Author Guest Post
Journaling
By: Annie Wood
Question: Do you keep a journal?
Answer: I keep many, many journals.
The twenty plus journals I have could very well be the first thing I save if their was a fire in my house, after saving the husband and dog first, of course.
My dad gave me my first journal on my tenth birthday. On the first page he wrote…
"May all the days of your life be filled with much joy and adventure and may you take the time to write some of it down."
And so I did.
I have a collection of more than twenty hard copy journals and then I have the thousands of pages on my computer journal that I started ten years ago. My daily journaling habit has often shifted from daily to weekly to monthly to sometimes just a few times a year. Still, I know that it’s there and I also know that it’s ready to take in my words of frustration, pain, joy or just facts, at any time. It’s been a great comfort all of these years, knowing that the page awaits me with anything I choose to put on it. Journaling feels like talking to myself silently and sorting out the files in my mind as well as an emotional venting. It would be cathartic even if I wasn’t a writer. But since I am, I also find it inspiring. Words on paper tend to lead to more words on paper. New ideas are just a keystroke away.
But when I first began journaling I had no idea just how much FUN my future self would have while reading what my ten year old, sixteen year old and twenty something self had to say. Honestly, I wouldn’t have even remembered a lot of it if not for these journals. My journals are amusing time machines taking me into my younger mind and reminding me of who I was which, in turn, reminds me of who I am. I often want to reach through the pages and grab my then-self, give myself a big bear hug and tell me, “it’s okay, you’re doing great. Just keep going.”
I now tell my niece, “take pictures and keep a journal.” On her 18th birthday, I gave her a beautiful hand painted journal and I wished for her the same thing that my dad once wished for me.
“May all the days of your life be filled with much joy and adventure and may you take the time to write some of it down.”
About The Author
AUTHOR WEBSITE
BLOG - SHE WRITES
BLOG - LUCY'S ADVENTURES (AUTHOR'S DOG)
GOODREADS
Animated Book Excerpt
Book Review
Dandy Day by Annie Wood
Publisher: Knock On Wood Productions
Publication Date: October 17, 2013
Format: Paperback - 104 pages / Kindle - 423 KB
ISBN: 1493525484
ASIN: B00FY9T1OI
Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Dandy Day
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
A short novel about love, friendship and grown ups (sort of) growing up (sort of).
Book Excerpt:
Chapter 25
simon:
I’m swinging on a swing set at the park next to my ten year old niece, Ashley. She agreed to meet with me, even though she has a very busy schedule. She skipped ballet and might be late for chess club, but, her mom, my sister, could tell by my voice on the phone that it was an emergency. Ashley has heard my story and is now processing it all.
“I mean, maybe she just kissed me because she had too much wine,” I say.
“Yeah, grown-ups do stupid things when they have too much wine,” she agrees.
“So, you think it was stupid for her to kiss me?”
“I think she loves you.”
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“Look at me.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Well, sure, I’m cuteish on a good day, like a teddy bear or a puppy but Dandy is... she’s...”
“Too hot for you?” Ashley finishes my sentence.
“Yeah and smart and funny and... well, if she wanted a teddy bear or a puppy, she’d just get a teddy bear or puppy, you know?”
Ashley sighs. “Uncle Simon, you really need to work on your self esteem. Just take her to the movies, put your arm around her, and tell her that you like her more than a friend. What's the big deal?”
“The big deal is that I could be rejected. The big deal is that I won't be rejected, and we will get together, and it won’t work out. The big deal is I would lose my very best friend.”
Ashley stops swinging. “How did you get to be such a big wimp, anyway?”
“Somehow that comment is not helping me.”
“It's called tough love. I saw it on Dateline."
“I'm not a wimp. I'm just scared of losing her.”
“That's what wimps are. People who are scared of things.”
Ashley, clearly, is wise beyond her years, but she’s also getting on my nerves right now. I mean, I think it's an understandable fear, the fear of rejection. But still, I asked for this. I showed up to swing on the swings at the park and get Ashley’s counsel, and she’s missing ballet and everything.
“You don't know much about girls,” she continues. “She wouldn't have kissed you if she didn't want to. She’s probably thought about kissing you for a long time now. Just like you’ve thought about kissing her. I mean, it's only natural. Boys and girls, assuming that they are both heterosexual, tend to occasionally fantasize about being with each other romantically. Even if they are just friends. They did a study. I saw it on 20/20.”
Fine. I thought about it. But still. Maybe that's how it's supposed to stay. You know, sometimes when we make our fantasies realities - they don't measure up.
I ask Ashley, “But what if it’s a disaster?”
"From the ashes of disaster - grow the roses of success.”
“Where did you hear that one? The Discovery Channel?
“Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. You should Netflix it. Listen, don't make her think that she's chasing you. Girls don't like that. Man up!”
“Maybe you're right. I should get back. She's probably waking up about now.”
“You left her alone in your place? She's going to feel weird now! She wakes up and you’re not there? You really are lousy at this stuff.”
She’s not wrong.
“Don’t feel bad, Uncle Simon. You can't help it. You're a boy.”
I get off the swing and kiss my niece on the top of her head. “Thanks, Ashley.”
“Don't mention it. I like helping you out, uncle Simon,” she says as she begins swinging again. “It takes my mind off of my own troubles.”
simon:
I’m swinging on a swing set at the park next to my ten year old niece, Ashley. She agreed to meet with me, even though she has a very busy schedule. She skipped ballet and might be late for chess club, but, her mom, my sister, could tell by my voice on the phone that it was an emergency. Ashley has heard my story and is now processing it all.
“I mean, maybe she just kissed me because she had too much wine,” I say.
“Yeah, grown-ups do stupid things when they have too much wine,” she agrees.
“So, you think it was stupid for her to kiss me?”
“I think she loves you.”
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“Look at me.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Well, sure, I’m cuteish on a good day, like a teddy bear or a puppy but Dandy is... she’s...”
“Too hot for you?” Ashley finishes my sentence.
“Yeah and smart and funny and... well, if she wanted a teddy bear or a puppy, she’d just get a teddy bear or puppy, you know?”
Ashley sighs. “Uncle Simon, you really need to work on your self esteem. Just take her to the movies, put your arm around her, and tell her that you like her more than a friend. What's the big deal?”
“The big deal is that I could be rejected. The big deal is that I won't be rejected, and we will get together, and it won’t work out. The big deal is I would lose my very best friend.”
Ashley stops swinging. “How did you get to be such a big wimp, anyway?”
“Somehow that comment is not helping me.”
“It's called tough love. I saw it on Dateline."
“I'm not a wimp. I'm just scared of losing her.”
“That's what wimps are. People who are scared of things.”
Ashley, clearly, is wise beyond her years, but she’s also getting on my nerves right now. I mean, I think it's an understandable fear, the fear of rejection. But still, I asked for this. I showed up to swing on the swings at the park and get Ashley’s counsel, and she’s missing ballet and everything.
“You don't know much about girls,” she continues. “She wouldn't have kissed you if she didn't want to. She’s probably thought about kissing you for a long time now. Just like you’ve thought about kissing her. I mean, it's only natural. Boys and girls, assuming that they are both heterosexual, tend to occasionally fantasize about being with each other romantically. Even if they are just friends. They did a study. I saw it on 20/20.”
Fine. I thought about it. But still. Maybe that's how it's supposed to stay. You know, sometimes when we make our fantasies realities - they don't measure up.
I ask Ashley, “But what if it’s a disaster?”
"From the ashes of disaster - grow the roses of success.”
“Where did you hear that one? The Discovery Channel?
“Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. You should Netflix it. Listen, don't make her think that she's chasing you. Girls don't like that. Man up!”
“Maybe you're right. I should get back. She's probably waking up about now.”
“You left her alone in your place? She's going to feel weird now! She wakes up and you’re not there? You really are lousy at this stuff.”
She’s not wrong.
“Don’t feel bad, Uncle Simon. You can't help it. You're a boy.”
I get off the swing and kiss my niece on the top of her head. “Thanks, Ashley.”
“Don't mention it. I like helping you out, uncle Simon,” she says as she begins swinging again. “It takes my mind off of my own troubles.”
My Book Review:
Welcome to Dandy's World!
If you are looking for a quick afternoon read, then Dandy Day is the book for you! Author Annie Wood weaves a humorous tale set in Venice Beach, California, that follows neurotic thirty-five year old Dandy Day's hilarious trials and tribulations in her pursuit of finding love.
Dandy is a hot mess! As a roller skating waitress on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, this free-spirited woman obsesses over why she can't make her relationships last. All of her relationships have a three month life span, and while she admits to having intimacy fears and abandonment issues, Dandy wants to have one long relationship that will work. When the therapist she was seeing suddenly dumps her, Dandy decides to heal herself by interviewing all her exes to find out what she did wrong to make the relationships end. Will Dandy find the answer to why she's so unlucky in love?
Dandy Day is a thoroughly entertaining novella that will keep the reader in stitches. This fun comedic drama has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that easily draws the reader into Dandy's story as she neurotically obsesses over her relationship issues and ponders exactly what it means to be a grown-up. You can't help but like Dandy and relate to her over questioning and analyzing everything in her life. Come on admit it ... sometime in your life you've done the same thing ... well maybe not as much as our girl Dandy does, but you know you've had your own insecurities too! lol
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I loved the author's rich description of Venice Beach and the sights and sounds of it's boardwalk attractions.
Dandy Day is a lighthearted and enjoyable romantic comedy about friendships, love, and growing up that will leave a smile on your face.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
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Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Tour Schedule:
November 12 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
November 13 – Nana Prah’s Blog – Q&A
November 14 – A Blue Million Books – Guest Post, Q&A & Excerpt
November 19 – The East Village – Review
November 21 – Curling Up With a Good Book – Q&A
November 22- Brooke Blogs – Review & Guest Post
November 25 – Book Suburbia – Excerpt
November 26 – Chick Lit Club Connect – Guest Post
November 27 – Chick Lit Love – Review & Guest Post
November 28- Amie’s Reviews – Review & Guest Post
November 29 – Karma For Life Chick – Review
December 2- Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
Thanks for closing out the tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
Deletethanks! good times! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Annie & Lucy! Loved the book, it was very entertaining. Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event :)
ReplyDeleteHi, I saw this one Book Blog and thought I would stop by and wave! Annie, this was a great post! Good luck with the book tour!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for stopping by and visiting with Annie! :)
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