Which "Farsighted" Character Are You?

"Who's your personality twin in the hot new paranormal novel by Emlyn Chand?  Find out now by taking this 7-question quiz.  The answer may suprise you!"

Which Farsighted character are you?

Simmi You are sweet, polite, and never have a bad word to say about anyone. You believe the world would be a better place if everyone was more in touch with their emotions—but just the happy ones.

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Interview with Apryl Baker, Author of "The Promise"

Is there something that inspires your writing (certain music, another book, etc?)

Honestly, the most random things inspire my writing. Take the conception of The Promise for example. I was driving home from work and listening to Theory of A Dead Man’s Not Meant to Be. I passed this little community called New Salem and the image of a girl sitting beside a gravestone popped into my head. I couldn’t shake it so when I got home, I jotted it down on a yellow sticky and stuck it on the wall beside my computer. Over the next few days, I kept jotting down ideas and before I knew it I had a complete outline of a book on a wall of yellow, purple, and pink.

Do you start out writing for a particular audience, or do you see where your writing takes you?

I always tend to start out writing for a particular audience. Occassionally, I will end up so far on the opposite side of the fence its not even funny. It all depends where the story takes me.

During your writing process, is anyone allowed to read what you've written? If not, at what point do you share?

I have the great fortune of joining a truly fabulous online writing group over at www.thenextbigwriter.com. Those people are brutally honest, will shred your work when necessary and then help you fix it. I don't know how I'd get on without them. The people who are in my group always get the first look at anything new and help me to make it better. My advice to any aspiring writer is to join that site if you can take the criticism. It will make you a better writer in the end.

If you could visit any location or event to promote your book, where would it be and why?

Salem, MA for obvious reasons...lol. The book is centered around the Salem Witch Trials. It has always been a fascination of mine and I've read more books on the subject than I can count over the years. It was a very disturbing time in American history and I tried to put some of that into The Promise.

Is there a particular moment that has affected your writing? Do you mind sharing it?

I was about twelve years old when I wrote my first serious piece. I'd been writing on and off for as as long as I can remember, but it was when I was twelve that I wrote a sorta book. I remember showing it to my Aunt Jo. She read it and sat me down and said. You have a big imagination now you need to lern to write...lol. And I did. I worked hard and everything I wrote she read up until the last few weeks before she died with cancer. Some of that sadness from loosing her still seeps into my writing. It is a deep pain that never really goes away, it just eases. She was a second mother to me and I miss her dearly every day.

What book (or books) are you currently reading?

Right now I am reading Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. I am a sucker for any books about angels. She has a unique writing style that will keep you reading.

If you could meet one person (alive or dead) who would it be?

Christine Warren...lol. Her novels inspired me to pick up a pen again. After my aunt died of cancer, I didn't even want to read a book as she was the one who gave me my first book and taught me no matter how bad things were at home, I could always find a secret hiding spot in the pages of a book. I just couldn't read a book as it was something we shared. I remember I glanced at one of her books at Target and the cover made me pause. I picked it up and ended up buying it. She made me laugh so hard. I then discovered Lindsey Sands Argeneau vampires and I was lost. But Christine's books were the first ones I picked up after not having read anything for many years and they made me smile. So much so that I started writing again. I'd like to thank her in person for that one day.

Get Pinked Rally, San Juan County

Wow!  What a great event!  Tonight my best friend and I attended the Get Pinked Rally in San Juan County, New Mexico where we did out absolute best to dance the cupid shuffle with hopes of breaking a Guinness World Record!  Sadly, I didn't bring my camera and had to make do with my phone, but I think I captured the energy of the event.  It was wonderful to see my community decked out in pink (pink hair, clothes, pom-poms and even a pair of pink suspenders!) and to see them come together for such a wonderful cause.

You can find out more info here and don't forget to like the facebook page, and to vote for the San Juan Regional Medical Foundation Pink Glove Dance!

Thanks everyone!!

-Melly

Vote for the Pink Glove Dance!

Today I participated in the San Juan Medical Foundation Cancer Walk-a-Thon in Farmington, NM.  Now I'm asking each and every one of you to visit the Pink Glove Dance website and cast your vote for your favorite video (voting begins October 3, but many videos have already been posted).  In addition, if you are in the Farmington area, check below for the October 11 event at Farmington High School.  Thanks for your support!

From Get Pinked for Breast Cancer San Juan County

"GET PINKED RALLY Tues Oct 11 6:30pm FHS Football Field. What a way to show community support during October Breast Cancer Awareness! Lots of entertainment - Everyone is invited to help us set a Guiness Book of World Records! Most people doing the Cupid Shuffle! All area High Schools have been invited to 12 minutes on the field to showcase a selected performance group(s), There will be a Pink Balloon Launch, Face Painting and more ! We want to PACK THE HOUSE! Gates open at 6:00 - $4 for Adult, $3 for children. Wear a Pink Shirt and get $1 off. Don't have one - we will be selling some. At the end of the event, we will invite everyone to the field to SET THE RECORD!!! Want to be a part? COME JOIN US! Bring everyone you know, and some you don't. 100% of the funds raised will go to the Cathy Lincoln Memorial Fund. Sponsored by Danz Force, Sheila Mobley and Majestic Media with support by the Cathy Lincoln Memorial Fund and SJRMC Foundation." 

Vote Here!

Here is the Official Video!

“My So-Called Family” by Courtney Sheinmel

I enjoyed Courtney Sheinmel's My So-Called Family quite a bit, but it wasn't exactly what I expected. The description in the front jacket reads:

“Leah Hoffman-Ross just moved to New York and she wants her new friends to think she's a typical thirteen-year-old.  But Leah has a secret: She doesn't have a father; she has a donor.  Before Leah was born, her mother went to Lyon's Reproductive Services and picked Donor 730.  Now Leah has a stepfather and a little brother, and her mom thinks that they should be all the family Leah needs.

“Despite her attempts to fit in and be normal, Leah can't help but feel like something is missing.  When she finds a link to the Lyon's Sibling Registry, Leah has to see if she has any half siblings.  And when she discovers that one of the other kids from Donor 730 is a girl her age, Leah will do anything to meet her- even if she has to hide it from everybody else.

“Debut author Courtney Sheinmel puts a contemporary spin on a timeless question in this heartfelt novel about what makes a family.”

Upon reading this, I made the assumption that this book was solely the story of Leah's journey to find out more about her half siblings and possibly search for the father she has never known.  Instead, it focuses on her new friendships upon moving, her relationship with her brother Charlie and somewhat on her mother's writing career.  We get to see her friend Avery's family struggle with her older brother's college decision and acceptance in addition to following Leah through her journey of finding her half siblings.  When I first started writing this review, I felt that the book wandered a bit too much and didn't focus enough on what was promised in the description  However, as I'm sitting here analyzing it a bit more I'm thinking about the last line “Courtney Sheinmel puts a contemporary spin on a timeless question in this heartfelt novel about what makes a family.”  Throughout the course of the book, we are introduced to Leah's relationship with her mother, stepfather, and half-brother.  We also follow her as she makes new friends in New York.  And lastly, we find out whether or not she finds any half-siblings.  

Sheinmel makes it very clear that it is sharing the same blood and genes do not necessary make you a family.  Family can be your closest friends or your neighbors, as well as those you are related to.  Sheinmel's book illustrates that well.  Leah's family extends beyond those she is immediately related to and those she has grown up around.  Upon writing this review, I like this book even more than when I finished it.  I recommend it to readers around 10 or so and up (but I would suggest parents be available as their children read this, since some of the subject matter will likely spark questions from their young reader). 

In addition I also recommend  another of Sheinmel's books, Positively, a book about a girl named Emmy who is HIV positive and has to move in with her father and step-mother after her mother passes away from the same disease.

Overall I was very happy that I picked up this book and will likely read more books by this author.