Today R&M is a part of the Knotted Roots blog tour! Ruthi has so graciously shared some of the things that she has learned since embarking on her writing career, and balance is the topic for today! Before we get to her guest post, I am both proud and pleased to announce that the newest addition to the Knotted Roots series is now live on Amazon! Hidden Falls, a novella, is a story that readers of the first novel begged for. This is Katy and Brian's story, and if you want to know what's going on when the second full length novel releases later this year, you need to read the novella, or else you could very well find yourself lost and confused as to the events that have transpired from one novel to the next. But, I digress! Please check out Knotted Roots and Hidden Falls in the links section at the end of this post! And I hope you take Ruthi's advice to heart!
Balancing Life: PUH-Lease!
Throughout life, people will tell you that anything is possible. All you have to do is go for it!
*Cue inspirational music*
What they don’t tell you is that with each dream you chase, you end up leaving others behind. It’s not intentional. And it’s never malicious. It’s just a fact of life: you will outgrow things/people/places in your life.
“But where do I find the time to chase these dreams?”
Funny you should ask! ‘Cause the answer will usually be You have to find a balance in your life and make it happen.
Easier said than done.
I’m a believer in following your dreams and making things happen that you never thought would. I chased my biggest dream this year and so far, it has been a wild ride! Scary as hell, but wild!
When I wrote Knotted Roots, I was mentally locked away from everything for that entire month. I LIVED that book. With that determination, I was able to get it done. But at what cost?
I spent less time with my family. I spent less time doing the other things that I enjoy, like reading. I lost track of myself in the world of Perry Point.
While I don’t exactly regret focusing on the book, I do regret the extent to which I did. I didn’t find the balance.
The balance is key. Sure, it now takes me a little bit longer than a month to write a book (come on, that’s still pretty dang good) but now I get to enjoy my days even more.
No one is ignored. The house stays clean...ish. And my family isn’t afraid of the crazy woman on the couch whose eyes are glazed over and blood shot.
...Well...they may still see that regardless.
What’s the point in all of this, you ask?
It’s to remind everyone, writers, readers, bloggers, etc., that sometimes we need to live outside the computer & book world. And that’s okay!
A lot of us get so caught up in the relationships we have online, that we forget the ones right in front of our faces.
Or sometimes...and heaven forbid...we fall off the web altogether. (Been there, done that...it was a nice break, but still...no balance)
So find your balance. Find that happy zone that allows you to enjoy every aspect of your existence. And make the most out of each day.
‘Cause before you know it, the day is over, the kids are in bed, and you’re left wondering where the time went.
Don’t wonder. Live!
Thank you for reading my guest post! It’s my first one...EVER! I hope I didn’t ramble too much...I have a tendency to do that...especially when...oh look! Squirrel!
Book Blurb:
Partying with friends and scoring a
flawless tan is about all Roxie has on her list of things to make her Hampton's summer perfect.
Her parents, however, have other plans and
Grandma Betty's farm is just one of them.
Just as her life is in shambles and the
quaint town is suffocating her, she meets Chase.
Somewhere in the mix of bummer summer and
small town doldrums, he becomes the boy she can't seem to avoid falling for. Just adding him to the picture, her stay starts to get better, even if she knows it has to end with the summer holidays.
That is until Betty drops a life-shattering bomb.
Roxie must make a choice that will change her life forever. What happens when a spoiled brat from New York learns the true meaning of love, loss, and forgiveness?
Can Chase and Roxie find a way to be
together or is this just another summer romance?
Review:
Well, I finally get to review my friend’s book, and let me tell you it is a fantastic debut, even in my slightly biased opinion. I was impressed by the way that she nailed teenage angst, something that we all experience to some degree from today’s youth. Roxie truly is the epitome of a spoiled, rotten brat, and it shows in everything that she says and does. The only thing that seems to concern her is how her parents are screwing up her perfect summer, not the fact that there are major changes coming in all of their lives.
I enjoyed reading about her changing though, through the help of some of the other characters. The supporting characters in the novel help illustrate the transition that Roxie goes through. Grandma Betty conjured to mind a strong southern woman, what I would term to be a Steel Magnolia. Despite everything that has occurred in her life, she continues to move forward, never letting pain show until she is alone. She reminded me of my own grandmother, a woman that I admire and look up to, someone who has taught me the finer points of being a lady, and a southern lady at that.
Katy is a lovely girl that seems to have more depth to her than I originally anticipated in the beginning. At first she seemed to be nothing more than the southern equivalent of one of Roxie's New York friends, but as the story continues I found the hidden depths of love and friendship that make the character of Katy heartwarming. And while Katy does come across as a very sweet character, she too embodies the southern lady core of steel, as when it comes time to get Roxie’s attention, she does so in characteristic southern fashion, not mincing words, but telling it exactly how it is.
And, saving the best for last, I loved Chase. He is not a perfect pretty boy, which I found to be more endearing and true to life. He has his imperfections and carries his fair share of scars and flaws. The perfect man has been done to death, and to find a male lead character with insecurities and a palpable pain, well, I found it quite refreshing. So, even as he helps Roxie to change, she helps him to heal and change as well. The two are a fantastic couple, with enough similarities to give them something in common, but with enough differences to keep the relationship fresh and interesting.
On the whole, for a debut novel, this was a really good one. I am honestly anxious to see what Ruthi will do next, as her story is a wonderful one, and I would love to know more about the characters, including where they ultimately end up. My only complaint is that if there is going to be a follow up to this novel, could you please hurry it on up!!!! I hope that you give Knotted Roots a try and enjoy a coming of age novel and young adult romance that has more substance than most novels written for this particular age group! Props on a job well done Ruthi! I am super proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next! Happy Reading everyone!
Links for Book:
About the Author:
If you had asked 6 year old Ruthi what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you a Rock Star. Those dreams faded to the background when she found out who the true Rock Stars are: Authors.
She has always had a fascination with books, losing herself completely in numerous books, enjoying the worlds she found that were so unlike her own. They were her escape, and eventually became her passion.
Her family has been putting up with her and her incoherent ramblings while she worked on her debut novel, Knotted Roots. Her five year old and Fiance have suffered through many “fend for yourself” nights, but somehow still manage to love her anyway.
She is now attending the Southern New Hampshire University, working on her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing/Fiction so that she can create her own worlds for others to fall in love with.
Okay, now that I’m done talking in the third person, let me just say that I love connecting with people via Facebook, Goodreads, my blog, etc. If you would like to chat, you can usually find me online at any given time. I also want to say thank you to each and every person who reads my book. It was a labor of love and I truly hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Stalker Links:
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