Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

1,000,000 Words

Published on January 1, 2016 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

Like every New Years Eve, I spent last night writing down my goals for the new year. My cousin, BFF, bucket list buddy (yes, they are all the same person) and I share them and help keep each other stay accountable.

As I was working through my list, I realized my goals were all something, God willing, somewhat achievable, but my mind keeps seeing a number and I thought, what the hell. I want to write 1,000,000 words in 2016.

Untitled-1 Now, I know that seems crazy, but when I broke it down, it seemed a bit more attainable.

83,333.33 words per month

20,833.33 words per week

2,732.24 words per day.

I average 1,000 words an hour when I’m working on my WIP. Even if I’m writing slow, let’s say it takes me 3 hours a day to reach that goal. With 24 hours in a day, that’s not too much.

But, what will I write?

There the 11 projects I have slated to write this year.

7 full lengths at 70,000 words each

3 novellas at 25,000 words each

1 short novella at 10,000 words each

If my math is correct, that 575,000 words. I’m over half way there.

Freelance projects of 3,000 words per month are on the schedule.

That’s another 36,000 words.

I want to dedicate one blog post a week for two different blogs. Each post 300 words. That adds up to another 31,200 words.

If I add in emails, outlines, project plans, and yes, even grocery lists, or anywhere I can average 300 words per day, that would get me to 109,800 words (The leap year helps.)

I’m at 752,000 words.

I just need to find another 248,000 words.

It may be more of an aspiration, than a goal, but the point is to keep writing in 2016, so if I am working towards that, any number I hit by the end of the year, I’ll be happy with.

AND, I am already off to a good start, 350 words down, only 999,648 more words to go.

What are some of your GOALS for 2016?

Happily Ever After by JA Huss – Book Blitz

Published on December 16, 2015December 14, 2015 by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

I love it when authors give you glimpse into the future of some of your favorite characters. Rook & Ronin’s story was sweet, sad, sexy, tragic, and beautiful. And, now they have kids? SMH Can’t wait. – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Happily Ever After: A Day in the Life of the HEA
(Rook & Ronin Series)
By JA Huss
Published: 12-16-15

Synopsis:

Life in Rook & Ronin’s world has been bliss for fifteen years. Rook, Veronica, and Ashleigh are still BFF’s raising their kids together. Ronin, Spencer, and Ford have managed to go legit and stay out of trouble. And they have a pack of kids running around the eight thousand square foot Vail mansion they all share for the holidays—begging for gifts, and fun, and love.

But every HEA has problems.

Five is fifteen and getting ready to go off to college. He’s put it off as long as he could in order to stay close to Princess Shrike, but his stay of execution is over and in three weeks he’s off to Oxford. But Five can’t leave until he gets the only thing he’s ever wanted. The heart of his Princess.

Ford and Ashleigh never had any more children after Five. And now that Kate is sixteen, Ashleigh is out of her head with desire for just one more chance to have a baby in the house.

Rook and Ronin have two beautiful daughters, but Sparrow is growing up too. And she just got a job offer that has Ronin crazed with paternal worry.

And Spencer is the father of a fifteen-year-old princess who looks way too much like her Bombshell mother for his comfort level.

Join the whole Rook & Ronin gang for a Team Christmas you will never forget.

There are SEVEN BOOKS in the Rook & Ronin series before this one. This is not a standalone. Rook & Ronin Series & Spinoffs

(1) Tragic – Rook & Ronin
(2) Manic – Rook & Ronin
(3) Panic – Rook & Ronin
(4) Slack – Ford & Ashleigh
(5) Taut – Ford & Ashleigh
(6) Bomb – Spencer & Veronica
(7) Guns – Spencer & Veronica

SALE ALERT: The first three books in the Rook and Ronin series are on sale for only 99 cents until Christmas. Get it here:

AMAZON | B&N | KOBO

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

AMAZON | B&N

Huss AUTHOR BIO:

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

You can chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction.

If you’re interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

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What to do in New England This Winter

Published on December 13, 2015December 11, 2015 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

Maybe exploring New England in the wintertime isn’t the wisest decision, especially considering I’m from Texas and I don’t know how to drive in snow. The winter months offer some unique opportunities that make it worthwhile to visit this time of year. My bucket list is all about trying new things, so winter in New England, here I come.

Burlington, Vermont

I hear Vermont has great summers, but Burlington, Vermont, evokes images in me of snowy winter all year round. I picture kids and dogs frolicking the hills in knee-high snow, traipsing across rivers and valleys, making smoke rings with their winter breaths. Burlington is the quintessential old-world small town. Even in 2015, the one-road main street is still the center of town and hosts events frequented by tourists and locals alike. The final scene of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” comes to mind, with the Whos of Whoville standing in the town center singing in unison. Besides the usual Christmas-themed celebrations, the town holds on to the last of the festive winter with the annual Winter Lights Event on Church Street. Located in downtown Burlington, the extravaganza features light installations and canopies that cover the streets, buildings, and trees. The event runs over a weekend in early February.

Burlington Image provided by David Kim via Trover.com

New Haven, Connecticut

I have spent a lot of time in Connecticut. I have family there. When I was young, a family friend strongly encouraged me to consider Yale University to further my education. I was 6. If he had mentioned that I would have access to the historic and fairytale storybook mansions of Hillhouse Avenue, I might have considered it. I had no clue about the history in New Haven, Connecticut, until planning this trip. Charles Dickens and Mark Twain (one of my writing heroes) considered Hillhouse Avenue’s historic district to be the most beautiful street in America. From two of the most descriptive scribes in the world, you can’t find a more ringing endorsement. The section of mansions, built in the middle and late 1800s, is considered the first suburb in America. Yale University uses the ornate mansions as department buildings, and the oldest, Abigail Whelpey House, built in 1826, is a resident hall for Yale administrators. The street makes me wish I had studied more in high school, applied to Yale, and attended just to have unfettered access to these gorgeous historic homes that are a part of U.S. history.

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Image provided by Courtney Randolph via Trover.com

Newton, Massachusetts

If you’re not a cold weather person, then finding activities where you can escape the cold and have a good time is a must when traveling in New England in the winter. One of my favorite cold weather escapes is the local library. In Newton, Massachusetts, the local library may be a gothic cathedral-looking structure on the campus on Boston College. You can spend hours soaking in the ornate architecture of the John J. Burns Library. It looks like an 18th-century English cathedral. It’s a library that has its own blog. The library houses the archives of Boston College along with several collections of historical significance and makes my classic writer and historical writer fangirl insides go crazy. At present, the library houses an exhibit of text and contexts of the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Frederick Douglass.

Newton Image provided by Christopher Skillman via Trover.com

South Portland, Maine

I am not one of those people who only eat chili in the winter and salads in the summer. Food is food, but something about chowder in the wintertime warms my heart and my insides. New England is known for its lobster bakes and seafood grills, but there is nothing like a great chowder during a cold winter’s day. Any winter excursion has to end with a way to recover from all that cold. Gilbert’s Chowder House in South Portland, Maine is a must-stop. The thick, creamy chowder is full of flavor, and in a place where every restaurant has its own version, Gilbert’s chowder is tradition at its best. The clams are fresh. At Gilbert’s, they serve a generous portion, hot and satisfying with oyster crackers on the side. The price is reasonable, so you can enjoy the rest of their menu, too. Chowder is synonymous with New England anytime, but I agree it tasted best in the wintertime.

South Portland Image provided by Jesse I. via Trover.com

Budget Hacks: Traveling in New England Cheap

Budget Hacks: Traveling in the Midwest for Cheap

Published on December 12, 2015December 10, 2015 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

I found a few more stops in the Midwest on my USA bucket list trip, and since I’ll probably need to watch my funds, I found some cool, inexpensive cheap activities that show me what each city is all about.

Wichita, Kansas

Any activity with the word “nature” in the title means cheap. In Wichita, Kansas, a visit to the Great Plains Nature Center offers an opportunity to get close to nature without running into any bears or anything that might kill you. The park offers programs for children as well as for adults and seniors. Each activity offers visitors a better understanding of our relationship with nature, in a safe environment. They have bird walks in the morning for the bird watcher or bird curious and a Full Moon walk in the evening for those vampire enthusiasts or if you like full moons.

Guided walks are available free of charge.

wichita

Image provided by Hannah Osland via Trover.com

Des Moines, Iowa

My favorite country to visit is England. My favorite things to tour in England are the castles. Now I don’t have to travel across the pond to get a feel for England, I can take a trip to Des Moines, Iowa. Built in the 1920s and modeled after the King’s House in Salisbury, England, Salisbury House captures the medieval and renaissance architecture of jolly old England. The castle provides self-guided and guided tours and hosts many programs and performances such as musical performances, recitals and book signings. Self-guided tours cost $8, but fork over an additional $2 for the guided tour and get access to rooms not available for the general public.

salisbury Image provided by Erik Rowley via Trover.com

Minneapolis, Minnesota

In the conservative Midwest, you don’t expect to find an architectural marvel like The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The stainless steel and brick building looks like the Tin Man’s residence. The famous architect Frank Gehry, known for his use of unusual materials and strange shapes, designed the building in 1990. The unique exterior houses a modern interior. The collection includes modern American art from artists like Georgia O’Keefee and Marsden Harley, along with ceramics and pottery from the 20th century. Admission to the museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is free.

The guided tours are free, too.

Minneapolis Image provided by Bradley Hanson via Trover.com

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Eating cheap is a must for traveling on a budget. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I have to try Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs. They offer over 30 versions of hot dogs, and if one of their creations doesn’t appeal to you, they allow you to create your own. You can grab a Liberty Dog (spicy mustard & kraut) or a S’noran Dog (bacon-wrapped dog, chipotle ketchup, mayo, mustard, cheddar-jack cheese, sliced avocado, pico de gallo, pinto beans) with sides, all for under $10.

If hot dogs aren’t your thing, they have burgers and my favorite, corn dogs, too. My stomach’s growling just thinking about it.

Oklahoma Image provided by Tiffany Hawkins via Trover.com

Rosemont, Illinois

I had never heard of Rosemont, Illinois, before doing some research. It’s odd considering I used to live in Chicago, but if you’ve never heard of it, you might know it by its more common name, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Yes, the city has its own airport that just so happens to be the third-busiest in the U.S. Fun in this region starts in Rosemont, and there is no better, faster and cheaper way to get around than the O’Hare Airport Transit. From the airport, the transit system can take you anywhere in Northern Illinois.

O'Hare Transit Image provided by Ryan Goodwin via Trover.com

Exes and O’s by Lakeshia Poole – Book Blitz

Published on December 11, 2015December 9, 2015 by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

I love a New Adult novels with a unique twist. Exes and O’s has that and more. -Sydney Aaliyah Michelle ExesOs

Publication date: November 24th 2015

Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

For some the game of love and college seems rigged. After a few tough losses they resort to doing things they thought they would never do to turn their challenges into championships…

Ciara and Xander each came to Aurbor Grove University with the perfect game plan. She would score another chance at finally living up to her college dreams and the high academic expectations set by her mother. He would become the star quarterback and hometown hero he was groomed to be. Yet they find themselves entangled in drama—from the exes who refuse to live without them to the financial struggles that make it seem like college is meant only for the elite to win.

Their friendship has a rocky start, but as the semester passes along they find that their most peaceful moments are spent with each other. Will the pains of the past and pressure on the fields of love and learning squash all hope for their future?

Exes and O’s is Lakeshia Poole’s drama-filled, romantic sequel to Don’t Let Me Fall.

AMAZON | SMASHWORDS

Blitz Giveaway:

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Author Bio:

Lakeshia Poole is an award-winning public relations professional and author. Whether it’s landing a feature in The New York Times, developing a YouTube short or creating a series of blog posts, she believes in telling positive and compelling stories. Poole graduated from the University of Georgia with dual degrees in public relations and sociology. When she’s not writing, she spends her time with family and her dog JoJo Dancer.