Hi everyone!
Just wanted to post a quick update on how my Witches of Coolersville sequel is coming along. I'm editing the second draft with some Beta Feedback and looking for more to help me out. (See prior post for all the requirements) I'm also going to check out the NaNoWriMo forums to see if anyone would be interested.
I'm on vacation this week from my day job so I'll be able to do a LOT more work. I've also been reading more craft books and marketing books to continue to get the word out about my book. That's been a big help and I'm excited to start implementing some of the ideas I read about.
One thing I'm planning on is a guest blog post with my friend, Sandy. She's been working with a small press for her debut novel we're going to post on each others' blogs, not only to talk about our books but to share our different experiences in publishing. She said she's got another round of editing this week and then she should know a release date shortly after that.
Sandy is a lovely lady. We met through a pen-pal forum on the NaNoWriMo website. She's been my critique partner for both books. She sent me a draft of her book but that was right around when my computer decided to die on me so I couldn't read it. I'm so excited that she's been able to find a publisher.
I'll have more updates as the time gets closer.
Bye!
Carey
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Monday, August 1, 2016
Beta Reader Requirements
Hi all!
A while back, I announced that I was looking for another round of Beta Readers for my second book in the Witches of Coolersville series. If you're interested, check out the list of requirements below and then send me an email.
1) Readers must be 16 or older- My book is "New Adult" which means my main characters are over 18 years old and in college. There is also violence and swearing throughout the book, more-so than the first one so I figured 16 would be a good minimum age. Guys as well as girls are welcome.
2) Must be willing to answer a lot of questions- Remember all those reading assignments you used to do in school? This is kinda like that, except actually fun! In order to get the proper feedback to improve my manuscript I have questions at the start and end of the book as well as after every single chapter.
3) When answering these questions, please be honest and thorough- Be as honest as you can. I know the easy thing to do would be nice but think of it this way. If you tell me now what I need to fix, I won’t get burned by reviewers when my book is published. And, it’ll help my book sell better once it is published.
4) It’s a second draft- I did some editing but the story has yet to be professionally edited to weed out the big mistakes. There will probably be some errors in grammar and spelling that I missed. Please ignore for now. Your feedback is content-related only. I’ll fix everything in another round of editing along with the professional.
5) If you see a question and your initial thought is I have no idea what to write, tell me- It’s okay not to have an opinion or just say “I don’t know.” Depending on the question being asked, it helps me as a writer to see where things fall flat or fail to make a solid impression. I understand the questions are repetitive so if there's nothing to add, let me know. Also, let me know if something does fall flat for you. A character doesn't connect, a part is boring or confusing. I still have time to fix these things.
6) When possible, give as much detail as you can- That’s what’s nice about this format. You have unlimited space to tell me right in the document. If you have any observations outside the questions given, feel free to tell me! All feedback is useful.
7) Be as timely as possible- I know everyone has busy lives. Work, family, school, etc. So, don’t feel like you need to get this back next week. But, I do want to get this to my editor soon, so don’t take 5 years to read it either. I'd like all feedback emailed back to me by October 1.
8) Please don’t steal my book. Also, please don’t share with anyone without my permission.
9) Triggers- A few things I should warn you about. There is swearing and violence in this book. There is mention of emotional abuse in a relationship as well as physical assault and underage drinking. I tried to keep it mild but if any of this is going to make you uncomfortable, apply to beta read.
Thanks! Hope to hear from you all soon!
Carey
Read book 1 first 3 chapters on my web site
Buy it on Amazon
Buy it on my Etsy shop
A while back, I announced that I was looking for another round of Beta Readers for my second book in the Witches of Coolersville series. If you're interested, check out the list of requirements below and then send me an email.
1) Readers must be 16 or older- My book is "New Adult" which means my main characters are over 18 years old and in college. There is also violence and swearing throughout the book, more-so than the first one so I figured 16 would be a good minimum age. Guys as well as girls are welcome.
2) Must be willing to answer a lot of questions- Remember all those reading assignments you used to do in school? This is kinda like that, except actually fun! In order to get the proper feedback to improve my manuscript I have questions at the start and end of the book as well as after every single chapter.
3) When answering these questions, please be honest and thorough- Be as honest as you can. I know the easy thing to do would be nice but think of it this way. If you tell me now what I need to fix, I won’t get burned by reviewers when my book is published. And, it’ll help my book sell better once it is published.
4) It’s a second draft- I did some editing but the story has yet to be professionally edited to weed out the big mistakes. There will probably be some errors in grammar and spelling that I missed. Please ignore for now. Your feedback is content-related only. I’ll fix everything in another round of editing along with the professional.
5) If you see a question and your initial thought is I have no idea what to write, tell me- It’s okay not to have an opinion or just say “I don’t know.” Depending on the question being asked, it helps me as a writer to see where things fall flat or fail to make a solid impression. I understand the questions are repetitive so if there's nothing to add, let me know. Also, let me know if something does fall flat for you. A character doesn't connect, a part is boring or confusing. I still have time to fix these things.
6) When possible, give as much detail as you can- That’s what’s nice about this format. You have unlimited space to tell me right in the document. If you have any observations outside the questions given, feel free to tell me! All feedback is useful.
7) Be as timely as possible- I know everyone has busy lives. Work, family, school, etc. So, don’t feel like you need to get this back next week. But, I do want to get this to my editor soon, so don’t take 5 years to read it either. I'd like all feedback emailed back to me by October 1.
8) Please don’t steal my book. Also, please don’t share with anyone without my permission.
9) Triggers- A few things I should warn you about. There is swearing and violence in this book. There is mention of emotional abuse in a relationship as well as physical assault and underage drinking. I tried to keep it mild but if any of this is going to make you uncomfortable, apply to beta read.
Thanks! Hope to hear from you all soon!
Carey
Read book 1 first 3 chapters on my web site
Buy it on Amazon
Buy it on my Etsy shop
Friday, July 15, 2016
Beta Readers Wanted
Hi everyone!
I'm looking for more beta readers for my WoC sequel. I'm looking for girls and guys, preferably 16+, who would like to read a New Adult fantasy. You don't have to read book 1, but it would be helpful because book 1 sets up a lot of the story.
I'll have more information towards the end of the summer once I get feedback from round 1. So, if you want to read the first one, this gives you plenty of time to check out Amazon or my Etsy shop and get yourself a copy!
I'll be emailing you the second draft of my book with questions at the end of every chapter for you to answer. You will have a set time (to be determined) to read and fill out the questions and email it back to me. This draft is not professionally edited yet. I'm just looking for feedback on the story itself. Plot holes, inconsitencies, anything confusing, overall entertainment value.
Keep an eye out for more information as the time gets closer. Hope to hear from you!
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Writing Tag
I saw this on Jenna Moreci's YouTube page. I plan on filming a collab with by friend, Lisa, but for fun I'm answering the questions by myself here.
1. A crazy hacker’s gone into your computer, and has deleted all of your music, except for one song off of your writing playlist. Which song is it?
Well, this wouldn't be an issue. I don't have a writing playlist right now outside my Pandora stations. So, that's not an issue.
2. Your protagonist and antagonist have been paired up by friends to go out to lunch together. Where do they go?
Yeah... I don't know how this would go. And, I don't want to talk too much about my book 1 protagonist because it's slowly revealed throughout the books and I don't want to give it away. I'll just say Tara would just end up being uncomfortable for a while. Book 2, there would be a fight. Book 3, one of my antagonists is this crazy billionaire running for mayor. He would pick a classic diner or steakhouse and they would just end up fighting the whole time.
3. You’re crossing a bridge when the troll living under it stops you. He demands to read a chapter from your novel, and won’t let you cross otherwise. Which chapter do you give him?
Chapter 6 is a very short chapter with an awesome dream scene. I had so much fun writing this one. Chapter 9 is a cute little date scene before the main issue arises. Then, there's chapter 20 with a big fight scene if the troll likes violence.
4. Your friends have invited you out to a party. Surprise! All of your characters are there. Who do you choose to hang out with?
This would be so fun! Yes!! Especially in book 1, I love all the characters. I'd probably sit with Gran and listen to her stories.
5. Crap. You left your car keys in your house, and you’ve (somehow) locked yourself out. Which of your characters picks the lock for you?
Darien. He's crafty and a little shady. He'd help me out with the expectation I'll repay him someday that he chooses. And, he'll also mock me for years to come until we're even.
6. The zombie apocalypse is happening right now. (It sucks.) Everyone is fleeing the planet, and moving to Mars. ONE of your characters can go with you. Who do you choose?
Hmm. As much as I'd hate to separate these two, I'd bring Lilia. She's tough and resourceful and super powerful and badass. Although, she'd probably work her way into a position of power and become queen of the planet.
7. You’ve been given the opportunity to travel to one place (town, building, landmark, country) in your book. Where do you go?
Hmm, well, since I never went to a "real college," I'd want to check out Continental College. The setting appears in book 2 of the series. It's a fairly large campus without being overwhelming. And then, just outside campus is a line of bars and clubs and shops to hang out at. It's just a cute little setting.
8. You meet your main character and start a conversation with them. Problem is, you’ve only got six words or less to do so. What do you say?
This is to start a conversation, right? So, I can use more later? Well, I'd probably say something like, "Have you read the Scarlet Trilogy?" Tara's a bookworm. So, I'd mention my favorite book series and watch her eyes light up as she talks about her passion.
9. Crazy acid rain is falling from the sky. Which of your characters would you use as an umbrella?
Easy, Abigail Tillman. She's a character in my 3rd book I'm currently working on. And, OMG, I already hate her. She's a snotty little rich girl. She is a party girl but her father is so stupid and absorbed in his own stuff that he thinks she's completely innocent and she's got him wrapped around her pinky. All she has to do is turn on the waterworks and she gets whatever she wants from him. And, when people refuse to put up with her shit, she gets Daddy involved to ruin their lives. Think a female Draco Malfoy.
10. You’re out at a restaurant with your main character, and the time has come to order dessert. What do you order for them?
Chocolate. Like me, Tara's a choco-holic. So, we'd probably order a molten brownie or something full of chocolaty goodness.
That's the writing tag! Whoever wants to do it next, feel free and I'll have another post soon. Bye!
1. A crazy hacker’s gone into your computer, and has deleted all of your music, except for one song off of your writing playlist. Which song is it?
Well, this wouldn't be an issue. I don't have a writing playlist right now outside my Pandora stations. So, that's not an issue.
2. Your protagonist and antagonist have been paired up by friends to go out to lunch together. Where do they go?
Yeah... I don't know how this would go. And, I don't want to talk too much about my book 1 protagonist because it's slowly revealed throughout the books and I don't want to give it away. I'll just say Tara would just end up being uncomfortable for a while. Book 2, there would be a fight. Book 3, one of my antagonists is this crazy billionaire running for mayor. He would pick a classic diner or steakhouse and they would just end up fighting the whole time.
3. You’re crossing a bridge when the troll living under it stops you. He demands to read a chapter from your novel, and won’t let you cross otherwise. Which chapter do you give him?
Chapter 6 is a very short chapter with an awesome dream scene. I had so much fun writing this one. Chapter 9 is a cute little date scene before the main issue arises. Then, there's chapter 20 with a big fight scene if the troll likes violence.
4. Your friends have invited you out to a party. Surprise! All of your characters are there. Who do you choose to hang out with?
This would be so fun! Yes!! Especially in book 1, I love all the characters. I'd probably sit with Gran and listen to her stories.
5. Crap. You left your car keys in your house, and you’ve (somehow) locked yourself out. Which of your characters picks the lock for you?
Darien. He's crafty and a little shady. He'd help me out with the expectation I'll repay him someday that he chooses. And, he'll also mock me for years to come until we're even.
6. The zombie apocalypse is happening right now. (It sucks.) Everyone is fleeing the planet, and moving to Mars. ONE of your characters can go with you. Who do you choose?
Hmm. As much as I'd hate to separate these two, I'd bring Lilia. She's tough and resourceful and super powerful and badass. Although, she'd probably work her way into a position of power and become queen of the planet.
7. You’ve been given the opportunity to travel to one place (town, building, landmark, country) in your book. Where do you go?
Hmm, well, since I never went to a "real college," I'd want to check out Continental College. The setting appears in book 2 of the series. It's a fairly large campus without being overwhelming. And then, just outside campus is a line of bars and clubs and shops to hang out at. It's just a cute little setting.
8. You meet your main character and start a conversation with them. Problem is, you’ve only got six words or less to do so. What do you say?
This is to start a conversation, right? So, I can use more later? Well, I'd probably say something like, "Have you read the Scarlet Trilogy?" Tara's a bookworm. So, I'd mention my favorite book series and watch her eyes light up as she talks about her passion.
9. Crazy acid rain is falling from the sky. Which of your characters would you use as an umbrella?
Easy, Abigail Tillman. She's a character in my 3rd book I'm currently working on. And, OMG, I already hate her. She's a snotty little rich girl. She is a party girl but her father is so stupid and absorbed in his own stuff that he thinks she's completely innocent and she's got him wrapped around her pinky. All she has to do is turn on the waterworks and she gets whatever she wants from him. And, when people refuse to put up with her shit, she gets Daddy involved to ruin their lives. Think a female Draco Malfoy.
10. You’re out at a restaurant with your main character, and the time has come to order dessert. What do you order for them?
Chocolate. Like me, Tara's a choco-holic. So, we'd probably order a molten brownie or something full of chocolaty goodness.
That's the writing tag! Whoever wants to do it next, feel free and I'll have another post soon. Bye!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
My book on Etsy
Hi all!
Guess what. I have an Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoCBooks
Guess what. I have an Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoCBooks
I'm selling signed copies of my book on Etsy now. It's the same price as Amazon plus shipping. I order the books myself from Amazon and have them in stock at my house. Then, when someone buys it, I slap my name on the inside, include a nice message, and send it off to you. If you're getting it for a gift, just leave a note with the person's name and any other message, like a birthday or something.
I'm so excited to share this with you all. I like having another way of getting my book out there for as many people as possible to enjoy.
I'm off to bed. Sleepy. Gotta get up early for lots of writing! Almost done with draft 2 of New Witch on Campus!
~Carey
Monday, May 9, 2016
I'm Getting Married!!
During dinner, amid the talking and laughing and good food, my birthday came up. Joe said, "I have an early present for you. Close your eyes." I did. Thinking he would do something snarky because we had just been teasing each other not 10 seconds before. I waited for a minute and then he told me to open my eyes.
What I saw took my breath away! Before me was a beautiful ring. I had seen it before. It was his grandmother's anniversary ring. I couldn't breathe for a whole minute. My eyes welled with tears as he said, "Carey Ann Catherine, will you marry me?"
Well, duh! YES! He put the ring on my finger and then came around the table to give me a hug and kiss. I tried so hard not to cry. Robin was bouncing in her seat and she hugged me. "Now you have to come over so we can start planning!" Well, let me get over the shock, first!
We've been talking for a few months now about getting married. We even have a date in mind. So, this weekend, we have to talk to our pastor about picking a date and then call the caterer so we have it locked down.
I have to print off a few things today for my binder. I've already been doing that but never hurts to be over prepared.
Of course, I will be documenting this journey through my blog and my YouTube videos. At this moment, I'm getting my list together for my special treat for my side of the bridal party. They'll be thrilled, I'm sure. Tricky part will be sending one across the country. :-) I think I can manage, though.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Severely need to vent (language warning)
In the midst of various headlines circulating in the local and national media outlets, I need to vent. It's come to the point where I can't watch the news or even scroll my Twitter or Facebook feed without seeing something that makes me want to smash my laptop in a Hulk-like rage.
One that had me screaming was the settlement in a highly publicized local case. A boy was killed by officers after he was seen waving around a realistic looking toy gun. The mother went on a rampage. Blaming the police. Now, don't misunderstand me. My heart goes out to any mother who has to bury her son, especially from a violent act. My uncle was a victim of gun violence. My dad had to fly to California and bring his body home just 2 short months after my grandfather passed. My grandmother had to bury her husband and son within weeks of each other. And, I do not pretend to know the details of this boy's home life. But, something seems amiss to me when he should know better than to be in a public space waving a gun around, toy or not. I know Ohio has conceal-carry laws. But, the key word there is CONCEAL! Don't go to a park and wave it around, frightening people so they call the police! Where was the mom then? Now, she gets $6 million because she couldn't teach her kid common sense? And, she made it sound like the police had it in for her kid. Like, people join the police to earn a free license to kill. My father was a police officer and had a number of friends on the force in various city departments. I know this is not the case. They wouldn't have made it into the academy if they believed this to be true.
Another story I saw Monday involved a boy of similar age (about 13 or so) involved in a series of robberies and car jackings. A photo of the boy pointing a gun was posted on social media!! The reporter interviewed the father and he was absolutely clueless. He couldn't even tell the reporter what grade his son was in! Acted like it wasn't his business to know what his son did. What kind of parent does that? And, why have kids if you're not going to teach and take care of them?
Now, before I get bombarded by trolls calling me racist, allow me to clarify. I'm not bringing this up because of race. I didn't even mention that when I talked about these situations. It's not a racial thing. It's about an all around disregard for values, morals, and accountability for one's actions. I work in retail. I see a few hundred people a day. It's everywhere. Black, white, yellow, purple, blue. Tall, short, fat, thin. And all religions and cultures. People let their kids run wild in the store. Then, when they get hurt or they hurt someone else or get caught stuffing candy in their pockets, it's "Oh... oops." or "Quit picking on my baby!" The other end of the spectrum is the ridiculously over-protective parents contributing to the increasing number of 20 year old babies. But, that's a rant for another day.
Maybe it's because I come from a very involved and close-knit family. Former friends would even tease and say my parents fell under that crazy over-protective category. But, I don't see it that way. And, besides, it worked! My sister and I never got into trouble with the law or in school. With the exception of my one and only fight in grade school that was self defense. We had rules instilled in us and we learned the value of sticking to a commitment and living a good life. And, most of all, that actions have consequences you have to face when you fuck up.
I'll go back to the fight I had in school. I hit a kid with my purse last period of the day. He had several classes with me and had been harassing me all day long. He pushed me to the ground and I retaliated. The principal wouldn't give me the time of day, but believed his crazy story about how I was a complete bitch and had it in for him from day 1. I went home crying, because we were both punished with in-school suspension. (Sit in an old art room... together... all day long doing your classwork. Worst. Day. Of. My. Life... at that point) My dad called the school. Even though I was not at fault, I still broke the rules by hitting the little jerk. And, so, served my punishment. It sucked. My 14 year old brain thought it wasn't fair and I wanted to call in sick. But, it taught me a lesson.
Again, actions have consequences. Don't study for an exam? You're probably going to flunk. Spill coffee from McDonalds all over your lap? Guess what! That shit's HOT. It says so, like 50 million times on the cup. You're going to get burned. Antagonize the dog next door? Yeah, you get no sympathy from me when he bites your hand. And, the list goes on.
I mentioned to my best friend that I was working on this post and, referring to the first news story I mentioned, I brought up my opinion on gun control. No, it is not a crime to own a gun, nor should it be. It's one of our Constitutional rights (if you live in the U.S. I know I have a few international readers out there) and I get that. BUT necessary checks and balances need to be in place, along with proper education, to ensure a) some crazy nut job doesn't decide he wants to shoot up a movie theater, b) some poor kid who feels he has no other way can't shoot up his school to stop the bullies from making his life a living hell, c) a little child can't get hold of it, thinking it's a toy and end up shooting, if not themselves, someone else. But, oh. Wait, that would fall under actually being a parent and teaching your children right from wrong. Rather than blaming the world when they end up in jail or, worse, dead. My friend owns guns. They frequent their local range. They bought a BB gun for their 7 and 9 year old kids to use only at the range, under supervision of mom and dad, and locked in a fingerprint safe. And, emphasizing these things are not toys. Even BB guns can be deadly if mishandled. We all laugh at Ralphie from Christmas Story and his "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." But, if you recall, he almost did shoot his eye out. My friend repeats this lesson over and over and will continue as her children grow up. That's taking proper responsibility.
Another thing we talked about, on this topic of guns, was school shootings. Perhaps we come from a naïve age when we were kids. Perhaps they're covered more because of the constant media saturation we get from... everywhere. But, we never heard of school shooting before Columbine. (9th grade for me) And now, sadly, they're so common place. And, what is one thing they say about many of the shooters? They were bullied in school. Now, I have shared my story numerous time about how I was bullied in school. 6th grade, coming home in tears nearly every day because kids called me "fat," "stupid," "useless," "bitch," and I'm sure there were more names long forgotten. 8th grade, I already mentioned the little creep that pushed me so far I slapped him. High school, I was the slow kid in gym class. My grades were a C average if I studied all night and prayed my heart out. I was the quiet one, so that made me a target. Rumors were spread about my best friend and I being "more than friends," if you get my drift. But, not once did I consider getting a gun and shooting up my school. Why? Because I could talk to my parents. They may have been a tad over protective but that's how parents are supposed to be. Hands on, caring about their children. Making sure they grow to have good values and become productive members of society. If you can't do that, don't have any freaking kids! You'll only be doing more harm to them and then scratching your heads wondering what went wrong.
There is the other extreme I'll touch on quickly. The parents who smother. Now, my parents were protective, but they still let my sister and I live our lives. We made mistakes. We mishandled our money. (Or, at least I did) We had those bad relationships and heartbreaks. But, you need those lessons in life. You can't have Mom and Dad hovering over you night and day because you won't figure out how to be a grown-up. Something even most adults haven't figured out yet but it's a process and different experiences for everyone. Mom and Dad, sadly, won't be around forever. You have to take charge of your life.
And, yes, that involves the tough lesson that so many kids have to learn. People can be cruel. You're going to get picked on. People are going to torment you and try to make your lives a living hell for shits and giggles. But, that means there's something wrong with them! I was trying to tell my friend's daughter this a few months back when she was telling me about a boy in school calling her ugly. "He's ignorant and blind because you are a lovely little girl." She shrugged and gave the usual reply I gave my mom so many times. "You're just saying that." "No, I'm not," I said. "I always feel that people who get joy out of making others miserable are miserable themselves. And, the way they make themselves feel superior is bringing others down instead of trying to raise themselves up. If he can't see what a great person you are, it's his loss because he could be missing out on a great friend if he just took the time to get to know you."
Which leads to another thing I need to grumble about. I'm a tolerant person. I enjoy learning about different religions and cultures. History has always interested me, the good, the bad, and the boring. And, it takes a lot to piss me off. The fact that I'm writing this is an example of the fact that I need to get things off my mind because I'm getting very close to voicing my opinions. And, with my luck, I'll say it to the wrong person who will take it the wrong way and I'll be in trouble. Probably at work. There is a certain public figure on the political scene in this country that makes me so mad. Remember I mentioned a Hulk-like rage? Yeah, he's reason number 1 I can't watch the news anymore. His blatant, ignorant, racist, sexist blabbering scares the daylights out of me! And, I pray I'm not alone. I hope to God above he does not win the election, or even the nomination he's seeking, because we're all in deep shit and I'll be packing my bags for Australia. He is demeaning to... well, anyone who is not a rich white man with bad hair. He doesn't care about family. He's quote in a 2005 interview (Buzzfeed article here and, yes, if you haven't figured it out, you'll know who I'm talking about. I am on my boyfriend's laptop and I don't think he'd appreciate me destroying it in a fit of temper because this man fills me with so much anger) saying in part, "I won’t do anything to take care of them. I’ll supply funds and she’ll take care of the kids." He wouldn't even push the baby in the stroller on a simple walk down the street! What kind of parent does that? How is that an example for his children? Especially his sons.
Now, let me give you a situation here. I'll make up a normal(ish) American family. Dad works and is one of the minority who can be a solo provider for his family for whatever reason so Mom stays home, tends house, and takes care of the kids. Seems okay, right? Let's not forget. Being a stay-home mom is a tough, highly underappreciated job. It's not like the "Real Housewives of ---" where an army of nannies take care of the kids while Mommy attends cocktail parties and watches soaps all day. No, when Dad's not home, she's doing mountains of laundry, dishes, just anything to just make the house somewhat presentable should a guest decide to drop by. Siblings fight. I know my sister and I did. My boyfriend and his brother have stories. So, as a parent, you're breaking up those fights and dishing out punishments. There are also the joys of parents. First steps, hearing "Mama" or "Daddy" for the first time. You know what gave me the "I want kids" bug? My friend's daughter was spending the weekend with me. We were in church and she threw her arms around me and gave me the most adoring smile in the world. I thought, "My God. I want to see that look coming from my own kids. That's the best feeling in the world." But, I digress. Back to my scenario here. So, the family is busy. Dad's working and helping Mom run the kids to Scouts, dance, baseball, football, visiting relatives, all that stuff that happens in life with kids. Suddenly, Mom isn't feeling well. She becomes ill. Or, she injures herself. She has to stay in bed for days/weeks on end! Can't afford a nanny with medical expenses piling up. Grandma or Aunt Lucy come help when they can but it's not a 24/7 deal. Guess what? Dad suddenly has to step up. It may mean changing his hours at work or working from home sometimes. Canceling that business trip. And, yes, he'll have to cook/do laundry/yard work/and all that other stuff Mom was doing but can't.
But, according to... yeah, you figured it out already so I'm still not typing his name... "That's not my thing." Self-centered creep. My dad does most of the cooking. Does that mean he's "acting like a wife," too? No, I think it means he's helping his wife who has to go to work as early as 3 a.m. and is so exhausted she fall asleep as soon as her rear hits the sofa. You know, if all men thought like you, I shudder to think what our world would be like. I'm pretty sure my mom wouldn't have married my dad. Then, my sister and I wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be at the place we are in our lives without hands on parents. Even now, at nearly 32, I know I can call my parents when I need to. Just before Christmas, I called my mom sobbing because my car wouldn't start after work and I was terrified it was something major. She calmed me down, she and Dad drove to my job, they looked it over, and said it was just the battery. Then, they helped me jump it and get it to the shop. If they weren't protective of us, I probably would have died 2 years ago from the blood clot in my leg because I was putting off seeing the doctor. But, my mom woke me up saying, "I called you off work. Make a doctor appointment now or we're just going to the E.R." Hands off dads wouldn't meet their daughters for dinners once a week just to talk and catch up on life amid busy schedules. Hands off dads would probably never notice when their daughters came home crying after their first big heartbreak and feeling like the world shattered around them like a dropped snow globe.
I could go on. But, my brain is fried and I need to be up early myself to work on my other writing projects before Day Job resumes once more. Looking forward to a long, quiet weekend and, hopefully, continued nice weather.
I hope my rants and ramblings sparked some thought, if not conversation. I'd love to talk/civilly debate. And, thanks for reading if you made it to the end.
Good night,
Carey
One that had me screaming was the settlement in a highly publicized local case. A boy was killed by officers after he was seen waving around a realistic looking toy gun. The mother went on a rampage. Blaming the police. Now, don't misunderstand me. My heart goes out to any mother who has to bury her son, especially from a violent act. My uncle was a victim of gun violence. My dad had to fly to California and bring his body home just 2 short months after my grandfather passed. My grandmother had to bury her husband and son within weeks of each other. And, I do not pretend to know the details of this boy's home life. But, something seems amiss to me when he should know better than to be in a public space waving a gun around, toy or not. I know Ohio has conceal-carry laws. But, the key word there is CONCEAL! Don't go to a park and wave it around, frightening people so they call the police! Where was the mom then? Now, she gets $6 million because she couldn't teach her kid common sense? And, she made it sound like the police had it in for her kid. Like, people join the police to earn a free license to kill. My father was a police officer and had a number of friends on the force in various city departments. I know this is not the case. They wouldn't have made it into the academy if they believed this to be true.
Another story I saw Monday involved a boy of similar age (about 13 or so) involved in a series of robberies and car jackings. A photo of the boy pointing a gun was posted on social media!! The reporter interviewed the father and he was absolutely clueless. He couldn't even tell the reporter what grade his son was in! Acted like it wasn't his business to know what his son did. What kind of parent does that? And, why have kids if you're not going to teach and take care of them?
Now, before I get bombarded by trolls calling me racist, allow me to clarify. I'm not bringing this up because of race. I didn't even mention that when I talked about these situations. It's not a racial thing. It's about an all around disregard for values, morals, and accountability for one's actions. I work in retail. I see a few hundred people a day. It's everywhere. Black, white, yellow, purple, blue. Tall, short, fat, thin. And all religions and cultures. People let their kids run wild in the store. Then, when they get hurt or they hurt someone else or get caught stuffing candy in their pockets, it's "Oh... oops." or "Quit picking on my baby!" The other end of the spectrum is the ridiculously over-protective parents contributing to the increasing number of 20 year old babies. But, that's a rant for another day.
Maybe it's because I come from a very involved and close-knit family. Former friends would even tease and say my parents fell under that crazy over-protective category. But, I don't see it that way. And, besides, it worked! My sister and I never got into trouble with the law or in school. With the exception of my one and only fight in grade school that was self defense. We had rules instilled in us and we learned the value of sticking to a commitment and living a good life. And, most of all, that actions have consequences you have to face when you fuck up.
I'll go back to the fight I had in school. I hit a kid with my purse last period of the day. He had several classes with me and had been harassing me all day long. He pushed me to the ground and I retaliated. The principal wouldn't give me the time of day, but believed his crazy story about how I was a complete bitch and had it in for him from day 1. I went home crying, because we were both punished with in-school suspension. (Sit in an old art room... together... all day long doing your classwork. Worst. Day. Of. My. Life... at that point) My dad called the school. Even though I was not at fault, I still broke the rules by hitting the little jerk. And, so, served my punishment. It sucked. My 14 year old brain thought it wasn't fair and I wanted to call in sick. But, it taught me a lesson.
Again, actions have consequences. Don't study for an exam? You're probably going to flunk. Spill coffee from McDonalds all over your lap? Guess what! That shit's HOT. It says so, like 50 million times on the cup. You're going to get burned. Antagonize the dog next door? Yeah, you get no sympathy from me when he bites your hand. And, the list goes on.
I mentioned to my best friend that I was working on this post and, referring to the first news story I mentioned, I brought up my opinion on gun control. No, it is not a crime to own a gun, nor should it be. It's one of our Constitutional rights (if you live in the U.S. I know I have a few international readers out there) and I get that. BUT necessary checks and balances need to be in place, along with proper education, to ensure a) some crazy nut job doesn't decide he wants to shoot up a movie theater, b) some poor kid who feels he has no other way can't shoot up his school to stop the bullies from making his life a living hell, c) a little child can't get hold of it, thinking it's a toy and end up shooting, if not themselves, someone else. But, oh. Wait, that would fall under actually being a parent and teaching your children right from wrong. Rather than blaming the world when they end up in jail or, worse, dead. My friend owns guns. They frequent their local range. They bought a BB gun for their 7 and 9 year old kids to use only at the range, under supervision of mom and dad, and locked in a fingerprint safe. And, emphasizing these things are not toys. Even BB guns can be deadly if mishandled. We all laugh at Ralphie from Christmas Story and his "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." But, if you recall, he almost did shoot his eye out. My friend repeats this lesson over and over and will continue as her children grow up. That's taking proper responsibility.
Another thing we talked about, on this topic of guns, was school shootings. Perhaps we come from a naïve age when we were kids. Perhaps they're covered more because of the constant media saturation we get from... everywhere. But, we never heard of school shooting before Columbine. (9th grade for me) And now, sadly, they're so common place. And, what is one thing they say about many of the shooters? They were bullied in school. Now, I have shared my story numerous time about how I was bullied in school. 6th grade, coming home in tears nearly every day because kids called me "fat," "stupid," "useless," "bitch," and I'm sure there were more names long forgotten. 8th grade, I already mentioned the little creep that pushed me so far I slapped him. High school, I was the slow kid in gym class. My grades were a C average if I studied all night and prayed my heart out. I was the quiet one, so that made me a target. Rumors were spread about my best friend and I being "more than friends," if you get my drift. But, not once did I consider getting a gun and shooting up my school. Why? Because I could talk to my parents. They may have been a tad over protective but that's how parents are supposed to be. Hands on, caring about their children. Making sure they grow to have good values and become productive members of society. If you can't do that, don't have any freaking kids! You'll only be doing more harm to them and then scratching your heads wondering what went wrong.
There is the other extreme I'll touch on quickly. The parents who smother. Now, my parents were protective, but they still let my sister and I live our lives. We made mistakes. We mishandled our money. (Or, at least I did) We had those bad relationships and heartbreaks. But, you need those lessons in life. You can't have Mom and Dad hovering over you night and day because you won't figure out how to be a grown-up. Something even most adults haven't figured out yet but it's a process and different experiences for everyone. Mom and Dad, sadly, won't be around forever. You have to take charge of your life.
And, yes, that involves the tough lesson that so many kids have to learn. People can be cruel. You're going to get picked on. People are going to torment you and try to make your lives a living hell for shits and giggles. But, that means there's something wrong with them! I was trying to tell my friend's daughter this a few months back when she was telling me about a boy in school calling her ugly. "He's ignorant and blind because you are a lovely little girl." She shrugged and gave the usual reply I gave my mom so many times. "You're just saying that." "No, I'm not," I said. "I always feel that people who get joy out of making others miserable are miserable themselves. And, the way they make themselves feel superior is bringing others down instead of trying to raise themselves up. If he can't see what a great person you are, it's his loss because he could be missing out on a great friend if he just took the time to get to know you."
Which leads to another thing I need to grumble about. I'm a tolerant person. I enjoy learning about different religions and cultures. History has always interested me, the good, the bad, and the boring. And, it takes a lot to piss me off. The fact that I'm writing this is an example of the fact that I need to get things off my mind because I'm getting very close to voicing my opinions. And, with my luck, I'll say it to the wrong person who will take it the wrong way and I'll be in trouble. Probably at work. There is a certain public figure on the political scene in this country that makes me so mad. Remember I mentioned a Hulk-like rage? Yeah, he's reason number 1 I can't watch the news anymore. His blatant, ignorant, racist, sexist blabbering scares the daylights out of me! And, I pray I'm not alone. I hope to God above he does not win the election, or even the nomination he's seeking, because we're all in deep shit and I'll be packing my bags for Australia. He is demeaning to... well, anyone who is not a rich white man with bad hair. He doesn't care about family. He's quote in a 2005 interview (Buzzfeed article here and, yes, if you haven't figured it out, you'll know who I'm talking about. I am on my boyfriend's laptop and I don't think he'd appreciate me destroying it in a fit of temper because this man fills me with so much anger) saying in part, "I won’t do anything to take care of them. I’ll supply funds and she’ll take care of the kids." He wouldn't even push the baby in the stroller on a simple walk down the street! What kind of parent does that? How is that an example for his children? Especially his sons.
Now, let me give you a situation here. I'll make up a normal(ish) American family. Dad works and is one of the minority who can be a solo provider for his family for whatever reason so Mom stays home, tends house, and takes care of the kids. Seems okay, right? Let's not forget. Being a stay-home mom is a tough, highly underappreciated job. It's not like the "Real Housewives of ---" where an army of nannies take care of the kids while Mommy attends cocktail parties and watches soaps all day. No, when Dad's not home, she's doing mountains of laundry, dishes, just anything to just make the house somewhat presentable should a guest decide to drop by. Siblings fight. I know my sister and I did. My boyfriend and his brother have stories. So, as a parent, you're breaking up those fights and dishing out punishments. There are also the joys of parents. First steps, hearing "Mama" or "Daddy" for the first time. You know what gave me the "I want kids" bug? My friend's daughter was spending the weekend with me. We were in church and she threw her arms around me and gave me the most adoring smile in the world. I thought, "My God. I want to see that look coming from my own kids. That's the best feeling in the world." But, I digress. Back to my scenario here. So, the family is busy. Dad's working and helping Mom run the kids to Scouts, dance, baseball, football, visiting relatives, all that stuff that happens in life with kids. Suddenly, Mom isn't feeling well. She becomes ill. Or, she injures herself. She has to stay in bed for days/weeks on end! Can't afford a nanny with medical expenses piling up. Grandma or Aunt Lucy come help when they can but it's not a 24/7 deal. Guess what? Dad suddenly has to step up. It may mean changing his hours at work or working from home sometimes. Canceling that business trip. And, yes, he'll have to cook/do laundry/yard work/and all that other stuff Mom was doing but can't.
But, according to... yeah, you figured it out already so I'm still not typing his name... "That's not my thing." Self-centered creep. My dad does most of the cooking. Does that mean he's "acting like a wife," too? No, I think it means he's helping his wife who has to go to work as early as 3 a.m. and is so exhausted she fall asleep as soon as her rear hits the sofa. You know, if all men thought like you, I shudder to think what our world would be like. I'm pretty sure my mom wouldn't have married my dad. Then, my sister and I wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be at the place we are in our lives without hands on parents. Even now, at nearly 32, I know I can call my parents when I need to. Just before Christmas, I called my mom sobbing because my car wouldn't start after work and I was terrified it was something major. She calmed me down, she and Dad drove to my job, they looked it over, and said it was just the battery. Then, they helped me jump it and get it to the shop. If they weren't protective of us, I probably would have died 2 years ago from the blood clot in my leg because I was putting off seeing the doctor. But, my mom woke me up saying, "I called you off work. Make a doctor appointment now or we're just going to the E.R." Hands off dads wouldn't meet their daughters for dinners once a week just to talk and catch up on life amid busy schedules. Hands off dads would probably never notice when their daughters came home crying after their first big heartbreak and feeling like the world shattered around them like a dropped snow globe.
I could go on. But, my brain is fried and I need to be up early myself to work on my other writing projects before Day Job resumes once more. Looking forward to a long, quiet weekend and, hopefully, continued nice weather.
I hope my rants and ramblings sparked some thought, if not conversation. I'd love to talk/civilly debate. And, thanks for reading if you made it to the end.
Good night,
Carey
Monday, April 25, 2016
A Lost Light
Well, today is going to suck. I'm attending a funeral after work for a former coworker. 25 years old, super sweet young man. He was hard working. He always had a smile and a kind word for anyone he met.
I'm going to copy the Facebook post from his sister on the day he died and post it here before I say more:
I'm going to copy the Facebook post from his sister on the day he died and post it here before I say more:
Today has been the most devastating day of my life. Today my baby brother died. He was 25. He was a son, a brother, a nurse. He loved to laugh, he loved his patients and he loved his family. As great as he was, he fought with a demon inside of him and lost. That demon was addiction. It started many years ago with a back injury ... pills mostly. Then came the anxiety. Xanax and an alcohol chaser. We saw it coming like a freight train. After pleading with him to get help, he finally did. Rehab, for 28 days. We (his family) attended Nar-Anon meetings to help with our own struggles. On Tuesday he came home. He was changed. For the better perhaps, or just different. "Rehab was the best drug education I could have ever gotten." He joked. Little did we know he wasn't kidding. Today, 36 hours after leaving rehab, he died of a heroin overdose. He learned about heroin, in detail, in rehab. It isn't anyone's fault this happened but his own. I'm not angry. He has become just another a statistic.
I'm sharing this with you because my brother wasn't your typical "junkie". He was a good kid from a good home. He had a family that loved him and a good job. He had great, caring friends that tried to help him with his depression. He had hopes and dreams of a great future. All of that was taken by addiction. If you know of someone struggling with addiction, please find them help. Their life could depend on it. There are "signs". Don't pretend they aren't there or that your loved one will "get better" on their own. They cannot do it on their own. This is a disease. I cannot recommend Nar-Anon meetings highly enough. Find one if you are worried about a loved one. Go. They can and will help you. Tell your loved one you love them. The heroin on the streets today is mixed with all sorts of deadly crap. It kills. Please do not be ashamed. I was. I will not be anymore. Tim and others like him deserve to be able to stand tall and say "My name is Tim, I'm an addict .... and I need help." Please share this message. I have met some wonderful people during this process. Some have made it through .. some have not. I want others to know .... There is Hope.
To those friends and family that have supported us through this tough time, I cannot express my sincerest "Thank You's" enough. Once his final arraignments have been made, I will pass those along.
When I saw the news of this, I wanted to be physically sick. How could this happen to such a sweet guy? With so many evil people in the world, why do the good ones have to suffer like this? All the questions that one would ask during a time like this. It just goes to show how truly fragile life can be.
I think Melissa's post says it all so I'm not going to add much more. I'm going to start crying again if I do. I just wanted to share this with you and, if you or anyone you know is going through a problem with addiction, get help. It is possible. And, if you are blessed to have a healthy family, give them an extra hug tonight. Tim's parents shouldn't have to bury their child tonight. But, he will be remembered as a wonderful and rare light in a world full of darkness.
To those friends and family that have supported us through this tough time, I cannot express my sincerest "Thank You's" enough. Once his final arraignments have been made, I will pass those along.
When I saw the news of this, I wanted to be physically sick. How could this happen to such a sweet guy? With so many evil people in the world, why do the good ones have to suffer like this? All the questions that one would ask during a time like this. It just goes to show how truly fragile life can be.
I think Melissa's post says it all so I'm not going to add much more. I'm going to start crying again if I do. I just wanted to share this with you and, if you or anyone you know is going through a problem with addiction, get help. It is possible. And, if you are blessed to have a healthy family, give them an extra hug tonight. Tim's parents shouldn't have to bury their child tonight. But, he will be remembered as a wonderful and rare light in a world full of darkness.
Monday, April 18, 2016
New Website
Hey guys!
Real quick before I have to head out for the evening. I have a web site! Check it out here. It's hosted through VistaPrint and it's been really easy to put together. I'm slowly getting info up a little every day so I'll keep you all updated. Since I already have 2 blogs, the one on my web site will be strictly book news. Unless it's something I really want to share. Then I'll copy it here as well. Possibly in my RA one as well.
Later!
Carey
Real quick before I have to head out for the evening. I have a web site! Check it out here. It's hosted through VistaPrint and it's been really easy to put together. I'm slowly getting info up a little every day so I'll keep you all updated. Since I already have 2 blogs, the one on my web site will be strictly book news. Unless it's something I really want to share. Then I'll copy it here as well. Possibly in my RA one as well.
Later!
Carey
Sunday, March 20, 2016
My Book is Out At Last!
Here it is! My book! I finally published it! Here's a look at my final cover design for my first book in the Witches of Coolersville series. 140 pages, 2 years of hard work, 1 1/2 years of talking about publishing, and I finally did it. I was going to originally have it out after Easter but I couldn't wait.
I took the leap. After trying and modifying for nearly a week, I did it! I'm so happy that this day has finally arrived.
I'm currently working on my sequel, although it's coming along slower than I'd like. But, now that book 1 is out, I will hopefully have more motivation to work on the next.
Here's the link for the physical book- http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Coolersville-Book/dp/1505607566/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458531235&sr=1-1
Here is the link to the Kindle e-book- http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Coolersville-Book-ebook/dp/B01D81RJ0Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458531235&sr=1-2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)