Tag: book
Does Feeling Sad Really Heighten Creativity?
Does sadness really equal creativity?
As a Psychology graduate, studies about the link between the two have interested me greatly. Whether due to a cause and effect scenario or basic correlation, there have been many cases of great thinkers and artists who were undoubtedly depressed.
Where do I fit into this scenario?
It comes as no surprise to my friends and family that when writing certain emotional scenes in my books, I often take on the feelings and characteristics of my characters. In such cases my sadness is the direct result of my creativity. Then again, there are other cases when a specifically bad mood may cause me to go on a writing binge (see One and Done) so in that case my mood really did affect my creativity.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, it’s no misnomer that emotions can greatly affect one’s level of creativity. These effects may be for the better or may be for the worst. With me, it’s more of a hit or miss.
It’s true that in exceptionally sad cases I’ve been known to lock myself up and write my heart out. In fact, I’ve come up with many story ideas–most I still have to write–because of this. That being said, sometimes when I am exceptionally depressed there is no budging me. My mind won’t work. I can’t think. All hopes for creativity are thrown out the window.
In late 2013 my husband and I began our journey to start a family. After years of being told that sex=pregnancy, imagine my surprise when I found out that it isn’t always that easy. Month after month flew by and still no bun in the oven in sight. Cut to 2014, I was officially diagnosed with fibroids and endometriosis. We had to put “trying” on hold for a couple months as I prepared, had, and recovered from my laproscopic surgery. If you’re interested, you can read about my experience in my blog: Painting with Robots . Anyway, after going through that particularly difficult time, I felt uplifted and we began to try again.
APRIL 2015
I had my first positive pregnancy test. I was ecstatic! I was over the moon! Then almost as if it were some cruel joke, I lost the pregnancy. Chemical Pregnancy – I hate that term with a passion. Regardless of how early a miscarriage is, it’s still just that–a miscarriage. I know it’s the medical term or what not, but calling it a Chemical Pregnancy just rips the emotion from the loss, doesn’t it? It makes it feel sterile and robotic. Trust me, it’s not. Many, many, tears were shed. Feelings of anger, sadness, worthlessness, despair (I can go on and on) flooded through me. In fact, in my despair, I confused the times of an Author Event, which I NEVER do and missed my time slot! Sadness was definitely not fueling any sort of creativity for me then…
Now here I am.
January 2016 and still on this painful journey. I’m not saying I’m sad or depressed 24/7 as I have so many blessings to be thankful for, but sometimes the smile on my face is definitely just a mask.
So again, why am I telling you this?
For therapeutic purposes, I suppose…
Also, I wanted to let you know that sometimes writing breaks are completely necessary, but not something I particularly like to take. In fact, after my early miscarriage I took about a month to just compose myself and read. That’s not saying I didn’t have many story ideas fluttering in my head. In fact, despite my deep sadness I’ve manage to accumulate about 6 unfinished manuscripts and finish 4 more by the end of 2015.
All in all, writing is my therapy. Reading is my therapy. Daydreaming, imagining and creating different worlds are my therapy.
Writing takes a lot out of you and despite wanting to take a few breaks, amidst the sadness there is no denying the pull towards it.
Writing is my drug.
So, next time you pick up any book, whether it is full of tears or maybe even laughter, take a minute and imagine what the author may have been feeling at the moment it was written. It may be that those characters were exactly what he or she needed to be pulled out of a funk.
Does sadness heighten creativity? I’m not sure. But creativity definitely helps diminish sadness.
TWO OUTTA THREE Excerpt
The old-fashioned bells my dad refused to take off the front doors rung as the glass door opened. Seeing as we weren’t due to open for another thirty minutes, I could only guess who had walked into the door. My beating heart certainly knew.
“Mr. Rossi?” The familiar voice was like a melody. It reminded me of an old favorite song that you hadn’t heard in years, but were still able to recite line by line with ease. Despite the years of silence, I still knew that voice so well.
“Over here, Jesse.”
My palms instantly moistened. Taking a deep breath, I wiped them against my faded jeans, unsure of what to do with myself. Trying to appear calm, I leaned my forearm against the counter and shifted my weight so my hip was sticking out. Realizing how stupid I looked, I straightened myself and crossed my arms over my chest.
“What the hell am I doing? Am I drill sergeant?” I shook my head, reminding myself he was just an old friend. Granted, a best friend I used to love, but still. Finally relaxing into a somewhat decent pose, I looked up in time to see him round the corner towards us.
He instantly took my breath away.
It had been five years since I had last seen him. Having always been the conspiracy theory type, he never even owned an online profile and believe me, I looked! For the last five years I had relied solely on my memory whenever I thought about him. In my mind, the name Jesse conjured up images of a handsome boy—tall, skinny, with a flop of messy dark hair. The man standing in front of me was not the Jesse I recalled. He was much, much better.
#TeaserTuesday
Two Outta Three will be released next Tuesday June 2, 2015. However, it is now available for pre-order!
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Outta-Three-Book-ebook/dp/B00Y2E0VI6/
LOCKED IN~Now available for Pre-Order!
So excited to announce that LOCKED IN (Book #2 to the Caught Inside series) is now available for pre-order! It will be released on April 7th, but be sure to order your copy today:)
BUY LINK: http://amzn.to/1EdOKEG
Don’t let her small size fool you; at five feet, two inches tall, Kacy Greene is a little spitfire who will be the first to put you in your place.
After making the mistake of dating, sleeping with and slapping her supervisor, she finds refuge spending her days surfing, where she meets food truck owner and soon-to-be new boss, Miles Parker. A southern boy, Miles moves to Mistcoast, CA with one thing in mind—to make his new business boom.
What he doesn’t count on is meeting a wrecking ball named Kacy who sends his life into a whirl. Blinded by his immediate attraction for her, he hires her on the spot and is soon disappointed to find that their relationship isn’t going to go where he hoped it would.
Being nothing more than a shoulder to cry on, he hatches a plan to win her heart.
Unfortunately, like the ocean waves, love can be very unpredictable.
You’ve read Riley’s and Blake’s love story, now learn about Kacy and Miles…
Catch up with CAUGHT INSIDE (Book #1) also available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DOI8eI

LOCKED IN — Cover Reveal! <3
Time has just flown by and I can’t believe it’s finally time to reveal the cover of LOCKED IN. I am so excited!!
Revisit your favorite characters from CAUGHT INSIDE in book #2 of the series.
You will get to learn more about Kacy and Miles and of course have cameos from Blake and Riley, too 😉
Add it to your Goodreads shelf today! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24950847-locked-in
What he doesn’t count on is meeting a wrecking ball named Kacy who sends his life into a whirl. Blinded by his immediate attraction for her, he hires her on the spot and is soon disappointed to find that their relationship isn’t going to go where he hoped it would.
Being nothing more than a shoulder to cry on, he hatches a plan to win her heart. Unfortunately, like the ocean waves, love can be very unpredictable.
You’ve read Riley’s and Blake’s love story, now learn about Kacy and Miles…
Old Soul or Late Bloomer?
Ever since I was younger, I always felt a bit different than my peers. From preferring books over toys or waking up at 5 am to catch my fave black and white movies, I was an eighty year old woman in a child’s body–
Or so I thought.
Once I hit the infamous 20’s, things completely changed.
Google the words “Twenty Something” and you’ll find a wide array of articles covering everything a 20-something-year-old should know. From advice on what s/he should or should not do, where s/he should travel to, what jobs to take, where to live and what relationships to be in, there is never a loss for the COUNTLESS situations this age group will face. In fact, regardless of the different publications, websites, and authors of these articles there is one common theme–Getting to know yourself.
You see, everyone assumes your teenage years is the time to go out and experiment. It’s the time to fall in love, make mistakes and find yourself. Speaking as someone who is in their thirties and has live through both decades, I’d say it wasn’t my teens but rather my twenties where I truly discovered who I was. The term Quarter-Life crisis is around for a reason. For example, when I was 25 I found myself at a professional crossroads. I spent many nights asking, “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?” The same went for my love life as well. And do you know what? This can happen at ANY age.Yes, even this old soul made A LOT of immature mistakes. 24, 25, 26 and yes, even 28 years old–Old souls can be late bloomers, too.
Why am I telling you all this?
Well, I wanted to explain the background behind some of my characters. I’ve been asked why a couple of them seemed unsure of themselves and why they seemed a bit indecisive for someone their age. To put it simply, why aren’t they as “adult” as expected. But what exactly does it mean to be an adult? I’m still finding out and that is why my characters are as they are. They are in fact based somewhat on me.
I am 31 now and I’m still learning A LOT about myself. Sure, I’ve grown up since my yesteryears, but regardless–decision making, mistakes and anxiety does not have an age limit. Stuff happens and sometimes you revert.
I wanted my characters to reflect this so that any of my readers currently going through a Quarter-Life Crisis, Mid-Life crisis or any crisis would know that they are not alone 🙂
INTENSITY NOW AVAILABLE!
Get the ebook or paperback on Amazon today!
#TeaserTuesday
CAUGHT INSIDE COVER REVEAL!
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the opportunity to share the cover of one of my favorite novels to date — Caught Inside.
My newest Contemporary Romance is scheduled for release on December 30, 2014 (yay for summer love during winter!) through Limitless Publishing. This book means a lot to me as my personal love story also revolves around surfing. It’s actually what drew me to write this book.
So please add the book onto your Goodreads shelves and please SHARE the news about CAUGHT INSIDE 🙂

