Sunday Post #amwriting

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The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted  @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things  received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Review

           LOOKING FORWARD TO August

This week I watched the Olympics. I learned a lot about synchronized swimming.  There are five big rules including: swimmers cannot wear goggles because it's important for the Olympic judges to see full emotion. The swimmers cannot touch the bottom of pool or where jewelry or play music at the wrong time. And team means team: if a one of the swimmers stops swimming they are disqualified.

 Congrats to the women's gymnastics team for bringing home medals. And for Suni Lee becoming the first Hmong American Gold Medalist. I have a lot of Hmong friends from high school and they are all elated with this victory.  

We will be having our high school reunion soon. (graduated in '02.) Besides the Olympics, I spent some time with two close friends and went to a Mexican restaurant called Boca Chica I was going to try and watch the meteor showers but it rained on Thursday.

Lastly, I drove for UBER and took a few clients here and there.  One lived in downtown Minneapolis and we talked about the parking and fireworks. Another said he had been to 40 of the 50 states (He works as a chef) 

What's your favorite state? I asked.

Alaska.

What helps you get acclimated to a state?

I dunno.  I just meet one person and then they introduce me to another I guess. I'm going to meet my dog now, he said.  The woman I used to stay with in Alaska had my dog.  I been in living in Alaska two years ago, and when I was getting on a flight, Delta said they lost my dog's reservations and it was 4 am... and I needed to get on that flight so I had to leave the dog in Alaska. 

                                    Photos from my week

Horchata from Boca Chica

The studio where we record "Disability Landscape" (Our YouTube Channel)

My son, Zulfiqar, four years ago

Upcoming Shows

Twin Cities Fringe Festival

August 5-15, 2021. Producers from around the world will join us online and in-person during the 2021 Minnesota Fringe Festival! 

Charlie and I talk with Joanna Schnedler of Minnesota Music Coalition and Stephen Letnes of Able Artist Foundation. We discuss the relationship between the two organizations and what they offer for musicians with disabilities.https://www.youtube.com/watch?

ON THE BLOG

Current:

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

I liked this novel a lot.  The two main characters: Quinn and Minnie (cooper) share the same birthday on the same year. Guess what?!! their parents had them at the same hospital, and their parent's decide to switch names that they were going to give their babies.Oh darn!!! I would hate that to happen.  But it gets lovely when the female protagonist meets her baby stealing name changer at thirty and she finds out he's a millionaire heart throb. How cut is that!!

Roomaid By Sariah Wilson--This contemporary explains what happens when you find out every choice you made was a lie.

Sunday Post,Tynga's Reviews #amreading #amjoy

Sunday Post #amreading #amjoy

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted  @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things  received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

           LOOKING FORWARD TO march

This week I'm excited because I was able to download oracle after many attempts.  I thought I had a bug in my computer that was preventing me from downloading it.  And Oracle is a necessity for my online class, because I'm  learning SQL, structured query language. So I found out, I needed to download sql developer software which has java connected with it.

  I’ve been using stackoverflow.com to help me answer some questions related to my IT class. 

I just read somewhere that some people don't use Google as a source to answer their common questions.  Stackoverflow.com or Quora is also a resource because it's a community online that is devoted to answering all kinds of questions.

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This week I also got the most glorious compliment on my writing.  You see every Saturday I meet with writers at Black Dog cafe, so the writers there are very familiar with my work.  This Saturday, I was going on and on about this writer, named Teresa, who writes all about her Babsia, polish grandmother, and how she has so many stories that are about this small-made-up polish village in Minnesota.  Her stories are absolutely hysterical!
Anyway, the writer, Jim was like, "you write some fantastic stories, too, about your life growing up in north Minneapolis, and they're filled with great characters and dialogue. Now if you could just connect all these stories and combine them in a novel." And you know what, that's what I plan to do! I'm just so thrilled that someone sees potential in my writing.

CURRENTLY

Reading: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (contemporary) Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino,(Romance)  Managed by Kristen Calihan, Dirty Filthy Rich Men by Laurelin Paige, Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem,

Listening: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Friendship by Emily Gould

ON THE BLOG

Sunday: The Sunday Post

Up Coming:

Readers if you want to comment, please do so below.

The Sunday post, #amreading, #amjoy

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted  @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things  received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

LOOKING FORWARD TO september

Lots happened this week.  I joined a new writer's critique group in the Twin Cities.  It's been fantastic so far.  If there's any advice that I could give to a young writer, it's to be vulnerable and share your work.  When I think of some of the biggest artist out there:The Rock:Dwayne Johnson and great comedians like Gabriela Marquez and Kevin Hart-they got to where they are because they shared their work.  

Readers, if you want to comment-do so at the bottom of this post.

CURRENTLY

Reading:  The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes, The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner, Problems by Jade Sharma, Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake, The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer, The Hurricane Season by Lauren K Denton, Dangerous Girls By Abigail Haas

Listening: 

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn, The lost Heir, American Gods by Neil Gaiman,

Watching:  American Ninja Warriors

ON THE BLOG

Up Coming:

Tuesday:Interview with author Eliza Gordon (Here's a blurb about her newest novel: Dani has two go-tos for consolation: maple scones and a blog in which she pours her heart out to her celebrity idol. (Dwayne Johnson) He’s the man her father never was, no boyfriend will ever be—and not so impossible a dream as one might think.

Saturday:Weekend Warriors 

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Sunday:Sunday Post

Readers if you want to comment, please do so below.

@caffeinatedbookreviewer #amreading #amjoy

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted  @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things  received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

LOOKING FORWARD TO july

Had lots of fun this week. I went to see The Twins (baseball). And went to the Raspberry festival in Hopkins and saw DJ Tom Barnard from KQRS running with the Bulls-if you have no idea what that means-basically runners have to get to the finish line as fast as possible, but have to avoid getting the red flags hanging on their backs taken by one of the fast and relentless official bull runners and roller derby bulls. 

#California @Writer_MDNeu #amreading #amjoy

MD Neu is with me today to discuss his writing and love for books. Neu is a Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel.  Living in the heart of Silicon

Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be.
Read more

Skye McNeil @Skye_McNeil7 #amreading #amjoy

Author Skye McNeil is joining me today. Skye writes RomCom and Romantic Suspense novels that are smart, flirty and sassy.

And onto the interview...

Skye, what have you written?

Appointed By Fate is my first book with Hot Tree Publishing and my third book in total to be published. I also have Timberline with Hartwood Publishing and Donuts, Diamonds and Assorted Details self-published.

Give us an insight into your main characters. What does he/she do that is so special?

Joci Dorous is a criminal attorney in Des Moines, Iowa. She has a knack for getting the best possible outcome for her clients. She also has a delicious love triangle throughout the book. Cameron Shearer is a man on trial for homicide, but the mystery surrounding the murder is why he came to Iowa in the first place. His association with the Del Rossi mob gets him into more trouble than he can handle, which is why he needs Joci, a long lost friend, to help him out. The two character together make an incredible team and the constant struggle to see if they end up together keeps readers engaged.

What drew you to write in these genre?

I love to read books and watch shows/movies that leave you guessing and wanting more. I always like romance to make the stakes that much higher when I read/watch. Romantic suspense really encompasses both for the reader.

 Would you hire someone else to format, edit, or create artwork for your novel, how would you select them and how much weight do you put on reviews?

When I look for a person or company to assist me in my novel adventures, I always want to feel as though I'm not only an author, but also a part of a family. My publisher, Hot Tree Publishing, does an excellent job with informing me of what's expected of me as well as guiding me to become the best author possible.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

The best advice I ever got for marketing was to be a go-getter and never stop. I'm more of an introvert, so it's difficult at times, but when you meet your readers who otherwise would never know about your books except from marketing, it is an amazing feeling.

What do your fans mean to you?

My fans mean the world to me. Without them, I'm stuck reading my books alone. The support and interaction with my fans encourages me to continue my writing endeavors and often times offer new ideas.

Links:

Amazon Buy Link: http://a.co/c0ocLE9

Website: www.skyemcneil.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyesthelimitwriting         

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/skye_mcneil7

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14437675.Skye_McNeil

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Skye-McNeil/e/B017Y63B6C/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1491832047&sr=8-2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcneilskye     

   

Readers, please comment below.        

Sunday Post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted  @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things  received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

August

I went on vacation to Wisconsin.  You got to love the lakes there.  They seem to call out to you, swim in me, sail on me. Come into the conservatory and park by the dock.  In fact, dock wherever you want.  Wouldn't it be cool if everywhere you went you could dock?  Docking is so much different than walking or perching yourself somewhere. The subtle flow of the water makes you ask a question like: Do I want to stay here?  Cause if i don't I can easily just float away. Float, float, float away just like that. And everything you do is made choice by the lake which steers you away calmly.

I had a few friends text me their whereabouts during my trip.  They were either taking a meditation class or enjoying a Backstreet Boys concert.  Other friends were discussing music or smiling into video calls, saying hi, waving even, while I pointed at the lake.  Isn't communication great?

We also stayed at the Hilton in Wisconsin Dells and swam in the hotel pool.  You just have to swim in hotel pools, don't you?  You just have to take in everything on vacation.

We also watched a group of people who had rented a pontoon boat and had a party. They back flipped and jumped off the pontoon that also substituted as a cafe.  Honestly, it looked like a cabin that could be an outhouse in the middle of the lake.

Other than that the trip was pretty great.  I hope to remember Mt Olympus and the looks on people's faces as ten foot waves came and picked everyone up and distributed them somewhere else in the pool.

CURRENTLY

Reading:  Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh, More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera, The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli, Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Listening: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, Geekerella by Ashley Poston,Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Watching:  Girl Boss on Netflix.  Finally a show that combines my two loves: Fashion and Online Shopping! Also watching Ozark and Game of Thrones.

  

ON THE BLOG

What Happened:

(Not a whole lot so I'll talk about last week)

Wednesday: Posted #WordlessWednesday and some pics that related to my trip to Chicago a while back.  Visited places like Grant park and took double decker tour.

Up Coming:

Wednesday:Wordless Wednesday

Sunday:Weekend Warriors 

Readers if you want to comment, please do so below.

m

#WordlessWednesday #Happy #amjoy

#ReadORama Progress Report #amreading

Books Trin Carl is Reading/Listening to

I've got pretty far in my Read-O-Rama challenge. I thought I'd show a snap shot of books I'm either in the process of reading or finished.

I have finished this self help book entitled "Show Your Work."

Here is a blurb from the book :

Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive.

In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

I've been trying to find different ways that I can show my writing and reading process.  The book really goes into detail about how important it is for an artist to do this.  The book talks about how artists often think that by showing your work someone might come and steal your thunder.  But that's not really the case.  Readers and art enthusiasts love to see the process and no one person's process is going to be the same.  No one person can accumulate the amount of hours you have done to get to where you are, and people love to learn how they can become successful.

So far I've been:

1.  posted my writing on Youtube (through audio files)
2.  posted my work on my blog.  
3. I've been using social networking for my work on twitter and facebook
4. I've considered having other youtubers read some of my work on their channels.  This one youtuber I know is a fabulous professional narrator, so I've been thinking of asking him to do read my work after its gone through the editing process.

Readers, If you read any good books let me know in the comments below.

Shear Luck Review #thursdaytreat #amreading

Title: Shear Luck

[on Amazon | on Goodreads]
Author: B.Sue Seabury [Goodreads]
Genres: Romance

Length: 200 pages
Year: 2017
Stars: 5/5
Will appeal to: anyone who likes romance and/or a good laugh.


Blurb:It’s sheer luck when the Queen of Coiffure books the wrong flight and meets Mr. Mane Attraction.

Kandi is all set to open the hottest hair salon in West Hollywood. The only thing she needs is a teensy bit of cash to cover the rent. Should be no harder than trimming up split ends with all the investors headed to the First Annual Hairstravaganza in Juno Beach, Florida.


**Amazon Synopsis https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0722Y3XQX/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

Review:
In this light romantic comedy, author Seabury tells the story from the points of view of main characters Mario and Kandi. As a reader I was initially concerned that the dual narrative would leave little room for minor characters to react to the ongoing plot sequences, but Seabury did a fine job including the support system of both Mario and Kandi, whether it was a mom or dad joining in on the banter, or a friend who was forming an opinion on these potential love birds.

I felt Shear Luck was particularly strong in the area of character development. The plot line shared with readers what can go wrong; both in the air and in the airport.

I'm often hesitant to read romance because some plot sequences are so cliché and I can often predict the ending even if the author tries to throw in a twist. This wasn't the case with this novel.

The general premise centers around Kandi's encounter with Mario. Don't judge a book by its cover. Kandi's attraction to Mario is evident and her inner thoughts towards him are hilarious. "That nice man turned out nuts." She pictures Mario in a future ad for her salon: "Hair down, shirt off a must."

Mario's initial reaction towards Kandi is also filled with both wit and sarcasm, "I ask her what hair product she uses, huge mistake." The fact that Kandi is in the business of Hair and Beauty and Mario is clueless makes the interaction between them worth remembering.

In Shear Luck, Sue Seabury has written a delightful romance and I would certainly read this again.

Readers, if you read any romance novels lately, let me know in the comments below.