Kindles for Kids:

Only a couple days left to enter to win some books and help a great cause!  To check out more 

CLICK HERE! 

Get to know you game: Fact Five

When I began this game,  I hadn't really planned out what facts I wanted to  share.  Here we are on the last day of the game and though it's been fun,  I am glad it is over.  (I am having a really hard time coming up with facts that don't relate to writing) :)  Anyway,  I am looking forward to the April A to Z challenge coming up.  And due to my busy schedule,  I probably won't be posting all of next week as I prepare for April.  So, here I will share one more fact about myself and then I will see you all in April!  

Fact Five:




I love, love, love, love, love, love Phantom of the Opera!  I take it apart piece by piece and analyze every bit of it.  If you want to get me talking,  just mention Phantom of the Opera.  I can talk for HOURS about it and never get bored.

I LOVE the movie with Gerard Butler *le sigh* And honestly,  I would take the Phantom over Rauol any day!  (And if you would like to know why, ask me and I will tell you.  I am just not going to put it in this post because it is going off of the main topic).

I can tell you so many facts about the Phantom of the Opera that  you will be blown away!
Did you know the Phantom has a name?  It's Erik.
Did you know that Andrew Lloyd Weber wrote a second The Phantom of the Opera?  (If you didn't know this,  there is a good reason.  The story line for it was stupid!)

And I am soooo excited to say that this year I will be seeing The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas before the Phantom of the Opera house closes in September 2012.  (Yes, I was very sad when I found out that it is closing down.  that's why I am making sure to see The Phantom of the Opera before it closes down)

AND

I am planning to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway this year.  (This trip might have to wait but if it doesn't happen this year,  it will for sure happen next year!)

And there you go!  Fact Five!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Get to know you game: Fact Four

Fact Four:

I love planning stuff but when it comes down to talking about it with others or sharing what I've got done,  I panic and freak out! 

I just became Camp Director for Girls Camp and I have so much planned and ready and the camp isn't until June.  But last night (3-21-12)  I spoke to the young women about it and we began planning stuff together and I was soooo nervous!  And now that, that meeting is over,  I am happy and fine and planning again.  

I also really don't like talking to people on the phone.  I am always nervous about what to say and how to respond and so I REALLY, REALLY hate having to call people.  

And that is my Get to know you Fact for the day! 

Get to know you game: Fact Three (is being skipped for) The Versatile Blogger Award!

The Wonderful Gossip_Girl over at 'Whatever'  gave me The Versatile Blogger award!  A huge thank you to her! 

Here are the instructions for the lucky recipients:

1. Nominate 15 fellow blogger's for the Versatile Blogger Award.

2. In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.

3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.

4. In the same post, share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.

5. In the same post, include this set of rules.

6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs. 



I think this award showed up at a funny time seems how this week I have been playing the 'Get to know you game'  and in this post I have to share 7 facts about myself.


So here it goes: 


1. I am a co-host for the April Blogging A to Z Challenge
2.  I find it hilarious that I received this award on the same day that my other blog that I co-author with Lizzy Hughes received it from someone else.  (Writeaway) 
3.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Phantom of the Opera
4. I love to tell people 'It wasn't me'
5.  I am absolutely terrified of Heights.  
6.  I have a tumor behind my left eye that is irremovable without the possibility of losing all sight in my left eye.  My left eye lid hangs lower than my right one.  There is a scar from the surgery right on the crease of my eye lid.  I woke up in the middle of surgery . . . let me just say, CREEPY! 
7. Josh Groban is my hero when it comes to music!  If I could meet any musician in the world, I would choose Josh Groban so I could thank him for his beautiful music! 


And I now award The Versatile Blogger award to. . . . 


Tina Downey at Life is Good
Elizabeth Hughes at Into da' Fiyah
Maria at Fantasy's Ink
Elizabeth Mueller
Karen Hoover at A Writer's Ramblings
Jenny Pearson at Pearson Report
Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs

Karen Gowan Jones at Coming Down the Mountain

Jeremy Hawkins at Retro-Zombie
Shannone Lawrence at The Warrior Muse 

Andrea Pearson

Adrienne McElwain at Daily Deal Watch

Danyelle Leafty 

Alana at Writercize

And

Robin Weeks

Get to know you game: Fact Two

If you don't have any idea of what I'm talking about,  you can CLICK HERE to check it out.

Fact Two: 

I make Jewelry and sell it.  Okay. . . I sell SOME of it.  I keep a lot of it though.  

Ruby, Spinal and Garnet.- Worth $300.
(On sale for $250.00)
This picture does NOT do this necklace justice.

Sapphire, Labradorite and Black Onyx.  Worth $150.00.
(On sale for $99.99)
This picture does not do this necklace justice.

If you would like to see some more examples you can check it out HERE!

 And seems how if you check out my Etsy Store (the link above) you will see what else I make, I might as well tell you,  I also do journals.  

Get to know you game: Fact One

I try to keep my blog all about writing.  Whether it's advertising, books I like, my work, thoughts I have had or my own idea of books.  But today I feel like talking about something completely different!  Don't ask me why, I don't know.  I just feel like maybe it's time I talk about what other things I like.

I would LOVE to get to know each and every one of you personally and honestly, if you sent me an e-mail introducing yourself,  I would be glad to reply and talk and become great friends!

So to start everyday this week I will post a fact about myself.  Something about me, why it's important and then I would love to read your comments with little facts about yourself!

Fact One: 

I LOVE music.  I mean, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE music!  I play three instruments; Piano, Organ & Violin. My favorite is the Violin and I am going to college for Music.  (This may come as a surprise to many because most people assume I will be going to college for Writing) 

I have played the Piano since I was ten.  I had about 20 Organ lessons and had to quit but I do have an organ.  I have been playing the violin for a little over two years now and I excel at it! 

After having played for three months, my first performance on the violin was 'While your lips are still red' by Nightwish.  (If you haven't heard this song and don't understand what a feat that is, please look it up on Youtube).  

The first time I showed my Violin teacher the music for this song (lesson two),  He laughed at me.  Honestly laughed out loud and said 'Not a chance.  Maybe in a year."  

After our lesson that day,  he grabbed the music off the table and told me to work on the first line.  

I came back the next week and after hearing me play, he gave me the next two lines.  

At the following lesson he told me to to just play the entire song.  (The song is two full pages long).

My second performance was Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. 

My violin teacher plays for the Utah Symphony. . . 

A to Z Announcement!

We now interrupt this program for a special announcement: 

The A to Z video challenge is now up for voting!  Go vote for your favorite A to Z video and help us choose the winner. 


Don't know what I'm talking about?  CLICK HERE to check it out! 


CLICK HERE to vote!

Would you if you Could?

If you COULD go into your favorite story, WOULD you?  

I know I have daydreamed for HOURS about what books I wish I could go into and which characters I wish were alive and real. . . But every time I have thought about it I realize that I could never be happy with my favorite hero from my favorite book.  

Why not, you ask?  Well think about it. . . If the main hero was in love with the main heroine, how could you dare split them up just for you to be with one of them?  They are in love and they saved the world together to prove it.  

 I couldn't dare split them up just so I can be with the hero of the story.  So the same thing goes for going into the story.  If I go into the story, that automatically changes the story.  Therefore how everything happens. Including how the hero and heroine of the story get to the end and to their happily ever after. 

So if you honestly could go into your favorite book, even just to visit or hug your favorite character and then leave, WOULD you?   

Fun Alphabet Pictures!

I am soooooooo excited for the A to Z challenge!  Waiting for April is killing me.. So in anticipation, I am sharing some fun Alphabet pictures and quotes that I have found! 

PICTURES NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Have any others you would like to share?  I would love to see them! 

Kindles for Kids

Author Danyelle Leafty is doing an AMAZING thing with all her royalties between March 12th (today) and March 30th.  You can read all about it HERE! 

She is using the money to buy Kindles for Kids who are in the hospital.  Soooo. . . to help this cause, I am doing a HUGE giveaway! 

Share this post everywhere you can.  

You get one point for every time you share, every place that you share.  

(Facebook, Google+, Goodreads, Twitter. . . etc)

After sharing (as many places as you want, as many times as you want) 

come comment on this post and tell me where you shared.  Leave your e-mail in the comment so I can contact you if you win. 

What you can win:

I am giving away three e-copes of  THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA: CATSPELL 

And

One grand prize of One hard copy of The Fairy Godmother Dilemma: Catspell,  swag, and a  hand decorated Journal! 

You can enter everyday that you share.  So if you share this post on Facebook today and leave a comment then you can come back tomorrow, share on Facebook and leave another comment.  If you have multiple Facebook pages, you get one point for every page you share on.  The same thing goes for all of your social networks. 

This giveaway ends on March 30th and the winners will be announced soon after. 

Okay, now go share! 

Inspiring Music

I haven't worked on my manuscript for months.  I abandoned it for a while and last night I JUST barely started working on it again.  I realized that perhaps maybe I stopped working on it because I was having a hard time without the right music.  (Yes, that is correct.  I cannot write without the right music playing.)

So today's post is going to be short, sweet and simple and to the point.  I am just here to share some of my favorite music to listen to while I write.

*Forbidden Friendship: How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack.

*Kingdom Dance: Tangled soundtrack. 

*Courtyard Apocalypse: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part two soundtrack. 

Lord of the Rings soundtrack.  (All three movies) 

Almost everything by Enya

Everything by Josh Groban

Everything by Il Volo (Specifically Il Mondo & Painfully Beautiful) 

Almost everything by Il Divo (Particularly Falling Slowly, Wicked Game and Senza Parole) 

While your lips are still red  and Islander by Nightwish

Everything by Bond

Everything by Amadeus (When looking them up, I would suggest looking up the song The Piano or Andaluzia)

And for that is all I have for now!  Now I will be getting back to writing! :) 

* I love the entire soundtrack for these movies.  However the songs I specified are the songs that I particularly love to have playing while I write. 

What music do you listen to while writing?  

Some more Dragons

This is my newest Dragon!

And

This one is also a newer Dragon of mine.  The clock is beautiful (and really works).  

And. . . .

This guy!  Not a new one, it just didn't make it in the first batch of pictures. 

And that is all I got to add for today.  (I have more that I still don't have pictures of yet so don't be thinking this is the last of my dragon collection.)

Sorry if you stopped by and the pictures weren't showing up. 

Let's play a game and write a story!

Let's play a little game. . . the more people involved. . . the better so tell all your friends! 

I am going to put one sentence (in blue)  in this post.  And you are going to have three days to write a short story based off of the one sentence I give you. 

The best story wins!  (Winner chosen by three anonymous  judges)

The winner will receive a fun Fairy tale related prize pack! 

And now. . .. your sentence.   

  A dangerous path lay before me.  My own life would be saved if I decided to walk away. . . but would it be worth it? 

Details and Rules: 

Your story must be longer than 300 words but no longer than 10,000 words.  

Your story must have a beginning, middle and end. 

The sentence I have given you, MUST be in your story. 

This contest begins March 6th at Midnight and ends on March 9th at Midnight.  The winner will be selected shortly after.  

For every friends that you get to enter this contest, you will gain an extra point.  (Please make sure to tell me that you referred them) 

You can enter your story in the comments but if you would rather not you can e-mail me: nothought2small(at)gmail(dot)com

Please include a link to your blog in your comment/e-mail. 

And now. . . have fun and go write a short story! 

Sign up to help Danyelle Leafty buy Kindles for Kids!

Author Danyelle Leafty is doing an amazing thing for kids in the hospital.  

Please go read what she is doing HERE.  Then come back here and sign up to help.  

Starting March 12th I will be giving away three e-copies of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA: CATSPELL .  And to one lucky winner, A grand prize pack including a Paperback copy of The Fairy Godmother Dilemma: Catspell, swag, a journal and more! 

All you have to do to enter is help spread the word!  Get the word out about this amazing thing that Danyelle is doing to help kids! 

The giveaway will end on March 30th and winners will be announced on March 31st.  

While you will not be able to enter to win until I post on March 12th, I do encourage you to help spread the word right now.  Everything you do now will count towards your entries on March 12th. 

SPREAD THE WORD! 

Winner Announcements!

If you saw the Giveaway Central post, you know that I was giving away a HUGE prize pack if we could get 1000 followers/ participants for the A to Z April Blog Challenge by March First.  

Sadly we didn't make it but we got really close. SOOOOO as a thank you, I am still giving away some prizes!

Soooooooooo. . . .the Winner is *Drum roll please* 

Laura Marcella

Congratulations, Laura! An e-mail will be sent shortly. 

And now. . .. Announcing the winners of the Key of Kilenya giveaway! 

*Drum Roll (again) please*

The Winners Are:

Ron Easton for Dads UnLimited,

Debra Harris-Johnson,

Connie,

IC.Fisher

&

Rachel V

Congratulations to the winners!  Thank you for your participation!  Andrea will be e-mailing the winners with your free e-copy of The Key of Kilenya. 

Don't forget that I have the Pay it Forward giveaway still going.  You can check that out HERE!

Catch Fire blog party!

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. CHECK OUT  Alex’s site for details! 

CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities. 

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today!

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

Are you gonna help CassaFire catch fire?  Cause this is one amazing event you don't want to miss out on! 

And if you still aren't convinced that you should buy this book (or try to win Alex's HUGE giveaway)  Watch this amazing book trailer and I think your mind will be changed!  

Okay,  now you don't need to stick around here any more!  (Although you are welcome to :D )  Go check out Alex's blog and giveaway!  And go buy the book!

The Key of Kilenya~By Andrea Pearson: Interview, Review and Giveaway

Please welcome Andrea Pearson, author of The Key of Kilenya.  Read the wonderful interview, a review of The Key of Kilenya and then find out how you can win a copy of the book! 

Interview: 

Konstanz: If you had the ability to see the future and saw a disaster coming,

what would you do about it?

Andrea: I'd prepare for it and warn my family and friends. Then I'd go

about my normal life, making sure to keep my husband close in case I

needed rescuing. :-)

Konstanz: Favorite book you've written?

Andrea: Ember Gods, the second book in my Kilenya Series. I also enjoy

August Fortress (third book), but for different reasons. Ember Gods has a

lot of character development—you get to know Jacob's older brother, Matt,

a lot better. He's really funny. I love the dialog and back-and-forth

bantering. August Fortress has a slightly more serious feel. They're

getting down to business, and spending a lot of time in Eklaron, trying to

figure things out. As such, they run into a ton more magical traps and

dangerous creatures. There's still a lot of bantering, but again, it's

more intense than book two.

Konstanz: What is your biggest fear?

Andrea: My husband getting injured, hurt, or anything that would

drastically affect him in a negative way.

Konstanz: Funnest part of being an author? 

Andrea: Hearing from readers! I love hearing what they like and think

about what they've read. It's a lot of fun!

Konstanz: If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would it be?

 (From which book?)

Andrea: Probably the Fat Lady or Gallus. I like both of them. They're in the

entire Kilenya Series. The Fat Lady is over six feet tall and weighs

several hundred pounds. She squeals in excitement, and scares some of my

readers. :-) Gallus is a tall, imposing black man, who intimidates Jacob

(my main character), but is honest and straight forward. They're both good

people.

Konstanz: What's your favorite food?

Andrea: Italian! I like meat and cheese and caesar salads. My favorite restaurant

is Olive Garden, probably. (Yeah, not so much of a high-roller, this one.

:-))

Konstanz: Do you listen to music while you write?  (Why?/ Why not?)

Andrea: Most definitely! :-) I like the background noise. And it has to be

something I've heard before, otherwise I listen rather than write.

Konstanz:  Are any of your characters based on real people?  

Andrea: Several of them are compilations of people I've met or seen in movies. A

couple are from my imagination completely, but I've found it's harder to

do that than it is to base them off of real people.

Konstanz: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Andrea: Hire an editor and cover artist, if you want to be an Indie author.

Learn as much as possible about the publishing world – Indie publishing

(going at it on your own, like I am), or traditional. If you don't

understand traditional publishing thoroughly, don't go the Indie route. (A

lot of writers self-publish because they're afraid of rejection or because

they don't want to put the work into finding representation. I don't

recommend doing this.) Make sure you know where you want to be. Set goals

and achieve them. :-)

And now. . . .

The Review:

Synopsis:

A magical key has been stolen, and Jacob must retrieve it as soon as possible to protect his family and our world from danger. 

Fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark's life is about to change when two vicious wolves chase him through a gateway from our world to another. They've been sent by the Lorkon--immortal and evil beings from the world Edana, who know Jacob and that he possesses powers which they desire to control. 

He escapes the wolves and spends the night in the safety of a tree. The next morning, not knowing he is in a different world, he is surprised to be greeted by strange, human-like creatures. 

They beg his assistance in recovering a magical key--which was stolen by the Lorkon and is mysteriously linked to him. He has two choices: help these people, or not. If he helps them he will be in great danger. If he doesn't, his family and our world will be, as the Lorkon will stop at nothing to unlock the key's and Jacob's powers. 

He makes his choice and begins a quest of self-discovery and danger.

Sounds amazing, does it not? 

Review:

I read the first paragraph and was hooked.  Curious and wanting more.  Wanting to know what was going to happen.  From the first paragraph to the end I was kept captivated.  It was amazing how fast I kept turning the page.  

Andrea spins a tale so wonderful once you start it you won't want to put it down!  And when you finally get to the end of The Key of Kilenya, you will be clambering to get your hands on book two. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the pacing was wonderful and the character development was beautifully done.  There were a few scenes that got dull.  As well as Cliche. But still a wonderful book worth reading! 

Overall I give 'The Key of Kilenya'

Four Stars  

The giveaway: 

And now. . . I am giving a copy of the book away!  That's right!  You can win a copy of 

The Key of Kilenya! . . . Actually we are giving away FIVE E-COPIES of The Key of Kilenya! 

How to win:
Comment on this post and leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you win!

Bonus entry(s): Share this post with all your friends!
Be a follower of my blog
Follow Andrea's blog here

This giveaway ends on March 1st at Midnight.  Open internationally.

This giveaway is now closed.  Winners to be announced soon! 

IT'S GIVEAWAY CENTRAL!

Okay friends! I have got some awesome giveaways coming up!  

On Monday I will be doing an interview with Andrea Pearson along with a book review and a giveaway.

On Tuesday I will be announcing a new book release (and giveaway from the author, Alex J. Cavanaugh) 

And while all that is going on,  The Pay it Forward giveaway is still going.  (You can check that out HERE)

And with all of these giveaways going on,  I am adding another one starting today! 

The A to Z blog needs to see some more action.  SOOOOOO  if the A to Z blog gets 1,000 followers by March first I will giveaway a HUGE prize pack!  Full of Swag, some Books, a Journal, and More! 

How do you enter?  Go follow the A to Z blog HERE and then come back here and comment on this post letting me know that you did so.  Simple as that! 

And while you're there,  be sure to look at all the amazing banners and badges to decorate your blog with, and if you haven't already,  sign up for the Challenge! 

Bonus points if you 'Like' the A to Z Facebook page as well.  

While I encourage everyone to follow and participate,  unfortunately I can only ship prizes within the US.  Sorry. 

This giveaway ends on March First at midnight and the winners will be announced soon after.  Please leave your e-mail in the comments so I can contact you if you win.

If you are already signed up, you are still welcome to enter to win.


This giveaway is now closed.  More to be announced soon! 

My Dragon Collection

I have some pictures of my collection up.  Not all of them but a good size piece. (Okay really I have tons more but you know what I mean)

You can check it out HERE!

Really?? Really?? It has a dragon on it! Participate!

Okay, seriously how can you NOT want to participate in the A to Z April Blog challenge when you can have  badge on your blog like that??  

It's awesome!!  Beautiful! It has a DRAGON ON IT!   (Can you tell that I like this badge?)   

Do you like this badge?  Not sure?  Maybe not your thing?  Don't worry,  there are tons of others to choose from.  

 

Here's another one  I really like.  (It doesn't have a Dragon on it but it's still pretty cool) 

Still not sure?  

How about this one? 

 

Okay, really if you aren't sure by now that you want to join this challenge I have another one for you. . . .

Now seriously. . . who doesn't love Daffy Duck and  Bugs Bunny???  

(Okay so maybe you don't. . .)

BUT! I have one more that I know will work! 

 Who doesn't just LOVE Mickey Mouse?  

Now if you still haven't seen one that you like. . . never fear!!  You can check out the A to Z blog HERE and check out some more.  If you want to go directly to the Banners and Badges page you can CLICK HERE! 

And just so you know, you shouldn't join this challenge just because there are pretty badges and banners for your blog.  BUT you should join this challenge because it is a pretty amazing challenge that will bring TONS of fellow bloggers to your blog and it is a wonderful challenge that helps you get in the habit of posting everyday, or at least on a regular schedule.