MJ’s MUSINGS: BOOK BINGO–UNDER REPRESENTED AUTHOR

For my “under-represented author” square on the BOOK BINGO card, I chose Tikka Chance on Me, by Suleikha Snyder. Several people had recommended it as a good read, not necessarily for book bingo.

I loved it! It’s the story of an Indian girl who works in her parents’ restaurant and a biker bad boy, neither of whom are all they seem.  They’d known each other in high school, but their lives took divergent paths. The story is actually a novella, but it reads longer because it’s packed and fast-paced. And it’s hot.

Five stars.

 

 

 

 

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music-Playlist for BETRAYED BY THE MOON

I create a playist for every book I write. I listen to the music whenever I can: driving, writing, alone time. The songs help keep my head in the story.

Here are the songs behind the story of the book coming out on June 26.

 

 

MJ’s Musings: Book Bingo: TBR Pile-WICKED GAMES

My local RWA chapter is once again running a Book Bingo challenge. This year’s Bingo board is 96% different than last year’s challenge. The only square that has not changed is the center square: Written by a CNYRW member. I think this year’s contest is going to be more challenging for me than last year’s was.

However, the first square I completed was YOUR TBR PILE (this included your Kindle version of the TBR pile).  I chose WICKED GAMES by Jessica Clare.

The novel is heavily based on the TV program SURVIVOR. I’m sure there are aspects of other reality shows mixed into the concept, particularly the “romance”-based ones.  I was surprised I liked the book as much as I did, having never watched television of this genre. Well-written and fast-paced, the story could have bogged down describing the challenges. It didn’t. Yes, important parts of the plot were predictable, but the book was still a fun read.

#UpbeatAuthors: Time Has Value

December is one of those months where it seems like there is no time to:

  • A) sleep
  • B) breathe
  • C) recuperate

When you know there is going to be a stretch of time that is going to require massive chunks of your life, it’s smart to schedule down time. I have a lot of friends who are really into the holidays and who make themselves crazy with baking, decorating, trying to create perfect memories–and they’re too frazzled to enjoy the fruits of their labors.

Here are a few time-saving tips:

  • Say no. There are things to which you cannot say no, like your children’s holiday performances. But you don’t need to go to every party. If you feel you must, put in enough time to say “Hi” and “Bye” to your host, then leave.
  • Cheat. I have lots of little cheats, from using frozen chopped onions in my cooking, to buying my pies from the local bakery. I don’t need to make/do everything myself. Plus you’re giving work to someone else, helping them pay for their holiday. That’s a good thing.
  • Use a spreadsheet to keep track of ingredients for holiday baking and holiday meal planning. It really is helpful.
  • Use Google Spreadsheets for gift giving. Each person contributes a wish list, which is shared with everyone. As gifts are purchased, the purchaser deletes the wish. Still anonymous but no chance of duplication.
  • Online shopping. Amazon has to pay its employees the same as your favorite brick and mortar retailer has to pay theirs. The difference is that there are fewer employees. However, UPS, USPS, and sometimes FedEx all benefit from online shopping. You save gas and aggravation.

 

 

 

#UpbeatAuthors:Happy Constitution Day

Preamble:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence* promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

(*yes, the word is misspelled in the original, hand-written version.)

This is tolerance.

First Amendment (Bill of Rights)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

This helps define tolerance.

Tolerance is a key to the American vision, which is why it is part of the Constitution.