I Choose Beautiful

How many of you are familiar with the Dove Choose Beautiful Campaign?

This YouTube video was recently brought to my attention, and if you haven't seen it, you need to. As women, we sometimes devalue our beauty. As women, we tend to think of ourselves as "average" or "mediocre" or nothing "special." But the truth is, we are ALL special. We ALL have something to offer. We are all beautiful.

Yet, in the video, time after time, many women chose the "Average" door. Why? Because they didn't think they could call themselves beautiful? Or they didn't want to be judged off of other's perceptions? How often do we maybe "feel" beautiful but then think that others wouldn't label us as such?

                             

And why is that? Is it because there is a preconceived notion of what makes someone beautiful? Full lips, flawless skin, size 2 body? 

Of course not. Women are beautiful based on who they are, not how they look. Throughout history, women have made a difference. Women have spoken out for what they believe. Take Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who stood up for education and was shot in the face by a member of the Taliban. One side of her face may now be disfigured, but she is BEAUTIFUL!  She is embracing the fact that she may never look the same, but she knows that her words are more important than her physical features. Her words can change the world, more so than her looks every could.

I recently read this book for book club and it was inspiring. As women, there are so many things we can do to make a difference. Sometimes even the smallest thing can help change the world. And that, my friends, is where our beauty lies. Not in the structure of our face or the shape of our bodies, but in the size of our hearts. 

So, the question is....

Which door would you choose?

On a side note, I made it to Round 3 of Query Kombat with my entry Life Sucks—I'm Stuck in Podunk. It started out as 64 Kombatants and we are now down to 16 of us which means only 8 match-ups left. The next round begins Monday! Wish me luck!

Book Review: An Absence of Light

As part of this Book Review Tour, I received an eARC copy of AN ABSENCE OF LIGHT by Meradeth Houston in exchange for an honest review.

The novel grabbed my attention right away by opening with the murder of the main character's family. Of course, it made me want to read on to find out who or what killed them. Forced to flee because of the evidence stacked against her, the MC, Lee, finds herself out of gas with no money, stopped in front of a car repair garage. It almost seems like fate when the owner of the garage is the only person she's ever met who can see the Shadows too. And this middle-aged man, Manuel, is kind enough to take her in without asking too many questions or needing too many answers.

The concept of these otherworldly "creatures" is extremely unique in that they feed off darkness or evil. And soon they begin taking over the bodies of innocent people, eating their soul from inside out. They've set their sights on Lee because she's one of the few people who can kill these vicious "things." Then you add Adam, the cute but distant guy who's been "marked" by the Shadows, and you have an interesting setup. On one hand, they are desperately trying to stay alive and kill as many Shadows as they can while trying to figure out the Shadows ulterior plan, but also there's a connection between Adam and Lee that's almost palpable.

Even though this isn't a genre I would normally read, I really enjoyed it. There were places where the book slowed down a bit, but those scenes were nicely contrasted with a high action scene. And of course, the romantic tension between Lee and Adam makes you want to fly through the pages to find out if they do ever end up together. The ending was a satisfying (although sad) one. I won't say anymore because I don't want to give anything away.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers/horror with science fiction elements and a little romance.

Here's a little more about the book and author.

An Absence of Light by Meradeth Houston
Published by: Evernight Teen
Publication date: October 31st 2014
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Leah’s always seen the shadow creatures. She thought she was immune to their evil—until now.
She’s walked into a massacre, stolen a BMW, and is running from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. Nineteen-year-old Leah’s life just went from mildly abnormal to totally crazy at lightning speed. But no one will believe that the shadow creatures are framing her for the murder, because she’s the only one that can see them. At least that’s what she thought.
When Leah stumbled across a group who share her ability, she discovers they have something she doesn’t: a way to fight back. When the group offers to teach her how to kill the shadow creatures, Leah jumps at the chance. But something is brewing with the creatures. They’re tracking down the hunters like there’s no tomorrow. Leah suspects that maybe there won’t be, and it’s up to her to make sure tomorrow comes. Because she’ll do anything to stop the shadows, including risking her life—and the life of the one she loves—to keep the world from being lost to darkness forever.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23357906-an-absence-of-light?ac=1

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Absence-Light-Meradeth-Houston-ebook/dp/B00OY1ZFJW/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-absence-of-light-meradeth-houston/1120690665?ean=9781772330922

AUTHOR BIO:

Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:

>She’s a Northern California girl. And now is braving the cold winters in Montana.
>When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
>She’s also an anthropology professor and loves getting people interested in studying humans.
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.

Author links:

http://www.meradethhouston.com/

https://twitter.com/MeradethHouston

https://www.facebook.com/MeradethHouston
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5321667.Meradeth_Houston

Happy Reading!!

**Updated: I almost forgot to fill you in on how the Query Kombat contest is going. I made it to the Agent Round which is happening RIGHT NOW! I'm thrilled because my entry received 2 Wild Card full manuscript requests from 2 different agents. I won't know how many other requests I've received until I've been knocked out of the contest, but I'm getting excited that there is probably more. *Keeping my fingers crossed!*

Oh, and if you want to check out my entry, you can find it HERE. :)

Also, it's my week to host Unicorn Bell and I'm talking about two of my favorite things...books and cookies! Stop on by for some great book reviews and yummy cookie recipes. Today, I'm reviewing THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, a YA Contemporary that I absolutely fell in love with. You can read my review HERE.

                                                       

IWSG June: Query Kombat

Hi everyone!

It's time for another group posting of the IWSG—a group created to offer support to writers no matter what their stage in publishing or writing. It's a time to air our insecurities or triumphs and offer hope and support for others. A big thank you as always to our amazing ninja captain Alex Cavanaugh for creating this monthly blog hop. And thank you to the co-hosts as well:  M. Pax, Tracy Jo, Patricia Lynne, Rachna Chhabria, Feather Stone, and Randi Lee!

You may have seen a previous posting where I announced I made it into the first round of The Writer's Voice (which really meant I was one of the lucky ones who was chosen through the Rafflecopter drawing.)  I had entered my YA near future thriller I've been querying for the past few months. Well...I wasn't chosen for a team, so my journey with that contest is over.

BUT...

I recently submitted a different MS (or my query and first 250 of a brand new, shiny MS that I wrote while querying Catalyst) to Query Kombat and guess what?! I made it into the 1st Round!!!

As of right now, I am "battling" against the query and first 250 of another Kombatant and if I win (which it looks like I might) then I move on to the next round which is the AGENT ROUND!

I'm feeling pretty excited right now. I never got this far in any contest with Catalyst. But I did what everyone says to do...I wrote another manuscript. Obviously, I don't know what will happen next or if this will be THE ONE to get me an agent, but I know that all I can do is hope. And keep writing.

**For anyone interested in checking out my entry or the battle I'm currently in, you can find it HERE. My entry is Life Sucks—I'm Stuck in Podunk.

Writer's Voice Entry: Catalyst

I was lucky enough to win a spot in The Writer's Voice! *squeal* For those of you who don't know, The Writer's Voice is a contest in which I post my query and first 250 words of my manuscript in the hopes that I'm chosen for a team that will take me to the agent round. So, here goes...

Query:

In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose genetic modification for their children, eighteen-year-old Sienna Preston clings to the one thing she’s good at—the art of lying. 

After the mysterious death of her father, Sienna uses her liar-for-hire skills to help support her family. As a “normal” girl among the genetically modified—or GM’s—the world around her is a little too pretty, a little too smart, and a little too cruel. Especially since her love interest is the GM's finest.

But not all liar-for-hire assignments go according to plan. And when her covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, Sienna becomes entangled with a corrupt Government official hell-bent on taking her down. Using her lying, thieving past as leverage—and her mother as collateral—Commander Radcliffe forces Sienna to make a difficult choice. Kill the father of the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for or be sent to Solitary Confinement. For the rest of her life.

Or perhaps there is another option…Like joining forces with an extremist group and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad.

Problem is, even an underground Compound can't escape the fiery missiles of the Government's drones. 

Complete at 100,000 words, Catalyst is a YA near future thriller with strong romantic elements.

First 250:

The bio fridge hums with its latest addition—a package of dehydrated bologna.

“The shelf life for product Meat Delite will expire in one month and two days,” the automated voice chimes in.

I sigh in disgust. If I have to eat one more package of that crap, I might just vomit in my mouth. Seriously.

I eye the sparse contents inside the gelled portion of the fridge. The tube of yogurt looks decidedly better than the bottled pickles. And definitely better than Meat Crap Delite. I grab the purple yogurt tube and tear into it.

As the door closes with a click, I stare at my reflection in the tinted glass. The circles under my eyes are a dead giveaway that I haven’t had any sleep. I’m not used to pulling all-nighters, which might also explain why I feel like a ravenous beast.

I suck down the pomegranate-blueberry flavored creamy goodness and listen for sounds of movement inside our double-wide. But all I hear is the steady whir of the solar panels absorbing the heat from the rising sun. Mama and Emily must still be asleep.

Squeezing the tube to get every last drop of yogurt, I slump down in a recycled kitchen chair and mumble to Iris to show me the news.

“Good morning, Sienna. Here are the news highlights for today.” The small Com Screen begins buffering the latest headlines. If I did my job right, the news should lead off with a disgraced Honorable Tanner Caldwell being led away in handcuffs.

****

A BIG thank you to our lovely hosts Brenda Drake, Krista Van Dolzer, Elizabeth Briggs, and
Mónica Bustamante Wagner for this wonderful opportunity. And to my fellow entrants, best of luck!

Saturday Six

Hi, everyone. I've often heard of the Friday Five, but for today, I decided to do the Saturday Six and give you six updates about myself. It's been a while since I've given an update, so this is long overdue!

1) I sent the manuscript for my YA contemporary, Middle of Knowhere, to my CP this week. I think she likes it so far, but I can't wait to see what she really thinks. :)



2) I survived the Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet this week. (Did I mention that I'm the Cubmaster for our pack?) Yep, so I planned, decorated, and executed the event, and boy, am I glad that's over! It was a Minion theme. Cute, huh?























3) Last night, I went to a Zumba fundraiser for a little boy at our elementary school who has cancer. Bring It 4 Brayon. You can find info all over the web about him. He is basically dancing his way through his cancer treatments, and he is unbelievable for a little six-year-old. He was on the Ellen Degeneres Show this past week, and she fell in LOVE with him. Last night, our small rural town raised...*insert drumroll please*  THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!! *cue the squeals*

He is such a brave little boy who has captured the hearts of many!

4) I am still querying my YA near future thriller, CATALYST. There are still a few agents who have my manuscript and I'm waiting to hear back from them before I send more queries. The waiting is the hardest part! BUT, in the meantime, I have a couple contests I'll be entering in the next couple of weeks. Query Kombat and The Writer's Voice.






5) My husband was out of town recently and I had a book "marathon" while he was away. I read like 4 books in 2 days. They were all YA contemporary books so it was great to compare them to my own YA contemporary manuscript. I came away feeling pretty good. And the cool thing about 3 of those books...they were FREE and they were SIGNED! I won them in a Giveaway over on Magen Corrie's website. Gotta love Giveaways!!

6) My son's birthday is coming up at the end of this month. Remember how I did a Frozen party last year? If not, you can click HERE to find out...Anyways, this year he wants an Avengers party. Sooo, I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next couple of weeks...

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Hope you're having a fabulous weekend! What's up with you?

A Mother is a Gift

Happy Mother's Day!!

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I just love Mother's Day, mainly because it's a day where we can honor the women in our lives who have made a difference. You don't have to be a mother to be celebrated on this special day. Every woman has the opportunity to have an impact on someone else's life, so today, while honoring mothers, I truly believe it's also a day to honor womanhood.

As women, we are special. We are unique. We are daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, teachers, and friends. We come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and religious preferences. We have been blessed with the ability to bear children, nurture souls, and show kindness to those we come in contact with. So, today, let's honor all those women in our lives who have taught us something, who have brought a smile to our face, who have loved us or cared for us.

You don't have to be a mother to celebrate Mother's Day.

But now that I am a mother, it is truly one of my favorite days. It's a chance for me to be pampered by my gaggle of boys. It's an opportunity for me to relax and eat chocolates, and let my husband and sons cook dinner and clean up.

Yesterday, I got to take the "day off." I did a little shopping, and met up with a friend for lunch and pedicures. It was seriously the BEST day! And a day I totally needed!

Don't you love our selfie? :)

If you're celebrating Mother's Day today, here are some great quotes to uplift and inspire you. Do any of them ring true?

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I just love those quotes! I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day filled with relaxation, and hopefully chocolates! :)

May IWSG: My Muse

I have this muse, she's called Inspiration.

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We all know her. She's the one who keeps us up late at night and who bombards our dreams and sneaks in at the most inopportune times. Rarely does she strike when she's supposed to, like when I'm sitting at my laptop trying to rewrite the beginning of a story.

No, instead, she likes to visit when it is totally, utterly, and completely inconvenient. Perhaps when I'm taking a shower, driving in the car, or cleaning the house. My poor house doesn't stand a chance against Inspiration! She's very persuasive and demands that I stop whatever I'm doing and focus on exactly what she needs to say. I swear I must look like a deranged person when she finally visits me.

Ah well, I guess I'd rather have her visit me than her annoying cousin Writer's Block. Or her ugly step-child Doubt.

Yep, I think I'll take Inspiration any day.

How about you? Is your Inspiration this demanding?

**This post was brought to you by my group posting for the IWSG! A big thank you to ninja captain, Alex Cavanaugh for organizing this monthly blog hop where we post our fears, insecurities, and triumphs, and offer support to those who need it. If interested, you can join HERE.

Have a great one!