You're Beautiful!

This song really makes me cry every time I hear it because there is a story behind it that I will save for another day.  However, I think every girl/woman needs to know how beautiful she is!  You are God's child, and because of that, you are beautiful! 

The Importance of Having a Mentor - Guest Post

Today we have something special for you guys.  My good friend, Andrea Buginsky, is joining us and discussing  the importance of having mentors in your life.  Welcome, Andrea! 

In my new book, 'Nature's Unbalance,' one of my main characters, Lumina, is facing some changes. Like all teens, Lumina has to learn to adapt to the changes going on inside of her. For teens, facing changes to their bodies can be hard. They may feel awkward, shy, depressed, or confused. One of the ways teens can cope with the changes they are going through is to find someone they can talk to about them.

A mentor is a great person for a teen to have to talk to about the awkward situations they are facing day-to-day. You’ll want your mentor to be someone you’re comfortable with, someone you and your parents trust, someone who can provide helpful answers when you need them, and someone who understands you as a person so they can help you come up with ideas on how to cope with the changes you’re facing.

You can select your mentor from a wide range of people: a family member, a family friend, your clergy person, a teacher, or a counselor at school. When you determine whom you want your mentor to be, talk to the person and ask if he or she would be comfortable talking with you about different issues. Be sure to let your parents know that you plan to talk to this person about personal issues, and make sure they’re comfortable with this person. You don’t have to tell your parents what you plan to talk about, just to whom. You want to make sure that this is someone they trust, too.

Once you’ve selected your mentor, set up a regular time to get together to talk. Ask him or her how often you can get together to talk. Also find out what’s a good time to call if you have something you need to talk about before your get-together. You want to make sure you know when it’s ok to call, and when it’s not, such as during their work hours or late at night.

A mentor is a good person to have in your life to discuss difficult situations with. So find someone you and your parents can trust, ask them for permission, and chat with them on a regular basis. It will help you survive the angsts you may be experiencing during your teen years.

Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer and Young Adult author. She has written two YA fantasies: “The Chosen,” and “Nature’s Unbalance: The Chosen Book 2.” She has also written “My Open Heart,” an autobiography about growing up with heart disease for adolescents who are facing chronic conditions, and their parents. You can find Andrea at her website, Andi’s Realm.

Free Today! Read Me Dead, a YA Romantic Suspense

I normally won't do promotions and all for my own books on this blog, but on occasion, I would like to share my books.  Today, my second novel, Read Me Dead, is free for your Kindle.  This might be the last time at free depending on what I do for marketing. 

Read Me Dead is about a young girl, striving to be normal in her otherwise not-so-normal life.  She's facing a murderer and trying to decide who she loves more, her best friend or her ex-boyfriend.

In Read Me Dead, my goal in writing it was that I wanted to show young girls, that no matter what happens in their lives, and although Read Me Dead is a little extreme in example, everyone their age just wants to be normal.

So, if you feel inclined to do so, download your free copy today.

US Link

UK Link   

For seven years, Alex has lived with a painful memory - her parents' horrific murder. As the sole witness, she has kept quiet to protect herself, but when the local newspaper reveals her secret, Alex is plagued with fear that her parents' murderer will soon find her - and silence her forever.

Alex is catapulted into a race against time to save her own life and bring her parents' murderer to justice.

Sometimes you just want to scream, "Screw You, World!"

I'm starting this blog for the sole purpose of helping those in need face the tough world ahead of them.  I recently have gone through something that hurts - really bad - and I needed a little more inspiration.  I have found inspiration from the Bible and from close friends, family and my pastor at church.  But that got me to thinking about what I had truly hoped to do through my writing.  I want to inspire others.  I want them to know that they aren't alone. 

Sometimes, novels can be just for entertainment purposes only.  And that's fine.  There's nothing wrong with that, but I wanted young adults to realize that they aren't alone when they go through heartaches, breakups, and anything that generally hurts their soul, spirit, and mind. 

As a writer, I wanted to help others.  This is my way of helping.

It's easy to get lost in the hurt.  To feel like there is no hope, but that's a lie straight from the devil.  The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

And Isaiah 59:1 says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"

Nothing is too big; nor is it too hard for God.   All you have to do is ask.  He may not give you an answer like you want or an answer right away, but He'll give you what you NEED.  And that's hard to remember.  It really is, so if you need someone to talk to, I'm only an email away.  

emerald_barnes@yahoo.com