Look what happened

This little girl happened. She is so wittle and sweet and hungry!

And these four men like her a lot!

 

But let me tell you something.  I'm tired.  It's been a month of sleeping no more than 3 hours at a time and couch cat napping. 

Ok, Y'all

Nightmare's Daughter is LIVE! 

 

Who would like to win a free copy of this book?

 

Leave a comment saying "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pick me!" 

 

 

And them I might just pick you.  If your number comes up anyways!   

 

Here is a little review she's gotten!

 

Goodreads!

It's on Goodreads! 

 

Add it to your TBR shelf! 

 

 "Nightmare's Daughter"

 

 

Here it is, the blurb for Nightmare's Daughter.

Justin Prevot is the pretty boy in school, the elusive type that no one gets but everyone loves to look at. Maya Justice is trying desperately to escape the reputation of her famous father. But when Justin shows up at Camp Neverwhere, a camp exclusively for the children of mythical creatures, Maya gets sucked into a fairy tale world she didn’t even think existed.

 

Nightmare's Daughter

Are you guys ready?  This is happening in the next month.  Finally this little ditty is going to be ready to read!! 

 

You'll be seeing a lot more of this book in the next few weeks, I'll even be posting the first chapter soon!  Yoo-hoo!  Love new books!

Good Golly Lolly

Yes, I just got done reading "Flowers in the Attic."



Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok, so here it goes. My thoughts on the story of the Dollanganger kids and their time in the attic.






I admit when I first got this book I thought it was going to be much different. I heard about how the brother and sister fell in love and please don't judge me for buying the book after having this impression.

This book is so different from what I feel like the majority says. SO SO different and I have so many feelings about it. The feels are real!

First thing I have to say is that the "forbidden love" and the "Incest" is just either people whom haven't read the book or perverts. Yes, Chris and Cathy do have sex but that's not just it. If you really look into the book and the meat of the words then you will realize that it's a sad side effect of the abuse they endure. These kids are pre-teens and babies (12-14 and 4) when they move into this attic that they are "just spending one night in" and the two older ones are thrown into the role of mom and dad for four long years. They are in constant close proximity and none of that matters anyway because they are mentally, physically and in a certain way sexually abused by their grandmother and mother and that alone would make a kid do crazy things! I get it that they are going through puberty and they JUST have each other while going through amazing trauma and when something happens the guilt they feel drips off of the page and your heart is ripped open for them.

The line right after something happens between the two of them are this:
"He didn't have to say he was sorry...it was all over him...the way he quivered, the way his hands trembled and were so clumsy with his buttons." Then the most powerful line in the whole book happens a few pages later:
"The tears that rolled onto his pillow, I named as they fell: Shame, guilt, blame." 

 
I cried.

These are not grown adults, these are kids. Kids that are being called "Satan's issue" and many other ugly things. Chris is being whipped in the bathroom while his siblings hear it and he chooses not to scream or make one noise because he doesn't want the twins to be afraid. They are being starved, imprisoned then come to find out poisoned. SO yes, I get that they broke and did crazy, stupid things. There are times when you should be feeling revulsion you are actually thinking to yourself "Well at least someone loves them!"

I read a bunch of people say that they read this when they were twelve and it effected them for life.
I BELIEVE YOU!
I'm in my thirties (early thirties thankyouverymuch!) and I can step back and see what is really happening to them and I can understand where their minds are at.

This book is insane and it's just GOOD. It's different from other books these days and while half of the words were seriously cheesy, like "oh golly lolly," there are some other amazing lines that paint a picture that makes you go into the world that these poor kids are living in.

I can't wait to read the second one and I'm assuming that Chris will act like he is the least affected but will probably have a hard time giving his sister Cathy up. I feel like after the responsibility that was put on his shoulders and the way he committed himself to all of them and having lost one in the process that it will be hard to step down from that and I can imagine that it will be all PSSD that will be plaguing him. I don't know though. Don't tell me or I'll find you and pull out all your leg hairs with tweezers while MMMBOP plays on repeat.

I suggest this book to the most mature reader. And I challenge you to look beyond the surface and feel for the kids.

OH and a side note. I used to hate Twigs mother (From the Book Breaking Twig) more than any fictional mother I'd ever read but she has been replaced by Corrine Dollanganger. That woman is the most passive aggressive, selfish, mean woman I've ever read on paper. At least Twigs momma was open about how mean she was. Not Corrine, man I want something awful to happen to her in the later books.

View all my reviews

Bleh

I feel very bleh.  Although it might just be that I'm PMSing and I've sent my family running for cover; I just passed a fort in the living room that was occupied by four shivering boys all with pitchforks and torch in their hands, ready to tame the beast.

I wish that were a joke.

Can I be honest?

Today I feel unseen.
Looked over.
Talentless.

and most of all...

I fell ticked off.

My son was just talking to me and it made me want to chew my fingers off.  The oldest ones breathing almost gave me an aneurysm.  The baby wants to nurse and I don't want to be touched with a ten foot pole.

 

I am writing a book right now that is very....hard to write. 

It has some funny moments but I put them there to counteract the real life stuff I am throwing in there.  It's hard for me to write these things and while feeling like the world is crumbling around me for three days for no dern good reason makes me feel unreasonable and that makes it worse!

Am I the only one? 

 

But I did finish an amazing series (Remember When) and I plan on giving a full review on Monday, hopefully I'll be in a better mood by then so I can do it justice.

Why I'm annoyed with Glee

I am going to do the unthinkable; make a whole bunch of Gleeks mad.

 

I mean, hopefully I wont, but I probably will.  I used to love Glee.  Back when everyone but Kurt was straight and they had really good songs.  I mean, do we remember this amazing number? 

 

 

The show got an agenda, which honestly is fine by me.  I mean good for them.  I don't have a TV show where I get to talk about everything I believe.  They figured out how to do it so I'm not poo-pooing on that.  It's my choice to watch it and I did, off and on depending on how I felt when I was watching it.  If I felt yucky then I would just turn it off and move on.  I didn't care.  They made it clear from the beginning what they believed so it's not my place to be annoyed by it for choosing to watch it.  This is logic. 

 

Now a days everyone on the show Glee is gay.  Or Bi-sexual.  Or a cross dresser.  But hey, I'm not going to pretend like I sin prettier than they do so I'm not poo-pooing on that either.  But there was  an abortion on the show and that pretty much put the nail in the coffin for me.  They didn't make a big statement out of it but did do it so I choose to just not watch it anymore.  Although I did catch this, and I loved it.  I think it's my intense love for nerdy boys. And there are some seriously adorable nerdy boys in this video.  I think my favorite is the Weaselly twins look alike. 

 

 

 

As you know a few months ago their main character Finn, who was played by Cory Monteith died of a drug overdose in Canada.  He was an amazing character.  The cool guy who befriended the dork Glee club and basically because he stood up for them they all became successful.  Remember this?  It's my favorite all time song that he sang. (Those line of De Fox Glee Propiedad are annoying) 

 

 

 

 

  He had mixed Heroine and Alcohol and after years of struggling with addiction it finally took his life.  It is so sad.  My own mother lost her life to addiction and I understand the struggle as an onlooker.  It happens to the rich, poor, ugly and the beautiful.  It is a disease and it needs to be addressed.  So I did tune in this last week where I thought for sure that a show that has such a big platform that discusses such serious issues would make it honoring to him and help others through his struggles. 

 

I was truly disappointed.  The first line that Kurt said was "It didn't matter how he died."  Really?  It doesn't matter that he died of overdosing on Heroine?  This is a show that tells us that we need to live the way that makes us happy and do whatever feels good and when one of their characters dies by living this way then "it doesn't matter?"  This is hypocrisy at its best and I'm disappointed. 

 

Also, I was annoyed with how everyone over acted. Some of these people cried more than I did at my cousins funeral.  Rachel who was his TV and real life girlfriend was the only one that I believed.  She was so real and it's the only reason I didn't throw my Ipad out the window from pure frustration and lost opportunities. 

 

So there you have it.  What did you think of it all?  Did they do it classy or did they miss it?   

 

I can't think

I am so so bad with doing two things at once.  Do you know anyone like that?

Maybe your husband.  You're trying to tell them something important and all they say is yeah-ahuh and yeah-okay while looking at the computer or T.V. 

That's me right now.  I am trying to finish this book and logically that means that I can't blog.  Or read blogs.  I want to do these things so badly, but alas, I am a husband watching T.V. focused and zoning all at the same time!

BUT, I am working on something.  I get a lot of emails asking me about more books.  I have written a few but I don't want to publish them because they just aren't very good.  They are fine, I guess and they would entertain you but they are hardly memorable.  And I want to write something that moves me and I want to publish something that I believe has the potential to move you!  I'm a little OCD like that. 

Right now I'm working on a book called "Good Girls don't Swear" or perhaps it will be called "Infertile Annie."  I haven't decided.  I'm feeling excited about it like I did when I was writing My Stupid Girl.  I love the characters and I have fallen in love with the main characters. 

Here is a little fun fact.  I am writing it with someone this time.  I have set the book in Georgia and I have a friend from Georgia who is getting a hold of it and blowing it out of the water.  I send her a chapter and then she countries it.  I am having so much fun. 

So, what are all of you up to?  And how do you do writing and blogging and breathing at the same time?  I'm stumped!

Oh, this happened.  It was awesome.  I then got to #69 on the top 100 for a few days. 

Amanda Bynes

I just have to say that I am and have been very very sad about the whole "Amanda Bynes going a little nutty thing."  I think most woman my age are particularly sad about it because we grew up watching Amanda Bynes on television.  I am four years older than her and I always thought she was hilarious.  I mean, who does this....

Only the extraordinarily cool and stellar people will do this.  Especially with Tatum Channing in the room. 

 

Oh and this...

Who can eat a chicken leg like that and still be so amazing?  AMANDA BYNES, that's who.

She has been that actress/comedian that everyone loved.  She was silly and made faces that were quirky and yet stayed beautiful.  She never took herself to seriously, she was real.

Then something happened and the rumors say that she is suffering from some mental illness.  She has been doing this kind of stuff. 

Is it crazy that it breaks my heart?  I just hope she gets the help she needs because I want old Amanda back.  But she might have gone a little further than even Brittney and Lindsey.  And that's bad.

 

What are your thoughts on the whole "Amanda thing?"

Last day! Last day! .99

Today is the LAST day that My Stupid Girl is going to be .99

 

SO GO GET IT!

 

ALSO, this picture was taken.  I love it more than any of the "glamour" shots that she took.  It's me! There just comes a point when you can't smile with your eyes anymore, and you cant "look serious."  I'm a dork, I know it. 

 

Here is the favorite SERIOUS pic from that day.

 

 

No, I don't wear shoes.  They hurt and Pixies don't like constricting things...

 

forgive me

I've been so so absent lately because I am finishing up "Nightmare's Daughter" which is scheduled to come out in October.  So my head is down and I'm typing typing editing editing typing, screaming at kids, typing and so on and so forth!

BUT I did lift my head for a second and decided that because I've been so absent that I'd put my book on sale for absolutely no reason than I wanted to. 

If you're interested in the craziest sale in the history of My Stupid Girl then click HERE and grab it for .99, yes that's what I said.

OH and one more thing....

And another things...

I woke up and looked at my book stats and My Stupid Girl is sitting at #2,839  WHATEVER

Last one!

 

ALSO, I'm getting excited and nervous and palpitationist (not a word) about Nightmare's Daughter!  It's different, but it's fun.

Oh and I've made it onto a few Pirated Book Sites.  So if you'd like to read my book for free and get a nice virus in the process then go look for it! Bahaha.  Those places are SKETCHY!

Fan Girl Squeal

So there is this book that I love.  You've probably heard about it. If you haven't then you've been under a rock.  Come get some air and go check out "Remember When."  Remember When on Amazon

 

 

This book is completely original, that's why it's getting so much attention.  Oh that and the humour and amazing sauce writing.  It's basically about a girl recalling her high school years and her first love who ends up being a movie star.  Here is the exert from the back.

 

Ever wonder how often Brad Pitt's high school girlfriend must ponder jumping off a bridge? Ever think about the girl that had her hooks in George Clooney before he took off for TV stardom? How about Leonardo DiCaprio's ex, or Johnny Depp's first groupie, or any number of young women who got left behind when their boyfriends set off for greener pastures and eventually achieved unfathomable Hollywood fame?

My name is Layla Warren and I don't need to wonder about any of those things. I already know. Because years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class.

This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough. We were teenagers then, way back in a time before anyone, himself included, could even dream he'd turn into the Hollywood commodity that he is today.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you who Trip Wiley is. But on the off chance you've been living under a rock for the past decade, just know that these days, he's the bad boy actor found at the top of every casting director's wish list. He's incredibly talented and insanely gorgeous, the combination of which has made him very rich, very famous and very desirable.

And not just to casting directors, either.

I can't confirm any of the gossip from his early years out in Tinseltown, but based on what I knew of his life before he was famous, I can tell you that the idea of Girls-Throwing-Themselves-At-Trip is not a new concept.

I should know. I was one of them.

And my life hasn't been the same since.

So, here is why the blog is titled "Fan Girl Squeal."  Torest (the author) contacted ME and told ME that she liked MY book.  (Insert ugly crying, hyperventilating and peeing pants) She gave me a five star review on Amazon (Repeat) and then she asked me if she could put a link to my book in the back of her sequel that was coming out in a few days.   (Dies.  Just dies on floor.)

When I became coherent I, with shaky typing fingers, wrote.

"Like, OMG, aldkjfalkfdjaldf, Do whatever you want.  Would you like to be my best friend.  I love you and your book and I... alksdfjalkdjfadlkfjadfjk ...Yes, yes you can put my book in the back of yours.  I am not worthy.  I am not worthy."  I'm paraphrasing but that's basically what it looked like. 
 

Here is "Remember When 2" Link to Remember When 2

This book is about them years later after loosing touch and their reuniting.  I don't want to give it away.  But it's sad and sweet and makes you think of your first love from high school and where he (she) is and if you were in a situation to re kindle something, what would you do?  Here is the Exert.

 

Back in high school, Trip Wiley’s fanbase only encompassed the denizens of the nothing little suburb of Norman, New Jersey.

Ten years later, all that is about to change.

In the summer of 2000, Layla Warren is enjoying her career as a journalist in New York City (well, sort of), while Trip spends most of his time grabbing Hollywood by the balls. In the days before what will turn out to be his skyrocketing fame, they’ll find themselves confronted with some life-altering choices.

Remember When 2 is the second story in an NA romance trilogy. It will bring you back to that exuberant and riotous time of life in your twenties when you struggled to figure out your place in the world and the person you were meant to be...

…and the person you were meant to be with.

 

So, I seriously consider you checking these books out! 

 

My Ego has been boosted and my head can no longer fit through any door.  Thankyouverymuch.

Coull Crituiques

Go check this out

 

It made me feel like this...

 

 

And like this

 

 

 

So, go check out the blog and like it because shes amazing!

Sale and Updates

Hi, good morning and good Monday!

How are y'all doing this glorious morning?  Its hotter'n heck out here in Texas.  The muggy 98 felt like 120 with the 90% humidity...whatever! 

Firs thing I'd like to tell you that the book is on sale so if you haven't gotten it or want a friend to read it then tell them.  Here's a link so you don't have to work.  Working is hard.  My Stupid Girl for 1.99

Here is another suggestion for the book cover.  Thoughts? 

Now, I know a ton of people said the black, but this was the second choice.  I looked at the thumbnail size and the black made the book look choppy and you couldn't read the title very well.  So I am playing with this color. 

Third, I got my first one star marking on goodreads.  I felt bad for a moment then I realized it was a 72 year old man who pretty much pressed one star on every book he comes into contact with.  So the sting numbed and I am now officially still waiting for my first one star review.  That will be a day filled with ice cream and Brandon Frazier movies.  So far my lowest has been a 3 star review, but it read like a 4-5 star review so I can't complain. 

I had a giveaway on goodreads and 852 people signed up!  WHAT?  Now, I just need those people to actually buy the book.  It's good, mepromises. 

ALSO, look at these pics and smile.  This is how hot it was.  My first and second son rolled in mud like little elephants.  I think the husband had more fun hosing them than was necessary. 

 

 

 

 

 

OH, and the "baby" turned one on Saturday.  Excuse me whilst I cry in the corner.  I want to remember him like this.  Come to think of it, all those kids are a year older.  Sigh...

Nightmares Daughter

Good Morning! 

I need advice!  I am close to being done with the second book that I plan on publishing and I have a few cover choices that I'd like to throw around with y'all. 

Would you help me?  And yes, it's supposed to be Nightmare's daughter....my bad.  These are rough drafts!

Tell me: do you like A, B, C or D 

I know this may be to much instruction for a few of you, but please, try to keep up would ya? Muwhahahahah! I kid...

Here they are.  What stands out the most for you?  Now, keep in mind that even though this is a creepy picture, and the book is a little bit creepy it is also funny.  So I added some light colors to some to try and lighten the mood.

A.

 

 

 B.

C.

 

D.

 

Please leave me a comment and tell me which you like most!

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

Now that my paperback of  My Stupid Girl is up I can have a goodreads giveaway!  Go check it out!  I'll sign in and add pixie dust! 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

My Stupid Girl

by Aurora Smith

Giveaway ends May 18, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Can I be real?

Disclaimer: I lied about my age.

Here it goes.  The subject I have wanted to write about but have been too afraid to ruffle feathers and ‘alienate’ myself from possible readers.  I’m still afraid of that actually, but I can no longer keep my mouth shut. *Unzips mouth and puts on big girl undies*

                            

I am a little bit sickened by all of the sex that is in Indie Books.

There, I said it.  GASP….she said it.  She said it out loud.

What is the number one compliment that I get from my book?  It’s not my sexy, steamy love scenes?!  No, it’s this:  ‘I loved this book because I can actually give it to my daughter.’ 

Before I go on with this rant I would like to say that I don’t think that my book is better because it doesn’t describe the actual act of sex.  I definitely don’t think that.  Not even a little.  Nope.  There are some books that I like that have sex in it.  I admit I feel squirmy and giggle like a little girl and blush furiously behind my e-reader.  Those books are far and few between though and they have to be excellent books to win me over despite the fact that is has something so personal in it.  And they never have anything to terribly descriptive in it.    

I just get worried about the kids out there that love reading and see a werewolf book and they think “awesome…its only 2.99.”

Then BAM.  Uterus punch.  Also, what’s with men saying ‘I wanna f*ck you.’ And this is what we want twelve year old girls to think is romantic?  HECK, I’m twenty eight and I don’t think its romantic.  If a guy said that to me I would A) call my husband and that would deal with that, or B) Throw up on his expensive loafers and probably punch his face, the poor sap would get blood on his cardi.   

When I was writing My Stupid Girl I thought that I was pushing the limits by talking about Physical and Sexual abuse, adoption, alcohol, virginity and religion.  I thought people won’t want to read it because it has so much in it. And yes, actually there is a lot of sex talk, however I would hope that it shows the importance of it and how you don’t just throw yourself around.  Cuz ladies, let me tell you something.  Guys don’t actually like that.  They like ‘it’ but not you.  End true fact face punch.

I know there is a market for sex.  A big market.  50 shades has sold more than Harry Potter.  Just think about that.  Think about it.  Are you thinking about that?  I have, and it makes me sad. 

Ok, so I’ve probably offended you because you might have sex in your book and I know that you are required to put the no one under 17 can read this due to adult materials, blah blah blah.  This is fine.  People buy your books and that’s awesome.  But what I’m not getting is why it seems like it's in EVERYSINGLEONE.  I swear I have returned about four books in the last two months because there was sex JUST because indie books are supposed to have sex.  There was no reason for it; it was there to sell books. 

I agree with you that this is a personal feeling and that I am completely pushing them on you.  I apologize for that.  I feel like an Indie author who is becoming increasingly frustrated with Indie books.  Where is the depth, the soul, the desire to reach out and grab someones attention and shake them and make them THINK?

Okay, I expect to have thirty less followers by the end of the day.  Such is life.         

A story in GIF

Most days I wake up and I do this when I look at all of my children, already eating Eggo's that they made themselves, complete with generous heaps of syrupy.

 

I know what you're thinking.  Just get up earlier than them.  Impossible.  If I set my alarm they will get up before that.  I mentally tell myself "get up at 6" they will get up at 5:30.  Its just the way it is. 

Then I look at my book sale rank.  Sometimes I go...



And sometimes I go..



Then I home school and I pretty much do this the whole time.



Then.  THEN I get a sweet hour where I write.  I write furiously.  Like a ravenous animal that hasn't eaten in weeks and just came across a fresh Zebra.  I put every thought I've had down.  Sometimes they don't make sense, but they're down!

Oh and in between all of this I nurse the baby and have been taking the oldest kid to Physical Therapy.  Look at this floppy armed cutie. Poor dude has to learn to re-use his arm.  He only has 10% usage in his wrist and fingers as well as needing to learn to straighten the dang thing. 

So, I'm busy.  But one thing I did manage to get done was my paper back!  Its done.  It's freaken done.  Lets twirl around in circles and puke!  I'm so happy!  You can get it HERE

 

A sale? Why not?!

Hello everyone.  It's a beautiful Monday and I just ended a contest where three people got to win a copy of My Stupid Girl. 

But I felt bad for everyone who didn't win so now the book is on sale for the rest of the week!  It's gone from 3.99 to 1.99

So, if you didn't win, then come and enjoy the low price if you are super duper sad that you didn't win 

My Stupid Girl for 1.99

Sorry that I've been gone

I have a real, honest to goodness, legit, awesomely awful reason.

Wanna see it.  If you're squeamish then look away now.

I've warned you.

Okay, I'm showing you...

I warned you. 

That is my oldest sons arm.  You've never lived until you've seen your precious first born running to you from across the park with an arm dangling at his side with its elbow in the wrong position.  Him screaming, "I cant move my fingers, it hurts mommy, its hurts," is just the greatest.  Throwing your other kids at friends at the park and hoping that they figure out that you would like them to take those children somewhere that their father might be.  Also hope that the friend that you screamed "call my husband" to actually has his number.  (sigh) 

Here he is waiting in the emergency room.  He was here for about a minute and a half.  They took one look at his backwards arm and he got ahead in line (score) He was cried out by this point.

 

 Brothers finally made it, with my husband (thanks friends) Being excellently behaved boys while Josiah got his arm x-rayed. He went into surgery an hour after his x-ray.  The good news is that the break was just below the grow ring so they don't think they will have to break it again when he's older.  (Shudders)

 

 

He soon realizes that the day after surgery the nurses feed you whenver you want and you get to play video games and watch t.v.  Hummmmmm.  This isn't so bad!

 

 

Misery.  He had to come home.  No more nurses. (And intense pain)

 

Oh, but being waited on hand and foot and watching moms Ipad instead of doing school?  Score!

 

I've gotten a little bit of writing done but kids are important too.  I supppppose!  I'm just so grateful that it was only his arm.  He was hanging upside down as he fell he used his arm to block his head and neck.  This is the part that makes me truly squeamish when I think of the what could have happened. 

 

Oh, and my book is having a rad giveaway.  Follow the link!

I'm giving three of my books away for free. WHAT?!?!?!