A to Z Challenge – Page 13 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

B – By the Numbers and IWSG

Published on April 2, 2014April 1, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle40 Comments

Another New Life – By the Numbers

70,021 words – you’ll read it in one sitting.
2 first kisses – interesting twist.
35 chapters – It sounds like a lot when you say it like that.
5 sex scenes – very tasteful, I promise.
18, the age of the main female character – She’s a mature 18.
3, the number of movies referenced in ANL – They work there way in there, I can’t help it.
5, number of football plays described in the game – I’m a football fan, but the scenes are relevant to the story.
30, the number of days it took to writer the first draft – Huge shout out to the greatness that is JuNoWriMo – Sign Up for 2014 is open.
12, the number of guys the roommate hooks – you will meet her on Thursday.
?, number of times you will laugh and cry – You tell me after you read it.

In a few weeks, the sales numbers will be the only numbers I will be ~~consumed with~~ concerned about. 🙂

Are you ~~obsessed~~ concerned with numbers: # of followers, # of comments, # of book sales?

I have tons of insecurities especially with putting the final touches on Another New Life, but I wanted to take this month’s post to thank everyone of you who have supported me during this process. Your support means more to me then you will ever know.

What are your insecurities this month? If you’re not a member of IWSG, you are missing out. They are a great support group for writers at all stages of a writer’s life.

Have a great month and make sure you visit some or all of the other bloggers on the A to Z Challenge.

One more thing, ok actual three more things, this indie author needs your help:

If you want to sign up for my cover reveal on April 10th, please sign up, here!

If you want an ARC in exchange for an honest review, please sign up, here!

Please add Another New Life to your Goodreads list.

A – Another New Life

Published on April 1, 2014April 1, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle48 Comments

Welcome to the 2014 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My name is Sydney Aaliyah Michelle and my theme for A to Z is Another New Life by me. It is my debut novel scheduled for release in May 2014. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

You may be sick of it by the end of the challenge, but my hope, after 26 posts, you’ll want to read it.

I want to take a moment to thank and congratulate Mr. Arlee Bird on hosting another A to Z Challenge, the best blog hop of the year.

Special thinks to my Minion Leader, Ms. Nicole Ayers This is my second time on Nicole’s Mighty Minion Bureau and I couldn’t be more proud. Also, a quick shout out to my fellow minions, Dale, Andrea, Sheri, Deniz and Melody-Ann. Make sure you visit their blogs and show them some love.

For the A post, I thought I’d tell you a little about my novel, but I have a request, read my blurb and tell me what you think. Be honest, I can take it.

Book Blurb:

Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Talented, smart and beautiful on the outside and insecure, haunted and damaged on the inside. Despite these contradictions, she’s ready to start Another New Life.

When her talent wins her a piano performance scholarship to the University of Texas, Miranda arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.

An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone, she’s known all her life.

Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other. He reminds her of the best and worst times of her life, but she can’t think about one without dwelling on the other. As they grow closer, every day their attraction reminds them they are no longer kids.

The epic romantic love story that is Miranda and Troy seems to be destined for a happy ending, but Miranda knows it’s only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. A secret that will not only destroy their relationship, it will destroy Troy, too.

Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?

So, what do you think? Does it make you want to read the book? Suggestions are welcome.

And, as if I hadn’t asked enough, here is one more request.

Please add Another New Life to your Goodreads list.

My Monthly Update – Crazy Busy Month Ahead

Published on March 31, 2014March 31, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

Latest News

It is going to be a busy month. Here I what I am getting into this month:

The NCAA Final Four is at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. It is on my mother’s bucket list, so we are going.

Nascar is at Texas Motor Speedway and I’ve never been. Given how great Dale, Jr. is doing this season, I have to go.

My Cover Reveal for Another New Life is schedule for April 10th. You want to participate, please sign up here.

Oh, yeah, and there is a little thing called the A to Z Blogging Challenge. 26 posts in 30 days. Click on the badge to the left if you haven’t signed up, yet.

Movies Coming out in April

Captain America 2 – already rented the first movie and will watch it and the Avengers again the night before opening day.

Rio 2 – I loved the first one and Bruno Mars is in this one.

Draft Day – So excited for this one. Love any movie that shows behind the scenes of professional sports.

Transcendence – It’s Johnny Depp. Enough said.

Goals for April

Finish proofreaders notes on Another New Life

Finalize cover for Another New Life

Continue prep for the May release

Edit About You & Me (Book #1) – Prepare to pitch during RT Conference in May and RWA in July.

Awards

I received an award in March and although I don’t follow the award rules, I have to acknowledge the amazing blogger and one of my beta readers for recognizing me.

Thanks so much Tianna for the Being a Light in the World Award. The award was created to celebrate those wonderful people in our world who spread light, love, hope and peace in the name of humanity. – What a beautiful thought.

What’s on your April to do list? What movies are you looking forward to seeing in April? What are your writing goals for April?

My Monthly Update – Congrats to Dale Jr.

Published on March 1, 2014February 28, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

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So excited to congrat Dale Jr. on his second Daytona 500 win. It was such an amazing ending and I am so happy he got out of the way.

This NFL off season may not be as bad as I originally thought.

His win inspired a cool little story I wrote for workshop last week. Give me a few days to fix it up and I will share it with you.

I finished my edits on Another New Life and sent it to my editor. Six days later, it showed up in my inbox. I read her summary, which was really nice, but I’ve yet to open the document. I am working on other stuff and will get back to it on Monday.

It’s getting close. I keep thinking how cool it will be to say, “I’m a published author.” I promise I’ll only say it to myself at home in the bathroom mirror.

Goals for March:

Finish final edits on Another New Life

Prepare my A to Z Challenge post – more on that later.

Writing Workshop – continue participating and creating content for my workshop.

A to Z Challenge – Once again, I am a Minion.

Nicole of Madlab Post has chosen me as one of her minions to help her out with the challenge.

I am known as Asset #1. Click the badge to find out why. If you haven’t signed up for the A to Z challenge, well, what are you waiting for.

Are you a NASCAR fan? Does having a book published feel as good as I think it will? Sign up for the A to Z Challenge already. April is almost here.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Published on May 1, 2013April 30, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle30 Comments

Thanks so much to Alex for not postponing the IWSG. I know we are all little tired from a month of A to Z challenge posting, but I can’t rest now. I need some help.

I mentioned a few months ago that I would be attending two writer’s conferences this year. I went to the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival in New Orleans in March. Had such a blast, but I had no responsibilities.

This weekend is the DFW Writer’s Conference. I have quite a bit planned. Besides the many seminars I am looking forward to attending, I have an appointment to pitch my novel to an agent and I also signed up for a writer’s workshop where I get to share a few pages of my wip and get instant feedback.

For some reason, I am more scared about the pitch session then I am about the workshop. I would much rather read my work to people and have them ~~rip it to shreds~~ constructively critique it the to try and sell my novel. Like to the point that I can’t even remember what my novel is about. Now that is scary.

I mean, is this a strange mental twist or what? I can handle someone telling me what I did needs some work, but can’t handle them telling me what I completed isn’t good enough. Now, I know a novel, pitched to an agent, is far from completed, especially if the agent likes it, it will need some work, but should my mental approach to these to two activities be different. Maybe not?

Anyone else have this particular mental tic? Any tips you can pass along on how to deal with a face to face pitch session with an agent?

Thanks as well to this month’s co-hosts, Lynda Young, Mark Koopmans, and Rachna Chhabria!

Let me know if you’re going to DFWcon. We need to network. 🙂