Fun Friday!

Hey y'all! I've been feeling a little under the weather this week. I'm hoping that I'll be 100% for the WEEKEND!! To psych myself up for this I'm going to post some pretty pictures...yay!! These were some random shots taken during the "greatest day ever," and edited by yours truly using Photobucket. I don't proclaim to be a photographer but I do like pretty things and I try to capture them on film when possible. (Do we even still use this phrase "on film" since everything is all digital now?? And usually it's not me taking the pic, it's me telling hubs take pic of X. Although, I do believe I managed to take all of today's selection.) As you look at these I hope they bring you as much pleasure as they bring me. I encourage you, take moments in your busiest days to enjoy all the BEAUTY around you!  Anyways, enjoy these photos and quotations. Oh, and of course, have a FABULOUS weekend!

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." ~Ashley Smith

Angel of the Garden

"See the BEAUTY in the little things."

Flowers

"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives."
Albert Einstein

Courthouse in Covington

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lily Pads and Water Lily

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
Confucius

Lion and Petunias

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." 

~Franz Kafka

What plans do you guys have the the weekend? Anything fun going on? What are you reading? I'm about half way in Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris. Next up, I'm reading Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout. I love comments, so leave me some! :-)

Interview With an Author: Karen Colley

Have I got a treat for you guys!! (Note: read this whole post! J ) Yesterday, was an good day. I had lunch with my mom and sister, had frozen yogurt with mom and my good friend and then went strawberry pickin’ with my mom. But this post isn’t just about me having a super fun day. There is a bigger point to this post. While enjoying our fro-yo, I interviewed said friend, author Karen Colley. Her debut Christian fiction novel Cord of Three came out about a year ago. Since I started a blog and recently confessed my undying love for all things literary in my last post I thought, I should take advantage of such a great wealth of knowledge.

First, let me tell you about my friend Karen. She was a police officer for 14 years and now works in dispatch. She has two adult daughters and two grandchildren. She has lived in Athens, Georgia her whole life. She has been my friend for a couple years now and has offered me sound, Godly advice on more than on occasion. I’m super proud of her for getting this book out and I had the extreme pleasure of helping her edit it before it came out. (I’m an awful speller but I’m really good at catching errors in continuity and making sure a story flows.) Here's our discussion:

Allison: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Karen: Ever since I could write, I’ve always tried to write little stories. I’ve always loved to read and always have had a good imagination. I’ve always written something: poems, or short story, in a diary or journal.

　


Allison: Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Karen: It just comes to me. Sometimes, I can just be sitting in a room listening to conversations and an idea comes to me. Sometimes from my own past experiences. I try to write in a positive way that can teach someone something good.

　


Allison: Can you give us a summary of Cord of Three? What is the message of the book?

Karen: Cord of Three is about three friends in their mid-life stage. It’s about a time when a woman would say “what now?” The kids are grown. They are waiting for things to happen, that they have been waiting on and believing in God that will happen for a long time. Things start falling together and falling apart. [The message is] Not to give up on Faith in God is number one. Never give up on God and hopes and dreams. And cling tight to the people you love the most. Enjoy the relationships and grow in the relationships with your friends and be there for one another.



Allison: Is there a particular scene from Cord of Three that stands out to your?

Karen: Sophie goes to Abbey’s house and she’s had a bad day, nothing is working right. She’s having a pity party and Abbey just went off on her. And has to set her in line. That particular scene really happened in my life. When you have a friend that will not allow you to sit in your self pity, that is what friendship is about.

　

　

Allison: What does Cord of Three mean to you?

Karen: Cord of Three means a lot to me because its one time in my life that I accomplished something that I have always wanted to accomplish.

　

Allison: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Karen: The job has just begun after its been published. Writing is the easy part. They take your baby, something you've created and shred it to pieces. Its hard because you have edit. There are all these decisions to be made. It is very overwhelming. You wonder how it will ever fall into place.



Allison: Can you tell us about the process of writing a book?

Karen: I just write what comes to me. Then I go back and edit. I don’t look at it till its almost done. Then have someone else read it, listen to their suggestions and then I make the final decision.


Allison: Do you ever experience writers block? How do you deal with it?

Karen: So many times. I lay it down. Walk away and comeback.

　


Allison: What do you think makes a good story?

Karen: The message in a story. The reality of the story. We use books as an escape but also, there has to be a bit of reality in there. So we can say this is possible. From the Christian aspect, where if God can do it for this person He can do it for me. Trying to convey a message of hope through the writing.

　


Allison: Who is your favorite author and book?

Karen: I have two. First, Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor--way back when I was younger, it was a feel good book I liked to read over and over, a soppy romance story to read over and over. And the next, is a small, unknown book... God on a Harley [by Joan Brady]--gives you hope, the name is a little off kilter and teaches you to let go of things in order to pick up the good stuff and grow in who you are.

　


Allison: Do you have any advice to aspiring authors?

Karen: Don’t give up. Write, write, and write some more. As Stephen King said, if you have to wallpaper with rejection letters…

　


Allison: Is there anything you’d like to share with readers and fans?

Karen: Yeah, everybody has a purpose in this life. You can do it. NO matter what it looks like, what people say, how you feel. With God all things are possible.

　


Allison: How can readers get in touch with your and/or get your books?

Karen: They can order copies from Tate Publishing on line. (http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61663-611-1). Feel free to email me at karencolley2277@yahoo.com

　


So, if this wonderful interview isn’t enough…how would you like to have your very own copy of Cord of Three signed by author Karen Colley?? Just become a follower of my blog and then leave a comment under this post. I only have one copy to give away, the winner will be selected randomly, and at this time I am only able to send to a US address. Contest ends May 8^th at midnight. (Hopefully, that means I can get the book in the mail and you could even have your copy before Mother’s Day, which is May 13^th in case you didn’t know!)Thanks for reading y’all!

*I bought the copy myself. Book retails for $20.99

Obession Confession:

Hello. My name is Allison. And I am a Readaholic.

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ~Dr. Seuss

　

I was going to post a review on a book I just finished but the more I thought about it, I first wanted to share about my love of reading. It seems natural to me, that understanding my love of reading should come before my attempt at explaining a book I have read. To begin, I have enjoyed reading for quite a long time. I remember in my early elementary days being really jealous of the kids who knew how to read before me but it didn’t take me long to catch up. I remember adoring that special time of the year known as the “Book Fair” and being thrilled when the teacher sent home those thin paper book “catalogues.” My mother, bless her heart, would usually end up buying me a book or two. My most exciting elementary book memory was when she got me the subscription to The Baby-Sitters Club club. Every month three books would come to me in the mail with little notebooks, pencils, and assorted prizes. I believe this might have been when my obsession with books began.

As I got older, into my late high school and college years, I didn’t read for fun as much. I was supposed to be studying and just didn’t make time for reading. But I eventually found my way back to my old love. Now this is the part where I must beg you not to judge. What really reignited my passion for reading was…Twilight. Yes, I know, I‘ve heard all the arguments against the series. (I realize it is not the most brilliant piece of written word and that Bella is not the best female role model.) But, alas, I can’t help it. I loved it and still do! Once I read the Twilight saga, I started searching out similar stories: other vampire books, other young adult fiction, other supernatural creatures, other love stories, so forth and so on. Now I am reading a fairly diverse set of fiction but I have found that I truly love the genre referred to as Young Adult Literature (YA). (Besides Twilight, think Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and many others you might not be familiar with…yet, but don‘t worry if you keep reading my blog you‘ll soon find some other good reads.) I think what I enjoy most about YA is the books are [usually] well written. (Think about it, kids wouldn’t waste their free time reading a book that wasn’t any good.) And also, I am enamored by angst filled love stories.

When I read a good book, I’m the kind of person who starts to think of the characters as my friends. I experience a sense of loss when the book is over. (This is why I tend to gravitate towards book series, my friends don‘t leave me yet! YaY!) I’ve been known to both laugh and cry while reading. Words can be incredibly powerful and beautiful. I think that I generally just love words. I love quotes, song lyrics, listening to public speakers, and good conversations. I love a good turn of phrase. And I just really adore books.

These days I try to read as much as possible and I stalk, I mean passionately follow, authors whenever possible. (My hubs just called me an “author groupie,” ha ha.) But really authors are like rock stars in my eyes. There is nothing like having a book signed by the person that wrote it, especially after you have gotten to hear them explain some of their thoughts, process, and experiences. The books just seem to come more alive at that point.

Confession: I originally only gave my number to now husband because he had the book hook up at his job. Lucky for me he turned out to be almost as big a book nerd as me! In our house we have a whole room dedicated to our “library” with probably, no lie, over 600 books. Hubs estimates we have gone to 10-20 book signings in the past 2.5 years.

The point being, I am a passionate reader and it is a HUGE part of me. I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on books that I have enjoyed and hope that you will to. And I hope you will share with me any good books you come across, lest my “to be read” pile starts to dwindle.

Be looking out for my first review on “Whatcha Reading Wednesday!” I just finished Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare and I’m starting Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich. I also try to keep an audio book going in the car, my current selection is An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.  Happy reading y‘all!!!