Just A Little Red

Confessions Of A Bookaholic – Guilty Pleasures Edition #53 – Sweet Valley High #55 – Perfect Shot

Posted on January 12, 2015 by DMW

Here is another Sweet Valley High female athlete going through something. On the one hand I totally got it, but on the other hand it just seemed like another version of the “ugly-pretty girl” story. Anyone who grew up between 1980-2006 totally knows what I mean. 😛

“Perfect Shot”

Sweet Valley Scale: 4 out of 5 Twins

People are always telling Shelly Novak that she has everything going for her. She is one of the best basketball players at Sweet Valley High, and she’s as tall and graceful as a model. But the problem is that being so tall makes Shelly feel like a freak. Then she meets Jim Roberts. He has a way of making her feel special. But when Jim, a photography buff, starts taking pictures of Shelly, she makes him promise never to show them to anyone. Then The Sweet Valley News sponsors a photography contest and Jim thinks he could win with a photo of Shelly. But if he’s wrong, will Shelly ever forgive him?

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Posted in Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Guilty Pleasures, Reviews | Tagged "all-state", "body issues", "camera shy", "dance lessons", "self esteem", "self image", "sweet valley high", basketball, book, photography, redhead, sweet valley, tall | Leave a comment

Confessions Of A Bookaholic – Guilty Pleasures Edition #52 – Sweet Valley High #54 – Two-Boy Weekend

Posted on January 11, 2015 by DMW

Will this book mark the end of Jessica’s first relationship? Is this goodbye to redhead stud, A.J. Morgan? The thing we all saw coming, and yet didn’t… you’ll have to read on to find out. 😉

“Two-Boy Weekend”

Sweet Valley Scale: 4.5 out of 5 Twins

Jessica Wakefield doesn’t know how she is going to survive a long weekend without her steady boyfriend, A.J. Morgan. But when she meets Christopher, a good-looking and mysterious boy from the beach, her lonely weekend turns into one of the most romantic times of her life. Jessica knows she will have to stop seeing Christopher when A.J. returns, but in the meantime she is going to enjoy herself. But then, what started out as fun turns into a nightmare. Christopher refuses to leave Jessica alone. He calls her every night and then begins to follow her wherever she goes. Jessica is terrified that A.J. will find out and break up with her. Has Jessica got herself in too deep this time?

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Posted in Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Guilty Pleasures, Reviews | Tagged "mistaken identity", "reading list", "sweet valley high", affair, book, break up, cheat, fling, psycho, stalker, sweet valley | Leave a comment

Off Limits: A Blogging Problem (Also A Writer’s Problem)

Posted on January 8, 2015 by DMW

I have heard writers discuss what is off limits before. What they won’t write about, who they won’t write about. Many author friends say things like, “I’ll have my husband read it, and if he has a problem with it, I won’t print it. Our marriage is worth more than a book.” And others, “Nothing is off limits, and no one is immune. Friends, family, my ex-husband, even when we were married – if I feel the pull to write about it, I’m going to write about it. Well everything except for my daughter. She is off limits.” Some of my friends who don’t write essays or creative nonfiction, but stick to blogs or articles may be more restrictive, and others may not. But it is a valid question that I faced for the first time a few weeks ago. And it got me thinking.

When I started this blog, I was big on anonymity and privacy. I didn’t post anything beyond my name (first name only), show off any pictures, etc. And as the blog grew – several personal and identifying pieces of information came out. My various medical problems, my husband’s name, the state we live in, my history with my blood relatives, etc. But still no pictures or last name, which made me feel anonymous. And being anonymous is freeing – at least it is for me. One of the big reasons I have never had a blog before and waited so long to start one was: “I don’t want people that I know reading it and getting upset or hurt. I don’t want to write for them.” But that was countered with, “But then who the hell will read it?”

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Posted in Blog, blogging, Journal, Personal, Relationships, Social Media, Thoughts, Writers, Writing | Tagged "off limits", anonymity, feelings, people, privacy | 2 Comments

Suddenly Inspired, Enthused, Determined, Resolved: I Am Going To Be Published

Posted on January 6, 2015 by DMW

Ten days ago I was bit by a whole lot of inspiration. Normally, when inspiration comes crashing in on me, I can understand where it comes from. I may be on a romantic weekend getaway; or hiking in the mountains, taking in spectacular views of forest, wildlife or a sparkling lake; or I’m in a place rich in history that it can’t help but affect me (Alcatraz, The Winchester Mystery House, and The Stanley Hotel come to mind as recent examples). But this last time, there wasn’t any obvious rhyme or reason for it. I wasn’t having some new experience, or somewhere inspirational, where natural beauty or a compelling history did the trick – I was just on a visit to Florida. A place I have been many times. And when it first struck, it was late, and I wasn’t outside or having some kind of new experience. But hey, why fight a good thing?

And since it hit, I have felt a much stronger compulsion than I usually feel to write. And not just write, but write with a reason. To submit. To get published. To get my name out there, and finally have my voice and my words heard by other people. I have never submitted anything to any sort of publication. Sometimes I have my reasons, sometimes life is just too crazy, and sometimes I hold myself back – but I have never really felt that need that something had to happen now (when it came to being published). And now that seems to have changed.

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Posted in fiction, Inspiration, Publishing, Writing | Tagged 2015, goals, ideas, publication, resolutions, submit | Leave a comment

Personal Growth: Reflections On How I Have Grown

Posted on January 5, 2015 by DMW

2014 may not have been the best year for me or us (my husband and I) but when it came down to keeping my 2014 resolutions (all 30 of them!) I have to say that I did all right. I am the kind of person who gets off on organization and efficiency – so of course I am all about lists. I divided my life into three big umbrella categories: Health; Personal; and Career. And each of those umbrellas had ten goals/resolutions. While I have always sought to challenge myself, 2014 was the first year I had so many goals, and it was also the first time I was really good about tracking them.

This year, I saw a lot of growth. I honestly haven’t felt like I have grown this much as a person since 2011, when I finally broke out of the shadows of fighting to stay alive and was about to finally just live. (Being stuck on survive is fine when it is necessary, but only when it is necessary. It is impossible to grow and “live” when you’re stuck there. Because everything is about need, about necessity and often you feel your hands are tied.) I don’t think I thought I would ever admit this, because I don’t believe everything happens for a reason, but dying (as in actual death – I wasn’t being metaphorical) the way that I did and fighting just to stay alive, once I came back, was really the best thing for me. Because once I got past that fight, I had a serious growth spurt. I didn’t learn anything new or that I didn’t already know, but I was able to do all of the work in a few short months that would have probably otherwise taken a decade to go through. And to clarify that is not a reason – that is finding the silver lining.

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