Where do you get all those books?

I have a few friends that have asked this numerous times. You see, I'm a recovering book-a-holic. That doesn't mean I don't read anymore, it means I can't go into a bookstore without having a book blackout and spending hundreds of dollars. But I love books, and I always have a new book to read, how do I do it? I'm magic! Seriously though, there's many different ways to get free books - legally. You can enter contests - I'm really good at winning those, just won one today. You can join a street team for one of your favorite authors; some of them give you advanced reading copies (ARCs). There's always Amazon, of course! And to help weed out the rotten freebies from the good ones, Bitten By Books has a nice list for ya! Click here, for free reads.

Toe-Tapping Thursday: Go Slow

I almost forgot about Toe-Tapping Thursday - a lot of craziness happened last night. Let's just say it involved me moving a sofa from my 2nd floor apartment all the way downstairs and outside by myself, and leave it at that.

But while I was struggling with furniture, or playing online games, or reading, or whatever else I've done this week, there was one song that I kept listening to. And when I wasn't listening to it, I was humming it or singing it in my head. The song is Go Slow by HAIM. Yes, I know I talked about HAIM a few weeks ago, but in my defense I spoke of them as a whole, and now I'm speaking about one particular song.

Usually what I do when I listen to an album, is locate my favorite track and listen to it non stop. Then slowly, I start listening to the rest of the album, with a lot of repeats of the favorite track. But little by little, I find a 2nd favorite song, or a discover I really like the beat of a certain song or the lyrics of another track speak to me. This is what happened with Go Slow. After exhausting If I Could Change Your Mind and Better Off, I found myself going back to Go Slow. I think what really made it my current obsession was their live performances of the song; I found little nuances that I hadn't heard in the album - they're there, I hear them now that I know to look for them, but they're so far in the background that I've missed it this whole time. The lyrics are really good; the more I listened to them, the more I realized that they spoke to me. The song is about an ex and I think we all have an ex, right? :P It's just a great song overall, HAIM killed it with this track in a very sneaky way; the song is understated until you really listen to it...a lot. LOL.

(Funny story before I show the video/song: If you read my post on HAIM from a few weeks ago, or if you're a fan of the band, you know that Alana Haim looks like Troian Bellisario from Pretty Little Liars. Well, HAIM performed at Coachella this past weekend, and Troain was there. Someone tweeted Troian, "Hey are you in HAIM!?" and Troian replied, "Yes I am." HAHAHA! Love it!!!)

Ok ok here it is - this is my favorite live performance that I've seen. And it has a funny pick up line in the end. :P

Toe-Tapping Thursday: Heartburn

I'll admit it - after I wrote last week's Toe-Tapping Thursday I binge-watched Making The Band 3 seasons one and two. I loved that show, and watching the formation of Danity Kane. Ok, I mainly watched for Laurieann Gibson and her boom kacks - I can watch her forever.

My MTB3/Danity Kane (re)obsession last week has led to this week's Toe-Tapping Thursday song: Heartburn by Alicia Keys. If you've seen MTB3 then you know that Laurieann used this song (as well as others) to teach the girls choreography. This was always my favorite song that they danced to, (aside from the track that they girls had to write lyrics to) and I'll be honest, the first time I saw this show I didn't know who sang the song. It wasn't until I was rewatching it all last week that the song came on and I immediately recognized Alicia Key's voice. "How the hell did I NOT realize that before!?" I'm special. :P

So here it is, the song that has been playing non stop this week - Heartburn by Alicia Keys:

Did You Just Sign Me Up To Your Newsletter Without My Permission?

I just realized this earlier today, and the more I think about it, the more irritated I become. We all know I love to read and some of you may know that I have a book review blog (see the tab above), and I'm all for supporting authors...that being said, I don't like people to just assume things or push things on me without my knowledge or consent.

Now, I have been pretty active these last two weeks; entering contests, adding new authors, following said authors, etc. and there is a very small chance that I did this myself - but I don't think so. Here's why:

I don't know this author. I've never read anything by them. I even looked at my browser history to see if her name popped up and nothing did. I am familiar with the author's name, and that's because my best friend, who is also one of my contributors to Book Verse, wrote a review for one of her books. I went over and checked the date of the review and then did a search in my inbox to see when the first newsletter came in, and it was dated 3 days after my friend posted her review.

So here is what I think happened: She got a ping on Google or something alerting her that someone had mentioned her name, and she went to my blog and read the nice review that my friend left, and then clicked on the contributor links where I have my email address and proceeded to sign me up to her newsletter.

Like I said, I don't have a problem supporting authors. In fact, I have gotten emails before from authors who asked if I could read and review one of their books, or to follow them on social media or sign up to their newsletter. I am more than happy to. But don't force it upon me. I will choose whether or not to follow you or your newsletter - do not take the choice away from me. And yes, I know I can (and definitely plan to) unsubscribe, but the lack of courtesy really bugs me. I have my email address up so if an author wants to contact me for whatever reason they can, not so you can abuse it and spam me. Yes I called it spam, because it was unsolicited.

For any writers/authors reading this: This isn't meant to discourage you from contacting me. I welcome it! A simple, "Hi, thanks for the nice review. Can I sign you up for my newsletter?" will go a long way with me.

Toe-Tapping Thursday: Welcome To The Dollhouse

This week's Toe-Tapping Thursday is the album Welcome To The Dollhouse by Danity Kane. This was the group's sophomore (and last) album which came out back in 2008.

I was obsessed with this group almost since the very beginning. I stumbled across a marathon of Making The Band 3 one weekend and I LOVED it! From that moment on, I was invested in finding out who Diddy was going to pick to be in the band. And from the very beginning, both Aundrea and Aubrey were my favorites - and they ultimately ended up becoming two of the members. I loved how they become best friends. Of course they didn't stay best friends...

It was a long road forming this group. At the end of the season, Diddy did not make a band. Instead he picked some of the contestants to move on to round 2 (Making The Band 3 Season 2) where they - along with new contestants - had to dance harder, and sing better. At the end of this season Danity Kane was formed. Unfortunately they didn't last long. There was a lot of drama between the girls and Diddy, and he eventually fired Aubrey and D. Woods from the group. Shortly after that he got rid of Aundrea and only kept Dawn (I think Shannon left of her own accord, I don't remember honestly). It was heartbreaking seeing these girls who worked their asses off disband in a relatively short amount of time.

But they're back! The girls have gotten back together - sans D. Woods - and are working on their third studio album, and are going on tour this May. I think that's cool. Makes me wonder if Aubrey and Aundrea overcame their issues and are good friends again.

Anyway, for some reason I just had this urge to listen to their second album, so I went searching for it in my room and found it rather quickly. I hadn't listened to it in over 4 years, and I'd forgotten how good it was. Of course I remembered how good the song Damaged was, since it was their single. And Bad Girl was always playing in my old apartment (it was my Whore's anthem). But I forgot how good the other tracks were, especially Strip Tease and 2 Of You which are my favorite tracks besides Damaged.

I will definitely check out their third album when it comes out.

Lack of Sleep But Still a Good Day!

I think it's been about 2 weeks since I've had a decent night's sleep. I've napped, but I haven't slept a good 7 or 8 hours straight. It's beginning to take a toll me. For example, I've been trying to write a blog all day today. I couldn't come up with a topic, and I was sooo tired, I couldn't even form words in my head to type up. I'm officially mentally exhausted and it sucks, because I want to do so many things, and I can't!

On a better note, today was a very lovely day. I was surprised, because yesterday was rather nasty; wet, rainy, and at one point slushy. So to have this wonderful weather, and sun (even though I'm not a fan of the big star) was good. Especially since I went downtown today, and the thought of me getting my hair wet, made me kind of nervous. But no worries, because it all worked out.

Speaking of downtown...the reason I was downtown, was because I had a lunch date. Like a DATE date. Weird, I know! I don't date often. I'll go on first dates with a few guys, get discourage, quit, and not date again for at least a year. That's my routine, and I've been pretty consistent about it. :P But, this date was actually nice, and there is going to be a second one. *gasp* Finally, someone who understands the true definition of dating. I'm all about taking it slow, actually getting to know someone, not committing to a relationship with a near stranger; and the guys I've dated (and pretty much everyone nowadays) they're quick to attach a title and talk about weddings and kids. It's scary, people! What's the rush? Enough with instant gratification, and enough with being in love with the idea of being in love. Can we all just take it one step at a time, live in the moment, and smell the roses? Thank you. (Apparently, this has turned into a Public Service Announcement.)

Toe-Tapping Thursday: Missing (Todd Terry Remix)

It's been a very music heavy week for me. So many songs were stuck in my head that it was hard for me to pick one. Everything from HAIM to Tori Amos to Paul Simon. I finally settled on a song and the reason why I picked it over the other ones is because all the other songs that were randomly popping in my head were songs that I heard recently. Except for this song - I haven't heard this in at least a year and it just occupied my mind for a full 24 hours out of the blue. This week's Toe-Tapping Thursday is Everything But The Girl's Missing - the Todd Terry Remix. This is one of those songs that I grew up with. I remember listening to it on the radio and thinking it was such a cool song - nothing I'd ever heard before. Of course, back then I mostly listened to Spanish music, Hip Hop and R & B...but then songs like this would play on the radio and I would realize that I was listening to the wrong type of music! Just love the vibe. And yes, it's another sad song - I swear I like happy songs too.

Distractions

Writing is hard enough for me as it is, between the interruptions, and procrastination, but now I have distractions too. You're probably thinking that distractions are part of procrastinating, but I'm telling you it's whole different thing!

When I finally buckle down, get the creative juices flowing, get my muse to speak to me, start writing word after word, sentence after sentence, BAM, a distraction comes along and stills my momentum.

I'm talking about this:

Seriously!? She couldn't go be cute in another room like Selene? She just had to plant herself directly in front of me. See? Distraction!

Toe-Tapping Thursday: Illusory Light

This week's Toe-Tapping Thursday is the song Illusory Light by Sarah Blasko.

I first heard this song about a month or so ago in an episode of The Vampire Diaries. From the moment I heard the song, I knew I had to have it. Right after the episode finished, I found the song and got it.

It is such a beautiful and haunting track; and also sad. I like sad songs, I guess. Between the piano hook that plays almost the entire song and Sarah Blasko's unique voice, this song mellows me out, and puts me in a contemplative state.

I have no clue what else she sings, as this is the only song of hers I've heard, but I'll most definitely have to check her out and see what else she's got.

1 VS 2 or More

I've been debating whether I should work on two (two is my limit) different stories at the same time, or just continue working on the one I'm currently writing.

Things are going slow - slower than I would like them to be. I know it's because I'm not 100% in love with this story. And I've got other ideas and other stories I want to write, but I started this one first, and I kind of want to follow through on it.

That being said, I've worked on two stories in the past, and I think I'm more successful that way. If I get stuck one I can jump to the other. But obviously I'm out of practice, so I don't know how well I'd manage this time around.

So I'm a little torn on what I should do: Should I stick with one, or try to work on two?

Tim The Killer

Red, sticky blood ran down my hands as I stared at my landlady, Beth, sprawled on my kitchen floor. She was dead. I killed her.

“Shit. Only two weeks and I already broke my promise.” Sighing, I grabbed the butcher knife from my knife rack and began to chop away at Beth’s body. I started with her feet – I always chop from the bottom up, a personal preference I suppose. 

Feeling the bones crack beneath the blade made me want to grind my teeth. I hated the sound of bones breaking. My thing was blood. That’s why I killed. To watch the blood ooze out of wounds. To feel the warm liquid on my hands, my arms, my face... My biggest fantasy was to bathe in a tub full of human blood. But I wasn’t supposed to have those fantasies anymore. I made a promise to someone very dear to me. I promised I wouldn’t kill anymore. I thought if I made it into a New Year’s resolution it would help me keep that promise. Obviously I was wrong.

It took me an hour to chop Beth up into pieces. After that I grabbed two large garbage bags and threw the pieces in. I saved her head for last.

“Well Beth, I guess this is goodbye. You used to be a decent landlady when I first moved in, but over the years, you just got older and crankier and honestly, I just lost my patience. On the bright side, you can stop dating all those old geezers.” I tossed Beth’s head in with the rest of her body and knotted the bag close, then put that bag inside the second bag and knotted that one as well. Setting the bag aside, I went to fetch my mop and bucket. This was too messy for my Swiffer. 

As I returned to the bloody floor I found myself mesmerized by the dark color contrasting my shiny white tiles. I couldn’t help myself; I crawled to the floor, and when I could feel Beth’s blood in between my fingers once more, I plopped down onto the bloody tiles. 

I laid there in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the smell and feel of blood until I could not be still any longer. Writhing on the floor, my entire body was covered in dark red liquid within minutes. 

This was heaven, this was the pleasure that I sought after my entire life. This moment, this feeling of euphoria. How could I think that I could give this up? This is what I live for.

Screw the promise.

(Only two weeks into the New Year had passed and Tim had already broken his first resolution: Don’t kill anyone. Write this scene. 500 words or less.)

Toe-Tapping Thursday: One More Try

I had a few songs this week that I thought I was going to blog about for Toe-Tapping Thursday; which included more HAIM (can't help it, their album is on repeat). But then the decision was taken from my hands. I was watching The Voice (love that show) and one of the contestants auditioned with the song One More Try by George Michael.

This is one of my all time favorite songs - and I know I have a TON of all time favorite songs. It's also one of those songs that I forget about. When I think of George Michael, I automatically think of Freedom, Faith, All That She Wants, and my favorite Careless Whispers. Yet, for some reason One More Try escapes me. I'll randomly hear it on the radio every couple of years and every time I hear the first few chords I have the same reaction: I gasp, and I stop doing whatever it is I'm doing. When George Michael starts to sing, I find myself closing my eyes and I just listen. I don't think I've ever sang this song. I can't. I'm unable to do anything but listen and feel how beautiful and haunting, and heartbreaking this song is. And every. single. time. that he hits and holds that high note in "touch you" he squeezes my heart and breaks it. This song holds me captive and makes pain sound, and feel beautiful.

Are We Friends?

Living in a different state than 98% of your friends is hard. Especially when that includes your best friends. You don't get to see them nearly as often as you would like. You can't just call out of the blue because you're bored and invite them over or just go over to their place. And when you're going through hard times and you want to be with them you can't because you're 3-6 hours away.

That really sucks.

What sucks even more though, is coming to the realization that maybe some of your friends don't care as much as you thought they did. I've been re-evaluating a lot of my friendships lately and it's left me hurt - to say the least. And I'm having a hard time with one relationship in particular.

I will not use any names, because this post isn't meant to insult anyone or put anyone on the spot. This is just a way to get my scattered thoughts down, and hopefully it helps me with what I'm feeling.

Anyway, this one particular friendship is a very complicated one. We have a bit of a messy history; I always thought that despite (or because of) our history we have become better and closer friends. Now that we have distance between us, and we haven't seen each other in a long time, I'm beginning to doubt our closeness.

This friend is almost never in contact with me. I always make contact with them first. The only times they make contact first (if it can even be called that) is when they like one of my Facebook statuses. When we do talk, it's through text. Now, I don't really have a problem with that because I hate talking on the phone...but I would once in a while like to hear their voice. Also, we don't talk about anything when we do text. It's like pulling teeth to try to get them to tell me what's going on in their life.

We made plans to see each other so we could catch up and talk. I really needed to talk to them, I was going through so much in my life and this was the person I was usually able to confide in 100%. Things beyond our control happened and we couldn't meet up. But we could have rescheduled, we had time, they had free time, and they didn't. They knew how badly I needed to see them and they didn't even bother to reschedule or at the very least call me so we could talk on the phone even if we couldn't see each other in person.

That really hurt. Even when I'm far away, I think about them; I make sure to periodically check in on them. I mail birthday and Christmas presents...I make an effort, and they don't. It made me feel so alone. Like our friendship was a sham. And then I started doubting our whole relationship.

What if they were friends with me to get to someone else? Because they had romantic feelings for one of my other friends who was always with me. What if our whole friendship was just a way for them to get to this other friend? They eventually ended up together...and they broke up...so I guess they don't need to keep up pretenses with me anymore and pretend that we're such good friends.

So that's what's been on my mind. Was our whole friendship a lie? Was it just a means to an end? Because it's starting to feel that way. Lately it feels like I've been betrayed by a lot of people in my life, and I'm tired of it. Too tired to even confront this person. Why bother? They'll just either lie about it or tell me that I'm right which won't change anything.

I'm just going to take a step back and see what happens. I'm not going to try to reach out. If they're really my friend they'll reach out to me eventually. If they're not...then I guess we won't be speaking to each other anymore.

Toe-Tapping Thursdays: HAIM

I'm a very big fan of music. 95% of my day is spent with some type of music playing in the background of whatever it is I'm doing. So I decided to start something new on my blog called Toe-Tapping Thursdays. Every week, I will blog about a song or artist that I've been obsessed with all week. It could be a song that just came out, or a song that is new to me, or just a song that I've fallen in love with all over again.

This week I will be talking about the band HAIM. A sister trio (Este, Danielle, and Alana), they hail from California and have been picking up momentum in the States for the last year or so. When I was talking to my best friend about them earlier this week (she didn't know who they were and I decided to change that right away) I told her I thought they were like the love child of Fleetwood Mac and Wilson-Phillips. I would like to add that this love child's Godmother is either Joan Jett and/or Pat Benatar. Hehe.

Seriously though, they're good. I guess they're considered alternative rock, though I couldn't care less what box they're being put into - they're all over the place musically speaking. They have hard hip-hop style beats on some tracks, R&B melodies on another track, and kind of folksy stuff on other tracks. They know how to play around with music and sounds and mash genres well. The lyrics are cool too. Insightful but not overly complicated. You listen to their songs and you get into them, and then you end up on Youtube and watch interviews and live performances and you fall in love with them even more.

Their interviews always leave me with a stupid grin on my face. You can tell they're really close and love each other so much. Their personalities are so different and it's fun just to watch them interact with one another.

Their live performances look amazing! They have all these instruments and (usually Alana) they switch from one thing to another in between songs - ("When did she pull out the maracas?") And Este's conversations with the audience in between songs (and her bass face) have become legendary. They are so amazing, so genuine, and so fucking fierce. They have the whole package, and I don't doubt that they're going to be around for a long time.

About a week in a half ago, they premiered their new music video for "If I Could Change Your Mind" which happens to be my favorite track from their album and now it's my favorite video of theirs. I'm obsessed, I've watched it like 10 times a day every day since it came out. Now you can watch it too!

Side note: Doesn't Alana Haim look like Troian Bellisario from Pretty Little Liars?

Alana Haim

Troian Bellisario

Book Verse: Talk This Way by Dakota Cassidy

 New review over on my other blog (formerly Book Universe). It was an ARC and it was pretty damn amazing. Check it out! Book Verse: Talk This Way by Dakota Cassidy:

Back To The Land Of The Living!

I'm back! Internet has been restored.

I've actually been back a few days, but was reveling in the world wide web. In other words, playing Wizards101 and catching up on my shows via online streaming.

So an update on the struggle that I had getting internet:

As I said (I think), my cat threw up on my dsl modem/router box and killed it. (Yay for super vomit!) This was on Thursday night. I didn't want to wait until Monday to call Verizon where they would waste my time going through troubleshooting crap that wasn't going to work just to make sure the box was truly dead, and then because I've had that box for a few years now, they would make me (over)pay for their current box which was most likely an old model anyway.

So I did a little bit of research - what kind of box I had, what kind of box I needed, what boxes supported Verizon, costs of boxes and what website had the best price. This took twice as long as it ordinarily would since I had to use my smartphone. In the end, I ended up buying one at Amazon which had really great reviews and the price was decent. More than I wanted to pay, but still decent. I signed up for a free trial of Amazon Prime to get 2 day service for free (hehe) and I was supposed to have received it on Sunday.

That's not exactly what happened though. First, I would like to say that I had no clue that the USPS did Sunday delivery for Amazon. Secondly, I was home all day, my doorbell did not ring once. Yet somehow, I missed the delivery and didn't realize until Monday when I saw the pink slip in the mailbox. I assumed they would come back on Monday seeing as it was the first attempt, but I still didn't get my package. I figured I had to call or fill out one of those re-delivery things, so I went on my smartphone and filled it out for re-delivery Tuesday.

Tuesday came, and I didn't get my order. Also checked the tracking information and it had updated; it said they left a slip on Sunday (which they did), and then 2 hours later left another slip (they did not) and then around 9 p.m. Sunday they delivered the package (BULLSHIT!). That's when I started calling. I called the 800 number on the back of the pink slip. I do not suggest that. It is a bitch trying to get the automated service to connect you to a live representative. "We'd be happy to connect you with a representative. But most issues can be resolved with our automated service. Let's go back a few questions and you can tell us what the issue is." After I finally got a real person and explained the issue, she told me to call my local post office. Makes sense, but which one? Thankfully she gave me a number.

Unfortunately, the number kept ringing and no one picked up. I found another number online (from my phone) and called it, and that number went straight to a voicemail that wasn't capable of taking messages for that particular number. Awesome.

Now it's Wednesday. 8 a.m. I call the number the 800 rep gave me. Let it ring for about 2 or 3 minutes, was taking the phone off my ear to hang up when someone picked up!!! I explained the situation and she took my information and told me she would call me back once she figured out where my package was. Bitch never called me back. In the afternoon I called again, and someone else answered (right away this time). I explained the situation AGAIN and that I had called this morning; the lady asked for my zip code and then cold transferred me to I don't know where.

All of a sudden I man answers the phone. I'm confused because I didn't even know I was being transferred. After the confusion wore off a tad I explained everything again. He did some clickity clicks on his computer and after a brief conversation with me told me it was taken care of and I should get it tomorrow. I thanked him and hung up, but I wasn't hopeful for the next day.

Come Thursday, I'm up early again, but am planning on calling my aunt to ask for a ride to the post office later in the afternoon if my order doesn't arrive. At 1:30 p.m. just as I was about to give up and call my aunt the doorbell rang. My package had arrived! FINA-FUCKING-LLY!!! Now came the hard part - figuring out how to set it up. That's what I had been dreading the entire time.

...was up and running in 5 minutes...and it only took that long because I had trouble opening the modem box to take it out. LOL.

So that is my journey. 1 week without internet. I never want to do it again!

Internet Junkie

My cat Selene threw up on my dsl modem/router and killed it. That was Thursday night. Two days have gone by and I'm about to jump out of a window! It's been such a long time that I hadn't realized just how badly I need the internet to survive. I've built my life around it. I play online, I socialize online, I research online, I shop online, I do everything online. Now that I'm without internet, I feel so lost. LOL. I spent a lot of today just walking aimlessly around the house with no actual destination. I should have been writing, but not having internet has really messed me up! At one point I was just standing in the middle of the kitchen for no reason. That's when I forced myself to go write - in a notebook, so I wouldn't have to stare at the computer screen and watch it silently taunt me about my lack of internet.

This blog was brought to you by my cell phone - because I felt so disconnected from the world, I needed to reach out. (Oy...)

New story. Male inspiration

So it's been a rather long time since I wrote about...well...writing! Specifically, details about something I am writing. That's because I hadn't really been writing. I wanted to...but between being out of practice, and scared, and stressed out from (mostly) work, I couldn't bring myself to create anything.

Now that I'm (currently) unemployed, and am no longer getting massive headaches, I feel like I can finally create something.

Thus my new story idea was born. I will not get into the details, honestly because I don't have many. LOL. I just have one basic idea and instead of trying to plan everything out, I'm going to just sit and write and see what comes out of that one idea.

I will say, it's a romance, of course. My characters aren't 100% fully formed in my mind, so they could be anybody, really. I did have an epiphany for my male character, Gavin Tanner and what (or who) he looks like. 

Daniel Gillies

First, can I just say that I had no freaking idea he was married to Rachel Leigh Cook! Good job girl!!! Where have you been hiding him!?

Secondly, I've never been a fan of guys in suits. I always think they look stuffy and too serious. But he makes suits look so fucking sexy!

I first saw him on The Vampire Diaries where he played Elijah Mikaelson, one of the original vampires. The original family was such a hit with TVD fans that they got their own spinoff show, The Originals, where Daniel Gillies is reprising his role of Elijah. I can watch him for hours.

I don't know if this is the type of actor he is, or if this is the way he's portraying the character of Elijah, but Daniel Gillies does this thing where he's so quite, so poised, barely moves, and yet you can't take your eyes off of him. He has this quiet presence, and it's so gentlemanly with something else hidden beneath it. The moment he opens his mouth to speak he has everyone's undivided attention. There's scenes where he's having a serious conversation but his eyes sparkle....they twinkle, dammit! I'm smitten, if you can't tell.

So Gavin Tanner looks a lot like Daniel Gillies in my mind. My mind has very good taste.

The Story That Will Never Be Written

A year ago (January of 2013) I started writing a story at work. I don't have any notes about this story, so I'm assuming it was a spur of the moment thing. And I'm also assuming that I only worked on it briefly one night in between calls. I came upon the saved story in my documents at work while I was deleting things and upon opening it and reading the few words I had typed up, I remember coming up with one of the character's name, but that's it. I don't recall where the story was headed or what it was going to be about.

So here it is, the story that will never be written:

Cory and Linda had been dating for two years now, and they looked as in love now as they did when they first started dating. Astrid looked at her best friend and smiled at the glowing expression on her face. She was very happy for Linda. In all of her years, Astrid had never seen such love before. She was convinced it did not exist. But now she knew it did, and the idea filled her with satisfaction. All those years of searching for a bigger meaning, and she finally found it. Love.

The three of them were having after-dinner drinks and Astrid had a sneaking suspicion of what was about to come. She watched as Cory gulped the remainder of his Rum and Coke and set his glass down a little bit too hard. Linda stared at him with a furrow brow. Astrid waited patiently, amused.

“Now that we finished our dinner, I wanted to take the opportunity to speak with you, Astrid.” Cory locked gazes with Astrid and she sat back in her chair.

“Alright,” Astrid responded.

Cory cleared his throat and continued. “You are Linda’s best friend, but more than that, you’re her only family. And as her only family, I want to ask you for permission to marry her.”

Linda gasped, and Astrid’s gaze switched over to her.

1 Week Off Work = Creative juices galore!

My creativity juices flow out in its entirety as I take the week to write my YA paranormal series. It’s about a familiar named Tiffany who, after turning 17 discovers that she is a familiar with special shape shifting abilities and special powers. This series follows Tiffy and her journey into learning the rules of a familiar, honing her skills, finding a witch, and finding out some dark family secrets. Each day I write an entire book, so by the end of the week I have 7. I take the first one and polish it, send it to a publishing company and am offered a book contract. Once the first book publishes, it becomes a NY times best seller. I get another 3 book contract deal, and the following 3 books also get on the NY times best seller list. By this point, I’m making enough money and feel confident in my writing ability to quit my job. I eventually publish all 7 books and the series is made into a movie targeted toward children and pre-teens.

While the movie(s) are being filmed I write a few other YA books. They don’t do as well as the first series, but they still land on the NY best seller. After that, I unearth my erotic romance series, and self publish it under a different name. By day, I am Jennifer Santiago, YA author. By night, I am McKenzie Rose, erotic romance writer. I am my own boss, work my own hours, and I love it.