Escape Reality (With Reading)

I like to escape reality as often as I can. Maybe I don't want to deal with issues in my life. Maybe I'm looking for an avoidance tactic to delay doing something I don't want to do.

And maybe I'm simply itching to know what happens next to the characters in a great book.

So, my way to escape reality is by reading. It used to be physical books:

Then ereaders came along...

And now I rarely buy paper books anymore. Occasionally, one of my favorite authors comes out with a new book in a series that I'm hooked on and I'll buy a physical copy to add to my current collection.

I just came inside from sitting on my front porch with my cat. It's 90 degrees today, so I chose the shade on the front porch versus the back patio where I'd be roasting alive in the sun. Jessie Cat appreciated it, I'm sure. But 40 minutes flew by as I read - completely engrossed in a zombie and vampire novel! It's called Bloodborne: The Forsaken  by C. David Conner. I'm still waiting for the vampires to show up...but I'm only about 1/4 into the book at this stage. BUT...that's another reason I keep getting sucked in to reading more - curiosity!

The characters in most books struggle with WAY MORE problems than I'm whining about! After all, that's what makes great reading. Characters in conflict and crazy crap thrown at them around every corner! Add a super delicious plot that you can actually follow and I'm in heaven. 

I watched the movie "Warm Bodies" on DVD Sunday night. OMG! It is one of the best movies I've seen! Really! I can't believe I'm saying that, either! When I sat down to watch it, I immediately said to the hubby, "zombies and comedy and romance and an apocalypse...I don't know about this. It could be a disaster."

Mixing those elements to just the right degree is critical to any hope that the movie would be a success. I've heard other people on the net complimenting "Warm Bodies", too, so I guess I'm not a complete nutcase in loving it. The movie is based on a novel of the same name (by Isaac Marion) which makes me ready to grab a copy of it and read until I'm blurry-eyed. AND I found out there is a prequel to the story titled "The New Hunger"....I'm dying to discover HOW the zombie thing started and the events that led up to the "Warm Bodies" story.

See how excited and involved I can get over a book - a story? And don't ask me what's going on with the whole zombie theme lately with my reading and movies. Pure coincidence. Just last week on BBC America I watched the 3 night mini-series "In The Flesh". Yep, zombies again, but with a different twist. The zombies had a cure...anyway, that's another story!

Do you read to escape reality? What's your favorite type of story or genre? Do you read even when you know you should be doing something else? What do you think about novels that are made into movies? Does it make you mad when the movie people don't strictly follow the story in the book? I love hearing from you guys, so please leave comments!

That is all.

Gina

TMI + ADHD = Shiny Things Everywhere (which really means Hitting a Brick Wall)

I try to stay focused (insert hysterical laughing). I do have ADHD (plus OCD, high anxiety). Then again, it seems like a ton of people do nowadays. I can bet many reading this can relate...both TEENS and ADULTS!

DeaPeaJay / Art Photos / CC BY-SA

But there are just so many Shiny Things everywhere I turn!

I have good intentions, goals and even schedules to keep me on track. (I'm a SERIOUS list maker.) I've set timers (nifty computer downloads or used physical timers), written sticky notes and not so sticky ones, taken breaks to re-energize, played music or not, sat in different chairs, sat at different computers in different rooms, drank coffee or water or whatever, warned my brain to only spend a few minutes doing some task (oh the snickering), read self-help articles and books (even PAID for some), talked to people for ideas or to vent (most don't want to hear more than 5 minutes worth), and even scribbled my signature on a paper agreement stating/promising to myself to follow a plan as best as I can to help meet my goals - of which I typed out specific business/writing plans and a marketing plan for my writing career (6 pages long - the marketing plan was a killer).

*fingernails screeching on chalkboard*

Repeat: But there are just so many Shiny Things everywhere I turn! I'm an information hound and love researching and checking stuff out here and there and...and...ARGH!

So, *tapping fingers on keyboard*, what to do with my life. It seems that all the technology and gadgets
and all their wonderfulness, ooey-gooey neatness have made me hit a brick wall. Again.

I just published a book. Actually, it's already been a few months. Back on February 16 "Rocked: A Chelsie Valdar Saga, 1" was released. Then a few weeks later, my dad passed away. And things have been sad and weird and busy. And time has flown - here it is June.

I'm supposed to be writing the third book in the "Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series" right now. It will be the last in that series. Then I'll jump back to the Chelsie Valdar Saga to finish the second and third books in that series.

Marketing the books, letting readers know they EXIST, connecting with people on social networks, trying to be everywhere is ungodly time-consuming. Yet, I enjoy it! But did I say it's a major time suck?!

ToniVC / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

I need to be writing the next book. All "experts" say so.

But I don't want people to forget me. And my books. *stamping feet for emphasis* So I have to try to socialize to keep my name out there. Do enough people even WANT me to write further books?

Sometimes I feel invisible.

Okay, I'll admit, I never did like to stand out in the crowd. *pushes the spotlight away* I actually hated school. Couldn't wait for weekends, days off, summer vacation, please let's get a snow day! Never raised my hand to answer questions and clammed up when called upon to give my answer (even if I knew it, I rarely answered). I hated gym class. I wasn't into sports AT ALL and felt totally stupid playing games (in grade school I was on the softball and volleyball teams but ONLY because my best friend joined). I didn't join any groups/clubs in high school (well...I was in 4-H in grade school). I did have boyfriends most of the time but stayed with each one a long time. I fretted over getting good grades...and in turn was a straight "A" student. There were a lot of shiny things back then, too.

And so, I blended in. Kinda boring now that I look back at it. And MANY things I wish I would've participated in...

But my book writing -- it's NOT like in school. I'm sitting at home in front of the computer. And can create stories and publish and connect with people here. I like that.

So many choices, so little time. I'm not getting any younger. Hey, Teens out there! Be sure to live it up during your teenage years. That includes those in your early Twenties, too.

Chelsie, the main character in "Rocked", is only 17 years old. She is one tough girl, headstrong, and a fighter.  She tries to protect those she loves. And she is forced into survival mode with an Apocalypse on the way and a stalker following her every move. Tons of decisions. Many are life or death. And definitely will be in the upcoming books. I envy Chelsie's ability to stay focused on the task at hand and to make use out of her surroundings and resources and partnering with friends (of all types!). I don't envy that she's only 17 and how her life has taken a drastic turn, with choices thrown at her that even disciplined, knowledgeable adults would cringe at and run away from - screaming into the night.

I purposefully added characters in my books that have some mental issues, too. I don't want to give away spoilers, but in "Rocked" I have a "Jessie" who has mild ADD and "Alex" who is psychotic. In the "Werewolf Series" I have "Kara" who struggles with anxiety.

And I can relate to them. Well, maybe not the psychotic dude. But the other issues - yeah, totally.

Chelsie ("Rocked") and Kara ("Werewolf Series") both want to help others and are willing to look beyond faults...trying to find the good in people. To connect. To survive. And, of course, to fight evil!

Oh, and they are able to use the TMI to their advantage. Maybe I need to take some lessons from them.

0olong / Cat Photos / CC BY-NC-SA

Can YOU relate? Do you have ADHD, ADD, OCD, high anxiety, bi-polar issues? Do you feel like the internet sucks up too much time? What do you do to deal with stress? Do you read to temporarily escape reality? (I do) Please add a comment...

That is all.

Gina