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Never Be Younger Blog Tour

BANNER

Written by nine authors, Never Be Younger is a Young Adult collection of Shakespeare retellings. From Othello to Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet to The Winter’s Tale, each story has been crafted with a new spin.

nbyFrom the halls of a high school to hip night clubs to the depths of space, Never Be Younger gives Shakespeare’s classic plays and sonnets a fresh spin for a new audience. Nine authors pay tribute to the Bard by taking his timeless tales to new heights, entrancing readers all over again. A Shakespeare story by any other name still reads as sweet.

All proceeds from the sales of Never Be Younger go to United Through Reading, a charity dedicated to uniting military families through reading. Check out the bottom of the post for how you can win great prizes to celebrate the release!

Add-to-Goodreads-Button

Buy now on Amazon and Kobo for only $0.99US

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Excerpt
The Scarf by Christina June

I spotted Darcy sitting in the back row of the first section of seats. Her bare legs were crossed and one foot bounced in the aisle, almost impaling my thigh with her black stiletto heel.

“How you doing, Darce?” It took her a second to register I was speaking to her.

“Oh, hi Em. I’m okay. Just nervous.”

“Obviously.” I pushed past her and took the next seat over from the aisle. “You don’t have anything to be worried about, though. You know he’s got this in the bag.”

Darcy shook her head and pulled her long auburn ponytail over her shoulder. “No, I know. I’m not worried about that. I’m just nervous that the end of the election won’t be the end of Omar’s bad moods.”

I made a sympathetic pout. “Still rough?” In all the tine I’d known him, Omar seemed to have a perpetual positive attitude. But in the weeks since the election began, he had become agitated and even abrasive, especially toward Darcy. She’d called me more than once late at night, baffled about where his paranoia was coming from.

About the Authors

Rachel Bateman: Editor

rachelRachel Bateman is a writer and editor who spends too much time thinking she can out bake the Cake Boss. (Spoiler: She can’t.) She lives in the middle of Montana, but dreams of the South. Rachel is the owner of Metamorphosis Books, an author services company offering formatting and interior layout for independent authors. When not writing, editing, or reading books, she can be found playing with her husband, young son, and small zoo of pets. You can find Rachel on Twitter, and her website.

S.M. Johnston: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle’s Prom Nightmare

sharonS.M. Johnston is a writer of weird fiction and soulful contemporaries from sunny Queensland, Australia. Her family includes a husband, two sons and a number of fur babies of the feline and cavy variety. You can find Sharon on Twitter, and her website.

Jessica L Pierce: A Day of Errors

jessicaJessica is a somewhat crazy – yet loving – blond. She lives in Green Bay, WI, hates the cold, and loves her completely awesome camo coat. She is passionate about football, baseball, photography and writing, and won’t go near cooked peas. (Raw peapods are fine.)

She is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and will graduate in December 2015 with a degree in Communication with emphasis in Journalism. She is a sports photographer and her work can be found at: http://www.studio52photos.com You can also find Jessica on Twitter.

Cortney Pearson: The Undreamed Shores

CORTNEYCortney Pearson is the author of Phobic and Such a Secret Place, a mother, musician, and a lover of pink and sparkles. You can find Cortney on Twitter, and her website.

E.L. Wicker: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle’s Prom Nightmare

EmE.L. Wicker lives in Hampshire, England with her husband and two children. Fueled by the bossy voices in her head, she writes New Adult fiction with a side of romance. You can find E.L. on Twitter, and her website.

Nicole Zoltack: Any Way the Wind Blows

NICOLENicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranromal, or regency. When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys, with another little one on the way. She enjoyes horse riding (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. You can find Nicole on Twitter, and her website.

Olivia Hinebaugh: Mark The Music

oliviaOlivia Hinebaugh spends her free time writing. Obviously. The rest of her time is spent playing and reading with her two young children. She also loves: watching Sia’s music videos, quoting Mean Girls, and folding laundry. She actually really does. You can find Olivia on Twitter, and her website.

Adrianne James: A Witch’s Life

adrianneGrowing up Adrianne James couldn’t get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn’t have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up the majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.

During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life’s stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked up in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.

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Never Be Younger Release Day Blitz

BANNER
Written by nine authors, Never Be Younger is a Young Adult collection of Shakespeare retellings. From Othello to Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet to The Winter’s Tale, each story has been crafted with a new spin.
nbyFrom the halls of a high school to hip night clubs to the depths of space, Never Be Younger gives Shakespeare’s classic plays and sonnets a fresh spin for a new audience. Nine authors pay tribute to the Bard by taking his timeless tales to new heights, entrancing readers all over again. A Shakespeare story by any other name still reads as sweet.
All proceeds from the sales of Never Be Younger go to United Through Reading, a charity dedicated to uniting military families through reading. Check out the bottom of the post for how you can win great prizes to celebrate the release!
Add-to-Goodreads-Button

Buy now on Amazon and Kobo for only $0.99US

About the Authors

Rachel Bateman: Editor

rachelRachel Bateman is a writer and editor who spends too much time thinking she can out bake the Cake Boss. (Spoiler: She can’t.) She lives in the middle of Montana, but dreams of the South. Rachel is the owner of Metamorphosis Books, an author services company offering formatting and interior layout for independent authors. When not writing, editing, or reading books, she can be found playing with her husband, young son, and small zoo of pets. You can find Rachel on Twitter, and her website.

S.M. Johnston: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle’s Prom Nightmare

sharonS.M. Johnston is a writer of weird fiction and soulful contemporaries from sunny Queensland, Australia. Her family includes a husband, two sons and a number of fur babies of the feline and cavy variety. You can find Sharon on Twitter, and her website.

Jessica L Pierce: A Day of Errors

jessicaJessica is a somewhat crazy – yet loving – blond. She lives in Green Bay, WI, hates the cold, and loves her completely awesome camo coat. She is passionate about football, baseball, photography and writing, and won’t go near cooked peas. (Raw peapods are fine.)
She is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and will graduate in December 2015 with a degree in Communication with emphasis in Journalism. She is a sports photographer and her work can be found at: http://www.studio52photos.com You can also find Jessica on Twitter.

Cortney Pearson: The Undreamed Shores

CORTNEYCortney Pearson is the author of Phobic and Such a Secret Place, a mother, musician, and a lover of pink and sparkles. You can find Cortney on Twitter, and her website.

E.L. Wicker: Star Crossed Lovers & A Gargoyle’s Prom Nightmare
EmE.L. Wicker lives in Hampshire, England with her husband and two children. Fueled by the bossy voices in her head, she writes New Adult fiction with a side of romance. You can find E.L. on Twitter, and her website.

Nicole Zoltack: Any Way the Wind Blows

NICOLENicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranromal, or regency. When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys, with another little one on the way. She enjoyes horse riding (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. You can find Nicole on Twitter, and her website.

Olivia Hinebaugh: Mark The Music
oliviaOlivia Hinebaugh spends her free time writing. Obviously. The rest of her time is spent playing and reading with her two young children. She also loves: watching Sia’s music videos, quoting Mean Girls, and folding laundry. She actually really does. You can find Olivia on Twitter, and her website.

Adrianne James: A Witch’s Life

adrianneGrowing up Adrianne James couldn’t get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn’t have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up the majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.

During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life’s stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked up in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.

As a New Adult Paranormal (and sometimes contemporary) author, Adrianne James writes strong women, powerful magic, and love that lasts a lifetime. You can find Adrianne on Twitter, and her website.

Christina June: The Scarf
christinaChristina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, eats too many cupcakes, and hopes to one day be bicoastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world’s most rambunctious four-year-old. You can find Christina on Twitter, and her website.

To celebrate the release we have a wonderful giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Character Journals

Have you ever been writing away when a story question arises that you don’t have the answer to? It’s your story, so you can just make something up, right? Wrong.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve added a name to one of my characters, only to find that I’d already used it. Or maybe similar features ie hair color, body build, even the kind of clothes they are wearing.

This could be avoided with a character journal, or notebook, used to track each character and all the important information about them. Not only will it help a writer to avoid over usage of  characters and their descriptions, but will also help her/him add diversity to their story as well.

Along with names and descriptions, it’s also useful to add pertinent information about the character. Friend from school, parents own coffee shop, in wheelchair, etc.

This information will not only be vital to the writer’s current WIP but also to a sequel, or simply to keep from using those names or descriptions in the next book.

Save yourself some time and future headaches, write it down!

Life experiences · Teen Pregnancy

Child Abuse

When I think of April, happy children engaged in Easter egg hunts surfaces. But some children won’t get to enjoy Easter this year. Why? Some will be lying in the hospital recovering from their injuries. Those are the lucky ones. Others will be laid to rest, in small coffins, never to enjoy another Easter. Sobers the mood, doesn’t it? So why this depressing post? April is child Abuse Prevention Month.

“The results in poor choices in a boyfriend or spouse often lead to physical abuse and even death of a child.

The odds of abuse are a staggering 33 times higher if a child’s mother has a live-in boyfriend. The child’s risk of abuse is 6 times higher from a step-father. But the gravest risk for children comes from their mother’s poor choice in a partner. Boyfriends are more likely to be the perpetrators in child abuse deaths. Unrealistic expectation of the child are typically the reason for abuse. These include minor infractions such as: the baby wouldn’t stop crying; the child wet the bed; and misbehavior. In other words, normal child behavior.

The safest environment for a child to live in is one where the biological parents are married and stay married.  That isn’t my opinion, it’s a fact. Living together doesn’t change the risks. Of course not all children of teen mothers will be abused or killed, but the risk factors are dangerously high.”

Let’s keep children out of the equation! Be strong. Be informed.  Read The Total Deconstruction of Chloe WilsonThe_Total_Deconstruc_Cover_for_Kindle

http://www.cdc.gov                                                                                                                                    http://www.hhs.gov                                                                                                         http://www.childdeathreview.org

 

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Happiness

If happiness came in pills, we’d all be addicts.
If happiness grew on trees, we’d all be fat.
If happiness came from money, no wealthy person would commit suicide.
If happiness came from asparagus, we’d all have stinky pee.
If happiness came from pickles, we’d all sweat dill.
If happiness came from achievement, we’d all have master’s degrees.
Get the picture?
Happiness is a choice. Period.

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Life experiences · Uncategorized · Writer

Marketing Blues

I created a FaceBook page for my book.                                                                                             I set up an author’s website.                                                                                                                  I made a YouTube video.                                                                                                                       I became a Twit on Twitter. And I’m still having a difficult time of reaching my target audience–teen girls.

Writing a book is easy. Marketing and selling the book is the hard part. How frustrating it is to have a valuable tool for teen girls (and their mothers) but not be able to get that tool into their hands.

I have the marketing blues 😦The_Total_Deconstruc_Cover_for_Kindle

 

https://www.facebook.com/TheTotalDeconstructionofChloeWilson

http://www.rebecca-carpenter.com

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=TYUGrSwJiH4&feature=youtu.be

@thetotalDCofCW


 

 

 

 

 

 

Life experiences · Writer

The First Time I Saw My Dad Cry

Since Father’s Day is celebrated in June, I thought this would be a great time to re-post this blog. My father is my hero. A man of integrity and honesty. He is a man who believes in the value of work and responsibility. He is funny and fun. And I love him and respect him more than he could ever know. IMG_1753

There have been only two times that I witnessed my father break down and cry. The latter transpired as he spoke at his father’s funeral service. The first time happened while he read a book to my siblings and I. The book was Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner.
I still remember my dad’s quavering tone as the protagonist, Little Willy, picked up his dead dog, Searchlight, and carried her across the finish line. Consumed in emotion, Dad became too choked up to continue. The powerful ending swallowed my entire family in loud sobs. It was at that moment that I realized books were magical. If a story could make the strongest man I knew cry, there was no limit to what a good book could do. Reading has been an integral part of my life ever since that defining moment.

Thanks, Dad, for being man enough to cry and for introducing me to the wonderful world of books.
If you have a child, I would highly recommend Stone Fox.

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http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Fox-Harper-Trophy-Book-ebook/dp/B003GYEGZW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394394513&sr=1-1&keywords=stone+fox

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Dr. Seuss

Everyone knows who Dr. Seuss is. His timeless works delight children as they have since his first release, “And ToThink That I Saw It On Mulberry Street” in 1937. But even Theodor Seuss Geisel didn’t snatch a publisher on his first try. He was rejected 27 times before he ran into an old friend from Dartmouth college who recognized the genius in his writing. And what an imagination! His books transport us to strange worlds with characters we writers only wish we had thought of. Thank you, Dr. Seuss, for showing us that anything is possible!

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Life experiences · Self-esteem · Teen Pregnancy

The Deconstruction of Chloe Wilson Begins

The_Total_Deconstruc_Cover_for_Kindle

“Reality smacked me in the face. It dawned on me that all my choices, my sick need for attention and to be liked by boys, the lies, and trying to be someone I wasn’t, had all been slowly and painstakingly crafting me, molding me into an entirely new person—and the amazing thing was, I was the master artist (or con-artist)— the creator of that new me.

The end result was an even more insecure, fake girl, with no self-esteem and very few friends. Looking in the mirror, I realized the girl who stared back was someone I didn’t recognize. I had completely and utterly lost my identity. The worst part of all—I had supervised my own deconstruction.”

Excerpt from, THE TOTAL DECONSTRUCTION OF CHOE WILSON

Follow me on Twitter @TheTotalDCofCW

Find my book on Amazon!

Life experiences · Teen Pregnancy · Writer

I Am A Published Author!

After six months of starting the self publishing process, I pushed the button to accept my cover and manuscript for publication.The_Total_Deconstruc_Cover_for_Kindle
The Total Deconstruction of Chloe Wilson is a straight-forward memoir about my teen pregnancy. The book is a great resource for teen girls, counselors, and parents of teen girls. I wrote this book to help teenage girls who suffer with low self-esteem to choose their youth  and learn to be happy with who they are. I needed a boyfriend to feel good about myself. That mindset led to my eventual deconstruction and teen pregnancy. Topics addressed in the book include self-esteem, date rape, suicide, and teen pregnancy.  Statistics and consequences of teen pregnancy are provided with a clear view of the risks involved for the mother and child.

I would encourage all teen girls, especially those at-risk, to read this book.

“My legs traded off, jiggling to my high level of anxiety.

I shifted in my chair–comfort eluded me.

On one side, the school nurse.

on the other sat Sarah. She looked eerily calm.

The attending nurse walked into the waiting room with the results tucked in her hand. I jumped  out of my seat. Only a few feet away stood this woman in a smiley-face smock and she was holding my future…

‘I have good news,’ she said, ‘and bad news.’ She looked at my friend. ‘Sarah, you are not pregnant.’ Then, turning to me, she delivered the verdict without leniency.

‘Chloe, you definitely are.'” Excerpt from The Total Deconstruction of Chloe Wilson

“2000 teen girls in the US get pregnant every day.” stayteen.org

The link to my book on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Total-Deconstruction-Chloe-Wilson/dp/1492750263/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391310277&sr=8-1&keywords=the+total+deconstruction+of+chloe+wilson