I started writing because I loved reading so much. Way back in the long long ago, I was just a reader who discovered her kindle. I paid way more money than I probably should have, but that little device brought me so much fucking joy, that I regret nothing.
 
In finding my joy this year, I am working on doing things that make me happy. Like last week, I sat down with a friend I made through this whole crazy writer world and we just brainstormed. I told her that I want to write a book next month, that I need to hit a “THE END” and we went from a hint of “I miss vampires” to an entire character arc and story line for both her book and mine. I’m so grateful for your willingness to lock the door to the craziness in your own house and take that couple of hours with me, Kayleigh Malcolm. (Seriously, buy a book from the woman. She’s brilliant.)
 
But even though I’ve said it before in an offhand manner, I've noticed something about myself this past month. I do better when I have more to do. Don’t get me wrong, I still need to do the dance between overloading my TO DO’s and sleeping all day, but when I have multiple things to keep track of, my mind goes into serious mode. I make lists and plans, and I know that I have to get X done, because Y is up next.
 
So I’m going to start jumping into a few small frying pans and see if I can dance again.
 
Starting with....

A READ ALONG!

Even before I fell hard for my Kindle, I fell in love with vampires.​ I can remember checking very specific books out from the library again and again. LJ Smith was also the first author I hunted down and spent my own money on in the bookstore. (I think it was a Borders. RIP) And her Vampire Diaries were the ones I fell hardest for.

The original 90’s-tastic book covers for the Vampire Diaries are stuck in my mind. That black crow with Elena’s blue eyes peaking out…LOVE. 

These are the books I blame for my start down the road to romance. Before I even knew exactly what it was. This unnatural pull and fated meeting...this was my shit.

Yes, I know there was/is a TV show about this. But any LJ Smith purist knows Elena Gilbert is FUCKING BLOND WITH BLUE EYES!

ahem. Sorry.

Actually, no I'm not. Those features had meaning and purpose, and my little teenage heart still hurts that a brunette played her.

I tried to get into the show, but it veered too far off the path of the original story for me. 

I've heard of people currently doing a re-read of Twilight because of the nostalgic flutter that it gave their hearts. I don't have that for Twilight. I did read the books, and they were a fast read for me. But all I could think of when reading them was the Vampire Diaries. The OG vampire love triangle. The struggle of family and loss. All with 90's bangs and so much teenage angst I'm probably going to choke on it. But I'm going to love every minute.

Does this book hold up in today's world? Probably not, but if you go into this in the same frame of mind you'd have watching Friends, or Full House, you'll get it.

​So whether you want to relive a little 90's drama, or see some of what the hell happened to my head as a child that made me who I am today. Read along with me! 

This week, let's read "The Awakening". There are various formats available, but I'll be reading from the 2007 re-release edition. It's a quick read, and I figure in a week, most people will decide this either is or isn't their cup of tea and will allow those of us who are still obsessed to move onto the next book in a speedy way. 

Just realized, maybe this is where I got my obsession with cover art that stares you down! Huh.

Either way, I'm reading this book from Today, Feb 15th, through Feb 22nd. Then it will be onto "The Struggle".

Feel free to chat here in the comments, or head on over to my Facebook page and let me know what you thought of this. I'll link the thread below. Or come tell me what book flips your nostalgia switch! I'd love to hear about it.

​~Roxy

If I have learned anything about myself, it is that I am a self-help book ho. I love self-help books. 

There aren't a ton of brilliant break through moments in these tomes. Many self-help books talk about the same basic tenants. 

Some of the themes I see repeated...

1. Use affirmations to tell yourself exactly who you are about to become.

2. Think big, but start with small steps. Goals need baby steps, just like we did.

3. Start your day off right. Most of the time, by starting it off early.

Yeah. Early morning productivity is a big theme I see a lot in books. We all remember my Miracle Morning kick, right? If not, I'll spare you. I got injured and felt like absolute shit when I couldn't complete the umpteen million steps I had laid out for myself every day.

My miracle mornings had me feeling like I could take on the world...if I got them done. When I started missing the routine, I felt like absolute shit. I felt like a failure, and added into the other craziness that was going on in my life around the time I started missing my routine, it was one more issue that sent me spiraling. 

As a straight-A student for the vast majority of my life, failure is something I fear. Failure causes an eruption of emotions that should probably be addressed by a professional, but that would involve me admitting my own short-comings to a real person face-to-face, and I can't think of a more real vision of hell.

And after saying all that...my latest self-help read is about waking up early and doing morning routines. 

Now that you've all face-palmed at me, let me explain why. 

I thrive in the mornings. The house is quiet. I get one-on-one time with my pets. I get to listen to audiobooks or podcasts without someone constantly interrupting me (in a house with 5 people and 4 pets that's huge), and I get to drink my coffee all the way through without reheating it.

When I was writing regularly, my best words came before noon. After making lunch for everyone and scarfing down my own food in between the different meals for my pickyass family, I wasn't good for much more than mundane tasks.

In the new year I want to find the joy in my life again, and much of that joy came from writing, reading, and my animals. When did I get time for all that? Around 5am.

​Which is why I used some built up audible credits to download, Good Morning, Good Life.

I'm also following along with a book club through one of my favorite planner channels on YouTube, Cindy Guentert-Baldo. She is doing a lot of "plan with me" style videos for the new year, and while she and I are not of the same planning style, I like hearing her opinions, and she's a foul-mouthed momma that I relate to on a lot of levels. 

My thoughts on this book...

1. Buy or borrow in paper if you can.

This book has a few exercises at the end of the chapters that are a pain the butt to do if you have to keep rewinding to get the information down. In fact, I only completed the first prompt, because I was listening to this book while running errands, and stopping in the middle of the grocery store to write down deep meaningful journal entries just wasn't going to work for me. I'm probably going to re-read this or at least jump to the prompt pages when I have more time.

2. This is a kidless woman who works out of her home talking about how to make the most out of your mornings. 

To be fair, she acknowledges that she has it easier than a lot of people, but I know many folks will be grumpy by this fact, so giving you the heads up if you're thinking of purchasing. That being said, I don't disagree with her logic or her methods. There is always a way to fit in your dreams, but you have to make it a serious priority. I published my first book in a 1200 square foot house with no office, three kids, and two dogs underfoot. Everyone has their problems, and if we assign priority to something, we can do it. (Not talking about people with chronic health issues or people in crisis mode. You know when you're ready to do something about your dreams.)

3. I view this as Miracle Morning Lite

I saw a lot of the Miracle Morning mindset and techniques in this book. The difference? Amy doesn't expect you to do all of them every morning. She just suggests options and wants you to craft your own experience. 

4. A couple of items I plan on getting back to after reading this.

I'm going to start drinking water first thing in the morning again. Hydration is super important, and being that I'm recovering from the plague over here, it's extra vital. I'm also going to start journaling again. But I'm not ready to do anything too commitment heavy, so I'm journaling in the goodnotes app. One page. Big text. I'm also going to start reading more. But I have to admit that I'm not ready for romance yet. So I'm picking up alternatives. I'm getting into The Burial Society, by Nina Sadowsky, and I'm trying to read paper again to work on disconnecting from the internet. I learned I need to have a healthy distance sometimes, and it's important to have mental downtime.


The new year is always a time that I feel inspired to mix things up in my life. But rather than a radical shift this year, I'm going to start plucking bits from past years and make a new reality for myself. 

I started this morning sitting alone and writing this blog. The kids and hubby are all asleep. School and all the activities that come with it start back up tomorrow, so I'm taking today to enjoy the calm before the storm.

I'm off to do a quick journal entry, and then read a book to unplug. After a load of dishes, because I think they multiplied overnight. 

What are you going to do for yourself today?

~Roxy

The idea behind this post might seem counterintuitive to talk about as an author. You know...one who would love it if you were to buy a book or two. *HINT HINT* You could aways check the "Books" tab if you'd like to add some robosex or tiny house lovin' to your TBR pile.  

But before I was a writer, I was a reader. And money has never been something that could keep up with my appetite for books. I've been a coupon queen and purveyor of the sales rack for as long as I can remember. So I thought I'd share some of my tips for reading on a budget.

1. Don't be married to a format.
I absolutely ADORE reading on my Kindle. I love the ability for it to keep my exact spot. Since I can increase the font size, jumping right back into a book is super easy, even if I have to put it down in a hurry. But what I've learned over the past few years is that by allowing myself to be fluid in the format, I can take advantage of a lot of sales. When authors are looking to jump into new avenues, they tend to price things lower. Ebook, paper, audiobook, Radish serials, alternative vendor apps on my phone, all of them are there. Because sometimes an author wants to boost visibility on a certain platform, and they'll price items accordingly. 

2. Get intimate with your library, and others nearby.
I'm incredibly lucky to be in a city with a robust library catalog. My library consists of multiple branches and will bus books between them for me to pick up at no cost to me. BUT, I have purchased a PLAC (Public Library Access Card) in the past. For my state, it's only $65 for the entire year, and allows me to drop in and get a library card for any library in the state of Indiana. This was amazing for me in regards to program access the other libraries had as well. But solely on a book level, if you're struggling to find what you want in your library, check out what other libraries are around you. You might be able to pay a small fee and gain access to a vast amount of other options. Or gain library ebook access when you might not have it available otherwise. And libraries buy the copies of their books, so by requesting books you'd like to see from your favorite authors, or supporting your local library by buying a card, you're supporting those authors too.

3. Subscription services aren't all bad.
I'm going to pre-empt this with the fact that I'm not a subscriber for anything other than Audible at this moment. I personally didn't find the value for other subscription services because I didn't use them. But check out the catalogs for online services like Kindle Unlimited, Scribd, Playster, or KOBO Plus. You might find something that works for you, and most of them have free trials. I personally liked Audible the most. Aside from the fact that the books I purchase with my credits continue to be mine even if I pause or leave the subscription, (I'm not sure if this is true of the others or not), I have access to Audible exclusive titles, and even things like guided mediations and Yoga routines. However, some subscriptions require the author to be exclusive with the platform, and for that reason, some of the bigger names I'd like to use the subscription for, won't be available. I'd say to pick your top 10 favorite authors and see what kind of titles you can consume through a platform for each author. If you can't find that many, move along to the next.

4. Newsletters and Mailing Lists are more than junk mail.
Sometimes. I have been thinning out my newsletter and mailing list influx lately, because it got to be too much, and I'm pretty sure at least one or two of the authors I subscribed to sold or swapped my list, because I got some junk mail from people I'd never heard of before. (Authors if you're reading this...don't give your email list to another author. It's a bad look.) But there are plenty of services you can sign up for, like BookBub, that will compile lists of sales. And I mention BookBub because I know authors pay to get on that list, and have an investment involved to make the book they promote be a great one. 

Newsletters by your favorite authors are also a great way to learn about new releases, special promo pricing, and maybe even enter a giveaway. So while I'd caution to keep the subscriptions to ones you'll actually want to read, if you're on a budget, they can be an excellent source of information to save you big bucks.

5. Work your present-getting occasions to your benefit.
If your Aunt Cindy gives you another candle, you'd probably have enough to open your own shop. The vast majority of items you get from fairly distant relatives, or well-meaning family aren't things you'd prefer. Let them know you want book gift cards. Talk about it at family functions, tell your significant other to spread the word, tattoo the sentiment on your forehead, just get the word out that you want gift cards to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. Let people know you'd love to get that book bling much more than a blanket this year under the tree. You don't have to tell grandma that you wouldn't wear the jean vest she made, just let her know that you already have one and would love to get a book to cozy up with instead. If they want something to wrap, tell them to grab you a great hard cover new release you don't have the cash to splurge on yourself. If you hate the book selection the uncle you've blocked on Facebook gives you, just return it for in-store credit and grab the erotic romance you've had your eye on instead. 


I purposefully left off half price book stores on this list. The reason is, I like to find ways to support the authors who are writing the books, and unless you're buying from the "New" section, resale stores don't send checks to the authors. And don't get me started on the pirates out there sharing books on torrent sites and Google Drives. I hope you all get a virus.

Those are my tips for reading when the cash is tight. What are some of your favorite ways to feed your reading addiction? I'd love to hear about them! I'm diving into my next read as soon as I get this blog done. Happy Reading!

~Roxy

Well, first of all, I should say I'm still on my Kylie Scott binge. Damn, can that woman write!! And being that she has a decent backlist I've got two of her series going on side by side at the moment. I tend to have both audio and ebooks on hand so I can get my read on no matter what the circumstances. This woman is all over my kindle, overdrive, and audible applications.

My family recently became a one vehicle household due to budget cuts, and I think I spend at least half of my waking hours either getting ready to get in the car, being in the car, or filling the car up with gas. 

Obviously, reading an ebook while doing these things is not conducive to my, or my family's, survival. 

Enter Audible. 

I don't have any special links with kickback, or a brand deal. Good lord, I wish! But I have been obsessed with my Audible subscription. And other than my coffee and wine budget, it's the one luxury I spend the money on. Why? Because if I have to listen to one more radio DJ talk in my ear I'll tear the damn device out of the dash with my bare hands. I do enjoy music, but I'm over the ads, and with an election coming up, I am not down for the smear campaigns. 

I have wireless earbuds I keep in my ears almost all day, and as I start my long hours of errands, and...you guessed it...car driving, I simply push a button and I'm reading.

I'm on the basic audible subscription, but I tend to save up my credits and bulk buy. So I listen to new to me authors on Overdrive and borrow from my local library. And if a book I'm interested in checking out isn't there, I recommend my library pick it up. Seriously, if you are bummed by your library's digital selections, pop a recommendation in through Overdrive. My library has purchased quite a few books I've suggested. Although, if it's a book I want NOW, I pop over to Audible or Amazon and download anyway. Life is too short not to read a book NOW.

​Currently I have "Deep" in my ears. I'm working my way through the Stage Dive series at record pace. And honestly, I'm kind of shocked because I'm not really a rockstar trope type of gal. But the situations she's thrust these characters into, the story telling and the outright funny moments have me absolutely enamored. 

The narrator for this series is stellar. Andi Arndt is going to be a voice I'm on the lookout for. And seriously...just pulling up a link for this narrator, I found an Audible Original and one-clicked the hell out of that shit. 

I adore finding an author that checks all of my Romance boxes. Kylie Scott has deep POV, humor, spice, and a talent for building a world it's easy to get lost in all the while telling a story that locks you into one couple at a time. Now that I've been so entrenched in audio books, a great narrator has also gone up high on that list. 

Turns out, I'm a single narrator listener. I'm not thrilled when there's a cast. And since the Stage Dive novels are told from one POV, it works out even better, because I feel like I'm listening to a friend tell me the most fantastic tales. 

Do you listen to audio books? I used to only listen to self-help books, but I am loving having romance in my ears as well as beneath my fingers. Do you have any favorite listens? Or narrators you adore? I'd love to hear about it. 

~Roxy

If you go back a couple days in my blog, I was having a kindle-throwing time trying to read a book about a heroine who lost a hundred pounds and had no loose skin (eye roll), but despite being an "independent woman" was going mean girls and running high school mentality schemes. 

Needless to say, seeing a woman portrayed that way, and the insinuation that she couldn't possibly get the guy as a bigger girl pissed me the FUCK off. Could also have been a dig to see the author quote the size I currently am as "disgustingly big", but hey...knowing the author thinks I'm disgusting is neither here nor there. 

But I'm not grumpy about it. *Ahem*

So I took to twitter and was gifted with a recommendation for the book I'm currently pimping to you all. I asked for a plus-sized heroine who was happy just as she fucking was.

Enter a rec for Kylie Scott. I heard the series was called "Dive Bar" and shit...this MidWest gal was sold. I bought "Dirty" and it was on my kindle in seconds. 

I didn't read the blurb. (The rec came from a trusted source. Thanks Karen Greco!) I didn't look up the cover, but I had heard Kylie Scott's name bounced around the interwebs. I think she popped up on my Amazon recommededs from time to time, before they were all paid spots. 

I opened the book and could not put it down. The book starts with an incredibly low point for the heroine, and drops you into a scene that has our gal scaling a fence to get away from her groom-to-be's awful family. She meets a former rockstar, who is also going through his own shit. But they both tackle their demons with some smartass lines, a few punches and a great big dose of fantastically written sex scenes. 

This heroine isn't a skinny bitch, she's got curves and bumps, but when she'd drunk on studmuffin sexy, she can't help but throw caution to the wind and jump his bones. This doesn't end with her losing the weight and "feeling better". This ends with her loving food, embracing her hero's love of her stellar rack, and a lot of happy sappy love. 

I haven't had a "read till the end" book in a while. I needed this, and I needed this heroine. Thank you, Kylie! 

Do you have any big beautiful heroines you just love? Or big beautiful heroes? I love to read about characters of all shapes and sizes. I would say I'd jump on the rec's right away, but after getting a taste of Kylie Scott's humor, her writing style, and her characters? Shit...I'm about to binge a bitch's backlist. I highly suggest you do the same!

~Roxy

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a hermit. Getting me to leave my house is not an easy task. If I have a day off, spending it with a good book is one of my favorite things.

But I do have family and friends who love to travel. And while I like to think I'd enjoy going with them, what I really like is to hear about their travels. 

Which is why I'm stoked my friendJayne Rylon has released videos about her recent adventures! She even put out a book today "Roaming with the Rylons" and I'm stoked to hear in detail all about her travels.

But since I've been crazy busy today, I was even more excited when her videos highlighting some of her adventures went live and popped up in my subscription feed.

So if you actually like to leave your house and travel, or if you're like me and enjoy checking out different parts of the world from the comfort of your pajamas while reclining on your couch, this will be something very entertaining. 

Are you a travel buff? Or are you a couch surfer who would rather play an epic video game while food is delivered to your door? I'd love to hear about it...after I watch the next video.

​~Roxy

It took a lot for me to overcome years of bookmark addiction and carefully laid shelving all in avoidance of damaging books. I never wanted to deface the pages or covers. When the spines cracked from use, I died a little inside. 

Yes. I'm that type of book hoarder. But I'm working through my issues thanks to a book I'm only a couple chapters into but already insanely excited about. This is a book on writing, so sorry, for all the fiction scribblers, I still will never deface a book, unless an author is signing it for me.

Turns out, I wasn't the only novelist that was struck with the brilliance. When I went off looking for where to grab this gem, I found out there was a Save the Cat! book in the context of novel-writing. 

I was excited, because I had researched the author, (yes, I do that.) and she writes teen fiction. While her genre isn't the same as mine, I'd argue there are a lot of similarities between writing teen fic and writing romance. A couple of the themes are intensified, but many of the tropes have similar veins. Love, heartbreak, self-discovery...you see what I mean.

Jessica Brody, writes with a great conversational style for the introduction, which made me actually read the whole thing without realizing it. I tend to skip introductions to get to the good stuff, but this one, I was smiling through. 

Within the first couple pages of chapter one I found myself wanting to take notes. "I should write that down. I love that!" was uttered many many times. 

I eyed my highlighters sitting in my pen cup, in pristine condition from lack of use. I picked the yellow because it was the lightest color, and defaced the book a little less in my mind. I know, I'm nuts, but I'm fun at parties.

And I went for it. I highlighted. I stopped and thought about exactly how this author was taking the beats from Blake Snyder's books and adapting it. I was going along the same path myself with his books, but she put it succinctly, and in perfect short bits just screaming for highlight.

​I'm working my way through the book with the help of some Miracle Morning S.A.V.E.R.S. (minus the e, because that stands for exercise. Blech.), and my Forest app. I have been keeping the highlighter right next to it. Because I can't wait to dive into the next chapter!

Do you mark up your non-fiction? Do you take notes? Highlight? Any tips on how to effectively mark up a book for this newbie? I'd love to hear about it.

​~Roxy