Friday, May 8, 2015

Review: Dragons Are People, Too by Sarah Nicolas + Giveaway



Dragons Are People, Too

Sarah Nicolas

YA Urban Fantasy
Entangled Teen
April 28, 2015


Never judge a dragon by her human cover...

Sixteen-year-old Kitty Lung has everyone convinced she’s a normal teen—not a secret government operative, not the one charged with protecting the president’s son, and certainly not a were-dragon. The only one she trusts with the truth is her best friend—and secret crush—the über-hot Bulisani Mathe.

Then a junior operative breaks Rule Number One by changing into his dragon form in public—on Kitty’s watch—and suddenly, the world knows. About dragons. About the Draconic Intelligence Command (DIC) Kitty works for. About Kitty herself.

Now the government is hunting down and incarcerating dragons to stop a public panic, and a new shape-shifting enemy has kidnapped the president’s son. Kitty and Bulisani are the last free dragons, wanted by both their allies and their enemies. If they can’t rescue the president’s son and liberate their fellow dragons before getting caught themselves, dragons might never live free again.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

I love dragons, and the idea of dragon shifters is awesome. Put dragon in the title, and I'm bound to read it sooner or later. Dragons Are People, Too is a fast-paced thrill ride featuring a sixteen-year-old dragon working for a secret government organization of dragon shifters.

I really liked Kitty. She was so tough, having trained for her job since she was four. But she also showed emotion and weakness at times which made her seem real. Kitty was a Chinese dragon, but her organization also had African and English dragons. Seriously, dragons galore in this novel. I found the romantic interest, Bulisani (great name BTW) quite intriguing. Definitely some diversity in this read with the female lead a Chinese dragon, and the romantic interest an African dragon.

I enjoyed the author's writing style-- lots of shorter sentences during the action scenes led to more tension. And there were some great action scenes. I also appreciated the fast pace. In addition, the romance, though built slowly, was rather sweet once it got going. Not so thrilled about the lack of ending, but series are so popular nowadays, and it's really hard to have a concrete ending between books. So just keep that in mind if you hate non-endings.

Overall, this is a fun, high-action story, with great characters and a sweet romance. Perfect for a YA audience.

About the Author

Sarah is a 30-something YA author who currently lives in Orlando, FL with a 60-lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua. She believes that some boys are worth trusting, all girls have power, and dragons are people too.

She's a proud member of the Gator Nation and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, but has switched careers entirely. She now works as an Event Coordinator for a County Library and as a freelance book publicist and author's assistant. She also blogs at YAtopia and video blogs at the YA Rebels.

Author Links:


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Thursday, May 7, 2015

Turning a Playboy into a Worthy Partner by Kristin Miller, Author of The Werewolf Wears Prada



I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Kristin Miller, author of The Werewolf Wears Prada. I love it when a sexy playboy meets the woman of his dreams and reforms his wayward ways out of love. Kristin Miller shares her thoughts on reforming a playboy.



Turning a Playboy into a Worthy Partner

by Kristin Miller

When reading romance, you might notice the “playboy archetype” is everywhere. These heroes are sexy, and know they are. They’re popular and flirtatious, ruggedly masculine, and maybe a little rough around the edges. The seem to blow off responsibility in favor of partying, and are usually sexually untamed until the heroine comes along. Even though a small part of you may think they exhibit douchebag qualities, the other part of you can’t help but love them.

Okay, okay, I may be talking for myself here. But I can’t be the only one.
I happen to love to write them as much as I love to read them.
In THE WEREWOLF WEARS PRADA, Hayden Dean is an unapologetic playboy. He’s also a werewolf—the heir apparent to the San Francisco Wolf Pack. Well, once he settles down, that is.

Melina Rae Rosenthal—a non-shifter and journalist—is tasked to improve his image for her latest article. If she can do that, she’ll earn the job of her dreams: a place at Eclipse, the world’s leading high fashion magazine.

But how do you turn a playboy into a worthy hero?

Let me tell you, I Googled “Playboy Image Improvement” until my eyes blurred. I found more articles on “How to be a Playboy” and “How to Land a Woman by being a Playboy” more than anything else.

This is a brief summary what I found…

Playboys (or bad boys), put their needs first. They think of themselves first and foremost. They’re assertive, and vocal about their likes and dislikes. They never ask for approval. From anyone, to do anything. They don’t sweat the little things. They give off a relaxed vibe, as if nothing bothers them. If something hurts them, they laugh it off. They’re physically fit. A playboy knows what he wants, and isn’t ashamed to ask for it.

The deeper I researched, the more my opinion changed.

I don’t want a playboy at all.

I want a reformed playboy. He should exhibit all of those qualities until he meets the heroine—the one he’s fated to be with.

Looking at the snapshot of playboy qualities I mentioned above, it was easy to know what my hero needed to do to improve his image. Rather than think about his needs first and foremost, he needed to donate time to charity. Work hard for his company, taking on extra projects to lessen the load on his co-workers. While being vocal about his likes and dislikes, he also needed to learn to listen to others’ thoughts and feelings. Rather than swallow down his feelings, he needed to learn to express them in acceptable ways. (No denial, projection or deflection.)

Playboys and bad boys may give off a relaxed vibe, as if nothing bothers them, but when they find the woman they’re supposed to be with, they should lose their cool when she’s threatened. This final aspect is one Hayden learned without Melina’s plan for image improvement. Once she’s put in danger, he’s willing to do anything to protect her.

He may’ve wanted to improve his image, but he didn’t expect for his world to flip head over end. By the end, he lives and breathes to make Melina happy.
And that one quality, right there, is what turns a playboy into a worthy hero.



The Werewolf Wears Prada

San Francisco Wolf Pack, Book One


Kristin Miller


Paranormal Romance
Entangled Covet
April 28, 2015

Amazon  |  BN  |  iBooks  |  Kobo

Falling in love bites...

Melina Rosenthal worships at the altar of all things fashion. Her dream is to work for the crème de la crème fashion magazine, Eclipse, and she'll do much anything to get there. Even fixing up the image of a gorgeous, sexy public figure who's all playboy, all the time. Even if he's the guy who broke her heart a year ago...

Even if Hayden Dean is a werewolf.

Since his father's death, Hayden's the heir apparent to the San Francisco Wolf Pack-well, once he settles down. Hayden isn't interested in giving up his partying ways, except he's pretty sure he's found his fated mate, and the fact that she's a non-shifter is bad news. Now he must find a compromise between the traditions of his wolf world and his certainty that Melina is his...before fate (or another werewolf) bites them both in the butt.

About the Author 



New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kristin Miller writes sweet and sassy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance of all varieties. Kristin has degrees in psychology, English, and education, and taught high school and middle school English before crossing over to a career in writing. She lives in Northern California with her alpha male husband and their two children. She loves chocolate way more than she should and the gym less. You can usually find her in the corner of a coffee shop, laptop in front of her and mocha in hand, using the guests around her as fuel for her next book.



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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

New Release Alert: Stolen Art by Ruth Silver


Hi, everyone! I wanted to share this new release with you because it looks like such a fun read!


Stolen Art

Ruth Silver

YA Sci Fi Adventure
Publication Date- May 4th, 2015
Published By- Lazy Day Publishing


Sixteen-year-old Madeline has been living on the streets, biding her time until she's eighteen. With little to no money, she takes on a heist in hopes of making ends meet. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything.  

Getting caught is just the beginning of Madeline's adventure as she meets Weston and discovers the secret of where she came from.

  



Author Bio-
Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of the Aberrant trilogy. With a passion for writing and a love of story-telling, Ruth is actively writing two series: Royal Reaper and Orenda. She also writes The Federal Agent Chronicles, an adult romance series under the name Ravyn Rayne for Blushing Books. Her interests include traveling, reading, and photography. Her favorite vacation destination is Australia. Ruth currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.
Follow Ruth here-
Looking for a steamier read? Check her out here-

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

My Top 5 Fantasy Reads by BC Powell, Author of The Infinite Expanse


I'm so excited to welcome BC Powell, author of The Journals of Krymzyn series. This series features two of my favorite book covers-- they are simply stunning.

My Top 5 Fantasy Reads
by BC Powell
  
5. “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. This was one of the first fantasy books written with a strong, young, female protagonist, and I would say it is the “godmother” of the modern YA fantasy genre. L’Engle’s prose is beautiful and flowing, her characters are rich and complex, and some very deep issues are examined in this story. It was one of the first fantasy books I ever read, and it’s still one of my favorites.

4. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. This book opened my mind to the world of fantasy as a young reader. It’s an amazing story with characters that keep you deeply involved throughout the course of the journey. I enjoyed the entire “Chronicles of Narnia” series, but the first book is a masterpiece.

3. “The Gunslinger” by Stephen King. The first time I read this book, I couldn’t put it down. It was mysterious in a way that ignited my imagination and takes the reader into a dark, deeply compelling mood. Unfortunately, after the first three books, the “Dark Tower” series really fell apart for me. But the first book is one of the most enjoyable reading experiences of my life.

2. “Dune” by Frank Herbert. In my opinion, this is the best science fiction fantasy book ever written. I know that’s not going out on limb since so many others would agree, but this book opened my mind to the amazing possibilities of fantasy and sci-fi. If you enjoy fantasy and/or sci-fi but haven’t read this book, put it at #1 on your TBR. The story is truly mind-boggling while also making a very strong social commentary.

1. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Fantasy just doesn’t get any better than this. I was seventeen the first time I picked it up. I didn’t sleep or bathe and barely ate until I finished the books. The stunning imagery, depth of the characters, and their amazing journeys makes this, in my opinion, and unequaled fantasy read.

Well, he managed to pick some of my favorite fantasies :)
How about you? What are some of your favorite fantasy reads?
My favorite is The Belgariad series by David Eddings, followed closely by Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn. 
-Kimber


The Infinite Expanse
The Journals of Krymzyn, Book Two

BC Powell

New Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi
March 31, 2015

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Goodreads

Evil lurks in the desolate Barrens of Krymzyn. For millions of Eras, predators with insatiable cravings have prowled the wasteland. When a traitor of the Delta enters their realm, the solitary beasts may finally have a leader to unite them.

As a new order emerges in the Barrens, Chase and Sash begin their lives together. While Chase fights to prove he belongs in Krymzyn, the power inside Sash flourishes in ways no one could have imagined. But a vengeance from the wasteland is soon unleashed upon them.

After Chase is trapped deep in the Barrens, his only escape is into the Infinite Expanse. Unaware of the deathly perils that take shape there, he may be lost forever. For Sash to return him from the endless wilderness, she’ll have to harness a mystical energy not seen since the beginning of time.



Don't miss book one!

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About the Author

BC Powell is a fantasy author from Los Angeles, CA. His debut science fiction fantasy novel "Krymzyn" was published in October, 2014. "The Infinite Expanse", the highly anticipated second book in "The Journals of Krymzyn" series, is scheduled for release on March 31, 2015.

Powell has a diverse background, having held several creative positions in the entertainment industry, including executive roles at ABC-TV and Technicolor. In recent years, he's authored several non-fiction works, primarily educational books and training programs for trading the financial markets. He dual majored in journalism and philosophy at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Writing fiction has been his lifelong passion and goal. “The Journals of Krymzyn” represents, in his words, “finally finding the story I want to tell with characters that are able to bring that story to life.” He's an avid reader and lists Ernest Hemingway, Frank L. Herbert, Stephen King, Jane Austen, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. as his favorite authors.

Brad, as he prefers to go by in personal communication, lives with his longtime girlfriend, three sons from a previous marriage, and their rescue dog and cat. He enjoys hiking, ocean kayaking, spending time at Southern California beaches, movies, and reading.

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Monday, May 4, 2015

Beyond Reach by Siohban Davis - Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway

Beyond Reach banner

Welcome to my stop during the blog tour for Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis, organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from May 1st through the 21st, and you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.
So far this series contains 2 books: True Calling (True Calling #1) and Beyond Reach (True Calling #2).

Beyond ReachBeyond Reach
True Calling #2

Siobhan Davis

YA Science Fiction/Dystopian Romance
Release Date: April 30, 2015

Blurb:
Back on Earth, Ariana is caught in a dangerous crossfire between clandestine rebel organization Clementia and the power-hungry government. Refusing to divulge the location of the secret information entrusted to her by her late father, she desperately tries to bargain for her Mom, Lily, and Cal’s rescue. She’s fighting a losing battle, and the clock is ticking.

Presented with evidence of her fiancé Cal’s apparent betrayal, she loyally defends him despite her concerns. With her emotions in turmoil, matters become even more complicated as she grows closer to her ex-boyfriend Zane.

When the stakes are raised, a succession of shocking revelations rocks her world, setting her on a path that will not only change her destiny but the fate of humanity.

Confronted by a memory so abhorrent comes a truth she would do anything to forget.

But some things just can’t be undone.
*** 
Beyond Reach is the gripping second novel in the True Calling trilogy, continuing the story of Ariana Skyee in the weeks after she arrives back on Earth.

You can find Beyond Reach on Goodreads

You can buy Beyond Reach here: - Amazon
- Kobo
- iBooks

Excerpt

During the tour, bloggers will share parts of a larger excerpt. To read them all, click on the banner at the top of the post and follow the tour!


Okay, so now I’m totally freaked out and silently cursing my aching feet for urging me into this vehicle. Gulping nervously, I tighten my grip on my backpack and stare out the side window.

Thankfully, they both seem to understand that I’m uncomfortable, and we travel in silence the rest of the way.

As the truck slows down, my gaze switches in front of me. Straightening in my seat, I lean forward, looking at the small, square structure in the distance. “This is where you get out,” the man says.

I open the door and step down. “Thank you.”

“Mind your way,” the woman says. Reaching out, she pulls the handle inward and the door shuts. The truck turns around and veers away unsteadily.

Well then, that experience basically rewrote the definition of weirdness, I think, as I smooth my hands over my pants. Clamping down on the panic residing in my chest, I force one foot in front of the other and walk toward the checkpoint. It rests in front of a huge high-rise steel fence that appears to be electrically fortified at the top. Stretching left and right for miles, the fence looks rigidly impenetrable. As I approach the small, steel structure, two Rangers appear in my line of sight. They advance toward me, and I steel my spine.

“Stop right there,” the shorter one says. I stop dead in my tracks. “What do you … wait a minute.” Comprehension dawns. “Remove your backpack and raise your hands in the air,” he demands. Shucking my arms free, I release the backpack and place it by my feet. I lift my hands up over my head. The Ranger moves to my back and roughly grabs my hands, cuffing my wrists in one fluid motion. “Ariana Skyee, you are under arrest.”

Duh, as if I didn’t realize that when I set out on my trip. “Technically, I’m handing myself in. Just like the President requested.”


Guest Post by Siobhan Davis

Favorite Movies Watched Over and Over Again

I’m a huge movie-goer and it’s my second favorite past-time, usurped only by reading. A big kid at heart, you’ll often hear me trying to persuade my kids to go and see the latest Transformers or Marvel Universe movie. Moreover, as with books, if I love a movie then I’ll watch it over and over again and never tire of its awesomeness.

10. Braveheart – I am a total sucker for swash-buckling historical dramas, and this is one of the better ones. Mel Gibson is a dashing William Wallace whose heart is torn apart when his beloved wife is slaughtered. Plenty of action, angst and romance against a striking Scottish backdrop. Stunning.

9. Michael Collins – Liam Neeson is well cast as legendary Irish republican Michael Collins in this good Hollywood adaptation of Ireland’s struggle for independence. As a history major I’ve always had a keen interest in Ireland’s past, and I’ve read loads on Michael Collins, so this film touches a soft spot.

8. The Hunger Games series – I only read the books after seeing the first movie and then I was totally hooked. The 'Catching Fire' movie was infinitely better than the first one. I was hugely disappointed with Mockingjay 1 though I’m hoping Part 2 will remedy that. Jennifer Lawrence is freaking amazing, and I am so in love with Peeta Mellark/Josh Hutcherson.

7. The English Patient – If you have not seen this movie you are totally missing out! This one tugs my heart strings every time. When Ralph Fiennes carries Kristin Scott Thomas out of the cave, at the end, I just sob for hours.

6. Pearl Harbour – Hot boys, love triangle, angry Japs, pissed American soldiers, testosterone-fuelled retaliation. This film may be a bit cheesy, but I challenge anyone to pick easily between Danny (Josh Hartnett) and Rafe (Ben Affleck). The cinematography is breath-taking.

5. Lord of the Rings – Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s world is jaw-dropping, and the acting is sublime. My youngest son is addicted to these movies, so I have no choice but to repeatedly watch them on a regular basis.

4. Narnia – As a child I absolutely loved these books and I was thrilled when they made some of them into movies. As movies go, I think Prince Caspian is my favourite, though that could be a lot to do with Ben Barnes J Great family movies that I never tire of watching.

3. Twilight – oh Edward! Aka Robert Pattinson. Swoon. Loved the books, adore the movies. Was at all of the midnight screenings, with my eldest son in tow. Have lost count of the amount of times I’ve watched them at this stage.

2. Titanic – I practically had convulsions when James Cameron announced they were bringing out a 3D version, and I raced to the cinema in 2012 to see it. This is one of my all-time favourite movies. My husband and I were discussing our ‘mug list’ the other night (the Davis’ version of the ‘bucket list’) and I added a visit to the ship at the bottom of the sea as my desire before I die. I love the cinematography of the real ship at the start of this movie. Rose and Jack’s love story is so heart-breaking that I cry every time. “I’ll never let go, Jack. I promise.” (heart-ripping-apart)

1. Star Wars – Anyone that knows me knows that I am a die-hard Star Wars fan. I saw ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ in the cinema as a little girl, and I was sucked into the world created by George Lucas. I have all six of the movies on DVD’s and have turned both my sons into avid Star Wars fans too (especially my 8-year-old). I am so excited for the new movie and was thrilled to discover they filmed part of it recently on an island just off the coast of Ireland. Always exhilarating, I’ll be watching them forever.

Star Wars - the entire series... well maybe not Episode One... anyway, the rest are my favorite movies of all time. I also watch The Avengers and all three Men in Black movies a lot. I love Guardians of the Galaxy and have seen that a few times. Oh, and of course, The Princess Bride. How about you? What are some of your favorite movies? You know, the ones you just can't seem to see too many times.
May the Fourth be with you.  -Kimber

First book in this series:
True CallingTrue Calling
True Calling #1

Siobhan Davis

YA Dystopian/Science Fiction/Romance
Release Date: August 1, 2014

Blurb:

Planet Novo, nestled in space twelve hundred miles above the surface of the Earth, is the new home of 17-year-old Cadet Ariana Skyee. Confused by the government-sanctioned memory erase and distressed at her impending forced marriage and motherhood, Ariana’s plans for the future are thrown into complete disarray.

As the traumatic events within her family life enfold, Ariana grows increasingly alarmed at the authorities apparent pre-occupation with her and feels progressively more isolated and alone.

Her growing feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify as the recently announced pageant, ‘The Calling’, gets underway. Struggling to comprehend the continuous, inexplicable dreams of the mysterious Zane, discovering the past helps shape her future, with devastating personal consequences.
You can find True Calling on Goodreads

You can buy True Calling here:


SiobhanAbout the Author:

Siobhan Davis is the author of YA science fiction romance series True Calling.

A self-diagnosed ‘teenager forever’—at least when it comes to books, music and movies; Siobhan is totally addicted to teen fiction and superhero/blockbuster movies. Siobhan loves baking, crime novels, shoes, bags, make-up, anti-wrinkle cream, anything pink, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, and Robert Pattinson (definitely Team Edward).

Siobhan has forged a successful corporate career, in Human Resources, over the last twenty years.

A member of the IWI writers group, Siobhan resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

Contact Siobhan at: www.siobhandavis.com

You can find and contact Siobhan here:

Sample chapters, quotes, reviews and book excerpts are all available to download from the

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Beyond Reach. These are the prizes you can win:
- 2 e-copies of Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis
- 2 10$ amazon gift cards

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Writer Mama Bloghop


Welcome to my stop on the Writer Mama Bloghop! Writing as a mother creates an interesting set of challenges that I never realized could be an issue.

I have dabbled in writing on and off for a long time. After my son was born, I had a full-time job, not to mention motherhood being a full-time job in and of itself. I remember keeping a laptop in the trunk of my car when I worked at GEICO. I'd go out on my lunch break and write. Not a good idea. It was simply too much pressure to try to be on during that brief forty-five minute time-frame. At that time, my husband had a job out of state, and he was only home on the weekends. I was running everywhere, always exhausted. Before long, I gave up, putting my dreams on the backburner and allowing life to take over.

Eventually I was able to quit my job in order to be a full-time mom. Any of you out there who have ever tended a toddler will understand... it's next to impossible to concentrate on anything with a little one running around. I called my son Hurricane Jason because he was so curious and active. He never napped and was up with the dawn every morning. By the time my husband returned from work, all I wanted to do was go straight to bed-- forget about writing. There were a few times when I pulled out that old laptop and wrote a chapter or two, but writing a novel seemed like a pipe dream.

I'll never forget when my son started preschool. I was so excited about having three whole hours to myself while he was learning his ABCs and 123s. I failed to take into account the twenty minute drive to and from preschool, along with the utter mess left behind every morning. Silly me thought he'd return tired and would finally nap. Yeah, right. He returned more hyper than when I dropped him off, and the laptop stayed in its new home on my bookcase, unused.

Elementary school brought new hope, since he'd be in school for a full day. I didn't factor in the fact that his Kindergarten would be so awful that I'd have to homeschool him after school every single day. His Kindergarten class consisted of one teacher and thirty-five kids. Seriously, that's not a typo. I ended up volunteering several times a week to work with the more advanced children, while the teacher dealt with the rest. I loved my time in the classroom and continued volunteering throughout his elementary school days.

Then a glorious day came. Hurricane Jason moved on to middle school. He didn't want me to volunteer anymore because he found it embarrassing to have his mother at school all the time. So I cut back on my volunteer hours and suddenly had a lot of extra time on my hands. Three years ago, I started writing full-time while my son was in school. Within a few months, I had two complete novels written: Shadow Fire and Stolen Moon.

I was on a new high, a do-what-I-want-to-do-and-not-what-I'm-forced-to-do high. It was amazing for all of eight weeks or so. As it turns out, I have a tendency to become so involved in my writing that I lose all track of time. Hours passed that felt like minutes. I lost weight because I simply forgot to eat-- awesome diet BTW. I was a woman possessed. When my son and husband sat down and told me they didn't like me writing because I was too involved in it, I was devastated. They felt like I forgot all about them in favor of my characters and plot.

It is so important to find a happy medium. I try not to write when my son is home. Instead I edit the works of others during this time. Something about being analytical keeps me from entering that writer's zone where my brain loses touch with the world around me. It can be very hard to find a balance that works, and it takes some trial and error... sometimes a lot of trial and error. I'm not completing novels as quickly as I did three years ago, but my family is much happier.

My son is my biggest fan. He loves my books and tends to read them over and over. I think he might kill me if I don't get the 2nd Orion Circle book out soon. His praise fills me with such warmth-- it's like nothing I've ever felt before. I'm so glad that I can share this with him.

My advice-- communicate and listen. I would get so upset when my husband would criticize the amount of time I spent writing. Unless someone has written a novel, I don't think they really grasp the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that go into it. But family must come first. Sit down with your family and talk to them. Make a writing schedule if you have to (I don't do well with schedules- so that doesn't work for me). If you have young children and still manage to write, then you've achieved superhero status in my book!