a to z challenge – Page 10 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

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?

The Great and Powerful Theme Reveal Bloghop

Published on March 21, 2014March 20, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle35 Comments

2014 A to Z Challenge

I can’t believe I’m going to do it. WriterlySam is asking me to reveal my super secret theme for 2014 A to Z Challenge. There is a certain commitment associated with revealing your theme ahead of time. I bet that is why she is making us do it. Like once it’s out there, you kind of have to follow through and participate in A to Z. Well, here it goes.

My Theme for 2014 A to Z Challenge is Another New Life by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle. Yes, that’s me and that’s my debut novel. I am going to spend an entire month, 26th posts, telling you all about it.

I have a few interesting post all ready to go, like B – By the numbers and K – Kiss. My personal favorite, I – It’s Cover Reveal Time when I reveal my cover. See what I did there. haha.

I figure by the end of the month, you will either be completely sick of it or you can’t wait to read it.

If the stars are aligned correctly and everything happens the way it’s supposed to happen between then and now, on May 1st, you can buy it.

Wish me luck! For more information on Another New Life, check it out on Goodreads.

There’s still time to sign up for the challenge, here.

Click here, to check out other blogger’s themes. What is your A to Z Challenge Theme?

My Monthly Update – Congrats to Dale Jr.

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

Latest News

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.

Z – Zzzz or the End

Published on April 29, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

Why does Z stand for sleep. I am getting quite sleepy right now just think about it. While I would love to take a break and get some sleep, but I can’t. I have way to much to do. To many things are coming up. Z also stands for the end, the final, the last. For my last post of the A to Z challenge, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite post from A to Z:

A – Avengers, Captain America and As I Am by Alex Cavanaugh – Come on, it’s a post about the Avengers. Nothing more needs to be said.

B – Best Crying Scenes in a Movie at World of My Imagination – The Steel Magnolia and Pursuit of Happiness scenes get me every time.

C – Getting too Comfortable by BDevereaux – Don’t get to comfortable

D – Disaster Movies at Tossing it Out – Some of my favorites are on this list, Titanic, 2012, Poseidon Adventure

E – Energize Yourself to Write at World of My Imagination – How do you do it?

F – F is for Fear at Scribbling in the Storage Room – “The enemy of creativity.”

G – A Grown-up Kind of Pretty by Tasha Seegmiller – on my to read list

H – How to Be a Good House Guest at Laugh-Quotes.com – read before you visit someones house

I – I is for Imagination at Tasha’s Thinkings – Synonymous with being a writer

J – Joy at Spunk on a Stick – You can’t steal mine.

K – K is for King at The View Outside – my favorite author

L – L is for The Lincoln Memorial by Lara Lacombe- my favorite monument in DC

M – Memento by Alex Cavanaugh – Also includes the sign up for Alex’s Best and Worst Movies Remakes Blogfest, which is coming up on May 17th.

N – Never-ending at Wrote by Rote – Is your love never ending?

O – Oxford Comma by Margo Kelly – All you need to know about the dreaded comma.

P – A-Z Geek (P): The Favorites by Lynda R. Young – Prince Bride, enough said.

Q – Querying at My First Book – You can’t read enough about how to query.

R – What Makes Us Right? at The Madlab Post – Fair Game illustrates the point well.

S – Sigma at Tara Tyler Talk – Great tips on show.

T – The Time Traveler’s Wife by Tasha Seegmiller – On my to read list

U – Unified Theory of Writing at Moody Writing – Do you agree?

V – V is for Villain (Best Movie Villains of All Time) by Reese Ryan – Who are your favorite villains?

W – W is for The White House, the Washington Monument and the World War Memorials by Lara Lacombe – Have you been to DC?

X – X is for Project X at Blogging from A to Z – I have a project X, do you?

Y – Y is for Young Ladies of Substance at Pensuasion – Love Jo March from Little Women the best.

Z – Z is for Zola at The View Outside – Have you read Emile Francois Zola?

Thank goodness, I finished the A to Z Challenge. How did you do? What were some of your favorite post?