Blah, blah, blah...

Hey, word.

Summer has been crazy crazy. We've been out of town off and on since school got out. I started revising a book, then went out of town, decided to revise a different book when I got back, then went out of town again, and finally decided that it just ain't happenin' this summer! Last summer I wrote a book in six weeks and this summer I can't even keep up with my house and kids. 

I was feeling bad about it every time we packed our bags to visit family or go camping...until I realized that this is what summer's about for my little kids. And they need me. And I need them. Let's face it, I will always be able to write, but my kids will not always be little. They won't always want to talk to me and they certainly won't need me to feed them, dress them, wash them, bandage their owies, etc. for the rest of their lives. As of right now, it's for the best. 

I can't wait to jump back into the writing world when school starts, but until then...keep it up, keep it real, and keep it goin'. 

Have a great summer!

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! 

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

   

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsors 
I Am A Reader 
Feed Your Reader 
Author Rachael Anderson 
Author Karey White 
Chelsea Author Promotions 
Illusio & Baqer 
BookReviewsAndGiveaways 
Author Alecia Stone 
Lori's Reading Corner 
Author Inger Iversen 
Shelf of Imagination 
Candace's Book Blog 
Where The Broken Lie by Derek Rempfer 
Helen Smith (author) 
Christine's Blog 
Reviews from a Bookworm 
More Than a Review 
Tressa's Wishful Endings 
Pieces of Whimsy 
Laurie Treacy, Author 
The Loopy Librarian 
Author Dorothy Dreyer 
Author Deanna Lynn Sletten 
Author Steven Brown 
Claudia Burgoa 
Launching Sisters to WitchCamp 
Rhiannon Paille 
Author Amanda Tru 
Melissa McClone, Author 
Author Michelle Merrill 
Author M. Kircher 
Author A&E Kirk 
Author Melissa Lemon 
My Story That I Like Best 
Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf 
J.L. Weil 
Maia Sepp 
Luthando Coeur 
Making it Happen 
Jennifer Laurens Author 
Extraordinary Reads 
Grimmtastic Girls series: Snow White Lucks Out (tween)   

Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here: 

http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). 

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash. 

Ends 7/15/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Great Strides Walk 2014

Here are a few pictures from the Great Strides walk this year! I had a great time, met some awesome people, and loved being a part of it all!


On your marks, get set...GO!

This is my great friend, Sara. She's taught me so much about CF. It's because of her my book came to life!

This is our team captain, Regan Kate! She's the sweet girl in the middle. My whole story was inspired by her life and struggle to breathe every day. I hope they can find a cure soon!

I've learned so much about other people and have come to gain a better appreciation for what I have :)

Summer, summer, summer, summer

Think of the movie High School Musical 2 when they chant the word "summer" over and over again. That's what I'll be saying all morning since this is the last day of school for my kids! I'm not sure who's more excited, me or them. 

Exciting updates for June 4th. First, I'm almost done with another round of revisions on my current WIP. This is my year of revisions, and I can't wait to make some of my manuscripts shine!

Also, Leigh Covington interviewed me on her blog today. Check it out here.

Hopefully I'll get a post up about the Great Strides walk I participated in last weekend. And I also need to post about the writing conference I attended in April! So many exciting things. 

Thanks for stopping by. Be safe this summer and remember to read!

Cystic Fibrosis

If you know anything about my book, Changing Fate, you know it's about a girl with cystic fibrosis. Since this month is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness month, I thought I'd expound on the topic. The facts listed are taken from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website.

30,000 children and adults in America have CF with the worldwide total estimating around 70,000. 

It's a genetic disease that causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus--which leads to lung and pancreas problems. 

About 1,000 cases of CF are diagnosed each year.

Nearly half the CF population is age 18 or older. 

That's HUGE! If we go back 60 years ago, few children born with CF lived to attend elementary school. With new research and treatments, people with CF can expect to live into their late 30's, even into their 40's, or longer! 

But the reality is...there's STILL no cure! A lifetime of daily treatments is not only costly, but it's exhausting. 

While writing my book, I worked with some amazing people and parents of children with CF, who've been through transplants and years of treatments. 

Now, every case is different. One girl I worked with said three of the five kids in her family were born with CF. Between those three, the affects of the disease are very different from one child to another. The story I wrote might not match each person, but I hope it can spread the word and help others become aware of the struggle some people go through just to breathe. 

It's good to be aware and help where you can :)

One celebrity made a life changing decision because of her experience with 2 CF kids. Go here to watch Whoopi's story on the Dr. Oz show.

I hope in some way, I can continue to spread awareness and maybe help in the cause to find a cure.

BLOG RELEASE PARTY!!!

MY BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE!!! I can't tell you how long I've wanted to say those words! I'm so excited to share it. It means so much to me. But for now, it's time to PAR-TAY!!!

Jump up and down,

Spin around,

Touch the ground,

And scream!!!

YAY! 

Okay, I'll calm down...a little :)

Here's the cover and book description one last time!

All Kate wants is to live. Battling cystic fibrosis is hard enough, dying from it is even harder. When her mom moves them closer to the hospital in the middle of her senior year, Kate’s determined to isolate herself—saving everyone the trouble of befriending a dying girl. It’s a difficult task when cheerful optimist Giana insists on being Kate’s friend.

Kate’s resolve falters even more when curly-haired Kyler captivates her with his sweet melodies. As her emotional walls collapse, Kate realizes the people she’s been pushing away may be the ones giving her a reason to live. But it might be too late.

Want a chance to win a free copy? Visit each participating blog and find all 16 key phrases—1 in each fun fact about the author. Put them together and answer the question in the giveaway below for extra points! The giveaway is open to everyone no matter where you live and it runs for a whole week!

Michelle Merrill (1 & 2)

Carol Riggs (3 & 4)

Shallee McArthur (5 & 6)

Kelley Hicken (7 & 8)

Annette Larsen (9 & 10)

Rachel Pudelek (11 & 12)

Melanie Stanford (13 & 14)

Chantele Sedgwick (15 & 16)

About the Author, including fun facts.

Michelle Merrill loves kissing her hubby, snuggling her kids, eating candy, reading books, and writing first drafts. She names her computers after favorite fictional characters and fictional characters after favorite names. 

Here are the first 2 fun facts!!!

1.      I love salad. I’m one of those people who order the salad instead of the steak. But I usually order the whopping one, and eat the whole thing. Can you say, Café Rio sweet pork salad? I think my mouth’s watering.

2.      I’ve been to 48 states…in a 15 passenger van. Including right into downtown Manhattan with a full-size trailer pulled behind with a homemade wing on top for better gas mileage. Yeah, it was all sorts of awesome. 

You can watch the book trailer here: Trailer.

You can add my book to your goodreads here: Goodreads.

You can PURCHASE the book here!!! Amazon: CHANGING FATE.

Thank you SO much! I’ll remind you one last time that ALL proceeds these first two days will go toward Team Regan Kate’s Great Strides Walk, and half of all proceeds will always go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for their continuing research to find a cure.

And since May is CF Awareness Month, the ebook will be 2.99 until June!!! The Paperback is also at a lower price right now! 

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Michelle 

CF Awareness and Great Strides Donations

For those of you who don't know, May is National CF Awareness Month. I'm excited to be part of this cause and I hope my book can spread awareness!

My story was inspired by a little girl with cystic fibrosis. I'll be walking with Team Regan Kate in her Great Strides Walk this year. I hope a cure is around the corner so this sweet, loving girl can live a long life. You can read more about Regan's story here or watch this short video.

Half of all proceeds from my book will always go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, but everything from the first two days will go towards Regan's walk. Please share the word. You never know when your actions might make a difference :)

Last note: My e-book will only be $2.99 for the first two weeks, then it goes up to $4.99! Order from May 8th-22nd to get the early bird special!

Thanks and have a wonderful week!