Music Monday-Used to Be by Matt Nathanson

Mondays are hard, so let’s conquer them with music!

I love music; I listen to music in the car, at work, and it is also part of my writing process. Sometimes a scene may be inspired by a song or I find songs that relate to what I have written; either way I always have a separate playlist for each project I’m working on in addition to a master playlist of all the songs I come across and enjoy listening to. Thank you Spotify!

On Mondays I will share one song that I’m currently in love with, has inspired me, or relates to one of my projects.

 

This Monday’s song is Used to Be by Matt Nathanson. I’m choosing this song because I just heard it for the first time this weekend. This is a new release off of his upcoming album. I love the tone and how relatable it is; I can feel what the song is about.

Have you listened to Matt Nathanson? If not, go listen to his music NOW! He is fantastic and I have also gotten to see him perform live a few years ago and he did not disappoint.

I have been into him since my friend Devon introduced his music to me when we both worked at Borders. That's right, Borders; Cue the tears and good memories!

Check it out on Spotify or buy now and let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to:

Sign-up for my monthly mailing list, Street Team, and/or Beta reader team now!

Author of the young adult realistic fiction novel Rain.

 

Taylor Sullivan took her life for granted until she received news that would change her life forever. In a state of denial she met Kyle, who didn’t end up being what she expected. She wasn’t able to escape her new reality, but with his friendship, just maybe she could survive it.

Social Media & False Connectedness

Originally Posted at www.christiecote.com. I shared this on my author blog the other day and thought I would share here too.

I’ve been thinking about Facebook and social media a lot lately. I think social media, especially Facebook, gives us a false sense that we are communicating with our friends and family. It makes us believe we know what is going on in someone’s life because we see their posts and click the like button and maybe even write a little comment and they might do the same in return.

Here is the thing.

We aren’t actually having a personal dialog with these people. We don’t necessarily know what is going on in their lives, only what they choose to post publicly. If we don’t communicate outside of those posts then we don’t know anything more than that. Some people post almost everything that happens in their daily life, but others are very selective or don’t take the time. I used to post about almost everything, but over the past several years, I have grown and changed. I’ve turned into a selective person and generally just post about big events or something that relates to reading and writing or one of my other interests. If you only look at my posts, you are only getting a tiny fragment of my life; I have so much more going on. My life has changed significantly in recent years and in ways I’m a different person then I was just a few years ago.

I think people have this false relationship with me and believe we are communicating and engaging in each other’s lives and I’m certainly guilty of living in the false sense of friendship as well, but it isn’t real communication. It isn’t a real relationship. It doesn’t compare to when I used to spend hours on the phone with my friends talking and having real dialog, getting deep and very personal about things I wouldn’t want everyone to know and I certainly wouldn’t be posting about on the internet. It’s not the same as sending a letter, email, or even a text message and corresponding directly with that person. We aren’t keeping those personal connections anymore. Social media is great for mass communication to a bunch of people at once and being able to advertise and promote stuff, and even finding people we lost touch with for various reasons, but it’s truly hindering our interpersonal communication and our relationships. I have people who I used to be really good friends with but now we’ve morphed into Facebook friends. We just don’t talk outside of Facebook anymore. How did this happen? When did it become so uncomfortable to talk to someone on the phone, or it just become not worth our time? Why is it easier to just post on the black hole that is Facebook instead of reaching out directly to the people who mean the most to us? Honestly, there are very few people I feel connected to anymore and I think this is part of the problem.

Don’t get me wrong, I love that social media exists and the Internet and am thankful for it. I wouldn’t have met one of my best friends if it weren’t for the Internet and social media because that is how we met. We’ve never been in the same state, but our conversations grew from social media messages, to emails, to texts, to phone calls. We don’t get to talk on the phone much, but when we have it helped grow our relationship. We are such good friends because we text each other almost every day to see how the other is and check in and are always there when the other needs to talk or vent. Especially, since I don’t usually vent on Facebook any longer. I grew out of that and instead talk my frustrations out with my husband or my friends in person or through emails or text messages.

I just think it’s really sad and tragic how our communication has changed. I hate how I don’t feel connected to people I used to be very close with and this isn’t me blaming those people because as I mentioned I’m guilty of this as well. I get stuck just paying attention to Facebook and don’t reach out to people personally.

This isn’t meant as a rant, but to try to make people think; to encourage people to close out of social media once a day or week and reach out to someone they haven’t talked to in a while outside of social media. Find out what is truly going on in their lives and engage in a dialog. Don’t let communication and relationships get lost in favor of a façade. Engage with people. Build real relationships. Connect!

Remembering September 11, 2001--13 years later

Our memories are crazy. Ask us where we were and what we were doing thirteen years ago on any other day and we probably wouldn’t know, or be able to picture the day. Most of us have a pretty vivid memory of September 11^th though. I believe this is called a flashbulb memory. I was young, in 5^th grade at the time, but I remember.  I had just moved from Vermont to Maine a week or two before it happened. I was in a new state, and new school in Westbrook Maine in Mrs. Noise’s class. It is rare that I even remember my teacher’s names from that far back, but I remember hers.  It was first apparent that something was wrong when we weren’t allowed to go out for recess. I mean that was a big deal.  We were kids and had a lot of energy and needed to play outside to get it out. My class began to become more alarmed as we watched parent after parent arrive to pick up their children.  Mine didn’t come. I just watched through the window at all the others leaving, speculating about what could possibly be happening. I never could have guessed. No one would tell us what was going on, but we were stuck in that classroom, no longer doing work until the ones that had not been claimed by their parents were free to go. I took the bus home like I normally did and went home. My dad and step-mom weren’t there. The TV was on playing the footage over and over again. I was confused and scared and didn’t know if something had happened to my dad and step-mom too.  I watched it until they came home. I think that was the first time I understood what a terrorist attack was. I still didn’t understand the why or even what happened to its full extent, but as I learned more I gained a little more understanding. I still don’t understand how people can just take so many innocent lives. I get being pissed at the US for whatever reason, I know we don’t have the best track record, but the people being attacked aren’t the ones that did whatever it was that pissed them off. I suppose not everyone has a rational mind. SIGH. I guess I will never really understand, just like I never understand when people go on shooting sprees and stuff like that. This world has turned into a very scary place.

Today I remember that day. I didn’t know anyone who died or was hurt, but I am thinking about all of those lost lives and the brave firefighters, police and all first responders that were there that day. They deserve to be remembered every day, but as our lives get busy we lose sight of that, so today is the time to put our busy lives on hold for a few minutes to honor all the lives affected by September 11, 2001, A day I, and so many others, will never forget.

Rain by Christie Cote on Sale for $0.99

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that Rain  by Christie Cote (ME) is on sale today for only $0.99 cents for the kindle! It is normally priced at $3.99 so that is a pretty great deal! If you haven’t gotten it, now is a perfect time before the price goes up! Follow the link HERE if you are interested.

Rain by Christie Cote

Taylor Sullivan took her life for granted until she received news that would change her life forever. In a state of denial she met Kyle, who didn’t end up being what she expected. She wasn’t able to escape her new reality, but with his friendship, just maybe she could survive it.

| Chapter One Excerpt |

Check out the Extras tab at christiecote.com for picture teasers, reviews, and more!

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble| BullMoose | BAM |

Rain by Christie Cote (ME) Release Day!!!!

The wait is over! Rain has officially fallen into the world! I thought this day would never come, and now I can’t believe it is already here! WOW. I wrote a book and now it is available for the world to read! This is the most amazing and rewarding feeling! A lot of work went into writing and publishing Rain, and I am so excited to share it with everyone.

I want to say thank you to everyone that has supported me, and all of the bloggers that have been willing to help out along the way, especially for the blog tour that begins today! I am so very thankful for every one of you.

Be sure to enter the Rain Prize pack giveaway! The giveaway is international and includes an autographed copy of Rain, autographed bookmarks, an autographed postcard, a Lego heart necklace, and a $10 gift card to Amazon. To enter use the link to the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want more chances to win an autographed copy of Rain? Be sure to enter the giveaway on Goodreads also (US ONLY)!

Today also kicks off the Rain blog tour, so be sure to look out for a new post each day from different bloggers to learn more about Rain, and myself.

Want a sneak peek? Visit Little Miss Reader’s blog for an excerpt of chapter one of Rain!

Rain by Christie Cote

Taylor Sullivan took her life for granted until she received news that would change her life forever. In a state of denial she met Kyle, who didn’t end up being what she expected. She wasn’t able to escape her new reality, but with his friendship, just maybe she could survive it.

BUY YOUR COPY NOW!

| Paperback | E-Book |

Sara Cote Photography
http://saracotephotography.com

Author Bio:

Christie Cote resides in Vermont with her Husband and their dog. When she isn’t reading, writing, or dreaming up her next story, she can be found shooting targets with her bow, drawing or baking.

Rain is her first book.

Christie writes Young Adult Realistic Fiction, Fiction, and New Adult novels.

Find Christie:

| Website | Facebook | Twitter |Google+ | Instagram | Goodreads | Review Blog | Booklikes |

Nothing Like the First Time by Keren Hughes Cover Reveal

Welcome! It has been a while, since I have been focused on publishing my debut novel, Rain. I'm really excited to dust off my review blog and be a part of the cover reveal for Nothing Like the First Time by Keren Hughes, a fellow blogger and author! I'm really excited for this book, and can't wait to read it! I hope you all enjoy and will check it out! Check out the cover, isn't it gorgeous? 

Nothing Like the First Time

By: Keren Hughes

Limitless Publishing

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Coming May 20th, 2014

Synopsis: 

Carly Summers and Greyston Sterling were each other's first kiss, first sexual experience, first love, first everything... 

They were a match made in Heaven, that was, until Grey took a job as a freelance photographer which took him to the other side of the world. When it came down to a choice between his career and his girl - he chose his career.

Now, 10 years later, Grey's back in town and wants to see if they can rekindle what they had all those years ago. Carly has had relationships but nothing that lasted. No one ever compared to Grey.

But how can they if he's engaged to somebody else?

Excerpt:

“So your career comes before me?” I asked, already knowing the answer. “At least look me in the eye and answer me, it’s the least you owe me Grey.”

“I don’t want to have to choose Carls,” he said as he caught my eye. “I just don’t want to miss out on the experience of a lifetime. I get to see amazing things, capture them on film while I experience the different cultures.”

“Just answer the question Grey – you want your career more than you want me.” I started to cry again, I had wanted to get through this without crying but I was fooling myself when I thought that.

“I’m sorry Carls,” he said as he took my hand into his. “I love you, I always will. But this is the opportunity of a lifetime, it may never happen again. I need to do this. I’m not making a conscious choice to put you second but if you weren’t so stubborn, you’d come with me like I asked.”

About Keren:

Keren lives in the UK and is an avid bookworm; she has been since she read things like Black Beauty, What Katy Did and The Hobbit as a child. Her first real memories of reading are the summers she used to lie on her bed and re-read What Katy Did and What Katy Did Next.

Over the years she has come to realise that she is a bit OCD about books. They have to be in perfect condition without the slightest bit of damage.

She is a book reviewer and has been for the past 18 months or so.

The idea for Stolen came to her one day but she never thought she’d actually write it let alone publish it. If it wasn’t for her author friend Kira Saito, the idea would still be stuck in her head not on paper. But constant love and support from Kira is why you are now able to read Stolen.

Stolen is her first novel but now that she’s written one, she knows she needs to write more. There will be one sequel, called Freed which will be from Bodhi’s POV. This will be set a couple of years on.

Then, the plan is for her to write either NA or Adult Contemporary Romances. She has a big crush on Lady Antebellum’s music at the moment and their songs have inspired a few book ideas.

Keren loves hearing from her readers and if you want to contact her, you can do so at any of the following places:

Find Keren:

Email: kerenkiesslinger@gmail.com

Twitter: @Gothic_Angel28

Facebook (review page): www.facebook.com/GothicAngelBookReviews

Facebook (author page): www.facebook.com/stolenbykerenkiesslinger

Review Blog: www.gothicangelbookreviews.blogspot.com

Author Blog: www.authorkerenkiesslinger.blogspot.com