monthly goals – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Monthly Update – Is it February Already?

Published on February 1, 2016 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

New Logo – I’m in the process of rebranding Sydney Aaliyah Michelle and step one, a new logo. I love it. Thanks so much to Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs.

Quote of the Month: “As long as there’s light we got a chance.” -Poe (StarWars VII)

Movie’s Watched:

The Big Short – That whole real estate, financial debaucle, now I understand! And, some people made a lot of money off of it.

The Revenant – Is as brilliantly done as the hype. I loved it.

13 Hours: The Secret Soilders of Benghazi – Makes me want to dust off that military romance I’ve been working on for four years.

Concussion – They tried to balance it out, but it was scary but disconnected to what I know about the NFL.

StarWars: Episode VII Force Awakens – It was good, but not as good as Episode IV, V, VI. Oh, but I’m excited about the series continuing.

This post is my entry for the Lost & Found: Valentine’s Edition blog hop hosted by Guilie Castillo-Oriard, Alex J Cavanaugh, Denise Covey, Yolanda Renee, Elizabeth Seckman, and Arlee Bird. Be sure to visit all of the hosts for this event. To find the full list of participants visit the list on Tossing It Out or any of the host sites.

Lost & Found Love – I love these stories. My debut novel was a lost and found love story.

My lost and found love story would be about me finding my passion.

I had a good job. It paid well. I got to travel and meet interesting people.

BUT . . .

I wasn’t passionate about it. I didn’t love it. It didn’t inspire me. So I gave it all up and now am living the starving artist, working a part-time job and working 24/7.

I love every minute of it.

February News – It’s Release Day . . . tomorrow!

Candy and canines. Flowers and felines. Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with your sweethearts of the human and fuzzy varieties!

Nothing is more heart-warming than kisses from the pet who adores you and the man who loves you, so snuggle up with VALENTINE PETS & KISSES — an anthology of fourteen sweet romances from USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors — and strike the perfect mood for moonlit walks and candlelight dinners with your pet and sweetheart.

Goals for February 2016

Write:

Finish Genna’s Encore – 4,000 more words
Start New Project – So excited about this one. It’s going to be fun to write. Can’t tell you any more at the moment.

Edit:

Anxious Love
Genna’s Last Song
Genna’s Encore

What’s your Lost & Found story? What are your goals for February?

My Monthly Update – I can’t believe it!

Published on November 30, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

It’s already December 2014. I can’t believe it. This year flew by. I’ve been a published author for six months and it has been a world wind and I don’t see it slowing down. I have one month to finish some projects, and plan for more, but I’m super excited about 2015.

Events

December 8th, 2014 – Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) Release Day Blitz. If you want to help me promote my release, please sign up here.

Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) Release Day Blitz Sign Up

Each blog participating has the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

December 13th, 2014 – Santa Facebook Hop – more details to come.

December 15th, 2014 – Love Addiction Anthology Release Day Blitz & Party.

Come hang out with us and celebrate 8 moving stories of love and lust to melt away the winter blues.

December Goals

Complete Publication schedule for 2015.

Complete marketing/publishing budget for 2015.

7,129 words on Hope for Us

11,432 words on A New Season

Sydney Quotes the Movies

I wasn’t sure if it was because of Chris Nolan or Matthew McConaughey or because it was a movie about outer space, but I thought it was all around brilliant. Plus, it had a lot of great quotes and it made me think. I love that in a movie.

“We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars, now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt.”

“Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here.”

“Murphy’s law doesn’t mean that something bad will happen. It means that whatever can happen, will happen.”

“Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends time and space.”

“I have a cue light I can use to show you when I’m joking, if you like.”

Movie watching List for December:

The Hobbit – Third and final. What am I going to do next year with no Hobbits?

American Sniper – True story and Bradley Copper.

Exodus – It’s Ridley Scott and epic movie making. The sea parting scene is reason enough to go see it.

What are your big plans for 2015? Have you seen Interstellar? What do you want for Christmas?

Have a great December, everyone!

My Monthly Update – Better Late … and SQM

Published on October 6, 2014October 5, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

Release Month

Hope for Her (Hope Series Book #1) was released on October 1st and it had a great release day, and 5 days later, it is still in the top 100 in African American Romance. I also received some great feed back from readers. Here are a couple of my favorites:

“Speechless, Mouth open, shaking my head, laughing, crying, smiling.”

“This book touched my heart, made it ached, and ripped it right out.”

One reader even declared Hope for Her, her favorite book this year. Considering it’s October, I thought that was pretty cool. haha.

Hope for Her will be .99 cents for another 10 days!

Events

October 6, 2014 (Tonight) from 4:00 – 8:00 pm CST, I will be taking over at the United Indie Book Blog on Facebook. Lots of great giveaways and I will share some exclusive excerpts from Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2). Come and join me.

October 9th, 2014 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm CST – The New Adult Street will be taking over at the Twin Sisters Rockin’ Book Reviews on Facebook.

October 30, 2014 from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm CST – Trick me or Treat me? Romance Book Lovers Halloween Party. Join The New Adult Street Team for great giveaways and fun halloween activities. Costumes optional.

October Goals

Edits for Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) are due to my editor no later then October 15th.

The final 30,000 words on Hope for Us (Hope Series Book #3) due on November 1st.

Prep for NaNoWriMo – I am thinking about the first book in a two book series. The tentative titles – A New Season (Season Series Book #1) & Off Season (Season Series Book #2)

Guess what, the book is about a girl and a football player. Big surprise.

Sydney Quotes the Movies

Classic Denzel Washington and another good director outing for Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, anyone!!)

Some of my favorite lines perfectly delivered by Mr. Washington:

“Change your world.” His advice to a troubled young lady.

“Old man got to be the old man. Fish got to be a fish.” His take on the classic novel, The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway.

“Hit it on something stupid.” As to why he had cuts and bruises on his knuckles.

“When you pray for the rain, you have to deal with the mud, too.” Great advice to anyone.

“Progress, Not Perfection.” Advice to his coworker.

Loved this movie.

Have you seen the The Equalizer? What was your favorite part? Are you participating in NaNoWriMo next month?

Have a great October, everyone!

My Monthly Update

Published on August 1, 2014August 1, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

FULL OF GOOD NEWS AND GIVEAWAYS

Another New Life News!

My debut novel has been out for two months now and it has been an emotional roller coaster. I’ve been riding the wave and holding on tight, trying not to get too up or too down. Good, reviews, not so good, reviews and great reviews, it all comes with the territory.

Through all the emotions, I discovered my absolute favorite thing is getting messages from readers who tell me how my books effected them. It’s amazing to hear how my work touched their heart.

Thanks so much to everyone who has read and reviewed Another New Life. I appreciate it.

Another New Life Giveaway – want to win a KINDLE!!

August Kindle Giveaway

Click on the link to join the giveaway check out some great books, too. Then, come back and read the rest of my post, please. More good news to share!

New Release News!

I won’t be a one book wonder. My new series is in the works and I have release dates. I am so excited to share The Hope Series.

Hope for Her – Book #1 – October 1, 2014

Hope for Him – Book #2 – November 2014

Hope for Us – Book #3 – December 2014

If you would like to help me spread the word, please sign up for the Cover(s) Reveal (that’s right, get ready for all three covers) and the Release Day Blitz.

Since you have been so kind, I have a treat for you. Let me introduce you to Hope’s main female character, Carrington.

Cover Reveal & Release Day Blitz Sign Up!

Thanks in advance for your help.

Check out Hope for Her on Goodreads!

Goals for August

Finalize marketing plan for Hope Series.

Finish edits on Book #2 & Book #3

Figure out how to work smarter and not harder on Social Media.

Create new website to correspond with next release, stay tuned for http://www.sydneyaaliyahmichelle.com.

Sydney’s Newsletter & Monthly Giveaway

Sydney’s News!!!

Sign up for my newsletter and enter to win a $10.00 gift card from a vendor of your choice. Winner will be announced in the September newsletter.

Related Posts

She Reads New Adult – Great review of Another New Life
Read Around Sue – Another New Life Teaser Post
Oh My Growing TBR – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle – Author Spotlight

Get Healthy Bloghop – How do you stay fit?

Published on May 29, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle42 Comments

Stephen Tremp, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Michael Di Gesu, and L. Diane Wolfe have teamed up for a Blog Hop that focuses on health.

It is so nice of them to worry about our health. And, what better time of year then May-June to get refocused on our health goals.

Bloggers will be sharing their get healthy tips, so click on the lovely apple to find the list of participants and give them a visit for some get healthy tips.

My get healthy tip is simple, but it helps me stay accountable. I set goals for myself and share them with people close to me. I make a list of 5-10 goals that allow me to focus on what I hope to accomplish on a daily basis when I need to pay more attention to my health and fitness.

This month, I’ll share my June 2013 health and fitness goals with all of you:

Four hours of cardio per week.
One visit to the golf driving range per week.
One long walk outside/get in touch with nature.
Try a new fitness class at the gym.
No eating after 7:00 pm on weekdays.
Drink more tea then coffee.

I don’t always reach my goals, but I always take a moment to celebrate the good things and see what I need to focus on for the next month. Wish me luck!

As a writer, do you find it difficult to stay in shape? What tip do you have to get healthy and stay in shape?