Cleaning? Over-damn-rated

It's been a slow few weeks on the blog. A few personal issues have popped up along the way and broken my ability to write a decent post, let alone read a book or slap up a review. So apologies for my lackluster attentiveness to the written word and my casual ramblings of bullsh@#t.
I'm starting to get back into the swing of things, though, organising my paperwork, re-shuffling priorities, saving orphans and ... cleaning my car.
Apparently this is something you need to do regularly. Who knew?
On the stern advice of my father, I have spent at least twelve hours getting my four year old Mazda 3 up to scratch. Things were living in the carpets, the windows wouldn't go down because of the grit in the rubber seals, and I have so many paint chips on the bonnet that it looks like a pimply teenager's face.
Needless to say I have hoovered, washed, scrubbed, polished and ruined my God damn fingernails in an effort to make my car look brand new again. With success now a story I'm blogging about, I have to wonder when my laziness will once again reign supreme and my poor little Mazda will inherit take away rubbish, muddy mats, and a drunken bum living in the backseat.
My blue bucket of steel is the second home I can't live without, now possibly cleaner than than a hospital ward. So will I nurse it to continuing health, or will it fall victim to those little bastards who write 'wash me' on the dusty paintwork?
Time will tell.
Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying the shiny new polish, clean upholstery and ridiculously loud music pumping through my sound system. Yes, I'm that girl singing with reckless abandon at the traffic lights.
Have a good one,

Kristy :)

Author Interview with Komal Lewis

Describe your novel in twenty words or less.
It’s about a mean girl, and a “freak”. It’s about childhood friends who grow apart and learn to forgive.

What were some of the biggest obstacles that you had to overcome while writing?
I used to be a HUGE procrastinator and would put off the writing. I also had a few health problems which got in the way. Finally, I was just very insecure. I was scared to let people read my work, and it’s still hard if I happen to see a negative review of my book, but I am learning to let those insecurities go.

Are you also a reader, and if so, what’s your preferred genre?
I love most genres, but lately I have been addicted to Contemporary Romances. They make me so emotional!

If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Kurt Vonnegut. I would love to pick his brain about his stories, and by the end of the night I would hope that some of his quirkiness would've rubbed off on me.

Do you have any weird little habits that get you in the writing mood—downing a bottle of wine, eating an entire bar of chocolate, fornicating on a porch swing?
I must have a bottle of water. And I need to be sitting in my “spot” which is actually nothing special, just the sofa.

What sets your book apart from others in the same genre?
I wasn't afraid to make my main character mean. Like, really mean. She’s also selfish, makes stupid decisions, and complains when things don’t go her way. Let’s face it, there are people like that in the world and I’m fascinated by what makes them that way. In many Young Adult novels, the “mean girl” is usually a side character, but I wanted to see how readers reacted when they were placed in the mind of a mean girl.

Okay, so I bet you secretly hate one of the characters in your novel. Who is it and why?
I hate Ashton’s dad for what he did to her mum.

You’re on death row and it’s your last meal. What will you choose to eat?
My mum makes THE BEST Mexican food ever. It’s entirely vegetarian because she uses lentils, but don’t let that put you off. It is delicious!

Tell us three crazy things about yourself that you wish no one else knew (I promise I won’t post this … but I lie).
I only drink water (which people think is really weird for some reason). I have the mind of a hormonal teenage boy (I can’t believe I just admitted that!). I say randomly weird things that can be taken out of context (like that “hormonal teenage boy” remark).

Are you a scruncher or a folder? (Yes, this is a toilet paper question)
I’m a folder!

If you had to pick one song to be the soundtrack to your novel, what would it be and why?
With Me by Sum 41. The song really inspired me while I was writing Impossible. And I get to see Sum 41 next year at Soundwave (a music festival they have in Australia) so I’m super excited for that!

Do you have any future projects lined up that you want to tell us about?
I have lots of future projects! My Young Adult Paranormal novel, Runaway Mortal is coming out in February, which I’m super excited for as it’s been in the works for almost two years now. I also have the second book coming out in the With Me series, Falling for Hadie. Don’t worry, it’s not a direct sequel, so it won’t be about Ashton (for those people who don’t like Ashton)! And I’m also working on a secret New Adult novel on the side which I plan to release mid next year.

E-book or paperback, what’s your preference?
If you’d asked me this a year ago, I would’ve said paperback, but I’ve changed my tune. My Kindle app on my phone is my best friend. It’s so convenient (and cheap!) buying e-books, but do love paperbacks too. I can’t decide!

What books or authors have most influenced your writing style?
I do love my Australian children’s authors like Andy Griffiths, Morris Gleitzman, Paul Jennings and Emily Rodda. As for non-Australian authors, I love the randomness of Lemony Snicket (A.K.A. Daniel Handler)! C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Philip Pullman are some influences too.

If you were stuck on a deserted Island would you choose:
a) A total hottie to keep you company over the lonely nights ahead.
b) A solar powered Kindle with limitless reading potential.
c) Tom Hanks and Wilson to help get your ass off the Island.
Ooh, we’re getting down to the tough questions now. Well, I need a holiday, so I’d stay on the island with my solar powered Kindle.

Who has been your biggest support on your writing journey, and please, feel free to add my name here …
There’s this wonderful woman named Kristy Berridge who has helped me so much (Kristy Berridge made me say this!). But, seriously, my husband and my critique partners, Erica and Michelle have been my biggest supporters on my writing journey. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. *Gets all mushy and sentimental*

What is one of your favourite scenes from your novel? Feel free to provide a small excerpt to entice the readers.
This scene is referred to as the “kitchen counter scene”. It’s kinda steamy!

Her hand touched my cheek and she turned my head so I was forced to look at her again. There was a flash of blonde hair, and then Ash’s lips were on mine. For a split second, I thought I was dreaming. She couldn't really be kissing me, could she?
The tension in my mouth eased and I finally regained control of my senses. I pushed her back and crushed my lips against hers. A moan escaped Ash’s mouth as I pressed against her harder. Those sweet lips of hers were hungrily tearing against mine like she might die if she didn’t have me. Her kisses were driving me insane. Sure, I’d kissed girls before, but none of them compared to this. Maybe because none of those girls had been this girl. 
None of those girls had been Ashton.
I pulled away and Ash looked up at me in surprise, her cheeks a deep pink. Placing both hands on her waist, I lifted her up onto the counter top. Before she had a chance to say anything, I resumed kissing her. She sighed deeply against my mouth and wrapped her legs around me so there was no space between us. I could feel every inch of her body and she could feel every inch of mine.

If you had to cast your characters, who would you reconcile to play their parts?
I never once thought about this while I was writing, but a lot of readers have been asking me this question so I finally did a bit of Googling to find the perfect actors. I picture Alex Pettyfer as Luca. Alex has that longish, messy, unkempt hair that I imagined Luca to have, and I’m pretty sure his eyes are green too. Alex would need a lot of tattoos, and his hair needs to be much darker, but I can see him pulling off black eyeliner and a punk rocker wardrobe. Teresa Palmer (an Australian actress who was in December Boys with Daniel Radcliffe) would be great as Ashton!

Any last words? (feel free to write Kristy Berridge is super awesome right here)
Kristy, you ARE awesome! Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog and for the great questions. I really appreciate it!

And now you can stalk Komal at these locations!

Twitter

Facebook

Web/Blog

Amazon

Goodreads

Jazz Bar

Okay so I've done it again, I missed Follow Friday. But don't I always justify my missing of this venture with some weird and wonderful exploration of strange terrain in my otherwise relatively dull existence?
Recently my Follow Friday desertion was due to a pyjama party - thirty year old women sipping wine, singing bad karaoke and scaring the shit out of me with a late night viewing of The Exorcist. This time my absence was due to visitation to a jazz bar.
I don't personally listen to jazz. Don't get me wrong, I've got absolutely nothing against it, it's actually quite soothing but not exactly the kind of beat that gets you bouncing to your feet and head banging until the wee hours of the morning (not that I head bang). It was pleasant, unexpected and something I've never tried in the past. Though admittedly it did feel like happy hour at the retirement home.
There I was in my skinny jeans, up-do, and impressively cruel high heels sipping cocktails with my friends, only to be surrounded by a sea of geriatrics. Just about all of us were carded, though I suspected it was mostly because of the bartender's cataracts and our ability to walk around the bar without a walking frame. We probably looked like toddlers to the regulars.
To top it off, our hostess was clinging desperately to her youth, forcing the sagging flesh of her once ample cleavage into a barely there triangle bikini. I especially loved how she topped the outfit off with a see-through leopard print camisole and a side of slick perspiration to highlight every groove and line of disapproval on her craggy face.
Enter a photographer. Whether intentional or not, he snapped away like a Japanese tourist with endless film, possibly shocked to the core that anyone under thirty crossed the threshold and stayed longer than a pit-stop at the restroom.
All in all the drinks were good, the food was good and the company (my mates) was excellent. The band put on a good show despite the fifteen minute intervals for bathroom breaks, and I even appreciated the fact that I could hear the person next to me at all times. But hopefully my Follow Friday will be back on board by next week. I don't expect another romp with the senior citizens anytime soon, though I look forward to the next adventure my friends will undoubtedly talk me into.
Happy weekend everyone,

Kristy :)

Is Music Good for the Soul?

So, is it? Is Music good for the soul?
I'm going to have to say yes, except in any circumstance where ABBA or Country and Western music might be played with zealous enthusiasm. That shit just makes my ears bleed.
Apologies to the true believers ...
Anyway, there's just something about having your chosen boom box (look out, I'm going old school) turned up extremely loud to belt out your all time favourite tracks. Unfortunately, music also sometimes reminds you of the morose moments, almost like a bad smell in an elevator, the taste of cucumbers (hate those little green bastards), or the sight of your beloved pet crapping in the middle of your expensive Persian rug.
So, I was trolling through Itunes this afternoon wondering what songs I could add to my playlist. And, just what exactly did my collection of tunes do for my soul? What memories could I recall with certain songs, and which ones left a bad taste in my mouth?

1. One of my first boyfriends (who I was mighty keen on at the tender age of 14) declared that our song would be forever known as "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden. Alas, after he picked such a mushy track and dragged me off to the movies to watch Madonna in "Evita", I should have seen the writing on the wall. Alas, I'm now told this memorable boyfriend now has one of his own.

2. I'm not one for cleaning the house at the best of times, but I have to tell you, every time I hear Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl", I simply have to whip out a mop and go to town on the kitchen floor. *flies freak flag*

 

3. My husband who I have been happily tied to for over twelve years declared that our 'song' was Bachelor Girl's "Buses and Trains" - a song about disastrous relationships. It stuck for no other reason than it was the sound track to most of our bump ugly sessions when we first hooked up. *puts hands over parent's ears*

4. Don't hate on me, but I'm a massive Nickelback fan, and, every time I hear "Savin' me" in the car, I revert to a pimply teenage boy in a beat up old ford with way too much muffler resonance, and a mysterious confidence that makes me wind down the windows and share the experience with other drivers. Yes, for three minutes I think I'm King Shit in a Mazda.

5. There's a moment when I sometimes go for a walk. The sun is either rising in the distance or setting behind the hills as the warm breeze tousles my hair. I look over my shoulder, check for spectators, and then throw my arms out wide, toss my head back and sing Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" because at that precise moment I think life is just swell and filled with endless possibilities. Naturally the accompaniment of my IPod makes me sound awesome.

I can think of plenty more, but these are just some of the most prominent that still often run through my mind. I'd love to know if anyone else has similar experiences with music. Make sure you comment so I can laugh at your expense too (kidding).
Have a great weekend.

Kristy :)

What Follow Friday?

Okay ... my bad. I usually do the Follow Friday meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read every Friday, mostly because it's fun to see what everyone is reading, and then because it promotes the blog - a massive priority as an author.
This week I didn't do it. The day just got away from me, mostly because I was buried under a mountain of edits for my second book, The Damned. (awesome read BTW, you so don't want to miss buying this :P)
So why did I miss the weekly ritual that I have participated in for over thirty weeks?
Okay, pipe down to those of you that are saying 'who gives a crap?'. There has to be someone out there that thinks me blowing off 'Follow Friday' for a two hour session at the gym was more important so that I could finally pour myself into my slim fit jeans and then head out for a girls night?
*clasps a hand to my ear* Yes, I'm hearing the 'Amen, sister'.
So, needless to say I went to my girls night out. I looked great in my jeans, and we listened to music of yesteryear, and sang (badly) and laughed about it until late. Naturally I ducked home and crawled into bed while everyone else took it to the next level at the clubs but everyone knows I'm a virtual hobbit and boogying on the dance floor is not really my thing (I just embarrass myself and everyone else with my Saturday Night Fever moves)
Anyway, so being that music was the main topic of conversation for most of the evening, we started laughing like mad when we all realised there were about a million songs we 'thought' we knew the words to. But have you actually sung a song, have your buddy turn to you and say, 'Mate, that's not how the song goes'.
Answer ... we all have. So with this in mind, here are some of the little gems we came up with;

1. Cold Chisel - "Cheap Wine"
Our version - Cheap wine and a three-legged goat (Who the hell has ever seen a three-legged goat?)
Real version - Cheap wine and a three-day growth

2. Elton John - "Island Girl"
Our version - I like girls (I totally thought this was an affirmation)
Real version - Island girl (you think the title of the song might have spelled it out for me)

3. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - "Time of my Life"
Our Version - We saw the writing on the wall, I've never felt this mad before, it's a specialty.
Real version - We saw the writing on the wall, as we felt this magical, fantasy (go figure)

4. Madonna - "Ray of Light"
Our version - And I feel, like a disco gnome, and I feel. (Truth be told, we were laughing at someone else for this one)
Real version - And I feel, like I just got home, and I feel.

5. Snow - "Informer"
Our version - Informer, you know fhshgsgkhsfgkskskgsklfhdhdhdrs to blame, a licky boom boom down.
Real version - Informer, ya' no say dadda me Snow me I'll go blame, a licky boom boom down
(Yeah, Snow, no one has ever understood what the f@#%k you are saying)

Anyway, these are just a few. There were so many more it's crazy. My face still hurts from laughing so hard. My friend even told me that she'd had an ongoing argument with her brother for over ten years because he swears Charles and Eddie's "Would I lie to You" was "Ooh la la to you".
You gotta love a girls night out.
Have a great weekend everyone, let me know if there are some songs out there that throw a spanner in your lyrical genius. I'd love to hear if you're a disco gnome or that you like girls.

Kristy :)