tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47623504756949702612024-03-06T02:26:27.267-05:00 Life with a Flourish!by AJ FreyA.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-17140254431388381612017-08-29T20:24:00.000-04:002017-08-29T20:24:56.639-04:00Now Available: Iron Thirst<!-- x-tinymce/html -->
We will return to our regular scheduled broadcast shortly, but first, breaking news...
It's release day for Iron Thirst!
Funny thing, too! Last night, I finished all the steps to have it published, and the little message I received said it would take about three days. That seemed fine to me, because DragonCon is this weekend, and DragonCon was my goal. However, when I A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-13676273911428062922017-08-26T19:42:00.002-04:002017-08-26T19:43:22.094-04:00Iron Thirst: Coming Soon!
Don't forget to follow me at A Life Created.
Back in 2008, I went to DragonCon for the first time. It was an unique experience, as I had never been to any type of convention. I didn't know what to expect. But, I definitely didn't expect what would happen once it was over.
I made some comment about wouldn't it be cool if someone wrote a book about vampires going to DragonCon and taking A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-85783318066458792112017-08-20T13:18:00.000-04:002017-08-20T13:18:32.737-04:00Identity: A Fresh StartShared from MY NEW BLOG: A LIFE CREATED
Identity: A Fresh Start
<!-- x-tinymce/html -->There are a lot of struggles when you go through a divorce, but a major blow is to your identity. You are no longer a spouse, and if you are female, there is a high chance that you will have to decide what to do about your name.
At first, I planned to keep mine--the married one. I, mean, my identity was veryA.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-65308127514041322852017-08-19T20:57:00.003-04:002017-08-20T13:19:33.229-04:00Hello, Stranger! I have recently started up a new blog. Please swing by and follow me there!
www.ajrhodesblog.wordpress.com
I figured I would stop by over here and share the first post.
Hi, my name is AJ Rhodes
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm a barely domesticated mom of two, holding down a full-time job, and a life that is a bit disjointed at the moment. I'm an addict of self-help books and am full A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-18225548018736409512013-02-25T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-25T07:30:01.937-05:00Sometimes You Need AnthemsStraight to the music...
My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark by Fall Out Boy
Battle Flag (Lo Fidelity Allstars remix) by Pigeonhed
Explicit lyric warning...
This Girl is On Fire (Inferno version) by Alicia Keys w/ Nicki Minaj
A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-11704403143192410062013-02-20T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-20T07:30:00.045-05:00Level Up Blogfest
Thank you to Mithrel Wisdom and Geek Banter for hosting the Level Up Blogfest. This is a great idea for blogfest. I didn't know what I wanted to write at first, but I knew I wanted to play.
I decided to take a look at what the phrase means to a writer, and I found a fun analogy. Hope you enjoy.
***
When you first start writing, you are not sure how to play the game. You've A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-10643790068940319662013-02-19T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-19T07:30:02.388-05:00Just One Reason I Buy Art I am a firm believer in Karma. It's one thing, spiritually, that I have held on to no matter which book I was reading. It's a nice way for me to gut check throughout the day. Always asking, should I or shouldn't I? How would I feel if the situation were reversed? Empathy.
Photo property of LiciaJo Fotos
For that reason, I buy art. I try my best. I pick up random paintings that I need onA.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-14845613037760026662013-02-18T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-18T07:30:04.211-05:00MM: Fun, People in the Basement, and the ApocolypseI have a nice little mix of music to deliver to you this Monday. My iPhone has been playing out three songs this past week. All male artists, all unique -- one unreleased single, an Irish indie rock song, and a song about the Apocolypse that is getting a bit of radio play.
All Alone by Fun.
Fun. had a great night at the Grammys this year, nominated for six and winning two major awards. They A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-58636265796372597372013-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:002013-02-15T08:00:12.782-05:00Freestyle Friday: Things that make me go la, la, la
I love this quote that has been circulating around Facebook. For me, I normally collaborate and listen. But, what will also trigger me to start singing Ice, Ice Baby is when someone says, "Turn off the headlights."
I am notorious for breaking into song on a regular basis. A simple few words can invoke a performance. Here are just a few that had me singing this past week. (Click on the A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-3484842270591614622013-02-14T08:00:00.000-05:002013-02-14T08:00:10.116-05:00Indie-kissing Blogfest & Vampire Bite Blog Hop<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-6898791479647398232013-02-13T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-13T07:30:04.905-05:00WSW: Writer Software
Image from http://www.quest.com/tv/
My current project is a bit more complicated than any of the others that I have undertaken. It is being told in three unique points of view, filled with music and movement, multiple timelines, tons of research, and a historical piece of Brazilian folklore. It is becoming clear that I need to be super organized to make sense of it all.
In all of my A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-79690293689329708822013-02-12T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-12T07:30:01.975-05:00Pick and Pull: Recycling for a New Story
Photo from http://www.motiont.com/carfinder/Resources/CheapAutoParts.aspx
Back in 2010, I talked about a story that started off as a project that I loved but was yet terrified of trying to write, and later was sent to the Scrap Pile. I couldn't pull the story together. As much as I love those characters, I just could not make that story work. In the above mentioned post, I said that I was A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-56347229482602677052013-02-11T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-11T18:39:58.829-05:00Introducing Musical Mondays
http://www.layoutsparks.com/pictures/music-notes-6
I've written about music many times on my blog. It is an important part of my life, my writing, heck, even my sanity. And I've often said that sharing music is a way for me to share love, like a baker wants to share their cookies.
Introducing Musical Mondays. Every Monday, I will share my music of the week. Sometimes it will be brand new A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-10853847540350984192013-02-08T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-08T07:30:03.144-05:00Freestyle Friday: Star Wars HumorI am a huge fan of Star Wars humor. I can't explain why I love it so much. It's not that I am a total geek (yes, I am), or have watched the movies a gazillion times (yes, I have), or that I turn into a giggly girl when R2D2 makes that squeally noise (yes, I do.) But regardless, for this week's Freestyle Friday, I give you Star Wars humor.
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A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-55376545638039838362013-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:002013-02-06T08:00:01.535-05:00WSW: Titles
I am in the midst of trying to pick a better working title for my newest WIP. Local Lore was a quick place holder, but the deeper into the project I go -- I see that it doesn't quite fit the story. I hate not having a title for something that I am working on, but knowing it doesn't work, well, I'm not a fan of that either.
I named Iron Thirst right away, however, it was originally Iron A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-55010646565867725982013-02-05T08:00:00.000-05:002013-02-05T08:00:05.433-05:00Recycled: Designed for a Second Reading
(This video can still make me cry laughing)
I
am one of those people who only reads books or watches movies once.
(With the exception, of course, of TV repeats such as Breakfast Club.) I
hardly ever buy DVDs, and could live with only my library card – but my
need for “now” and my future dream employment leads me to still buy my
books. (Karma thing)
But there are a few books and A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-64336668724169025992013-02-01T07:30:00.000-05:002013-02-01T07:30:01.245-05:00Freestyle Friday: Getting out of a Musical Rut
Exploring new music is one of my favorite past times. I hate to get stuck in a musical rut. If the only new music you are exposed to is what is dished out by your local radio station, it is quite easy to do. We all know the drill. They introduce one new song, and then play it to death. Or until you are ready to strangle it to death.
Back when I was growing up, it was much harder to exploreA.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-16153784773834411062013-01-31T08:00:00.000-05:002013-01-31T08:00:04.876-05:00Recycled: Inspiration in the Strangest Places
Writers are
often asked where they get their inspiration. What led you to write
that scene that changed my life forever? That moment when all the
planets aligned and the readers saw that you had planned it from the
very beginning. Was it divine intervention? Was it your love of
research? A pivotal moment in your life?
Who
knows? I am often surprised by what causes my best stuff A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-64051079998080730412013-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:002013-01-30T08:00:04.030-05:00WSW: Getting to Know Your Characters
I'm starting a new story. The characters and I are still in that honeymoon phase, where we still love each other, enjoy spending time together, and are really just getting to know one another. I sat down on Saturday and interviewed the love interest. He has been very reserved. Most of my male characters are not as open about their feelings. We started simple, such as what type of musicA.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-20462820120797521752013-01-29T07:30:00.000-05:002013-01-29T07:30:02.837-05:00A Lesson from Pilot Episodes
Since I gave up on regular cable and just pretty much use Netflix and Hulu, I have developed a strange addiction. I love watching pilot episodes of television series. This past week, I watched the pilot of West Wing, Ally McBeal, and The Following. It fascinates me how they set up an entire series, introduce characters, and fill you in on backstory, all while still being A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-35896723272574884192013-01-28T09:03:00.001-05:002013-01-28T11:03:55.170-05:00Re-Introduce Myself Blogfest
Thank you to Mark Koopmans, Elise Fallson, C.M. Brown, and Stephen Tremp for hosting the Re-Introduce Myself Blogfest. I thought I would have a little bit of fun with it, and do a multiple choice quiz. The answers are at the bottom of the page. Hope you enjoy guessing to see how well you might know me, and maybe learn a few new interesting facts about me along the way. A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-12482085045305911342013-01-25T07:30:00.000-05:002013-01-25T07:30:03.189-05:00Freestyle Friday: Meditation
On Tuesday, I wrote about using mediation in your writing. I wanted to touch on the subject once more. Meditation can be a way to find stillness in this hectic world, and it is beneficial to your overall wellness. Though meditation requires nothing other than you and the focus on your breath, in the beginning it can be difficult. Below you will find a few tools to help with A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-80388720964986959322013-01-24T07:30:00.000-05:002013-01-24T07:30:03.085-05:00Margaret Mitchell House
Repost from 8/5/2009
www.margaretmitchellhouse.com
My
husband and I recently had the opportunity to tour the Margaret
Mitchell house, cleverly marketed as the birthplace of Gone with the
Wind. I’m not sure what I expected when I walked in there, but whatever it was, I was wrong.
We
paid the twelve bucks each to take the tour. I did not read the
brochure before, so I was A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762350475694970261.post-70158651188971598102013-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:002013-01-23T08:42:22.804-05:00Watcha Say Wednesdays: Location, Location, LocationTime and place is a huge part of a novel. There are books that are set in real places with great detail that closely matches the spot a the map. While others are created from scratch with elaborate made-up worlds and unique ecosystems. Then yet there are those examples where the story is set in Anytown, USA--where the setting is barely relevant to the story.
When you write, do you create worlds A.J. Freyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.com2