This week we’re letting everyone know just what we’re thankful for. And that includes…YOU! There’s a new giveaway at every single stop so be sure to hop around and visit your favorite blogs and find a few new ones to follow too!
So the purpose of this post is to tell you, my readers, why I’m thankful. Well yay! An easy blog topic. One with a lot of answers, but easy. I love my readers, because without them I’d basically just be writing for my cat, and the couple of writer buddies who are kind enough to cheer me on (Thanks, guys!). I love what I do, and I love to write because I love to read. I love all the feelings I have when fall head over heels for an amazing story. When I get email from a reader letting me know that I’ve made them laugh or cry or want more of a series, I am grateful because it gives me hope that just maybe I’ve come close to giving someone else that same amazing feeling I get when I fall in love with a story. I’m also thankful to my readers because when I write, I fall in love with my characters. The good ones, the bad ones, the alphas and the betas, they are all real to me. I see and hear them in my head, and getting to spend quality time with them is such a gift. Every reader who talks to me about those worlds, about Michelle and Dante’s struggles in Acts of Creation, or the emotional conclusion to Lee and Alexia in Hunter by Night, they become even more vivid, more real, and more alive to me.
I’m grateful because writing can be a solitary activity. Sometimes depressing, sometimes anxiety inducing, and never as easy as it looks in the movies. If I were only writing into the void, and reading things aloud to my cat, I’d look even crazier than I’m sure I already do. 😉
I love my readers for making it possible to continue. It’s that simple, and that huge. Thank you so much to all of you. <3
**GIVEAWAY**
Giveaway: One copy of Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson – gluten free cake mix has already been baked and consumed by me and my kids. 😉
Giveaway –One copy of Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson, and some bookmarks. I had the extreme luck of hearing Jenny Lawson speak about a month (maybe? I’m awful at time) ago about things like mental illness, and while I’m generally reasonably perky on social media, it’s something I struggle with as much as the next writer. Mostly, I deal with it quietly because I have trouble behaving like a human being when I’m in deep–as I’m sure is the case with lots of people. So if I feel like hell, I simply retreat and marathon Supernatural like a good girl. 😉
I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety since my early teens, and have have more trouble since having kids and starting writing. Lawson’s writing–her humor and her keep swimming attitude–was the sort of thing I needed. I keep her books by my bed and on my phone and pull one out when I need to remember I’m not alone and to give myself a good laugh. Sadly, due to time constraints I didn’t actually get to meet her the day she was in my town signing books, but I got to hear her speak, and some of the things she said touched my heart so much that it was worth the drive all the same.
So. The point of all the babbling? Someone on Twitter mentioned buying an extra copy of the book to give away to someone who might not otherwise be able to afford one, which I thought was a great idea – being the good procrastinator that I am, I’m just now getting around to giving my extra copy away. I needed to give something away for this blog hop, so here we are!
**I’m doing something different today for the giveaway. Typically to maximize social media exposure and whatnot, I set up a giveaway widget, and it gives bonus entries to folks who follow me on Facebook and and my Newsletter, or Twitter, or who Tweet about the giveaway. I’m not requiring that for this giveaway simply because I want to give everyone an equal chance. So while it’d be lovely if you joined my nutty tribe of followers, and I think it’s a really awesome giveaway so I would definitely appreciate if you shared the giveaway on Twitter / FB / etc, for this particular giveaway the deal is one comment, one entry, and I’ll choose a winner at the end by having my cat shine her laser pointer at the screen (or more likely a randomizer) (My God, is she always so wordy? Yes, yes she is).
Also, and more importantly, if you don’t already follow Jenny as “The Bloggess” on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog, you really are missing out.
SO If you would like a chance to win the book, leave a comment below. Make sure the blog comment doohickie has captured your email address or something so I can contact you if you win. Simple as that. So comment below. And if you have the means and can’t wait to read Furiously Happy, go and get it. It’s so good, and full of taxidermy. Who can go wrong with Taxidermy? Lots of other folks are doing giveaways this week. Check them out: