In celebration of her book about lies told... we are dishing about lies this week on the blog. You've heard some whoppers already - I mean, who can beat Tina's story about being a made-up physicist leading to meeting her true love - but I wanted to talk about a different kind of lie.
Did you ever see the movie The Usual Suspects? It's one of my favorites and has one of the best endings ever written in Hollywood. In the movie, Kevin Spacey says a line something like, "The greatest lie the devil ever told was convincing mankind that he didn't exist." It's a prophetic statement because it has much to do with the unfolding plot, but it also seems to point to a bigger idea about the world.
So what's your greatest lie ever told?
The longer I live, the more I realize the greatest lie ever told (and continue to tell!) is, "I can handle this on my own." How many times have I said those words, only to realize that I need my friends, family, and other folks to help me handle something.
Sometimes it's a good lie. Seriously, for perfectionists or overachievers, the lie that everything's fine and it's all going to work out, is almost a necessary mantra. It's part of optimism, a little bit of ego that helps you push through whatever task is at hand. The part that comes as a surprise is just how much you do need other people to help you get the job done. And, even more surprising is the fact that even though you are nowhere near perfect, it's okay to let them see you in your imperfection. They want to help you. And, P.S. -- they already know you're not perfect!
Need an example? Picture me baking four dozen buttermilk biscuits the night before my launch party for The Clearing and trying to manage those along with the other snacks, getting into a cute dress, preparing my talk, and packing for a vacation that was supposed to happen the very next day. When my handsome entourage of one came to pick me up, I just about collapsed into his arms from the sheer relief.
The reality is that you need your loved ones to help you out. You need your friends to cheer you across the finish line. Sometimes, I need reminding.
Sounds fun! I can't wait for Fins Are Forever!
-Meredith
My favorite water memory... boogie-boarding (sp?) in Florida with my Dad and Brother!
You know I'm super excited!!!!
Fav H2o memory?
Well I grew up with a pool and we (my friends) and I used to wait till the parents left and we used to jump off the upper balcony/deck of my house and cannonball into the pool....it was a 15-20 ft drop! It was a blast but I would never do that now! LOL
veltara(at)yahoo(dot)com
I was one of three girls on an all guys water polo team so every time I scored a goal on one of the bigger guy goalies was an awesome moment! Those are some if my favorite water memories. :D
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I loved Forgive My Finds and can't wait to read the second one!
My favorite water memory is sitting with my little brother on a surfboard and having my dad swim up underneath us and flip the surfboard over!! It was hilarious :)
Congrats on the new release!!
Oh my gosh, one of my favorite water memories happened JUST this past Saturday in Harper's Ferry, WV. My mom and I took my 4 year old Min Pin with us...we had already tested her in the park and found out she could swim (she just started doing it to try to catch a goose in the water). So we took her to HF to play in the river. We keep her on the leash since she's small, but we had her swimming in the river and it was the most adorable thing ever. We're going back next weekend to do it again!
I'm glad to know that if I magically become a mermaid, I can take my water baby of a dog with me!
My favorite water memory was when I finally learned how to do a double back flip into the pool when I was about nine. It was just a very great feeling being able to accomplish that.
I can't wait for this to come out! Loved the first book!
Favourite water memory involved my mom finally coming into the lake for a swim, but a very large snapping turtle (like, the size of a car tire) floated on the surface just behind her lurching dog paddle. I almost drowned laughing at the super-human speed in which she climbed onto the raft.
Um, i have to admit I'm a little scared of water since watching JAWS at a young age!!
One day my mom let us ditch school and we all went to the beach together. It was a blast! :)
Also, Tera's books are fantastic!! You will LOVE Fins are Forever!
Happy almost Release Week! Pass the vegan cupcakes. :)
My favorite Water Memory...
When I jumped into the pool for the first time for the summer(Even though summer is on the 21st and it's the 19th 2day) and learning how to dive better. I was so scared with learning how to dive but im getting better =)
I've never read s mermaid book, but these look do good. My fave water memory is playing in the creek as a kid.
Thanks!
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I absolutely LOVE Forgive My Fins--I've read it quite a few times! If I don't win Fins Are Forever, I'll be buying it on release day. ;)
My favorite water memories are from when I was little--my grandpa would fill a huge horse trough with water and let us play in the "pool". We always thought it was the coolest thing!
JB
Sounds great! Not sure that this is a GOOD memory, but it's definitely a memory.
When I was younger, my older cousin pushed me in the pool when I was just a few years old and I sunk in the pool. It was pretty interesting. My family members jumped in the pool fully clothed to rescue me :)
Leilani
leilani @ leilanilovesbooks . com
Haha I hope this doesn't come off as sadistic, but my favourite water memory was when I tripped and fell into the pool fully-clothed. The thing was, I made sure I didn't go down alone. I accidentally grabbed my best friend while falling and she ended up in the water along with me! An unforgettable memory for both of us, though maybe not as hilarious for her, haha...
memory at water..hmm...I would have to say soak city
MY favorite water memories are full of our up north tubing I've been doing it for nine years.
My favorite water memory is when I went white water tubing in West Virginia with my sister. It was a pretty thrilling experience.
Ehem. The beach, Nuff said. :)
A favorite water memory happened when I was about ten, and a friend's mother decided to take us to a water park, on the spur of the moment, one Saturday afternoon.
Fave water memory would have to be when i got to go to Spain for a water sports trip with high school!! It was sooo much fun! We went snorkeling, canoeing, bodyboarding etc! But hands down, the best sport was when we had to hold on to this 'flying mat' which was attached to a speedboat and i lost my grip, and nearly got stung by a jellyfish!! scary times!
tasnim-sheikh[at]hotmail[dot]com
@star_light91 <- i follow you on twitter :)
Tasnim x
So excited for FAF! One of my favorite water memories was swimming on Memorial Day weekend and seeing the sun set.
great giveaway! I can't wait to read the sequel! I just love swimming in the water any time, especially during the summer!
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My favorite water memory I think was when I visited Maryland on an exchange for school. It was March, and still pretty cold there, and the people we stayed with took us to stay the ocean. They told us it was too cold to go in, but us crazy Wisconsin girls went running in in our clothes in like 50 degree weather. I think everyone else thought we were crazy, but it was pretty awesome.
Can't wait to read it!!!
I can't wait for Fins are Forever!!
My favorite water memory is when me and my family went down to Virginia Beach. I loved swimming even though I almost drowned :)
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Awesome!! = )
My favourite water memory was years ago when I was much younger. I was swimming with my younger cousin in my backyard pool, while my aunt supervised, I was helping her learn how to swim, so I had to keep a tight hold on her and make sure she stayed in the shallow end. For some reason my aunt had to go inside so she asked us to get out for a minute, we did but my cousin accidentally fell in while my aunt and I were further away. I ran and dived into the pool and pulled her out. She'd only been under the water for a few seconds but it was still a very scary experience. And to this day my aunt and mom claim I saved my cousins life. (Don't know if this can be considered a "best" memory, but it's one i've kept for over a decade)
Thanks for the contest, canNOT wait to read Fins are Forever!
Fingers crossed :)
My favorite water memory is swimming in the Atlantic ocean with my family and some of our friends. We camped in Delaware in the woods near the Atlantic ocean. We would go to the water practically the moment we woke up until the sun set.
Brittany
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My favorite water memory was probably going to the community pool with my mom when I was little.
My favorite water memory...hmmm, I think I would have to say when I jumped into my grandparent's pool with all of my clothes on. It was lots of fun and my cousins did it too! :D
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Loved the first book.My favorite water memory was when I pretended to be a mermaid.Well now I love watching my 10 year old little sister pretend she is a mermaid with her friend, Monique.
My favorite water moments are the summers I spent at the local YMCA as a kid. We had night swims on the weekends and it was so fun! Swimming, friends and 90's music!
My favorite water memories involve floating on the lake on a raft soaking up some rays.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com
I wish there would have been books like this when I was a kid! But I'm still a kid at heart, so I can't wait to read these!
exciting! Sounds like those are good books!