writing – Page 4 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Tattoo Tuesday – Colette Saucier

Published on March 26, 2013March 25, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

I am very excited to welcome not only an award winning writer, but my new blog friend, Colette, to Tattoo Tuesday.

Cotette, here are your five questions.

1. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

I get my first tattoo right after my 27th birthday, although I had wanted to get one even longer. This was more years ago than I care to admit, and tattoos were not nearly so ubiquitous – especially on women. I wanted to give it some thought and think of something that would always be true for me.

2. What made you want to get your first tattoo?
I have seen so much beautiful body art, and, for those who get ink thoughtfully, it’s an incredible outlet for self-expression. When I got my first ink, there was no laser removal, no going back. For me, that is integrity – a commitment to one’s self.

3. How many tattoos do you have? If only one, do you want more?

I have three: I have the ohm symbol on my inner ankle so I see it when I have my legs crossed as I meditate. On my inner left arm, I have “ohm namah shivaya” in Sankskrit. The meaning translates to “I bow to the divine within myself.” It is a reminder that I can always be a better person. On the back of my neck, I have a symbol based on the triskele that represents how my life and my marriage are moving forward.

I have seen some quite elaborate designs recently that I would love, but my time for that has probably passed. But I might get a cute little mushroom on my ankle some day.

4. What is your tattoo story? Tell me the most recent or your favorite.

Remember how I said I wanted to be sure to get a tattoo that would always be true about me? Well, I decided to get the symbol for my astrological sign – Cancer – because I knew that would never change. I had it done on the back of my neck so I could wear my hair down if I wanted to cover it and up if I wanted to show it off. Unfortunately, most people mistook it for “69”! So I was not getting the kind of reaction I would have wanted! Last year, I had it made over into the triskele, and I am extremely pleased with it.

5. Tattoos on a significant other, like or dislike? Why

I don’t like it when a guy is covered with tattoos or has sleeves, but of course I like them. Ink kind of runs in my family! My father and my brother both have tattoos, and my daughter and my husband got their first tattoos together (kind of a bonding experience for them!). All three of my daughters have multiple tattoos, and my husband and I got the same tattoo – “ohm namah shivaya” in Sankskrit – together as our commitment to being better partners to one another.

Bio

Colette Saucier is the bestselling author of Pulse and Prejudice, the paranormal adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic, which retells the story from Mr. Darcy’s point of view as a vampire. Colette was selected “Debut Author of 2012” by Austenprose for her novel All My Tomorrows, which was also voted a Top 10 Romance Novel of 2012 (P&E Readers’ Choice). Her romantic suspense, Alicia’s Possession, is scheduled for release in July.
She lives in South Louisiana with her two dogs and her inked husband.

Website: http://www.colettesaucier.com/

Blog: http://colettesaucier.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ColetteSaucierAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Colette_Saucier

Thanks so much Colette and congrats on your upcoming release. If you would like to be featured in Tattoo Tuesday, please leave me your information in the comments.

D.C. Why do you blog?

Published on March 21, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

I met D.C. McMillen on May 18, 2012. She commented on a Sydney Quotes the Movies (SQM) post I did on the greatness of Peter Berg. Her comment, “I’m not sure if I’ll watch Battleship but I will definitely look for Very Bad Things and The Losers. I wanted to see both of those but they just fell off my radar so…thanks!”

A few month later, she was featured on Tattoo Tuesday. Check out her tattoo story.

I was super excited to have a blog swap with her today. You can check out my guest post on her site were I delve into sex, pizza and writing. But, first, let me ask D.C., why do you blog?

First, congratulations on your one-year anniversary! Second, thanks so much for inviting me to celebrate the occasion with you. It’s good that I get out and about, really, so I truly appreciate the invite.

So now you want to know why I blog. Well, if you ask my boyfriend, he would tell you it is because I am an overly motivated, internet addicted nerd who simply isn’t happy to just relax and watch television with him for two or so hours every evening. If you ask my mother, it is because I simply must find an outlet to exude my creative genius. You gotta love moms but boyfriends can be pretty damn annoying, especially when their version of the truth is slightly more accurate than your biggest fan, the one who just happened to raise you.

I blog about shit that interests me, funny stuff that happened over the course of my day, ridiculous memories that just won’t die no matter how many extra-dirty martinis in which I try to drown them and, of course, my writing. In fact, my boyfriend sometimes asks me what I’m blogging about (not often but always during a commercial) (Doesn’t that sound like a Dos Equis ad? I don’t always ask her what she’s doing but when I do, it’s during a commercial). If my answer to his question is, “my latest release,” he will respond with something along the lines of, “You’re writing about your writing. Do you know how lame that sounds?” to which I usually respond, “It only sounds lame when you’re saying it, Buttercup. Now go back to watching Mythbusters.” But I digress….

What my boyfriend doesn’t get is that writing is an especially important marketing tool for a writer. It’s also a good warm up to get you through that inevitable writer’s block. It’s a great way to make connections and friends with writers and readers, practice your skills (especially editing skills, an area in which I need all the help and practice I can get, likely evidenced here by my overuse of parenthesis) and it’s a shitload more interesting than watching grown men wrestle gators or whittle duck calls on television. For me, it also helps me keep my good humour. When something stupid, annoying or otherwise unpleasant happens, the first thought that pops into my head is not a negative one. Instead I cheerfully think about how this is going to make a fantastic blog post.

So there it is. Why I blog!

Wait.

Since I’m here, and I did briefly bring up the whole a blog is a marketing tool thing, how about I plug my soon-to-be-released naughty little short story before I go? The Wedding is going to be available on April 5^th at all of the usual online book retailer places. Here is the blurb and, if you’re interested in winning a copy before the publish date, please leave a comment below.

The Wedding

Karen is not the type to attend a wedding with a guy she’s only slept with once but, in a rare display of empathy, she agrees to accompany her new landlord Allan to this sure-to-be-boring function. Fortunately, Karen knows how to have a good time, and she’s pretty sure she and Allan can make their own fun…even if they have to do it in the outdoors just steps away from a couple hundred stuffy wedding guests.

Vikki, Why do you blog?

Published on March 19, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle22 Comments

Here’s another addition of my 2nd year celebration. I would like to introduce you to Vikki Thompson from The View Outside. I first met Vikki on May 2, 2012. She commented on a blog post I wrote called Distracted, Again. Her comment:

“Hi I am sooooo distracted right now in my writing that I really am not one to offer advice lol. So I’m just stopping by (via the Insecure Writers Group) to say I know exactly how you feel There just aren’t enough hours in the day lol Good luck!!!!Xx”

She has been super support ever since. So, Vikki, why do you blog?

When Sydney asked me the question Why Do You Blog? I turned to Molly Greene for inspiration. These are the reasons Molly suggests as to why writers blog:

To connect to readers.

To practice craft, discipline, voice and style.

To form relationships with other authors.

To establish an effective platform.

To blog a book or 2.

To build an e mail list.

All valid “writerly” reasons, but none of these questions sum up WHY I (in italics BIG letters lol) blog (although the 2nd one is definitely something I’ve benefitted from).

At first I started to blog for my own selfish reasons, to keep a record of my writing journey. The things I learnt about writing, so that I could see progression (if there was any!) in my work. But what i discovered is that overnight, I became part of a community. A community of “writers” and i was accepted in with open arms. That was a bit of a shock. People commenting on MY Blog? Really? Why? It took me ages to get my head around that one lol.

You see, for me, Blogging = a community of like minded people who all share the same fears, hopes and dreams. I love the fact that chats, discussions and ideas cross oceans and time zones. I get support, a shoulder to cry on (when required) and a pat on the back just when I need it the most. In return, I do the same 🙂

So why do I Blog? Because no other social media gives me such a sense of belonging as my little corner of WordPress. I may not have thousands of followers, but i don’t care. Each and every one of my followers are part of writing family 🙂

That includes you Sydney! Happy Blogiversary xx

What about you? Why do you blog?

Tameri, Why do you blog?

Published on March 12, 2013March 11, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

My first 2nd year celebration post is from Tameri Etherton. I meet Tameri on April 4, 2012. She commented on a blog post I wrote during the 2012 A to Z Challenge called H – History of Australia (Criminals & Drunks). I’m sure the title had nothing to do with why she commented, but this is what she said, “I think ‘sculled’ is my new new favorite word (it was ‘goober’ until reading this). I’m assuming sculled means drank? If so, I’m totally using it in my next book!”

Thank you, Tameri, for all your support. So, Tameri, Who do you blog?

That’s a tricky question. As writers, we’re told we need to blog, that we must find our readers and cultivate an audience, but to me, that seems trite. Dishonest, even.

I don’t blog to court fame, I do it for the simple reason that I like people and I always want to know their story.

Through blogging I’ve met some amazing people, like Sydney. People I wouldn’t normally have the chance to know if not through their presence online. Some of these people I’ve had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting offline. Whether I know them in person or just through cyber space, all of them have enriched my life in a multitude of ways that not only could I never count, but never repay.

That’s why I blog. As a thank you to those other bloggers out there and as a way to connect with people.

If my words can touch someone, then I’ve accomplished something remarkable.

If my words make someone laugh, then the world is a bit lighter for their laughter.

Words matter. Whether they be critical and harsh, or positive and full of hope, they influence the way we think, feel, speak, and live. I blog because my words are a connection from me to other humans out in the nether reaches of the Internet. They connect us.

And connections are what make my heart smile. Because in the end, a connection made is a friendship formed.

Friendships formed are stories shared. People are fascinating creatures with the most incredible stories to tell and I like hearing them.

What’s your story?

My Weekly Update – Good Week

Published on March 10, 2013March 11, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

Highlights

I received my first paycheck as a writer this week. I ghost wrote a blog post for a beauty blog and that’s all that I am liberty to say about it. It pretty exciting to be a paid writer and I have another assignment due this week. Super proud of myself. I’m not going to strike it rich anytime soon, but it’s satisfying being able to earn money doing what you love.

How did you feel when you sold your first book, first, poem, first article?

Award

My new blog friend and book club host M.L. Swift gave me the The Leibster Award. Thanks so much M.L.

Blog Anniversary

I’m a little late with my anniversary plans. Since my actual anniversary was in February, I decided to celebrate the beginning of my second year of blogging by reaching out to some amazing writers to ponder and guest post on “Why do I blog?”. I received some insightful responses and can’t wait to share them with you. See the schedule below.

March 12 – Tameri Etherton
March 19 – Vikki Thompson
March 22 – D.C. McMillen
March 25 – Alex Cavanaugh
March 27 – Misha Gericke
March 28 – Mark Means
March 29 – EM Castellan

Post to Ponder

What I Learned from the Editor: Round 1 by Jordanna East – Its great to understand your bad habits. May save time in your next project.

Writing Madly to a Deadline and then Not Submit by Jennifer M. Eaton – Do you have this type of integrity and respect for your work.

The First Time We Met: Memorable Characters and First Impressions by Felicia Scotzig – I can’t decide which character is my favorite.

Out of the Mouths of Babes by Jemi Fraser – How does your story stack up to the check list?

New Followers

Mark Riddle

Damyanti Writes

Jason Alan

Next Weeks Schedule

Tuesday – Anniversary Guest Post – Tameri Etherton

Wednesday – Trust in Me Blog Blitz

Friday – Got Green Bloghop – get your irish stories ready.

Sunday – My Weekly Update