Guest Post by Monique Diplock!!

Today I have Monique Diplock doing a guest post today on the blog!!  She is a new author and even has her first book posted on goodreads!  Go and check it out when you have the chance!!

 Dreams

Over the last week I have realized the importance of my dreams. What are your dreams, Monique? I hear you ask. I want to be an Author. Yes, that’s right I want to sit on my butt and write. In the last week so many things have happened in this area I have come to realize that nine times out of ten, you are the only person that has faith in your dreams.

Earlier this week I put my novel Stand Tall, they’ll Break Your Heart (see Here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13557696-stand-tall-they-ll-break-your-heart) on Goodreads.com to see what kind of Hype I could get for it, It reached Number one on the YA Contemporary list for 2013 within two hours. Oh my god was I excited. It’s Still there now take a look Here. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/21917.2013_Contemporary_YA#13557696

First it was sitting right above one of my Idols’ novel, Lisa Schroeder, I cannot express how bad i felt to surpass her novel, and I absolutely adore her work.

Then it was Three, Two, and then ONE!!!!!!

This happened at like 4am Australian time so as you would imagine I could not wait to tell my mum and family. I woke up early and waited for a time that would be suitable to call and tell her.

I told her, she went through the ‘I’m Proud’ speech but when I told her I wanted to push my studies back for 6 months I got laughed at and told my writing isn’t important. This hurt me immensely. I have been writing since I was 12; I am now 24 so that is 10 years. It’s becoming close to more than half my life.

Than I told my therapist the same thing and I got told ‘You have had all this time to concentrate on writing.’ Yes I have had all this time to concentrate on writing but A) It takes a life time to grow a craft and B) I have never had a reason to concentrate souly on my writing, now all these people want to read MY novel and no one in my life seams at all happy for me.

Even though I have spent more hours then researching this business then I have spent with my own nephew, they still want to tell me they know more about it then me?

But that’s okay, because this is my dream, not theirs. Even though I told them I didn’t want to quit my studies, I just wanted to wait a few months. But anyway, I have faith in my talent. I know that I can work hard and get this book complete til the end and then when I finish that write another, I know in a few years people will wonder why they ever doubted me.

I guess the moral of my story is, people will always find ways to put you down. Even if they don’t realise they are hurting you, they want you to do what they think is best for you; even if it’s not what you know is best for you. If you work hard enough at your dream you can wake up one day and look them in the eye and say ‘I told you so’ but until then you have to take the hurt and the criticism on the sleeve and know that you can do it. Because if you don’t have faith in yourself, no one will.                                                                              

Thanks so much Monique for visiting the blog today!!  I'm sorry you didn't get the support you were hoping for at the beginning.  My advice... KEEP WRITING!!  From someone who has also writing most of her life, I know what it is to want to write professionally!  Don't ever stop, and don't let people keep convince you to stop doing it!  This is our life's ambition!  

Here is the link to Monique's blog, her twitter and Facebook!!  Make sure you go and check her out!! 

THE BOOK MYSTRESS

Follow her on Twitter: @Moniquediplock1

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MissGC

Review of Breathe by Abbi Glines

Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.

When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star.

Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationship's never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie.

I have been wanting to read this book since it came out.  I happened to be on Amazon Monday night looking at Because of Low, and happened to see this one.  Since I had been wanting to read it, I decided to buy it instead of buying Because of Low.  Now, I want to buy Because of Low, to read about Marcus.

You first meet Sadie when she's forced to go to her mother's job to work in her place. Her mother is pregnant, and chooses to send Sadie with the excuse it's too hot and she's too pregnant.  There were times in the book her mother pissed me off, because she always acted like the victim.  You, at times, wondered who was the adult between the two of them.  

On Sadie's first day, she's told she has to clean the library as a test.  It is as she is walking into the library, she sees the picture of the owner of the house.  Jax Stone.  He's a teenage idol, and is coming to his summer house to take some time off.  She first sees him as she's about to get on the employee elevator after dusting his room, when she's cleaning up something that she spilled.  After that, their next meeting is at dinner with his mother.  This is where she meets Marcus for the first time.  I liked Marcus, and even thought he would be a better match for her then Jax, just because the chemistry between them was great!  She also meets Ms. Mary, the housekeeper, who she thinks is tough, but realizes that she's a kindred spirit.  Ms. Mary worries about her when her mother doesn't seem to care in the least what happens to her.

It is at this dinner, Jax's interest is drawn to her, and he can not stop staring at her.  She doesn't think anything of it, and goes about her everyday routine of coming to work.  She even has a routine with Marcus, where he drops her off at her apartment in the evenings when they are done.  You don't really see much of Jax, until he takes her to the grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner.  It was funny to see him disguise himself in order to get himself a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  During this shopping trip, Sadie realizes that she likes him, and he makes it known that he likes to too!  She realizes there is more to the pop star then what is portrayed in the magazines and tv.  

As Jax and Sadie get closer to each other, Marcus gets increasingly jealous.  You know he that has a crush on her, and is sad that she chooses Jax over him.  When Jax decides to go with Sadie to a July 4th party, that proves to be their undoing.  It is leaked to the press, and Jax is forced to break it off with Sadie, leaving her crushed.  It is at this time, her mother steps up to the plate and acts like a mother.  After staying in her room for three days, it is Marcus who comes to Sadie's rescue.  Marcus is the one who gets her to eat and drink something, and you find out it is her mother who called him.  At the end of it all, he is her friend through and through, and makes it known that he will always be there for her.  

After her mother has the baby, again it is up to Sadie to take care of the baby and juggle going to school.  She's worried about her mother, as she's getting more and more depressed, and Sadie doesn't understand why.  She's forced to be a mother to the baby, and at the same time try and stay awake for school during the day.  While she's on her way to school, something happens that ends up landing her in the hospital.  She wakes up to Jax singing to her!  He has come back to her, after hearing what happened while he was gone.  He makes it known to her that he can not be away from her any longer, and says they will figure out how to be together. 

What I loved about this book, is that Sadie, who had been alone with her mother for so long, found family.  She had been so used to depending on herself, that it's hard for her to realize that there are people who will help her when she needs it.  She has a boyfriend who she loves desperately, and friends she can count on when she needs them.  She is even able to make peace with her mother, which made me really happy.  

BREATHE ON GOODREADS

BREATHE ON AMAZON

Cover Reveal for Shift by Raine Thomas!!

I am totally doing a happy dance!!  I have been waiting to see this, and saw it on Raine's twitter profile this morning!!  I love it, it's beautiful!!!  Can not wait to start the book for next month's blog tour!!!  Well done Raine!! The book comes out August 24th!!

SHIFT ON GOODREADS

Here is the link to add it to your goodreads list!

Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.

A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.

Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.

The search for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don’t, Eirik will acquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.

Guest Post by Krystal Wade!

So, I'm thinking of making this a normal Friday routine!!  Have a guest post Friday from different people!  I've had one already, so I'm thinking it's going to be a trend now!!

Today, I have Krystal Wade guest posting on the blog today!!  She is the author Wilde's Fire, and Wilde's Army, which I can not wait to start reading!!!

Forgetting Things

As a writer, I'm constantly dwelling on fictitious worlds with their dark, deadly fictitious problems. Sometimes I'm so engrossed in what these make-believe characters are doing that I forget what's going on in the real world.

My floor goes unvacuumed. My laundry goes unputaway. (Yes, I realize I'm making up words. I'm a writer; that's my job!) My car goes unwashed. My kids go unfed.

I made up that last part to see if you were paying attention. My kids are well fed; though you wouldn't know if you looked at their scrawny behinds.

So, being able to suspend reality is great, unless you have important things you need to do. Jess asked me to write a guest post for her, and guess what?!

I completely forgot.

This behavior isn't unusual for me—even though I cannot stand being forgetful—but is it unusual for other writers?

Tell us the funniest thing you've ever forgotten because you were too wrapped up in your imagination!

Krystal Wade is a mother of three, works fifty miles from home, and writes in her "spare time".

Wilde's Fire: Amazon – B&N

Wilde's Army: Amazon – B&N

www.krystalwade.blogspot.com

www.krystal-wade.com

Thanks Krystal for posting on my blog today!!!  It's sad... I think I could write a novel with everything I've forgotten!!  There are times, I'm so busy and frazzled that I forget my own name.  Thursday, I did forget to take out the garbage... was rushing with the boys yesterday morning, that I didn't remember until I was at work that it hadn't been put out to the end of the driveway.  Story of my life...

It's nice to know I'm not the only one's who's dishes go unwashed and who's clothes go unputaway (love that!) because of writing.  I usually am so wrapped up in my story that it's my husband who's like... are you doing laundry any time soon?  Then I'm looking at him like... oh yea, laundry!

It will be interesting to see the answers to this question!!  

Getting Ready to Start....

These are the next two books on my reading list to start reading!!  I've already started Anew and will be starting Rapture in the next few days for my book club with my cousin!!  There are only the two of us, but it is so much fun talking about books with someone finally!!

I'm excited, but I'm always excited about starting new books!  I'll be sad to read the end of Rapture as it's a great series!  I still haven't been able to read the end of Breaking Dawn... just because I love it so much!!

Happy Independence Day!!

Happy Independence Day to all my American Friends and Family!!!  I hope it's a safe and happy holiday for everyone!!

I am spending it quietly today, with my family.  Which is the best way to spend it!!!

My WriCha Story is up!!!

Please head on over to Zoe's blog and read my Challenge story!!  She posted my story first, which makes me so happy!  I'm also really nervous about it, as again sharing my writing is terrifying to me.

Here is the link to Zoe's Blog, so you can go and check out my story!!!  Please comment at the end, letting me know what you think!!!

ZOE'S CORNER

Also, it is Canada Day today!!  I'm wishing Happy Canada Day to all my family and friends in Canada today!  I wish I was there to celebrate with everyone!!