Looking Back: My First Ever Writer's Retreat, Fun Nail Art, Fantastic Books, and even more to look forward to in October!

My First EVER Writer's Retreat!!!

I've always dreamed about going away on a writer's retreat. But...you know, I thought I needed to be a published author first. When I heard that authors Beth Revis and Cristin Terrill were putting a retreat together this coming November, I was tempted. (I believe you can still sign up for that one!) When I heard that author CJ Redwine was putting one together in October, I was sold. I've wanted to do her Online World Building Workshop for a while now. I've considered taking a semester of her courses before. Her price was great, and not only were there workshops (including World Building!!!), but we could also do a critique with CJ. PLUS it all took place in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Looking out at the view from porch swings every day while writing/researching/plotting was great:

I also met some great writers that I hope keep in touch. Their projects all sound amazing!!!

CJ is going to do a retreat again next year, and I'm definitively tempted!

Some of My Favorite Nail Art!!!

To say goodbye to summer, I got out my neons one last time and decided to use ALL OF THEM. 

I got out my dotting tools (You can see everything I used in this post) and went wild.

I liked the design SO MUCH that, when coming up with ideas for my writing retreat, I decided to go with dots again. I was going to go with a completely different design scheme, buuuuuut I was so in love with my new Essie "Frock n Roll" (a pretty eggplant purple) and so eager to try it out that I used that, and it dictated the other colors that would go alongside it. It came out a little wintery, but still fun!

...AND it matches the Starbucks cup I got at the airport perfectly, don't you think!?

MUSIC 🎶

I was SO STRESSED flying to Tennessee. I had to pick a different airport because the Pope was in Philly and I couldn't go to my normal airport. THEN my flight was delayed and I was going to be arriving in Atlanta, Georgia, during my boarding call for my connection. So I was stressed the whole first plane ride. I had my iPod on randomize, but I didn't really pay attention...or care...until a song from one of my favorite musicals, Aida, came on. I hadn't heard it in a long time and it was very calming to me. Sooooo I decided to listen to that instead. It really helped me destress and put me in a better place!

On the second flight, I was much calmer and even got inspired for a WIP that has been taking FOREVER to click into place.

On the flight home, I was amused because my iPod was once again on Randomize. I was looking out at these beautiful puffy clouds and at one point, it played "A Perfect Sky" by Bonnie Pink, and a little later, it played another Bonnie Pink song, "Catch the Sun." Very appropriate songs when flying! I was reading a book on that flight called MADLY by Amy Alward (Called THE POTION DIARIES in the UK) and I was reading a scene about mermaids when "Atlantis" by Ellie Goulding strated to play. My iPod was definitely a mind reader that day!

I've also been listening a lot to The Killers again recently. I found my Battle Born CD and it's so different from their other music! I looked them up online to see if they'd come out with anything recently and saw that lead singer Brandon Flowers has done two solo albums. I just picked them up at the library to see how I like him on his own. I'll talk about that more in next month's wrap-up!

MOVIES!!! 

....Recommend me some stuff? ^.~  I have Netflix now!

I pre-ordered The Avengers: Age of Ultron and couldn't decide on which Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook I wanted. I pre-ordered both and have to return one. I'm leaning toward keeping Vision, but the movie is called Age of ULTRON, not Age of VISION. So...maybe I should keep the Ultron one? Help!!!!

  
That was my September. 

How was yours???

Here's a look at everything that happened in September!
 

ONGOING GIVEAWAYS:

*Signed Copies of SPINNING STARLIGHT and STITCHING SNOW by R.C. Lewis (10/12)
*Natalie Richards Book Bundle (10/25)

Check out the October Blog Tour Schedule for more upcoming giveaways!

OCTOBER BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
(Most blog tour stops feature giveaways as well!)


*H2O: THE STORM by Virginia Bergin  {10/6 Blitz}
*MINOTAUR by Phillip W. Simpson {10/19 Review}

 

READING NOW:
{All links to Goodreads!}

*THE ORPHAN QUEEN by Jodi Meadows {Re-Read}



PLANNING TO READ IN OCTOBER:

*THE MIRROR KING by Jodi Meadows
*THE ACCIDENT SEASON by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
*SERPENTINE by Cindy Pon 

*MINOTAUR by Phillip W. Simpson
*THE ROSE SOCIETY by Marie Lu
*THE SHRUNKEN HEAD by Lauren Oliver
*COURT OF FIVES by Kate Elliott
*RED GIRL BLUE BOY by Lauren Baratz-Logstead
*ASH & BRAMBLE by Sarah Prineas

*THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM by Sarah Beth Durst
*BRAZEN by Christina Farley
*LEGACY OF KINGS by Eleanor Herman
*PASSENGER by Alexandra Bracken

 

[link to my GoodReads account so you can see my blurb feed as I read]

READ IN OCTOBER:
{All links to Goodreads!}

TOTAL: 10 Books

*VICIOUS by Victoria Schwab {Adult}
*A WHOLE NEW WORLD by Liz Braswell {MG}
*EXIT STAGE LEFT by Gail Nall {YA}
*MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick {YA} [Re-Read]
*THE BOY MOST LIKELY TO by Huntley Fitzpatrick {YA}
*WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRUE by Huntley Fitzpatrick {YA}
*THE SHADOW QUEEN by C.J. Redwine {YA}
*SPINNING STARLIGHT by R.C. Lewis {YA}
*MADLY by Amy Alward {YA}
*FALL WITH ME by Jennifer L. Armentrout {Adult}

REVIEWED IN AUGUST:
{All links to my review!}

*A WHOLE NEW WORLD by Liz Braswell {MG} 
*A RELUCTANT ASSASSIN by J.C. Morrows {YA}
*THE YOUNG ELITES by Marie Lu {YA}
*WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson {YA} [+Design Vlog]
*WHAT WE SAW by Aaron Hartzler {YA}
*SPINNING STARLIGHT by R.C. Lewis {YA}

FEATURES IN AUGUST:

*Top 6 Characters I NEVER Clicked With AND Top 6 Books That Made Me Realize I'm Not an Epistolary Reader!
*Favorite Quotes From...QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas!!!!!

*{The Scribbler} Do you get annoyed when novels are "Loosely Inspired By," not more "Direct" retellings? Do you prefer it?
*{Excerpt} NEVER BEEN TEXTED by Linda Joy Singleton

*{Blind Unboxing Vlog} I was surprised to see...two brand-new fall hardcovers in the mail from HarperCollins this week!!!
*{Month in Review/Monthly Preview} It's September! Which Means Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Hot Fall Reads, The Return of TV, and SO MUCH MORE! 
*{Excerpt} Featuring Lenore Appelhans from brand-new anthology AMONG THE SHADOWS! 
*Ten Finished Series I Have YET to Finish But REALLY Want To!!!!
*{Excerpt} SERPENTINE by Cindy Pon
{Guest Post} THE BOY MOST LIKELY TO by Huntley Fitzpatrick
*[Book Design Analysis Vlog] Obsessing Over COLORLESS TSUKURU TAZAKI AND HIS YEARS OF PILGRIMAGE by Haruki Murakami
*{Mad About Nails} One of My Favorite Manicures...EVER!!!
*What Makes a Villain? What Makes a Hero? {Feat. THE ROSE SOCIETY by Marie Lu!}
*{A Twist in the Tail} Spotlighting MINOTAUR by Phillip W. Simpson
*{Excerpt/Mini-Interview} MY SECRET TO TELL by Natalie Richards