The Alpha Drive Release Day!

Today is a very exciting day because it’s the release day for my debut novel, The Alpha Drive! It’s available right now for purchase on Amazon in both paperback and ebook. Check it out!

There will be another Goodreads Giveaway for one first edition, autographed copy of The Alpha Drive in early December, so stay tuned for that. The first giveaway had over 1,000 people enter to win and I just wanted to say that the support and excitement for my first book has been so overwhelming that I was actually crying happy tears last night, so THANK YOU. I’m humbled, blessed, and honored, all rolled up in a teeny, tiny ball.

It’s been a long, but fun (and sometimes stressful) journey to reaching publication. I’m so excited to start this next chapter of my life as a published author and I plan to write many, MANY more books in the future. Cheers!

Stay up to date on my writing journey over on my other blog: www.kristenmartinbooks.com

 

My debut novel is available for pre-order!

My debut novel, The Alpha Drive, is available for pre-order on Amazon right now! I would love for you to check it out. If you’d like to pre-order, you can do so by clicking here.

Stay up to date on my writing journey over on my other blog: www.kristenmartinbooks.com

October Giveaway!

I’m hosting a giveaway for the month of October for a “So Many Books So Little Time” tote bag! It’s perfect for carrying your laptop around, using as a beach tote, or an everyday tote. It’s super easy to enter to win and it’s absolutely free!

Here’s how to enter:
1. Go to: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2ec18b411/?
2. In the entry box, enter your name and email address.
3. Get an extra entry and boost your chances by following me on Twitter @kristenmwrites.
4. And get yet another entry for tweeting about the giveaway! Like I said, super easy.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 13th on Twitter and I will also send the winner an email asking for their shipping address.

Good luck and happy October!

Farewell, My Friends

It’s with a heavy heart that I say this, but the time has come.

It’s time to put my little blog baby to rest.

I’ve learned so much over the past five years and being able to share the things I’ve learned has given me great joy.  I originally started this blog so that I would have a creative outlet in addition to my normal workday.  I was able to combine two things I loved: writing and researching “how to make it” in the corporate world.  This blog then rolled into a “lifestyle” blog where I posted inspirational quotes, recipes, fashion findings, and fitness buzz.  This was fun for awhile, but I didn’t feel truly connected to my blog anymore . . . it was almost a means to end.

As I mentioned in my very first post, I’ve always loved to write.  Writing is my thing.  It’s my passion, it makes me happy, and it gives me “all the feels”.  Once I finally landed a stable career and finished my Master’s degree, I decided it was time to put my passion at the top of my priority list.

So, I wrote my first novel.

The first draft was complete and total crap. Peeeeeyew, it stunk soooo bad.

But then I actually took the time to revamp it and turn it into something I loved – a young adult science fiction that, lo and behold, ended up turning into a series.

The point is, I didn’t give up on my daydream . . . it was just on the backburner until I got my life in order.  I’m still working a full-time job in the chemical industry, but you better believe that the minute I get home from work, I sit down and write, write, write.  My passion has finally flourished into everything I always hoped it would be.

I hate to say good-bye to this blog, but I now know where my focus needs to be.  I truly appreciate all of my readers and your incredible support on this journey.  I really hope you’ve gained something from my entries, however big or small.

If you want to keep in touch, or you’re interested in how often I’m pulling my hair out as a writer, I would be delighted if you’d check out my website here.  My super nerdy self has also taken up YouTubing, or BookTubing, where I post vlogs and writing advice.  You can watch my videos here, and, if you’re crazy enough to like them, you can even subscribe so you don’t miss out on the super exciting things I have to say.

Again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your readership, support, and love.  It truly means the world to me.

Mantra Mondays

Wishful Wednesdays

For those that watch Scandal and obsess over Olivia Pope’s wardrobe, apartment decor, and badass attitude, you can probably guess where this post will lead. In every single episode, I watch enviously as Olivia opens a bottle of vino and pours herself a glass of red in those beautiful, elegant, sophisticated long-stem wine glasses. I figured other winos/Scandal-lovers wondered the same thing, so I did a little research and voila! The glasses are 23 oz. Camille long-stem wine glasses from Crate & Barrel.

For only $14.95 a piece, I ordered 4 of them. Of course, they’re on back-order, but I expect them to be here late January. Cheers!

Tasty Tuesdays

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Shrimp

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.
• Place shrimp in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Add olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Gently toss to combine.
• Place into oven and roast just until pink, firm and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in lemon juice.
• Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Recipe via Damn Delicious

Mantra Mondays

Engagement

I hope everyone had a relaxing and delicious Thanksgiving holiday. This was the first year in 3 years that I didn’t go home for the Thanksgiving holiday. While it was tough not being with my family, I had an amazing time cooking with my boyfriend, who is now my fiancé.

Yes. Fiancé. *Insert goofy grin here*

Earlier in the week, he asked me if I wanted to go to Santa’s Wonderland in College Station. Seeing as Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year (and it was in the same town as A&M), how could I say no? He made reservations for a horse-drawn carriage ride on November 29th, which came with free hot cocoa and access to Santa’s Town. I thought we were just going to look at Christmas lights, so I was my usual dorky self, providing unnecessary commentary while we rode through the woods. I noticed that he was really quiet, except for some humming/sighing sounds he was making. At the very end of the ride, he surprised me. With a dozen, lit-up Roman columns surrounding us, he turned to me and asked me to marry him. He was holding the most beautiful ring, but I didn’t even notice because I was looking so intently into his eyes. I didn’t want to break eye contact. I wanted to stay in that moment forever.

It’s still so surreal. I wake up every morning thinking it was all a really wonderful dream… until I look down at my left hand. We’re ecstatic and can’t wait to start this next chapter in our lives!

More details to come as we begin planning!

Mantra Mondays