Leave JK alone!

The authoress can write whatever she wants.

I keep hearing so many people whine and moan about how JK Rowling disappointed them with her new adult book. It’s got sex and violence and swearing! One mom bought it for her daughter’s birthday (without even bothering to read the back) and was appalled when her daughter read it! The outrage!

Please. If you bought a book thinking it would be filled with wizards when the cover indicates nothing of the sort, it’s YOUR fault. And if you don’t like a book, guess what? You don’t have to read it! Isn’t that wonderful?

I studied Stephen King voraciously when I was a teenager because I pretty much wanted to be him, and his editor was afraid he’d be typecast as a horror writer when he followed Carrie with ‘Salem’s Lot. Did King care? I don’t think so, because look at his career. Any of his devout fans can tell you that his drama is just as amazing as—often even more so than—his horror and we’d buy anything he writes. But if you want to be scared and you read the back of, say, On Writing, you don’t have to buy it, do you? I don’t think I’ve heard anyone boo and hiss over Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption or On Writing, for that matter. My favorite King film is not Pet Cemetery or Misery (both wonderful films, no doubt!) but Stand by Me, after all.

Are you really upset because JK didn’t write you another Harry Potter book? Is that it? Did you get all hyped up about a new book from her even though she warned you that it would be nothing like the series? Well, get over it. This is her career and her decision. If she wants to publish a grocery list it’s her right.

As I write supernatural romances right now, I wonder if my work gains a readership, if that readership will feel betrayed when I switch to horror—as I intend to do—or steampunk or mysteries or general fiction. I, for one, pledge to support any genre-breaking authors and their work not just for myself, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Writing is fun, no matter the genre—and no matter the feedback. So is reading—and you can choose what you read. So instead of whining about how Ms. Rowling didn’t make you a sequel about Hermione’s adventures as an Auror, why don’t you just make better reading choices? Besides, there’s always fanfiction.

Oh, and do you really think that during the great Wizarding Wars, there was no violence, sex, or swearing? Given the epilogue, wouldn’t you say there was plenty of at least one—and war itself is nothing but violence and swearing. And it was intended for children, not adults! Read before you buy, people!

Marley and me

For those of you who are in love with labs, especially the yellow lab, I’m sure you’ve had the pleasure of seeing the movie ‘Marley and me’. As I’ve mentioned in the past, if a movie that is based on a book is good, that pretty much means the book is amazing. This is no different when it comes to the novel ‘Marley and me’.

The main character in the movie Marley and me is actually named after the author of the book, John Grogan. The plot of the book is very similar to the movie and I have to say that this film did a great job in capturing the way the story should be seen based on the way the book was written. Basically, the entire film is taken from different parts in the book, but when reading the book you get a lot deeper in the story and see a lot of turning points that don’t take place within the movie because there simply isn’t enough room to fit the entire book into a film.

If you enjoyed the movie and have watched it several times, I highly suggest you take the time to read the book. It just adds to the wonderful story of Marley and me, making it one of my favorite books to own and I’m sure it will be the same for those of you who love books. Even if you have yet to see the movie, I highly suggest you read the book prior to viewing it and while you’re watching the film you’ll be able to inset the missing pieces that are absent from the film.  

A must read for women

For all you women out there, have you ever looked back on some choices you’ve made and through, ‘how on earth could I be so stupid?’ Well don’t feel bad- I have too and many times at that. Luckily for me and soon to be for you as well- there is a book that can help you spot these times and stop them become they happen, saving you  a lot of regret and wasted time. This book is called ’10 thing women do to mess up their lives’. This book is both humorous and informational. I think this is a must read by all the women up there who want to be smart instead of regretful.

The book covers a lot of ground, much of it dealing with the stupid mistakes we make when it comes to men. I received this as a gift and I first I thought, ‘what can it tell me that I don’t already know?’ The answer to my question was lots! Not only does the author tell you about her personal experience, she runs a hotline for women and includes a lot of the conversations that occurred with her and other women through this hot line. When you hear the stories of other women, a lot of it makes you think about things you have done in relationships and it also shows you just how blind and naive you were being during that time.

Even if you don’t think you do any ‘stupid’ things to mess up your life, I think you should give this book a read. You never know what the future holds and by reading this, you can prevent a lot of mistakes from occurring and continue living your care-free lives. 

A great read for the parents out there

Easy does it mom is a book that was designed to help mothers in recovery through their parenting process. However, the tips and information given in the book can very well help any mom who is looking for a practical and sensible way to raise their children.

I loved this parenting book because it taught me a lot of ways to keep my kids under control. The book explains how children need your ‘presence not presents’. Many time parents buy their kids lots of stuff to make up for the time they don’t spend with them. The book suggests that these actions actually create more problems in the long run. It tells how you need to spend at least 1 hour a day giving your child your undivided attention. It also helps you plan special traditions you can create with your child.

The amount of good advice in this book is endless. The steps they help you with allow you to show your child what you expect from them and parent them without yelling, as this doesn’t really work. I think Easy does it mom is a great read for all parents. The reviews on the book suggest that reading it should be a requirement of everyone who has or is about to have a baby. If you’re looking for some unique parenting advice, some reflections and a few great journaling activities- this book is for you. It is also written in a way that makes it easy for us new moms to get through it without having to read every word. Easy does it mom is definitely on my list of must reads.  

Books everyone should read

"White Oleander is very interesting and capturing book."

I have a very extensive book collection that I’ve been adding to since I was young. I had recently donated a bunch of books because honestly, young R.L Stein books and others were just taking up precious space on my book shelf. While going through my books, I noted a few that I feel are must reads by everyone who enjoys a good book.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a wonderful story that I feel everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. It is a story of a young man and an old man who develop a relationship and it changes both of them. I would get into many details of the books because I don’t want to spoil them for those who have yet to read them.

White Oleander is very interesting and capturing book. They’ve made a movie from it but, the movie does not even come close to comparing with the book. It is a story of a young girl who is send through the foster system after her mom is put in jail and it tells of all the crazy things she encounters throughout her journey.

A child called it is another great read that is based on a true story. David also has other books that follow along with this one. It is a story of a young boy who is seriously and severely abused by his mother. She basically treats him as if he were a dog, locks him in the basement and other terrible things. It is a compelling story and the things you read within the pages are at times hard to believe.  

A must read for new parents

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth's

Has anyone heard of this book? After several attempts to find a sleep book that I felt I could relate to, healthy sleep habits, happy child has been the answer for me. I am currently towards the end of the book, so haven’t quite finished it yet, but have learned a lot so far.

The book is written by Dr. Weissbluth's, a current pediatrician. He goes on to give his philosophy throughout the book, which many parents have found to be amazing. His take on baby sleep- is that they do not get enough, thus causing nighttime sleep issues. He feels that 90% of all babies are put to sleep far too late and that is way parent’s deal with night waking after 4 months of age.

Dr. Weissbluth's states that simply putting baby to bed an hour easier than usual can improve their nighttime sleeping by many hours. One concern of parents throughout the book was- won’t a 6:30PM bedtime make a 4:30AM wakeup? Dr. Weissbluth's went on to say that easier bedtimes actually create later sleep schedules. So basically, the easier you put baby to bed, the better and later they will sleep.

What I really like about the book is all the facts and studies that Weissbluth's offers. He doesn’t just state his opinion; he backs it up with real solid information. Even when it comes to crying, Weissbluth's states that after 4 months of age, crying is perfectly healthy at nighttime and won’t ‘scar children’ as we parents fear. This book is a must read for anyone looking to learn more about their bundle of joy and their different sleep cycles throughout the changing ages. 

Edgar Allan Poe

"I feel that all book lovers should read at least one piece by Poe to see if it sparks an interest."

Of all the authors whose work I’ve read, noone has been such as wonderful experience as that of Edgar Allan Poe. I become familiar with the author several years ago; through a friend I met during my high school years. She introduced me to several great others, including Poe. I read A Tell Tale Heart and from then on knew that his writing was something that could certainly keep my interest.

I went to the local bookstore shortly after and purchased ‘Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe’. This book contains each and every piece that Poe has ever written. It includes each of his short stories, poems and even some not so known scripts that he wrote in his day. I’ve read every single word in that book and have to say that they all provided the reading satisfaction I expected.

I’ve met some people who said they do not care for Poe because they can’t grasp the concept behind much of the stories. I suggested to them that they take each piece of the story, evaluate it and then move onto the next. Once a section of the story is understood, the entire story seems to fall into place with ease. Also, any parts of the story that are not understood can be quickly looked up on the Internet for further clarification.

I feel that all book lovers should read at least one piece by Poe in order to see if it sparks an interest. Anyone who enjoys a good story or well-written poem with a deep meaning is sure to love Poe the way that I do.

Nicholas Sparks; The Wedding and more

Long before The Notebook came to the big screen, Nicholas Sparks has been a favorite author of mine. The way he writes just captures me and makes me want to spend the day turning pages. I do admit that The Notebook was a wonderful movie and I’ve seen it several times. However, I have to say that the movie is nothing in comparison to the book. While I was watching the movie, there were just so many pieces missing. The movie cut out parts of the story that I felt were just so important. I guess a good movie will just never compare to a good book.

For those of you who are fans of The Notebook, I highly suggest you the time to the The Wedding. The Wedding is a continuation of The Notebook, and it offers story pieces between the time Alley and Noah were married, until they grew old. The Wedding covers a lot of the questions you may have about just what happened in between the two, but I won’t get in too much detail because I do not want to spoil it for anyone who will take the time to read it.

Another book of his that was turned into a movie is Message In A Bottle. Like The Notebook, the movie clearly does not even come close to being as excellent as the written story. I thought the movie was okay, but I saw it a while after I read the novel. Maybe if I had seen the movie first I could give it a higher opinion. For anyone who has not been a follower of Nicholas Sparks, yet enjoys his movies, I highly suggest picking up a few of his novels. I promise, you will not be disappointed. 

A Writers Reference

During my college years I had a great English professor that was very keen on helping us with the writing process. We wrote paper after paper, and it was at a point overwhelming, but I have to say it certainly paid off. It gave me a better understanding for the different types of writing and when to use certain words. She recommended a writing tool to me, that I still use to this day. It is the greatest reference out there and I feel that every writer should have a copy of their own.

I’m referring to something called ‘The Writers Reference Guide’. I’m not sure what edition is out currently, but I still use my edition from 2003 and I have yet to feel the need to upgrade. This reference guide looks like small, white notebook with binding in the center. The book is broken off into sections, making it easy to find what you’re looking for in a hurry.

The guide covers every aspect of writing, from research planning to brain storming. It gives times on creating a good draft and integrating sources into your paper. It covers the different types of writing styles, such as MLA and APA. The guide helps you with word choices and provides you with sample papers to use as a reference. What I’ve named is not even half of the information included in this guide. Purchasing this guide makes the writing process much easier and is sure to be something you will use over and over again.


 

Are you a work at home mom?

At times, those of us who write for a living can experience a difficult time connecting to other writers and finding jobs. One of my favorite writer resources would have to be WAHM. This stands for work at home mom, but moms aren’t the only ones who belong to the site. There are people from a broad range of spectrums that offer writing advice, resources and tips.

My favorite section is definitely the freelancing column. There you can find information on the latest jobs available to those who write for a living using their computer. You’re also about to ask the other members for advice and even receive tips on how to make your writing better. I’ve been an active member for 5 years now, and I’ve gotten many of my writing leads from the ladies within the forum group.

The website offers information on publishers and book editing for those who are looking to become a published author. Many of the girls have already been successful in publishing their own book, and those who are new to the publishing world have actually sold a few kindle e-books to amazon.

Other than freelancing advice, the group gives us a place to vent what’s going on in our lives. Did you just have a client who didn’t pay? Express it to the girls on there. They will provide you with support and occasional humor that will bring you through the ups and downs we face within the writing world. If you’re looking to join a great writing community with great resources- I highly suggest you give it a try.At times, those of us who write for a living can experience a difficult time connecting to other writers and finding jobs. One of my favorite writer resources would have to be WAHM. This stands for work at home mom, but moms aren’t the only ones who belong to the site. There are people from a broad range of spectrums that offer writing advice, resources and tips.

My favorite section is definitely the freelancing column. There you can find information on the latest jobs available to those who write for a living using their computer. You’re also about to ask the other members for advice and even receive tips on how to make your writing better. I’ve been an active member for 5 years now, and I’ve gotten many of my writing leads from the ladies within the forum group.

The website offers information on publishers and book editing for those who are looking to become a published author. Many of the girls have already been successful in publishing their own book, and those who are new to the publishing world have actually sold a few kindle e-books to amazon.

Other than freelancing advice, the group gives us a place to vent what’s going on in our lives. Did you just have a client who didn’t pay? Express it to the girls on there. They will provide you with support and occasional humor that will bring you through the ups and downs we face within the writing world. If you’re looking to join a great writing community with great resources- I highly suggest you give it a try.

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