addisonbrae

Last Saturday at the Dallas Book Festival, I spotted one of the library’s security guards reading a book. He told me he reads two to three chapters an hour during his 10-hour shifts and a book a week—all checked out from the library. Our conversation stuck with me. It’s debatable whether he should read on the job, but he didn’t seem to ignore his duties. And he certainly loves to read.

I’m the same. If I’m not doing something else, I’m reading. About two months ago, I started my signed copy of Dan Brown’s latest, Origin. It’s long—more than 450 pages. Now I’ll share way more than you want to know. I’m almost half finished—and I only read this book while I’m drying my hair about three times per week. It’s a mini escape that makes me look forward to a regular chore.

According to the National Reading Campaign, reading is a stress fighter:  600% more beneficial than playing a video game, 300% more useful than a walk, 100% more effective than drinking a cup of tea, and 68% better than listening to music.

World Book and Copyright Day is the day that more than 100 nations celebrate books and reading. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural Organisation-or UNESCO-proclaimed the date. Celebrate this 23^rd World Book Day on April 23 by selecting and starting a book on a topic you truly love. Then celebrate yourself by finishing it.

Visit our countdown to World Book Day website and register to win a $25 Amazon gift card, Kindle Fire and more!  My romantic suspense, Becker Circle, marked day four of the countdown.

My challenge to you is to pick a time to read something you enjoy.

Make every moment count!

There’s a definite difference between bitch and badass.

In my mind, people earn the bitch title when they act out spitefully and without explanation. “Where did that come from?” is the natural reaction. We’ve all had a similar experience—like a rubber band snap out of nowhere.

We girls can be badass. That means we have firm beliefs based on fact and deliver the message with grace and conviction.

For example, Oprah is a badass. So are Emma Watson, Gal Gadot and her Wonder Woman character, and Barbara Walters. Princess Diana was as well, in a quiet way. I don’t always agree with these badass ladies, but I respect their kindness and conviction.

In Becker Circle, Gillian, the main character, is far from perfect, but she’s also a badass. During her fresh start in Becker Circle, she screws up, owns up, and learns from her mistakes. Badass women are typically intensely independent and rarely count on a man to back them up. They also know their limits and are strong enough to ask for help when they need it. What real or fictional lady badass inspires you most and why?

It took me until I was about 35 to sort out how our world works. Since then, I constantly question how I fit into this world. During this period is when I realized my mother’s advice was rarely right for me (she’d disagree). That’s why I created Gillian, a strong, imperfect but wise 21-year-old. The one I wish I had been. Life can be easier when you learn your badass ways early, but it’s never too late.

If people think you’re a bitch when you handle things with strength, grace, and conviction, it’s on them.

To me, you’re badass!

 

The Olympics are over, but the figure skating season officially closes with the World Figure Skating Championships. Tune in to these events taking place this week in Milan, Italy. There’s no other sport that requires such beauty, glitz, and athleticism. These talented pairs, ice dance and singles athletes deserve a toast in honor of the great sport, and here are two cocktail recipes to get spectators started.

Triple Klutz
Some in the skating world call the Lutz jump, which is named after a former skater, the klutz because of its awkward blind entry. This cocktail with a triple dose of liquor might cause anyone who drinks many of these to have a rough landing. The gold sparkles are almost as sparkly as skaters’ costumes and the gold medals they strive to win.

½ oz Goldschlager
½ oz Gin
½ oz Vodka
½ oz Sprite
Splash of lime juice
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into shot glass.

Short & Sassy
This refreshing cocktail is sweet with a little sass like the skaters and is intended to sip. Its golden color with flecks of gold in the vodka helps celebrate the gold medals in each category and the Limoncello is in honor of Italy hosting the event.

1 oz Smirnoff Gold vodka
1 oz Limoncello
2 oz Ginger ale
Pour Limoncello and ginger ale over ice in a lowball glass. Add Smirnoff Gold and a lemon twist.

Cheers!

During last week’s book launch celebration, Sheyla Camancho from Hope’s Door New Beginning Center joined me on stage to add her knowledge to my passion for preventing domestic abuse. She shared a jarring statistic – 74 percent of people in America personally know someone who’s a domestic abuse victim. That’s roughly 242,180,000 people. If you’re into numbers like Gillian, the main character in Becker Circle, that’s more than 9.5 times the population of Texas. Wow.

The good news is we always have a way out. In Becker Circle, Gillian orchestrated a scheme to graduate Harvard a semester early and move out of the apartment she shared with her abusive boyfriend while he was away for the holidays. She didn’t care where she ended up as long as she had a job waiting for her, and it was far away from Boston. She brought with her an old car, enough money for the apartment deposit, and a fierce will to be strong, independent, and never let anyone control her again. Help from her best friend, quiet moments connecting with her deceased mom, and her own inner strength and determination helped Gillian successfully escape to her new beginning.

Fresh starts almost always come with doubts like Gillian experienced a week into hers, but those doubts are rarely worse than what already happened. Gillian created a set of rules to hep her stay on track and not repeat the same mistakes. Here’s a short excerpt from Becker Circle chapter one that reveals the first rule.

What am I doing? Am I invisible? Everyone’s with someone like I was. Taking the CPA job in Dallas seemed like such a great idea. It’s where no one knows me. Away from Connor. Before he had a chance to break me. Rule one of my new life—forget about what already happened. Period.

Like Gillian, we’re never alone. There’s always help from friends, family and co-workers, local police, and organizations like Hope’s Door New Beginning Center.

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect!

Nothing brings a book to life better than a film – and this is Becker Circle’s movie.

In this minute-and-a-half trailer, you get a glimpse of what Becker Circle might be like if you lived there. You’ll see Gillian innocently step into her fresh start with all of the hopes to right past wrongs and fears of starting over. You’ll be with her as she digs into something dangerous for the purpose of redemption. You’ll see her start falling in love before she’s ready.

The book, and the imaginations of readers like you, tell the rest of the story.

This video is surrounded by talent. Dustin Grant, Pink Mouse Blue Mouse Productions, produced, directed and edited the video. John Harrell of Harrell Creative art directed it. Katlyn Folker plays Gillian and Rafeal Villagas plays Jon. And numerous amazing friends played the extras that make the neighborhood really come alive.

Becker Circle is available for download from Amazon US or UK in Kindle format for $0.99/99P through Sunday, March 18, 2018. It’s also available on Smashwords, Kobo, iTunes and B&N Nook.

Let the video ignite your imagination before you read!

Enjoy a couple of Gillian’s cocktail recipes to help celebrate the launch of Becker Circle. While you sip your cocktail, download Becker Circle on Kindle from Amazon US or Amazon UK for $0.99/0.99P through Sunday, March 18.

Becker Bomb
1 oz. tequila
½ oz. orange juice
Shake, strain, pour in a shot glass. Top with splash of Sprite.

If you enjoy shots (and tequila), this one goes down smooth. If you’re like Gillian and me, use a good tequila and sip the Becker Bomb to savor the flavors.

Gilly Bean
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. rum
1 oz. orange juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz grenadine, if you’d like
2 oz. club soda
Shake with ice, pour in a martini or low ball glass and top with a lime twist.

Think of all the happy thoughts jelly beans can bring. Anyone will enjoy this smooth, refreshing cocktail. Just like jelly beans, it’s not too sweet or too tart, but it can have a kick.

Cheers!