Mundie Moms

Monday, March 1, 2010

Celebrate!

I’m so happy to be here helping to celebrate Mundie Moms first birthday! Hurrah!! *tosses confetti around* What a fantastic year it’s been - thanks MMs for everything!

It’s a well known fact in my family that I’m a huge fan of celebrating pretty much anything and everything. Sell a book? Celebrate! Get a good day writing done? Celebrate! Get any writing done? Celebrate! Get out of bed? Celebrate!

Sometimes I feel like it’s so easy to set goals for ourselves and then achieve the goal and never mark the occasion. Too often we just nod our heads (if even that) and then move the goal posts even farther away. We never congratulate ourselves for sticking to our goals, for achieving milestones and for making it to the end.

And if we never mark our achievements and give ourselves pats on the back then everything just starts to feel like this never-ending slog towards an impossible end. This can eventually lead to the loss the joy of writing (whether you write books, reviews, blogs, essays, journal, etc).

This is why I think it’s so important to celebrate all the steps along the way! Seriously, I know some of you laughed at the “get any writing done - celebrate” but the thing is, so often that’s the hardest part of the equation. To me it’s kinda like starting an exercise program -- sometimes you have to pat yourself on the back for getting dressed and going to the gym even if the workout is less than stellar because without those first steps, you end up nowhere.

I’m not saying you can boot up a blank word document and stare at it for twenty minutes day after day and call yourself done. There is a point at which we do legitimately have to move goalposts in order to stretch and grow, but I think before we do that we need to celebrate the moment.

Celebrate blogging for a year and building a fantastic community. Revel in the friendships built and the accomplishments. Recognize all the steps along the way and smile, knowing you’re one step farther along the path you’ve chosen.

As for me, I’m celebrating the release of my second book, The Dead-Tossed Waves by spending a long weekend out of town with my fiancĂ© before I head out on tour for a few weeks. How do you like to celebrate your accomplishments? Leave a comment or come say hello in person during my tour (details here: http://carrie-me.blogspot.com/2009/03/dead-tossed-waves-tour-page.html) and let me know!

And Congratulations Mundie Moms on a fabulous year and thanks for letting me be a part of it! - Carrie Ryan

Book Review-The Unwritten Rule

By Elizabeth Scott
Published by Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuster)
To Be Released on March 16, 2010
Source: Elizabeth Scott
4.5 Stars

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, super smart and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two tiny details: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forcers herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. SHe feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants to do is hurt her best friend. But when she is thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens between them. Its wonderful....and awful. Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more... (taken from back cover).

*spoiler free* Wow. Elizabeth captured so many real emotions in this book. Not only do we get the best friends dynamic of Sarah and Brianna, but Elizabeth did an amazing job at capturing family dynamics as well. The Unwritten Rule is a true to life book, that will bring out real life feelings as you read it.

Sarah's character comes from a loving, stable home, who's parents I really adored. She's a best friend many people would want to have, as she's always there to help her bff Brianna, even if she doesn't want to. Which, is also a down fall for her. There were times I just wanted to shake Sarah and tell her to just say no to Brianna.

Sarah has liked Ryan, who's now Brianna's boyfriend, since 8th grade. Now in high school, and now the third wheel in the Brianna and Ryan 2 month relationship, Sarah is trying hard not to like Ryan. Ryan and Sarah have a connection. It's so easy to just be themselves around each other, especially since they've been friends since they were little.

Brianna and Sarah have been best friends since K. Brianna is beautiful, and makes sure she includes, plain looking Sarah in all the popular things she does. Brianna's homelife gives us a sense as to why she acts the way she does. Brianna comes from a very broken home, and is a broken individual, but hides all that from everyone but Sarah. Sarah is there to hold Brianna together. While Brianna really peeved me off on many times through out the book, and I wanted to tell her off, I couldn't help but feel bad for her.

The events that transpire in the story are so real. Sarah and Ryan share a few moments together that plague her with guilt, but help her come into her own. By the end of the book I was yelling YES! No matter how long we know our friends, some things just need to be said, and some things you just can't fight feeling. I'm a sucker for a guy standing up for a girl, to a girl! Ryan's lovable character shines through at the end.

Elizabeth had me feeling all sorts of emotions as I read this book. It's a great, light hearted read, filled with many emotions that I think many teens would be able to relate to. Insecurities, love, friendship, loyalty, honesty and growing into your own person are all themes through out the book.

Mundie Moms Writing 101 with author Shannon Delany


The 1st book in Shannon's series, 13 To Life will be released this June. We are so honored that Shannon is taking time out of her busy schedule to come and help us aspiring writers achieve our goals. You can visit the 101 forum here:

We also have a Q&A forum for Shannon here-

Be sure to stop by and say hi to Shannon. Don't forget to bring a question or two that she can answer.
Look for this image link on our side bar, to be taking right to Shannon's Writing Forum.

Mundane Monday #23

Happy Mundane Monday! We hope Magnus brings a little bit of spunk
and laughter to your day.
Magnus Bane
“I don’t remember the Clave inviting you into the Glass City, Magnus Bane.”
“They didn’t,” Magnus said. “Your wards are down.”
“Really?” the Consul’s voice dripped sarcasm. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Magnus looked concerned. “That’s terrible. Someone should have told you.” He glanced at Luke. “Tell him the wards are down.”
-City of Glass, Magnus Bane

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