24 lessons learned + A special something for you!

Two years. That's how long I've been blogging.

It has been the most extraordinary journey. Every glorious milestone, every false start, each stumble, every jump and each glorious adventure - I'm grateful for all of it.

There were a multitude of lessons learnt in both blogging and life. So today I'll be sharing a few with you...

1. Open yourself up to new possibilities and adventures.

Say yes to opportunities - Before I started blogging, I spent MONTHS procrastinating preparing for it. When I finally made the leap it was terrifying and that was how I knew that I had made the right choice. Life happens outside that comfort zone so move!

2. Know your worth.

Work on that self-love. Believe in yourself and embrace your strengths, weakness and quirks. Love yourself and others will follow.

3. Cherish your friends.

You are the company you keep. Be loyal to your your BFFs, renew old acquaintances and reach out to create new ones.

4. Let go.

Toxic relationships/habits weighing you down? You need to hit CTRL + D, girl.

5. Not everyone agrees.

Voice your opinion, don't ever stop standing up for what you believe but open your mind to other views.

6. Listen.

It's a loud world, both online and offline. Sometimes you just need to pay attention, listen and learn.

25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Abria Mattina + A Giveaway!

I am absolutely delighted to welcome author of Wake, Abria Mattina to the blog today to share a 25 quirky facts about herself!

Her debut, Wake has had a lot of great response. Readers have praised Mattina for her eye-opening and realistic novel that  is about the struggle to redefine life after experiencing cancer and caring for an ill loved one.

So without further ado let me turn the blog over to Abria Mattina- An author, fellow blogger and the brilliant mind behind Letters From Real! ;)

25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About 
Abria Mattina

1) I frequently go back to my alma mater to write, because I did a lot of writing in study spaces and hallways over the years and I still like the atmosphere. I just carry a backpack instead of a professional bag and I blend right in. 

2) I’m super jealous of people who speak more than one language.

3) I don’t have a favourite book. Rather, I have a small collection of books that changed my life or shaped the way I think about the Big Questions.

4) I have mixed feelings about my decision to major in English at university. On the one hand it led to shaky job prospects, but on the other hand I learned valuable things about storytelling, which I consider my “real” career. 

5) My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t take me seriously. I look younger than I actually am, so this problem comes up a lot. I still get asked what grade I’m in. 

6)I can’t write if I know there are people behind me who can see my screen. It used to be that I couldn’t work unless my back was to a corner, like a Sicilian mobster, but I’ve relaxed ever so slightly. I don’t like people to see my drafting process, because the initial draft of everything is pure garbage. 

7) I have synaesthesia, a neurological disorder with many advantages, such as improved memory. The disadvantages are that I can barely stand oral stimulation (food and kissing, anyone?) and I have mild dyscalculia. You should see me try to dial a phone. 

8) I used to be an Irish step dancer. For a long time it gave me an even greater high than writing. I stopped when I went to university, but that was probably a good thing because I was well on my way to destroying my knees. 

9) I write my fiancé into every single book I create, even the putter drafts that never turn into real books. He knows it, too, and has taken to asking, “Who am I this time?” He actively “helps” by getting into character and trying to give me material. 

10) I’m attracted to sad, dark, twisted books. My idea of a “tearjerker” is the average person’s idea of a soul-crushing tragedy. 

Guest Post + Giveaway: 10 Things That Inspire Me

I am absolutely delighted to welcome Author Astrid Yrigollen to the blog today to share a Guest Post on what inspires her. 
I have not had the opportunity to read her book, His Black Wings yet but a lot of readers have described it as a Steampunk retelling of Beauty and the Beast-Sounds fabulous right?
So without further ado let me turn the blog over to Astrid....

Ten Things That Inspire Me

1. Creation. The natural world and heavens is breath taking and awe inspiring. The beauty, design and variety of everything, even a single kind of say, flower, that can be found in our known universe is inspiring to me.

2. No matter where is comes from, whenever I witness a person’s humility it never ceases to impress me and inspire me to be a better person.

3.Kindness is something that any one can give freely, even the most simple act yet can be so powerful. When I see kindness it always speaks directly to my heart and reminds me to in turn to be kind.

4. Intelligence. I love speaking, listening and learning from intelligent people (who are also open minded).No one person will ever know it all,but it’s fun to learn from everyone you can.

5. Animals. To see the various behaviors of animals that emote human ones, love, anger, jealousy ,tenderness etc. never ceases to inspire me to create animal characters for younger readers.

6. People who stands up for what is right, even when it is not popular to do so.

7. Art in it’s various forms. Whether it’s drawing, painting, sculpting, crafting, sewing and even baking I love to see the things people create.

8. Happy music puts me in to a good mood, therefore making it easier to be inspired and create!

9. On the lighter side of things that inspire me, girly, pretty things,dresses,bows etc. These fashions are past my age group to wear, but I love to see pretty dresses!

10. Cake! All girls love sweets and nothing beats a pretty cake!
Meet The Author:

Astrid Yrigollen is a self published Author of Young Adult and Children’s books. 

Astrid started her writing career when she begun work for the international video game giant, Sega of America. Working her way up the ranks, she began writing companion guides for games. With a love for writing fiction 

since childhood, she took her short stories out of storage and had her first story ever written published. It was only after that she found out that first stories are never published! 
She has resumed writing full time and has succeeded in putting out the titles, The Doughnut Tree, Mysterious Pootkins , and The Mosswoods to name a few. Her short stories have appeared in the literary 
journal, “Threshold Press” and Shock and Awe Magazine.She finds writing for young adults both refreshing and challenging. She always wishes to provide examples of positive role models, conflict resolving methods and communication for young adults with their parents or guardians. 

Twitter      .     Goodreads         .     Website         .        Facebook

His Black Wings

Author: Astrid Yrigollen

Title: His Black Wings

Release Date: November 2012

Synopsis:

Claren Maidstone has been forced to flee her childhood home after the death of her parents and a vicious assault from a sadistic young man who intends to marry her. Claren changes her identity and finds employment as an assistant to the handsome Fredrick Lowood, a generous yet mysterious benefactor. However, she soon finds out his generosity comes at a price. Fredrick wishes for Claren to befriend his disfigured son who resides in seclusion at their estate, Westwind.

Fredrick Lowood knows what the history books do not teach, that the Grand Council built this new world of peace and beauty on hidden blood and greed. He has plotted for years to bring down the family that enslaved his own people. Suddenly, he has the last living heir in his grasp.

Etrigan Lowood rejects the world that forces him to hide. He is powerful, plagued with a terrible dark beauty: WINGS. It is these wings that carry him out only at night to watch the unwanted intruder in his home. A creature of refined instinct yet little social grace, he is strangely captivated by Claren but knows nothing of how her family’s dark past is intertwined with his own . Through their blossoming friendship, Etrigan realizes he still retains his human heart and yearns for Claren’s love.

Kurten Wandsworth is the only son of the Mayor of St.Marhen. Kurten lives his life fueled by cruelty and lust. Whatever he wants he takes and he wants Claren to be his wife even it if kills her. Scarred by Claren he hunts her down mercilessly until he can set a trap which she will never be able to escape from.

The Giveaway
Enter this International giveaway to win a paperback of His Black Wings by Astrid Yrigollen and some fabulous swag!

September is for Sequels Giveaway Hop

September is for Sequels is a giveaway hop hosted by Lisa Loves Literature & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Today I'll be featuring Michelle Abott's Locked Together, the sequel to In Chains. This book was  recommended to me by Annmarie at Fandom Fanatic and I can't wait to read this one.

You can read her 5 Star review here!

Blog Tour: Charmed Vengeance - Suzanne Lazear

Title: Charmed Vengeance 
Author: Suzanne Lazear
Published: Aug 8th 2013-Flux 
Series: The Aether Chronicles #2

Synopsis:
In the Faerie realm, Noli Braddock's relationship with her best friend V has grown into something more. But V's mother, Faerie Queen Tiana, has ruled that they are forbidden to see each other. Returning to the mortal realm, Noli joins the crew of her brother's air-pirate ship, the Vixen's Revenge. There she discovers that her brother has hired the scallywag Faerie huntsman, Kevighn Silver. While serving as shipmates, Kevighn and Noli learn that the Earth Court King plans to find a forbidden artifact--one that will bring destruction to everyone Noli loves.

Although I haven't read a lot of Steampunk books I enjoyed reading Innocent Darkness(The Aether Chronicles #1) last year. You can check out my review HERE (it's one of my earlier reviews). I'm definitely excited for Charmed Vengeance!

Daria's 25 & The Anatomy Series Giveaway

1) I believe “sexy ugly” is way more attractive than conventionally cute. 
2) I still own, and occasionally wear, slap bracelets. (But not stick-on stones.)

3) Sometimes when I walk into a library or surf the web, my heart fills with dread over how much I’ll never know or understand. But I guess it’s better to acknowledge your ignorance than to feel arrogant. 
4) If I wrote a memoir, each chapter title would be the name of an anti-acne medicine I tried in vain.  The Clearasil Years during middle school were especially brutal.  
5) Don’t shoot me, but I prefer ebooks to hardcovers.
6) I also prefer movies to books. {dodging bullet}
7) I’m much more comfortable with one or two friends than with a big crowd of people. 
8) My new favorite snack is kale chips:  Just de-stem and de-rib the leaves, toss with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, spread on a baking sheet and bake for twenty.
9) If I were bright enough, I’d go into ovarian cancer research.  
10) I don’t understand the appeal of big stadium concerts. Parking’s a nightmare, everyone stands even though there’re seats (and sometimes they stand on the seats), and the act’s too far away to see anyway so you just end up watching the screen.
11) I used to be able to recite the entire script of When Harry Met Sally… from memory. 

12) I’m grateful to heartbreak for making me more compassionate.
13) My favorite Brontë sister is Anne. 

Author Interview + Giveaway: A Class Apart

Title: A Class Apart
Author: Stephen Henning
Published: October 11th 2011 by Elucidox Ltd
Synopsis:

Teenage twins James and Samantha Blake are caught up in a seemingly random terrorist bombing while on a school trip. Many of their friends are killed. When the twins wake up in hospital, their lives have changed forever. 

The doctors are amazed at the speed with which James and Sam recover from their injuries and, when the twins begin to exhibit extraordinary powers, it is obvious that something incredible has happened.

As James and Sam attempt to overcome their fears and embrace their new abilities, a series of murders and disappearances start plaguing the hospital. The twins aren’t the only ones with special abilities and it becomes apparent that someone is coming for them. 

Will James and Sam be able to survive the nightmare into which they have been plunged? Who, or what, is behind the murders at the hospital? And was that terrorist incident quite so random after all?

                  Author Interview

1. Describe A Class Apart in one sentence and if you can give a tagline for it, what would it be?

OK. Teenage twins James and Samantha Blake are injured in a bomb explosion, wake up in hospital, discover they now have superpowers, but then realize something even more powerful is coming to get them!

A tagline for the Class Heroes series, hmmm, you’ve made me think now! It hadn’t occurred to me to do that before, thank you Rachel. Yes. I know what sums up the ethos of the series:

“Today could be the day that your life changes forever.”

2. What makes the Class Heroes series stand out from the rest of the other YA books out there?

I think the main characters and the general background of the seriesis more grounded in reality than other YA books.

I think what YA books do well is to create a heightened, fairy tale ideal of our world.  Love stories are powerful and all-consuming, main characters are driven by a sense of destiny, the fate of worlds is held in the hands of higher beings. I think that’s great because it fires the reader’s imagination.

The Guys Are Props Club Tour Stop: Excerpt + Giveaway

(click the picture to follow the tour!)

Title: The Guys Are Props Club
Author: Ingrid Seymour
Published: July 15, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Purchase Links: 

Amazon | CreateSpace

Synopsis:

During her senior year in high school, Maddie Burch promised herself not to ever fall for a cute guy – or any guy – again. Cute guys are players and not to be trusted, a fact she learned the hard way when her first boyfriend ran her heart through a paper shredder. Two years later, her promise is still intact, and she’s determined to make it through college without falling victim to another creep. She has her job, school and The Guys Are Props Club to keep her mind and hormones in check. 

The club was founded by Jessica, Maddie’s best friend. It is a sisterhood of girls who have fallen prey to heartless jerks and who have vowed to turn the tables. Once a semester, Jessica requires members to “do onto others as they’ve done unto you.” Setting the example, Jessica’s next play is Sebastian Capello, a theater major with heartthrob looks and a flair for Latin dance, whose heart she plans to break the way hers was once broken. 

What the friends don’t know is that Sebastian is different. Despite his perfect looks and popularity, he’s not a jerk. He doesn’t play games to get his way. Instead, he keeps it real and goes after what he wants with honest intentions. And what he wants is not a bombshell like Jessica, but a down-to-earth girl like Maddie – even if it causes a riff in the girl’s friendship. Even if it means getting Maddie to break her personal vow. 

*** Due to language and sexual situations this book is recommended for ages 17 and older.

  

                              Excerpt 

 “Isn’t he an absolute caramel?” Jessica asked, following my gaze.

“Who?” I pretended to be looking at Cristina as she instructed Sebastian’s new partner.

“Sebastian, who else?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s . . . good looking.”

“Good looking?” Jessica looked appalled. “That would be like calling the sky blue when it is clearly celestial.”

Tellulah's 25 & My Ex From Hell Giveaway

 1)  In the geek vs nerd breakdown, I fall on the geek side of things. I think nerds are slightly smarter but I have better social skills.
2) Some people know their credit card numbers by heart. I know my library card number. I think that’s cool. Discuss.
3) When I was 3, I fell into a neighbour’s pool. Underwater, I saw a window, with a battle raging on the other side. With cannons. A man, who I later realized was a Viking, came to the window and told me I couldn’t come through. At that moment, my uncle grabbed me and pulled me out of the pool. I have no affinity for Vikings. True story.
4) I like to Statler and Waldorf my way through life – overheard conversations, Oscar awards, commercials featuring wide-eyed puppies – all are heckling fodder.

5) I love to sing and do so often. My apparent inability to carry a tune, and tendency to sing lyrics phonetically as opposed to what they really are, are not my problem.

6) When driving, I swear like a sailor.
7) The plan when I grew up was to live in a penthouse apt. in NY with my pet black panther Sebastian, and throw glittering salons filled with fabulous creative types. I’m currently writing this in my basement office in Canada, with one foot thrown over a portable heater because I’m freezing. No view. No glitter. Not sure how the plan went so horribly wrong. Granted, it wasn’t much of a plan. I do have a black cat though.
8) Jerricho Barrons is my book boyfriend. Ladies, you know what I’m talking about.
9) Being married to me/birthed from my body gives me rights in perpetuity to use you for comic creative license. This seems fair to me.
10) I believe the world needs more choreography. Just saying.
11) Archer is one of my favorite TV shows of all time. It’s an inappropriateness I can totally get behind.

Wide Awake-Shelly Crane: Review + Giveaway

Author: Shelly Crane
Title: Wide Awake
Synopsis:
A girl.
A coma.
A life she can't remember.

When Emma Walker wakes up in the hospital with no knowledge of how she got there, she learns that she's been in a coma for six months. Strangers show up and claim to be her parents, but she can't remember them. She can't remember anyone. Not her friends, not even her boyfriend. Even though she can't remember, everyone wants her to just pick up where she left off, but what she learns about the 'old her' makes her start to wish she'd never woken up. Her boyfriend breaks up with the new girl he's dating to be with her, her parents want her to start planning for college, her friends want their leader back, and her physical therapist with the hazel eyes keeps his distance to save his position at the hospital.

Will she ever feel like she recognizes the girl in the mirror?

Don't forget to add it on your TBR list! :)

Although I have seen Shelly Crane's books around the blogosphere a LOT, this is the first time I read one of her books. And I'm glad I did so .

The story is narrated by Emma Walker who wakes up from her six month coma to find out that she has no memory whatsoever of her life prior to the accident. She's wakes up and realizes that she has a family of who she has no recollection of. Finding out that pre-accident Emma was a bitch with a capital B was the icing on the cake.

Her friends, her family and her 'boyfriend' expect her to go back to being the pre-accident Emma. But post-accident Emma is nothing like the pre-accident Emma. Shelly Crane paints a clear picture of the struggles that Emma faces during her journey to find herself. Shelly forces the readers to experience every ounce of frustration, disappointment, regret and hope that Emma feels. Despite Emma's history it was hard not to like her and empathize with her. 

Mason is her physical therapist-the guy who both literally and figuratively helps Emma stand on her own two feet. He was a refreshing change from the bad boys that seem to be taking over the Contemporary Romance genre. He was honorable, caring and he did the sweetest things ever for Emma!

"More than a poor boy that had nothing to offer, more than a tattooed guy who always had to prove he was something from judging eyes, more than I deserved. 

I took her face in my hands and then took her mouth. That mouth that owned me, that mouth that made me forgot who and what I was and made me feel like I was better than all that."

The Only Exception by Magan Vernon: Guest Post + Giveaway

Title: The Only Exception
Author: Magan Vernon
Published: April 9th 2013 by Beautifully Broken Books

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | All Romance Ebooks 

Synopsis:

Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative senator’s son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her. 

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

Today, we are lucky to have Magan Vernon and she's going to share to us some of her college experiences! :)

        Some of the best and worst times of my college experience took place in my sorority house.

        Yes, I fully admit that I was in a sorority and wore my letters and matching headband proudly.

       Some people think that because I write about sorority girls that I’m just trying to stereotype them, but really I’m just writing about some of my own experiences in Greek life: The bad, the good, and the ridiculous.

       I guess I’ll start out with recruitment, the mecca of all things Greek. The time in which we recruited new girls into our house. How did we do that? By gathering in our doorway, all smooshed together, clapping and singing to them of course! Every sorority had to take songs from pop culture and replace the lyrics with words about our sorority. I still can’t listen to “Beverly Hills” by Weezer without singing “Sigma Three, that’s where I want to be. Living in Sigma three.”

       Okay, so actually everyone else sang and clapped. I was not allowed to clap.

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling: Excerpt & Giveaway + The Game Changer Teaser

Title: The Perfect Game (The Perfect Game, #1)
Author: J. Sterling
Published: October 11th 2012
Purchase Links: Amazon
Synopsis:

He's a game she never intended to play. 
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together. 

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

Excerpt

Introduction to Jack

Jack walked, no, make that sauntered, over to where I stood. His black cargo shorts and tight-fitting gray baseball t-shirt did a number on his body. The definition of his arm muscles rippled against the fabric, accentuating his well-defined shoulders on his six-foot frame as his arms swayed. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at me like I was some tiny, helpless creature who didn’t have a clue it was about to get eaten alive by the most beautiful, albeit dangerous, creature in the jungle. 

I almost felt violated.

Watch Over Me Tour Stop: Review + Giveaway

(click the picture to see the master schedule of the tour)

Title: Watch Over Me
Author: Tara Sivec
Published: June 14th 2013
Purchase Links: Amazon | B & N
Synopsis:

Addison Snow is your typical teenager. She has a family that loves her, friends that make her laugh, and she's wrapped up in the excitement of graduating high school and going off to college to pursue her dream of becoming an author. When her mother, who also happens to be Addison's best friend, dies unexpectedly, her world comes to a crashing halt. 

Death changes everyone... 

To make the pain go away, Addison and her father travel down separate, dark paths. She chooses to end her grief forever, while he drowns his sorrows in the bottom of a bottle. How do you learn to live again when the most important person in your life is gone? 

Addison struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. Instead of getting back to being the carefree teenager she once was, she's stuck handling all of the responsibilities that should have been her father's. She has no time to grieve, no time for emotions, and no time for happiness...until Zander Reinhardt walks in. All it takes is one little handwritten note on a napkin to kickstart her back to life and help her realize that maybe there's more to that life than pain.

But can it really be that simple? Can she really trust this man who makes her feel alive again for the first time in a year? 

Addison and Zander both have secrets they aren't ready to share. When the truth finally comes out, is it enough to tear them apart or has something bigger than themselves always been watching over them, pushing them together, making sure they both get their happily ever after?

My Thoughts

REAL. RAW. RAVISHING.

The three words you just read pretty much sums up my thoughts about Watch Over Me. You know what? Tara Sivec instantly got me in her opening line…

Death changes everyone.

It’s what happens in the real life where there are no castles and kings and queens or princes to save the day and fight the bad guys. The world that we’re living in is a harsh, cruel world where bad things happen and sometimes, there’s nothing we can do about it.

In Your Dreams: Author Interview + Giveaway

Title: In Your Dreams
Author: Amy Martin
Published: August 16th 2012 
Purchase : Amazon | Smashwords | B&N
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Zara “Zip” McKee lives for three things: basketball, books, and bailing out of tiny Titusville, Illinois, where the junior high and high school are in the same building and everyone’s known everyone else since birth. But when Kieran Lanier moves to town and passes out on her desk on his first day at school, Zip’s life gets complicated in a way she never dreamed. 
Kieran has narcolepsy, and although he sometimes struggles to stay awake, he has no trouble capturing Zip’s heart and trusting her with his most guarded secret–he sees bits and pieces of the future in his dreams. 
But just when Zip thinks that maybe she can handle having a boyfriend who sees things before they happen, her budding relationship with Kieran gets a jolt when Kieran’s parents reveal that his sleeping disorder is not what it seems and may be putting them in harm’s way. And when Zip begins to have unsettling dreams, she must decide if she can live with knowing the future in advance when she’s afraid of what might happen.

                                    Interview with Amy!

Hi Amy, welcome to Say It with Books!

Narcolepsy, that's a never seen before approach in YA-Was there something in particular that inspired you to address this issue?

I knew I wanted to address dreams as part of the books, and waking dreams can be a symptom of narcolepsy. I also wanted to give Kieran and Zip a challenge that isn't normally seen in YA--they're struggling with all of the usual relationship drama, but Kieran's condition adds a twist. I've also had family members who suffer from dementia and related memory issues, so I'm just fascinated in general with how the brain works (or doesn't).

How do you react to a bad review of one of your books?

I accept the criticism, eat some chocolate, and move on. If I see the same types of negative comments popping up in reviews, that's a clue to me that I need to work on something in my writing. So, in that sense, there's really no such thing as a bad review.

What book/s will you never get sick of reading no matter how many times you read it?

Wow--this is hard. One that comes to mind is Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes, which has finally been made into a movie (I'm so pumped!). I think I read that book a million times when I was in grade school and early high school. Even now that I'm long past adolescence, that book still rings true for me.