denise Leora madre

My blog posts often highlight moments where motherhood has thrown me for a considerable loop.  In The Motherhood Diaries 2 , twenty-four other mothers and I share our ups, downs, and all-arounds in the name of solidarity and preserving our sanity. And in that same spirit, here's an excerpt from my essay, "Diary of The Naive Mom...(Or Everything I Didn't Know)." Many words accurately describe me: Creative. Insightful. Passionate. Optimistic. But the one I like least. . .  and which most thoroughly applies, I’m afraid. . . is naïve. In high school, I heard a story about Toni Braxton being “discovered” while pumping gas. As I also harbored deep-seated dreams of singing stardom, I believed such a thing would happen to me. Only in my early 20’s did I discover — to my great shock and confusion — that this occurrence was not only highly improbable but also a poor substitute for a life plan.

In high school, I had a terrible three-year crush on a guy we’ll call “John.” Though unrequited, my epic crush on John prompted me to do things like spell his name in syrup atop my pancakes, memorize his volleyball serving technique (ten ball bounces then two steps forward), and spend the first weeks of post-freshman year summer break dissecting his cryptic message in my yearbook. Yeah, Usher. I had it baaaaad. But for all the energy spent loving John from afar, I never thought to put my brain to good use and draft a list of things I could do to make him fall in love with me. And that, dear friends, is the difference between me and Oliver Wendell Holmes, the endearing protagonist in best-selling author T.M. Franklin’s latest novel, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You.

"The Motherhood Diaries 2: Humorous and Heartwarming Musings on Motherhood" is the second volume from nationally bestselling writer and editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley. I am honored and excited to be included among the 25 fabulous women appearing in the anthology! Being published is a dream come true, the main aim of any writer. But to be included in a collection celebrating the most challenging and life-defining aspect of my existence is particularly satisfying. I am not a perfect mom, but I'm a newly published one, and that is pretty darn cool! (Take that, Mom Guilt!) Look for "The Motherhood Diaries 2" this month, just in time for Mother's Day! Here's a little preview to whet your appetite. If you'd like an autographed hard copy, comment below with your email address, and I'll get in touch with you. Here's to Getting a Yes!

My dear friend/Beta/sister-in-another-country/sanity-preserver/brilliant writer  Jess Molly Brown  just shared a poignant post about the power and necessity of embracing rejection. As one intimately acquainted with the story she shares, this particular post is especially dear to me. Plus, there are adorable animal gifs. Enjoy and be encouraged! ______________________________________________________________ To get a novel published, you have to develop a thick skin, something I started to do five years ago when I began posting fan fiction for public consumption. As great as most readers are, there are those who like to flame writers. You have to learn not to let it get you down. In short, you have to be professional in face of personal attacks.

On this wonderful Wednesday, I am thrilled to hand the blogging reins to my dear friend and author Lissa Bryan, author of four books including the recently released Under These Restless Skies. As part of her blog tour for UTRS , she has graciously agreed to answer Seven Random Questions for me today, and I don't want to take up any more of her time or space. Take it away, Lissa!  1. What surprised you most as you worked on Under These Restless Skies ? Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII got married on January 25, 1533, right before dawn. When I was writing the scene, I went to NASA to find out the phase of the moon, so I could describe the night accurately. That night was a new moon. I immediately wondered if Henry and Anne had chosen that date because it would cover their movements in darkness as they slipped outside to the gatehouse of the palace where the wedding took place.

The End of All Things by Lissa Bryan My rating: 5 of 5 stars "The End of All Things" has everything: action, suspense, heartache, romance, and humor, expertly blended into a compelling, cohesive, and wholly enjoyable story that leaves you thirsting for the sequel. But for all it has, its most prized possession is its heart, a stubborn, courageous, tender heart so large it needs be divided among a man, a woman, a horse, a wolf, and a cat. No, that's not a typo. But rest assured: this is no wacked-out Animal Farm-esque traveling roadshow. This is a story about survival, about finding the will to rebuild as the world you knew crumbles around you in virus-riddled heaps on the side of abandoned roads. It’s about following your instincts and developing new ones as the old ones fail. And it’s about discovering the true definitions of society, freedom, life, and love.