Are You Ready For Some... Enchanted Summer Games?

Nearly four years ago I wrote a book and then dipped my toes into the  social media pool.  It was big and scary at first but then I got the hang of it. I still enjoy my time chatting with folks from all over. I've gotten familiar with a variety of writers and those associated with other aspects of  the book publishing industry.  However, I did take a very passive approach to branding myself online and have reaped the rewards accordingly.  As I stated in an earlier post, I'm not very good at selling.   I am the least pushy person when it comes to advertising myself and tooting my own horn.  So it stands to reason that I've only made a tiny ripple when I should have made a big belly flop of a splash.

When I put  my first book out,  I was so proud of my story.  I believed the book would be enjoyed if given half the chance.  Then it happened. I was horror-stricken when I found errors in the printed copies.  I had so many of them and had spent money getting them printed.  But people started buying them anyway.  I got positive feedback and people were kind enough not to mention the errors. (Phew!)  In hindsight, it was probably the reason why I didn't push the books so hard.  Fast forward and now I'm ready to re-emerge, stronger and better.  The book has gotten a new design and the errors are being cleaned up.  Once again, I'm anxious to share my story.  I want to form a connection with the everyday reader so they may get to know me and in turn fall in love with the stories that I tell. That brings me to my plans for the summer.

In a previous post titled, Enchanted Summer Games, I spoke about how I had an idea of holding a summer-long contest.  So far I've gotten a stir of interest which led me to elaborating a little more.  I thought it would be fun to hold games and contests to get people interested in Enchanted Island.  I love the story and I want others to as well. Let's be for real for a moment, what better way to try to get people interested than to offer incentives?  I want to attract new readers by creating a fun atmosphere free of the "hard-sell."  Of course I would absolutely love  for people to rush out and read my book, but what I want most is for people to stick around and take this wonderful ride with me.  Writing can be a lonely journey!  I just want to be able to know that I'm producing something that brings enjoyment into people's lives.

As for the Enchanted Summer Games, I'm planning  a decathlon style contest.  The games will run 10 weeks with a different event each week.  That means there will be prizes up for grabs the whole summer long!  During that time I'm hoping to foster relationships with readers that will last through time. I don't want the games to be all about having to buy my book, so there will be chances for everyone to participate.  Even if they never pick up my book!  I enjoy writing, but for so long I kept my stories to myself.  It's about time I start sharing.  After all, didn't I hear someone say, "Sharing is caring?"

As a bigger interest builds, I will provide more information regarding the upcoming games.

My Name Is May Torres and I'm A Writer

Nearly seven years ago I found myself struggling to start my life over in a new place.  I was born and raised in New York City and through no fault of my own had to pick up and leave.  I headed up to the countryside of Upstate New York.  For a city girl at heart it was a culture shock to say the least.  I was used to fast-paced living, tall buildings and bodegas on the corner.  Where I came from you could either walk where you needed to go or take a bus. A car was nice to have but not necessary.  The complete opposite is true for the area I live in now.  A car is a necessity if you plan on eating.   The lifestyle is a lot slower and there's not much in the way of things to do.  It's been seven years and I still haven't gotten the hang of country living.

When I first arrived in the country I took on a daycare job.  I had been in the childcare industry for many years before so it was easy to find work.  It wasn't too long before that familiar struggle to keep my head above water started rearing its head.  I can't remember a time when my life wasn't about struggle. Being in an new place only amplified it for me. I was becoming desperate so I decided it was time to go into business for myself. That's when i started my own daycare business from my home.  It was slow going at first, but then I hit my stride. I was comfortable but still not where I needed to be financially.  My kids were getting older. Prom and graduations were approaching and of course, college. I haven't mentioned that I've been a single mother since my youngest was about 4 years old.

It was then that I started to think of other ways to supplement my income.  I was working 12 hour days at my daycare business which really didn't leave much time to get an additional part-time job.  I probably could have done it but there's that tiny problem of needing sleep.  I was desperate. I looked to see if I could find any legitimate work-at-home opportunities but nothing really turned up.  Then it hit me. I had started a business doing something I love, so why the heck couldn't I do it again? Writing popped into my head immediately.  I always loved writing but never dared to share my work.  I told myself that it was the time to cut that crap out! So I started writing. I told no one.  As time went on I decided to confide in a friend of mine.  Turns out she actually enjoyed the beginnings of my story.  I really didn't expect that.

One thing led to another and here I am with one published book under my belt and another few works in progress.  I've joined the world of social networking and admit to taking a laid back approach.  You see, I'm not such a great salesperson nor am I big on tooting my own horn.  I realized that that was a recipe for going nowhere in a hurry.  After  a few years of passively telling people about my work and hoping for the best,  I've decided to make a bigger effort.  I've learned that when it really comes down to it, as much as you wish people would become invested in your dreams, they mostly don't.  I am on my own when it comes to reaching for that brass ring. It is up to me, myself and I, to get noticed. So allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is May Torres and I'm a writer.

Enchanted Summer Games

This is my baby. My firstborn. She was born in 2010 and she means so much to me. Of course I think she's the most beautiful. As we learn through life, our babies grow up to have a mind of their own. And my baby, Enchanted Island, wants to change her look. She's currently under construction to freshen up.

This is the "before" photo of my baby

This is what my baby will look like after construction

I present this to you because I feel a celebration is in order. My baby, Enchanted Island, will have a new look and  new attitude. I want to thank my early readers and attract a fresh new batch. So to make this happen I'm thinking of holding summer games. Not just any summer games but, Enchanted Summer Games.  I'm throwing  around some ideas. If I can drum up enough interest I may just go ahead with it!

I'm looking to start it on the first day of summer, which is June 21st and ending  on Labor Day. There'll be prizes and giveaways and all that good stuff. Mostly I just want people to have fun, get to know me and all  about my firstborn. Who doesn't like winning stuff? I think it'll be a lot of fun. So this blog post is my first experiment. If enough people bite I'll provide more details.

This will all be about interaction and participation. If you're reading this and think you and your friends would like to partake in the fun and games, drop me a line :)

MayTorres72@gmail.com

Twitter

Facebook

And of course here on my blog.

And Now I'm 41

It's been so very long since I've updated this blog. I was out there living out my 40th year on this Earth. It was the most amazing year of my life. I embraced turning 40. I looked forward to it and mapped out how my year was going to unfold. I did so many wonderful things from taking an extravagant vacation to Miami to attending an Alanis Morissette concert with my best girl, my daughter.  I was generous with myself, which was long overdue. I took more vacations in that year than I ever have.  I kept up with the weeding out of people and things that weren't supportive to my growth and well-being.

As I began putting this milestone behind me and welcoming 41, another epiphany struck, just as it did as I neared 40. Last year at this time I realized that I really needed to treat myself as well as I treated others.  As another birthday approached something else became clear.  It actually expanded upon the lesson from the previous year.  Which is, that I really need to put myself above all others. That's right, even if it means family and friends. Damn waiting around for scraps to fall from the dinner table.  I'm totally seating myself at the head of that table. Though my kids will always be number one in my heart, they are in their adulthood now and it's time for them to spread their own wings. They are the only people on this planet who will never lose a place in my heart. But now it's okay for mom to be selfish.

I came across this quote the other day and it resonated with me.

"I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self indulgent.
Caring for myself is an act of survival"--Audre Lorde

This is absolutely vital to me right now.  At this point in my life there's nobody who's going to look after me better than I will. No one will be invested in my life and dreams when there's nothing in it for them. It's not the way I've lived my life all these years but I have accepted that fact.  I've had countless conversations about this recently and I can't even get angry about it anymore. It is what it is. In a world where people have this "I'm getting mine, fuck anybody else" mentality, you have to step up and be your own advocate and cheerleader.

I've been taught through experience that giving the slightest bit more to others  takes away from me evolving to where I need to be. I don't mean that you should turn a blind eye to others. It just means that they get the leftovers when I'm done giving to myself first. It's like the safety instructions on an airplane, you must first administer the oxygen to yourself  before trying to help anyone else. I lived, learned, and loved my way to 40 and now I'm 41.

My Life List– 40 Things I Want to See, Learn, Accomplish In My Lifetime.

After just celebrating the day I was born, I thought it might be fun to come up with a life list.  Some people call it a bucket list.  So here it goes in no particular order-- a list of  forty things I want to accomplish in my lifetime.

1. Visit each continent
2. See the pyramids 
3. Dance in the rain
4. Meet my great-grand kids
5. Fall in love
6. Have at least one "forever" relationship with a person
7. Be owner of a successful business
8. Swim with the dolphins (Ok maybe just get in the water with one)
9. Own a home
10. Have a best-seller
11. Hug Dwayne Johnson
12. Witness everyone having equal rights
13. See a female president of the U.S. in office
14. Have a wedding
15. Meet Alanis Morissette
16. Be a dress size 8
17. Learn how to swim
18. Speak more than two languages
19. Learn to play a musical instrument
20. Write a song
21. Drive on Germany's autobahn network
22. Have a romantic kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower
23. See all of the United States
24. Have a gelato in Italy
25. Go to the ballet and Opera
26. Befriend someone famous
27. Get a degree
28. Ride in a helicopter
29. Have a paintball war
30. Ride a mechanical bull
31. Beat my stage fright
32. Be a YouTube sensation for a week
33. Heal my butterfly phobia
34. Own a 1970's Stingray Corvette
35. Be influential
36. Make a difference
37. Create a charitable organization
38. See the cures for many diseases
39. Witness a collective evolution of man
40. Get a kiss from Alicia Keys

What's on your list?

Not Anymore

It’s been forever since I last posted a blog entry here. It’s not that I haven’t had anything to blog about. I was just so preoccupied with a trip I was taking at the tail end of March. Not just any trip. A trip of lifetime. A trip that I’ve waited to take since I was ten years old. I allowed myself this luxury, being that I will be turning 40 in less than a month. So you can see how this trip was long overdue. I have another blog where I chronicled my journey. My journey took me to my very first WrestleMania! Yes, I did type the word “WrestleMania“

The WWE has captured my attention as I said, since I was ten years old. I stopped watching for a short time. Then when my children were younger I tuned in again. When I tuned back in, it was the end of my sanity. For I was introduced to the man who always makes me lose my cool. I’m talking about, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. If you do not know who I speak of then you must Google him right away! I seriously need to dedicate an entire post to that man. *Sigh* Well okay, I actually did on my other blog :-)

Anyhow, I have been basking in the afterglow of fulfilling one of my childhood dreams. The experience was unlike anything I’ve had the pleasure of indulging in. The theme of the trip was VIP. And it felt so good to experience a bit of decadence. I’m a single mother who has always put her children first. I have no regrets. Now that my children are entering adulthood, it’s time for me to give to myself. This trip was just the beginning.

I partied with the stars!

One of my favorite WWE stars, Randy "The Viper" Orton

I saw my favorite male celebrity in the flesh! I even managed to grab hold of his hand as he passed by.

Favorite male celebrity Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

I went to my first WrestleMania!

Sun Life Stadium for WrestleMania 28! April 1 2012

Things I thought would remain only in my daydreams. After this experience, I will put more effort into making my dreams come true. At times, I would tell myself that my dreams were too far out of reach. Not anymore.

I Wonder...

I wonder if people are hesitant to pick up Enchanted Island because they think that they wouldn't relate? Yes, there is a Puerto Rican flag on the cover. Yes, the heart of the story takes place in Puerto Rico. Yes, 3 of the 4 main characters are, indeed, Puerto Rican. Yes, you will learn the history of Puerto Rico. What you will also get is an adventure. You will follow along as four young people come of age. You will fall in love with these youngsters and watch their transformation into young-adulthood. They go through the same situations as any one of you.

Not that I was surprised, but I had people, not of Puerto Rican heritage, tell me that they could so relate to the main character, Gabby. We each have issues and circumstances that we wish we could change. Really, at the core, we are more alike than not. We mostly all want the same things out of this thing called life. We're all on this life journey together; sometimes facing horrendous situations that do not discriminate. No matter where you come from. No matter the language you speak or the color of your skin.

Some of us come from a warm loving family and some not so much. Everyone falls in love and we make and lose friends. We face obstacles and fight to overcome them. These are just some of the things that the characters in my book face. Will this persuade you to take a chance on Enchanted Island? I wonder...