TENS LIST
10 Things That I Most Enjoy
I love discussing hobbies with people, so this was an easy list for me to compile. Where possible, I’ve tried to include images, too. I’m curious how many people enjoy the same things as me.
- Date nights with my husband. This September, we will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary, but the time has flown by. I’m not fond of the cliché that says “I married my best friend.” That said, he pretty much is - not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for having him in my life.
- Hanging with my kids. I have an 11 year old daughter and an 8 year old son. They have a wicked sense of humor. They’re fun and creative. We have a great time together.
- Girlfriend trips. My friends and I have taken three so far. We’ve been to Key West, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. We’re hoping to go to New York next year. These trips only last for a few days, but the memories they create are priceless.
- Cake decorating. My grandmother was very crafty. She sewed our Halloween costumes and my Easter dresses. She also made us a custom cake each year. The one I remember most was a mushroom shaped Smurf cake when I turned 8. I started decorating cakes for my kids from their first birthday on, and I’ve expanded to making cakes for my nieces and nephews. Some of my favorite creations were Lightening McQueen, Pirate Hello Kitty, and Angry Bird.
- Harry Potter. I love all things Harry Potter. I saw all of the movies at the midnight release showing. I attended Harry Potter the Exhibition when it opened at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I visited Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure Orlando in the first year it opened, and our family vacation this year is going to see Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Orlando in August.
- Swag. This may seem like an odd one, but I like crafting and find it relaxing. My newest favorite is making velvet bookmarks with a charm on the end of my book cover. I think they are so pretty – book jewelry, if you will – and they’re fun to make.
- Finding bargains. I am a bargain hunter extraordinaire. I love to shop sales and find good deals. My friends are always amazed when they learn how little I spent on something. My daughter enjoys this, too, and we sometimes go to rummage sales or resale shops together.
- Picking out the perfect gift. Receiving gifts is fun, but I’d much rather give them. I love the holidays, birthdays…really, any excuse to buy someone a gift. It’s fun to think about the recipient’s interests, find that perfect item, and then watch their face as they open the package. Best feeling ever.
- Discovering a new author or series. I love to read. When I’m not writing, I’m typically reading. The saddest feeling is when you read the last book in a series you love. The best feeling is when you read a great book in a series you just discovered, and you now have all the other books in the series to dive into. Reading bliss.
- Dessert. Yep. I said it. In this age of dieting, I can still admit that I love dessert. Sweet, creamy, hot, cold…I like them all.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Never Forgotten
Author: Kelly RisserPublished:July 1st, 2014 by Clean Teen PublishingWord Count: approx. 98,000Genre:New Adult Paranormal RomanceRecommended Age: 13+
Synopsis:
How can one day go so very wrong? One minute Meara Quinn is making plans for how she will spend the Summer before her senior year and the next she’s finding out that her mother’s cancer has returned and they are moving away from the only home she’s ever known.
Now every day is a struggle as Meara is trying to cope with her mother’s illness, being forced to move to another country to live with grandparents—whom she thought disowned her mother—and having weird visions of a father who was absent her entire life. Top it all off with one whopping secret that everyone seems bent on keeping from her, and Meara has the perfect ingredients for a major melt down.
The only things keeping her from coming unglued are some new friends and Evan—the son of her mother’s childhood friend—who seems to know Meara almost better than she knows herself.
Together with Evan and her friends, Meara embarks on a new journey to unlock the secrets that will not only tell Meara who she is, but what she is.
Amazon | Goodreads
EXCERPT
I felt a stab of guilt for how much Evan consumed my thoughts. My mom needed me. She was struggling with her health. I made a promise to myself to be there for her going forward.I more or less confessed as much to her on our drive to Halifax the next day. Mom patted my knee. “Meara, you’re a teenager, and Evan is your first real boyfriend. I’m happy for you.”“But, Mom…”“No buts. Why do you think I brought you here? If something happens to me…”“Mom!”“Let me finish.” She gave me one of her mom looks. “If something happens, you will be surrounded by people who love you.” She looked at me over the top of her sunglasses. “You are happy, right?”I nodded and smiled at her. “I am.”When we got to the clinic, a quick glance around the waiting room told me Ula wasn’t here. I wished she were. Hearing my mom’s contingency plan made me feel weepy. I wanted a friend to talk to, someone who was going through almost the same thing. Flopping down next to Mom, I picked up the latest copy of People magazine. I quickly buried my nose in it, not wanting my mom to see my tears. Too late. “Meara, are you okay?”I looked up at her. “You’re asking me? Shouldn’t I ask you that?”Her hair was falling out. I noticed a few days ago. She kept it pulled back under a wide headband, but it was thin and wispy, not thick and wavy like usual. That was part of the reason for the haircuts. Mom was getting hers cut short.“I’m fine,” Mom said. “I’m going to beat this. I did it once, and I can do it again.”She smiled at me. I knew she was trying to be brave. I returned the gesture, wanting to be brave, too. Deep inside, though, I worried. She was getting so thin. This morning when I hugged her, I could feel all the bones in her back.The nurse called her, and she stood. I jumped up and hugged her, afraid to let go. “I love you, Mom.”She kissed my cheek. “Love you, too, kiddo. I’ll be back soon.”As I watched her follow the nurse, my only thought was that I wanted things to be as they always had been between us. Everything was changing. Our relationship, our family, was something different, something new. There were my grandparents, Lydia, Katie, and most importantly, Evan. They had changed my life, in more ways than one. Thinking about all of them, I appreciated all that my mom had done for me, moving us here. I was determined that the rest of the afternoon would be just about Mom and me. With all that she was going through, I was determined to make it a happy memory.
About the Author:
Kelly Risser knew at a young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. Unfortunately, Fairytale Princess was not a lucrative career. Leaving the castle and wand behind, she entered the world of creative business writing where she worked in advertising, marketing, and training at various companies.
She’s often found lamenting, “It’s hard to write when there’s so many good books to read!” So, when she’s not immersed in the middle of someone else’s fantasy world, she’s busy creating one of her own. This world is introduced in her first novel, Never Forgotten. Never Forgotten, a YA/NA Fantasy, will be released by Clean Teen Publishing in the Summer of 2014.
Kelly lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two children. They share their home with Clyde the Whoodle and a school of fish.
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Clean Teen Publishing Links:Website| Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Giveaway Details:
There is an international tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:Reader's choice of Clean Teen Publishing eBook, a bookmark swag pack, and a $15 Amazon gift card.
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