New Years Resolution!

So this is it! 2013 is coming to an end and I have made a giant--make that monumental . . .New Years Resolution!

I have dubbed 2014 the year of the book.

What does this mean you ask? 

Well starting January 1, 2014 I will officially begin my pursuit of becoming a published author.  Why the sudden leap of faith? Why now after all these years of procrastination, and self doubt?  The answer is simple.  You only live once!

In 2011 I joined the Nanowrimo world and wrote a 50,000 word story in one month.  It was a challenge, but one I thoroughly enjoyed.  During that Nanowrimo excursion I wrote a book that I managed to finish later on in 2012.  It took me awhile, but my first goal was achieved and I finished my first novel from start to finish! (In all the stories I have previously wrote, I was never able to actually finish a book after starting it!) So now you understand why this was such a

Now in 2013 almost 2014 I have decided that it is pertinent to my future to try and achieve the only goal I have ever had in my life . . . to become a published author.

In January, I am hoping Amazon will announce this year's ABNA or Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award.   You submit your manuscript and enter it for a chance to win 50,000 dollars and your book is published through Amazon!  If they announce the contest for 2014, I have decided to enter . . . if my book is returned to me and does not place then I plan on submitting my book to agents and publishers.  Either way 2014 is my year of actively pursuing a publisher.

So what's next . . . I am editing my book.  I have until January 26th to submit my book to Amazon.  And I am not even through my second draft.  Hopefully I can buckle down and get this done.

Oh and another cool note!
I participated in the 2013 Nanowrimo and wrote another book ... well 50,019 words of it! Another achievement!  GOD I LOVE NANO!

Wish me luck on this monumental journey!  And hopefully by the end of this I will find my work on the pages of your Kindle, Nook, and other Electronic devices. Or in your hands turning the pages while you are reading the old fashioned way!  Which is what I prefer! 

What's For Dinner:  Hot Dogs, Mac 'N' Cheese, and Baked Beans

Song of the Day:  Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

Z is for Ziggy Marley

So it's here the final posting for the A-Z challenge.... it's been hard finding bands/singers that speak to my inner writer.  But I think the hardest part on some of the letters was picking just one.  

I decided to not go with Ziggy Marley because I wanted to pick someone that you wouldn't normally think of for the Letter Z on a musical A-Z blog.  My first thought was The Zombies or ZZ top but I decided that Ziggy had more of a cool vibe and some very powerful songs. 

Ziggy is the eldest son to the late Bob Marley a man that needs no introduction.

My favorite song by Ziggy Marley is . . .  Love is my Religion

My least favorite song by Ziggy Marley is  . . .  A Lifetime

The song that inspires me creatively by Ziggy Marley is  . . . True To Myself

Y is for Yellowcard

Yellowcard is a band that formed in the late 90's and had some major success in the early 2000's.  I like the pop/punk sound that comes out of this band. Unfortunately I'm not as enthusiastic about this band as my past posts so I don't have a lot to say.


My favorite song by Yellowcard is  . . .  Ocean Avenue

 My least favorite song by Yellowcard is  . . .   Hang you up

 The song that inspires me by Yellowcard is  . . .  Here I am Alive. (Love this song)

 

Sunday's Inspirational Songs U- X

 There are only a few U songs that inspire me . . . .

Ugly Kid Joe (originally by Cat Stevens)  -  Cat's in the Cradle

Uncle Kracker -   Follow Me, Drift Away, Good to Be Me, and Smile

There are very few V songs as well . . .


 Vanessa Carlton - 1000 Miles

Velvet Revolver - Fall to Pieces

Vertical Horizon -  Best I ever Had, Everything You Want

 The W songs that inspire me are as follows . . .


Warrant - Heaven

White Lion - Broken Heart, Wait, When Children Cry

 Wilson Phillips - Hold On

No X Songs!

Sunday's Inspirational Songs T

So here are the songs T -That inspire me.


Take That - Rule the World

Tantric - Mourning

Taylor Swift -  Mean

 The Band Perry -  If I Die Young

 The Fray -  How to Save a Life, You found Me

 The Verve Pipe - Freshman

 Tom Petty -  Free Falling

 Train - Hey Soul Sister

Trapt -  These Walls

 Trik Turner -  Friends and Family

Tupac Shakur -  Changes, Dear Momma, Life Goes On

 

Sunday's Inspirational Songs S

It's Sunday again!  So here are a few of the songs S  that inspire me creatively!!!!

For S there are quite a few!
First of all this list would not be complete without the song that my Mother and I share.   When I was growing up there was one song that no matter what was always a favorite of ours. That song no matter how many times it plays always makes me think of my Mother.  That song is  . . .

Sam Cooke's  Stand By Me

 Sarah Bareilles -  King of Anything

Scorpions - Wind of Change

 Seether Ft. Amy Lee- Broken

She Daisy -  Come Home Soon.  (makes me cry every time!)

Sheryl Crow -  First Cut Is The Deepest

Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me

 Sum 41 -  With Me  ( This song probably inspires me creatively more than any other I love the lyrics to this song . . .)

System Of a Down -  Aerials

X is for Xscape

Yes... another group from the 90's!

Xscape was an all girl group that formed in the early 90's.  I really enjoyed growing up listening to this group sing.   I didn't really become a fan of this group until their "Traces of my Lipstick" album hit the stores.

My favorite song by Xscape is  . . .  My little Secret
I love love love this song!  And can remember growing up having this song be very influential to some of the relationships I had in the past!

My least favorite song by Xscape is  . . . Feels So Good

The song that inspires me by Xscape is  . . . The Arms Of The One Who Loves You

W is for Whitesnake

Yup I couldn't go without featuring one my favorite Hairbands from the 80's . . . Whitesnake!

I absolutely love 80's hair metal/rock songs.   More so I love the power ballads that emerged in the 80's and 90's.  Mr. Big holds my favorite hairband song with To Be with You, but Whitesnake holds a few songs that will forever be in my musical collection as well.  

Whitesnake formed in 1978 after David Coverdale decided to form a band after his departure from Deep Purple.  The band had international success but it wasn't until their self-titled album that Whitesnake actually had some major hits.  Here I go  and  Is this Love.   Were some of their biggest hits and my favorite songs!

My favorite song by Whitesnake is  . . . .  Is This Love

 My least favorite song by Whitesnake is  . . .   Slow and Easy

The song that inspires me by Whitesnake is  . . .  Here I Go Again

 

V is for Van Morrison

Yes I am going way back now!  

Van Morrison has such a different sound to his voice.  It's very distinctive and I really like the low rasp and twang it has when he is singing melodies.  It's a mix of folk, pop and soul.   

He was born in Northern Ireland in 1945 and started his career in 1967 when he came out with his smash hit,  Brown Eyed Girl, he has had other hits throughout the years and a very successful career and carried it into the 2000's where he still has 2 - 3 tour dates a week. 

Van the Man is a classic sound that anyone should add to their musical playlist!!!!

My favorite song by Van the Man is  . . .  Brown Eyed Girl

My least favorite song by Van Morrison is  . . .  Sweet Thing

There are two songs that inspire me creatively by Van Morrison .. .  Sometimes We Cry, and These are the Days.   I love the growl in his voice when he sings both of these songs.   When you listen to Van Morrison you want to be laying on the side of a beach/river and just taking in the sights of the world around you.  His voice almost has a astral feeling when you listen to it.

 

U is for UB40

Oh my . . . I love this band.

Maybe it's because I love the Reggae/Pop sound... or maybe it's because the band is just so unique that they really inspire me!

UB40 is a British Invasion band.   They formed in 1978 and had both international and UK hits that topped the charts.   Their most famous song is probably Red Red Wine, but they are also pretty known for they covers of famous songs such as Elvis's Can't help falling in Love,  and their own rendition of I Got You Babe.  

My favorite song by UB40 is  . . . Red Red Wine

My least favorite song by UB40 is  . . . Please Don't Make Me Cry

The song that inspires me by UB40 is also by Elvis,  Can't Help Falling In Love

T is for TLC

TLC is a group that formed in the 90's.  It was a group made up of three women, T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chili... TLC

 Their R and B sound was a staple to my everyday teenage life, I absolutely loved them back when I was younger.   I decided to choose TLC for my T representative because I am feeling nostalgic. I think it's about time to revive some of the awesome music that came out of the 90's and 80's  and bring it back to the masses.

I also chose TLC because I love the messages of some of their songs.   From Unpretty, to Waterfalls  TLC's songs made strong statements that reached out to millions. 

Unfortunately TLC lost the L of their name when Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez passed away from a car crash after she went on to try to pursue a solo career which was never successful... 

Despite the loss of Left Eye, TLC will always be an inspirational group in my eyes!

My favorite song by TLC is  . . .  Red Light Special

My least favorite song by TLC is  . . . Creep

There are two  songs that really inspire me by TLC... The first is Waterfalls,  the song is about a few things such as Aids,and teens choosing street life which leads to their death.  I love the message of the song and the relaxing beat it has.

The other song that really inspires me is Unpretty.    I love song's that uplift you and make you feel good about yourself.  This song does just that. I know I personally go through the unpretty thought process, where someone says something small to me about my appearance and weight and it ends up eating at me and making me feel worse about myself.  You can do all sorts of things that alter your appearance to make sure you fit in with everyone around you. But why would you want to.  Every person is unique and that makes them very special.  No matter what you buy to fix yourself, unless you love the person you are both inside and outside you will never fully feel beautiful.

DON'T LET ANYONE . . . tell you are not beautiful or handsome!  Because everyone in this world is beautiful and handsome in their own ways.  

S is for Sister Hazel

I first became a Sister Hazel fan in 90's when there first big chart topper which actually came from their second album"All For You" hit the radio waves.  Thinking they were a one trick pony I never thought much of them after that.   But then My favorite movie Ten Things I Hate About You featured their song Your Winter.  

The band was named after Sister Hazel Williams a local nun who ran a homeless shelter in their hometown of Gainsville Florida. I really like this bands sound. And they are just obscure enough to really be a great asset to my A-Z Blog this year!

My favorite song by Sister Hazel is  . . . All For You

My least favorite song by Sister Hazel is  . . . Happy

There are two songs that inspire me creatively by Sister Hazel . . .  Your Winter, Best I'll ever Be

Sunday Inspirational Songs P - R

Second Set of Inspirational Songs!!!

Here are my letter P songs!

P.O.D -  Alive

Papa Roach - Scars

Paramore - That's What You Get, Fences, We are Broken

Pat Benetar  -  Invincible

Plain White T's - Rhythm Of Love

Poison -  Every Rose Has it's Thorn

 Puddle of Mudd -  Blurry

 Q songs are as follows . . . 

haha none!!!  Not many Q bands out there! And Quiet Riots  Come on Feel the Noise, does not inspire me creatively.

R Songs are as follows . . .

R Kelly - I Wish

 Real Life - Send Me An Angel

Richard Marx -  Right Here Waiting

Robert Miles - Children

 Rusted Root -  Send Me On My Way

Sunday's Inspirational Songs M - O

It's Sunday again and here are few of the songs that inspire me creatively that I didn't get to share in my previous posts!

For the letter M . . .

Matt Nathanson  Fall to Pieces

Metallica - Nothing Else Matters

 Michael Franti and Spearhead -Sound of Sunshine

 Mr. Big -  To Be With You (My favorite song... ever!)

N songs that Inspire me are as follows . . .

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

 Nickleback -  Savin Me and Someday

No Doubt - Don't Speak

 

Nora Jones -  Don't Know Why

 And finally here are the O songs that inspire me creatively . . .

OMD - If You Leave

Outkast - Hey Ya!

  Owl City -  Fireflies and Good Time featuring Carly Rae Jepsen

 

 

R is for . . . Rascal Flatts

Yes astonishing isn't it?  I am putting a Country artist on my blog!  I have very eclectic taste when it comes to music.   I don't like to label myself as liking only one kind of music, there are many songs from all different genres that I absolutely love.   Rascal Flatts is one of those bands that can connect with everyone, I like the fact that they have country songs, and what I call crossover country which influences a larger audience.

I use to hate country music, this was when I was younger and I thought all country music was, "My wife left me, my dog died and all I have is my guitar,"  kind of music.  But then I heard a song by Shania Twain and another by Faith Hill that I connected with.   Rascall Flatts has many songs that I love.   And I find they are a great representation for the letter R.

My favorite song by Rascall Flatts is  . . . Summer Nights and What Hurts the Most.  
I like both these songs because one reflects the playful side of Rascal Flatts, and the other the sensitive and intimate side.   You can't help but sing along with their music, tap your feet, or want to pick up a guitar and learn how to play.

 

  

My least favorite song by Rascal Flatts is  . . . Banjo.   Which isn't saying much because I like this song but it isn't my favorite.

 

The song that inspires me by Rascall Flatts is Bless the Broken Road.  

 This song is magical I am mesmerized by the love story behind this song. How every wrong turn, lost dream, mess up from the past can lead you to the right person for your life.  It's like that saying that you have to kiss a bunch of frogs to find your prince.  

 

Q is For Queen

There is nothing more perfect than listening to Freddie Mercury rock the mic to Queen anthems.  Since the 1970's Queen has not only changed rock music, but has also showered us with epic song after epic song. 

Have you ever been to a professional sporting event without hearing We are the Champions or We Will Rock You?   T.V. Shows .... movies .... have been re-performing Queen hits forever it seems but nothing will ever be as memorable as  Wayne's World   performing Bohemian Rhapsody. 

Gotta love Mike Myers and Dana Carvey!!!!  

It was actually Wayne's World  that made Bohemian Rhapsody, and Queen popular in the United States, which is funny because I don't think my music collection would be complete with out Queen rocking me out. It saddens me that Freddy Mercury passed away in 1991, he was stricken with the AIDS virus and died from bronchial pneumonia which stemmed from complications of his illness.  He was also one of the first front men to be openly gay. All around this band is amazing!  The other funny thing about Queen is there are songs that you would never guess was by them.  

Another One Bites the Dust, and  Under Pressure  for example have a different sound that I never thought was from Queen till I actually heard and saw a video.

My favorite song by Queen is . . .  but of course Bohemian Rhapsody

My least favorite song by Queen is Princes of the Universe . . .

And the song that inspires me creatively by Queen is  . . .  Somebody to Love

I love how beautiful this song is, the flow of Mercury's voice.

P is for P!nk!

Yup that's right the infamous Pink is my muse for P. 

I've loved Pink since she first came onto the scene in the early 90's with her hit There You Go.
It was her Mizzunderstood album though that really spoke to me.  Every song on that album was amazing, I loved her voice when she croons out the love ballads, her struggle with fitting in, you could feel the angst put into making the album.  

My favorite song by Pink is  . . .  Lonely Girl a duet she did with Linda Perry. . .

My least Favorite song by Pink is  . . . Stupid Girls.  Although I really don't hate any songs by Pink!

 

The song that inspires me by Pink is . . . Don't let me Get me.

 

And just because I love Pink so much here are some other great songs!

Try

 

Misery Duet with Steven Tyler

 

And Raise Your Glass