Thursday, September 19, 2013

Who moved my heroine?

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I write about heroism.  I write about strength and characters who are willing to give up everything for what they believe in.  I write about characters who grow from the ashes of pain and rise above it to make a difference.  But often we don’t feel as if we can do that in our real lives.  I think about the person I was twenty years ago – when I had no other option but to be strong and passionate.  I didn’t know what stability or happiness looked like.  All I knew was that I had to keep pushing. Keep climbing. Keep fighting.  I didn’t know where I was going or what I’d do when I got there.  I just knew I had to get there. 

And I did.

                I’ve enjoyed being stable and normal and blending in.  It was something I’ve never experienced before and I deserved it.  But over the last couple of weeks I’ve realized there’s a fighter inside of me that’s been hibernating.  She was so tired and so exhausted, she needed to rest.  She didn’t need to fight anymore.  But she’s never really disappeared.  Unfortunately, I’ve managed to forget just how strong she is.  I’ve forgotten how much of a difference she can make and the empowerment she gives me.  She is the only one who has the ability to fill my heart with confidence and a true purpose.  And I’ve missed her.




                Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had to dig deep and make some tough decisions.  I’ve had to re-evaluate what I believed in, what is important to me, and what is and is not worth fighting for.  And in the process I’ve resurrected the fighter in me.  When you have nothing to lose it’s easy to fight.  It’s easy to give everything inside of you.  The reward is much higher than the risk at that point. 

But what happens when you have a lot to lose?  Could you find the strength to do what’s right?  Would you be willing to lose someone or something important to you?  Standing up for what you believe and what you know is right is a lonely fight sometimes.  It’s scary.  You’ll come out on the other end with bruises, cuts, and broken bones.  But the important part is coming out on the other end.  When you are strong enough to stand on your own and show the world who you truly are and what you believe in, you will see the truth about others very quickly.  The mirror you provide others will be frightening to some, empowering to some, and downright crazy to others.

                If we aren’t passionate about something, our souls remain asleep within the cushion of comfort we surround ourselves with by following the crowd, keeping our mouths shut, and blending in.  The best thing you can do for yourself is really and truly be alive.  Awaken the real fighter in yourself and make a vow to make a difference.  When the world comes crashing down on you, it’s because you’ve decided to step out of line and stand up for something.  It means you’re doing something meaningful.  And that means you are truly a fighter.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Myrtle Effin Beach, baby!

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This coming Friday I’m headed to the beach.  And not just any beach.  It goes by many names: The Armpit of the South (no, not Columbia although you’re close), Myrtle Vegas, Redneck Riviera, Grand Stranded, Spring Break Beach – but according to Southerners it’s called Myrtle Effin Beach, baby!
               




Just when you think America can sink no lower than the travesty that is Honey Boo Boo, you travel to Myrtle and realize, we’ve just scratched the surface.  If Jorts, airbrushed t-shirts, American flag bikinis, mid-drift tanks, and wife beaters aren’t redneck enough for you – you’ll be happy to know that Camaro hair you thought died out with the 1980’s was only hibernating.  When the surly aromas of hairspray, stale beer, and grease waft up from every bar, beach towel, and dually truck you know you’ve reached your destination.

It’s place high school kids flock to for graduation every year to drink their brain cells away, puke their guts out, and win white t-shirt contests.  In a word its….MAGICAL.  That’s right – dirty, smelly, faded green carpet covered, and your key chain heaven – Myrtle Beach oozes teenage hormones and midnight skinny dipping pool competitions.  I was one of those wide eyed and bushy tailed teenagers.  I threw toilet paper off the balcony of the SandCastle.  I convinced some random dude to buy us beer, and slammed my finger in a very non-sanitary door, and woke up each morning trying to remember the awesomeness that had ensued. 
               
It’s a rite of passage down here.  Graduation Week.  And for the rest of our lives whether we are married, a loving mother, or the CEO of Google - we will return to those tainted streets with heavy hearts and wide smirks as we literally drive down memory lane.  I’m pretty sure I’ve never stayed at the Beach Colony which is our chosen hotel for the weekend, but it doesn’t matter.  It’s Myrtle Effin Beach and anything goes.  And that my friends is why going to the beach with your girlfriends is always a good idea.  Here are 5 other reasons we all need a girl’s beach weekend at least once a year:

1.       Yoga pants are a viable outfit option for any time of the day or outing.
2.       Your girlfriends won’t comment on the beach-frizz brillo pad hairdo you’re rockin.  Cause we’ll be rockin the same look.

3.       You can ugly-snot-cry at any point with no repercussions or judgments.

4.       All diets are forfeited the moment you pass the Welcome to Myrtle Beach sign.
5.       That Mickey Mouse towel you can’t quite get yourself to throw away will fit right in.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Hearken the Haterade

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Thankfully I happen to enjoy a nice cold glass of haterade, but this hated haterade isn't coming from readers or bloggers or even the spider I just killed on my floor.  It's coming from...ME!  After six panic attacks, three rage induced psychotic episodes (not really), eight boxes of Red Bull and one very understanding best friend/editor, I finally decided to give myself a much needed break. 
So I watched four seasons of Supernatural in one sitting because...well...look at him!

 
attended three girls night outs,

and spent an entire weekend making a book trailer for Forsaken.  Which brings to me to this very moment where I am…. What’s that?  Are you stuck in the last sentence?  If so, then YES! YES! I made a book trailer for Forsaken!!  And I can’t WAIT for you guys to see it!!
 

Now, that we’ve gotten that out of the way…  The long awaited fourth installment of the Daughters of the Sea, Hearken, was to be released September 24th (brace yourself - here comes the ‘but’), but I think that a quality book is better than a quick release. Wouldn’t you agree?  Now, don’t go throwing yourself off that bridge just yet! I’ll be posting teasers, quotes, pictures, and teeny hints until the book releases on… November 5th!  I know it seems like FOREVER, but it’ll be here before we know it!
 
This will give you that much needed time to go shopping for fall, watch Titanic six times, obtain a drinking problem, send subtle, passive aggressive cues to your worst enemy, slash said enemy’s tires, and read the first three books in the series!!