The Scars We Wear

This week, I’ve had an interesting experience. Out of the blue, my arms and back broke out in this painful swollen rash. I was in so much pain that I couldn’t sleep or get dressed, or breathe, so I went to the ER on Friday. By then, my  arms looked like something out of a zombie movie. GROSS!! At the hospital they put me on steroids and ohhh, the relief. Now my arms look a little less hideous and the lion’s share of the pain is gone, but the doctor tells me, that like a burn my skin is damaged and it will take time to heal. I may even have permanent scars. 

This got me thinking about the scars we were wear, some on the inside and some on the outside….and scars are relatable to all of us.  Some of our most beloved stories deal with deformities or abnormalities on the outside, such as Beauty and the Beast or how about Cyrano de Bergerac (you know the guy with beautiful words and hideously long nose).  Even more often, stories deal with the scars on the inside, the one’s no one sees but are just as real and affect us profoundly. For example, the characters of Les Miserable dealt with the scarring of their past choices.  And what about all those broken hearts we see in movies. Katniss, the little girl forced to grow up with no father and a useless mother and Gale not able to have the one he loves. We all relate to the scars left by a broken heart, at least in some small way.

So, as I sat in the emergency room, I had a thought. Maybe the emotional and physical scars left behind are more battle wounds then terrible disfiguring scars. Maybe they show what we have survived, not just that we’ve suffered. In many ways, scars are trophies, physical reminders of our resilience as human beings. 

Not that I love that my arms and back are red and peeling like a patchwork quilt of skin, but I find some comfort knowing that my scars, both inside and out connect me in common ground with my fellow man. So maybe next time, you survive something that leaves you feeling beat up and disfigured, you’ll see your healing wounds as an affirmation that you are a survivor and you’ll also know, you’re not alone.

ANNOUNCING THE RESPECT BLOG TOUR FEATURING SHACKLED.

WOW, IT'S ALREADY TIME FOR ANOTHER BLOG TOUR!

I’ve been purposely waiting for February to do a final blog tour for SHACKLED. The reason I chose February was to highlight RESPECT MONTH. Respect month is National Teen Dating Violence Prevention & Awareness Month ! 

Here’s what reviewers have said about Shackled:

“o.O GO READ NOW! Oh how I wish I could write my full review NOW. But I'm on a blog tour so must wait! All I can say is. I finished it in less than 2 hrs. I Gripped my nook the whole time. And I cried. Oh man.. And this is from a reader who tends NOT to like contemporaries!” –thepassionatebookworm

“Carling writes a compelling novel that had me on pins and needles. Lucy is a very naive teenager, as many teenagers are, and her story is extremely compelling—one I think all females should read,  This isn’t just a book for teens, but for all women”.- abookvacation

“This is one of those books that I wish I could bring to the high schools in my area and hand out to every girl that goes there. Shackled, is a very compelling story about a girl who is new and town and ends up falling for the hot guy in school. But, danger is right around the corner and she doesn't see it.” ---Alisbookshelf

Below I’ve posted the schedule. Join me for this awesome WORLD WIDE blog tour with reviews, GIVEAWAYS, great new blogs and learn a little more about Respect month along the way! 

February 16- http://whispersatmoonlight.wordpress.com/

February 17- http://bookfever11.blogspot.com/

 February 18- http://thebusybibliophile.com/

February 19- http://www.booklove101.com/

February 20- http://thepassionatebookworm.blogspot.com/

February 21- http://www.imabookshark.com/

February 22- http://fallinginlovewithbooks.wordpress.com/

 

 

Reader Appreciate Giveway and Valentine's Party

 With the holiday of love just around the corner, I'm feeling the love towards my readers. Okay, I always love my readers. They are like my writing heartbeat, keeping my creativity alive:)

At Valentines I also think about my first book Unbreakable Love.  I didn't know it at the time I penned this tender little story, but it is a perfect fit for all of us Valentine loving, hopeless romantics out there who still believe that true love conquers all...well everything chocolate doesn't take care of anyway. Here's  a link for reviews. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13056119-unbreakable-love

Soooo, this Valentine's Day, I want to say thank you to my readers and potential readers with a free ebook copy of Unbreakable Love.  All you have to do is either send me an email at angelacarling@gmail.com or leave me a comment and include your email address and I will send you an ecopy, nook or kindle of Unbreakable Love. This giveaway lasts until 12:00 February 15th.  Wish I could send those little conversation hearts but I can't so you'll just have to imagine that part. Happy Valentines Day and thanks for taking on a chance on my work! 

Sneaking Into Costco

I used to be a rule-abiding citizen then, in an act of desperation, I did the unthinkable. I snuck past the power clad door people at Costco…without my card. Even worse, I made my son an accessory to the crime.

It all started out so innocently. I was taking my son to lunch. He wanted pizza. We drove talking and laughing, unaware that we were on our way to a slippery slope of criminal choices.  We pulled into the crowded parking lot and found a parking spot.  It was at that exact moment that I remembered that I had seen my Costco card on my dresser and it all came back to me. I’d taken the card out and forgotten to put it back in my wallet.

I was in trouble. My son is teenager and must eat nearly every hour of the day.  He had that  look in his eyes.  Feed me Seymor, it said and I knew there was no turning back.

I turned to my son.  “We have two choices, we can go home or try to sneak into to Costco.”

His eyes never wavered.  He would get his pizza at all costs.  We climbed out of the car, walking side by side making our plan. We would have carefully and stealthy. Pizza was at stake.

“Wait until the guys at the door have a long of carts,” I whispered just loud enough for him to hear, “When they are distracted, we use the return entrance.”  He nodded. He was fully on board with our criminal activity.  In my head, I could hear the mission impossible music propelling me forward.

We waited until a screaming child created a distraction, then quickly darted through the return door and past the receipt checkers. My heart was pounding but no on at the return desk seemed to notice us slip by.

We were in. We slowed to a casual stroll.  We had no food, no cart, we had to keep a low profile. After we ordered our pizza and sat down, my son kept a lookout. What if they’d started random card checks. We had to watch out backs.

When the pizza was gone, there was only one thing left to do, get out without being notice. Again the music in my head.  “Walk with the flow of carts,” I said to my son, “Don’t let em catch your eye.” 

We blended, carefully maneuvering between carts of food and unnecessary clothes and book. It was the perfect cover and soon we were breaking out into the sunlight.

On the way home, we cleaned the greasy evidence from our hands with wet wipes. No one could ever know about our lawless behavior. Now that you know, you must tell no one.

That was last week. I’ve gone straight since then. I have a family to think about and readers who may or may not respect me.  The question I leave, is what have you had to sneak into…No never mind. I don’t want to be accountable.

Living with Nerds

When we walk down the aisle, we think we know our spouses pretty well. I knew my hubby Matthew was bright and driven. I knew he was kind and a little square, but I didn’t know I was marrying a complete computer geek. 

Since our nuptials, I have given birth to two mini Matthews, hence mini nerds. Sure, they are their own version of geekiness, one hiding his social awkwardness better than the other, but let’s face it, without my daughter to moderate things, I’d be swimming in a sea of electronic cords and talking in a language using words like terabytes  and cloud computing at the dinner table….all the time. 

At my house, we actually have our own server called the NAS(sounds like NAZ)…and at different points, my kids have had their own server to host games with other kids in the neighborhood. YAH….GEEEEKY!

But the thing is, living with nerds has it’s perks. For one my husband can fix any electronic device. Nerds are so smart and capable and let’s face it, we can’t live without them in our tech savvy world.  Also, very often the nerdy types, both admitted nerds and closet nerds alike LOVE TO READ. One of my sons was in a gifted program and his teacher often said, “If you want to punish a gifted kid, don’t take away recess, take away their books!”  At my house, getting a book is a treat and taking away books is definitely a punishment. 

Of course, there are other awesome things about surrounding yourself with super smart people (which is code for nerds and geeks of all varieties.) They're fun to talk to and always teaching you something but my favorite thing, the thing I love the most is how the geeks in our life keep us on our toes, always inspiring and challenging us. 

Do I like living with nerds?  I do and I highly recommend them to anyoneJ.    

Thanks for stopping by today. Leave me a comment and let me about who inspires you in your life.

Try A New Author for 99 cents

This week only Shackled and Unbreakable are only 99 cents on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  As a relatively new author, I know you may not have read my work yet, so I ask my publisher if we could do a 99 cent week to give you a chance to try out my work for CHEAP! Here’s a little snippet from Shackled:

“As I focus on taking one Breath at a time, the pounding of our footsteps on the damp pavement reminds me of a wildly beating heart and I find myself coming back again and again to one thought. How did I get in this mess? Then with sickening clarity, I remember. Oh, yeah, I was the new kid.”
 
Unbreakable Love is a light guardian angel story. Here's a little quip:
 

“Come back to me, Jennie” he pled, raw anguish seeping from his words.

Jennie could feel that sensation again, it felt far away but stronger this time. Waves of light and contentment rolled through her like a healing balm. Suddenly she became conscious of air moving through her lungs where they had been empty before. It hurt; every breath stung. Then all at once, her senses began to focus in on his hand connecting to hers, sending those unspeakable sensations. Her eyes felt heavy and she had force them open by sheer will. Every message coming from her brain screamed open your eyes. They fluttered and then she was trying to focus, trying to handle the overwhelming light coming from the pool and overhead deck…at least until he bent over her fragile body and then she saw his face above her, terrified. 

Nate grabbed an oversized towel from a lawn chair and wrapped Jennie in it taking care not to touch her skin again. He was already afraid he would be taken off her case because of his carelessness, yet he did not regret his choice. He would never regret it. Effortlessly, he scooped her up and carried her out to the car.

Here the links for both books and Goodreads for more reviews.

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5331346.Angela_Carling Amazon- http://tinyurl.com/7pvk
Barnes and Noble   http://tinyurl.com/7pvkhjb 

I hope you enjoy your super low risk, wonderfully cheap chance to read this suspenseful novel. Most of all, I hope you are having a great Christmas season!

The Problem With Me and Christmas Trees

I love, love, love Christmas time. I love the Frenzied shopping and the fact that you can hear Christmas carols on the radio.  I love that people put up a tacky blow up Santa next to an elaborate Nativity scene.  I love the cookies and the parties and all the other chaos that leads up to that one spectacular day. The Christmas season is the ultimate drama, with a predictably sweet ending.

I enjoy Christmas so much that I’ve been known to crack out the Christmas decorations the day after Halloween.  Gasp! Yes, I am one of those people. This being said, I do have one thing about Christmas that gives me trouble.  My Christmas tree is huge and unmanageable and cries out for my attention like some half-finished painting sitting in an artist’s basement! I find that no matter how many ornaments I buy, or what kind of ribbon I use, there is always a bald spot, or the ornaments aren’t placed quite right. Much like me, my tree seems to be a never-ending work in progress and therefore drives me crazy.  Will my tree ever be perfect? Probably not and neither will Christmas. Still, somehow, when I come down the stairs and my husband or kids have already turned on the hundreds of lights that weave through my twelve foot, semi realistic looking tree, I feel a charge of simple happiness. I hope that despite life’s imperfections, you are having a great Christmas season. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to enter my giveaway for a 500 followers  http://www.angelacarling.blogspot.com/and hope to connect with you again soon!