act happy

Lately, I haven't been very happy. See, I tend to do these mindfulness Monday posts on things that *I* need. I didn't really need help with thinking or speaking happy things . . .

Wait.

Wow, I guess that's a lie. I guess lately I haven't been thinking very happy thoughts. Except, not about anyone else--about myself. I seriously didn't realize until this moment that while I've got the speaking happy down, and thinking happy thoughts about others, I haven't been doing happy things and I haven't been thinking happy thoughts about myself.

But I'm here to talk about acting happy this week.

I've been thinking about what it means to do happy. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” So if you're thinking good things about people, about life, about yourself; and you're speaking words of kindness and goodness, your actions should reflect those things.

Which I guess is how I came to the conclusion that I am not acting happy. I've been adrift. Helpless. (Of course I'm not, there are resources at my disposal, I just didn't realize that I needed to reach out!) But how can your actions contribute to your happiness?

By ensuring the happiness of others. Caring for your children, your spouse, your parents. Your neighbors and friends. Spending some time outside, soaking in the sunshine, filling your senses with the sweet smell of spring.

Or pursuing your talents, your hobbies, feeding your soul with the things that bring you joy.

See, that's where I've been going wrong. I've lost sight of what brings me joy. For me, just realizing where I've lost sight of my priorities is enough to set me right again. It's just a minor course correction.

The point is, it's all connected. What you think, what you say, what you do. 

I'm making the necessary adjustments. I'm telling myself sweet nothings (you're so awesome, ali. look at you! look how beautiful you are! :D) and I'm going to do more of the things that make me happy. Write for the right reasons. Spend time with my family. Spend time outdoors. Allow myself to work a little less and live a little more. 

How about you? What will you do to bring happiness?

sometimes it's the stupid things in life . . .

. . . that can really put a smile on your face.

Dragonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore

My Indelible friend Leigh has released a new book! Check it out . . .it's SO good!

On Amazon

Dragonfly

by Leigh Talbert Moore

Three bad things I learned this year: -People you trust lie, even parents.  -That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one.  -Things are not always how they appear. Three good things I learned this year: -Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away.  -That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.  -Oh, and things are not always how they appear.

Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy. Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew. Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father. A secret that could permanently change all their lives.

Watch for Undertow, Book 2 in the Dragonfly series, coming July 18!

Falling in Love Changes Everything…

“C’mon,” Julian said, helping me stand. “Let’s blow off this party and catch a movie or go to Scoops. This isn’t our scene.” I shook my head. “I just really want to go home.” The tears were trying to start again. “Can I just go home now?” “Sure,” he said, holding my cheek. I took a limping step, and he stopped. “Does it hurt to walk?”  My leg was throbbing. I nodded, looking down, and before I realized what was happening, he was lifting me in his arms.  “Julian, wait,” I held his shoulders. “I’m too heavy!”  “It’s okay,” he said, walking on. I sighed and leaned my head against his shoulder. I didn’t feel like fighting. Gentle pressure against my temple, and he’d kissed me. “You’ll get over this,” I heard him say under his breath.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

* * *

Leigh Talbert Moore is the author of the popular young adult romantic comedy The Truth About Faking, its companion The Truth About Letting Go, and the mature YA/new adult romantic suspense novel Rouge, a Quarter Finalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

She is an award-winning journalist and editor, who has also worked in marketing and public relations for many years. Her writing has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the southeast and Midwest U.S., and she runs the popular writing-craft blog That’s Write.

A southern ex-pat and beach bum, she currently lives with her husband, two young children, and one grumpy cat in the Midwest.

Connect online:

Facebook | Amazon Author page | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

Read excerpts of her books on Wattpad and Figment!

indie life ~ the curse of trying too hard

Have you ever known anyone who just bugs people but it's hard to put your finger on why? They're not bad looking, not too nerdy (or whatever), and seem genuinely nice. But when you hear they're coming to the party, you can't help but groan.

This person, with no visible or obvious flaws, just drives people crazy. They want to like him or her, they just . . . can't quite get there. And it's hard to pinpoint why because there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with them. And they're nice so . . .

And that's when it dawns on you.

They're trying too hard.

Every conversation, the Poser (hey, I've got twelve-year-old boys, remember) has their own experience to add, their own story to tell.

Every.
Single.
Time.

It gets so bad that you stop talking when the Poser's around, because you just can't stand to hear another, "Oh yeah, when I was . . ." People roll their eyes and start inching their way out of that little social group and into another. One the Poser will eventually find their way to.

But what if YOU are the Poser?

You're infinitely aware that people don't like you, or at least, that no one really wants to talk to you. But what do you do? You feel like you're *almost in*, you're *almost there*. Maybe if you just try a little harder . . .

And therein lies the rub.

This past week has been a tough one for me personally. Nothing life-changing or anything like that, just a lot of emotions that piled up until I couldn't not face them anymore. And facing them is hard work. And tearful work. In the midst of this little emotional purge, I made a startling, and embarrassing, discovery.

I've been trying too hard. I've been trying to be someTHING people would like/relate to/admire/respect instead of being someONE they can call a friend.

I think I've been that Poser--trying just too. darn. hard.

And in doing so, I've lost sight of who I really am. Why people ever liked me in the first place. Why I ever liked myself.

When you're a Poser, you know something's off, you can feel it. I mean, you're not STUPID. (Usually!) You're just a human being longing for that connection with another human being. And when you're a writer, that poser-ish-ness can be magnified a zillion-fold. But, you're just a writer longing for that connection with a reader. There's nothing wrong with that.

But there's everything wrong with it when you go about it the wrong away. When you go about it the Poser way.

So . . . my apologies to the readers of my blog and wherever else you interact with me. I've been trying too hard. I thought I was being true to who I am, but I've realized it was just what I WAS--and that's not how you make, or keep, friends. I know that, and I recognize that I've been guilty of it.

I'm going to "try harder" . . . but only to be myself. To be ME, not AUTHOR.

Because no matter what story I tell, or whether you even read my books or not . . . I am ali. That's all. And that's enough.

Have you ever felt this way? Like you tried and tried, but just couldn't seem to get into the IN crowd? Were you able to fix it? Fix yourself?

Every 2nd Wednesday @
IndelibleWriters.Blogspot.com

For more insight into the heart and mind of indie authors, check out the Indie Life bloghop hosted by the Indelibles, going on today and every second Wednesday of the month. You just might find some real people to connect with.

speak happy

The theme for this month's mindfulness exercise is based on this quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

Last week we talked about “thinking happy”—this week it’s all about the words we say (and how we say them!). A lot of you are writers—you know the importance of choosing the words you put on the page; but how much care do you give to the words that cross your lips?

Unfortunately, it’s often the people we love most who get the least censored version of our thoughts—our own selves being the victimized by our careless words.

Have you ever been sludging through an awful day, just buried beneath a mountain of yuck, when someone, maybe even a stranger, stopped you in your tracks?

“Here, let me  help you,” they said.

Or, “You can go in front of me.”

Or maybe even, “You have such a friendly smile (or beautiful child, or great dress).”

It’s a little thing, and maybe you are so entrenched in your junk that you barely give that kindness a second thought—but sometimes, you let it sink in. Your shoulders sag with a measure of relief. You take a deep breath. And maybe, just maybe, you manage a smile.

With only a few words, this person has elevated your day, possibly even arming you with a fresh, and happier, outlook.

We know the words we put on paper are important and powerful. Now recognize the words you speak can change a moment, a day, a person. They can change you.

Your assignment this week is to give some care to the words you say—to others and to yourself. Allow yourself two seconds before you respond, before thought is translated into words, to be sure you are choosing the kindest words. Seek to elevate yourself and those around with what you say.

Speak happiness.

The winner of Elana Johnson's complete Possession Trilogy (signed!) is Cristina Arpin! Congratulations Cristina! I've sent you an email!

ALSO today is a big day if you're serious about getting a handle on your own personal brand and how to leverage it for awesomeness. Check out IndieReCon today through Thursday for our Marketing Mania week! But CJ Lyon's branding class and workshop (free!) are only available today--so don't miss out!

who keeps your dreams?

Sometimes dreams are sweet--other times they can be so terrifying they shove you out of sleep with a physical force so real it feels as if clawed fingers still linger on your back. 

Mikey Brooks is a talented artist. He created Ygdrasyll for my Desolation series. If you took a look at his previous publications and his illustrations, you'd figure he was all sunshine and roses, happy-go-lucky. Well . . . not so much. Not anymore, anyway. Hmm. I wonder what he's been dreaming about lately?

Mikey has released his first middle-grade book, The Dream Keeper and let me tell you, it'll mess with your head and make you wonder if nightmares are really all that bad. The jury's still out on that one for me. :)

Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.

Loser—the most frightening word to ever be uttered in junior high school. Even the coolest kids are afraid of being associated with it. 14-year-old Parker Bennett is no exception. He can’t even be himself around his friends for fear they might not accept who he really is. When circumstances force him to team up with Kaelyn Clarke, the biggest loser in the ninth grade, Parker has to decide what is more important; protecting his social status or saving the world. Nightmare named Fyren has taken over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, with the intention of controlling mortals, and it falls on Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr – the Dream Keeper – to stop him. They learn being called a loser is no longer a fear, when compared to the terror of real nightmares.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as adult. On occasion you’ll find him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including BEAN’S DRAGONS, the ABC ADVENTURES series, and author of the middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel, THE DREAM KEEPER. He spends most of his time playing with his daughters and working as a freelance illustrator. Mikey has a BS degree in Creative Writing from Utah State University. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter


I wanted to give The Dream Keeper a shout-out today and recommend it to all my friends and lovers of great middle grade reads. I hope you'll check it out and if you do--let me know how you liked it!

iwsg ~ being an indie girl in a paperbook world

I'm writing this IWSG post before Wednesday. I'm even writing it before Tuesday. And why is that important? Because something is happening Tuesday night. Something I have to prepare myself for, like sucking in your gut to fit into those favorite skinny jeans. (I'm talking about you here, not me--I gave up skinny jeans a long time ago!)

Tuesday night was (is? I'm now switching to past tense because it's supposed to sound like I'm talking to you ON Wednesday . . . whew) my friend's book launch and signing. I saw lots of writerly friends, 99% of whom are traditionally published and/or agented.

I'm a big girl.

I made my publishing choices.

And I'm happy with those choices.

Generally.

Everything has a caveat, right? It's that whole "grass is always greener" thing.

But going to these things also makes me emotional--and not in a good way. I suspect my wonderful friends of judging me, looking down on me, adding me to the reject pile.

And that's totally stupid!

My friends like me! (I think.)

My friends are good people! (They don't judge.)

I AM talented and my choice to be an indie was totally a business decision! (I think. Maybe. I don't know. Maybe I do suck. Maybe that's why I self-publish--because I suck. Maybe I gave up too soon. Maybe being traditionally published IS the dream! Aren't I living my dream? Aren't I happy with my choices? Yes! (No?) Well, sometimes. Like 98% of the time. Book signings being part of that 2% of the time that I . . . doubt.)

So last night, while being wonderful for my friend and I love her and support her and AM happy for her . . . was hard for me.

Or at least, I think it will be hard. I'll let you know if it proves me wrong.

Thanks, Alex, for letting me vent. You da bomb. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the Insecure Writer's Support Group for more insanity, er, awesomeness.

love with abandon & a giveaway!

Happy Completed Trilogy Day Elana Johnson!

Dudes, there is so much Possession awesomeness going around!

Check out Elana's crazy scavenger hunt here

buy Abandon, the last book in the series, here

and/or enter to win

SIGNED PAPERBACK COPIES OF ALL THREE BOOKS

right HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I love my family with abandon. I vow to never, ever, take them for granted. They're the very air I breathe, the blood that rushes through my body, every spark in my synapses. I would walk the desert for them, climb mountains for them. Die for them.

Who or what do you love with abandon?

*Sheena-kay won My Life as a Lumberjack by Sara V. Olds!*

think happy

Summer is here, our children are out of school—it could be a time of stress and anxiety. How will you keep them entertained? How will you survive the the constant complaints of “but there’s nothing to do!”? How will you afford the extra activities and camps to keep your kids entertained while you work?

And that’s just for you moms and dads out there—for many others, summer is a blip on your radar with no relief from work, work, work.

But what if this summer could be different? What if this June, you got a little closer to real happiness—and it transformed the rest of your life?

I believe it can happen! So let’s get to work!

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

What sort of stuff do you think about?

This used to be a tricky one for me—my natural tendency is to think rather unkind stuff. Of myself, at least. I think I’m too fat, too stupid, too lazy, too unkind, unhelpful, selfish . . . Oh, I could probably make a list as long as my arm.

But what if I changed my internal dialogue? What if I could change myself, and thereby my outlook on the world, by changing how I think?

Well, I could change everything!

It starts in the morning. You hit the snooze one too many times and you’re already late. Or the whining and fighting amongst your kids has started and it’s barely seven a.m.. You’re jolted awake with a sudden burst of adrenaline and . . . what?

Anger? Frustration? Disappointment?

STOP.

Turn off the alarm, the news, hold your tongue’s quick lashing for just a moment . . .

just . . .

a moment.

This week, try sitting up slowly. If you’re already late, two minutes won’t make you much of a difference. If the kids are already fighting, two minutes won’t make it worse. Sit on the edge of our bed. Look through your window if you have a view of nature, or close your eyes. Breathe in deep through your nose, let it out through your mouth.

And make a choice.

Choose how you think.

Changing your attitude toward running late—from anxiety and worry to a focused determination to move speedily—will keep you safe on the roads, help you perform your best at work.

Because what if instead of rushing in to the office, busy and flustered and late, you walked in easily, a smile on your lips, a kind word for your co-workers at the tip of your tongue? How might your day be different?

And all because you made a choice.

Changing your attitude toward your noisy, fighting children—from anger to humor, say—can open a whole world of opportunity for unexpected joy.

Because what if instead of shouting and issuing punishments and ultimatums, you burst through your bedroom door and started an entirely different kind of fight—a tickle fight!

And all because you made a choice.

Yeah, maybe it sounds too simple. And I bet you’ve got a whole slew of reasons why these ideas won’t work for you. Seven days. Just try it for seven days.

Will you do it? Two minutes every morning to choose happiness. Are you game? If you are, return and report next Monday!

I’d love it if you posted about your experience during the week, or next Monday. Leave me a comment with your blog address when/if you post so I can come check it out!

Happy Choosing, my friends!

*Today is the last day to enter to win one of three e-copies of My Life as a Lumberjack! Don't miss out!*

Click here to enter!

this is what my family thinks you ought to know about me . . .

I asked each of them what they thought you should know and here's what they said:

Charlie (Thing One): That I'm Canadian. (And then he says, "It's kinda hard for me to think when I'm tired." Yeah, I feel that way a lot, kiddo!)

David (Hubby): That I have a bunch of aliases. (Like, duh. You already know that! Here's the list of names, off the top of my head, in order of when I was called it and including nicknames . . . Sandra, Sandi, George, Sunny, Snoopy, Sam, Alex, Ali. Seriously. Is it a mystery why I have an identity problem? )

Xander (Thing Two): That I've been taken into custody at the Mexican border and temporarily considered a threat to national security. (Good one, Xan. Good one.)

Because, shyeah!

squee! come meet benz one of my favorite characters ever!

I am beyond thrilled for my crit partner and wonderful friend, Sara V. Olds! Sara's been published in other markets, but this is her first foray into Young Adult and I'm here to throw her a big ol' party! 

Plus, My Life as a Lumberjack grew up around our crit group table and it is so fun--I am just overjoyed that it's now out in the world.

Check out this super fun book!

Me, Mercedes Bennion? Working for the US Forest Service? I’ve never thought of myself as the outdoorsy, hard-working type. But one quick glance at those mouth-watering forest rangers and oh, baby, sign this seventeen-year-old up for a whole summer of fresh air, mountains and starry, starry nights!

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sara V. Olds first remembers telling herself stories when she was about four. She started writing down stories in fourth grade and has never looked back. 

Mother, mentor and muse—Sara's constantly on the move. Her first priority is her family—Large (and his spouse), Medium and Small. They are as important to her as her beliefs, but she also pours her heart and soul into teaching Junior High History, where her students never know what to expect—from a costumed Mrs. Olds to a heart-molding discussion on patriotism. She loves making people laugh, bringing history to life and finding endless tales of adventure in her globe-trotting travels. She also loves the stage, her violin, her dogs, horses, the mountains and chocolate (the important things in life).

I just love Sara. She is funny and so kind. I don't think I've met a kinder person in all my life. I hope you'll join with me in giving her a very warm welcome into the YA world. I also hope you'll pick up a copy of My Life as a Lumberjack for your e-reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

every book deserves a bonfire

I released Jump Boys with very little fanfare. I think I posted about it once. Did I even hold a giveaway? I don't think so. No Goodreads Goodies. No Facebook Fanfare. No Bloggy Book Bomb or Twitter Tweet Fest.

I know the book's poor performance is my responsibility. If I want it to do better, I need to work for it.

A friend of mine, whose book launch we'll be celebrating next week, already has almost two hundred reviews or adds on Goodreads and his book isn't even out yet. He's doing it the right way--building buzz and interest in his work.

I could sit back and wallow in my self-pity because Jump Boys isn't doing well, or I could make a plan, rally the troops so to speak and try, try again. Isn't life wonderful? Isn't it awesome that we can learn from our mistakes and do things better?

My friend has inspired me to try again. I've got my thinking cap on (that pesky thinking again!) and am dreaming up plans as we speak.

The point is, if you've given your book a soft release, and are sad that it's just limping along . . . don't give up! Marketing our books should be a constant effort, and just because time passes doesn't mean we shouldn't keep breathing life into them. Imagine your book as a flame--if you leave it unattended in a dark room, what'll happen? The fire will sputter out and die. But, as long as there's an ember there (and hey, this is your book, so as long as you love it, there's an ember!) you can still raise it into a raging bonfire.

So let's all be fire-starters, eh?

uh oh . . . i've been thinking again . . .

Around my house, "I've been thinking . . ." usually leads to some dangerous ideas! We're forever thinking of story ideas or business ideas--it's the business ideas that are dangerous! We're an entrepreneurial family, that's for sure. Anyway, this particular danger has to do with blogging and me and life and how to make it all matter. I'm afraid if I told you what I was thinking, you'd roll your eyes and go "whatever." No, seriously! You would!

But I also suck at keeping secrets so . . .

• I've got plans for my Monday posts! I hope you like them--it'll be more of what you seem to enjoy most. :)
• Even though I'm no expert, and have generally avoided talking about writerly things because of that, a lot of you, my blog readers, are writers who seem to like those posts so . . . I'm going to try to give you some interesting things to think about.
• And because I like alliterations (Mindful Mondays, Writerly Wednesdays :P), I'm gonna stick with "F" Fridays. Fun, Fans, Family and Friends . . . you get the picture. (And for all you who thought I was talking about some other f-word--do you even know me? I'd never . . .)
• I really, really, really want to help you spread the word about your releases and exciting news. Which I'll happily do on Tuesdays and Thursdays. :) Email me if you have news to share and I'll do my best to shout it from the rooftops!
• On that note, I've got a few close friends who've had/will have awesome releases that I want to not only tell you about, but celebrate with some giveaways. So stay tuned for that!
• Annnddd . . . it's my birthday coming up! If you've been hanging around this blog for a while you know I like to celebrate. I have no idea if it'll fly, but I've got a super Mega Plan for the month of July with super weird/awesome gifts, er, prizes, and ways to win them. *man I hope my plan works!*

So there you have it! The things I've been thinking!

AND, I wanted to thank your for your kind words last week. Ironically, right after I posted we got news that the thing we feared most didn't happen. Huzzah! Thanks, too, for sharing your approaches to writing through stress. You have inspired me!

Thank you for reading this kinda weird post. I love you guys. And because I am so grateful for you, I will give everyone who comments today (Monday 5/27/13) their choice of one of my ebooks. You don't have to take it if you don't want to, but if you do--it's yours! If you don't have your email linked up to your Blogger ID, then leave me a way to reach you, okay? Okay!

Happy Monday everyone!

have you ever considered what the devil drinks?

Because I have! In the world of Desolation, Lucifer drinks rum. Smooth and dark, it rolls off his tongue . . .

But Destiny Ford says, The Devil Drinks Coffee.

Okay, her book isn't really about the devil--it's about . . .

A cow suicide, a revolving door rescue, and the birth of a bright purple pig are starting to make Kate Saxee wonder if taking a job in her small hometown of Branson Falls, Utah, was such a great idea. As The Branson Tribune editor, Kate covers local news, which, more often than not, involves her accident-prone mom. Nothing truly newsworthy has ever happened in the quiet town until local teen Chelsea Bradford turns up dead in a Branson Falls lake. 

The police rule Chelsea’s death an accident, but Kate suspects there’s more to the story—and she’s not the only one. Two of Branson’s most eligible bachelors are determined to help her solve the crime—among other things. But the small town social network is faster than Twitter, and gossip about Kate’s love-life is quickly branding her the Branson Falls hussy. 

As Kate learns more about Chelsea, she discovers that plenty of people are trying to cover up the real story behind the girl’s death—including Chelsea’s parents. Now Kate has to juggle work, men, her mom’s most recent disaster involving a low-speed John Deere Combine chase on the freeway, and fend off the Mormons heaven-bent on saving her soul—all while solving Chelsea’s murder. Dealing with this is going to require a lot of coffee, chocolate frosted donuts, Neil Diamond's greatest hits, and a slew of words not on the town approved imitation swear list.

Awesome, right? I've already reading it and it's so fun and fresh. I'm loving it! I know about it because Destiny (aka Angela Corbett) had me format the interior, and since it officially released on Tuesday, I thought I'd give my own shout out. And small world--Angela lives in my town! (I feel a lunch-date coming on!)

I hope you'll check out The Devil Drinks Coffee! You can find it at Amazon & Barnes & Noble!

Destiny Ford is a pseudonym for Angela Corbett. Angela graduated from Westminster College with a double major in communication and sociology. She started working as a reporter when she was sixteen and won awards for feature, news, and editorial writing. She has also done freelance writing. In addition to writing, she works as a director of communications and marketing. She loves classic cars, traveling, cupcakes, and U2. She lives in Utah with her extremely supportive husband and their five-pound Pomeranian, Pippin, whose following of fangirls could rival Justin Bieber's.

She writes adult titles under the name Destiny Ford, and YA/NA titles under the name Angela Corbett. Website | Blog | Twitter