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Sounds great, Heather, thanks for sharing this!

Sounds like fun! Thanks for sharing Heather. I will look it up today.

Best,
Suma.

Sounds fun! Good luck to everyone!

I loved hearing about your grandmother!

I think for me it's my husband who helps me put things in perspective. He is so smart and calm. While I am flapping and squawking like a bird, he zeroes in on the heart of the matter and soon enough, I'm back on the ground and ready to fix whatever is bothering me!

I've got a friend with a lot of common-sense, and I think she does this for me. I can be stressing over something for an extended time, but she can really jump to the core of the problem and defuse it, sometimes, even just by saying something like "what can you do? People are crazy" or something...

I liked the blog a lot today!

Although I already talked about my mother in one of the comments earlier this week, I know my answer to this is also my mother. I tend to get a little OCD about a lot of things and I freak out over the little things, but she keeps my head on straight for sure. She can be the same way sometimes, so I do the same for her. I guess we put things in perspective for each other often. :)

What a great profile, Wendy! I love that Grandma Billie so easily helps put things in perspective.

Isn't it cool that we all (at least those of us who've commented today) have someone near and dear to us who can help us when we're not being ourselves? Great stories, thanks for sharing!

Great post! For mé the answer would be my mom. I have learned so much from her and I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents guidence.

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One of my favorite teachers is my Creative Writing teacher. He has learned so much throughout his life, and I know his childhood was far from easy. (That's his story, so I don't want to share any details, really. It's not my business.) Whenever I need to know something, he has the answers. He works hard with everything, especially his writing, so I find him really inspiring. Overall, he's just awesome, and he inspires me. Other people may not understand, but he was the first person I thought of.

One of my fave teachers was Mrs. Blankenship, who I had from 4th to 6th grade. She encouraged me to write stories and plays and held reading contests. Loved her!

I will be forever grateful to the second grade teacher who called my mother to tell her I showed great promise in creative writing, and then had me read my stories to the class!

Sounds like it was a pretty cool class. One of my favorite was a history teacher in HS. Really knew how to make the class interesting and not boring like it very well could have been.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

One of my favorite teachers was Mrs. Myers. She was the drama teacher at my elementary school and she was the first person to introduce my little second-grade self to Shakespeare. She instilled a love of the Bard and his marvelous plays in me that has continued to grow. She encouraged me in my pursuit of Shakespeare, and we put together numerous plays, getting the rest of the school involved. I was able to talk to my mom, another Shakespeare lover, about my favorite parts and she (both my mother and my teacher) helped to explain parts that I didn't understand as well as to really feel the words as I said them. She was an inspiration, full of life and bubbly energy that was contagious and made me want to learn more.

My favorite teacher was one of my college professors and also my mentor. His name is Clyde and as a somewhat lost student I looked up to him for a lot. He taught me everything from canoeing to kayaking to rock climbing and knot tying. In addition to all these amazing skills he also taught me a lot about being a good person and how to treat other people in times of difficulty. I still look up to him and enjoy the times when I make it back to my alma mater to have a quick lunch and catch up.

I liked my middle school teachers

I'll have to say my third-grade teacher, Mr. Dewey. He just loved teaching, and loved all of us. He would give us nicknames: I was carrot-cake, or Caracas, or puddin-head. :-) And for a shy little girl who generally didn't feel that people noticed her, I was so happy when random folks started using some of those names for me. :-)

Mr. Dewey got us excited about all sorts of things, including whales! And he read almost every one of the Little House books to us in class...

Aww that such an endearing story, thanks for sharing Tera! :)

My "gifted and talented" (enrichment class) teacher in elementary school, Mrs. Davis, always inspired us to do and be more. I remember we even put on a play that I wrote (for an audience and everything!) back in third grade. It was an adaptation of a scene from one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, which I was completely obsessed with.

my ancestors

My mother is and always has been the most influential person in my life.

Look for my answer in my post tomorrow! =)

My mother. She is a single mom raising me all on her own and she has done a far better parenting job than I have seen from most other parents of my friends. Not only has she truly raised me right, but she evened that out by being a best friend to me. And to top it all off she tells me stories from when she was in her twenties working for ike and tina turner and a bunch of other rockers.

Rachel Robinson
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Mybkclub.com

For me, it's my mom too. She works crazy hard. I know she'll always take care of me or help me out if I need it.

My mother has probably been the most influential person in my life so far because she always had some answer that would satisfy my questions, and she still does. She always looks at things positively, and I admire that; she helps keep my head on straight.

My mother is definitely the most influential person in my life. She took me to the library almost everyday when I was a kid. Without her I wouldn't be the same.

So if i comment every day i might win free tea! Comment Comment comment comment comment

The most influential older person in my life? Hmm... Heather, I'm not actually sure if you mean older than me, or "older" (a.k.a. elderly.) :-)

So I'll assume you mean both, and say my grandmother -- my mother's mother. She had to leave school after eighth grade to help support her mother and younger siblings...and she had to put off marrying, too, for the same reason. Then she did marry, and had six kids of her own!

And all of her kids still are very close, and also nice people, which I think says a lot about my grandma.

My grandma died long ago, but almost all my memories of her involve her working, or giving. If she came out to stay with us for a week, she kept trying to do the laundry or the dishes, and my mom would keep saying "those are the kids' chores, Mom! You should relax!" But she always wanted to help.

And she made amazing pie...

My dad :D

My mom!

Congrats on the nom, very exciting!!

bacchus76 at myself dot com

My dad! He's always been there for my no matter what. He's been an excellent example of all the values I hold dear.

britneywyatt[at]gmail[dot]com

Congrats on the RITA nom, Heather! I so wish I could be there to cheer you on but I'll be in IL keeping my fingers crossed!!!

I think my Dad. My mom is influential in giving me day-to-day support, but it was my Dad becoming ill and later passing away that made me realize I need to do what he always said, and follow my dreams.

I'd have to say the most most influential older person in my life is my aunt. She is like a second, more stable mom and taught me a lot about how to grow up gracefully. She has always supported me even when I was being beyond a brat. She is an amazing woman.

My mum, and it's easy to say why, because she always has been there. Yes, we argue, but she always listens and I know that she would do anything for my sister and I.

Okay, I officially love your two little rescued kitties and their adventure!! So cute. Good luck with the competition! :)

I love it! You’re awesome people for taking those sweet babies into your life & your desire to help other shelter cats. Good luck!

P.S Your Madi looks a little like my Lola May who we rescued from the local shelter in December :)

Oh My Gosh!!!!--Cutest EVER!!!


and I'm adding you and your books to the reasons I'm REALLY REALLY excited about the RT convention!!! :)

I already watched your wonderful video on Facebook, but I didn't know where to comment, so I'll do that now. Best of luck!

awwww cute kitties.
I hope you win.

That video is absolutely ADORABLE! I'm not a cat person, but you just made me want to go adopt all the little shelter kitties in the world. Haha! I am uber excited for the May release of The Discovery- the cover is absolutely beautiful!

Be safe traveling and enjoy the convention in sunny California! :)

Congrats! And good luck with Purina.

Also glad to hear a new Ghost Huntress book is due out soon!

Marley & Patrick,

You guys did an awesome job with the video, I hope you win. It was cute to watch and I can't wait to hear back on what they say about it!

Ashley F.

I love cats, now I want one but I don't live alone.

Can't wait for the new book. *deep sigh*

your kittens are so cute ;D. Hope y'all get accepted!!!! and i can't wait for your next book ;)

Love u guys!!
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I love your cats! :) I have one myself. I actually had a cat that ran away and I was so devastated. I'm doing ok now. I've been waiting for the next Ghost Huntress book forever and I cannot wait for it to come out. Have a safe journey and good luck on everything. :)

-Monica G.

If Purina doesn't pick you guys to be their traveling correspondent, they are nuts! You did a great job with this and the kittens are adorable. The story of how the kittens came into your life really touched my heart. We love Purina and so do our nine rescue kitties, so here is hoping they respond to you in a positive way.

You guys are gonna win. How can you not? You two are wonderful and the fur babies are adorable. Good luck hun.

Mar, that video is too sweet. I hope you all win.

Best of luck Marley, you two are the best. By the way, you have a wonderful talent for writing. I love your real dialogues. Keep up the good work! Can't wait for the new book!Hope to win it.

Awesome video!!! Y'all do have the perfect way to market the Purina cat food! So sorry Leeni didn't get found. I was praying she would. Go Maddi and Boo!!!

Wow, the cover is so gorgeous!

Thanks, Marl! I love your two fur babies, as you know -- so best of luck with the Purina competition!!

Love the ghost huntress series. n. And your kitties are so, so cute.

Such adorable kitties XD And I am sooo excited to meet you at the RT Booklovers convention. I've pre-ordered my ticket, and me and the friend that I'm going with were dorking out about it last night

The Clearing has a magical feel about it...and the love is so real and genuine. I feel its appeal to romance lovers of all ages.

*blushes* Thanks, Wendy and Tina.

I love YA (reading and writing it) because the emotions are so accessible. I remember feeling awkward and how everything that is going on is so big and important -- I still feel that way as an adult lots of times.

It's easy to read a YA and find myself rooting for the younger me - that she will overcome, along with the character, whatever obstacle the book puts in her path. YA is unlike any other genre in that way...

so true!

I love YA romance because (and I haven't been a YA for a LONG time) no matter what the main character does, you empathize with him/her. Said something stupid? Yep, been there. Broke up? Check. Got back together once you realized you still love him/her. Mm hmm.

It brings me back to a fun, happy, ridiculous time of my life and I love that! Congratulations, Heather!
erica

Congrats Heather!! I agree - the appeal of YA romance is huge because everything is brand new. You don't run into world-weary, romantically bitter heroes and heroines (not that they're always bad by any means!). Everything is so novel and no emotion is too tiny or too common to expound upon. Fun to read and to write.

I love romance of all kinds, including YA. What's really great about romance though is that really it pervades all genres. Yes, it is definitely it's own genre, but it is also a subplot in so many more because it is such a large part of our lives.
I love YA romance mostly because it's that first exciting flush of love. It hits both the deep excitement of a crush and the fluttery first feelings of a deeper love. :)

Congrats winners!!!

Congrats again on your paperback release Heather--And congrats to the winners!!!!---trust me, you'll LOVE it!!!!!! (I did)

The Tower of Terror. I was so scared the first time I rode that I kept my eyes closed. The second time was so much more fun.

I loved the Tower Of Terror, and yes, I enjoyed it even more the 2nd time around. Although, that might have to do with the fact that the first time I rode it I was (unknowingly) pregnant. Yikes!

Kneeboarding this past summer. It was also my first attempt at staying on a stupid dinky fiberglass board being drug behind a boat around a big lake without flying off and crashing like everyone else did. lol. I didn't crash bad but just pulling myself up to kneel on the board was soooo stinking hard. I had to give so many thumbs down to stop the boat so I could rest my arms from trying. Never made it up the first day, but the second attempt a few days later I was so scared it was just going to be another repeat of me being drug around the lake trying my hardest to pull myself up to kneel onto the board with no success. But after my brother Bill finished laughing his butt off { seriously doubled over tears streaking his cheeks laughing } he suggested I start out already half way in position { laying like a frog, lol } and then just "hop" into place. I actually managed to get up and kneeboard and it was awesome. Even if my brother laughed his butt off at me. lol.

{ And I love the Tower of Terror!!}

I know this post is about giving things a second chance, but one time on Tower of Terror was enough for me!!! I always keep my eyes closed on roller coasters and high up stuff, but during the middle of the Tower ride, it seemed to be going ok, so I thought I could handle opening my eyes--Big mistake! I could see a bright light through my eyelids, and I thought that meant it was safe--I opened my eyes and realized that the "bright light" was the sunlight coming in from the GAPING HOLE in the building. My eyes slammed shut and stayed that way the rest of the ride!!!!

As for giving things second chances, I'm always telling myself that if I have to do something again, now I'll know what to do--unfortunately, the chance doesn't come up that often.

One that does come to mind, is my second driving test. My first one was horrible and painful. I'd practiced, not enough, but I was hopeful...My hope started fading after I got the Old Guy. Where I grew up, for your driving test, you either got the Old Guy, or the Good One. The Old Guy was beyond old, gruff, grouchy--everything you'd picture an Old Guy to be--And he was NOTORIOUS for not letting people pass on their first test. So naturally I was terrified. It seemed like everything I did was slow and jerky. When we got to the first 4-way intersection, the Old Guy wanted me to turn left, but a guy coming the opposite direction came to a stop at the same time I did. It was an agonizing bunch of stops and starts and stops and starts, until finally the other guy waved me on. I managed a perfect Y-turn, but then, on the way back, I ran a stop sign--In my defense, all the streets around our DMV were totally set up to screw with people--The DMV parking lot is off of the only one-way street in town. And the aforementioned stop sign is in the middle of a street with no cross-section. Needless to say, I didn't pass.

The second-time around, I'd practiced a lot more, was a lot more confident, did another perfect Y-turn, got the Good One, and passed with flying colors.

p.s. I was really disappointed that neither one asked me to parallel park--I haven't had to do it in a while, but back then I was GOOD!!! I actually OFFERED the second time, but no go.

Reading an exciting book... I'm never afraid that the main character will die, so I get the chance to re-read it without being worried. :)

For me its travelling and going to new places. I feel like the first time I go I don't take in everything and enjoy it as much as I could have. Once I'm back home I realize that I should have explored more and done different things so want to go back a second or third time.

Either re-reading a great book and/or watching a favorite movie. Like Pride and Prejudice - the book is definitely worth more than one read and I love the 2005 version of the movie with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen (sorry all you Colin Firth fans).
Margay

Watching Matrix. I was young when it came out. I didn't really get what the story was about aside from the bullet slow-mo scene. But after a few years, the movie was used in a presentation in school about human consciousness and I watched it again. For the first time ever, I finally understood what it means. Maybe because I knew what to expect and of course, I've grown older.

Thank you!

Um,...kissing. Yep, just got better and better:)

Wow, great answers, guys! Thanks so much. You're all entered to win a signed copy of Never Cry Werewolf its second time around--paperback!

Right now, the only example I can think of is when my aunt had her first kid. I didn't know what to really expect because the last time there was a baby in the family, I was only 6 when he was born. So, I didn't really know what exactly was right and wrong. I learned pretty quickly, though, so there weren't any real issues. Then my aunt had a second baby, this time a boy (my other cousin- his older sister- is a girl) and I wasn't so worried about how to take care of him because I knew from experience what worked and didn't work.

As a simpler example, I have to agree with some of the other comments- the Tower of Terror. I rode it 2 or 3 times, but the second time I went on, it was much more fun because I had a better idea of what to expect. Even though you hear from other people about it, that doesn't help calm your nerves because it's the first time you've ever gone on the ride. However, the first drop is always nerve racking, but so worth it. The thrill is just so exciting! Rockin' Roller Coaster is similar to this (minus the drops, but replaced with the loops and lights and music), so both were even better the second time around because I knew what to expect. :)

I would have to say trying different foods is better the second time around. I have a super strength nose so it's hard to eat anything that smells funny. Once I get through that first time though it gets a lot easier!

I think a really good book and/or movie is better the second time around. You find stuff you missed the first time which makes it so much better. :)

Congrats to the winner! And Heather, I am waiting to buy a signed copy from you at the Literary Signing! Save me one!

Congrats to the winner!!!!

I can't believe I'm the winner ! Yay *cheers* Thank you so much ! :D

~Alison
lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com