Happy Easter

I hope that all of you will have a great Easter weekend and that all of you will stay safe.

What do you mean you can't save my document?

My bad-luck streak with technology still continues...alas. Last night I had the sudden urge to start editing again. So I started making changes to my document and saving changes as I go along...until Microsoft Word stopped saving my document, saying that the program is non-responsive. Of course at this point I had swallowed my last breath as I realized that all my changes might not have been saved. But that was the least of my worries. When I finally had the courage to enable task manager and the unresponsive program is closed, I went back to check on my document, only to find that it was removed.

At this point people I wanted to start crying. I have had a lot of computer problems and I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I knew how to fix them. So now I have to uninstall my Microsoft Office package and re-install it. Of course when I mean me, I mean my brother. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon. Luckily I had a back-up of my work, but still...losing your work is never a nice feeling. I understand why certain writers still prefer typewriters. At this point I think my computer hates me.

How is your writing going?

Cover reveal, Another New Life

Title: Another New Life

Author: Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
Publication Date: June 2, 2014

New Adult Contemporary Romance

**This book contains adult subject matter. Not intended for young readers.**

Cover Design by: © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs

Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Beautiful on the outside, but, insecure, haunted and damaged on the inside. Despite these contradictions, she’s ready to start Another New Life.

When her talent wins her a piano scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, Miranda arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.

An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone, she’s known all her life.

Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other. He reminds her of the best and worst times of her life, but she can’t think about one without dwelling on the other. As they grow closer, every day their attraction reminds them they are no longer kids.

The epic romantic love story that is Miranda and Troy seems to be destined for a happy ending, but Miranda knows it's only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. A secret that will not only destroy their relationship, it will destroy Troy, too.

Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?

Giveaway

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About The Author

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Sydney Aaliyah Michelle is a New Adult Contemporary Romance writer, a voracious reader and movie fanatic who 

Sydney has been blogging at sydneyaaliyah.com for three years, where she interviews people about their tattoos, discusses her favorite movie quotes, reviews books (New Adult & only the ones she loves) and journals about her writing and editing process.hailsfrom Texas. After surviving 5 1/2 years living in China, she had the courage to finally pursue her passion and become a writer.

Sydney’s self-published debut New Adult Novel Another New Life will be available June 2014. An active tweeter, she is also a JuNoWriMo (2x) and NaNoWriMo (2x) winners who notes the sci-fi action flick “The Matrix” as the best representation of her life in the past. She is blessed to be awake now and doing what she loves.

Not everyday is the same

There is a very good reason for why I have not been writing or blogging lately. I would love to say that the reason is because of work obligations, but in truth, it has been because of health reasons. Because my blog is all about the truth of my journey towards publication and what my life as a writer is like, I feel I have to share my true reason for my absence.

I have been suffering from depression and am now using medication to help my brain chemicals get back into balance. My depression has not been caused because of a specific event, but is rather the result of many factors beyond my control. This is also not the first time that I have been diagnosed with this condition. I have also been having stomach problems and have been diagnosed with a faulty stomach valve, meaning that stomach acid pushes back up my esophagus, causing the worst heartburn imaginable and this terrible sensation and taste at the back of my throat.

It is not serious at this point and I am receiving medication for it as well, which is supposed to help with the acid reflux. One side effect is that I get hungry every few hours and I need to eat as soon as possible, or my acid pushes back up. I have found that protein lasts longer and that soy irritates my stomach, so most vegetarian options are out the window, aside for beans and I have temporarily gone back to eating chicken and fish. I feel really guilty about it, considering that I have been a vegetarian for about 3 ½ years. Hopefully when my stomach feels better, I can go back to being a vegetarian.

I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. Instead I want people to see that obstacles come on everyone’s path. The kind of obstacles differs from person to person, but they affect all people from all walks of life alike. To most people my problems can seem trivial compared to what they are going through, after all, the worst day for me right now is debating whether to get out of bed or not, or worrying about what I am going to eat, when.

I hope all is well with you. Please tell me what is going on with you.

The indie publishing option (IWSG)

I have always been one of those people with very high expectations for myself and when I decided that I wanted to be published, naturally my expectations were equally as high. For some strange reason I cannot fathom right now, I never even considered indie publishing. I think it had to do with the fact that I thought it would be too much work and that I couldn't manage it, but now I feel completely different.

I have always loved indie music and movies, so indie publishing should have been a natural choice. I had tried for years to be traditionally published and a week ago I realized that I didn't really want what traditional publishing had to offer. I would rather be an indie author. So, that will be my first choice from now on. I might not be ready to publish anything right now, but maybe next year I will be and that will be the career path I would want. My vision for my book doesn't conform to industry standards, but I still love it. It might be different, but it is still me. It might take me a long time to become an established author, but I will get there. At least I will have more control over the path my career goes and I can write the books I want and be proud of.

The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the wonderfully talented Mr Alex J. Cavanaugh, so that writers could communicate to others the fears and insecurities that they might have. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls by Katie Cross

I am so excited to announce that Miss Mabel’s School for Girls by the awesome and talented Katie Cross is finally available. Katie is a great person who is always there to provide kind words of wisdom and inspiration for a fellow blogger in need. Her blog is awesome and so is her personality. I just bought my copy of Miss Mabel’s School for Girls and can’t wait to get stuck in. 

Book Blurb

Never underestimate the power of a determined witch.

Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.

Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful?

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave.

You can purchase your copy here:

Kindle

Paperback

Smashwords

You can visit Katie here:

Website

Blog

No A-Z for me, but I'm still cheering for you (IWSG)

I have decided not to take part in the A-Z challenge this year. I simply don’t have the mental energy for it this year and I really want to spend more time developing my writing. I think I have a unique vision and voice that needs to be channeled into a coherent thought, which at this time still eludes me, but I might find it through trying more writing styles, genres and even changing points of view. I have even decided to go back to writing my stories in longhand first, before typing it into the computer. That used to be my process before I became lazy and decided to type everything on the computer.

Just because I’m not participating in the challenge, doesn’t mean I won’t be visiting the rest of your blogs and lending support. I will be an eager cheerleader for your creativity and bravery as always.

The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the wonderfully talented Mr Alex J. Cavanaugh, so that writers could communicate to others the fears and insecurities that they might have. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.