http://www.ariellamoon.blogspot.com/2014/11/angel-or-ghost-contemporary-christmas.html

 

                                 Feature: My Story…As A Writer

                                       Author Maria Ann Green

I live in the Midwest with my amazing husband and our adorable cat. I have always loved to read and write as far back as I can remember. When I was really young, in elementary or middle school, I attended the "Young Authors" conferences, and since then I've adored everything about writing. I love how it makes me feel and how creative it lets me be. I began my writing journey with short stories and poems. I actually began writing some of the poetry included in IN THE REARVIEW in middle and high schools. Then in college I started to put it together as a full novel. It was my first completed novel, and it took over ten years to complete. Since then I have written quite a few works in progress, and I do hope that REARVIEW is just the beginning of my writing career. I love to write in a multitude of genres and categories inducing: Contemporary, Fantasy, Thriller, Horror, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult.There aren't many genres I'm not willing to try.

In college my mom told me to major in something other than writing, just in case I never got anywhere with such a competitive and creative field. She's a smart lady. My day job is in Human Services, and that is fulfilling as well. But nothing is as exciting as creating my own world and entire people in the midst of a twisting plot. I also love reading, almost as much as I love writing. If you look for me, and I'm not writing, you'll probably find me curled up with a book and a cup of hot coffee or a glass of sweet white wine.

I hope that I get to write and publish forever, because for me it is a life long passion. I aim to paint with my words, so my readers can feel connected to my passion in writing.  

I continue to believe that though not every story is for me, and my stories aren't for everyone, every story has a reader. Go find your reader or story, and never stop being creative!

     

                                                  Excerpt- In the Rearview

Meagan stared down at her desk. Her focus moved beyond the assignment in front of her without actually seeing what she was looking toward. There were lines, spaces of white, and blobs of writing, but nothing seemed important enough to consider closely. Truthfully she didn’t care.

She didn’t feel the need to focus.

Her gaze slowly moved up to the front of the classroom, and again she fixated on a point past what was before her. She did not concentrate on the teacher. There was a face, a moving mouth, but she didn’t connect it with the sounds struggling slowly, like sticky sludge past her ears. She didn’t hear the instructions being uttered; each word fell on deaf ears as she mindlessly doodled.

Twisting her hair around her finger, she thought about how nice it would be to be at home, in bed, with the curtains closed instead of in this loud and hyper school. It seemed her classmates had recently started caring too much about what was going on around them. There was too much drama, too much noise, too much concern jumping all around her. It was all so taxing.

It was such a bother.

Meagan, in contrast, was usually in a world of her own. Her head felt fuzzy most of the time, and unless she used a lot of energy, most conversations sounded muffled, like there was cotton in her ears. She didn’t feel the need to engage anymore. Her desire to try so hard just to do what had once come easily had dwindled to nothing. At first she’d tried, but not now. Not anymore. It had become too difficult to care.

And that was her biggest problem. Meagan didn’t care much about any of these changes. She was fine walking through school without any effort. Her feet felt a little heavier as each day passed, and her head felt a little more under pressure of a crushing fog that numbed her, but she pushed through it all. She didn’t mind neglecting what used to bring her excitement. In fact, it was just easier not to give a crap.

Everything was distinctly lackluster these days.

 When Meagan’s secret is found out, and she realizes there is no way to outrun her habit of cutting, she tries to work through it, and her depression, before she cuts too deep, making a mistake that can never be undone.

Meagan's problems aren't like every other adolescent's no matter how much she wishes they could be. Hers are worse. They've pulled her down into the depths of a depression that is anything but normal. She begins her pattern of self-harm as her depression threatens to drown her. She starts with one cut that leads to the next, and the next. After starting, it's apparent that there's no stopping, and Meagan spirals into a dark and cruel world she doesn't understand. Meagan cuts to feel better, but that comfort doesn't last long enough, and soon life is worse than it ever was before.

While learning to quit cutting Meagan faces life-altering obstacles and grows up in the process. IN THE REARVIEW is a story of pain, loss, confusion, and hope told through Meagan’s poems, journal entries, and a splash of narrative.

*Book tag line: Heartbreak, Healing, Hope

 Maria Green currently lives in Minnesota, despite its bitter winters, with her husband. She graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in English. When she isn’t writing, Maria loves to read with a cup of strong coffee or a glass of sweet wine, craft, and spend time with her family. This is her first published novel. 

Maria Ann's links:

* website: www.mariaanngreen.com

* Blog: www.mariaanngreen.com/blog

*Goodreads: (Author)https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20358446-maria

*Goodreads (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22877564-in-the-rearview

*Twitter: https://twitter.com/missmariaann

*Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/MariaAnnGreenAuthor?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark 

** BUY LINKS:

Nook: http://bit.ly/1pG2CRk

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/in-the-rearview-2

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1kPJmk9

*Also available where other ebooks are sold (iTunes, Smashwords, etc!) 

*Maria Ann's  favorite books in this genre (YA Contemporary):

Thirteen Reasons Why,

Cut,

You Remind Me of You,

The Catcher in the Rye

*Books she still wants to read in this genre:

Uses For Boys,

Perks of Being a Wallflower,

Speak

*Fun facts from Maria Ann: My favorite color is pink, yes still. My lucky number is 13. I love coffee, sweet white wine, and anything chocolate. I love having painted toenails. Scarves are my favorite Accessory. My favorite season is fall, and we have beautiful ones in Minnesota. I have a cat named Riley who was named after the character in National Treasure. My favorite place on earth is Paris, and I hope to go back someday. 

*Fun facts about the book: Meagan (the main character) went almost ten years without a name. For the longest time she was just "she" or "her" or "me." The narrative was the last part to be written. The poems were the first. So far it is the only YA book I've written. Also, my husband came up with the title.

*Top Songs for Rearview: 

1) Heavy In Your Arms - Florence & The Machine

2) Breakdown More - Eric Hutchinson

3) Perfect - Simple Plan

4) The River - Missy Higgins

5) Better Than Me - Hinder

6) Never Too Late - Three Days Grace

7) Decode - Paramore

8) Closer To The Edge - 30 Seconds to Mars

9) It Ends Tonight - All American Rejects

10) Flaws - Bastille

11) You Found Me - The Fray

12) Superheroes - The Script

13) I Wish I Didn't Care - Lovesick Radio

Teaser- IF YOU BELIEVE... 
If only he could just touch her, reach out to her, make her feel happy again. But that was just selfish on his part, wasn’t it? It wouldn’t be fair to Melody. Anybody could see that even three years later, she was still struggling. Hadn’t he always told her that if something happened to him, he would want her to fall in love again? It saddened him to think that if she continued down this cold and lonely path, she would be alone forever…

http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Believe-Mya-OMalley-ebook/dp/B00PSM4OIE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416345350&sr=8-3&keywords=mya+omalley

Wow! First review for If you Believe

***** 5 Star Review on Goodreads:
...I loved this book. It was a quick read, mostly because I couldn't put it down. I loved the character of Jack. He warmed and broke my heart at the same time. Such an unusual twist.

If You Believe Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_mPzEJ7teA

Thank you to Christi Corbett for hosting me today, check out my Path to Publication feature…
https://christicorbett.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/mya-omalleys-path-to-publication-story/

If You Believe by Mya O'Malley

If You Believe by Mya O'Malley

IF YOU BELIEVE Available now on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Believe-Mya-OMal…/…/ref=sr_1_3…

* ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS* - FEATURE
(Based on main character Melody’s point of view from new release- “If You Believe”)
BY MELODY-
Once upon a time, not so long ago, my heart was filled with Christmas cheer and joy around each holiday season. As a child, my eyes sparkled with happiness as I felt the magic of the season. Years later, as an adult, Jack and I would share the season, Jack made me feel the delight and magic that I experienced as a child. Now, with Jack gone, I find myself surrounded by family and friends, but without Jack my heart is empty and the light has gone out of my eyes.
All I want for Christmas? For years, all I’ve wanted was my husband, Jack back in my arms. Forget about fancy gifts, the parties and decorations, the only thing on my mind around the holiday season is Jack’s smiling face, his sparkling blue eyes and warm smile. Will my Christmas wishes come true? I know in my heart that it’s not possible, it can never come to be. But this year, the air seems to be filled with magic and intrigue as I am lucky to have met not only a new friend, but also a man who is slowly warming my heart.
Will I let love in? Will I keep Jack in my heart but make room for another? My feelings run deep and I’m torn. Will I get my Christmas wish? Will I finally experience love and everything the most special gift in the world has to offer? Somewhere deep in my heart, I know there’s still hope…I’m wishing for a Christmas miracle.
Have a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season.
MELODY- IF YOU BELIEVE

Coming Tuesday, November 18th! If You Believe by Mya O'Malley
Do you love holiday romances with a touch of the paranormal?

My Story… As a Writer.

I'm excited to welcome fellow Astraea Press author, Ariella Moon to my blog today.   

Ariella has a brand new release out titled, Spell for Sophia: Book 4 The Teen Wytche Saga.

  Thank you Mya for featuring me on your blog today. It is such a pleasure to be here!

My Writer’s Journey

I first thought of myself as a writer when I won a national essay contest in sixth grade. My ability to write well gave me a definite advantage during college where I graduated summa cum laude, and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Art History. But my love of writing fiction — creating absorbing unique worlds — didn’t come into play until my daughter learned to read. She was a voracious reader and tested off the charts in reading and comprehension. The problem became finding big enough books for her that were age appropriate. So I wrote an award winning but never published fantasy trilogy for her.

Now with Spell For Sophia, my fourth Young Adult paranormal romance in the Teen Wytche Saga about to launch, I better understand why my earlier trilogy didn’t sell. Thank goodness it didn’t! Someday I will go back and make the necessary revisions that are now so glaringly obvious to me. Perhaps my daughter, who has been my beta reader for the Teen Wytche Saga, will revisit the trilogy with me. After all, in many ways we’ve been on this writer’s journey together.

Spell For Sophia by Ariella Moon (The Teen Wytche Saga #4)

Sometimes the worst scars are the ones you cannot see.

Blurb

Sophia Perez-Hidalgo’s survival depends upon her mastering magic and the supernatural before her lawless parents and their vengeful boss catch up to her. How far must she flee to escape them forever? Sophia runs until she’s out of stolen money, then…Fate delivers her into the arms of Louisiana teen Shiloh Breaux Martine, and his grand-mère, a voodoo priestess living deep in the bayou.

Breaux knows Sophia is trouble — but he’ll travel through time, battle zombies, and risk his bright future to protect her. While Ainslie, best friend extraordinaire, will jeopardize her sanity to find and aid Sophia. When friendship, magic, and love are not enough, Sophia will have to save herself. But first, she must believe she’s worth saving. 

Excerpt

Breaux followed me onto the streetcar and bought day passes with exact change. I scanned the streetcar's vintage interior for two seats together. I ignored the pinched brows and alarmed stares from our fellow passengers. Most of them fixated on a point behind me. With dismay I realized Breaux's blood-soaked bandana was drawing too much attention. Someone was bound to notice his uncanny resemblance to the congressman. The last thing we needed was to derail the time-space continuum or spark rumors.

The migraine over my eye throbbed.

I discovered an empty row toward the back and claimed the window seat. Breaux shoved our passes into his jeans pocket, then roosted beside me. He placed the backpack at his feet and kept his chin down. His hands trembled and twitched against his thighs. Caffeine, sugar, and shock, I thought. The cloth over his gash sported blood in varying shades of red. It appeared wet and sticky. The sight of it made me queasy and I had to swallow hard. Breaux's ashen pallor hadn't improved. Worry worsened my stomach. Breaux needed to go to the hospital and get stitched up. Someone should x-ray him and see if he had a fracture or concussion. Or both.

Merciful Mary, please help us complete whatever must be done here so we can return to our own time.

A flicker of color flashed outside the window. I swiveled toward it, thinking maybe it was a flag. Wrong! The hints of gold and red sprung from a wispy paisley top worn by an African-American teen hovering several feet off the ground. My brain registered, ghost! My hand flew to my mouth to muffle a shriek.

The movement must have caught the ghost's eye. She zoomed to the window and pressed her nose against the glass. I shrank against Breaux. The wraith's peace sign necklace swung through the pane, almost touching my chin before it dropped. The temperature plummeted several degrees.

I shot Breaux a furtive sideways glance. His attention was fixed on Nervous Guy, who was making his way toward us. The ghost bracketed her face with her hands and peered through the window. Brackish swamp smells assaulted my nose. Water dripped from her long curly Afro and slid down the sides of her hands and onto the windowpane. I wondered if she could hear my heart thundering.

"Are you the Mexican?" the wraith asked.

My eyes widened. Is the drug cartel employing ghosts? Speechless, my gaze darted across her face. She's no older than Breaux. Unlike Mam'zelle, whose spirit had transitioned into a being of light, the ghost still retained her human form and the clothes she must have been wearing when she died. Her skin, though blue-gray in death, still showed patches of its former nutmeg color. She had Breaux's nose.

The ghost pointed a wet finger. "Is he Shiloh Breaux Martine?"

"Umm. Breaux…" My fingers dug into his thigh.

Buy Links for the Teen Wytche Saga

http://www.amazon.com/Ariella-Moon

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ariella-Moon

Author Bio

Ariella Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young Adult paranormal series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, high school, secrets, and love in Spell Check, Spell Struck, Spell Fire, and Spell For Sophia from Astraea Press.

Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author, and shaman. She lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.

Connect with Ariella Moon

http://www.ariellamoon.com

http://www.ariellamoon.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/ariellamoon.author

http://www.goodreads.com/AuthorAriellaMoon

http://www.pinterest.com/ariellamoon/