Sunday, July 30, 2017

"The Blood Race" Blog Tour || Interview with K A Emmons!!

I'm very excited to announce that I'm a part of The Blood Race Blog Tour!!! Guys, this book was seriously amazing, Kate did a fantabulous job!! I've got here a little interview with author Kate Emmons herself!! Enjoy!! 




1. Do you have a favorite character in your book?


That’s a hard one. The answer is yes, but more than one. I have a really deep attachment to Hawk, Icarus, Fin, and Sensei. Each character has taught me something from writing them, and each one has a little something special about them. In Hawk and Icarus, I see much of myself. Hawk in her personality, and how she strives to be strong in spite of her weaknesses, and Icarus in how he just longs to be who he was made to be-- and he’s frustrated when he feels like he falls short. He’s full of doubt, but there’s a heck of a lot of hope under that skin of his, too.


Sensei because… where do I even begin? There were many instances when I began to feel as though it wasn’t even me writing his character anymore, but that he was his own character speaking to me through the pages I was writing; giving me advice that I desperately needed to hear. During the editorial process, there were so many times when I would read back over a line I didn’t even remember writing, and think “wow… I needed to hear that.” There’s something divine about his character, and I feel that God put so many words in his mouth that I needed to hear. I hope perhaps they’re words that others may need to hear as well.


Fin because he is honestly one of the most beautiful people I have ever created. He’s constantly pumped up on hope, even when things are crashing down around him. He’s a loyal-till-the-ender type, a fearless fighter, yet no one will ever love as hard as he does.



2. How long did it take you to write the Blood Race?


It took me about five months, I believe. It’s funny, because I usually don’t keep track of time very well, and I really don’t pay attention to it when I’m on a roll with a book. But looking back, it was about a five month process from the idea’s inception to the finished draft.



3. Did you ever have days when you just didn't feel like writing? What did you do to get yourself back into the writing mood?


Oh, yes. I definitely had those days - don’t we all? Some days are just low energy days, or my head will be in a thousand places and I have a hard time pinning it down to the page. I find that doing something completely different usually helps get me back into my groove - and that tends to be anything that will get me out of the house. (#hermitlife). Grocery shopping, going out for coffee with my husband, or a hitting the track for a run, anything that gets my mind thinking about something other than whatever it is I may be stuck on.


I’m also a firm believer in talking it out, and my sister (a brilliant writer herself, and an unabashed creative) is usually instrumental in helping me get back into the right headspace I need to be in to write a story well.


And when all else fails, there’s British television.



4. What inspired the Blood Race?


Tough one to answer! I feel like it wasn’t really any one thing in particular. I was literally just sitting in my living room one summer afternoon and the idea for the entire story just “dropped” into my head, so to speak. And I was like “dang. I need to write that thing.”


Beyond that though, I’m incredibly passionate about the idea that we are powerful. That we are all warriors beneath the skin, just as Sensei tells Hawk in the novel. We all carry the potential to be who we truly are inside of us already. And who we are is beautiful, is enough, is capable, and is, heck yeah, powerful.



5. What tip can you give to all the aspiring writers?


Just write you. Stop listening to/reading/studying ALL the advice, stop all the self criticism, stop constantly critiquing yourself, and just write like only you can. Regardless of what anyone tells you, there is no right or wrong way to write; it’s an art. So make your art. Make it in a way that makes your heart hum. Make the art that only you can. If it’s bringing you joy? You’re doing it right.


Thank you so much Katie!! I hope you all go read this amazing book!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, July 5, 2017


MODESTY

n.


the quality of being relatively moderate, limited, or small in amount, rate, or level.

behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.




So what is this modesty I speak of? It's hardly talked about in our modern, secular society. It's "old news". 

This is because the world has stopped asking the fundamental questions. 

Who are you? 

a child of God

To whom do you belong?

I belong to my Divine Creator

Why are you here? 

I am here to learn to know, love, and serve my Lord in this world and this life. 

What is your life about?

my life is about Him who loves me. 

My life is not about me. 

My life is not about me.

My life is about Him who is SO MUCH MORE than me. 

My life is about learning about HIM.

My life is about SERVICE TO GOD.

My life is about LOVE. Love for God.



People sometimes take this to an extreme too. They think it means we must hate ourselves. NO, of course not. How could we hate ourselves?? God looked at the world and decided it need YOU in it. The world, with the majestic mountains, the shimmering lakes and pulsing oceans, the stars in the sky--needed you. And so how could we hate ourselves? 

But we must remember that God created us. 

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about finding who God meant for you to be.

Life isn't about creating yourself. Life is about figuring out who God has already created you to be. 

You mean so much to Him. 

Don't throw it away by being immodest, in any sense of the word. 

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who burns inside you. Your body is not yours to abuse. 

Pride cannot take over you. Anything good you've done or have in your life has come from the grace of God. 
And I don't say that to discourage. That should encourage. 

He loves you. Remember that.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Hello July!



Whoa what I PROMISE IT WAS JUST FEBRUARY! 

Also why is February spelled so weird. Feb-you-air-ee. Is that not how we pronounce it? Is that not how it should be spelled? 



Hi guys!! June is over and WOW AM I GLAD because, fun fact, July is my favorite month x). WHY, YOU ASK. Because it's the epitome of summer! Because fireworks and barbecues and beaches and pools and milkshakes and bare feet and hot sand and NO STRESS YAY. 

LIFE THINGS

June was freaking stressful! I wrote five essays for my college application. Five essays. It was difficult and I almost died, but no worries, because I finished the whole application and sent it in the other day! Also I have a job interview on Monday, praise the Lord, because I need a job badly. It's at this local cafe and I'm really excited x). 

I've been exercising more. I stopped putting sugar in my tea (AUDIBLE GASP FROM AUDIENCE). I tried an improv class? (I suck) I've been going to daily Mass with my brothers, which is so helpful, because not only is it just a good thing to do, it helps give my day a bit of structure. In the beginning of summer I was sleeping in until like ten or eleven. Blah. And then I would feel very lethargic for the rest of the day. NO SIR. I now make myself get up at eight and go to Mass and then I come home and go for a walk or go out to breakfast with my brothers or something, and then I GET THINGS DONE. Like crazy long applications or reading or writing or whatever. 

Also I've started watching Downton Abbey and I need someone to flail with. 

WRITING THINGS

So remember my plot-less book? It now has a plot!! And I've started writing it! And it's all very exciting. Updates to come. 

I also wrote five essays. 
Oh the joy of that sentence. 

But seriously I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a story. I'm still debating NaNo this coming November, maybe I'll do it but I just can never tell what my schedule will be like that far into the future (I don't even know what I'm eating for lunch yet.) I hope to do it though. 

BOOK THINGS

I received an ARC of the Blood Race from Kate! I have not finished it yet but I LOVE IT SO FAR, THANK YOU KATE FOR WRITING THIS!! 

I tried to read this book about the Salem witch trials, but I have such a huge TBR pile that I returned it to the library because I couldn't let myself be distracted. I have a bunch of books to read for this summer program I'm going to in a few weeks. 

BY THE WAY I will be gone next month, due to that, and won't be able to post a Hello August post, NOR WILL I BE ABLE TO POST ON MY BLOGOVERSARY! I'll be gone for my third blogoversary! But I'll post as soon as I get back, a few days after. 


JUNE WAS...

//foggy days

//coffee mugs

//sparkly tattoos

//eating ice cream straight from the carton

//burgers

//airplanes

//small crowded kitchens

//melted chocolate

//wet grass

//dressing up

//board games

//rap and crazy driving

//headlights on a deserted road

//early morning bird chirps

//butterflies

FAVORITE JUNE MOMENTS...

//toasting marshmallows over the kitchen stove

//baking with my friends and trying not to eat all the brownies

//watching my cousin throw his tassel and cap into the air

//curling up on the couch with ice cream, watching Downton Abbey

//hiding away in the corner of the kitchen with my cousins, dressed up from a fancy event, watching movies on someone's laptop

//looking out at an airplane runway and trying to figure out how we could steal one of the planes x)

//discovering new cafes

//running down a dirt road late at night, laughing too loudly

//exhaling as I finally hit submit and sent in the final part of my college application


LET'S TALK! HOW WAS YOUR JUNE?