Big Dreams Blogfest: Getting Back to the Basics

The Big Dreams Blogfest is hosted by Misha Gericke and myself.

My goals are to write a million words and make a million dollars. And I feel like every Friday of this year, I've said the same thing. No progress. 2014 has been a chaotic year for me. I sold a house I was in less than six months moved across state (and TX is a big state), and worked a horrid temp job until the house was sold. I'm also trying to finish my teaching certification while going to grad school. (The two programs are not related).
Recently, I feel like I have a burn out. And I probably do. I think it's important to pay less attention to my goals, and focus more on getting back to the basics. For writing and blogging to be fun again. I did nothing for rewrites this month, nor did I write anything new. I got my mentor and program director to accept my MFA syllabus after something like five tries. I'm writing a workbook on narrative fiction for my major project this semester. And that's where I am. Hopefully, next month I have more to share. I kind of doubt it though. I changed teaching certification schools this week and while I was intern eligible earlier this week I have to retake several classes to get there again. The good news is I can do so at my own pace, and we all know I'm fast paced.

Did you accomplish your goal this month?

Romance Roundup

Here's what I'm looking forward to this week!

Beautiful cover! Can't wait for this one.

Desperate to prevent an abusive arranged marriage, Princess Araya flees to a neighboring kingdom, only to land at the mercy of the impulsive Crown Prince Thoredmund, who provides refuge in a secluded forest and teaches her survival skills. Her surprise at the unexpected hold the price has on her heart mirrors his shock at falling for the one girl he can’t have.
As the young couple’s feelings for each other grow, the fragile alliance between the two kingdoms threatens to break apart. With a vengeful duke and an enraged king fast on their trail, Thor and Araya must decide how much they’re willing to risk for love.
Even if staying together means starting a war.

This one is pitched as The Fault In Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park!!!

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this compelling, exhilarating, and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it's unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It's only with Violet that Finch can be himself-a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

Monday Mishmash

Monday Mishmash is hosted  by Kelly Hashway.

1. Finding Hope- It's hard to believe it but this book will be out next week. If you're interested in reviewing please let me know!
2. Craft Book- So it seems this semester I'm writing a workbook appropriate for 8-12th grade students on the basics of fiction. If you've ever read my YA, you know I don't believe in dumbing things down for teens, so this will be useful for writers as well. I hope.
3. Teaching Certification- I've been working on obtaining a teaching certification along with my masters recently. That's partly why the blog has been neglected. I've been spending 8 hours/day at schools for free and subbing when I get the chance. All I need to do at this point is find a job to get the certification but this is harder said than done, so I'm thinking of changing certification programs and starting all over! Yikes.
4. Youtube Week- It's my week on Unicorn Bell and I'm talking about YouTube for authors. 
5. Rewrites- I need a challenge, or a cheerleader. I can not seem to get motivated on my rewrites. Someone threaten me, please.

So that's my life right now. What do you have going on?

International Potluck Blogfest Win $10

Today is the International Potluck Blogfest hosted by Lexa Cain, Medeia Sharif and I. The goal of the International Potluck Blogfest is to promote diverse books, and we are all sharing a diverse book and a recipe. I'm promoting my new book Finding Hope which will be available September 1. The blurb is below.


When insecure eighteen-year-old Kailee Hill gets caught tagging Iraq war refugee, Abrahem Yohanna's garage, she's not expecting him to act as her designated driver, hold her hair back when she pukes, or offer to be a shoulder to cry on. But she's failing chemistry and her life is falling apart, so she uses the number Abe leaves her and finds herself with a new tutor.
The two quickly find themselves falling hard for each other. Kailee attacks a local grunt when he calls Abe a "sand nigger" and fights with her veteran brother to be with him. When she learns Abe hasn't told his family about her, she's heartbroken and the couple risks losing everything they've worked to build. To make matters worse, Kailee's previous acts make her the prime suspect in a serious crime. With Kailee behind bars and doubting his feelings for her, Abe must find a way to rescue the girl he loves and win back her affection . And to do that he’ll have to catch a crook…

And Abe and I are sharing Samoon and honey.

Samoon and honey is a flat bread served warm with honey. While Iraq doesn't have distinct breakfast food the way the U.S. does, this is a dish many people eat for breakfast. And it's something Abe loves.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Mishmash

Monday Mishmash is hosted by Kelly Hashway.

1. Blogfest- Medeia Sharif, Lexa Cain and I are hosting the International Potluck Blogfest which you can sign up for here.
2. Rewrites- For the life of me, I can't get motivated to do this. And it's not really even motivation. I'm just so stressed about other things, I can't concentrate.
3. Stress- I'm so stressed I can't do anything, not even simple things like blog or read. I'm trying to finish my teaching job which I started six years ago and a lot of moves ago. That seems to be my focus right now.
4. Sick ELF- The Elf has a bad cough. Trying to get into a doctor soon. I hope my baby is okay.

What's up with you this week?