Is the universe talking to you?

Do you ever have those moments when it feels like the universe is talking to you?  Maybe even shouting, trying to get you to listen?  I had one of those moments yesterday while out walking the dogs.

If you’re a follower of this blog, then you’ll know that music is a huge part of my day.  I listen to it at work, on the commute, working out and especially while writing.  So, yesterday on my walk was no exception.

I was listening to a song that I’ve heard hundreds of times and a line in it just struck me. “If I die before I learn to speak, can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep.”

The answer was immediate. It was a resounding NO, money cannot pay for all the time I’m wasting, floating, while I wait to live the life I want to.

Then today I was listening to a podcast and the speaker was talking about a problem they had previously experienced and the statement someone made to them when they were seeking advice.  “A loaded train doesn’t jump the track.” He further explained what that meant. “When a train is loaded down with freight, it will not jump the track.  Only when the boxcars are empty is the train liable to leave the tracks.”

Heavy words.  For me this was exactly what I needed to hear. We are always changing and growing.  The things we wanted in the past aren’t always the things we want or need as we advance. I’ve let the things of the past become shackles that hold me back and pull me down. The message I heard from this speaker was that in order to change course, I have to unburden myself. 

 

I don’t think what I heard was what he was intending to convey, but that is what I love about reading/listening to other peoples words.  The messages you get aren’t always the same for everyone, or even what the author meant but they are often just what you need to hear and always meant just for you.

I’m not going to try tie this into anything, or make it more than it is. It’s just me writing down my thoughts before they get away. And leaving myself a place to go back to and remember what I was feeling today.  Because surely I’ll need reminding again in the future.

Children of the Gods Blog tour - July 1-10th

I'm going on tour!  Make sure to check out each stop for something new and interesting, and watch for Giveaways of an ebook copy of my book, Children of the Gods!

July 1st ~ http://renthewriter.com/

Author Bio/Excerpt

July 2nd ~  http://kasonndraleigh.blogspot.com/

July 3rd ~ http://www.moosubi.blogspot.com/

Review/giveaway

July 4 ~ blog: http://dragonslairbooks.blogspot.com

Review

July 5th ~ http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.ca/

guest post

July 6th ~ http://stephiereadsbooks.blogspot.com/
  

July 7 ~ http://suzannevanrooyen.com/blog/

author interview

July 8th ~ http://readwearwrite.wordpress.com

Review and Excerpt

July 9th ~ http://neverendingstoriesblog.blogspo...

July 10th ~ http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com

Visit me on:

Twitter 

Facebook

GoodReads

Buy the Book!

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Or through your Itunes

***Here's the Giveaway part.  Leave me a comment here on this post, I'll be drawing at least 1 lucky winner to receive an ebook copy of Children of the Gods, then check back on  Friday the 13th to see if you've won. (Make sure to leave info on how to contact you.)

Also, if you comment on any of the tour stop posts, let me know here which sites you posted comments on (you can just leave the tour dates and I'll check to confirm) and I'll give you an extra entry for each post  you comment on.  That's 11 chances to get entered to win!

Food Allergies

I've started a new blog (in addition to this one).

I've struggled for years with soy and diary food allergies.  My new blog is devoted entirely to eating and living free of dairy and soy.  My diet will be foods I prepare myself with almost entirely whole foods. I'll be posting pictures, tips, recipes, and videos to help show the things I learn to make.

If you're interested - check out SOy Sick of Food (allergies)!

(The blog link is http://soysickoffood.blogspot.com/)

Sharing your experiences

I’ve been thinking about this topic for a little while now. It started with another aha moment for me that I was considering writing a post about. I wasn’t sure about posting because it calls into focus my belief in God. As a writer, sometimes I try to remain neutral (notice I said sometimes) with the face I present to the world. I’m not neutral though and this blog is my personal blog that I post whatever is going on in my head at the moment. As the title of the blog states, It’s never what you expect.

In thinking about the topic I was considering, I was reminded of the importance of sharing your experiences with others by two conflicting posts on Facebook. One friend posted about how she was humbled by an experience she’d had that day and how she was grateful for the lesson she’d learned. In an unrelated post by another friend that was next in my timeline, a friend ranted passionately about a celebrity.

Reading the one post right after the other gave me such amazing perspective. I couldn’t help but think about what we let become important to us. And then, of course I had to think about what things I was giving energy to in my own life. How many unimportant things am I giving my passion and my effort to?

I went to bed with those thoughts in my head and woke up feeling so wonderful and so positive. When I got to work I wrote down some of my thoughts and had every intention of coming home that day and writing a nice post about it. But as the day progressed I again let a lot of those things that shouldn’t have priority take all of my energy and all my emotions, until there was very little left for me and the people in my life at the end of the day. I didn’t have enough emotional energy left to check my email, let alone write the post.

In the past I wrote about my experience shaving my head. I posted it here and didn’t expect much to come of it. If you’ll look at the popular posts on the right hand side, you’ll see it’s the most popular post. I’m amazed at the number of visitors to this blog that come from that post alone. If you’re interested, take a look, and if you do, look at the comments. I was humbled by the fact that my experience helped someone I didn’t know who lived thousands of miles from me.

Today I had a similar experience with a runner who I follow on Twitter. She posted her experience and it was exactly what I was needing to hear this morning. So, in my long and rambling way that I always do... I’ll get to the point.

Sometimes we question sharing our experiences or our writing with others. Reasons might be that we’re afraid of what others might think or say. Will they like it? Will someone be offended by what I believe or have to say and be turned away? There are so many what ifs and reasons we can come up with to convince ourselves not to put ourselves and our thoughts out there.

For me, what I’ve found (but sometimes forget) is; there may be someone out there reading my blog who really needs to hear what I have to say. I never know when my words might make all the difference in the world to someone else. By posting or sharing my works, I may be helping someone in ways I can’t even imagine.

For some people that isn’t enough to outweigh the fear of rejection, or the fear of just putting themselves out there. For me, by taking myself out of the equation it makes the choice easier. By sharing this, hopefully, it’ll help someone else who is struggling with the same concerns.

Tuesday Tickle

Tuesday Tickle is a new feature. It won't necessarily be every Tuesday but anytime I find a stash of things that amuse me or make my boyfriend ask if I took a crazy pill today because I'm giggling incessantly, I'll post them.

This isn't a little known site. I think many of you might have already visited but it bears repeating. And for those that haven't found it yet... enjoy! http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/

Kitties with Lightsabers... need I say more? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z3r9X8OahA&feature=BFa&list=FL2HK5I_gpbZ9kiVw_iC2-TQ&lf=mh_lolz

Worm Kitties - hehehe http://icanhascheezburger.com/2011/02/03/funny-pictures-videos-worm-kittehs/

Video cameras and dentist office don't mix. Thank goodness for us they did! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZknUbXOOjfA

Okay, the first link alone should be enough to keep you entertained for days! :D

Winner!

CONGRATULATIONS HANNAH!

Your name was drawn as the winner of the ebook copy of Children of the Gods!

Don't be sad if you didn't win... pop on over to Lost In Literature for another chance.

http://lost-in-lit.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-children-of-gods-by-monica.html

Exclamations and CAPITALIZATION

In celebration of my BLOG TOUR which starts tomorrow! I am having a GIVEAWAY!

What’s with all the CAPITALIZATION and exclamation points? You ask. Well, I’m excited and when I get excited exclamation points start flying and since you can’t see me jumping on the bed, the CAPITALIZATION will have to serve as my digital trampoline. :D

Okay, so… Tomorrow my BLOG TOUR with CLP BLOG TOURS stars. To kick it off I thought I’d hold a giveaway. One commenter will win an ebook copy of the book I’m going on tour for: Children of the Gods.

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock and haven’t heard about it yet. Children of the Gods is a light Sci-fi romance for Young Adults. Here’s a quick synopsis:

For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sights.

The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching.

This giveaway ends at 8:00pm Alaska time Wednesday 3/21/12 (I’m in Alaska so we go by my time – which really is good for you East Coastians who are 4 hours ahead of me so it’ll be like midnight your timeish.)

All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment on this blog post by 8pm Alaska time on March 21^st 2012. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win. The winner will be announced Thursday March 22^nd here!

PS: Don’t forget – If you leave a comment on my tour page over at CLP Blog Tours http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/02/children-of-gods-by-monica-millard.html you’ll be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card. AND Anyone who buys Children of the Gods before April 9^th 2012 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, you will get five bonus entries!**

I'm Going On Tour with CLP Blog Tours!!

Children of the Gods by Monica Millard

March 19- To Be Thode- Review

March 20- Books Etc- Excerpt

March 22- Chick Lit Plus- Q&A

March 25- Lost in Literature- Review

March 26- Peace Love Books- Review

March 28- Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – Q&A

March 29- Lost in the Pages- Excerpt

March 31 - Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews- Guest Post & Excerpt

April 1- Book Briefs- Review

April 2- Ink Spots and Roses- Review

April 3- Ink Spots and Roses- Guest Post

April 4- Change the Word- Review & Excerpt

April 5- Change the Word- Q&A

April 6- Storm Goddess Book Reviews- Review, Q&A, & Excerpt

April 7- Kindling the Fire- Review

April 9- Chick Lit Plus- Review

**Anyone who purchases their copy of Children of the Gods before April 9 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five entries in a drawing to win a $10 Amazon gift card!!**

Well Suited

Earlier this week I told my boyfriend that he was amazing, not for the first time, because he is. But this time he looked at me funny, like maybe I'd gone crazy or grown a third eye and said, "We're just well suited for each other." He's right of course, but it got me thinking.

As you know, well if you read this blog then you know, I have decided to buy, read and post reviews of books by Indie authors. In my haste to find books that fit my criteria, I failed to do the most important thing. Find books that actually appeal to me.

I've posted my first review with some regret, because the book in the right hands may be thought wonderful, but it just wasn't well suited to me. As with a relationship, if the man or in this case the book doesn't fit your tastes, it isn't likely to be an overly pleasant experience.

Yes, there are those rare exceptions where you are pleasantly surprised to find that, yes, you do in fact like this particular blonde lawyer who drives a prius when you typically choose the construction worker with the black hair and the big truck. Or the vampire novel when normally you avoid them like the plague.

But as I get older I find that I have a far better chance of having a good experience whether it be book, movie, relationship or anything really, if I find the things that are well suited to me and me to them. Seems obvious, I know, but sometimes the obvious things are the hardest to learn or maybe to accept. And I have a habit of making things harder than they are.

So, basically the moral of this story is that when searching for books to read for review, I will not do so in haste and will add to my criteria that I actually have to want to read the book.

Indie Book Reviews

Last week I spoke about my fresh perspective on Raging against the dying of the light after reading Crossed by Ally Condie. One of the things I said I was going to do to help stave off the dying of the light was encourage the good in those around me, and for this post, more specifically, supporting Indie authors.

One of the ways I intend to support them is the obvious; buying their books. But I also want to take that a step further, because as an Indie author I can tell you having your book purchased is awesome, but there is nothing that compares to hearing from a reader who loved your book and thought enough of it to tell the rest of the reading world their opinion in a review.

A review is a two-fold gift, it provides us as authors that warm fuzzy, day making feeling, but, and this is incredibly important and helpful for an author, it gives other readers who might be considering reading/purchasing the book a vote of confidence, or in the case of a bad review, a cautionary warning.

I look at reviews if I’m on the fence and not sure I want to pay the cost for the book, but more importantly do I want to invest the very little extra time I have to read in an untested author that I know nothing about other than the blurb on the description page. So, for Indie’s, it very literally helps sell books. Reviews can make or break them.

So, in my long winded way, and hopefully informative way, what I’m trying to say is that I plan to invest a minimum each month of $6 to buying and reviewing Indie authors books. ($6 because most self pub’d books are priced at $2.99 give or take. That affords me two books at the typical Indie price per month.)

I already have two titles which I’ve purchased or picked up for free during a promotion.

I was going to start with these two titles, because I have them and I have a secret love for werewolf/shifter stories, but I’m a two-thirds the way through my own shifter novel. To avoid influencing my own works in any way I don’t read books that are in the same theme as the one I’m writing at the time. So these two will have to wait.

Here are the two I’ve chosen for this month.

Winter by C.B. Cole, was found by searching through Amazon ( A tedious process that leaves much to be desired. ) and the other, Belle Notte by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman, was a recommendation from another writer friend. She hasn’t read it but said the author is a real sweetheart, and it fit my parameters. I read the first page or so and the writing style works for me, even though I’m not big into vampire novels. But the point of this is to give authors I wouldn’t normally try, a chance.

You can find my reviews on my writing blog. www.kickingyourselfintheface.blogspot.com

I’ll post my reviews there, GoodReads and Amazon and if the author is on Barnes and Noble, there also.