#MondayBlogs #WritersRunYourMouth Vol. 2 Rising up! @shannoniahyes @Writergirl74

S.I. Hayes Presents

Authors Running Their Mouths is the creative brain child of Author S.I. Hayes Join her as she asks other Authors to let loose and Run their mouths!

Welcome Author Cassandra Jones

Cassandra is a Multi-Genre writer. Let's see what she's got to say!

My Journey Into Writing

     My journey into writing started when I was 13. I had always loved reading and wanted to create my own stories to share with others. I had even taken creative writing and journalism classes in high school. I am always happy when writing.

     I realized being as shy as I was, that I could best express myself through writing. I started keeping journals that I could use as inspiration for my writing. I also keep a notebook of quotes as inspiration. Between the ages of 13 and 32 I had started over 200 stories.

One day in 2002 I decided to try my hand at poetry and instantly fell in love with it. Between 2002 and 2010 I had written almost 300 poems. Sadly in September of 2012 I lost almost all of those stories and poems in a fire.

     I didn't let that stop me from getting back on my feet and writing again. I just recently finished my first novel. It has been sent to the betas and is in the editing stages. I am currently getting together a book of poetry as well. I have written lots of poems from an experience with an ex best friend.

I've seen my publishing dreams come true when 2 of my poems were included in Vol 1 of Authors Against Bullying. It is an honor to be involved in something like this. All proceeds from sales go to charity. I have a short story in Authors Against Bullying Vol. 2.

Since then I have had poems and short stories published in several other anthologies for charities and one that is always free. They are Dark Fantasia, A Healing Anthology, Streetlamps To Starlight, Our Secret Nook, and Ghostly Writes Anthology 2017. The Tricks or Treats Anthology is due out later this month.

     I am working on stories for several more anthologies and my first novel. The Hunt For Amanda is a crime fiction novel. The main protagonist is named after and based on my best friend Tammy Perdue, who we lost in 2012. When Tammy is targeted by an ex co-worker she has to try and protect Amanda. When the man can’t get to her, he kidnaps Amanda to get Tammy to do what he wants. I am currently making changes to the novel and even adding some new scenes. It has been a fun story to write.

     I have learned that writing is my way to get through. Without writing I am nothing. I hope that through my writing I can help others as well. Participating in these anthologies has been an honor in itself. I am so happy to be able to help out these charities and even raise awareness against bullying and abuse.

     After being bullied by that ex friend emotionally for years and then dealing with a cyber bully, I am more than happy to help raise awareness to help others who have been through similar situations. No one should have to go through that. So I will continue to use my writing to help others any way I can.

     I hope ya'll enjoyed my journey into writing. Thank you so much for having me on your blog S.I. Hayes.

Bio:
I was born in Fairmont,WV and raised in the small town of Four States,WV. (Yes, that’s a real place!) I have loved to read since I was very young. At the age of thirteen I decided I wanted to try writing my own story. After taking Creative Writing and Journalism in high school, I began to love writing even more. I have won first place in two poetry contests and third place in a writing contest. I attended my first writer’s workshop in 2015 and another one October 21,2017. When I’m not writing, I can usually be found with my nose in a book.

I enjoy working on the family history and learning new things.I also love to spend time with family and friends. I have the best time at my book group called The Lunchtime Book Discussion Group that meets at our local library once a month.

Twitter:  Facebook:

Buy Link: Amazon.



Thank you for joining me today!!

Cheers!

#WriterWednesday #AuthorsRunYourMouth #WW #WednesdayWords @SusanMeachen @shanonihayes

S.I. Hayes Presents

Authors Running Their Mouths is the creative brain child of Author S.I. Hayes Join her as she asks other Authors to let loose and Run their mouths! 

 Welcome Author S. Meachen

S. Mechen is an Erotica,  Romantic, Drama and Suspense writer. Let's see what she's got to say! 

     I started writing almost three years ago it wasn’t ever post to be published it was to help me deal with my past. Then a few friends were reading it as I wrote it and they pushed me to release it to the world. Chance Encounter is my soul book I guess it contains so much of me that I almost died writing it (no seriously) Well once it was done I got nudged to do another book and well you know how that is. Now we are sitting on book 6 and 7 waiting on release dates.

    I don’t write Fairytale Love Stories it’s more like I Write Perfectly Flawed Romances and I can’t promise an HEA in any of my stories as rainbows and unicorns don’t hangout in my head.

    My first Positive review made me so excited and made my heart relax a bit as others loved what I’d wrote.
Then that first one star review came in and it broke me but I picked up and moved on.

    When I hit bottom the one person who is always there outside my family is my PA Connie Ortiz trust me we hit bottom a bit. While releasing Chance Encounter we found out I have Bipolar 1 and from the moment I got stable I advocated for Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention.


     We could sit here and talk all day long if anyone every has a question feel free to contact me one thing I’ll never get tired of is touching someone’s soul. I’m always wandering around and love Stalkers and Fans. Plus shh I love giving sneak peaks at what is to come from my twisted little self.

Bio:

I'm from a very small town in the Southern part of Tennessee, it's not huge, but it's home. I wear many hats I'm a wife,mom,meme, author, sister to name a few. Being an Author is the one job I've never dread doing unless it editing time. My wonderful PA Connie Ortiz keeps me on track and makes sure my deadlines are meet even if she has to kick my butt. 
I have been married to my husband for twenty-two years, we have two grown children, and one we sort of adopted, who has given us our first set of grand kids. 
You can normally find me curled up with my laptop and my baby girl a 6 foot long Ball Python working on my next book or reading one of my favorite Authors new release. 



Stalk Me if you’d like

Author page   Twitter   Instagram   Bookbub   Pinterest   Goodreads   Website   MeWe    AllAuthor

Buy Links

Other Retailers like Ibooks, Nook and more! Amazon

Thank you for joining us today!

Cheers! 

S.I. Hayes

#ThrowbackThursday An Opinionated Artist Runs Her Mouth @shannonihayes 1st published Nov.2012

An Opinionated Artist Runs Her Mouth

       

        So once again I find myself in the wee hours of the morning doing anything to avoid working on my WIP. I know, I know I should be tearing up the pages and getting my ass in gear, but I just have the feeling that I need to get this one, like so many others out of me.​
       I was chatting up with a fellow author and our conversation fell into our opinions about writing, novel lengths, means of expression, all the argumentative shit. (Who knew I could be so deep!) Fortunately we agree pretty much across the spectrum. And here I was thinking that my Co-author and I were the only ones. I came to realize that the opinions we had while not popular are not a singularity.​
     As writers we are all, each and every one of us, whether published privately, independently, or still banging our heads against the target on the wall, Artists.​

Things that soothe...?? WTF are those??

        So I'm sitting in my Therapist's office yesterday and we're laughing and talking like we usually do. I'm telling him about a customer that I dealt with that gave me a glimpse into what it must be like to deal with me when I'm hyper-manic, the woman was excessively talkative, fidgety and very VERY energetic. Kind of like I used to be. I had to actually tell ask this woman to take a moment to stop, and breathe.  

       I remember times like that, the funny thing is that my therapist laughed and asked me why I thought it was that I don't act like that in his office. I had to think about it a bit, and as I looked around his office it occurred to me that I'm comfortable there. His walls are adorned with paintings and drawings that appeal to him, but also to me. There's a bookcase full of books I'd like to or already have read, and on top of that bookcase is the entire toy collection of minions from Despicable Me 2, which I love!! It speaks volumes to his personality. Giving me a bit of insight in to who this man helping me with my issues is, an idea that he's human and flawed like everyone else.  He calls me out on my bullshit, my sometimes cunty behavior and helps me to enforce the better  parts of me. I think that in a different world he and I would certainly be very good friends. 

        That says a lot about me, I think. It takes me time to get comfortable with people. I'm not reclusive or introverted by nature, however. Although my circumstances and behavior over the last few years may scream differently. I used to be the life of a party, now I'm more of a wallflower, until you get me talking about something I want to talk about. 

         Anyway, I told him that I wasn't totally sure why I'm better in his office than when I'm in the real world where just about everyone who speaks pisses me off, that something about him just calms me down. Not that I'm all quiet and somber. Far from it, we laugh, joke around, I'm animated and feel safe to be so. Safe... maybe that's the whole point. I'm emotionally safe in that office, where as anywhere else I feel stunted, suffocated by other people and their bullshit. I know that perhaps that's cruel to say but I don't really give a damn about what's wrong in other peoples lives. I try to be helpful. Try to give good advice when the situation calls for it, but I don't really care if a person doesn't follow that advice. Scratch that. I do care, my advice is very often quite sound. But if you don't do what I suggested, don't at least give it a shot and them come back to me with the same shit... NOW I don't fucking care because you were too lazy or stupid or scared to even try, so why the fuck am I going to waste my time AGAIN?? 

        I'm not. 

        See this is why I don't have many people in my life who I call friends. I'm quite sure that even some of those I do call as such pretty much only stay around because I'm good for their situations. Which is fine. I'm OKAY With THAT. Really. Let's face it all relationships are formed on some basic need that has to be satiated. Family, friends, lovers, co-workers. Every relationship is symbiotic, all are to an extent parasitic. All have needs which must be fed. Some healthy, some not.

          What's my point? Do I have one. Probably. My Therapist asked me to to a bit of homework. He wan't me to find something for each of my senses which is soothing to me. So That would be Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch, and Hearing...

              So let's see, I have some of it figured out, but the things which soothe me I often do not have access to. Like for sight. When I was younger and not so readily medicated I lived in Milford CT, there is this duck pond right behind city hall with a waterfall and a huge grouping of rocks that will give you access to it. I used to go there anytime shit got too real. I could sit there for hours. It was my happy safe place. It covered everything but taste. Of course I could fix taste with a run over to the local 7-11 grabbing a spicy chicken parm sandwich and a Peach Snapple, or nachos with chili and cheese with the afore mentioned Snapple.  *Snicker. That was along time ago. Since moving out of Milford I've yet to find anyplace that can serve this soothing function. Which is probably a really good reason for a lot of my dysfunction.

Now? Sight doesn't have an outlet. Music is always a good sound... Taste, well I can recreate most foods, but really I like celery and peanut butter... Smell? There's nothing like warm clean clothes or Dragon's Blood Essential oil or incense. Hands down Touch is covered by my fur babies. 

Aren't they gorgeous?? 

I don't as a general rule like to be touched by people. I'm not touchy feely. No it's not because of some long ago abuse, or dislike for pleasure. I like that kind of touching. It's just that we're not a close proximity breed in my house. 

Human touch can lie, the body lies, chemicals are released during human interaction that can make even the sanest of people go bonkers. Where as the touch of an animal, well let's face it, it's honest. Either you can or you can't and when they've had enough of you they walk away and come back later if they're in the mood.. People should be more like that.

ANYHOW!! That's my five... But what of the Sixth?? Not that other worldy EPS type shit.

              I mean the Soul. That is the sixth sense for me.  I think that the soul is something that must be soothed as well. 

               For me? The writing is a means of soothing my soul. It helps calm my mind, calm my body.  It takes an effort, a conscious decision to stop what I am doing to sit and make peace with time and actually let my mind wander and flow. Whether it's raging or miscalculating what I'm doing or rambling on without end. My Soul is soothed by the touch of fingers stroking the keys, the clickity clak of the keyboard, seeing those worlds develop in words on my screen as I smoke my Wild Horse Cigar with my cup of Dunkin' near by. And the final moment when I open the pages of my freshly printed beauty... Well seems I've got it all here after all... FML. 

An Awesome writer and Helpful Artist!

I wanted to take some time and extend my many thanks to Author Eri Nelson who out of the goodness of her graces has spent some time with her computer to create for me a badge. Which I have now added to the site to share with each and every one of you. If you want it, come and get it! It's really rather cool, and I know I'm proud to have it! Thanks +Eri Nelson I love it lots! You just copy and paste this in to your pages and poof, instant share. I'd appreciate your support, and of course it doesn't hurt that it's uber pretty!! Check Eri out at her website on Dearharts.com and Grab her badge  while your at it! Show some support for your favorite Indy Authors!!

<a href="http://131previewreview.blogspot.com/?zx=4908883a178fc7d4"><img src="http://www.dearharts.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/shannon6.png"" border="0" alt="s.i. hayes, author & artist" width="180" height="164" /></a>

Above is the code, in case y'all want it. :)
Happy Writing!!

Farewell To A Great Read!

This is not mine, this is from Author Eri Nelson 

She is the creator of Supporting Authors One Read At A Time 

A group for Independent Authors

It's continuing mission, to help connect Authors and Readers to each other. The page is a platform to Collectively Proactively Promote  one another, through Re-tweets, Re-blogs, Google +'s and although the magazine has now closed it's pages, do not despair! Eri and the others in the Network have something fun and new in the wings! Video Book Tours! Come on over to Wonderful Reads Of the Month  and see what's in store and perhaps when it all goes live you'd like to sign up for your very own tour. It only takes a small commitment, a few tweets, and a blog post or two each month. Help Support your favorite Authors!

Happy Writing!!

Click For Full Browser

Admins are people too!

As I ponder this awesome accomplishment of humankind, to expand the World of Digital Experience, I am also reminded that this information age is a double edged sword. While on one hand it has the capability to link like minded individuals together to accomplish great things, on the other hand it can become the very thing which can pull us apart. 

The misplacing of a word, the wrong phrase, and what was supposed to be a complement can be easily misread and seen as a dig. The next thing you know the context of a message has been twisted and someone is left feeling jaded, stepped on and abused, which leaves me thinking that; 

They really need to invent a sarcastica font. 

Ode to Salinger

      Wow! It's been 9 whole days since this blog went live here on blogger , and already it and it's partners, The 131 Preview Review and  In Dreams... The Solitary Road, have seen a combined total of 417 hits, as of 6:39 AM EST. I thought I would take the opportunity as I smoke to send a HUGE THANK YOU! Out to those who have stopped in. So Here goes...

THANK YOU!!

     Now that I've said it I've probably jinxed it, and my numbers won't move for a month. LOL, Let's hope I'm ever so wrong.

When the story take on a mind of its own. Also known as Ahhh! too much in the head and not enough time!!

             Ever sit down to work on a piece of your fiction with a definitive Beginning...Middle...and End in place? It is a rarity, I know, but it does sometimes happen. So I have the whole of the work all nice and neat in my head and have been banging out the pages on and off for the past couple months, admittedly more off than on, but it is there. More or less, in this case more, rather than less.

               I started this venture telling myself that it was going to be a short story. Just a little companion Prequel to my Debut Novel, In Dreams The Road  Unavoidable.                                          

It's Been A Long Journey..... But Here I Am.

             All created by me, for all of you! Hours of blood, sweat and tears went into all that is my work. And just when I thought I was done, Woosh! It had to be redone. Oh Holy Hell.

​
          Format this way for smashwords, that way for Kindle, and another way all together for Createspace. I think my head is gonna explode. Add to that the fact that my computer hates me the last few days. It likes to freeze up at the most inopertune of times. Leaving me hanging like a slip on the clothesline just as the rain starts, while your at work! All this insert break here and update TOC there, for a minute I was wondering if it was worth all the trouble.

​                      But then I saw it, MY Book. Front, spine, back cover....

Bi-Polar Writer Coping

         I'm not a person who minces words, it's not my particular style. I have an innate need to correct people when they misuse words, or pronounce them wrong. Always have, probably always will. It's a facet of my personality, like never sleeping at night, but being able to crash so long as the sun is up. Or going on day long top to bottom cleaning sprees. Before psychiatrists and other health professionals got involved this was my normal....