Julia's Pick of the Day - "Paranormalcy"

If you want to read a deliciously scrumptious book then this is the book for you...

"Paranormalcy" by Kiersten White

Well developed characters, brilliant plot, and a refreshing writing style. You will not want to put the book down for anything. And the best thing is that it is a triology so there is more to come!

Buy it, read it, and you will be in love!

Check out this link: http://www.kierstenwhite.com/paranormalcy

The Multi-Tasking Reader

Over the past year, I have fallen in love with audio books. I think that they are divine. Before I became "audio books Julia", I listened to music and radio while in the car – driving to and from work, to the gym, running errands, going to hang out with friends, etc, etc, etc. I love music and thrive off of it. Listening to it super loud is been a favorite past time for me. Unhappily enough my car volume just doesn’t go up quite loud enough to fulfill my “loud-sing-like-a-crazy-person-seat-dancing-ways. Don’t get me wrong; on occasion I have slipped back into my loud music ways but on average audio books take up around 29 days of my month.

Last year, my sister started listening to audio books. She told me it was great. I thought, “That is interesting. I don’t know if I would like it.” I tossed the idea by the way-side without another thought. Some weeks later, I decided that I had to re-read the “Twilight Saga” in lieu of “New Moon” coming out in the theatre. I started reading “Twilight” but had so many other books that I craved to devour so I tossed around the idea of reading the “Twilight Saga” audio style. I finished them soon after and was drawn in, hopelessly addicted.

After taking the “Twilight” adventure, I listened to all of the Harry Potter books. Jim Dale narrated them flawlessly. Since then, I have probably listened to at least 30+ books, most of them I already read and own.

I like audio books for a few different reasons:

1. I can be reading a book and listening to a book in the same period of time. Such a time saver. This is called “The Multi-tasking Reader”. Hehe!
2. It makes my driving time much more enjoyable and beautifully educational. I will be an audio book mom for sure. My kids are going to love to read and hopefully this will aid in avoiding quarreling between children!
3. I can be driving down the road rolling in my seat laughing up a storm and sometimes with streams of tears spewing out of my eyes. I have almost had to pull over due to such moments.
4. Most narrators bring a fresh view to the books. It makes the books much more real and more lovable then they were when reading them just out of the book.
5. Last but not least, people must wonder what I am listening to in my car because, like music, I listen to the audio books really loud too. What can I say; I am all about the loudness of things!

A great audio book series to start out with is “Artemis Fowl”. Unfortunately, the narrator is changed at book 5, but seriously don’t let that ruin the adventure for you.

I still think that it is a must to read them the normal way, book in hand! I sure have not given up on the book-in-hand experience of enjoying a book, so you don't either!

So have I converted you to being a “Multi-tasking Reader” being able to read multiple books at the same time? Pray tell me!

Traveling - Oh the Joy!

Just a little tidbit about Julia King: I LOVE to travel. As you very well know, “Felicite Comes” came into existence because of a little, well BIG, trip that I took to Paris. It was the catalyst that made my brain’s inspiration muscles start running. Anyway, a huge part of my life has been traveling. It all started on a dark and rainy night… Just kidding! No seriously, as a small child, my dad and mom would take us on road trips throughout the western states. We would also venture in nature to hike. These trips or hikes helped me to see the value in exploring the world. I also have this silly idea that places in the world do not exist until I see them. 
You know what? Seeing the world in all its glory is priceless!
I think of the various oceans I have seen, the sweet smell of incense burning as I walked through Buddhist temples, the sounds of the big cities that have rushed in my ears, the taste of the food as I savor it, and the feel of the wind embrace my face. All of these feelings will forever be etched in my mind because I partook of the various beauties that the earth has to offer.
Traveling is rewarding on so many different levels. One of the rewards is to be able to gloat about your trips. This is ever so humble of me!  I can say that I have trekked the Great Wall of China and peered at the tremendous amount of water cascading over Niagara Falls. I have seen Jennifer Lopez in Rome, Italy (yes, it is true). I can say that I have eaten pig kidney in Taiwan. I can say that I have hiked the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera? I can even say that I have done some of my international traveling ALONE! I can hear the “ewws” and “ahhs” in my head. All bow down to my glory! Just kidding!
But no really and seriously, traveling is one of the ways in which we can open our minds to other people, other cultures, and other ways of life. A lot less troubles would occur if people had the opportunity to experience different ways of life and seeing the new culture through the eyes of the natives.
Traveling is also liberating. You learn a lot about yourself in the process. I have learned through traveling that I can do something bigger than myself. I can get myself from point A to point B and back again in an unfamiliar place. I can be precautious. I can use different currency. I can survive in a country where I do not speak the language. Through traveling, I learned that I can do anything that I put my mind to!
What are your favorite traveling moments? I would love to hear about them. Just perhaps, I will want to go there because you have inspired me by your stories!

Writer by Night

Because I have full-time employment, when I get home at night, the last thing that I want to do is write/edit. Because of the necessity of being employed, it has also been a necessity to spend my free time writing, “Felicite Comes”. The motivation has come from the fact that I know that the novel’s plot is phenomenal. I desire others to have the opportunity to read and enjoy it one day.
I think that it would be refreshing to be a well-established and published writer because then I would not have to worry about working full-time, thus I would be able to fully devote my time to writing. That is the career path that I desire more than anything! Although, when I am a well-established and published writer, I will look back at this time as valuable and priceless because of the fact that I was able to work full-time and write a novel at the same time too. Most well-established writers started their writing careers in the same position that I am in right now – working during the day and writing at night. Puts a new name to “Night Writer” (Knight Rider – does anyone remember that show??? I remember the days of watching it and thinking it was so cool!) Excuse my tangent…
I desire to applaud, congratulate and honor aspiring writers, especially if you are employed at the same time. It is not easy to do both when you are tired at arriving home, but it is worth it.
Writing this post has been very cathartic for me. It has helped me to remember that writing is fun. That, even though, I spend my free time writing, the time spent should be enjoyable and fun. There is no way to express the joy that comes when your little idea of a novel is, chapter by chapter, coming to life on the page. What could be more of a motivational factor to writing with dedication and faith in the novel then to remember that it is fun? Writing is fun and is a great way to spend your free time.
All the hard work and lost free time, hopefully, will pay off in the near future for all of us aspiring writers who, out of necessity, must work during the day just to be a writer by night!

First Edit - Check

Done and Done! That is all I can say about the first edit. Another one to go with some things I want to change too. Hopefully this edit will take a little less time. Everyone please send me the motivation vibes! It is crazy how unmotivated one can be to edit. I guess that is what you get for being a perfectionist. :)

I like concerts

I was thinking last night of all of the concerts I have been to. I love music and I love concerts even more. They are completely fun. They allow me to step out of my shell to dance around to my hearts content. I want to make a list... This may not be exhaustive but I think that it will be fun to try to remember them all.

Sting (twice)
Tori Amos (twice)
INXS (with Michael Hutchense)
Kays Choice
The Verve
Tonic
Morrissey
Depeche Mode (twice)
U2 (three times - four next year. They are my FAVORITE)
David Bowie
Blue Man Group
Moby
Busta Rhymes (not by choice)
Rage Against the Machine (there again, not by choice. They opened for U2)
Sarah McLachlan (Lilith Fair - can't remember who all performed)
Sarah Brightman (Totally Awesome)
Pet Shop Boys

Imogen Heap
Muse

Hanson

There are lots of concerts that I wish I could have gone to like U2's ZooTV tour. I was a bit too young at that time and not a die hard fan then. It would have been awesome though. Funny thing is that I have seen Bono's home in Ireland and took dirt from his front yard. Yes, that obsessed but not stalker obsessed. Maybe that will get back to him and he will want to meet me just because I am strange enough to take dirt from his front yard.

If you haven't been to a concert, GO! They are fun!

Writing Conference - Book Academy

For anyone interested in attending a writing conference, visit this site...

http://www.uvu.edu/ce/cw/bookacademy.

A favorite author of mine will be the keynote speaker; Brandon Mull, author of the Fablehaven series, The Candy Shop War, and Pingo. He had a new series coming out in March 2011 called the Beyonders.

Above is a photo from a book signing where I met him and got all of my books signed. It was fabulous. There is another one to your right too.

I am super excited to attend the conference. This will be my first writing conference. I hope that I can learn a lot and do some major networking. I mean MAJOR!

If you want to go with me then let me know!