The Big 3-0

Today is the last day of my twenties, for tomorrow, I will turn the big 3-0. GASP! Yes, I said it. I know, there are those of you who are out there rolling your eyes right now. Yeah, you. I know, cry me a river, right? Just let me get this out there. I approach my thirties with trepidation and remorse, anticipation and joy. Although, I now realize that thirty is far from the "old" I believed it to be as a teen, it is still the end of some of my most formative years.

In my twenties, I birthed three beautiful children, put my husband through college, finished a degree, moved six times, bought four houses, celebrated ten wonderful years with my sweetheart, worked for ten years as a Registered Nurse, ran my first full marathon, completed my first triathlon, published my first novel, made countless friends and lost a few along the way, learned to let go of the people who cause drama and heartache, and learned a lot about myself. I now find that it is not necessarily my age that makes me feel old, but my experiences and the stage at which I find myself in life. We are done building our family. Two of my three children are in grade school. I am no longer the new, young, and unseasoned nurse, but an experienced resource for the real newbies. Now is the time to look back on the past with fondness, embrace the present, and look forward to the future.

Like Kate in my recent release, Fall of Darkness, I too had a list of things I wanted to accomplish by a certain age. Mine was my "Thirty Before Thirty." I'm pleased to share that I was able to check off all of the milestones on that list. Alright, so I had to cheat a little on one. I wanted to leave the country at least once before I turned thirty and Hawaii is as far as I got. Hey, in all fairness, you fly over international waters. Splitting hairs? Probably, but I don't do failure well. I guess it's time to make my list of "Forty Before Forty." Get a passport and actually set foot on foreign soil will have to be at the top of my list.

My biggest goal for my thirties is to learn to love myself for who I am. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am my own worst critic. It is my hope that as I mature, I may make peace with my imperfections and love them for the individuality they give me. I'm not perfect. Life isn't perfect. It's messy and beautiful, crazy and unpredictable- just like me. ;) All I can say is, I look forward to the ride, it's going to be a wild one.

Guest Post- Author Nonnie Jules

As I've mentioned  before, I meet some of the most AMAZING people in the writing community. My guest today is one of those wonderful friends I've made through networking and I feel so fortunate to have her in my life. So, without further ado, I present the lovely Ms. Nonnie Jules...

Hello Elle!  Thank you so much for allowing me to share with your precious readers today.  I am more than honored.  Before I begin, let me introduce myself.  My name is NONNIE JULES and I am a mother of two, wife of one, loyal friend, dog lover, avid reader, relentless promoter of others and an Author.  Today is the fifth stop on my blog tour and we've had so much fun thus far.  Hopefully, you will follow us for the rest of the tour.

I want to talk to you all today about networking via social media and how very beneficial it can be.  I will use my new-found friendship with Elle Bright as an example for starters.   

Elle and I met via Facebook and somehow or another we started chatting about our books.  I will admit that I had noticed her book cover  long before we started chatting and how nice it was, and from there preceded to ask her who had done it for her.  She told me that she was the talent behind the cover (although she did not use those words, they are all mine,  it was obvious that she really is talented).  Then she, out of the blue, offered to help me with the cover for my new book, but she didn't HELP at all...she single-handedly created and designed the entire cover herself!  I am new to this book scene and am also new to social media, so that particular task I was dreading because I didn't even know how, or where to start.  I had asked other people on Twitter how they'd done it, but none of the responses were helpful at all.  They were generic blow-offs like:  "I used PhotoShop.  It's easy" PERIOD, or "Just Google how to do it.  Google shows you how to do everything." PERIOD.  Well, I don't, nor do I want to learn anything about PhotoShop (I'm just too old, too tired and don't believe that there is enough room left in my brain for any new information to be stored anyway).  And Google...well, didn't want to have to sit through another  how-to video, either.  I was at my wits end and then, there came ELLE!  

Elle tirelessly scoured the web until she found the perfect photos for my cover, told me how to get the license to use the photos, and over many, many days, she changed this, and changed that (over and over and over again) until it was all satisfactory to me.  Now, this is a person who has never laid eyes on me, yet she went above and beyond to take on this massive project FOR ME!  And the cover of my soon-to-be-released novel "DAYDREAM'S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE'S FRIEND" which you  see here, is the work of the phenomenally talented, ever-supportive, ELLE BRIGHT! 

So, continuing on to how networking and building friendships is beneficial via social media.  My first book "THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS", 100 Tips On Raising Daughters Everyone Can't Help But Love, had just hit the shelves of a major book store and Elle had mentioned to me that she had tried to get her books on the shelf of book stores before, but was unsuccessful.  I thought to myself "She's doing this wonderful thing for me, FREE of charge, I want to do something major for her." So, I did.  I worked a little magic, waved a little wand (that I borrowed from a friend's two year old daughter),  and now Elle's book sits on shelves of a major book store as well!!!

So, the lesson here is  to get out there and make those connections.  Welcome those new people who sit behind a keyboard just like you, into your virtual world.  And when you do welcome them in, go into that new connection with the mindset of "How can I be of service to them? Not "what can they do for me?" When you live your life to be of service to others, wonderful things happen to you and for you.  Just think, if I had not met Elle, I'd still be sitting here right now wondering what I was going to do about a cover for my novel.  And I'm sure without me, Elle's book would have made it onto the shelves of a major book store because she's a talented writer, but let's just say, it made it there a whole lot quicker because of me.  We helped each other!  And we have vowed to ALWAYS help one another.  That's what making social connections and networking is all about.

 

So if you've been afraid to jump out there and make some connections, I would advise you to let go of that feeling fast.  I know that sometimes fear of the unknown, fear of what's behind that keyboard, keeps us safe in our own space, but you can still be cautious and yet continue to build that connections and alliances that will help you to reach new heights professionally.  GO FOR IT!  You will be so glad you did!

 

My time is up here so I'd like to invite you all to follow me on twitter @nonniejules and on my blog WATCH NONNIE WRITE! www.nonniewrites.wordpress.com.  There's always something interesting going on there, I assure you. 

I would also like to invite you to check out my books... "THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS"  at www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP62O56, on www.createspace.com/4355124 and for signed/autographed copies go to www.nonniesbookstore.com.  You will find the book trailer here on YouTube at http://youtu.be/zg15rptFN2g.  And thru the end of my book tour which ends September 5, I am giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner who has purchased a copy of "THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE..." during the month of August.  Please visit www.nonniesbookstore.com for details.

My first novel "DAYDREAM'S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE'S FRIEND" is due to release on Amazon by September 1, 2013 (let's all cross our fingers).  If you would like to pre-order an advance copy at the low price of only $10, you may do so by visiting www.nonniesbookstore.com, where you can also read an excerpt from the book. You will also find the book trailer on YouTube at http://youtu.be/qbUK3XQ5-dA.

As a reminder my blog tour doesn't end until September 5, so I hope that you will continue to follow it every step of the way.  You will find a schedule of all the stops on my site at wp.me/p3sUCq-jr.

Thank you all once again, and I wish you nothing but peace, love, happiness and many great reads! 

 

 

 



1500 likes Giveaway

I'm making excellent progress on Dark Redemption and am celebrating with a giveaway on my Facebook page. I'm giving away a signed paperback of Fall of Darkness at 1500 likes on my author page. Please take a minute to like my page, then share and comment on the original giveaway post. More importantly, check out my book Fall of Darkness on Amazon and share the love.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elle-Bright-Author/399211590194895?ref=hl

Author Christine Warner's Blog

I was thrilled when fellow author, Christine Warner, invited me to write a guest post for her blog. Check out her amazing blog and my thoughts on applying reality to fiction...

http://christine-warner.com/2013/08/14/what-to-read-wednesday-88/

Author Edwin Dasso's New Blog

One of my author friends has recently created a blog. I was flattered to find that he chose to feature me and my writing in one of his first posts. Thanks, Ed! I'm currently reading Ed's debut novel, Past Aghast, and look forward to sharing my thoughts with you shortly.

http://jackblackcloud.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-wanted-to-take-time-today-to.html

More reviews!

Unfortunately, no perfect 5-star rating lasts forever. Mine is no different, as I recently received my first 4-star review on Amazon. Although no one loves criticism, it was helpful to hear what components a reader didn't appreciate in the story. Check out what some of my latest readers had to say about Fall of Darkness:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!!!!!, August 3, 2013

By 

melinda sutter

 

I couldn't put this book down, it was such a great read. I could relate to the character being an E.R. Nurse (she also worked in other areas) because I was an E.R. Nurse for almost 12 years and loved every minute of it. I really hope there is another book soon, I think I found a new favorite author :))))

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly different, yet frustratingly the same., August 3, 2013

By 

Cassie (Sacramento, Cali area)

 

I loved this story, this world. I enjoyed the fact that unlike most books these two did not fight their love and attraction to one another. I really enjoyed the twist and turns of a supernatural Romeo and Juliet story. The only thing that drove me beyond nuts was that Kate's blaming Dom and forgetting all the ways he told her he loved her and that all could have been avoided if she did as he asked and listened until the end. I almost stopped reading it when she started spouting nonsense about how he never loved her when the prove was in so many places. But now I'm glad I stuck through it. I can't wait for the next book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down!!!, July 31, 2013

By 

Amy E.

 

This book has it all! It sucked me in from the beginning and I just could not put it down. Finished it in less than a day. I absolutely LOVED this book!!! If I could I'd give it 10 stars!

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, hate and suspense, it has it all., July 31, 2013

By 

M. Wheatley (San Diego, CA)

 

This is a great debut novel full of love, hate, family drama with some surprises thrown in. I was very impressed and found it hard to believe that this was a debut. The writing is professional and the story line kept me interested to the very end. Starts out in a real world life, then Kate finds herself as an heiress flying around on a private plane. This book is a great escape, I'll be looking forward to more by this author!

 

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!! Great read, July 28, 2013

By 

Dee W (Ocala, Florida United States) -

 

WOW...vamps & werewolves all in one... romance dominates...could not put it down. I bought this book based on another review and am glad I did. I hope to see more from this fine author. Indie authors rock!

Review of Finding Obscurity (The Secret Series, Volume 1,) by Emma Shade

About Finding Obscurity:

Lily Canton always knew she was unique. After she loses everything she has ever cared about ten years ago, Lily decides its time to find answers about her past and why she has special powers. But when you can’t control seeing the future, and you hold enough electricity inside you to black out an entire city block, it doesn’t always make life easy. She swore she would never care about anyone ever again after that fateful day so long ago. Then she meets sexy club owner, Ashton Ryder. Lily can’t afford to fall for Ashton. Then there is handsome, powerful, Blake Moore, who wants to help her with more than just her powers. She has to learn to trust people and let them into her heart, even as things spiral out of control. Not only does she learn Ashton has a secret that will make her question everything she ever thought was real, but Lily finds out that her birth parents are anything but ordinary. Just when Lily thinks she has everything figured out, someone is determined to destroy her – because she isn’t supposed to be alive.

 

My Review: 4 Stars

Emma Shade is one of the lovely new author friends I've made on Facebook. I purchased her book in an effort to support a fellow indie author and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel and am excited for the next one. The characters are intriguing, the men are HOT, the story flows well, and the book holds the reader's interest from beginning to end. Some of the writing could use a bit more editing, but Emma's fascinating storyline makes up for most  it.

Overall, I was pleased with this purchase and would recommend it to others. I look forward to the next installment in "The Secrets Series."

http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Obscurity-Secrets-Series-Volume/dp/1490518940/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375899453&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+obscurity

Indie Authors on the Move Award

I am so honored to have been nominated and selected as this week's "Indie Author on the Move!" Check it out here... http://nonniewrites.wordpress.com/indie-authors-on-the-move/