Culture Shock

17 May

This is my culture shock face.

It’s been three months since my ESL journey began. Throughout the first two months, I had to make a lot of adjustments, but I never lost that I’m in Asia/this is so cool state of mind.

Sometime around the end of April, the culture shock hit. I don’t know what triggered it. I missed some things at home, and realized I’d miss a lot more things as the year goes on. I accidentally ate something that might have been sauced in duck blood—not fun as a vegetarian. I got stared at one too many times.

It wasn’t any single thing, but all of a sudden I was looking at flight prices and panicking. I just wanted to walk down the street without feeling like a sideshow, and to order plain food with no surprises or language barrier.

It was even more a shock to me when I realized I was going through culture shock. I’ve lived in other countries. I did a semester in Auckland, and took classes in Paris and Prague. I know a little French, and no Czech, yet I’ve always thrived in Europe.

The difference with Taiwan is that no matter what I do, I can never fit in. If I don’t open my mouth, I can blend into anywhere in Europe. Where I live here, I’m just far enough from Taipei that Westerners are an oddity. People stare. I am not one of them, nor could I ever be.

I’ve never felt like an outsider before. It’s an odd experience, but I know I won’t be here forever, so while I am, all I can do is be myself and go about my life. My experiences in Taiwan are definitely broadening my horizons.

And as quickly as the culture shock came, so it went. A new frozen yogurt place opened near our school, I got more teaching hours, and started planning a vacation. The flow of life is the same here as it is at home. There are ups and downs. Good days and bad days.

I miss my family. And pizza. But where else in the world could I drink all the bubble milk tea that I want? Where else could I work two or four hours a day and get healthcare and all the money I need to be sufficient? Where else would I have this much time for writing?

I’m happy 95% of the time, and working on keeping perspective during the other 5%.

Wherever you live, 95% happiness is not too shabby.

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Five Reasons I ♥ Taiwan

25 Mar

I’m still a Taiwan rookie–it’s been just over a month–but there are already so many things I love about this amazing place. Here are five of them:

 

1. Milk Tea

It comes in a million flavors, usually for around NT$20-40, which equates to between 60 cents and a dollar and change. Oatmeal, caramel, and strawberry are just a few of the flavors available. And you can get it with bubbles. Super delicious, and so much cheaper (and more readily available) than home!

 

2. Shrines

These guys are everywhere. Smell for the incense, turn the corner, and there you are. Many are open air. You just don’t see this with places of worship in the U.S. Let’s be honest…they’d get vandalized. There’s so much more trust and respect here.

 

3. Scooters

Go down any street and you’ll see them in rows by the hundreds. They zip by, and daredevils squeeze between cars in the crazy dance that’s Taiwan traffic. Mind you, they also add to the air pollution, but they make getting around so convenient. You can actually drive your scooter into some corner restaurants. Plus, I want a strawberry helmet.

 

4. Umbrellas

The weather here is erratic, with lots of rain, so umbrellas are de rigueur. Everyplace you go will have an umbrella stand AND people aren’t going to take your umbrella unless it’s an accident and it looks like theirs. That isn’t likely, considering how many colored/patterned ones you can buy. Fair-skinned ladies like myself (i.e. photophobes) can break them out parasol-style as soon as the sun comes back.

 

5. Food

Obviously, the last one was going to be food. It is so good, and so cheap. As a vegetarian, I’m always delighted by the veggie options. Tofu is plentiful, and seasonal vegetables are always on the menu. Teppanyaki has become my favorite. For NT$50 ($1.70) I can get a full dinner with tea, soup, rice, a fried egg or tamagoyaki, and two kinds of vegetable. This time of year, it’s beansprouts and cabbage. I get mine “la” or spicy…and they mean spicy! The little red peppers are not for the weak-of-tongue.

 

I’m looking forward to more exploration, and many more additions to this list!!

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Stop Waiting

19 Feb

Back in 2008, when I was doing the corporate/editorial/9-5 thing and feeling adrift, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish. It wasn’t a long list, but it changed my life.

It went a little like:

  1. Write books
  2. Travel the world

I decided that these were going to be my priorities and I did what I needed to do to make them happen. First, I left my job and got my M.F.A. in fiction. It was liberating to focus only on writing, instead of trying to write around work and the headaches that followed me home.

I couldn’t stare at a computer screen all day and comfortably come home to write. People do (and props if you’re one of them), but I knew I’d make excuses not to and would never accomplish my first goal. Not to mention goal number two. It would take 30 years of earning seniority and saving before I could see the world, and though I’ve got nothing but respect for people who do it that way, I am not that patient.

Now I’m moving to Taiwan. I’ll be teaching ESL with plenty of time to write and travel, and I couldn’t be happier. In the past few months, I’ve had too many reminders that time is precious. My cousin–who was a year younger than me–suddenly passed away as I was packing for my TEFL course in Prague. As much as I wanted to be there for my family, what could I do? She was finishing her degree, had a boyfriend she probably would have married, and big dreams for the future.

Gone.

I think of her when I need to make big decisions, and remember that there’s no time to waste in life. I’m not making excuses anymore. I will do exactly what I need to do to get where I want to be.

So many people have told me they’re jealous of my move. “I want to do that!” is the most common response, usually followed by a big, “but….”

If you want to do something–whether it’s writing, traveling, getting in shape, or learning a new language–you need to start in now. The longer you wait the less time you’ll have, and the more excuses you’ll make. I don’t have a family or a house or many attachments –I value my independence too much–so it’s easier for me to turn a 180, but it doesn’t matter if you have five kids and a mortgage. Take small steps. I can’t tell you how, but if you take your goal seriously, you’ll find a way to get there. Be a little selfish and stop waiting for the things you want to come your way. You will be happier.

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The Great Purge of 2012

2 Feb

I don’t want to get rid of books…there’s a reason I’ve hauled them from city to city for the past fifteen years. My pack-rat instinct aside, it’s time to streamline and NOT pay to store them while I’m living in Taiwan.

It’s painful, but this is only a fraction of my shelf. The epic fantasies have been hit the hardest. I loved Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind when I was younger, but when will I have the time to re-read such long long sagas? Sorry, book friends.

Maybe this is an argument for e-readers. All the books on my i-pad get to come on the plane.

If I don’t have a breakdown, I’ll add more to the pile. I can’t bear to get rid of the Anne McCaffrey or Tamora Pierce, and the Harry Potters aren’t going anywhere. It’s love versus space.

Either way, it’s freeing not to be so cluttered, and I know the local library will appreciate some donations. Just ignore my weeping.

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TEMPTRESS sold to Samhain!

31 Jan

My romance novella TEMPTRESS has sold to Samhain. Couldn’t be happier to work with this team!

Publication should be sometime in the spring or fall–all details to follow : )

(announcement via Publisher’s Marketplace)

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Tumblr Time

25 Jan

I’ve been away for a while, and I’ll keep being away for a while longer. I’m in the process of moving to Taiwan, and slammed with tasks and projects. But it’s all super exciting…so I don’t mind much : )

In preparation for leaving the U.S., I’m cleaning my websites and did a massive retool of my Tumblr. I updated it with the beautiful Narnia theme and will be using it a lot more. Isn’t it purty? Visit me!

 

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Interview with BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN author Sherry Soule

14 Jul

Author Sherry Soule’s YA paranormal novel BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN was recently released by Moonlight Publishing. She dropped by YALitChat.org to answer a few questions and share some information on her fantastic Spellbound series.

Can you tell us a bit about your new book Beautifully Broken?

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms.

Finally, Shiloh’s met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

 

What do you find so attractive about the supernatural?

The romance. The world building. The way anything can and will happen.

How is that reflected in your work?

I’ve always had a morbid fascination with ghosts and haunted houses.

What else are you working on?

The sequel, Beautifully Haunted and an adult PR novel, Forever Knight.

Can you share any tips/tricks or advice you’ve picked up since switching to write full time?

I have a blog full of advice for aspiring writers here: http://www.darkangelwritingtools.com/

When’s your next release?

The next book in my Spellbound series will be published in November.

Where can we find Beautifully Broken?

It’s available through the following links:

Amazon Print

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Nook

Smashwords

 

About the Author:

Sherry Soule has won numerous awards for her short stories and now writes fulltime. She lives in San Francisco Bay Area with her family and her black cat, Charm. Sherry is hard at work on the next book in the Spellbound Series.

For more information on Sherry Soule please visit:

Website: http://sherrysoule.com

Blog: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersherry

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July Contest Roundup

6 Jul

As I cruise my blogs and twitter feed, I’ve been stumbling on LOTS of author & writing contests in July. Now I’m spreading the word in the interest of helping you win free stuff : ) Please check contest rules before entering.

If you have a contest you’d like to mention, add your link in comments. The more the merrier!

THE CONTESTS:

WHO: Ebyss (http://ebysswriter.blogspot.com/2011/07/revision-contest.html) is running a revision contest featuring Bradford Literary Agency agent Natalie Fischer. HOW: Write a pitch and see the rules! ENDS: 7/11/2011 PRIZES: Query and page critiques, or a B&N giftcard

WHO: Blogger Lisa Sanchez (http://www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com/2011/07/guest-post-from-author-susan-kaye-quinn.html) and author Susan Kaye Quinn are offering giveaways to military families. HOW: Follow Lisa’s blog and comment on the post. ENDS: The end of July PRIZES: A copy of LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT and a $25 B&N gift card

WHO: Brinda Berry’s Summer Blog Tour (http://www.brindaberry.com/summer-2011-blog-tour.html) HOW: Comment on Brinda’s blog stops. ENDS: Through July. Grand prize drawing 8/30/11. PRIZES: E-books, romance trading cards, and a grand prize $25 Amazon certificate

WHO: Author Lisa Desrochers is celebrating the release of ORIGINAL SIN (http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/2011/07/original-sin-birthday-and-epic-giveaway.html) HOW: Send Lisa a picture of ORIGINAL SIN in the wild. ENDS: 7/11/11 PRIZES: Signed copies of ORIGINAL SIN and a swag package including an iPod shuffle preloaded with the Personal Demons playlists.

WHO: Emily’s Reading Room Monthly Commenter Contest (http://emilysreadingroom.blogspot.com/2011/07/monthly-commenter-contest-july.html) HOW: Comment on one of Emily’s posts in July. ENDS: Drawing on 8/2/11 PRIZES: Signed copies of Kiersten White’s PARANORMALCY and SUPERNATURALLY

WHO: Bibliophile Book Blog’s July Giveaway (http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2011/07/july-giveaway.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) HOW: Post your e-mail address ENDS: 7/30/11 PRIZES: 15 books!!  Forgotten by Cat Patrick, She Loves You, She Loves You Not by Julie Anne Peters, Lagan Love by Peter Murphy, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane, The Uncertain Places by Lisa Goldstein, The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Language of the Sea by James MacManus, Nyx in the House of Night edited by P.C. Cast, Promises to Keep by Charles de Lint, Applewood by Brendan Myers, Pretend You Love Me by Julie Anne Peters, 78 Keys by Kristin Marra, The Orchard by Jeffrey Stepakoff, Shift by Takumi Yamazaki, Everlasting by Alyson Noel

 

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Writing Redundancies

1 Jul

A topic that came up frequently at my last MFA residency was redundancy. Beginning writers are most guilty of this prose sin, but even veterans make slip-ups. I know I do! In the spirit of keeping us all honest, I’m beginning a series of posts on frequent redundancies. I’ll cover the ones I’ve seen the most, and offer suggestions on rooting them out. The result should be clearer prose for all.

The first offender is motion verb + body part redundancy. I see this one all the time, and I’m always surprised when it crops up in my own pages.

Examples: He reached for a cupcake with his hand. She kicked the ball with her foot. I slapped him with my palm.

Why are these bad? Because reached, kicked, and slapped are very specific motion verbs, and readers will assume the body part being used. Anything more is padding word count, unless it has special significance. If the character’s reaching with his tail, then do tell. Otherwise, keep it simple.

I’d revise as: He reached for the cupcake. She kicked the ball. I slapped him.

In this case, cutting the extra words makes for clearer, more concise action.

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ODESSA release day with author Rebecca Ryals Russell

1 Apr

Today is release day for debut author Rebecca Ryals Russell! ODESSA, The first novel in her Seraphym Wars Series is now out with Muse It Up Publishing. Rebecca dropped by YALitchat.org to share her thanks and a bit about how she’ll be spending the day. Please visit Rebecca on twitter or her blog to wish her well.

Congrats, Rebecca!

*-*-*-*

On April 1st I will wake early, ride my stationary bike and eat some Raisin Bran then drink my one cup of coffee while checking my book’s buy page at Muse It Up Publishing

I’ll look through my email, answer what’s pressing and save the rest. Next, I’ll visit the first stop on my month-long Blog Tour at Totally4YA . After that I’ll go by my own blog at YA & MG Fantasy Author Rebecca Ryals Russell and see what’s shaking there, since I’ll be running a Release Giveaway Awesome Prize Pak.

While watching Supernatural on TV, I’ll probably visit Twitter and mention my book’s birthday and chat with friends, then I’ll go to Facebook and do the same. I’ll check out my groups on Goodreads and list myself in the Published Authors section. I’ll tune into some of the author loops I follow and chat for awhile. Then I’ll visit YALitChat.org and chat with the various groups I’m a member of and on the forum.

Again, I’ll check my email. After all of that excitement, I’ll revisit Totally4YA and answer any questions readers may have posted. Then I might do a little writing on my next WIP, which is Long Tu, the next book in the MG series Stardust Warriors.

By then it’ll be time to pick up my son at the college and my other son at his school.

When we get home I’ll check my email, for the millionth time, answer any that need responses and check into Totally4YA then my blog again to answer questions. I’ll check back with YALitChat and my author loops.

By this time it’ll probably be time to go to dinner with my husband and celebrate the release of my very first book and the first of many more to come.

When we arrive back home I’ll check my email, Totally4YA, my blog and answer anything needing a response. Then I’ll check my schedule and see that I’m still at Totally4YA, but with a different posting for day 2. I’ll relax by writing a little until around 2am then go to bed.

Before falling asleep I will Thank God for giving me the talent and ability to write and for sending me to MuseItUp Publishing. And I will ask Daddy, whom I hope is in Heaven, if he’s proud of his little girl since he always wrote but never had the courage to pursue it professionally.

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