Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Published on February 4, 2014February 5, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle26 Comments

This month’s co-hosts are Sheena-kay Graham, Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, and Mike Swift. Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

Let me set the scene. It’s 5:30 pm and I’ve finished my day job. In front of me, I have following task:

Quick read through and edit of a couple of chapters to send to my critique partners.
Revisions on two chapters to stick to my goal of finishing edits on this WIP by mid-Feb.
Write the first paragraph to a new MS for my Creative Workshop.

Which ‘free flowing, creative and something out of nothing’ task filled my heart with bliss.
Which ‘nit picky, mind numbing, never know if I’m doing it right’ task filled my brain with resentment.

Really, why can’t I get paid to create first drafts.

Because that’s ridiculous, but it makes me wonder, does anyone enjoy the editing process? If so, how did you get to that point?

Tattoo Tuesday – Jade Eby

Published on February 4, 2014February 3, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

Jade, welcome to Tattoo Tuesday. Your five questions start now:

1. How old were you when you got your first tattoo? I was just a youngin when I got my first tattoo — 18.

2. How many tattoos do you have? If only one, do you want more? Right now I have 7 tattoos and I’m already planning my next one! I am *slightly* obsessed with ink and if I could, I’d be totally covered in them. I don’t have pictures of them all, but I have one on my foot, two on my stomach, one on my hip, a full rib piece on my right side, a small tattoo on my upper left rib cage and a half sleeve.

3. What inspired you to get your first tattoo or favorite tattoo? Tell me your tattoo story. My first tattoo is very special as I got it with my sister and she actually hadn’t turned 18 yet so my parents signed a waiver so we could them done together. It’s the same tattoo just on opposite sides of our feet. It’s a Celtic knot with our initials. We grew up best friends and it was so cool to do something that signified our closeness. Even though it wasn’t *that* long ago that I got it, it feels like eons ago and I hardly remember whether it hurt or not.But my favorite tattoo is my most recent one. I’d been really thinking about a special tattoo for a while but I promised myself I would not get it until I published my first book. And honestly, I thought it would never happen.

Except it did.

So I decided to follow through on my promise. I found a fantastic artist near me, Cory Abernathy at Rubber Monkey Tattoo Shop and he took my idea and turned it into a magnificient replication of my imagination. The phoenix on my upper arm (when it’s done will be a half sleeve) is gorgeous. Full of all my favorite colors and so vivid. It’s representative of not just the trials I’ve overcome in my life but particularly important to my writing life. Because as a writer, I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to give up. But every time I come up against an obstacle, I break down the walls and get back to it. It’s also a Harry Potter reference because, well, I’m a Harry Potter nerd 🙂

My third tattoo, which is a cancer ribbon, is very near to me as I have many family members that have been diagnosed with cancer. It’s on my ribs to remind me just how close to the heart cancer survivors are to me.

4. Tattoos on a significant other, like or dislike? Explain why? I LOVE tattoos, period. So the fact that my husband has some is just natural. He has one on his back and he’s working on a half sleeve which I find incredibly sexy. He has these great arms too, so when it’s finished, it’s going to look badass.

5. Do the character’s in your books have tattoos? If so, pick a character and tell me his or her tattoo story? Why was this story incorporated in the book? I feel like characters with tattoos is getting to the point of cliche in books now. It seems like every time I pick up a book, the characters all have one. That’s cool though, because it’s showing how far our society has come in accepting them. That said — I do have a few characters that have tattoos. In my new novel, THE FINISH, one of my main characters has a sleeve of tattoos on both arms and I love the way it fits into her personality. She’s kind of crazy and wild but she’s completely unique and fresh in my eyes. I just love her to pieces.

About Jade:

Once upon a time there was a little girl who fell in love with books then she grew up to write her own.

Jade has participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) seven times and enjoys copious amounts of coffee. When she’s not writing, she enjoys trashy reality T.V. and reading everything she can get her hands on.

Mommy to two dogs and two naughty kitties, she feels like she might be on her way to having a zoo. You can find her on almost every social networking site that aids in her procrastination.

To learn more about Jade, connect with her on her Blog, Twitter, Facebook and on Goodreads.

If you have a book coming out or just want to tell your tattoo story and want to be featured on Tattoo Tuesday, let me know by leaving me a message in the comments.

My Monthly Update

Published on February 3, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

Latest News

I do apologize for the late post, I saved it for one reason and one reason only. Then, my reason lost by 35 points. I still love you, Peyton.

Congrats to Bruno Mars. Brilliant Halftime show.

I have a new author Facebook Page, Sydney Aaliyah Michelle, everyone, please like it.

January Update:

SAM & Associates LLC has been created. I created an entity to run my self publishing empire. I figure if I am going to do this business, I need to treat it like a business. That includes creating a business plan, which I am working on now.

Editpalooza didn’t quite work out of for me because of the lack of feedback, but the Savvy Authors were amazing and I have listen to the Three Pass Editing Webinar and acquired a more systematic plan for self editing my books. This doesn’t eliminate hiring an editor before you publish. I am an staunch believer in if your going to invest in your book, do it with the editing process.

I have attended two of my Creative Writing Workshop and I am really enjoying it. I enjoy talking about writing more than I thought I would. I also read my first short story to the class, it was a character exercise, and everyone loved it. I could get used to that feeling.

I turned Another New Life over to more beta readers and received some positive feedback. I had one person offer some harsh feedback, but once I looked through her tone (:-) tone in writing) and read her notes, it was helpful. I am working on edits, now and have completed 7 our of 37 chapters.

Goals for February:

SAM & Associates LLC – finish business plan.

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

Editing – I gave myself until February 16th to finish edits on Another New Life and then I turn it over to my editor. :-0

Awesome Blogs – a couple of blogs I found this month. Check them out and follow them.

New Adult Rockstars – New Adult blog created by a New Adult author and content provided by the best in New Adult.

Savvy & Writers & e-Books online – helpful tips on all things Writing & Publishing.

Have you signed up for A to Z Challenge? If no, click the badge in the upper left hand corner. It’s a blast and a great way to meet new bloggers. This will be my third challenge.

Last month I won a free blog button design from Arlee Bird Cheerfest and created by Jeremy Hawkins. I am proud to share it with you today.

Thanks so much Arlee & Jeremy.

Sydney Reviews The Replacement by Rachel Wade

Published on January 31, 2014January 30, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: My name is Elise Duchamp. I’m twenty-three years old and I’m known as the town whore.No, not the kind who exchanges sexual favors for money. The other kind. The kind who gives it all away for free, whenever and however she likes. I am that girl. The one everyone whispers about and the one none of the girls seem to like, because all of their boyfriends either want to sleep with me or already have. Promiscuity is my thing—the kind that slowly, violently turns my insides black, but gives me something I need.All things considered, I’m not completely reckless. I’m safe, and contrary to popular opinion, I do have a heart. I live in a world of careless choices, and with those choices come careless people. I cannot judge them, because I am one of them. I too bow down to the altar of the self-serving. I am not a good friend. I am not and never could be anyone’s girlfriend. I’m convinced any goodness in me shriveled up and died long ago.

But I am a replacement. That is something I know how to be, and this is a story of the lengths I’d go to in order to keep it that way.

Review:

The synopsis captures the tone of this book perfectly. It was a complete book for me. Complete in the sense that you had an amazing story, with a smart and sympathetic main character, combined with group of secondary characters who each had complexity and depth and it was topped off with a great setting.The Replacement encompassed all of that and more.

From page one you are smacked in the face with Elise’s life, her reality, and you want to weep for her, but shake her, too. Rachel Wade captures how Elise’s childhood trauma shaped her present life in a way that makes you love Elise. Even when she’s doing bad things, when she’s given up on herself, and even when she looses hope, you hoped for her.

I enjoyed the relationship dynamics in the story. Elise and all the men in her life brought different traits out of her, from her disgusting relationship with her bosses married brother, to the sweet, yet sexy relationship between her and Ryder.

I’ve been reading a lot of books about damaged characters over coming lately and the element shared by all of them is the ability the author has to make you see the good in the character even before the character does. Wade does a masterful job at doing this and if it ended any other way, I would have been really upset.

Allow me to introduce to you one of these complex secondary Characters.

Nate, it’s nice to meet you, since you’re new to town, I wanted to know more about you. Can you tell me a little more about yourself. Where your from, what brought you to Gig Harbor how you and Natalie meet?

Hey, nice to meet you. I’m from Phoenix, AZ. I actually moved to Gig Harbor to be close to my grandfather. He’s getting up there in age and he doesn’t really have anyone around to help him out. I figured I could go to school and find work anywhere, so I just decided on a change of scenery.

You seem like a sweet, kind pretty together young man. So maybe you can tell me, why do men cheat? I hope that question doesn’t make you uncomfortable.

Wow, isn’t that a loaded question. Uh…I have no idea why men cheat. Sometimes I think guys just want to break the rules. Sometimes there’s too much pressure, too many expectations in a relationship. Sometimes things are too perfect, or there’s no excitement. Or sometimes they’re just curious, I guess. That’s all I’ve got, sorry.

Obviously, you’ve heard about Elise’s reputation, why do you think there is such a double standard about women who sleep around versus men who sleep around?

I’ve never understood that, to be honest. I think chicks are really harsh on each other over that stuff. It seems like people just expect guys to screw up or something. When we cheat, no one’s surprised. But when a chick cheats, we’re ready to burn them at the stake. It’s kinda messed up.

Now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you feel about your actions?

How do I feel? Man, I don’t know. No comment. Can I say that? Yeah, no comment.

A few of my favorite things

Tattoo References: Elise and Ryder have tattoo’s and get more tattoos in the book. Elise has a birdcage with a bird flying out of the open door. The bird carries a heart that says “Quand on veut, on peut.” Means “When one wants, on can.” in French. She gets another tattoo on her other hip which is a nest on a tree with a pile of hearts. “My has a home,”

Movie References: None

Favorite Line: “This is my kind of romance, Art and ink and blood. It’s damn sexy, and the gesture has rendered me speechless.” Elise says this after Ryder takes her to get a tattoo as a gift. For anyone listening, this would be my perfect gift.

*Just a few of my favorite things.

The Replacement Purchase Links

Author Bio: Rachael Wade is the Amazon bestselling author of THE PRESERVATION SERIES, LOVE AND RELATIVITY, and the upcoming New Adult sci-fi series, THE KEEPERS TRILOGY. When she’s not writing, she’s busy going to concerts, watching too many movies, and learning how to protect animals and the environment. She’s an avid Brandi Carlile fan and loves all things Tim Burton.

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Tattoo Tuesday – Jen Greyson

Published on January 28, 2014January 27, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Jen, welcome to Tattoo Tuesday. Your five questions start now:

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? I was 18
How many tattoos do you have? If only one, do you want more? I only have one, and I’ve always thought I’d get more. I’m a big scuba diver, so I’ve wanted to get a dive flag on my hip….but I kept waiting for my hips to get to that “perfect” size. I need to just do it!
What inspired you to get your first tattoo or favorite tattoo? Tell me your tattoo story. I was very into dragons and I found this wicked image of one. (Fantasy writer, you know 😉 Unfortunately, the parlor I went to had just hired a new artist and instead of getting the guy I wanted, I ended up as this chick’s guinea pig….it’s always looked like a jail tat (nothing against jail tats) but it could have been such a great tat (it looks pretty much nothing like the original image!). Now it’s twenty something years old, and looks awful. I’m secretly hoping someone will hear my story on your blog and want to do a tat makeover *laugh* I learned a very valuable lesson about speaking up for what I want though.
Tattoos on a significant other, like or dislike? Explain why? I wouldn’t mind if he had one. Maybe a nice tribal around his arm (how cliche, I know, but so hot). Funnily enough, out of the four married couples we hang out with, all the girls are tatted, but none of the guys.
Do the character’s in your books have tattoos? If so, pick a character and tell me his or her tattoo story? Why was this story incorporated in the book? Always! I love ink. Love everything about why someone gets one… Because like you said, there’s always a story. My time traveler, Evy, was a custom bike builder before she started fixing history so she had tats before the story started. Now she gets them at the beginning and end of every history alteration. They mark her time since time no longer has meaning for her. The last one she got was from a tattoo artist in ancient Spain.

About Jen:

From the moment she decided on a degree in Equestrian Studies, Jen Greyson’s life has been one unscripted adventure after another. Leaving the cowboy state of Wyoming to train show horses in France, Switzerland, and Germany, she’s lived life without much of a plan, but always a book in her suitcase. Now a wife and mom to two young boys, she relies on her adventurous, passionate characters to be the risk- takers.

Her newest release, SHADOW BOXER, was featured in the USA TODAY.

Jen is also a professional ghost and writes everything from billionaire legacies to romance novellas when she’s not enjoying the wilds of the west via wakeboard or snowmobile. She’s a mama writer, unleashing stories.

To learn more about Jen, connect with her on her blog, Twitter, Facebook and on Goodreads.

If you have a book coming out or just want to tell your tattoo story and want to be featured on Tattoo Tuesday, let me know by leaving me a message in the comments.