INTO THE DARK Book 2 THE ETERNITY KEY Teasers

If you are a returning reader, you probably already know that my mom is a Series Ambassador for Bree Despain's Into the Dark series, and I am her self-proclaimed junior helper. If you are new (or just didn't know), now you know! To celebrate Bree Despain's Into the Dark book 2 The Eternity Key's upcoming release, Despain sent out three teasers for the book that I was able to share with the world via social media. Below you will find said teasers.

Craving more? I know I am. And I've got good news and bad news.

The good news: The Eternity Key was officially released today, so you can go out and satisfy those cravings!

The bad news: If you're like me, you'll finish the book within a week, and then you'll have to wait a while to satisfy your cravings with book three.

If you need to order your copy, you can do so at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Indie Bound, and The King's English Bookshop.

Happy Reading!

Molly

BONUS:

Check out the book trailer below!

The "Ideal Body"

DISCLAIMER: None of the images featured in this post belong to me. I found them all via Google image.

Here's what I don't get:

The perfect "real" body. So what, the Victoria's Secret models have fake bodies?

Okay, I get the idea. There's no way the VS models naturally have such small, toned bodies; the DOVE campaign women are showing off [what I assume are] their natural bodies. Not a lot of women look like the VS models, so the idea is to present more "natural" looking bodies as the ideal body. But what I'd like to know is, Why do we need an "ideal body"?

One of the women featured above has been a recent victim of Fat-Shaming, and the other has been criticized for being too skinny. There is plenty that could be said for this, but there are two things I'd like to say. One, Kelly Clarkson just had a baby, and Giuliana Rancic is as skinny as she is partly because of her cancer medication. Two, WHOSE BUSINESS IS IT???

Every time I get on Pinterest, I'm bombarded with images of fit girls in sports bras and shorts. Here's something that I frequently come across:

It's totally great if you look like this. Really. But what about those who are still just skinny? Not to mention, this is still kind of insinuating that curvy and robust is at the bottom of the pyramid. If we really want to empower women, we need to accept them all; not just "the new skinny."

This really makes me scratch my head:

If the goal isn't to look fit, why post a picture of a perfect set of abs and that much-desired thigh gap? It's not like feeling fit and looking fit are one in the same; I feel fit, but I definitely don't look like that!

I get it. Fitspiration. There's nothing wrong with striving to be strong and fit. However, it's when things like this show up that my hope for humanity decreases about three feet:

Have you never had pizza? Double Stuf Oreos? Chinese food? Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory???

I believe that our society is making a true effort to help women love themselves and feel beautiful. However, I also believe that in our attempt to make ourselves feel beautiful, we fall back on old, childish habits like tearing someone down to elevate ourselves. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be fit and strong ("the best you you can be"), but there's also nothing wrong with loving your "natural" body. I feel like we find ourselves in one camp or the other, and, like rival high schools, we go after each other like wolves defending their territories.

Confession: I play the comparison game. I look at other girls and think, "Oh, I'm doing much better than they are" or "My legs are so much more attractive than theirs" or "My body looks similar to theirs, and they don't look too bad, so I must be doing okay." I'm not positive, but I'm willing to bet that I'm not the only person who does this. It isn't fun.

I don't want to play the comparison game anymore, and I don't want anyone else to play it, either. I want us all to look at each other and acknowledge that we are all created differently, and we're all beautiful in our differences. On the bright side, I do believe that we are making progress in this area and are becoming more encouraging. Unfortunately, the encouraging thing can get a little... off course?

Jessica Kane, who a lot of people would consider to be plus-size, went to the beach without a coverup. People told her she was brave. Her [shortened] response was "THIS WAS NOT BRAVE. Things that DO take bravery? A family battling tragic illness, a mother trying to beat addiction, a person trying to break free of domestic violence, reaching out for help when you have already planned your suicide and feel like you can't breath one more day. THAT is brave. Not wearing a swimsuit at the beach." Check out the original post here.

Why should we be considered brave for not being ashamed of our bodies? We are all human, whether we're size 0 or 32 or 74 or 102. Real women are not skinny, curvy, strong, or whatever. The following meme sums it up perfectly.

Another celebrity who has been in the media for weight issues is Demi Lovato. In case you missed it, she posted a picture of her lack of a thigh gap with the caption: “You don’t have to have a thigh gap to be beautiful. It is possible to love your body the way it is.”

During an interview for E! News, Lovato explained, "For some reason this whole thigh gap thing has kind of swept over what people think is beautiful. And if you have that naturally, then that’s totally fine, you’re still beautiful. But my body doesn’t naturally have that. I wanted to show my fans out there who don’t naturally have [the thigh gap] that it’s okay. You don’t have to have what you see in the magazines if that’s not what your body naturally has." I couldn't agree more!

Health is what's key. If you are diabetic, pre-diabetic, suffer from high blood pressure or any other weight-related disease, then you have something to worry about and need to start paying attention to your body. But needing to lose weight because of health-related issues is not related to beauty or attractiveness; it's not that you need to "fix" your body because there's something "wrong" with it, it's that your body isn't healthy and needs a little TLC. However, health comes in many different shapes and sizes; there are larger-than-average people out there who don't suffer from weight-related issues. So unless your doctor recommends weight loss or you're really bothered by your weight, don't sweat it (the same goes for people who are smaller-than-average).

"Real" women are not curvy. "Real" women are not skinny. "Real" women are not strong or fit. Real women are curvy, skinny, strong, fit, and everything else. You want to know who isn't real?

Sorry; I couldn't resist.

You are beautiful if you eat a burger or a salad or an entire package of Cadbury Creme Eggs. Starving yourself isn't beautiful, and neither is gorging yourself. Healthy is what's beautiful, and, as discussed earlier, healthy comes in all shapes and sizes. Don't starve yourself and don't gorge yourself (and don't beat yourself up for eating all of those Cadbury Creme Eggs). Go for more walks, drink more water, eat more fruits and veggies, and do more of the things you love.

Be happy and be healthy, because that is what's beautiful.

Molly

P.S. If nothing tastes as good as skinny feels to you, then good for you! As for me, I'll follow up my salads and protein shakes with my DQ Blizzard. (It's all about balance ;) )

THE SHADOW PRINCE - Character Profiles

Image courtesy of Goodreads.

If you missed it, my mom is an Ambassador for Bree Despain’s Into the Dark series and I am her self-proclaimed junior helper. You can get all of the details by reading my post here.

Yesterday was the paperback release day for Into the Dark Book One: The Shadow Prince! You can order your copy from The King’s English, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Indie Bound. The excerpt is below.

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.
 
Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.
 
Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails.  As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.
 
A pulsating romance of epic proportions, Bree Despain’s The Shadow Prince will leave her fans breathless for the next book in the Into The Dark series.

I haven’t had a chance to read The Shadow Prince yet, but it’s on the top of my to-be-read list. My copy will be coming in soon, and then I’ll get into it and be able to tell all you wonderful readers about how awesome it is (or if you happen to read it before I do, you can tell me how awesome it is!).

To celebrate the paperback release of The Shadow Prince, Bree Despain has posted profiles for characters from the book so you can get to know them better. Check them out by clicking the character names below.

Tobin

Daphne

Haden

Happy reading!

Molly

Into the Dark Teaser

It’s been a few months now since Egmont Publishing closed down, leaving many authors, fans, and booklovers heartbroken. The publishing world is a scary business, and definitely not a reliable one (desirable? Yes. Reliable? Not so much). Many authors were left publisher-less as well as heartbroken, and, unfortunately, there was no guarantee that their still-to-be-published novels would be picked up by another company. Thankfully, Lerner Publishing Group acquired many of Egmont’s titles, giving many of the previous Egmont-affiliated authors hope. Unfortunately, the publishing world is still a scary, unreliable place to reside.

Bree Despain, author of the Dark Divine trilogy and the Into the Dark series, was one of the authors who was unfortunate enough to be affected by Egmont’s closing but lucky enough to be picked up by Lerner. I absolutely LOVED her Dark Divine novels, and I was heartbroken when I heard of her publishing misfortune (and then very relieved to find out that her luck had taken a better turn). When I found out that she was asking for some social media moguls to help promote her books, I asked my mom to sign up for the campaign. My mom was chosen as one of Despain’s Ambassadors and I couldn’t be happier!

I haven’t read Despain’s Into the Dark series yet, but it’s on the top of my to-be-read list. My copies should be arriving soon, and I can’t wait to dig in and read them. As I said above, I am a huge fan of the Dark Divine novels, and I’m sure the Into the Dark series is going to be just as good! The excerpts have definitely gotten me excited. Check them out below!

Sounds like my type of guy!

Oh my goodness, that description! (Hey, I might not be a teenager anymore, but I can still fangirl as hard as a 13-year-old.)

Can I come?

I’m not an “official” Into the Dark Ambassador, but I’ll be acting as my mom’s junior helper (do I count as a junior at the age of 20?). Keep an eye out for future Into the Dark promotions. You can also follow along with my mom’s blog, twitter, and facebook page, where she’ll be promoting the Into the Dark series.

Cheers!

Molly

National Encourage a Young Writer Day 2015

Today is Encourage a Young Writer Day 2015! I am a young writer myself, and I rely heavily on encouragement from my family, friends, and professors. Unfortunately, I know that not every young writer has the awesome backup support that I do. For this reason (ie the lack of encouragement), Encourage a Young Writer Day is extremely important.

I'm a young writer myself and I understand how important encouragement is.
Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from The Red Room Photography.

Now, what constitutes as “young”? I know a lot of people in their 30s and 40s who are aspiring writers. Don’t they deserve encouragement? Well, yes and no. Writing is a very difficult profession because it is an art form, and heaven knows artists are never satisfied with their work; therefore, all writers need encouragement. However, I believe that people who are older are typically better able to handle the pressure and hold themselves up better than people who are in their 20s or younger; they aren’t as fragile because they’re more experienced. BUT, age is relative. Compared to 70, 30 and 40 is young. Compared to 90, 70 is young. So wherever you fall on the age spectrum, listen up, because this day can be for you, too!

Writing is challenging. It’s an expression of internal thoughts, feelings, and desires. It’s not easy getting what’s inside to go outside. Emotions and dreams aren’t easily translated on paper, but there’s very little that compares to the feelings that come with successful expression. It takes time and patience to develop the talent of translating thoughts and feelings into words, phrases, and expressions. Unfortunately, some writers and dreamers are encouraged in all the wrong areas; they are encouraged to give up their daydreams and focus on something more… tangible and “reliable.”

If you are one of those unfortunate writers who has been encouraged to give up, listen to me: your dreams are not silly and they aren’t unreachable.

If you start to doubt whether or not you’re really a writer, the answer is yes. Writers write. What makes a writer a writer is not the ability to write perfect, beautiful poetry or prose the first time, every time you set your fingers on the keyboard or put pen to paper; that’s a fantasy and a complete lie. First drafts (and second, third, and forth drafts) suck. As long as you are writing (anything more complicated than a grocery list counts), you are a writer.

Writing isn't easy, but it's worth it.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Escola Photography.

Writing isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. As long as you are able to get words on paper or a computer screen (or even if you have to narrate your story and have someone else write it for you), you are succeeding at writing.

Don’t worry about being perfect. Don’t worry about what others will think about what you write. Focus on yourself and your story, and go write something!

Molly

For more encouragement for young writers, check out MelissaTagg’s guest post on Christy’s Cozy Corners. 

For more on how first drafts always suck, check out Anne Lamott’s essay here (warning: foul language ahead. But it’s definitely worth the read).

Motivational Monday 18 - Apply Yourself

Have you ever looked at a task or considered a goal, decided that it was too insurmountable or impossible, and just given up? Sometimes, rather than facing challenges head-on, it’s easier to just give up, go home, and forget about it.

Image source.

Challenges take us outside of our comfort zones, and heaven knows people love their comfort zones. The problem is that a lot of things we desire, a lot of things that we deserve, lie outside of our comfort zones.

Image source

I’ve given up plenty of times. I am human, after all. However, if I had given up on every single thing that had ever given me trouble, I would definitely not be where I am today. Chances are, you have the same situation. We change over our lifetimes and we change when we are challenged. Some things that would be different if I had given up would be my weight (I’d be about 20 pounds heavier), my education (I wouldn’t be getting ready to graduate from college with an associate degree), my writing (this includes books, short stories, blog posts, and even status updates), and my relationships.

I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the “oldest, largest, and most prestigious honor society for two-year colleges.” One of my chapter advisors has this saying when it comes to applying for scholarships: “You can’t win unless you apply.” During my first semester as a Phi Theta Kappa member, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to apply for the scholarships. I was busy with homework and life and, besides, what were the chances that I’d actually win? But I ended up applying. And let me tell you, it was hard work! I went into it thinking that I just had to answer a few basic questions, only to find out that I had to write essays and get letters of recommendation. Rather than giving up, though, I pushed through. And guess what? I got a scholarship.

My advisor’s little saying, “You can’t win unless you apply” can also relate to life. You can’t win unless you apply. You don’t live a satisfying life unless you put some effort into it. Let’s face it: life is hard. Unless we want to merely survive in life, we need to put some effort into living.

Whatever goal or task you’re facing right now, I want to challenge you to apply yourself. Don’t take the easy way out. And even if you don’t come out on top, you can at least take comfort knowing that you didn’t give up and that you had the strength and ability to keep going, no matter how tough the situation seemed at times. And that’s the point; it’s not always about winning, but about knowing your limitations and pushing yourself further each time (to a healthy extent, of course) to become a stronger, more confident, you.

Get out there and fight for what you deserve!

Molly

Book of the Month - April 2015

So I got a little off track and did not read a novel during February/March. I mean, I read, I just didn’t finish. I started reading Atlantia by Ally Condie in February but didn’t finish until about a week ago. I know, I know; for a bibliophile, I sure am slacking when it comes to consuming books. I’m giving bibliophiles a bad name.

*sigh*

HOWEVER, I did finally finish Atlantia and I have started reading a new novel. If you’re interested in experiencing what I did during February/March, then I recommend you read Atlantia by Ally Condie during April. Let me know what you think; I personally thought it was a bit… slow, but that could have been because I was so busy with everything else and it took me forever to finish because of said business.

Image courtesy of Goodreads.

 Atlantia takes place in the future, after our carbon footprints have finally destroyed the world. Rio and her family live Below, in the bubble-like, underwater world known as Atlantia, which was designed when it became clear that the Above was getting too dangerous to live in. Unfortunately, only a lucky few had the opportunity to live Below. Rio has always dreamed about living Above, but her one chance to leave Atlantia behind is thwarted by a betrayal she never saw coming. Now trapped in Atlantia, Rio must unravel a tangle of mysteries, including who she can trust, who she is, and what “family” really means.

If you're sick and tired of female leads worrying and obsessing over a guy, you're in luck: Rio is a strong female character who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. Atlantia does have romance in it, but not enough to make you roll your eyes (at least in my opinion).

I encourage you to curl up with this book when the April showers leave you trapped inside with “nothing” to do. And, like I said above, let me know what you think once you’ve finished. I’m genuinely curious!

What are you waiting for? Hop to it! (And yes, that is my pathetic attempt at an Easter pun.)

Molly

"Why Me?"

“Why me? What have I done to deserve this?” This might be a phrase you think after experiencing car troubles, getting laid off at work, or even when you’re sick. Even during Bible times people thought bad things happened because someone had done something wrong. See what the disciples asked Jesus when they came across a man who was born blind:

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2)

As children, if we do something wrong, we get punished. A toy gets taken away; we get sent to bed with no dessert; we get grounded. Because of these upbringings, I don’t think it’s unnatural to think that if something bad happens then it must be because we have done something wrong. The thing is, though, life rarely works this way.

Maybe one reason why we want to believe that bad things happen because someone did something wrong is because it doesn’t seem fair if that isn’t the case. Why should someone good and innocent experience such grief and pain? It might make us feel a lot better if there were legitimate reasons why such tragedies happen. But life is rarely fair.

The good news is that, as Christians, we can have faith that God has everything under control, even the bad things. When Jesus’ disciples asked him who had sinned that the man was born blind, Jesus responded:

“‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned… but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” (John 9:3)

We may not like all of the crappie stuff that happens to us, but we can take comfort knowing that God has a plan for us. As Christians, we can know that God works all things for the good of those who trust and love him (Romans 8:28). Even if we can’t understand why things happen, we can know and trust that God will work things out for us.

Take comfort in this: it isn’t just bad things that happen to undeserving people. We did nothing to deserve Jesus’ love or sacrifice, yet he gave it freely.

Image courtesy of Google Images.

 And we are not alone in our suffering. Even Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer for no fault of his own. He did not deserve death, yet, because God loved us so much, he came and died a sinner’s death on the cross. God has a plan, always. Jesus did not want to die, but he knew God had a plan. Right before he was taken away, “He withdrew… knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’” (Luke 22:41-42)

Whatever you are going through, or whatever you will go through in the future, remember: God knows what you are going through and he will be there with you and see you through.

Happy Easter everybody!

Molly