Wishing you a Happy Holiday

The season of giving and reflection is upon us, and I find myself wondering what 2016 will bring. I have been so proud of what I accomplished this year. In that pride, I wanted to share with you the accomplishments I had. I don't have a gratitude jar. I do not have a hard copy of every positive moment, but I do have a small list of things I am extremely happy about.

1. I published two books of poetry. Expressions of the Soul was published at the VERY end of 2014. Stolen Moments was a culmination of poetry from 2015. These two books contain snippets of my life through poetry as the words have come to me. Some of them explore the area I grew up in with fondness. Some of them capture the current events. I am excited to share the next volume of poetry with you.

2. I was fortunate enough to publish not one, but two websites this year. It was a little difficult to get the hang of; however, I got it done and love the outcome. You can visit www.sarahmchatton.com or www.cristienoll.com anytime you wish.

3. If the above two were not enough to make my year, I wrote and edited a new Paranormal romance called Into the Meadow. It is book one in the Running Rampant series. I loved the experience. I loved the outcome. I loved the book cover image. I loved the finished product. Above that, I cried when I held the finished book in my hand!

Whatever your experience in 2015, I would like to wish you Happy Holidays and good tidings. Whatever comes, whatever has been, whatever will be, and whatever is...we are all connected through love, joy, heartache, sadness, and happiness. Until next year...

Giving Thanks...and stuff

Hello Readers. November has never been about turkey for me. I do not enjoy it much; however, what I do enjoy is the crisp air, giving thanks for what I have and what I have accomplished, and spending time with my family. These moments are a way to remind me that I have many, many things to be happy about. No matter how small they may seem, each moment is a small cog in a huge wheel.

In 2015, I have been thankful for:

1. The support of my husband Robert, and my best friend Christian. Without them, I wouldn't know where life was heading.

2. My extended family - numerous and crazy, but always there.

3. Accomplishing some of the goals I set for myself. I will go into detail in a future post.

4. Having the creative mind to set up several future projects (I cannot wait to share)

5. For not killing my vegetables and fruit plants.

6. Peaches N Cream corn. If you haven't tried it, you should. I grew a patch this year and it was amazing.


I hope that your year has given you something to be thankful for. Remind yourself to take a moment each day and be thankful for what you have got.

Into the Meadow - Running Rampant #1 - A Paranormal Romance

I thought I would share the cover to Into the Meadow - Running Rampant #1. I found the cover on a website called SelfPubBookCovers. It was created by an artist called FrinaArt. The image fits so perfectly with the novel. I hope you check it out!

Without further ado...

A New Pen Name and a release!

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be announcing the release of a new book under the pen name Cristie Noll. I have spent some time working hard on this book, and I am extremely proud to release it. Below you will find some links to interact with my new pen name. You, of course, can always interact with me through the blog, the Sarah McHatton Facebook page, Sarah McHatton on Twitter, or Sarah McHatton on Google Plus.

Cristie Noll is the name I will write all my romance novels under. As of right now, I have Into the Meadow available for purchase through Amazon. Here's the description:

Sophia Morgan Barlow faked her own death to escape the grasps of her abusive and deranged husband. Determined to start a new life, she finds herself in the small town of Stoney Brook working as a maid. Everything she has ever wanted in a mate appeared in her life as her new boss and is entirely off limits. Or so she thought...

Cade Branham had two goals in mind when he moved his pack to a sleep town in Tennessee at the base of the Smoky Mountains: reintroducing red wolves and modernizing his pack...until he met Sophia. Now he finds himself pursuing the woman of his dreams with a past that could destroy all his plans. 

Together, they fight the drawl of attraction as Sophia comes face-to-face with a reality she cannot escape.

This new book is under the category of Paranormal Romances. I am delving into Werewolves in this series. It is the first in the Running Rampant series. The series will continue to delve into Werewolves and perhaps some characters from the previous book.

There are many future projects under Cristie Noll. Please stay tuned for more information on releases through the website and this blog.

The Quiet Moments

There is a subtle shift that happens this time of year where muted colors turn brilliant and the air chills gradually until it stings your nose with every breath. It is in those moments and with those changes that I find a level of creativity that is unmatched. New ideas spring up and begin unfurling the branches that will create the bones of stories. I struggle to keep up and continue to work on the ever increasing work load of writing.

In the past weeks, I have experienced many ideas that have been recorded and prepared for future projects. There are many exciting things coming in 2016. Until then, I have found that I love to curl up and enjoy the quiet moments. It allows me to take stock of the present, the past, and the future. I know that sometimes reflections happen near the end of the year, but we are still a ways off from that. And yet, I find myself this cool Autumn day doing just that. I look back through my year with awe and pride.

Even as reflection comes, I am immersed in the excitement for a new year and wondering what it might bring. Perhaps that is the point of today's post. Enjoying life for what it is now and looking forward to the future. There is no room for the past. Keep that in mind as you enjoy your Autumn!

Poetry Tuesday - A Title Release

The title and theme for my next poetry book has been figured out for quite a while. It came to me in a moment, and I never turned back. When I attempt to find a title and theme for my poetry books, I tend to focus on my own emotions and thoughts. The connection to that theme could be as exact or abstract as I feel in the moment of creation. And you may be wondering why, I am sharing with you the title and theme of my next poetry book.

Well...I finished my first poem for it. I thought it was an appropriate celebration of the next step.

Deep Connections

Deep Connections will visit new mediums, visual poetry, and highly emotional poems. I am constantly in awe at the depth of emotion I can tap into each time I put my fingers to the keyboard. There is no set release date for this next book of poetry, but I may share some topics I have written on in the future.

Please stay tuned for more Poetry Tuesdays.

Summer heat and welcoming Autumn

The long days of summer are still upon us here in Appalachia. August is usually the hottest month in my little area of the Smokies. And unfortunately, it is just beginning. Like still so many parts of the country, we are facing some higher than normal temperatures. Sensitive to heat, I do not venture out much during summer in the afternoons and evenings which means I miss part of the day in experience. What I have found is inspiration and peace underneath a blanket of stars. While living in Virginia Beach, the view of the stars were obscured. Being home...underneath so many brilliant stars is a wonderful experience.

What I have been able to do is stop and take in the sights and sounds of the darkness every single night. It has been amazingly inspiring. It is difficult to explain the action of sitting and absorbing everything around you. Your senses heighten. You hear rustles. Everything is clearer. Perhaps it is the fact that I have returned to my roots. Perhaps it is being surrounded by the country side, but I am constantly in awe with what I can experience even after all these years.

Given that the year is already half over, I am excited. My absolute favorite time of year is autumn. Not only does my birthday fall in line with my favorite time of year, but the temperature cools down, the air feels wonderful, and the brilliant colors that showcase around me are out of this world.

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to the chilly weather of October and November. It is the down cycle of life. Everything is preparing for the arrival of Old Man Winter. Plants begin to wither away. The ground becomes barren. And the rush of life seems to slow down.

Today, I am sharing with you an exercise. As a writer (or even a reader), step outside and absorb the environment around you. What it feels like. What you hear. What you smell. What you can taste. What you see. Capture it. Don't try to describe it. Just feel it.

It makes all the difference!

Sarah

New Website

One of the most important tools an author can have these days is a website. Not only is this the best way for any readers to view important information like upcoming appearances or new releases, but it is all information compiled into one place. My Twitter feed. My blog posts. It will all be available for you to view in one place.

You can click the picture or this link here to be taken to my new website.

I am looking forward to the feedback to my website, and to a future that is easier to maintain!

Poetry Tuesday - Struggling with Writer's Block

There comes a point in every artist's life where he or she is lacking the inspiration to accomplish the goals of art. For me, I gain the peace and inspiration to write from the environment around me. I could see something interesting, or hear a conversation, and be sparked into a fury of writing. At other times, I sit poised with my hands above the keyboard wondering why I am not doing something else. It is a little harder to fake it until you make it with poetry. I tend to want to seek that perfect inspiration...that one moment that becomes brilliantly clear and beautiful...before writing poetry.

But that's not realistic. It sounds wonderful. And what artist wouldn't want to have that type of inspiration every time they sat down with a writing utensil? Everyone of them would! That doesn't make an artist. What makes an artist is the ability to work through life's torments and trials to create something beautiful. To work through writer's block. To work without inspiration. It makes that "Ah-Ha" moment all the better.

I recently struggled with this mentality. The one where I wait for inspiration. It never works. I always sit and wait. If I held my breath, I would have died many, many times over. Life sometimes takes center stage. And it's okay! I do not have to be creating all the time, even if my brain goes a mile a minute. What I have to do is keep taking the steps toward accomplishing my goals through whatever obstacle that gets put in the way.

Including writer's block.

Perhaps writer's block is just an excuse that we use to take a break, but I am sure glad that, as a poet and a writer, I am working on evolving past inspiration based writing and focusing on being better. That is my advice to you. Do not seek inspiration. Seek clarity of life, and use how you feel, what you think, and what you experience as your guide to writing. It will never steer you wrong.

Poetry Tuesday - Unexpected Source

Have you ever had a moment of clarity? A moment with a feeling or a thought that comes to your mind so vividly and full of potency that you cannot ignore it? Well, I have to say that I have. And it is surprising in a good way, because it provides me with a chance to be more mindful and grow as a person. Growth and maturing happens to every human being (for the most part). One would think that it is less likely to be as potent and vivid at middle age. Yet, here I was...smacking the pavement pretty hard. With my face.

I wish I could say that, at 31 years old, I would have already learned the lessons that I needed to be taught; however, that isn't the case. Anyone who has read my poetry would know that I do not shy away from deep emotions. In fact, I tend to explore them. So when I found myself in a bout of PTSD from childhood abuses, I struggled against the knowledge and need to change my mentality.

Let me try to paint the picture:

You lose yourself. It is like floating over your body and viewing the world around you. You are unable to act. You are unable to speak. You can only feel, but it never helps. If you are lucky, it won't take time to return to your normal life.

I wasn't so lucky this time, but what it did was create a chance for growth. As person. As poet. As a writer. It gives me experience to write about. It gives me knowledge to create realism and emotion. And in the midst of that growth experience, I found myself at a blog post by a therapist who had experienced some negative issues as a child too. Something she said resonated with me so deeply that I still am unable to shake what she said. It made me focus on me and who I was as a person.

And that is the start of reflective writing...or in my case, reflective poetry. It's that raw emotion that creates amazing works! So ask yourself if you have some soul searching to do. If the answer is yes, perhaps you have the next unexpected source of material.

Fireflies - A Free Preview - Expressions of the Soul

Fireflies

A peaceful night filled with chirps of crickets,

The rush of a cascading stream,

And the wind blowing gently through the leaves

A rocking chair, beckoning and calling

For the lone woman who rocks it

Back and forth, creaking

The light fades, sucking the warmth from the air

Leaving a chilly peace

Darkness arrives as they come

One by one, flickering and floating

Lighting up the sky and trees

Holding her breath she waits

The yellow pulse of individuals calling for a mate

Then, a release of breath

Waiting for the treat

The pulses match, creating and morphing

Into image after image

Synchronizing at a fast rate

Imagined flowers and diamonds

Light up the woods

As firefly after firefly blink

The twinkling and the chill

Fill her with glee

As she rocks gently, back and forth

Alone in the world, this woman feels calm

Viewing her fireflies

In the still of the night

Stolen Moments - Now Available

Stolen Moments

A small hummingbird flit across my vision as I sat in my living room. Hovering in front of my glass door, I watched as it swung it's head around and regarded me with a peaked curiosity. In that moment, I was attempting to come up with the central theme of my next work of poetry. I was lost in what I wanted to do. And here was this magnificent creature that flew into my life in an important moment. All I could do was focus my energy on this little bird. Perhaps it was divine intervention, or just an amazing coincidence. What I found in that moment was a breath of time. A moment. A memory. That one little moment where time stopped and I was able to take in something in such clarity and with such peace that I was shaken to my core and forever changed. Within seconds, the hummingbird flew away leaving me stranded, changed, and extremely pleased. In that moment, I had found the theme of my next poetry book. 

Stolen Moments is a collection of poetry that tries to capture the essence of a moment. It could be a moment like with the hummingbird, or something much larger, and longer. My goal was to capture life and moments I wanted to remember. I cannot say that it was an easy theme to develop, but I believe I accomplished what I set out to do.

This book is available in multiple formats. All of them can be purchased via Amazon.

Please feel free to contact me regarding purchases or for further information. I am looking forward to sharing my future projects with you.

Something about changes....

Here in the mountains of Appalachia, summer is descending at a subtle pace. I cannot explain the emotion of nostalgia and utter happiness that fills me when I smell that sweet scent of honeysuckle in the evening air and know that summer is soon to arrive. It happens every year. I drive along with my windows down and get hit with a pocket of delicious scent. All I want to do in that moment is stop and inhale the aroma.

It transports me back to my teenage years. I can remember honeysuckle blooming right as school was ending as if it was marking the beginning of freedom. Waking up late, lazy days spent exploring the area around our house and hanging out with friends. Evenings spent on the porch rocking in a chair and putting together puzzles as the fireflies gradually lit up the forest in front of me. At times, we would climb through the bushes and begin pulling the flowers off carefully before pulling the stamen from the flower. Darting our tongue out and savoring the sweet nectar with a flash burst that disappeared way too soon.

What it does now, as an adult, is bring back a sense of longing for a time with less responsibility and more freedom. Something that each of us long for and rarely get. As a writer, I use it to inspire.  I find that using those emotions, nature, and memories to create a piece of art helps purify those moments of nostalgia. It provides a tangible evidence of moment's past. It is almost like a cleansing of the soul. A way to change the past into something more happy. Much like the currents that are hidden underneath daily life, change is inevitable.

I have changed from that young, naive girl who savored the nectar of the honeysuckle. Through the years, my sight of the world has changed. I no longer see it as a world of wonder. I see the gruesome, the injustice, the downright disgusting. I see the base of human behavior and how with a touch we can destroy or uplift. And despite this change of sight, I still seek moments where I can transport myself to a time when life was simpler. I find myself lounging in the ever increasing summer winds hoping for the scent of honeysuckle and the boat to take me back.

Music and Writing

Sometimes I find myself in a quiet room alone with my computer. In those quiet moments, it is so easy for the story to find me and the characters to speak. There is no distractions. There is nothing that is calling for my attention. It is just me and my computer. I would love to say that those times exist everyday. Unfortunately, those quiet moments exist once in a blue moon. For the most part, I find myself in the living room with one or two people talking to others, cats knocking something over or fighting among themselves, machines running in the background, and general neighborhood noises punctuated by loud, rumbling sound systems that need a lot of work.

Because writing is important to me, I have to balance my life and surroundings with it. That is a hard task when you add everything into the mix. So the perfect way that I have found to drown out the distraction and noise is to listen to music. I am not talking about Soft Rock or the Top 40. I am talking about classical, no vocal music that invokes emotion and thought. There is no distraction beyond the conscience reaction to the emotions or the recognition of a song. It leaves me to focus on the story in an almost mindlessly way that does not exist for me in any other way. Even writing without music comes with some sort of distraction.

Distraction is an enemy of all writers! So with that in mind, here are my tips for picking music to write with. Remember, these tips should be taken like any other tips for writers. You need to find what works best for you. It will not be the same as me or any other writer! Experiment and find what works for you.

Tweet me!

It is uncommon to find modern authors without a Twitter account. In the spirit of progression, I have opened an account. Feel free to tweet me any time. I would love to talk with you. You can find me by clicking the picture below.

I will be announcing any sales, promotions, events, or announcements on Twitter along with Facebook, Blogger, and my website. Please check me out and say hello!

Poetry Inspiration from Appalachia

Good morning readers! I am sitting here in awe of nature. As you read, I am from a small mountain town in East TN. These mountains are the life blood of anyone who has been born here. There is an echo in the bone coming from the land and my heart. I cannot explain it for those who do not experience it beyond what I have. Be that as it may, spring is upon us. What I love is that the landscape changes so drastically. Just a few weeks ago, we had snow coming down, the land was barren with brown grass, and the trees were naked. Yep...naked! Now, the world has come alive. It is so miraculous and wonderful to see. I believe I have mentioned it before. One of the aspect I love about this area is the sheer amount of inspiration one can gain. So that's what I am going to talk about today.

I recently read a story about a West Virginia town where a small group of citizens held some photographers hostage because they were taking photos. The whole backing of this story seems completely vague. The citizen who started the ruckus seemed to believe that the photographers were taking photos of her children. When shown with the evidence that the photographer didn't take the photos, she continued to rant about stereotypes of documentaries and photographs to that area. Instead of bringing any positive thought toward our area, her actions and the action of the community paint us with the exact brush we hate - hateful, bigoted hicks who cannot see passed our own noses.

I live in a small Appalachia town just like these individuals. I see tons of tourists come and go. I have seen them stop and steal fruit off of trees and other such incidents. I have seen them stop in the middle of the road with no thought to traffic and take pictures. It is rude. It is uncalled for. But, I could never stand by the actions of those citizens of West Virginia. As a citizen and as an Appalachian American, I would never fault someone for being interested in our town, our nature, our home, or our people. It's part of who we are. We should be happy to share it.

I know. You are probably wondering what this has to do with poetry and why I went from talking about nature to West Virginia. Well...I can tell you. It has to do with sharing our "home" with someone who isn't from here. Home to me is the nature surrounding me. It is the people I share a community with. It is the family I spend holidays around. It is the history, the culture, and the lifestyle of each and every citizen in my area. Nature is just one part of that.

In the past few months, I have found that I have been inspired by not only nature but the people in which I grew up around and the history that paints the communities of Appalachia in such a horrible light. Yes, there is high amounts of poverty. Yes, there are high amounts of drug use. Yes, there are some people who barely have shoes to wear or food to put in their mouth. There are even people who exploit for gain. So when I am faced with a story like the one mentioned above, I am reminded of the broad brush we get painted with.

What is so strange is that when you take the word Appalachia out of the equation, you will see that those things happen in every place on earth. It can be happening in your own community. So when I look around my community and the Appalachia's, I am reminded of my history and my community. I see the negative things in life and hope for betterment of all. Just like you, and everyone else. 

Best Writing Advice

Isn't this a topic every aspiring or published writer can talk about until the cows come home? I cannot count, on my fingers and toes, the number of times I have been offered advice on writing. Writing tips are to writers as mommy blogs are to moms. They fit together like two peas in a pod, but not everyone likes peas. I remember trying to follow advice and tips to a T in the beginning. It was a priority of mine in the early days. Here, I thought, are individuals who have experience with writing and obviously know more than I do. So why not trust their judgment and accept their advice as the honest truth? What isn't mentioned by any of those writers or professors is that not all tips fit every writer.

Maybe it is something all writers develop - a desire to impart knowledge to the next generation. From that perspective, I can certainly stand behind gaining some insight to the world of writing. Yet, I often wonder, now, why I chose to follow some advice and tips instead of taking the steps toward finding my own voice. It is a precarious cliff. Follow the advice of published authors, or take a leap of faith, jump off the cliff, and find your own path with your own voice.

As an author in my 30's, I know the only advice I could really get behind was experience life first. You cannot write without experiencing life. Well, you can write without experiencing life, but it won't be realistic. You need to feel. You need to see. You need to smell. You should taste and touch. Those things make scenes and stories come to life. Writing without that experience is shown so well in 50 Shades of Grey. The author shows she has no knowledge of the actual life that she is writing about. Her words, when describing the books, are "All my fantasies in there, and that's it." I found this quote here. Fantasies is the operative word in that description. The roles she writes about would never play out in that manner. It's a woman's fantasy gone awry with poor grammar and unrealistic situations.

I am not saying you have to live a particular life to write about it. I am saying that research is a necessary part of your writing experience, but your own experience is paramount to that research. Those authors who do not research and who do not experience create a mass hysteria over nothing important. They turn into passing fads that are tossed aside for the next "sexy" thing presented to the world. I do not want to be that type of author.

I want my experiences to shape my writing. I want the essence of who I am to be ever present in each of my writings - poetry, fiction, or otherwise. I want to leave something important to the literary world that captures our society and presents a better way to cope. My experiences lend to my goals as a writer. So no matter what your experience level or how many tips you receive, figuring out what you ultimately want as a writer will shape the type of advice you should follow, what experiences you should seek, and what to avoid when writing.

Let your experiences guide your writing hand.

Writing Beyond Life

I am in a writing slump. I know! I know! There are many sayings about how a "real" writer writes no matter what life throws at them. It's a nice quotation, but not exactly truthful. Each of us get swamped with life to the point that we can hardly breathe. Let's be honest. Most authors feel like the day will go perfectly to plan. One will wake up happily, drink beverage of choice with a nice pastry or fruit salad, lift the screen of the laptop and putter the day away writing meaningful prose that would make Hemingway envious. Yeah...I am just as disillusioned as you are.

The truth is...life happens. I would love to say that I could sit down at any moment and write. It is actually a dream of mine. I can picture the above scenario in my head with no hesitation, but it doesn't always happen like that. I admitted I am in a writing slump, but here's the reason why: Depression is a bitch. Yep! I said it. Anyone who suffers from anything that affects their whole life would understand the sentiment.

Perhaps there are authors out there that spend all day writing with no distraction, understanding friends and family, and still have a semblance of a social life. I am unfortunately not one of them. If this struggle sounds familiar, then perhaps you are not one of those authors either. It's okay. It really is. You do not have to be a keyboard god to have a successful writing life.

So how do we get our mojo back?

Well...the obvious answer is to write. LOL! I know. Writing slump. No matter what you write, there is a lot of setup and creativity involved. Personally, I find other things to write - like this blog post. Something that will activate the mind and creativity without ruining a plot or character's life.

Before you do that though, you have to reassure yourself that it is perfectly natural to have a slump. Or ten! What makes you a "real" writer is your ability to not allow a slump to define your writing career or your ability to finish what you started. What is common among all authors is the act of putting one word after another on paper until the story is finished! That's an author. A real one. Take it easy on yourself. Writing shouldn't be easy. It should be gut wrenching, soul searching, and stomach gouging from beginning to end. If you can take those steps...one word at a time...you will accomplish the goals you set.

Poetry Tuesday - My Favorite Poem

There is a moment when you read or hear a poem for the first time that it touches you at a deep level. It is something so pure and so touching that you feel that the poet spoke words directly from your heart and curbs all your hurts and fears. I remember when I read my favorite poem. It was my junior year in high school in English Honors. Our professor was asking us to develop an author study on a list she had chosen. The whole aspect of the assignment was to view who was behind the writing and how it affected the outcome. In a way, it was created to connect young readers to authors and poets while destroying the barriers that exist of time, space, and even speech choices.

I didn't know it at the time, but my favorite poet ended up being similar to my own background - writing about rural life, Scottish in descent, didn't enjoy "normal" jobs, chose an education in English,  and suffered from bouts of depression. You may be wondering who this individual is. Well, I can tell you. My favorite poet is Robert Frost.

I am only part Scottish, but each of those connections were like a lifeline toward something I enjoyed and loved - writing and storytelling. There had been so much going on in my life - moving in with my father, my grandparents' deaths, a lack of real support emotionally, and a stifling atmosphere for creativity and thought. I stopped writing. Prior to moving in with my father, I spent the late hours of evening writing poetry in a small journal. At this time, I needed focus. I needed something that would clear my mind.

When I read The Road Not Taken, I knew that paths existed for each person. That the paths were usually trodden on by many before me. What I didn't seem to grasp was the way I perceived those paths. With this poem, I came to understand that choices were nothing like the black and white scheme pushed at me from the womb in America. There was so much grey that even the black and white was turning into a tie-dyed version of themselves. Perhaps it was my questioning nature or my desire for truth, but I used Robert Frost's poem as a way to view life.

Every choice has a different path. Every reaction creates a different atmosphere and scenery. My choices are not someone else's, nor do they affect someone else. It changed my mentality. As a young girl, I had no inclination of attending college. It never interested me. I spent months lolly-gagging around after graduating hoping to find something I enjoyed. I stayed away from writing. The fear was too great. What I feared was the rejection for my writing, which wasn't something I felt I could handle at the time. What I feared was that my path choice would be wrong. That small action would crush my tiny little flame.

I found a small job at a large book chain. I was surrounded by books and book lovers for hours and hours in a day. It was a peaceful job that continued to solidify my desire to be found in one of those stores later in life. Then, I got married to a man that provided the first real support in every way I had experienced in my life. So I began writing. Another path taken, but the path began to be covered with rubble. I struggled to put words to paper. I remember sitting there thinking how I would be able to write realistically when I hadn't experienced much. I continued trying to run from what I was and where I came from. It wasn't working.

Fast Forward through life!

I am back home. I am still married. I am still a writer. And I am now a published poet. I chose many paths that led me to where I am. None of them were greater or less than someone else's. What each of those paths were...was a stepping stone to a greater person and life. As I sit and reflect, I am happy that the poem and poet that chose to touch my heart was one that helped shape my direction. Even if I spend the rest of my life struggling to earn a living with writing, I will know that I am, and always will be, true to my heart's desires.

So I ask you, what is your favorite poem or poet? Has it shaped you into a different person and provided a different outlook on life?

A Little Bit of Inspiration

I would love to say that I am the type of poet who doesn't need a spot of inspiration to create beautiful, flowing poetry. I really would! It would make my day to wake up and just write poetry without a rhyme or reason, but unfortunately....I cannot. My inspiration has to be organically inspired. Yes, I just said that!

Where I live plays a huge part in my inspiration. At the base of the Great Smoky Mountains, I am surrounded by natural beauty in almost every aspect of life. I have a river a stone's throw away. The park is the same distance. Wildlife abounds around me. Flowers peek from hillsides, and there are birds singing every few feet. It is something that has always been a part of my life - the slow ebb and flow of life in Appalachia.

What I draw on, in my writing, is memories of the seasons, of the area, of the place I call home. The small moments of time, frozen in my memories, that capture the world I grew up in. A sweet, summery night cool from the crik and lit by the thousands of fireflies. A bone chillingly cold day of winter, piled high with snow. The awakening of life in spring with flowers opening and buds forming. The brilliant colors of leaves as they fell in their death dance in autumn. It is a life we lived outside and so connected to the world around us. One that lacked technology. One that most cannot look at without feeling uncomfortable at the high level of poverty without a thought of the love and the life found within.

Sometimes when I am surrounded by technology, I think of those summer days I use to lay in the shade of the mountain trees and enjoy the cool air blowing around me, uncaring of what was on television or what is being said on Facebook. In the midst of my life, I long for a time when I connected to the world around me instead of the world according to the computer.

Isn't that what our inspiration should be? Our connection to the world. What we see. What we feel. What we have. And what we love. Those small things that remind us that we are human, small and insignificant compared to the world around us?

So one of my goals this year in 2015 is to find that connection and to spend more time finding the world of my childhood.

Do yourself a favor!

Find the world around you!

Sarah

To Rhyme or not to Rhyme - Poetry Tuesday

Hello readers! December 2014 saw the publication of my first poetry collection - Expressions of the Soul. This collection ranges from my teenage years to November 2014 with many different topics. It was quite a few years of writing; however, the amount of poetry I came up with was around 77 poems. One may look at that number and wonder why I wasn't as active in my poetry writing. I know I sure did! When I published that first collection, I decided in 2015 I had to be diligent with my writing.

So, I decided to create a few goals for myself. I am going to share them with you today. I have two major goals.

Major Goals

1. Create as many poems as I can in 2015, but with a minimum of 2 per week.

AND

2. Publish 1-2 more collections of poetry in 2015.

These may seem like some strange goals, but the goal is to focus on writing what I enjoy and providing an emotional and spiritual side of myself instead of focusing on entertainment writing. Do not get me wrong. I love writing novels, yet I find myself more easily in poetry.

Number 1 gives me the total of 104 poems for the next book of poetry. What I have found in the beginning weeks of the year is that I am probably going to surpass this goal by a huge margin. That feels supremely great and provides me with the opportunity to publish more than one poetry collection this year, which leads to Number 2.

Besides the major goals, I have a few smaller goals. I am a free verse poet. I do not enjoy following the rules. I feel that it is to constricting. I want to have 100% control over flow and length. It just makes sense to who I am as a person and a poet. That being said, I have branched out a little in the visual aspects of my poetry and some of the rhyming. I can talk about some of it now, but the majority of it will have to wait until I publish one to share! I don't want to give away all my secrets!


Minor Goals

1. Create visual stimulating poetry.
2. Begin using some rhyming themes
3. Follow your inspiration
4. Build tension



As you can see, these minor goals are trivial in the long scheme of things. Above all else, I want my poetry to be enjoyed and emotional. I believe I provide that!

What are some of your writing goals?

Sarah

Poetry Tuesday - A New Weekly Post

When I started this blog, I thought it would be the perfect place to share some of my work, my ideas, my goals, and provide a place for authors, new and old, could come to connect with other writers. I will be honest. I had not thought this through as well as I should have. I didn't have any clearly defined goals passed the one mentioned above. I knew I wanted a place to write my thoughts. I knew I wanted a place to share my upcoming writing and my releases, but beyond that...nothing. What I was left wondering is what I could do as a weekly event that would benefit me and my readers.

Then it hit me. I write poetry, so why not have a poetry post each week. It made sense to me. So here's the idea.

1. I will create a scheduled post for Tuesday of every week.
2. It will be poetry themed. I could include an excerpt of a unpublished poem. I may provide quotes or focus on an aspect of poetry writing.
3. I will hold any poetry contests on this day!

It is pretty simple! If you have any suggestions to what you would like to see on this day in terms of poetry, please leave me a comment below or you can leave a comment on my Facebook page by clicking the Facebook logo below.

Wishing you a poetry filled Tuesday,

Sarah

Positive Moments

One of the most important aspects of a writing career is the major work it takes to keep everything going. It can drag you down, stomp on your face, and then help you up to do it all over again. Although life is about this type of hard work, as a writer it is difficult to keep the momentum going. Take me for instance. I have been stuck in my house for 8 days due to a snow and ice storm. One could imagine curling up on a chair or a sofa with the laptop and a cup of hot chocolate with the curtains open to watch the snow. There would be chapter after chapter written in the quiet solitude of the storm. You could feel like a champion when you got up from the chair hoping to get a little stretch in before jumping head first again.

Right?

NOPE!

Here's a picture of the storm:

That isn't what happened at all. I got a little writing done the first day. I wasn't the only one home. There was noise. There was chaos. Everyone was cranky at having to stay indoors. The cats were knocking everything over. The wind that was coming with the storm was throwing my plants on the porch around. Everything seemed to be getting in the way on Day 1.

Day 2....Well let's just say that inspiration struck and I thought "If I cannot get any work done, I might as well clean the carpets." And as that project took center stage, my writing took a backseat. Two more projects popped up.

Day 7...I am sitting on the bed exhausted and wondering where the week went. The sun was peeking out and creating the most beautiful glisten on the snow and warming the house bringing with it the inspiration for some poetry. So I grab my journal and begin writing. As the day wears on, I am still doing projects...but I got some writing done, and I am happy. As I head to bed, I check my email once more. Low and behold, I received my first royalty email, which brings me to why I am writing this post.

It is Day 8 of being stuck in the house, but this morning...I don't much mind it. As I read the email last night, I remembered the struggle I had for years attempting to get to the point of publishing something I wrote. I remembered the pain and heartache. I remembered the learning struggles and the frustration of when I couldn't get it just right. On the day I finally published something, I was so proud and happy. Elated to say the least! And...in the daily grind of writing, that feeling gets lost.

Last night, I was reminded that even if my royalty check was SUPER low...it was still a royalty check. Someone bought it! And that makes me super happy! Today...I ask you, writers, to take a moment and remember a happy time and put yourself in a happy place. The daily struggle and grind of writing is important to us as breath to lungs, but it is worth taking some time out to celebrate our accomplishments.

If you haven't published anything, celebrate that you took the effort and time to write something down! Find something that you have done to be happy about....because it will put you in the best of moods.

Happy Writing,

Sarah

My Goals

Goals as a writer are usually thought of as the following:

1. Write
2. Write some more
3. Publish with a good publisher
4. Rake in the money
5. Repeat

But, one of the most important things that I have discovered in my quest to be published and achieve my dream is....that's all bunk!

What makes everything so unique about my writing experience is that I have made decisions that are not exactly main stream. Take for instance Number 3. Number 3 before the current years would have been the only option for authors. There was no company like Amazon. There were no Indie publishers who took a chance on a no-name author. That meant, every voice who didn't match what the main publishers wanted meant that they would never be heard.

Add that into the fact that all business models for the main publishing companies are completely out-dated and do not fall in line with eco-friendly, and you have yourself a recipe for disaster. 

So my goals changed from my 18 year old mind set especially now that I am 31. I have a different view on life, so my writing goals would obviously mature.

1. Write interesting material, but above all...the story I want to create
2. Be eco-friendly. There is no need to participate in a business that has 40% waste on printed material.
3. Engage in my audience on whatever platform I choose.
4. Be happy that your manuscript is published, even if you don't make tons of money.

What most people forget to say about any type of publishing is that it takes a long, long, long time to get everything accomplished. There 

Here's the real list:

1. Write
2. Edit
3. Write
4. Edit
5. Write
6. Edit
7. Format
8. Format again
9. Send to beta readers
10. Receive feedback
11. Write & edit
12. Format
13. Upload to MS Publisher to create Indie Publisher file
14. Format
15. Format
16. Get excited
17. Upload to Indie Publisher
18. Fill out other information while waiting for proof
19. Wait for proof
20. Finally get proof
21. Read the proof
22. Correct the mistakes
23. Upload again
24. Wait for proof
25. Get proof
26. Read again
27. Approve proof

Congrats you just published...................On one platform!

Repeat for any platform you are on.

As you can read, this is quite a daunting task. My goals seem more focused on reality than a work of fiction. In the future, I hope to share more with you about my writing.

What are some of your writing goals?

Review: Wicked Pleasure by Lora Leigh

*Please note that this review does contain spoiler information.*

Wicked Pleasures

by: Lora Leigh

                                                                                                                                          

Genre: Modern Romance
Hotness Scale: Sizzling

This is the first book I have picked up by Lora Leigh. I found it in a local shop for less than sticker price and said, "Why not?" Like most novels, I do not read the back material so that I can jump into the story without preconceived notions. Yes, I do look at the cover art as a general gauge of the story. In this case, I see a steamy scene between two individuals and expected a sexy novel between a man and a woman. That is as far as I wanted to delve before reading the novel.

The night was chilly. I curled up in my bed with my comfy, pink blanket and my reading light. I cracked open the cover and began reading. Within the first few pages of the prologue, the reader is pulled into a byplay between a very dark character named Cam and innocence in the form of the character Jaci. It is a very dark scene that has an urgency and intensity that pulls you in as a reader. What is very scary is that the characters at this time are aged 16 and 13 respectively. It seems like a very adult situation for someone so young; however, the author seems to create the right intensity and mood with this glimpse of past events. The character Cam is obviously struggling with something mentally destroys him. What has connected back to reality is Jaci.

When the scene ends and we continue with the story, we see a young Jaci being completely enthralled with the bad boy Cam, who has decided to become her protector. This is a very common occurrence with someone who has been yanked back from a precipice. He has formed an important bond to this individual character that leads to a life of obsession. The whole aspect of being attracted to someone in that mind numbing, forget everything else sort of way is a fairy tale only seen inside books and teenagers. Good thing that the author decided to start the characters off at the right age to fit that bill.

Jaci, the young, wild child, chooses to go to a party at the age of 21 where she is faced with the hardened, steel Cameron back from military leave. Like before, he decides what is good for her in a very controlling way and gives her a choice. Either she returns home to her parents' house or goes to his house for "everything." Her desire has catapulted out of control and chooses for her. She returns to his house only to be put in a situation without any prior knowledge between a rock and a hard place - Cameron and Chase.

I am no prude, nor am I lacking in sexual experience. But ANY person who actually cares about someone would, without a doubt, discuss these issues and choices before just throwing someone to the dogs. So, the scene as written is very, VERY unbelievable and quite disgusting. Not the Male on Female on Male (M/F/M) part of it. The overbearing, controlling man like Cameron who takes an innocent girl and pushes her into a situation simply because he cannot become emotional invested and refuses to be a grown-up and discuss the situation before sticking his prick in her mouth and having his brother lick her bits. Jaci did what any normal girl would do in that situation and run the heck out...even if she is entirely turned on by the proposition. The fact that Cameron refused to tell her is outrageous. What is even more outrageous is that the author is trying to make the reader believe that it is a normal situation. Obviously, it is not!

As time movies on, so do the characters. Jaci grows up and begins to grow her business and comes into some trouble with highly influential people who have the ability to destroy her reputation by just a few words. She is still obsessed with Cameron despite the fact that he put her in a sexual situation that utterly destroyed her confidence and trust in any partner for her future.

Cameron and his brother Chase become private investigators that have pulled, quite sneakily, Jaci back into their life by having their employer need her services as a designer. What Jaci doesn't know is that they are both there and wanting what escaped them prior - her...naked...and at their mercy.

At this point in the story, each of the characters are adults and fully aware of the situation. So it is not surprising to the reader that Jaci happily jumps into bed with both Chase and Cameron...as a virgin...who has had her whole sexual life to this point destroyed by the very men that are taking possession of her. From a realistic point of view, this is highly unlikely and quite scary that some man would be so obsessed with someone they 1) destroyed her sexual experience, 2) destroyed her ability to trust any lover, and 3) followed through with the obsession into their late 20's. All under the guise of protecting her from the "highly influential" people who threatened her. The story line and character reaction seems more out of a suspense novel than a modern romance.

There is no woo-ing. There is no romance. There is a little, man child posed as this strong, dangerous man who has no emotional depth despite being in the situation he was - used, abused, and raped. That is what is so bothersome about this whole book. Someone who was in that type of situation has two realistic ways of dealing - self-destruction and too open emotionally. Cameron is NEITHER!

So while the sex starts off steamy, they become quite stale with the same scene over and over. The characters do not seem realistic. At the end, I was quite disappointed with this book - sadly.


*Notice*
This is not a paid review of Lora Leigh's books. I received nothing for this review.

Searching for Inspiration

This morning, I found a link to the Chicken Soup for the Soul website for publication. If you haven't read any of these books, I suggest you pick one up with a box of tissues and immerse yourself in the heartfelt stories people have shared. I remember receiving my first book as a teenager. I, a lover of both baths and books, would sit in a hot bath and read this book. Tears would stream down my face as I read story after story that touched my heart and soul.

My desire for writing came much earlier than that point, but the emotions in those stories reminded me (to this day) that at the base of it all we are all human. Each of us have emotions. And each of us face obstacles daily. It is something I have struggled with a majority of my life. It is also the very thing that drives me to write - emotions. And of course sharing the stories in my heart.

As I read the page, I found that some of my poetry and my life stories would work well in their topics for 2015. I spent a hour going through what I had and chose to submit them for possible publication. Not only is good exposure, but it allows me to add to the inspiration, the love, and the hope that Chicken Soup provides to their readers. Once, it helped me move passed some bad spots. Maybe in 2015, my writings can help someone else.

That's what I really look for each day when I reach for inspiration. I look at the world around me. I look at the emotions and actions of my closest friends and family. I look at nature and wildlife. I look toward the sky, in the trees, under rocks, and finally within myself. It is a hard thing to do as a writer - finding that inspiration. Today, it came in the form of a memory and a hope for the future.

What is your inspiration today?

Sarah