As long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for reading. When I was a kid, I would go to the library and check out the maximum number of books that they would allow (which was 15) and read them all before they were due two weeks later. Every summer, my mom would offer incentives to my brothers to get them to read more, but she would implement consequences for me reading too much. I learned early on that reading in the family room, kitchen or other visible area was the quickest way to get asked to do some kind of boring chore, so I often hid out in my room (which my dad started referring to as “the cave”) with my book. I love mysteries, courtroom dramas, medical thrillers and I always think a book is better with a little love story thrown in. I am definitely a “happy ending” kind of girl. My most recent reads include “The Hunger Games” series, “The Help”, and “Unknown”.
Although I have always loved to read, I never really enjoyed taking English in school. In fact, when I went away to college, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew for certain that I did NOT want to major in English or Elementary Education. Kind of ironic, considering I spend my days taking care of young children and my free time writing a blog!
I have always been horrible at keeping a journal. In fact, my journal, which is not even half full, is the same one I have had since I was eight years old. I love taking pictures, so I have always relied on the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. I first began this blog in 2007, a few weeks after we found out that we were pregnant with quintuplets. We thought the blog would be a good way to keep family and friends updated on the progress of the pregnancy. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that I actually LIKE writing! Many people have asked how I can continue to keep up the blog with my crazy busy life, and the answer is that writing has become a release for me. After a long crazy day, writing blog entries actually helps me to unwind. I also LOVE that I have a record of our family and our experiences.
As an avid reader and novice writer, I was excited when I was offered the chance to host a giveaway on my blog for a new book by Mark Shaver entitled, “A Critical Loss of Balance”. Mark is a fellow Texan! This is his third mystery novel. I just got my copy of the book and I am excited to start reading it!
Here is a brief description of the book, “Cliff Elliott thought he had endured the worst thing a parent could endure when his nine year old daughter was kidnapped, but he was wrong. The circumstances that led to her return were far worse than anything he could have imagined. Now Cliff, a man who rarely uttered a cross word, a man whose temperament and nature were as gentle as any man’s could be, had his life thrown irreparably out of balance. Left with no other choice, Cliff set out not for revenge, but for justice; a justice he hoped would restore the balance that was now absent from his life. His pursuit of this balance thrust him deep into a world that he had never experienced before; a world to which he was indeed a stranger. The price to be paid to regain his balance though, was much higher than he ever imagined it would be. In fact, Cliff almost paid the ultimate price as he was forced into the world of those who took his daughter. So take a walk in another man’s shoes and try to imagine what you would do if you were faced with, ‘A Critical Loss of Balance’.”
Now for the really exciting part…..one of you lucky readers can win your own copy of “A Critical Loss of Balance”!!! To enter the giveaway, simply leave me a comment telling me how you started writing (if you are a writer) or what your favorite book is (if you are a reader). Please include your email address so I have a way of contacting you if you win! The deadline for entering the giveaway is Sunday, August 7th. The winner will be chosen at random. Good Luck!!
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