The Blink Blog is back! This week some of our authors are sharing updates on their New Year’s Resolutions, final summer plans, and their favorite back to school tips. Stay tuned for more next week…<\/p>\n
The year is more than half over!! How have you been doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? <\/b><\/p>\n
Alison Gervais: <\/b>\u00a0I am sad to report that I never got around to making any New Year\u2019s Resolutions!<\/span><\/p>\n Annie Sullivan:<\/b> One of my New Year\u2019s resolutions was just to be more grateful for everything I have, and I truly have taken that to heart. I try to notice small things I would\u2019ve taken for granted before, and that\u2019s really helped me when things aren\u2019t going my way to see all the good things I still have going on.<\/span><\/p>\n CJ Lyons:<\/b> I don\u2019t actually believe in New Year\u2019s resolutions. Instead, I think of a word to guide me through the year, become my mantra, so to speak. This year my word is: Explore. So I\u2019ve been exploring new genres in my reading, trying new techniques in writing, taking classes in subjects I\u2019d never dreamed of trying to learn about (abstract expressionism, anyone?), etc. <\/span><\/p>\n Laurie Boyle Crompton:<\/b> After years of proving to myself over and over (and over!) that I have the willpower of a goldfish, I don\u2019t do New Year\u2019s Resolutions anymore. They basically became an excuse to make bad choices for the weeks leading up to each new year. Now my resolution is to treat each day as an opportunity for a new start! Sometimes, I even restart my day right in the middle, which can often look a lot like taking a nice nap. Maybe next year I\u2019ll just resolve to take more naps!<\/span><\/p>\n Lorie Langdon:<\/b> \u00a0I\u2019m not great with resolutions\u2026I rarely make them. I do start the year with writing goals and I\u2019ve done well keeping those commitments so far.<\/span><\/p>\n McCall Hoyle: <\/b>\u00a0New Year\u2019s Resolution? Those are meant to be broken, right? Just kidding. I think mine was to be healthier and to live in the present moment more often, and I think I\u2019ve actually done that this year. I\u2019ve lost a bit of weight by investing in a standup desk and getting up and moving more. And I\u2019ve spent more time reading for pleasure this year. So, yay!<\/span><\/p>\n Stephanie Morrill:<\/b> I am doing pretty well! I’m a big dork, so in June I sat down with my goals from the beginning of the year and a notebook to evaluate how to best spend my time in the last part of the year. I’m glad I did this because some goals I’d completely forgotten about!<\/span><\/p>\n Any plans for the remaining weeks of summer? <\/b><\/p>\n Alison Gervais:<\/b> Work, work, and more work! There\u2019s no rest when your job is in social services.<\/span><\/p>\n Annie Sullivan:<\/b> Well, my book <\/span>A Touch of Gold<\/span><\/i> comes out in August 14<\/span>th<\/span>, so I\u2019ll be getting ready for that. I\u2019ve got a bunch of book signings, school visits, and even a HUGE launch party I\u2019m planning. Outside of that, I hope to spend some time at the pool with my niece and nephews and to read a few good books!<\/span><\/p>\n CJ Lyons:<\/b> \u00a0I live at the beach so summers are hazy, hot, humid and crowded by tourists. This makes it my main time to hide inside to read and write\u2014my two favorite activities!<\/span><\/p>\n Laurie Boyle Crompton: <\/b>One word: BEACH!!<\/span><\/p>\n Every moment I\u2019m not working I plan on having sand between my toes. I will also be spending a lot of time working on my next novel (details to be revealed soon \u2013 wheee!) and I\u2019m excited to start ramping things up for the release of PRETTY IN PUNXSUTAWNEY early next year. I have a number of fun book swag giveaways in the works and hand-making buttons of my covers always makes me obnoxiously happy! <\/span><\/p>\n Lorie Langdon:<\/b> \u00a0Writing! I\u2019m working on a YA Fantasy novel (It\u2019s top secret!) that has been a huge undertaking. I\u2019m determined to finish by the end of the summer!<\/span><\/p>\n McCall Hoyle: <\/b>I live in the southeast where we go back to school super early. So there are no <\/span>remaining weeks of summer<\/span><\/i>. My husband and I are both teachers and return to school August first, but we love what we do, so we\u2019re actually looking forward to it. <\/span><\/p>\n Stephanie Morrill<\/b>: Yes! I am so excited to be going to Manzanar National Historic Site, one of the key settings for my next release, <\/span>Within These Lines<\/span><\/i>. I live in Kansas City, and Manzanar is about four hours outside of Los Angeles in the desert. It is a tough place to get to! I am really excited that I will get to bring my kids too so they can learn about the unfair evacuation of the Japanese Americans during World War II.<\/span><\/p>\n What is the best back to school advice you have for Blink readers?<\/b><\/p>\n Alison Gervais<\/b>: <\/span>\u00a0Just do it! The time you spend in school is a very short amount compared to the rest of your life \u2013 you\u2019ll be graduating before you know it!<\/span><\/p>\n Annie Sullivan:<\/b> Don\u2019t be afraid to be yourself this year. The things that make you different are what make you unique and special. It\u2019s easier to be you than to be anyone else.<\/span><\/p>\n CJ Lyons:<\/b> Enjoy! (yes, I was one of those geeky kids who loved shopping for notebooks and pens and heading back to new classes to learn new things, lol!)<\/span><\/p>\n Laurie Boyle Crompton:<\/b> Embrace the school supplies! There\u2019s something so promising about a brand-new box of ink pens (<\/span>Pilot Precise V5<\/span><\/i>s of course). And maybe think about getting a dog or two if you don\u2019t have one. They will always be excited to greet you after school with a massive amount of love. We have three dogs (small, medium, and extra-large) and they give us a full-blown celebration at the door any time we come home. Perfect way to end those long school days!<\/span><\/p>\n Lorie Langdon:<\/b> Be yourself! In middle school and high school, it\u2019s easy to fall into \u201cclone mode\u201d where if you aren\u2019t dressing and acting like everyone else, you feel weird. Weird is good, my friends! If we were all the same what a horrible world it would be. Oh, and also do some studying. <\/span><\/p>\n McCall Hoyle: <\/b>Make time to keep reading even when school starts and life gets hectic. My high school students all know my beliefs on reading for pleasure. First, reading fiction improves our ability to empathize with others, and I personally believe this world would be much better off if we were all a little more empathetic. And reading for pleasure is the single greatest indicator of academic success in all content areas. How cool is that? Over the long haul, reading books you love will do more to improve your grades than studying or anything else. <\/span>Stephanie Morrill: <\/b>Have grace for yourself. Going back to school always comes with mixed emotions, and I think it is helpful to remember that as you get used to being back in a strict schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Blink Blog is back! This week some of our authors are sharing updates on their New Year’s Resolutions, final summer plans, and their favorite back to school tips. Stay tuned for more next week… The year is more than half over!! How have you been doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? 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