by Sarah | Oct 23, 2012 | Guest Authors, Guest Post, Writing
I have the great pleasure of hosting my good friend (and top-notch critique partner) Sabrina Garie for her blog tour for her novel, Fires of Justice. Take note – she’s giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter!!!
Thanks for hosting me Sarah. I am so glad to be here. You exemplify bravery and humor and practicality in the face of the unknowable and unexpected. In tribute to that, I thought I’d talk about the power of stories and books—how they make us stronger and more adaptable. I know many people use books to escape from life and I admit to doing that myself. But I also rely on them to help me be better at life and my goal as a writer is to fuse that into my work.
By touching our hearts and minds, stories give us a fun and risk-free ways to learn to handle the unexpected—those things that we can neither practice nor prepare for. Horror stories, roller coasters and zombies retain their popularity partially for that reason. Engaging with stories through film, books, however you like to do it, can help us learn to sit and act with fear in our bellies and panic-induced adrenalin weaving through our veins.
Paranormal and science fiction also take us into places where we cannot go, which is why I love to read and write them. What should we do if a werewolf knocks on the door or an alien lands in our backyard? As silly as these questions may sound at first, they strike a chord on some level of our psyche. At their base, they bring to light how we deal with the unknown, the untested, the other that we have yet to meet.
In my new release, Fires of Justice, I try and pull a few punches in this direction. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Calista, our heroine, is a witch, so she’s used to some pretty strange things happening in any 24 hour period. Even so, the story starts with the simultaneous arrival of an ominous dream and a shifter setting up camp in her backyard and she, naturally, is weirded out by the whole thing. Turns out, the shifter is one of the characters in the dream. So what would you do if you crashed into a person who you’d only seen in a dream? Isn’t this just like asking if you believe in love at first sight in a slightly off-beat way? In college, I crushed on a guy because every time I looked at him, he felt familiar, like I’d known him somehow. Whenever I saw him, the lyrics from the Eagles’ Peaceful, Easy Feeling would float around in my head “I get this feeling I may know you as a lover and a friend.” It was strange and exciting and I had no idea how to handle it. That experience influenced the creation of this scene.
When Cullen first meets Calista, he’s predisposed to hate her because of some of the damage he carries around from his past. Surprise, she’s nothing like he expected. Sometimes that werewolf or that alien is just the boy (or girl) next door you can’t see for the fangs or your own scars. The power of stories is that they help us see past the fangs and the scars—to look underneath the facades that often get in the way. Even if we have to hex it off to do it.
Thanks for visiting. I’m giving away a free e-copy of Fires of Justice to one commenter. How do stories help you deal with the unknown in your life?
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To Purchase:
Ellora’s Cave
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Always read the fine print when swearing an eternal oath to gods and guardians…
Beholden by the sacred vows of her coven, fire witch Calista Reid agrees to temporarily mate with shifter Cullen McMahan to fulfill a mission assigned by the guardians. When tall, dark and damaged arrives on her doorstep, generating enough heat to scorch a fire witch, Calista finds herself drawn to his battle-hardened body and broken soul. His pain speaks to her own deep-rooted isolation and the intensity of his hunger slakes her passion like no other.
Cullen, scarred by a past that left him an indentured soldier to the guardians, resents yet another hump-on-command assignment…until he encounters the compassionate, fearless, incendiary redhead who detonates his body and reawakens the emotions sacrifice and loss had suppressed. But Cullen harbors a terrible secret—one that reaches back into Calista’s troubled childhood and threatens the foundation of their growing bond.
Link to Excerpt: http://www.jasminejade.com/productspecs/9781419941542.htm
*~*~*
Sabrina Garie is on a journey to create the most kick-ass heroine romance fiction has ever known and the hero who can take her. A believer that big, audacious goals spice up life, she relies on coffee, red wine and laughter to make those goals (and her characters) come alive. When not at the computer, she wrangles vegetables and extra helpings of homework into her star-spangled, fashion-loving progeny, kowtows to a fat cat and reads, a lot. Since it is more fun to travel in packs, come along for the ride. I’d love to chat.
You can find me at:
Website/Blog: www.sabrinagarie.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SabrinaGarie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SabrinaGarieAuthor
I also blog at Darker Temptations (Paranormal and Science Fiction Romance Blog): http://darkertemptations.wordpress.com/
by Sarah | Oct 22, 2012 | All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls, The Reluctant Hoosier
Of all the things I thought I’d do in my life – scaling a pseudo-mountain wasn’t one of them.
This Friday I did just that.
Thanks to The Crag in Brownsburg I got to scale rock walls, challenge my pitiful out-of-shape body – and laugh at some of the best innuendos I’ve heard in years with my friends.
The Crag is a great indoor climbing facility tucked away in Brownsburg that has walls from “easy” to extremely challenging.
[flickr id=”8104337222″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]A group of us went, within about five minutes we were trained on tying ourselves to the ropes and belaying. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and even clued us in on where to start for the easier climbs (although it wasn’t long until the dares for the harder climbs began).
I was a total newbie to the climbing thing, and sadly mistaken at how much I’d be able to do. It was super difficult, and I’m still feeling the aches in my shoulders and upper arms days later. Much as they tell you to use your legs, your arms get killed.
[flickr id=”8104322567″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Thing was, much as it hurt and tough as it was, every accomplished climb was a rush of adrenaline and pride. Every single one of us set forth to climb onto a platform, and we all did, making our strong pose – even those that were afraid of heights.
I’m ready to go back. I just need someone to go with me. Best part is that it’s not that expensive. A day pass for those over 8 is $20 – and for those under 8 it’s only $12. But there are weekly specials that are super worth it. Wednesdays are their canned food drive. If you bring in 2 cans of food, you get your pass for $12.
[flickr id=”8104333850″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]Friday nights are Family night. It’s $30 for the first 2 members (a $10 savings) and then only $5 for each additional family member. That’s only $40 for a family of four. You can’t go to the movies for that folks – and rock climbing takes teamwork and communication.
The best night, of course, is date night. $15 for the two of you. You’ll be challenged, you’ll laugh, you’ll have to be there to support each other going up and coming down. Again, cheaper than a night at the movies and better for your marriage then sitting the dark for an hour and a half.
So if you’re in Indy…get thee to The Crag. Some tips – don’t wear heavy sneakers. Wear shoes cut closer to your feet so it’s easier to plant your feet against the wall. Wear pants – you need to have those harnesses nice and tight. And be prepared for sore muscles and possible blisters.
View all the pictures from our night HERE in my flickr acct
***
*The Crag treated me and some of my fellow IndyGeekGirls to a night of climbing free. All opinions and achingly sore muscles are my own.
by Sarah | Oct 20, 2012 | Photography, Weekly Winners
Family time is always good on the weekend. Games, movies, pumpkins, reading time – it’s all fun and games.
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS.
1. Orange or Pink
We fancy men are individuals; so are pumpkins, but every pumpkin in the field goes through every point of pumpkin history. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
[flickr id=”8107335809″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia. ~Charles Lindbergh
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2. Faceless Portrait
Easy reading is damn hard writing. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
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Do whatever you do intensely. ~Robert Henri
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3. View From the Top
When words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain. ~William Shakespeare
[flickr id=”8107346282″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”none”]
I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~Henry David Thoreau
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4. Cozy
The little one was so determined to snuggle with Daddy, that she sat through a scary movie to do it – after all, what’s safer than daddy’s arms?
[flickr id=”8107331951″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts. ~John Greenleaf Whittier
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5. Stacked
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Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her; but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to play the game. ~Voltaire
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Since I’m addicted to quotes w/ my images I’ve started to link to the Sunday Citar over at Fresh Mommy Blog w/ my photo posts every Sunday. It’s a great way to combine two of my loves 🙂
You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
Scavenger Hunt Sunday is run by the beautiful Ashley. Head on over to see more Hunters.
by Sarah | Oct 18, 2012 | ADHD - Adult, All About Erik, BiPolar, BiPolar with Hypomania, Depression
I’ve spent a couple of days trying to figure out how to write these posts now that I have the all clear to do so. Then I realized I had to start at the beginning.
This is my husband Erik (handsome, isn’t he? Just help me out & tell him to shave).
He was born here in the same small town we live in. Just the next street over is where his parents lived when they brought him home. He was adopted 3 days after he was born, and it became official some months later.
When he was first born he proved to have some issues with his eyes & their musculature and ended up having seven (if I remember correctly) surgeries on them before he turned 2.
Whether it was the surgeries or genetics, we can’t know – but shortly after the turmoil of constant surgeries there came some personality issues.
At 3 years old he was put on his first medication. Since the age of 3 the sort of medication and the diagnosis has changed over time. He’s been on Ritalin, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and he’s shunned them all at times for the self-medication of alcohol (at both inappropriate and appropriate ages).
To hear him describe it, he always felt separate. Apart.
The outsider.
In school.
At home.
In his own head.
Some of it he blames on the sense of abandonment he still feels for being adopted. Some of it on his own “stupid” biology. He also heaps a lot of blame on himself.
For so many years he floundered.
Made many mistakes.
Lashed out in anger.
Pain.
Confusion.
Chaos.
And then, he broke.
As most people with mental disorders do.
He wound up in the stress center – checked in for a period of time.
Once he came out he had the clear cut diagnosis of severe depression. He was put on several meds before settling on a mix of Effexor (which I have come to despise, but more on that later) and Wellbutrin. Sent back out into the world “better.”
He thought his life would be good after that.
It was supposed to be better.
But mental disorders are never that easy – and never that cut and dry.
*~*~*
*More coming soon. It’s a long story and I shortened this part intentionally. There’s much that happened before we met that I don’t fully know or understand…and things we still can’t talk about…and that don’t need to be said. I mostly wrote this for a little background before we get into meeting me & the life we’ve lived up to this point and where we are now – and where he is now.
by Sarah | Oct 17, 2012 | All About Family, All About Me, Blogging Life, Random
I have a family of 5.
I know, duh, right?
To compound the family of 5, all 3 kids have special needs and my husband’s company – while providing a decent sense of job security has really crappy insurance.
I mean, seriously crappy.
So when I get a chance to score a deal on anything health related, I’m there.
Now considering we have a family full of dysfunctional eyes and the ability to get new glasses only once every TWO years, finding out about the chance to get free glasses at Firmoo? Well, you bet your sweet fanny I jumped on that sucker.
I’ve been needing glasses for over a year since the husband hated my last pair. Not because my glasses got messed up (I’m a contacts girl, so glasses last a while) & not because my prescription changed (It hasn’t changed in 10 years).
Firmoo is awesome about offering the first pair free to first time customers – you only pay shipping – and bloggers don’t have to pay shipping if they do a review. See their options at their site.
So I picked out a pair, sent in my info and within a week I had a new pair of glasses! That easy. I didn’t have any issues with my glasses (after I adjusted to the style – so different from my usual style, I decided to be daring), but I know if I did the customer service would have been great.
Firmoo has a great option on most of their frames to “try on” the frames on the website. My biggest suggestion is make sure that you use your own picture to make sure you get them fit to your face, not the models – because it’s a guarantee that they don’t have a face just like yours and those glasses aren’t going to look the same on you as they did on the site.
So head on over and get your free pair now.
Seriously, I love never having to leave my chair to order a pair of glasses.
***
I received a free pair of glasses in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. You can’t buy me with a sweet pair o’ lenses. I only respond to chocolate, eye candy, and lovely yarns.
In my new release, Fires of Justice, I try and pull a few punches in this direction. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Sabrina Garie is on a journey to create the most kick-ass heroine romance fiction has ever known and the hero who can take her. A believer that big, audacious goals spice up life, she relies on coffee, red wine and laughter to make those goals (and her characters) come alive. When not at the computer, she wrangles vegetables and extra helpings of homework into her star-spangled, fashion-loving progeny, kowtows to a fat cat and reads, a lot. Since it is more fun to travel in packs, come along for the ride. I’d love to chat.
