to The Alchemist, an international bestseller
that has beguiled millions of readers around the world. Every short passage
invites us to live out our dreams, to embrace the uncertainty of life, and to
rise to our own unique destiny. In his inimitable style, Paulo Coelho helps
bring out the Warrior of the Light within each of us. He also shows readers how
to embark upon the way of the Warrior: the one who appreciates the miracle of
being alive, the one who accepts failure, and the one whose quest leads him to
become the person he wants to be.
Paulo
Coelho is one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. Now, in the
long-awaited companion to his first novel, Coelho presents a collection of
philosophical stories that will delight and guide seekers everywhere.
Eleven Minutes is
the story of Maria, a young girl from a Brazilian village, whose first innocent
brushes with love leave her heartbroken. At a tender age, she becomes convinced
that she will never find true love, instead believing that “love is a
terrible thing that will make you suffer. . . .” A chance meeting in Rio
takes her to Geneva, where she dreams of finding fame and fortune. Maria’s
despairing view of love is put to the test when she meets a handsome young
painter. In this odyssey of self-discovery, Maria has to choose between
pursuing a path of darkness – sexual pleasure for its own sake – or risking
everything to find her own “inner light” and the possibility of
sacred sex, sex in the context of love.
The
narrator of The Zahir is a bestselling novelist
who lives in Paris and enjoys all the privileges money and celebrity bring. His
wife of ten years, Esther, is a war correspondent who has disappeared along with
a friend, Mikhail, who may or may not be her lover.
Was
Esther kidnapped, murdered, or did she simply escape a marriage that left her
unfulfilled? The narrator doesn’t have any answers, but he has plenty of
questions of his own. Then one day Mikhail finds the narrator and promises to
reunite him with his wife. In his attempt to recapture a lost love, the
narrator discovers something unexpected about himself.
In his most personal novel to date,
internationally bestselling author Paulo Coelho returns with a remarkable
journey of self-discovery. Like the main character in his much-beloved The Alchemist,
Paulo is facing a grave crisis of faith. As he seeks a path of spiritual
renewal and growth, his only real option is to begin again—to travel, to
experiment, to reconnect with people and the landscapes around him.
Setting off to Africa, and then to Europe and Asia
via the Trans-Siberian railroad, he initiates a journey to revitalize his
energy and passion. Even so, he never expects to meet Hilal. A gifted young
violinist, she is the woman Paulo loved five hundred years before—and the woman
he betrayed in an act of cowardice so far-reaching that it prevents him from
finding real happiness in this life. Together they will initiate a mystical
voyage through time and space, traveling a path that teaches love, forgiveness,
and the courage to overcome life’s inevitable challenges. Beautiful and
inspiring, Aleph invites us to consider the meaning of our own
personal journeys.
I want to
change. I need to change. I’m gradually losing touch with myself.
Adultery, the provocative new novel by Paulo Coelho,
best-selling author of The
Alchemist and Eleven Minutes, explores the question of what it means to live life fully
and happily, finding the balance between life’s routine and the desire for
something new.
Today’s #MindfulnessMonday
Tip: Don’t take mindfulness to seriously… It
isn’t a competition of who can be more mindful. It is
about being present in the moment and enjoying life as it comes.
Check out today’s #MindfulnessMonday video to discover a secret about mindfulness. You can check out the video by clicking HERE!
Reading
is a huge part of our daily lives. So much so that we often take it for granted.
from text messages to emails to social media posts we are constantly staring at
our phones, tables, computers and other devises. Find some time during the day when
you can put down your electronic devises and focus on reading something
in print… a book, a magazine, a newspaper (yes, they still print those). Allow
yourself 5-10 minutes each day, when you can let go of all your other
responsibilities to just get lost in the written word. You just might find that
10 minutes turns into 20 and 20 turns in to 30. I will warn you, there are some
side effects to quiet reading which include…
Getting lost in a book and becoming attached
to the characters you meet,
Choose a poem you like and read through it very slowly. If you don’t have a favorite poem, do a google search for popular poetry or ask your Google Home, iPhone Siri, Alexa, or other smart device to tell you a poem about nature.
What do you like most about it? What images does
it conjure up for you? What do you think about the words the poet chose to use?
Mindfulness journaling can be very private. However, if you are willing to share your experiences with me and my readers, I would love to invite you to comment below and let me know what poem you selected and how it made you feel.
* * * * *
Check out
my #MindfulnessMonday YouTube Series and don’t forget to click subscribe so you
never miss an episode!
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.
Today’s #MindfulnessMonday Tip: Eat cake! Withholding dessert and other treats can lead to overeating and/or emotional eating.
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!
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.
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
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.
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:
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.
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?
What name do you write under and is it a pen name? Bethany Martin, which is not a pen name.
What is the name of your most recent story and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? My story is called “The Peculiar Case of Matthias Chase” (I know, it’s a mouthful). The simplest way I can sum it up is this – a wild mix of kidnappings, demons, and sassy characters.
Is the above story part of a series or anthology? The Peculiar Case of Matthias Chase is not part of a series, but it is part of the anthology a Door to Our Minds, which is full of other short stories written by some amazing teen authors.What or who inspired you to start writing? Ever since fifth grade, I’ve really enjoyed writing, especially argumentative essays, however I really got into creative writing about 2 years ago, when I joined Wrecking Havoc on Paper. My friends in band, as well as author A.G. Porter, convinced me to join, and I’ve been hooked on creative writing since then.
How long have you been writing? Like I said above, I’ve loved writing for a long time, but I suppose you could say I’ve actually been writing for just a little over two years.
How did you come up with the cover design idea/concept and who designed it? Well, for one thing, I’m such a sucker for minimalist designs. A simple, yet intriguing cover will always interest me more than super detailed covers (not that detailed covers can’t catch my eye too). Second, because the ‘X’ seen on the cover, as well as the smoke, are such a big part of my story, I knew I needed to incorporate those. I’ve had other, different ideas, but I really think no matter what, I’ll be happiest with the cover I have now. The cover was actually designed by Amanda Orneck, the author of Sister of the Circuit.
Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your story? I can’t think of any one song specifically, but I tend to listen to the soundtrack for Over the Garden Wall while writing, so I’m sure I listened to that at least a few times while writing this story.
How did you come up with the title for your story? I’ve had this title from day one. In all honesty, I hadn’t even been working on this story when I came up with it. I was sitting in my friend’s room and I just said the title, sort of as a joke. However, a plot came after that, and the name just stuck.
As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers, or audio-books? I definitely like hard-covers most, but I see nothing wrong with a paperback. I don’t dislike e-books or audiobooks, but they’re not what I prefer at all. I like feeling actualpaper and smelling a new book.
Have you ever read a book more than once? If so, what was it? I’ve totally read the Harry Potter series a couple of times (Goblet of Fire being the one I’ve read the most). There are many other books I’ve read multiple times as well. I have nothing against reading a good book over again.
Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Absolutely. I oftentimes only pick up books with an interesting or aesthetically pleasing cover. Usually I’ll read the back of the book, as well as the first page, but every once in a while there are good covers that have me invested in the book all on their own.
What is your favorite film based on a book? This is definitely a hard one. Even though I haven’t read the book, I recently watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Netflix, and it was fantastic. Of course, I also love Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as a movie.
What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Hands-down mystery/thriller. I am fascinated by true crime, so anything of that nature is a must-read for me.
What books have made it on your wish list recently? A book I would like to read is Columbine by Dave Cullen. I picked it up at Barnes and Noble recently, and what I read of it before leaving was very interesting. Another book I’m eager to get my hands on is the second book is Marissa Meyer’s Renegades duology, Arch-Enemies. It comes out early November, and I cannot wait. Renegades was fantastic, and Meyer never disappoints, so it’s been at the top of my wish list for a while now.
What books are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I am currently reading “Unsub” by Meg Gardiner in hardback.
If you could invite any four (4) authors (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
Lois Lowry– her book, The Giver, is what really got me into dystopian, and I think all of her books are absolute works of art (Gathering Blue is my personal favorite).
William Pene du Bois– I read The Twenty-One Balloons when I was younger for a project, and it’s still one of my favorite books to this day. It’s such a dreamy and whimsical story, and I’m sure a conversation with du Bois would be fascinating.
Gillian Flynn– Gone Girl is probably my favorite book of all time, and talking to the genius behind it would be a dream-come-true. I’d love to talk with her over dinner about true-crime and how to write the perfect mystery. And, she can sign copies of her books for me.
J.K. Rowling– Overdone, yes, but who wouldn’t want to have a dinner party with her?Harry Potter plays a huge role in my reading journey, it would feel like a crime to not take advantage of an opportunity to chat with Rowling.
What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? The best advice I’ve been given thus far is probably not to edit as you are writing. Nina Soden told me this, and while it was definitely a struggle to adjust to, I’m glad she told me. Now, I’m not constantly being so critical to myself, therefore I can write freely and actually come up with some great ideas.
What authors inspire you? I have loads of author inspirations, but the two biggest are A.G. Porter and Nina Soden. I’ve learned so much from working with them, and I them a lot of gratitude because of how much they have not only improved my writing, but motivated me to keep with any story I come up with.
Where can your readers follow you? On Instagram @bethanymartinbooks and please give the Wrecking Havoc on Paper Instagram a follow, @whop.teens
If you are interested in reading The Peculiar Case of Matthias Chase and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be introducing you to some amazing young adults who will be releasing a short story anthology in the next month or two.
Today, I am very excited to introduce you to Lilly Brown, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 7 months. She has been working hard to finish her short story, The Spark, which will be included in an anthology being publish within the next couple of months. I promise to keep you posted on the publication details as we have them.
So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Lilly Brown, author of The Spark.
What name do you write under and is it a pen name?
I write under the name Lilly Brown and no it is not a pen name.
What or who inspired you to start writing?
I don’t really have a specific inspiration as much as I’ve just always wanted to write a book. However, another author and my former writing coach, Amanda Porter, was the one who gave me the opportunity to write.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing tiny little stories probably since I could write, but I’ve been seriously writing for about three and a half years.
What is the name of your most recent story and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
My latest story is call The Spark and I would describe it as a group of moody teens who don’t want to do what they’ve been told to do.
Is the above story part of a series or anthology?
It is in an anthology called a Door to Our Minds, which includes my story and four other stories. However, The Spark is also the first book in a series that I’m planning to continue with now that the anthology is getting ready to be published.
What or who inspired you to start writing?
I don’t really have a specific inspiration as much as I’ve just always wanted to write a book. However, another author and my former writing coach, Amanda Porter, was the one who gave me the opportunity to write.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing tiny little stories probably since I could write, but I’ve been seriously writing for about three and a half years. How did you come up with the cover design idea/concept?
The basic idea came from one of my favorite scenes in the book but my cover artist, Amanda Orneck took it and made it so much better.
Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your story?
I listened to a lot of Broadway soundtracks. I listened to many video game scores and plenty of Star Wars as well.
How did you come up with the title for your story?
My main character is firey and I like to think of this book as the beginning of the story so I thought “The Spark” was fitting.
As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audio books?
Hardcovers all the way. I kind of hoard them but they’re just so beautiful that I can’t help it.
Have you ever read and book more than once? And if so what is it?
Yes I have read a book more than once–seven times, I’m pretty sure and it the Warriors Super Edition, Crookedstar’s Promise.
Have you ever read a book based on its cover?
No. I don’t trust covers alone. There have been so many times where I see a cool cover and then I read the blurb and it sounds super boring so I always double-check books.
What is your favorite film based on a book?
The Phantom of the Opera is definitely my favorite film based on a book, as well as musical.
What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Fantasy. It’s my favorite right now and I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t.
What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
Bright Burns the Night by Sara B Larson is at the top right now. I found the first book in her series at a used bookstore and I loved everything about it, especially how she explained the lore of the fantasy world.
What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
I’m reading Part of Your World by Liz Braswell and it’s a hardcover.
If you could invite and four (4) authors (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
This may sound totally basic but the first would be J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter is one of my favorite book series and I have always admired Rowling for the way she wove every part of each book together. The second would be Erin Hunter. Even though Erin Hunter is a pen name for the group of authors behind the Warriors, Survivors, and Seekers series, I’m still going to use them as my second author. I’d love to find out how they are able to write and publish so many books and keep every character and timeline in order. The third person I would invite is, Liz Braswell. She’s is one of the two authors of Disney’s Twisted Tales series and I admire her ability to take classic stories and rewrite them. The fourth author I would invite is Leigh Bardugo, the author of the Grisha Trilogy and Six of Crows Duology. I love the way she connected these two series and I really admired her world-building skills.
What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
To not edit as I go. I would end up editing things out that I really liked but I would get rid of it because I thought I didn’t need it. I finally learned to let my editor edit.
If you are interested in reading The Spark and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released.
What or who inspired you to start writing?
Nina Soden 