A final 2010 blog

The year is winding to a close, and I don't know if I have ever been so conflicted about a New Years Eve! This has truly been one of the worst and best years ever. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of publishing a novel, and I did it before 30. I completed half of my master's degree, and found some amazing new friends. Under other circumstances, it would be the best year.



But the circumstances are what they are. I lost my mother, my very best friend, this year, and that loss has and will continue to color my perspective for a long time to come. But, I am aiming to be the kind of person she was-- it is the number 1 goal I have for 2011: be more like my mom. And my mom lived a life of faith and hope-- though she would never use the words herself, much of her attitude can be summed up with the following phrase: Nolite de bastardes non carbundorum. Or, in English, don't let the bastards get you down.



So I resolve to live this next year with hope, and as much joy as I can find... and to live what I preach! In that vein, I am adding my voice to the discourse about a new novel, which has some pretty interesting parallels to Max and Menna.



The novel, Guardian Spirit, is another Lucky Press novel. The book published a few months prior to my book and is also by a first time author, the very sweet and very intriguing Sarah Martin Byrd. I give the book a very solid four stars (and keep in mind that my list of 5 star books numbers less than 50 of the 1000+ novels I have read in my day).



Guardian Spirit takes you deep into the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, and holds you there in a web of intrigue, and magic. The novel, telling the story of Millie and her children Sammie and Sadie as they run from a horrifically abusive husband, weaves in elements of the fantastical to build suspense and take the edge off of the visceral, violent tale.



From shortly after page 1, readers will be enthralled by the plight of Millie and her kids as they hide out in an old cabin, full of memories, and hope that their new life will stick. Within the story, Byrd masterfully entwines Native American magic with the steely reserve of a woman protecting her children, and creates a narrative that will have readers cheering, and hurriedly turning pages.



Stylistically, the book had a few distracting moments for me, though these were all a matter of personal preference. I wished for a first person book so I could get more in Sadie's head, but that is my own nosey personality and not a fault with the writing at all. I found this to be an engrossing, exciting read, and would highly recommend it to others.



Thanks to Sarah for letting us in on this great adventure.



And also, an overdue thanks to the Joe Squared team, who managed to combine pizza, oysters, champagne, and lots of good people on my birthday. They covered all of the important bases! For you Baltimore readers, mark my words: get there before Friday for the devil's pizza. Of every endorsement I have ever made, I stand by this one the most strongly. This is the BEST pizza you will ever eat!!

On being 30

And the winner is... Charlanne... of my two contest entrants (thanks to you both) her name came out of the fishbowl. Char-- send me your address on Facebook and I will get a book in the mail to you!

I am a few days late on this, I know, but I am sure everyone can emphatize with nutty schedules around the holidays. Rolled up into all of this, I also had a very momentous birthday. Yes, boys and girls, I have reached a milestone. I am 30.

Thirty fits me, I think. My 20's always felt a bit too small, like the entire decade was one of trying to tie a shoe that pinched my toes. I am sad, a bit, to see it go, but also exhilerated with thoughts of what shall come. And so, I will share with you all a bit of a poem/ fragment/ nonsensical rambling that I put together.

Things I will try to do differently in my 30's....

Less cigarettes
Less liquor
Less letting my sweet tooth win
Less broken hearts
Less melodrama when the broken hearts occur (because broken hearts are a vital part of adulthood)
Less anxiety
Less unrealistic expectations of myself

More of being glad for knowing who I am (because it took a long, long time to get there)
More books with my name on the cover
More happy tears to counter-balance the sad ones
More of trying to be the kind of woman my mother was
More being proud of the kind of woman I am

Less worrying when people meet me and think I am hard
More of getting to know people so they see I am not

Less feeling guilty for other people's kindness
More of giving presents for no real reason

Less lonely friday nights
More of being glad every single day for the amazing friends and family that I have.

Smiles, everyone. I hope your holidays are going well.

Seriously... one taker?

Hey all,

So, I am a few days late on my leader board, but that is because up until yesterday there WAS no leaderboard. And today it is very short. "Charlanne" <--That is the leaderboard. Come on people, free stuff! And all you have to do for a chance at free stuff is go to Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, or your blog, and tell the internet about a writer who's book inspired you. OR if you're new here, click "follow" in the upper right hand corner. Then, whether you reviewed a book or are a new following, post a comment and tell us about it. Do that between now and midnight on December 15, and you may win a FREE hardback copy of Max and Menna.

I am very much in earnest when I say that as readers you shouldn't underestimate the influence you have. There are some amazing communities online that are here solely to help readers find awesome stuff to read, and you should add your voice! Never before in the history of mankind have we had this option, and it really is exciting.

And since its dinner time, you should all know that the most amazing dinner you could seek out on this cold, blustery tuesday, is the apple and venison soup on special at Joe Squared. No, I get no kick back, thanks, or retribution at all from Joe for constantly recommending the restaurant. But seroiusly, the specials blow me away every week and I have to tell SOMEONE...

Holy Jolly FREE Stuff on my Blog!

Ladies and Gentleman, Last Night= Momentous Occasion! Shauna Kelley's FIRST public speaking engagement as a published author. And it wasn't as terrifying as I thought. I only had to talk for five or ten minutes, so I really had to focus on the book (fun to talk about) instead of me (awkward to talk about... and listen to me talking about). Sold a few books, met a few authors, and all in all enjoyed it immensely.

What I did learn (building on something that I've noticed these past few weeks while reading the blogs of my fellow authors) is that I don't have schwag! And by schwag, I mean cool free stuff to get people excited to READ!

So, I am jumping on the bandwagon and playing copycat to some of my esteemed fellow writers by joining something I am passionate about (getting readers to share their thoughts) and something I am lacking in (stuff to giveaway).

Thus, the first Shauna Kelley Blog Contest.

Here's how you enter:

1. Between now and December 15, post a review of a book that inspired you on Amazon, your own blog, or GoodReads. Then, comment here (Not as a reply to the Facebook notification) with a link to your review. For every review, your name goes in the fishbowl once. But there are rules: To qualify, though, I am talking a review of at least 3-4 sentences about how the book inspired you. "I liked it, it was good" won't gain you entrance into the fishbowl. And you are certainly welcome (and encouraged always) to review Max and Menna, but the point of this contest is not to garner me reviews. It is to encourage everyone to take their love of books viral!

OR

• Become a new Shauna Kelley Blog Follower (and comment to let me know about it) and your name goes in the fishbowl once.

On December 15, I will pull a name out of the fishbowl, and that person wins a signed hardcopy of Max and Menna.

For those of you who already own Max and Menna, you're probably thinking "so what, I already own that book..." But Christmas is coming. You could give it away for Christmas! Or donate it to a library! Or use it to prop up that shaky dining room table!

And even if its something you've already got, everyone likes winning, right?

On December 11 I will post a stats update, but I am tracking through comments left on this blog ONLY so make sure you comment and let me know you're in the running... Ready, Set, Go!