Ways to Live a Better Life

I started thinking today about something. If 80-year-old me was trying to give advice to me today on how to live a better life, what types of tips would I be lending? What sage words could I supply?

So I thought and thought and came up with these ways to live a better life.

What advice would you offer yourself?

Waiting on Wednesday: Weather Witch by Shannon Delany

Waiting on Wednesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Basically, we fan-girl (or fan-boy) over an upcoming release. This one was SO easy for me.

Weather Witch by Shannon Delany

Weather Witch release date: June 25th, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
What's it about according to Goodreads: In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.

Shannon is also doing a call for anyone who might want to get involved. Find out how you can help spread the word about Weather Witch! 

What do you think? What books are you excited for?

Art Meets Young Adult Literature

Art Meets Young Adult Literature

It's an understatement to say that literature shaped me as a person. I was reading Dr. Seuss to my classmates before they even knew their alphabet. I swooned and grew up with the sisters from Sweet Valley High. I even remember replacing my normal prayers with, "Are you there God, it's me, Jolene." Not everyone shares my joy for children, middle grade, and young adult literature (which is fine), but I can't contain my glee when I see an event inspired by it.

So there I was, tweeting, when out of nowhere, Kathleen Rushall posts something about an art show in Los Angeles. I always check out art shows because I like them and because my best friend is a fantastic artist who loves them even more. So I clicked.

Imagine my urges to scream exciting words from a mountain top when I spied what the art show was really about. (Warning, if you're like me and are easily excitable you may want to sit down before you look any lower on the page).

Yep. An art exhibit devoted solely to children's literature and young adult lit. I've died and gone to heaven. Gallery 1988 will be hosting this exhibit February 2nd through February 23rd. You can spy more upcoming exhibits on their Tumblr. You can also check out their official website here.

Have you guys ever seen something like this before? Hear of any other great literature inspired events? Let me know in the comments below! 

See you there!

In the mail... Flat Out Love by Jessica Park

In the mail...

Friday I was delighted to come home from work to find a package waiting for me on the doorstop. It was from Kristen Jett. She'd recently read "Flat Out Love" by Jessica Park and completely loved it.

In fact, she loved it so much that she immediately bought me a copy, sent it to my house, and informed me that though she just finished this book, she was considering reading it again right away.

Needless to say, I'm beyond excited. I recently finished "Easy" by Tammara Webber. It's an NA (new adult) novel dealing with some pretty heavy issues. It's a book I wouldn't normally read based off of the description. But I read it. It was amazing. Engaging. Informative. 

I was wondering how in the world I would be able to read something after it. It's always a terrible feeling when you've read an incredible book, only to be followed up by something mediocre. It's a letdown. But something tells me that I wont be disappointed with "Flat Out Love."

Thank you so much for the book Kristen!!!

Have you guys read this? Did you like it? What other NA novels would you recommend?

YA Books- From the Page to the Big Screen

I posted yesterday at YA Stands about some fantastic YA books turned movies coming out in 2013. Check it out and let me know which ones you're most excited for! I'd love to hear from you.

Also, Isaac Marion is a babe. That is all.

Read my article at YA Stands (it's a lovely site full of YA goodness from people cooler than me.)

Happy reading,

642 Things to Write About

Now that the holidays are over, things are getting a little less hectic and little more back to the normal doldrums of life. I'm still working at a demolition company, doing their payroll and human resources. I'm still blogging my behind off at the websites that I'm passionate about: Pen and Muse, YA Stands, Brazen Reads, and even a few more.

Sometimes I feel like I've blogged so much, I'm not sure what else I have to say about writing. I'm sure that any blogger that contributes to than one site feels the same way. Imagine my excitement when I opened a gift from one of my roommates, the talented photographer Chris Hacker, to find he'd gotten me a book titled, "642 Things To Write About."

This book is awesome! It's filled with random writing prompts, or even conversation starters you could ask at a party over dinner. So, from now on I'll still be blogging about writing tips and book reviews, but I'll also be using this book for warm ups and so that you can get to know me a little better. After all, what good is a friendship if you don't know anything about the other person?

What about you? Do you have any awesome writing prompts books that you use? Do you prefer your writing blogs to stay strictly business?

Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy New Years!

We made it through 2012. We survived two Ends of the World, bath salts, and Honey Boo Boo. Damn. We are resilient. And since silver and gold glitter always make me thing of New Years, here you go.

And here.

Now that glitter is out of the way, here are my New Year's resolutions.

New Year's resolutions:

1. I will read more. Last year I read around 70 books. Then again I did join Goodreads late, so this number could be higher. Either way, whatever number of books I read, I will always think I need to read more.

2. I will do more things that make me happy. I am a slave sometimes to technology. I need to shut down more and focus on friends and family. That said, I need to clarify something in #3.

3. Don't neglect my social media. I know #2 mentioned shutting down my electronic devices more, but I can still do that and get even more blogging/tweeting done. It just means that I can't waste hours on Pinterest looking at glitter gifs or reading TMZ.

4. Lose weight. 2012 was the first time I'd ever had a normal desk job after working previously in my life as a retail slave, camp counselor, waitress, hostess, and misc. office bitch. This means more sitting for me which means that I'm not as trim as I used to be. I need to get out more!

5. Spend more time with my family. My brother and mother both live in Colorado and we see each other 1 to 3 times a year or less. Even my family that lives nearby, sometimes I can go weeks without talking to them because I'm busy. No. This isn't right. I need to be there. I can't live without my family.

6. Help more writers. I remember how lost I was when I first started writing. I needed help. I didn't have anyone. I'm here writers. I'm here for you.

7. Write more. I'm not just talking about blogging because between all of my blogs and blogs I contribute to Pen & Muse, Brazen Reads, YA Stands, Let's Get Nerdy, Thursday Night Book Club, Season Qs Academy, my secret poetry blog that shall remained mysterious, and the blog I'm trying to get off the ground 365 Days of Kindness, I actually do write a lot. But I'm talking about actually writing my WIPS and giving them the love and devotion that they deserve. Write more. This should actually be my number one.

8. Stop hating e-readers. Meh. Actually. Scratch that one. I love to hate them.

9. Read more than just YA. YA is my passion but it's also important for me, with running Pen & Muse, that I'm well versed in all genres. 

10. Go to more conferences for writing and reading. I'm still afraid of flying but I don't let it stop me.

11. Pay off my credit cards.

I'm trying to think of more but those are the biggest ones. I hope I can do at least some of these and make it happen. 

What about you? What are your New Year's resolutions?  Did you meet your goals from last year? I'd love to know in the comments below!