As an avid reader of fiction (and an author who one day hopes to make the list) I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE checking out the New York Times Best Seller list. So, I’ve decided to start sharing their independently ranked top 10 right here on my website for my readers.
If you’ve read any of the TOP 10 selections and recommend them, please comment below and let me know. If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the title or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
Have you ever experienced something that could not be logically
explained?
Something
that could not be logically explained? To you or to me? My whole life is filled
with things that most humans would say could not be logically explained.
I’m
blind. I wasn’t always blind, but when I was seven years old, I drowned. My
family was at a backyard bar-b-q at a neighbor’s house, and I was playing with
the other kids when I slipped and fell into the pool. I remember the feeling of
the cold water rushing around me but after that, nothing.
I’m
told I spent six months in the hospital, most of which I was either in a coma
or sedated. When I finally woke up, I had lost all vision in both eyes. I
couldn’t remember what my parents looked like or even that I had a little
brother, only three years old.
My
parents sent me away, to a boarding school for the blind. They said it would be
the best thing for me—that I’d learn how to deal with my new reality.
I
learned.
I
trained.
I
grew.
My
life is different now. I still can’t see, not in the way you do anyway.
However, my sight goes so much deeper than yours ever could.
They
call me a Precognitive. It’s a fancy word for someone who knows what will come…someone
with the ability to see into the future. So you see, my whole life is filled
with things that you might say are not logically explainable.
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!
Have you ever experienced something that
could not be logically explained?
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Would you like more sources for daily writing prompts? Click on the links below for two of my favorite writing prompt journals. I think you’ll really love them too!
Paper 204 pages of 100 GSM wood-free, acid-free paper
Binding open smith-sewn
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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!
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.
If I looked into your fridge right now, what would I find?
Wine.
Oh,
and beer. Now that Dean is staying over more often than not, he stocks the
fridge with beer.
I think we had pizza a couple nights ago and Chinese takeout from that place just down the street last night. So, I’m sure there are a few containers of leftovers. I leave them for Dean. I don’t eat leftovers. Dean, he eats anything.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it; wine, beer, and leftovers. I don’t cook. It’s one of the first things I tell a guy when I start dating. I figure if they are expecting some June Cleaver type, then I might as well scare them away before I get to attached. You know?
Hi,
I’m Kim, just your modern-day woman. I get my breakfast down at the coffee shop
on the corner, lunch at the deli down the road, and dinner at one of the many restaurants
within walking distance from my apartment which just so happens to reside just
above my small boutique. I design a line of woman’s clothing, but I’m working
on a children’s line. I cater to those high society types. You know the ones.
The moms who like to dress younger than they are. The mother daughter combos
who walk around in matching summer dresses.
I
love what I do, it’s my passion, but sometimes my customers can drive me a
little crazy. That’s why my fridge is stocked with wine. Lots of wine!
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!
If I looked into your fridge right now, what would I find?
* * * * *
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 planner/journal hybrid helps new and experienced writers stay organized while still fostering creativity. It is the perfect complement to So You Want To Write A Book.
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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 aSAG/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?
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.
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.
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.
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Nina Soden 