Helpful Hair Care Advice

Hi everybody! So with the new posts there's going to be a lot of different stuff posted on here. I don't have very much time to read anymore (so sad, I know) and so all the posts I'll be doing will be about things that I do during the day and feel compelled to share my knowledge or experiences with everyone. So today's post will be about hair care (kinda boring lol sorry).

     In the middle of winter a girl's can dry out. Pretty bad. To the point of snapping in half when you bend it-like mine was or is. So with the technology we have today I decided to peruse Pinterest for some hair masks. Amid the many many many pins there was one recipe that was everywhere and that was: Coconut oil, olive oil, and raw egg. Now I had tried the coconut oil and it was working but not to the extent that I would have liked and olive oil didn't sound so bad but the egg...now the egg was a different story. I really really did not want to pour raw egg in my damaged hair but I was desperate (and very very bored) so raw egg it was. After warming up about a tablespoon each of coconut and olive oil I cracked the egg and poured the concotion all over my scalp. Gross. Ew. Disgusting. Blech. Shudder shudder cringe. Worst mistake of my life.
      The coconut oil and olive oil were fine. The egg? Not so much. As soon as it touched my scalp my skin shriveled up, no joke. Wherever the egg touched on my hair instantly dried into a hard clump of nasty hair. After I left it on for about an hour and a half (thanks to the insistence of my loving husband who didn't want me to waste one of his eggs) I washed it off and after the shower my hair was softer but almost to the point of feeling greasy.
       My overall feeling about this hair mask is: coconut oil and olive oil was awesome. I will definitely be using them again. The egg, though? Never in a million years. Ever.


~Blogger out :P

alrighty folks...

Alright guys I know I've said it multiple times but this time it's for real. :)

It's time for a change. I'm going to try to start blogging more regularly and it's not going to be just about but anything and everything, starting with your suggestions. Anything you would want to see me review or post on my blog email me at themaniacalbookworm (at) gmail (dot) com or comment in the comment box! I look forward to hearing from you all and thank you for being so patient with me as I get everything situated.

~Blogger out :)

Should We Provide Jobs for Welfare Recipients?

Hey all! I know it has been a while but with school and work and wedding planning I've been a tad busy. I hope everyone is doing well and I hope you know that I feel bad not posting anything for such a long time but life has a funny way of keeping you busy as I am sure you can all relate; however, I was thinking about what if I started posting some of the papers I have been writing for college? (you will notice that my writing sounds a tad bit more professional now lol college has ruined me) So here is a paper that I wrote for my English class talking about providing jobs for welfare recipients. It is a little lengthy but I hope that you take a look just the same :) *Bookworm Out*

“If they was to cut out all this welfare like they’re talking about…they can’t starve people to death and they can’t put everybody to work. It’s just not there.”

            The above stated by Neil Bowling in the American Undercover television series documentary titled American Hollow. American Hollow depicts how hard life can be living off the land as the Bowling family does. Yet for life being so hard to live off the land, many of the scenes of American Hollow are of the Bowling family doing nothing but griping about their living standards and how poor they are; however, one of the Bowling sons stated halfway into the documentary that they did not work all they did was wait for the government welfare check to show up every month.

Today, I will show that jobs must be provided for welfare recipients that are more than capable of working and supporting themselves. I will show how more jobs can and should be provided for these welfare recipients able to work, whether they want to work or not, and how more jobs can be provided without starving any of these workers like Neil Bowling incorrectly believes.

            While the idea of living solely off the land is a romantic one indeed, the Bowling family needs to realize that living solely off the country is not possible anymore without having taking and living off someone else’s hard earned paycheck in the form of the government welfare check because of their ‘romantic idea’. The Bowling children deserve a better life than the bare minimum because their fathers will not provide for them. Sadly, the world has changed and it is impossible to live 100% off the land anymore. Instead it is necessary to work 40 or more hours a week at a job outside of the home. Life has changed.

As can been seen from the 2009 film documentary titled, Redemption of the Welfare Queen and directed by Freddie Rhone, there are many welfare recipients that do not live off the land as the Bowling family does, but instead see welfare as a way not to work. Many, not all, of these people become even more greedy and begin to lie to the welfare system in order to receive a bigger welfare check. Even though there are many people on welfare who can work, there are millions on welfare who cannot, examples of people who cannot work are the elderly, the disabled, and in some cases, young mothers with little children who cannot leave home to work. These people will be taken into consideration in this paper. By pointing out the people on welfare who can and cannot work shows that taking money away from the people who cannot work and giving it to those that can is not fair and it is inhumane. To determine how those who need welfare and those who are able to work will be separated, will be discussed later in the paper.

First, what is the history behind welfare and why was welfare created? The question of providing welfare recipients with jobs has been prevalent since the creation of the welfare system in the year 1935. Still today, eighty years later, providing jobs to welfare recipients is a highly debated topic with many people calling for yet another welfare reform.

            The welfare system began admist the Great Depression and was put into action by President Franklin Roosevelt to help the millions upon millions of unemployed Americans survive until the rough times were over and the economy bounced back and more jobs were added to the work force. The Constitutional Rights Foundation article titled, “How Welfare Began in the United States,” states that “Before the Great Depression began 18 million elderly, disabled, and single mothers already lived at the bare subsistence level. When the Great Depression struck in 1929 by 1933, 13 million Americans had been thrown out of work, thus joining the previously mentioned 18 million on the streets.” With 31 million Americans out of work and starving truly the Great Depression was hell on earth. The welfare system was created to support those families until the government could supply enough jobs for those who could work. As can be seen, the welfare system was created not to give people an excuse to remain unemployed but to help them until they could get their job back. Today, 110 million or 35.4% of all Americans are welfare recipients. America needs a drastic economic change and part of this change includes providing jobs for those on welfare.

During the course of American history many, if not all, of America’s presidents have tried to help abolish poverty. The most popular welfare reform occurred during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidential term and was appropriately dubbed, ‘The War on Poverty’. Lyndon Johnson stated in his 1964 State of the Union address that:

For our goal is not merely to spread the work. Our goal is to create more jobs. I

believe the enactment of a 35-hour week would sharply increase costs, would

invite inflation, would impair our ability to compete, and merely share instead of

creating employment. But I am equally opposed to the 45- or 50-hour week in

 those industries where consistently excessive use of overtime causes increased

unemployment. (War on Poverty)

The challenge arises when the numbers of people in the work force is more than the amount of jobs in the job market. Jobs must be created in order to provide for every citizen in the work force. To give these people a job two things must be done: First, more jobs must be added to the economy in order to keep up with the high demand of employment. Second, there must be a change in the welfare system itself.

            The first step consists of adding more jobs to the economy. Without enough jobs in the economy Neil Bowling will be correct in stating that “people would starve”. The 2014 Huffington Post article titled, “U.S. Creates 248,000 Jobs in September; Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.9%” states that, “Employers have added 226,000 jobs per month, on average, this year—a healthy pace that more than keeps up with the natural population growth.”  While this sounds promising and good, the vast majority of these jobs are part-time. According to the Affordable Care Act passed in the year 2010, full-time hours are considered to be just 30 hours a week. A family cannot survive on just thirty hours a week. If the majority of these 226,000 jobs are part-time, welfare recipients will still be unsupported if they are only able to work the allotted 30 hours a week. To add to the struggle, the 2013 New York Times article by Teresa Tritch titled, “Trying to Redefine ‘Full-Time’ Work”, the Affordable Care Act cut 45% of all employees hours. Nearly half of America’s labor force was demoted to a part-time job and was then forced to find a second job to continue to support their families, thus further contributing to the lack of jobs found in the America’s economy. Indeed, according to the 2014 Congressional Budget Office or CBO, it is stated that, “The reduction in CBO’s projection…represents a decline in the number of full-time workers of about 2 million in the year 2017 and 2.5 million by the year 2024.” To provide enough jobs for both welfare recipients and non-welfare recipients the solution is a simple one: the Affordable Care Act must be repealed to create more jobs and full-time hours should be increased to forty hours a week to ensure that employees will receive enough money from their hard earned paycheck to pay the bills.

            The next step of the solution requires a reform in the welfare system itself. The welfare system should be broken up into three main categories: permanent, active, and temporary. A permanent recipient is a recipient who is elderly or disabled and cannot work for the rest of their lives. These recipients are permanent recipients and will receive a check until they pass away. An active recipient is a recipient who is disable for the time being, but after he or she receives the treatment they need, they will be able to work again. The active category will also include single mothers with at least one child below the age of five. Once all her children are five or older and enrolled in school the mother will be placed with a job that allows her to be home when her child or children leave for school and when they return home from school. If she doesn’t hit full-time hours the mother will still get a small percentage of what her welfare check before her children were sent to school. Active recipients are welfare recipients that will receive welfare for an extended period of time but not for the rest of their life like a permanent recipient. A temporary recipient is anyone who has lost a job or had an unfortunate turn of events in their life but is still able to work at the time they apply for welfare. A temporary recipient will be given welfare for up to but not exceeding one year of the date they applied. An employment agency will give them priority and will place them within a job as soon as possible.

To determine the status of welfare recipients, all applicants must be examined by a qualified medical doctor. To keep the welfare funds going to the well-being of the recipients and their family welfare recipients should be tested for drugs and alcohol, including nicotine. After all, it is vitally important that the welfare money be spent on what it is purposed for. Recipients can return to their addictive past times only after they are completely off welfare, until then there are too many people needing welfare for us to waste it on an individual that will only spend the majority of their welfare money on alcohol and drugs. The 2014 newspaper article titled, “No We Don’t Spend $1 Trillion on Welfare Each Year” and written by Mike Konczal states that, “The federal government spends $668 billion dollars per year on 126 different welfare programs.” It is vitally important that the $668 billion dollars going to these welfare programs are going to the right place. Such a huge amount of money should be treated and handled responsibly and must only be used for its intended purposes. Special guidelines should be created for welfare recipients and what they can and cannot spend their welfare check on. While doing this may sound like invasion of privacy, individuals must remember that the money used in the welfare programs comes from hardworking Americans that deserve to have their money going to the right places. When welfare recipients are completely off welfare and make their own money they can then spend that money in a way they deem best.

In the radio documentary titled, Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago and part of the Ghetto Life 101 documentary series was broadcasted in May 1993 and, quite literally, shook the nation. The two storytellers, Lealan Jones and Lloyd Newman, were two 14 year old black men who have an extraordinary outlook on the harshness and unfairness of life and decided to them share their outlook with the entire American nation. Rather than support the welfare system, like many at the time were doing, both young men stated that, “Giving a man a job will feed him for life, but handing him money will provide for him only until you die. He never actually learns to take care of himself.” Our America: Life and Death of the South Side of Chicago became such a powerful documentary that it was later published into a book and still continues to open America’s eyes to the problems running rampant through America’s cities. The 2008 eBook titled Welfare and edited by David M. Haugen and Andrea B. DeMott points out that welfare recipients slowly but surely lose their independence by becoming more and more dependent on the monthly welfare check instead of gaining independence and relying on themselves. Because America is a free nation we need to encourage American citizens to be independent or America will slowly lose the very thing that created her in the first place, which is yet another reason to provide jobs for America’s welfare recipients.

By reforming the welfare system and providing jobs for those able to work, the economy of America will be in a better position, and the $668 billion dollars that we are currently spending to support families will be drastically reduced while still providing more than enough exceptional help for those unable to work. We can cut the welfare and we can create jobs for everyone. Doing such is a hard but not impossible task. No one will starve and in the process, America will become the great nation that she once was.  

New Product Review: VenusSnap

New Product review! Because, face it, we all love a new product. Especially if the product is a beauty product. ;) I'm here to review the new, the one and only, Gillette Venus Snap! (in its own little travel case, btw)

Photo Credit: Influenster

This nifty little razor is about 4 inches long with five blades on one end surrounded by a blue ring of skin moisturizer that allows you to shave without shaving cream. Simply wet the razor and go! The best part about the VSnap is that it comes in its own little carrying case that's small enough to fit in a purse or backpack allowing you to take care of those pesky little hairs you missed in your morning rush. I seriously don't think I can ever go back to a regular disposable razor that requires gobs of shaving cream and multiple shavings to get it all. For me, Venus Snap is the only way to go. :)
#InASnap

Five Enchanted Roses Cover Roses and Writing Contest

Rooglewood Press is delighted to introduce their second fairy tale novella contest.....

FIVE ENCHANTED ROSES

a collection of Beauty and the Beast stories

The challenge is to write a retelling of the beloved fairy tale in any genre or setting you like. Make certain your story is recognizably "Beauty and the Beast," but have fun with it as well. Make it yours!

Rooglewood Press will be selecting 5 winners to be published in the Five Enchanted Roses collection, which will be packages up with the gorgeous cover you see displayed above. Perhaps your name will be one of the five displayed on this cover?

All the contest rules and information may be found on the Rooglewood Press website. Just click HERE and you will go directly to the site.

Rooglewood Press's first collection, Five Glass Slippers, is available for pre-order now and will be released on June 14th. Grab yourself a copy and see what these talented writers have done with the timeless "Cinderella" tale!

Cover Credit:
This cover illustration was rendered by Julia Popova, "ForestGirl." You can find more out about this gifted artist on her website, http://www.forestgirl.ru/

Below the Surface by Tim Shoemaker

BELOW THE SURFACE by TIM SHOEMAKER

My Rating: @@
# of Pages: 397 (hardcover)
Inappropriate Scenes: None
Swearing: None
Genre: Middle Grade YA
Publisher: Zondervan

Back Blurb:
Buried fears don’t stay buried for long. Something is wrong with Cooper. He doesn’t understand it, and he won’t admit it, but after surviving the trauma of abduction, Cooper is plagued by a deep fear he can’t control. A vacation aboard the restored Getaway with his friends is just what he needs. No drama, no mysteries, just fun, relaxation, and a few well-planned pranks. But trouble follows this crew, and the idea of a carefree vacation soon disappears along with a missing woman. The police think she drowned, but Hiro has her own suspicions and starts investigating, while Cooper keeps busy and hides behind his practical jokes. But fear has a way of rising. A prank gone wrong, a dark water dive, and the four friends find more than they bargained for - just below the surface.

My Review:
 I received this book from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. I mostly got this book for my brother who loves the series. I enjoyed the first book in the series but for some reason I couldn't get into this book. It didn't grab my interest at all. Maybe it was because it was below my age level, I don't know. The plot didn't make sense. It seemed to me like this kid dived into the water and he got scared because it was so dark under the water. That's what the first couple of chapters were about. I hate to say I didn't like the book because I feel like there needs to be more clean books out there for kids and I would like to support Tim Shoemaker as much as I can because being an author cannot be the easiest profession. So I will recommend this book to other kids that are younger than me because they will probably like it. I know my brother did, it just wasn't for me. 

SGC cosmetic review

It's me again! :) Hope everyone had a wonderful day. I know I did!

I recently had the pleasure of finding StudioGear Cosmetic's Black Pocket Liner in my mailbox a few days ago and I was so excited to try it.

This product is amazing! I love how the felt-tip provides a no mess experience (something you don't really get with an eyeliner brush) and I love how it's the perfect size to stick in your pocket for those time when you need an emergency fixer upper. The super thin tip provides a perfect small line that compliments your eyes wonderfully! There's nothing I would change about this product. It's perfectly amazing just the way it is. But perhaps, maybe getting another color available instead of just black? StudioGear is quickly becoming my favorite makeup brand Ever! 

You can check out their website here: http://studiogearcosmetics.com/product-category/make-up/

And if you find something you like use the coupon code Maniacal13 for a 10% off discount! Enjoy that spring weather! :)

TFIOS movie trailer

For those of you who have not seen The Fault in Our Stars movie trailer, this post is for you. I recently had the please of reading TFIOS by John Green and I fell in love with it. Who needs a Romeo when an Augustus Waters exists? There was one sex scene that did not go into detail and some very large swear words, but the message of the story is irresistible. Please enjoy this movie trailer and maybe I'll see you at the theaters on June 6th!
#tfios

Maze Runner Trailer!

Grab the popcorn! It's finally here! And it's as amazing as I thought it would be. :) To all you Greenies I give you.....THE MAZE RUNNER TRAILER!

Outcasts by Jill Williamson::Review

OUTCASTS by JILL WILLIAMSON

Movie Rating: PG-16 for some very mature topics
Book Rating: @@@
Swearing: None
Inappropriate Scenes: none, but there are a lot of mature conversations
# of Pages: 403 (paperback)
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publishers: Blink

Back Blurb:

UNCOVERING THE TRUTH COULD COST THEM THEIR LIVES.

Since entering the Safe Lands, Mason has focused on two things: finding a way to free his village from captivity and finding a cure for the disease that ravages many within the walls of the Safe Lands. After immune-suppressive drugs go missing in the clinic, Mason discovers his coworker, Ciddah, may know more about the Safe Lands than imagined...and may have an agenda of her own. At the same time, Mason's brother Levi is focused on a way to free the remaining Glenrock captives, while Mason's younger brother, Omar, decides to take the rebellion against the Safe Lands into his own hands as a vigilante.

Soon all three brothers are being watched closely--and when Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, his investigation just might get those closest to him liberated.

My Review:

     Outcasts, the second book in the Safe Lands series follows multiple POVs and their adventures in the Safe Lands. Because of the many POVs I often found myself confused as to who was who. We had Shaylinn, Levi, Jordan, Mason, Omar, etc., and I had a very trying time keeping them all straight in my head. I was constantly asking who's POV I was in. Also with the many POVs there were many different things going on at the same time that made my brain spin even harder. I often stopped and went, "Wait, what?"
     However, please don't the negativity in the above paragraph as that I didn't like the book, I did. I just had a hard time keeping up. 
     Like Captives, Outcasts is a book with very mature topics. Such as pregnancy, giving birth, intimacy, and the womanly cycle. I'm a girl and it was even a little uncomfortable for me. Nothing was in too in depth, but I would definitely advise you to read this book first before you hand it off to you to your 13 year old daughter.  
     Also, before you begin reading Outcasts read Captives first. You'll understand it a lot better and be more prepared to begin your journey as an outcast. ;)

Doon by Corp & Langdon::

DOON by CORP&LANGON

Movie Rating: PG-13 for some sensuality
Book Rating: @@@@@
Swearing: 2 uses of h**l
Inappropriate Scenes: a boy catches a girl in her nightgown; there's one mention of sex
# of Pages: 395 (hardcover)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Blink

Back Blurb:

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. 

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. 

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

My Review:

     Doon is a captivating, lovely, fantasy novel for any girl of any age. (boys, of course, can read Doon too but I'm not sure how many boys like fantasy romance books...) 
     Set in a fantastical Irish setting this book reminded me numerous times of Narnia, which is probably part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. I will be honest and tell you that Doon was not on the top of my to-read list because most fantasy books I have read did not live up to my expectations. I quickly realized my mistake when I warily picked Doon up and began reading. From page 1 I was addicted and when I finished on page 395 I felt that emotional  loss you get only after reading a wonderful book. 
     I did not like how selfish Makenna was and I wanted to reach into the book and shake her, but at least because of her the ending wasn't cliche. 
Note the authors: Very rarely do I pick up a debut book and enjoy as much as I have enjoyed Doon. (I'm still traumatized by Sarah Dessen's debut book. ick) Ms. Corp and Ms. Langdon please please please don't make me wait forever for Book 2! You did an exceptional job and Doon was truly a fantastic book!

Maze Runner movie Still

Here you go, Gladers! :)

StudioGear Cosmetics Product Review and Coupon

Hey, bloggers! I have my first product review for you (and a coupon)! :) I had the pleasure of receiving two products from StudioGear Cosmetics: Face Primer and Mascara. My review is going to be in 2 parts. One part about the Face Primer, the second part about the mascara.

Part One: The Face Primer

http://studiogearcosmetics.com/shop/best-sellers/prime-objective-face-primer/

PRIME OBJECTIVE SKIN PERFECTING FACE PRIMER--$30

Rating: @@@@

Review:

For a long time, I've been using regular lotion as my primer. And it left my face sticky and greasy and gross and shiny. But no more!!! :) The Prime Objective Face Primer is nothing short of Amazing! My face feels so soft and it's not greasy anymore and it's moisturized! Just a little bit of this primer goes a long way and now I'm addicted. 

Part Two: The Mascara

http://studiogearcosmetics.com/shop/best-sellers/pro-tls-mascara/

IMPACTFULL PRO T.L.S MASCARA--$18

Rating: @@@@@

Review:

Need longer lashes? Without the caked-on look? Look no further than the Impactfull Pro Mascara. This stuff is a miracle. Long-lasting without having to put gobs on to make your lashes look longer. My favorite part of this product was actually the brush. The bristles were so soft! It was like a mini hair brush for your eyes. And it doesn't clump the lashes together, it separates them to make your eyes have more volume. This is the best mascara I have ever used! Two thumbs up!

Coupon time!!! Put in the coupon code: Maniacal13 for 10% off your purchase. :)

Maze Runner Still

Picture of the day! Guess what's happening in this picture...

THREE by Kristen Simmons::Review

THREE by KRISTEN SIMMONS

Back Blurb:

Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

At fighting back.

My Review:

Movie Rating: PG-16 for language, violence, and sexuality

Book Rating: @@@

Swearing: 2 or 3 uses of d**n

Inappropriate Scenes: one undescribed sex scene (author did not go into detail)

# of Pages: 380 (hardcover)

Genre: YA Dystopian

Publisher: Tor Teen

*this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

Captivating. A stunning, non-stop read that will have you on pins and needles the whole time. Meet Ember Miller. Victim of an Article 5 violation, which states that 1 whole family is a man, a woman, and a child/children.

Pros: A fascinating and well-written plot that will keep you gasping in shock at the turn of every page. 

     I had the pleasure of reading Article 5 but had not the pleasure of reading the middle book of this trilogy, Breaking Point. Three was written with such clarity that I had no trouble understanding what had happened in Breaking Point. Main characters were well-developed, but there were so many minor characters I had a hard time keeping up with them.

Cons: Basically, it was only 2 things that made me give this book 3 stars. (two stars lost for the two things that bothered me) One, was the sex scene. How can I promote my blog as a child-friendly blog when I review books with sex in them? Two, the author made a statement about Three being about an extremist right-wing  government. Perhaps, it would do Kristen Simmons good to realize that her fan-base includes right-wing extremists. Is it such a bad thing to live morally?

The cold never bothered me anyway.

Final Divergent Trailer!

We have the very last Divergent theatrical trailer. The. Very. Last. So enjoy this truly #DivergentAmazin' trailer before all you initiates go see Divergent in theaters March 21st!

Maze Runner still!

We have another Maze Runner still! With Mr. Dashner quoted as saying, "Something really bad happens after this..." Leaving us all thinking the big question, "WHAT THE HECK HAPPENS?"

Catching Fire DVD to *hit* the shelves...

Well not literally *hit* the shelves...unless some worker is having an especially rough day as he (or she) lines up the orange and black Catching Fire DVD cases on the early morning of March 7th. That's right. You heard me.

MARCH 7th!

                    *confetti, balloons, candy, and mockingjay pins are now falling from the sky*

But I digress. If you wish to make sure that you get a copy of Catching Fire before the crowds run you over in the mad dash to be the first owner of this wonderful film, Walmart is selling pre-order tickets. You buy the ticket and then, when Walmart gets the hard copy of the movie, you trade your ticket in for the movie. (so see, you're not really paying 30 dollars for a piece of paper) Indulge your Gamian side and don't forget to buy a mockingjay pin! :) #CatchingFireDVD

Nicole Quigley Author Interview

Got another wonderful interview for you today! Nicole Quigley, author of Like Moonlight at Low Tide, tells a little about what it was like for her to write her debut novel. You can read my review of her book here: Like Moonlight at Low Tide

Back Blurb:
Like Moonlight at Low Tide won the 2013 ACFW Carol Award for young adult fiction and is a "recommended teen read" by USA Today. When high school junior Melissa Keiser returns to her hometown of Anna Maria Island, Florida, she has one goal: hide from the bullies who had convinced her she was the ugliest girl in school. But when she is caught sneaking into a neighbor's pool at night, everything changes. Something is different now that Melissa is sixteen, and the guys and popular girls who once made her life miserable have taken notice. When Melissa gets the chance to escape life in a house ruled by her mom's latest boyfriend, she must choose where her loyalties lie between a long-time crush, a new friend, and her surfer brother who makes it impossible to forget her roots. Just as Melissa seems to achieve everything she ever wanted, she loses a loved one to suicide. Melissa must not only grieve for her loss, she must find the truth about the three boys who loved her and discover that joy sometimes comes from the most unexpected place of all.

About Nicole Quigley:

The first time I fell in love with the written story was when I was about nine years-old, and my mother read an Emily Dickinson poem to me from a leather-bound anthology of American poetry.  I spent the next years drawn to anything that would help me recapture that feeling of pure wonder I felt when I discovered how the perfect string of words could come together to illuminate a truth, or a heartache, or even love.

As a kid, I memorized lines of words in community theater. I wrote pages upon pages of words to my best friends in high school (and in subsequent summer school).  I thought I had lost all my words when I was rejected from my high school newspaper, but I found them again when I got my first writing job as a student columnist for theManatee Am/Sarasota Herald Tribune years later.

After majoring in Communications at Appalachian State University, I was blessed to find the profession of public relations, which allowed me to work with words on a daily basis for the last dozen years in Washington, D.C.

But it wasn’t until I wrote Like Moonlight at Low Tide that I got to share the words that meant the most to me—the ones that tell a story of God’s goodness and relevance to all of us.  I don’t think my words will ever do that mission justice, but it is sure fun (and incredibly humbling) to try.

Originally, I am from beautiful (and sunny) Anna Maria Island, Florida.

INTERVIEW!!:

What are your 5 favorite songs?

That's a tough one because the answer changes just about every day. But right now it's:

"Last Known Surroundings" by Explosions in the Sky

"From the Inside Out" by Hillsong

"Why Don't We Just Dance" by Josh Turner

"Take 'Em Away" by Old Crow Medicine Show

"Lord Raise Me Up" by Matisyahu

What is your earliest memory?

Moving into our home in Florida after my dad got out of the service. I was about two.

Tell us a little about Like Moonlight at Low Tide.

It's the story of what happens to a girl after she's been bullied and starts to get everything she ever wanted.

What character was easiest for you to write about?

The easiest character to write about was the younger sister of the main character. I'm an older sibling myself, and I remembered how much my younger brother just loved me where I was at when I was a teenager, even though my head was in so many different places. I wrote the younger sibling in this story in a similar way.

What character was hardest for you to write about?

The hardest character for me to write about was the main character's mother, who had a lot of issues. I wanted to show both sides of her -- the loving side as a mom, and the foolish side as a woman who thought that the right boyfriend would fix everything.

Do you have any ideas for more books?

I'm working on another novel now that is a real challenge to write. Just when I think I'm close to the end, I discover something new. It's an adventure.

What or who was/is your greatest encouragement as an author?

My parents and my friends both really encouraged me to write. They knew I needed to go out there and try it or else I would never know what I was capable of. They believed in me before I did.

I was also really inspired by a sermon a movie producer gave at my church. He talked about the role of stories in our lives and how important they are. When I heard that, I felt I had permission to pursue this dream.  

You can listen to it here: http://www.nicolequigleybooks.com/thesecondbestsermon/

Do you have any favorite sayings?

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? 

Check out Ms. Quigley's website here: Nicole Quigley Books
Purchase Like Moonlight at Low Tide here: Amazon.com