Month: December 2012

2013 Goals – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle19 Comments

Happy New Year

READING

2013EbookChallengeA couple of months ago, I read a great post with a great title, The Best Ever Top 50 List in the World Ever by Michael J. Holley.  How could resist a great title like that?

Anyway, in the post, Michael includes the list of the top 50 most popular books and the top 50 most popular films.    I have a full length post planned for this topic, but needless to say, I need to read more.  So, in 2013, that is what I am going to do. I have signed up for the 2013 Ebook Challenge.  My plan is the read the following books over the course of 2013:

  1. The Hobbit
  2. A Tale of Two Cities
  3. Kane & Abel
  4. To Kill a Mockingbird
  5. The Lord of the Rings
  6. Anna Karenina
  7. The Great Gatsby
  8. The Sportswriter
  9. Tropic of Cancer
  10. Wuthering Heights
  11. To the Lighthouse
  12. The Eagle has Landed

I will be keeping track of my reads on the 2013 Reading Challenge tab. And you can see the current book I am reading in the side bar.  I figure once I finish my book each month, then I can return to reading my chick lit, horror and crime thrillers.

Have you read any of these books? Let me know, which one you enjoyed the most?  

WRITING

Blog – The blog schedule will change to 3 times a week at least. Now, this coming week, I will be posting 5 days a weeks, hence the, at least.

Sunday Post – My Weekly Update – Review of my week, Posts to Share, Recognition of New Followers and Special Features coming up such has blog hops or book tours for the following week.
Tuesday Post/Wednesday Post – I will alternate Tattoo Tuesday and Sydney Quotes the Movies (SQM) every other week.
Friday Post – Random Blog Post

Short Stories – I love a good, well written short story and have read many last year. Sevastian Winters has some amazing stories for sale on his site and they inspired me to give it a try.  I am committing to writing a short story a month. And, to add an extra incentive, I have joined, 2 short story contest. I figured why not.  They offer feedback whether you win or not. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?

WriMo – I will participate in JuNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo this year for the novel length fans in my life.  The ideas keep coming and it worked for me in the past. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Editing – I really enjoyed my WriMo Diaries (how is that for a great title, Uhmmm). My goal is to create a Editing Diary to correspond with the editing process of my three novels.  I will begin editing in  January and will continue, I guess, until . . . who knows. But, that’s ok.

Publishing – WriMo Diaries, Editing Diaries, Short Story Anthology, Novel #1, #2, #3 – I would be pleased with anyone of these happening this year. But, definitely, all three and more in my life time.

What are your writing goals this year? Do yo have a word count goal, books written goal or a just a goal to get published this year? 

ARITHMETIC

Ok, had the finish the saying with Arithmetic. This might be a stretch, but I need a goal relating to numbers.  Maybe I could work on sticking to my Amazon/iBook monthly budget.  Kind of disregarded that more times then I should in the past. Well, if my blog idols would stop publishing, I wouldn’t buy so many book; Emily, A.E., Becca, D.C., Karen,      Donna, and Chris. Yes, I’m talking to you.

I could focus on increasing my Social Media presence, but I my pleased with those numbers growing as they are.

There is always the views/clicks stats, but you can’t really control that, can you?

Ok, I have a good one, I will meet/connect/friend/read/follow/support more people on the web this year.

Also, a million dollar advance check would be nice. It could happen.

What numbers will you be focusing on this year? 

I wish everyone a Happy and Productive New Year. 

Related Post:

 

 

SQM – It’s a Wonderful Life

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

imagesIWLAnother holiday classic. I watch this one at least once, if not twice a year.  And, I recite the lines right along with the movie.

George Bailey is what you would call a good man.  He started out idealistic and ready for a life of adventure:

“I wish I had a million dollars. Hot dog.”

“I know what I’m gonna do tomorrow, and the next day and the next year, and the year after that.”

“I want a big one.” In regards to the suitcase he needs in order to travel the world. 

“George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die.” This always makes me smile. He had the love of a cute girl who grew into a beautiful women.  

“What is it you want Mary? . . . You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.  Hey that’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.” He was romantic. 

“Mary, you on the nest?” He was a good father.

But, you wouldn’t think all was good from all the desperate lines delivered by our friend, George Bailey.

“Your right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know.”

“But to you, a warped, frustrated, old man, they’re cattle.  Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you’ll ever be!”

“Where’s that money, you silly stupid old fool?”

“Why do we have to have all these kids?”

But, his friends and family adored him: 

“After all, Potter, some people like George HAD to stay at home.  Not every heel was in Germany and Japan.”

“Is daddy in trouble.” “Yes, Pete.” “Shall I pray for him.” “Yes, Janie, pray very hard.” “Me, too?” “You, too, Tommy.”  – these line makes me cry every time. 

“I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.”

“Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.”

“Help my son, George, tonight.”

“He never thinks about himself, God, that’s why he’s in trouble.”

“George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.”

“I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.”

“Please, God, something’s the matter with Daddy.”

“Please bring Daddy back.”

“A toast to my big brother George Bailey, the richest man in town.”

Well, George Bailey lost his faith, but guess what? He found it again.  “It’s a Wonderful Life.” How else did you expect it to end? 

The moral of the story is, “No man is a failure who has friends.” 

Have you seen this classic?  What is your favorite holiday movie?

Thanks so much to all my blog friends and Happy New Year! 

SQM – A Christmas Story

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle3 Comments

imagesA Christmas Story is my favorite holiday movie. Young Ralphie hopes, wishes, prays, uses reverse psychology and anything else he can think of to get his ultimate gift.

“I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle.”

And, his mother, his teacher and even Santa dash his dreams with the phrase that ricochet around the the walls of his brain. Taunting him.

“You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Spoiler Alert – he gets the gun for christmas.  Then, there he is. It’s just him and the imaginary band of marauders in his backyard.  He shoots and exclaims, “Oh my god, I shot my eye out!”

Some of my favorite lines that I repeat ad nauseum all holiday season long.

Their the stick your tongue on a flag pole incident: 

“I double dog dare ya.”

“I triple dog dare ya.”

“stuck, stuck, Stuck, STUck, STUCK, STUCK, STUCK!”

Ralphie’s brother Randy: 

“My little brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years.”

“Meatloaf, Meatloaf, double beatloaf.”

“I can’t put my arms down!”

“Dad’s gonna kill Ralphie.”

And, Ralphie’s father was something else:

“That son of a bitch would freeze up in the middle of summer on the equator.”

“In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.”

“Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.” Ralphie’s father wasn’t too smart.

“Sons of bitches! Bumpuses!” What would you say if dogs ate your Christmas turkey? 

But, Ralphie oh, Ralphie. I am always pulling for Ralphie, even though allowing a 9 year old to have a a BB gun is irresponsible parenting:

“Only one thing in the world could’ve dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.” Remember, Ralphie is 9.

“I have since heard of people under extreme duress speaking in strange tongues. I became conscious that a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out of me as I screamed.”

“Ohhhhhhhhh, Fuuuuudgggggeeeee.” “Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F dash dash dash” word!

“Flick says he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski’s candy store!” A BB gun hint.

 “There has never been a kid who didn’t believe vaguely but insistently that he would be stricken blind before he reached 21, and then they’d be sorry.”

“It… It ’twas… soap poisoning!”

“BB gun mani gets no loyalty.”

“My father worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium, a master.”

“The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE!”

“Round One was over. heh heh. Parents one, kids, zip. I can feel the Christmas noose beginning to tighten. Maybe, what happened next, was inevitable”

Once again, TBS will broadcast A Christmas Story for 24 hours from Christmas Eve at 8:00 pm through Christmas Day. How many times are you going to watch A Christmas Story this year?

What’s your favorite line? What is your favorite Christmas movie?

My Weekly Update – Merry Every Day and Happy Last Year

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

Blog of the Year

Blog of the Year Award 1 star jpeg Blog of the Year Award 2 star jpeg

Thanks to Vikki at The View Outside and Kitt at Inner Wild Kat for nominating me for Blog of the Year.  From what I understand I need to collect six stars, but I am thrilled with just the two.

The Blog of the Year rules, you can find here.

My Nominations are: 
Innerwildkat
Michael J. Holley
The Peasants Revolt
Amanda Fanger
Chris Stocking
 

#TBSU – The Blog Scratchers Union

I am honored to be a member. Thanks so much to Seumas Gallacher. Seumas is a bloggers blogger. A great supporter to the every day blogger and I am happy to have meet him.  Please visit Seumas and other members of the Union. You won’t be sorry.

Other Cool Awards

20121204-112624

liebaward

Big thanks to Vikki and Karen by best blog buddies on the world wide web.

You both have been amazing to me and I appreciate all the support and encouragement and the quality content you both create on your blogs.  Great example for any new writer.

Answers to a few of their questions:

  1.  Bucket List #1 – Publish a Novel
  2. Favorite Sport to watch – Football; Favorite Sport to play – Golf
  3. Dancing or Bowling – Dancing
  4. Favorite Holiday – Christmas
  5. Eye color – Brown
  6. TV Time – 3 hours per day, but I am on the computer through 2 of those hours
  7. Wear to bed – tank top and shorts (not too sexy, right)
  8. First things I do when I wake up – read emails on my phone, then twitter, then blog post, then I am late.
  9. Pet peeves – dishonesty for no reason, inconsistency and people who smack when they eat
  10. Pairs of shoes – to many to count
Post to Review
Why Becoming an Author is not for the Faint of Heart! by Author Kimberly T. Matthews
What Romance?  Get Your Beat Sheet Here! by Jami Gold
Blog Tour Ideas:  Getting into Character by Felicia Scotzig
New Year’s Resolution for All Writers – The Patient Edit by Author Donya Lynne
Why You MUST Keep Your Eye on the Prize by Shelli Johnson
5 Keys to Starting Over with Style at All Groan Up
Kiss it Off by Angi Black
 
New Followers
Stephanie Hurt
The Vagabond Filmaker
Daniel Abram
The Mind of RD Revilo
L.Leander Books
Jumeira James at iNation
Radaronelson at Seasons of Insanity 
Stephanie Hurt
The Vagabond Filmmaker 
Daniel Abram
The Mind of RD Revilo
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Merry Christmas – SQM – The Christmas Story
Thursday – SQM – It’s a Wonderful Life
Sunday – My Weekly Update – 2013 Goals

‘Finding Esta’ Launch by Shah Wharton

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Finding Esta Christmas Giveaway Banner
Finding Esta Christmas Giveaway Banner

Welcome to the

‘Finding Esta’ Launch Christmas Giveaway!

Yes – it’s finally here. After three years of writing, re-writing, beta readers, editing, cover designing, book trailers, yet more edits and many agonising hours of formatting, the first instalment of The Supes Series is ready and finally up on Amazon! There are five e-copies (you choice of file: ePub/Mobi or PDF) up for grabs, so please have a go and get Finding Esta FREE for Christmas. It’s $2.99 on Amazon, and will be for sale on Smashwords and Kobo in by February, and in print shortly after that.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is the fabulous cover – Like it?

BRIEF Blurb: A young journalist sets off to find Esta, but is unprepared for all she finds, and soon realises it’s a journey from which she may never return. This is a new adult, urban fantasy about one woman’s struggle to retain her identity while everything she knows crumbles around her. Finding Esta is the first of an Urban Fantasy/New Adult Series

Please enjoy the book trailer

Yeah, But What’s The Book About?

An unusual young woman and fledgling journalist, Luna has various restrictive oddities, all of which prevent any kind of physical intimacy. Abusive parents take pleasure in Luna’s misery and isolation, yet Luna strives to make them proud, to finally earn their elusive love – something she craves almost as much as the painless touch of a lover.

When she learns of a tragic story involving the kidnap of baby Esta, she jumps at the chance to investigate, dragging her Shadows along for the ride within the murky depths of her mind.

Meanwhile, a dark stranger visits Luna’s dreams and stalks her reality. In lieu of the real thing, their intimate moments excite rather than terrify. Nestled within his presence, she begins to sense an urgent message of danger – a message she struggles to interpret, until they finally meet….

Her investigations lead Luna to a vibrant seaside town, hiding copycat aliens and an underworld of Supernaturals. Here, she comes face-to-face with her own, terrifying identity. Confronted with life-changing decisions and the harshest of truths, Luna questions her sanity, searching for logic, feeling deceived by both.

Is Luna trapped in a newfound supernatural world, or within her own delusions? And will anyone care enough to save her?

Author Biography

Shah Wharton
Shah Wharton

Shah met many authors and bookworms galore when she began blogging in 2010, after she moved to Dubai with her husband. She’s since learned a lot about blogging and writing, mostly from the awesome advice of her online peer-group.

She uses her imagination to write short horror stories as well as poetry, but stumbled into writing her first novel after falling in love with Luna, a character in a short story she wrote back in 2010. That story grew into Finding Esta, the beginning of Luna’s journey to self-discovery.

Finding Esta is her début novel and the first of The Supes Series.

Her passions include blogging, writing, reading, movies, photography, music, theatre, travel, and fine dining. Her qualifications include BSc (Hons) psychology, counselling, and mentoring and she’s worked in retail, counselling, and social care. Her favourite genres include anything dark with fangs and/or that will make her squirm or jump or scream out an expletive. She is an avid Kindle abuser and adores the indie writing community and being part of the e-publishing revolution.

She also has one short story published ‘The Dead Party’ & two poems published in anthologies.

SHAH’S CONTACT FORM

Get Social With Shah

Amazon – Goodreads – Email – Facebook – Google+ – Linkedin – Pinterest – RSS – StumbleUpon – Twitter

Acknowledgements.

Praise to…Derek Murphy at Creative IndieCovers who developed the incredible book cover & AubrieAnne at Who’s Your Editor? who did the final edit.

Shah would also like to add…

Huge thanks to all the beta readers, patient and enduring online friendships, and to the mass of wonderful writer resources, all of which took me from thinking, “Could I do that?” to “Hell yeah, I can do this!”

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For more on Shah’s other writing, inc. poetry and short stories, try Shah’s Scribbles.

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