So I went to a writers retreat over the weekend. It was a blast! My fellow writers and I got a lot written, played fun games in our down time, and ate a ton of delicious foods. When I say a ton, I cannot reiterate how much food we had. And yes, it was decadent and scrumptious, but I started my day this morning with a food hangover.

So today, I’ve started a raw, detox diet to cleanse my system of all that I indulged in. With this new diet, my mind has been on all the research and food documentaries I’ve looked into over the last few years. It’s really interesting to me that so many experts in one general field can give such conflicting information that they think of as fact. Have you watched those documentaries on Netflix? I admit, that I’m a nerd and am totally addicted to them. There’s plenty on Netflix. Some of my favorites have been Hungry for Change, Dying to Have Known, Food, Inc., and Foodmatters. There’s plenty more besides those, but they’re my top four. Most of these documentaries are somewhat on the same page, but not all of them.

What happens to me is I watch one of these documentaries, or I read a very interesting article about the different vitamins in food and think, OK. I’m going to make this big lifestyle change and eat super foods and never get sick again!

And for the first week or so, that’s how it works. But the problem for me is being consistent. And I’ve come to the conclusion that with my social eating personality, I can’t stick with this kind of lifestyle and still interact with friends and family. The type of dieting experts say is most beneficial is incredibly restrictive, especially when you live in the U.S. Not to mention it is very expensive.

So what to do? Well, I believe that what it comes down to is balance. There’s a documentary called Forks over Knives that talks about research of rats. The results state that if rats consume 5% or less of animal protein, then they wouldn’t be at as high of a risk for cancer, but if they consumed large quantities, then they would be at high risk. Foodmatters mentions that if 51% of your diet is raw, then your cholesterol will lower and you’ll be at lower risk for heart disease and cancer. So is all this research saying that eating meat is bad? No – it’s telling us that we need to be moderate in our portions. That it’s good to consume some raw veggies and fruits throughout the day, but you don’t have to be zealous about it.

In fact, I think it’s still fine to have a slice of cake or a cookie every once in a while, just as long as it’s a small portion and you don’t overindulge. (That’s one I struggle with – but will overcome one of these days!) So my conclusion? Just eat healthy! We all know what that means. Have your veggies, a little fruit, healthy grains and breads. Little bit of lean meats, and minimal amounts of sugar and processed foods.

So I’m not going to feel guilty when I go to the next family gathering and eat a brownie. However, I’ll try to just have that and not eat half the batch. 😉 And when I go to my next writers retreat, I’ll still indulge here and there, but I’ll do my best to keep myself reined in.

To all those who are trying to live healthy lifestyles, best of luck! And do what works for you.

If you read my post last year about Father’s Day, you already know that I think the dads of the world don’t get enough credit. And I feel like Father’s Day isn’t as widely celebrated as Mother’s Day.

So I absolutely must write a post about fathers every year around this time. I realize that not everyone out there has had a great relationship with their father. Some of you may have never even met him. However, I’m a believer that there are other men who can fill that role around just about everyone. For instance, in our townhome community, there are a lot of men who serve in the military and have to leave home for long stretches at a time. My husband has become, what I term, the surrogate father of the neighborhood kids. Whenever we go into the courtyard area, kids from ages 2-9 ask him to play with them. He usually ends up organizing a game, like Red Rover or something, for everyone to play together. Or, if he has enough energy, he’ll lift up each child and spin them around until they’re too dizzy to walk. It’s adorable to watch, and the mothers love that he’s willing to give their kids “dad time” when their husbands aren’t at home.

While my parents divorced when I was seven, I happen to have a great relationship with my father. If you’ve read my first novel, you may have seen that I dedicated it to my dad. I did that for many reasons, the biggest one is that we both share a passion for books. For as long as I can remember, he had multiple bookshelves piled with hundreds of books (and even more in boxes in the garage). A few years back, he and his wife moved across the country, and he couldn’t take all his books with him. So he gave them away. I received over 300 from his collection and consider it part of my inheritance (Even though he is still very much alive!).

I’m grateful that I have a father with whom we can share common interests. It has definitely helped us to bond with each other. But even if you don’t share any same interests with your dad, there are always ways to develop closer relationships. My hope this year is that you’ll be able to set aside the time to let your father know how much you appreciate and love him. Even if you’re not that close, it would still mean a lot to him if you reached out. It always means something when you make that effort.

I also have a step-father. Though he’s only been a part of our family for a few years, my siblings and I make the effort to show him how much we like and appreciate him as well. He enjoys it immensely and feels very comfortable with our family. I’m glad that I’ve had so many positive male role models in my life to influence me for the better and to help give me a well-rounded perspective of the world.

What are you going to do for your father (or surrogate father) this year? It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture – just something to let him know you care.

For my very first “Movie Vs. Book” post, I decided to go with a classic. In most cases, I read the book before I see the movie. For some reason, I just can’t do it the other way around. It feels wrong to me. However, this movie came out when I was a kid. I grew up laughing at the amusing Sir Percy and his witty repertoire. I didn’t get around to actually reading the book until I was in my twenties. I was excited to read about the characters I’d grown up adoring. But the book, as well as the characters were quite different than I had anticipated.

The movie was more lighthearted and witty. The book also had some of those elements, but it was much darker as well. I’d say the book was definitely more realistic. The movie changed the plot drastically. I realize that the screenwriters would have to simplify things to fit it all in a two hour block, but they pretty much rewrote the story and kept the characters in it. Even some of the characters that were bad guys in the book were good guys in the movie. (Sorry, I don’t want to name names and give spoilers if you plan to read/watch.)

One thing that was consistent in both was the strong love and devotion that Percy had for Marguerite. The movie showed it well, but you really got to see how much he loved her in the book. In fact, the novel character of Sir Percy could be considered to have an obsession with her. In one scene, after Marguerite leaves, he kisses every step that she walked on. Some of those parts were a little cheesy for me, but I’m sure a lot of romantics out there would love to read this novel for that reason alone.

So we come down to the big question: What the movie better than the book? I think that depends. Like I said, I saw the movie first (repeatedly throughout my childhood!) and read the book much later. So the child in me would like to say that the movie was better. However, as an avid reader, I think the book was very well written and had great plot and intensity. With those thoughts in mind, my answer is no, the movie was not better then the book. However, I would also like to add that I don’t think the novel was better than the movie.

Both stories are enjoyable and entertain the audience wonderfully. I would recommend both reading and seeing the movie. My only piece of advice would be to have no expectations of either. Just keep in mind that while they have the same title and characters, they’re really not that comparable. Think of them as two distinct stories and I think you’ll enjoy both!

1: Would you rather listen to the Beatles or LMFAO?
LMFAO for sure, although I’ll readily admit that I only know Party Rock Anthem. I’m no DJ, that’s for sure. I grew up listening to the Beatles because my brother was obsessed with the oldies music, but they never snagged my interest. That being said, I still use the phrase, “Bang, bang, Maxwell’s silver hammer came down on…” in everyday conversation. Maxwell smashes whatever is irritating me at that moment. If he can’t accomplish it, then I pass the smashing on to Hulk.

2: How long did it take you to write your book?
2 years to write, 3 years to edit.

3: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Hands down, Tarek Ascennor. I grow so tired of conforming to social faux pas all the time. Tarek couldn’t care less what people think of him. In his own words, “If I was hungry, I ate. If I was thirsty, I drank. When I had to pee, I found a tree. If someone made me angry, I pummeled them.”

4: Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
Usually salty, especially in the form of chips and popcorn. However, if the mood catches me right, you’ll find me sneaking handfuls of gummy bears.

5: What authors do you look up to and why?
This is going to sound so cliché, but it’s true. I look up to all of them! Before starting my own novel, I never understood the commitment and sacrifices necessary to write a full book. I give a standing ovation to everyone who has accomplished it!

6: Which author do you think you write like the most?
My wife says I’m most like Shannon Hales, and I know better than to disagree with her.

7: What’s your favorite food?
Hrm… lately, nothing. Eating and sleeping use up so much valuable time that could be invested into more important tasks. But, I’d probably choose my wife’s homemade salsa.

8: What’s your favorite movie?
I love, Love, LOVE movies, all different kinds for all different reasons. I especially love well done series. So, my favorite is The Lord of the Rings (you probably saw this coming).

9: If your book was turned into a movie, who would you cast for the main characters?
Good actors/actresses. *snicker* I’m more concerned about the writing and directing. I’ve seen too many books ruined by bad scripts. No amateur directors for INSIGHT! The music is pretty important to me, too. I’d for sure snag Harry Gregson-Williams for the soundtrack.

10: Describe your book in one sentence.
Wow. I’ve never been asked to do this before, and I hate this question! I wanna talk about INSIGHT for pages! *grumble* Alright, let me give this a shot, without creating a massive run-on sentence…
“When Lon’s uncontrollable magic begins to kill him, he is forced to make countless impossible decisions, one of which is whether or not to join the sworn enemies of his kingdom.”

11: What kind of interaction do you hope to see from your fans?
Viral! (Did you hear that, Crystal? Let me say it again. VIRAL!) My wife hates that word because I’ve been obsessed with it lately, but can you blame me? Every author dreams of their book become viral, where the readers love it so much that they share it with their friends. It eases our marketing burden, frees up our writing time, and pours money into our empty pockets!

12: Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
I seriously laughed out loud at this one. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m a total extrovert. In fact, I don’t even know if introvert is a real word. *wink*

13: If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
My wife asked me this question last week, putting aside typical religious answers and the obvious answer of my brother who died in 1995. I had to think for a long time, but my first non-fiction choice was my 7th grade English teacher, Mr. Peterson. My passion for literature stems from him. Maybe the stars are trying to talk to me. I should try to look him up.

I am so excited for the ebook sale that my publisher agreed to do! It’s only two days, so I want as many people to know about it as possible. That’s why I’m doing this crazy giveaway. Prizes are: $100 Bohme Gift Card, $50 Target Gift Card, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card. You guys ready to start tweeting and sharing? Here we go!

a Rafflecopter giveaway