Monday Brain: What audiobook do you recommend?

Today's Monday brain is groggy as all hell. I had a long weekend of social interaction and although needed, I am kind of exhausted because normally when I catch up with my friends it involves whiskey. haha. I had a fun weekend catching up with friends and getting into shenanigans, but it's made my Monday brain sluggish, but that's what coffee is for.

Couple things on my mind.

Periscope live stream for #WhereIWrite was a success! Other than my ridiculous ramblings because I forgot about the public wandering around me watching me talk into my phone for the broadcast! If you'd like to watch the replay of the my broadcast, definitely check out the video! It was a lot of fun walking through Balboa Park, showing off my favorite writing spot, and discussing my writing process and my reference books! Thanks to Wattpad for the epic opportuntiy to participate in #WhereIWrite. You can find my page for #WhereIWrite [HERE]

I'm also a jumbled mess, and can't possibly focus on work because I leave for LOVE N VEGAS

author event this Friday! SO EXCITED! My friend is flying out from Portland to meet me! And all I can think about is tanning poolside with a margarita. (I need to mentally check out so bad, haha). I'll be attending as a reader and can't wait to get my books signed. Also, I'm planning on attending the afterparty. So, not only am i stoked on meeting my favorite authors, I'm looking forward to partying with them. Let the fangirling commence.

I decided to drive from San Diego instead of fly, which isn't a terrible drive, but it means I'll have 4 hours to "me, myself, and I". This is a perfect opportunity to get my audiobook on. I have been heavy in sci-fi audiobook world, and I think I need something fun an romance-y for my journey to Love N Vegas, so I think I decided on finally starting a Jay Crownover book! I'm going to listen to RULE! Check out the question below, cuz I'm kinda on an audiobook binge! I'd love to hear your recommendations! You never know why I might actually pick for my drive.

Question to the blog:

Also, this week should be when I complete my newest novel FAHRENHEIT! I'm really excited about this. Cover reveal is happening on July 20th and will have 99cent preorder links! Are you ready to find out what night club FAHRENHEIT is all about?
[ADD FAHRENHEIT TO YOUR GOODREADS]

Join me for #WhereIWrite on Periscope

I was given the awesome opportunity by Wattpad, an online writing community, to join in the #WhereIWrite project started by Hachette publishing! I'll be live streaming on the Periscope App on July 11th 2015 at Noon PST (or 3pm EST). This app is associated with Twitter, and can be downloaded for FREE to any iPhone or Android. Come follow me!

Username: @oh_alexrosa

The stream won't be short of Alex Rosa awkwardness, or hilarious comments about writing, and what's going on around the broadcast. It's also Comic Con in San Diego, you never know what we might come across. I might even trip and fall, which is worth watching for, right? ;)

Balboa Park. San Diego, CA

With selfi stick in hand, (yes, I did purchase one just for this endeavor, haha), I decided to switch up this hashtag a bit. I enjoy splitting my writing time up. During the week I have my writing cave, but on the weekends I like to cruise to downtown San Diego and get my creative-on at Balboa Park (see picture to the right). Sometimes getting outside, being around people, and in one of my favorite places is where I find the most inspiration, or what may fuel me put words to word document. Balboa Park is my number one go-to for a fresh outlook. So, that's where I'll be doing my live broadcast from. I'll walk you from my car, through the park and to my favorite writing spot. All the while I'll discuss my writing process, show some of my reference tools, and even take comments/questions from viewers during the stream! I'm really excited about this opportunity, and this should be a lot of fun! I won't be on for too long (15 minutes max, I'm telling myself), but would love to see you there! Balboa Park is my favorite place #WhereIWrite, and I can't wait to show you.

If you miss the broadcast Wattpad will be posting up the article on YouTube for everyone to check out.

For more info on the #WhereIWrite project, check out the website: http://www.whereiwrite.tv/

I hope to see you there on Saturday! I can't wait to let my awkwardness run free ;)

Monday Brain - Author Struggles. What's yours?

Look at this! I am doing a Monday Brain post two weeks in a row. This is what I call a blogging miracle.

Things going on in my head ...

"The anxiousness of finishing a novel" <--- why does this always ruin me? haha

It's funny to think that all I have is just a few more chapters of two separate novels. I know what's going to happen in each, and I even know how I want it written, but why (OH WHY!) does it become impossible for me to finish a book. Or at least, it always feel like this. It's like a metaphor for my life. I am such a do-er, but when I get to the 90% mark, my brain shuts down in rebellion. It makes me feel like that angsty, sixteen year old girl I once was, who did the opposite of what people said just because she could, still resides inside me. That attitude riddled teen is in my head, wreaking havoc on my productivity, and is throwing a fricken party over it. She's such a bitch. *shakes head*  I'm losing my mind.

What I mean to say is, why is the home stretch of any novel the hardest? At least for me. It's not that I don't want to say good bye to these characters, although I'll miss them. It's the strangest hurdle I have as an author.

I give myself these insane deadlines when I reach the last 3-4 chapter range of finishing a book, and tell myself I can totally have it all done in less than a month, which technically, is a very doable goal. That'd be a chapter a week. Something I'd normally do with flawless ease. Actually, I can usually write 3 chapters a week when an idea is fresh.

So, it begs the question, is my stalling brain the result of an ache to move onto a new project? My author loins tell me NO! I love these books, their plots and characters. However, when I sit and type these last chapters it comes out achingly slow. Slow is not something I do well, and it tests my patience.

I have four chapters to write to finish my next novel FAHRENHEIT. I managed to finish a chapter over the holiday weekend *fist-bump* This is a huge success! But it was hard to find focus.

Normally I'd blame this lack of focus no external interferences, except this happens to me with every novel. This will be my fifth completed novel, so I know this pattern well, but it doesn't mean the hatred for it stops.

Things I do in an attempt to refocus my brain:

• Yoga

• I just started doing this with more consistency. Yoga is something I do about once a month, and has now turned into nearly every other day. I prefer to do this outside in my backyard where I can look ridiculous in a sports bra, leggings and my TFIOS tank. Usually, I like outside noise, like birds chirping, etc, but most recently my neighbors dog likes to interrupt my zen. I stick my cellphone in my bra, attach my noise cancellation headphones, and listen to instrumental focus music playlists on Spotify as I attempt downward dog. 
• Yoga has helped me SO much. I stretch out my limbs, focus on my breathing, and always end it with a little 10 minute session of meditation to clear my crowded brain of thoughts. 
• It also helps because I work an office job and also write. There's not much movement going on there. So, getting up and stretching, keeping me limber, while focusing on positive vibes helps more than I can explain.
• Okay, so I'm kind of a hippie when I want to be, but I swear this works for me
• Switching up writing locations
• I can't always write in my writing cave. There are too many creature comforts there. It's too easy for me to snuggle my cat, or eat oreo's, or watch a movie, or hell, wander my house searching for inspiration. haha. If it's a weekend, I'll head to Balboa Park or the beach, and write from there. If it's during the week, I usually go straight to Barnes & Noble after work and write until 8:00pm

Those are just a couple of things I try to get through this writing hurdle of mine. I'm so excited to finish these novels:

• Fahrenheit - Humorous Erotica
• Releasing September 22
• Cover Reveal: July 20th (Bloggers sign up [here])
• Unwritten - New Adult
• Release - TBA
• I just need to get this in my Agents hands, and hope she likes it ;)

I can do it, can't I? This isn't my first rodeo. 

If you're a writer (or even a reader), what are some of the things you do to refocus? I'd love to know.

P.S. Using Sailor Moon gifs are my absolute fave.

With lots of book-nerdy love,

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July! I just thought I'd drop a little message to wish everyone a fantastic holiday weekend. (do you like my patriotic book pile?)

It's been an eventful time for America. Good and Bad. I'm not one to ignore the negative, because I'm a realist and feel like there's something to learn from all truths and realities. Recently as a nation we've experienced the tragedy of the Charleston shooting, and then on the other side of this American coin, we have the epic success of the Supreme Court Ruling that #LoveWins and there's marriage equality in all 50 states! I don't want to get political, or climb upon a soap box. That's not the point of this. It's just to shed some light on the turmoil and the triumphants America still goes through to this day. We work hard, we play hard, and we rally together when things go bad, and come together to try and do good. We never stand alone. We help each other when someone spews hate, and try our best to set things right. Among the land of the free, those are just some of the reasons that make this country so great. We're lucky because of this. Not all countries in this world get the same privilege.

I'd like to take a moment to tell you to keep your family close this holiday because it's a time to be thankful for what we have and were we live. Tell your loved ones, family and friends, that you care for them. We all work so hard to find this balance of happiness that sometimes I think we forget how important the people who make it that way are. We don't ever really do it alone.

If you keep up on my social media you know that my grandma is quite sick. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't call her to tell her I love her, and that I'm thankful to have her in my life, because time is not infinite when it comes to people. She's an immigrant from Portugal, and I swear she's one of the proudest American's I know. She left the islands of the Azores, a place where creature comforts rarely existed, to San Diego, California. I'm thankful for the opportunity this country gives to people who seek freedom and come here with hope. The American dream is alive and well, or at least I think so. This country is a melting pot of hope, really.

I am thankful to be an American, and for the people who defend this country, and who work hard to keep us the greatest country in the world. I'm thankful for the family I get to spend the day with. We get the sunshine, good food, and even greater vibes, along with fireworks (duh). I'm also thankful for all the opportunities given to me, and that I have the ability to follow my dream as an author.

Today is a day we celebrate the triumphant(s) and the sacrifices this country has made to get here today. We're not perfect, as a country or as people, but we can damn well try. Be compassionate this holiday, be kind to the ones you love, and also be kind to the ones you don't, and do it just because you can, not because you should. Goodness is infectious.

Please be safe everyone. My hearts go out to everyone this 4th of July!

Always with lots of book-nerdy love,