Showing posts with label Alyssa Montgomery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alyssa Montgomery. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2009

True Life Mysteries

True life mysteries.

What qualifies a true life mystery?

Is it a medical mystery? One that leaves doctors baffled and the patient scared? A case that goes unsolved for decades? One that leaves detectives baffled? Or is it a sock that goes missing in the wash, never to be seen again?

It's these questions that seem to plague our lives as we live our lives.

Medical mysteries are evident all around us. There are shows that are a testiment to that and reveal people's stories. We, then, become privy to these mysteries and the amazing answers to these questions that before seemed to be unanswerable.

Cold cases also, unfortunately, a part of life's mysteries. Sometimes these are solved and other times they remain cold.

And, lastly, there are those missing socks. I, myself, have at least three socks missing right now, and it is truly a mystery as to where they are. I mean, I think that I always put them in the clothes basket, and, yet, I always end up missing socks when putting away my clean clothes.

So mysteries are all around us. Sometimes we find the answers to them, and other times we fail to find the answers. But that's what a mystery is. And they will always continue to be around us.

Alyssa Montgomery
Author of Where Are You?

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Pop Culture

Pop Culture… Let me see…

For me, I guess the question is how pop culture is derived. I mean, how does a person, or a song, or a fashion statement suddenly rocket to the top of everyone’s list and become a part of our pop culture? Is there a magic touch? Is it totally random? Is it simply a matter of people trying to keep up with the times and following a trend?

Pop culture defines who we are. It reveals what our current likes and dislikes are as well as our previous likes and dislikes. And it is everywhere around us. Magazines, books, movies, songs, artists...

So here’s a question I want to pose: What do you think describes pop culture? Suppose someone comes up to you and asks you that question, what immediately jumps into your mind? A face? A definition? A song? Something else entirely? For me, it’s music that pops into my mind, but everyone one is different. So what about everyone reading this?

Friday, August 7, 2009

Happy Birthday to You (Or Me)

Happy Birthday to Me

No, today is not my birthday, but today I will be talking about my best birthday.

Ever.

Well, let me see… All of my birthdays are pretty memorable…

Like last year. Last year’s birthday was one of my best birthdays because all of my closest friends were able to come over, and we just had a great time.

But I think I’m going to talk about my fifth birthday because it was so long ago, and I still remember it clearly. If I can still remember it clearly after all these years, then it must have not only been pretty memorable, but it must have been pretty good, too.

All of my preschool friends came, and we had the usual party games – piñata, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey…

The piñata (which was a giant green bird) was normal – a bunch of five-year-olds rushing forward to get the candy, but I distinctly remember this game of Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey.

I had chosen this game when my parents and I had gone shopping for birthday games, favors, and decorations. Yet when it actually came time to play the game, I did not want to play at all. I didn’t understand how you could actually pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey when you were blindfolded. But I was convinced to play, so I just kind of placed the tail on the plastic that the donkey was on. And wouldn’t you know it. I took the blindfold off, and I had perfectly pinned the tail right on that donkey.

So when you’re five, and all your friends are there, you’re playing fun party games, and you get to eat chicken nuggets and cake galore, then I think you have the best birthday ever.

Any favorite birthdays out there?

Alyssa Montgomery
www.alyssamontgomery.com
http://www.amontgomery99.blogspot.com

Sunday, July 19, 2009

The Goofiest Thing...

... That I've ever done.

Well...

I think it's pretty much impossible to narrow down all the goofiest things I've done to just one. So I think I'm just going to stick to broad stories.

Like everyone else, I've tripped over my own feet. In public. With my friends.

Yeah, it's embarrassing, but it's also pretty goofy. Especially when I try to laugh it off and have even tried to say once or twice that I meant to do that. In the end, I don't believe that was a very convincing argument. I think it just made the situation all the more goofier.

Not to mention the multiple times that I've gotten tongue-tied and end up saying something totally off from what I wanted to say. Which, naturally, leads to some very goofy sayings.

Okay, so maybe it's also the most embarrassing things I've done. They sometimes combine to be one-in-the-same.

What about all of you?

What are the goofiest things that you all have done?

Monday, June 29, 2009

Where Do You Volunteer?

Volunteer work.

It holds a special place in my heart (as corny as it sounds). And I'm not trying to brag or anything, but people who know me are always questioning how I'm able to volunteer so much. People act like it's impossible to find the time to volunteer, but it's honestly extremely easy to do.

Each week, I volunteer a few hours of my time to help out my local hospital. And it's not difficult to do! I simply help by doing little assignments here and there that greatly help the staff in the long run.

But one thing I think that people misunderstand about volunteer work is that they believe it's boring and a waste of time. But here's the catch: It doesn't have to be! It is so easy to find a volunteer niche that is perfect for you! For me, volunteer work isn't a chore, but a pleasure!

I have volunteered time at my school with my fellow friends and classmates as a part of an organization talking about the effects of bad decisions while on the road and why people should choose to drive safely and filled with awareness. And I would really like to think that it made a difference.

There are so many different ways you can volunteer in your community. For a teen, like myself, there are many options available for you to volunteer in your community.

-Volunteer your time at a sibling's school helping out in the classroom. It really does help the teacher to have an extra helper!

-Volunteer at an afterschool program, such as the Boys and Girls Club, to help kids with their homework. It is so important that kids receive the help that they need in school!

-Volunteer to help clean up your park sometime! It's important that kids have a safe and clean environment to play in!

So, as you can see, there are many easy ways for you to volunteer! And if you don't want to be alone, bring a friend with you! Not only will you have someone to talk to as you clean up the park, but double the amount of work will be done!

And, as I finish up, I know that there are endless possibilities of ways you can volunteer in your community. How do all of you volunteer?

Alyssa Montgomery
http://amontgomery99.blogspot.com/
Author of Where Are You?, Mr. Mysterious, and 9:53 PM (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Monday, June 15, 2009

It's Easy to be Green!

Going Green. I'm loving how it seems to be a growing trend right now because it's so important to protect our environment! And it's so easy to go Green! So I guess that means today I'll be talking about...

Teens going Green!

As a teen myself, I find that protecting my environment is so important. And it is so easy to do! There are so many different things that teens, themselves, can do in an effort to go Green.

- When using a camera, use rechargeable batteries instead of the one-use batteries. Everytime you recharge the batteries, which also have a longer lifespan, you are saving the environment from numerous batteries being thrown out into it.

- When going shopping, bring your own reuseable bag for the cashier to put your purchases into. It really helps to cut down on the amount of plastic bags being wasted each year. And if you happen to forget your reuseable bag, reuse the plastic bag or throw it into the recycle bin instead of the garbage.

- Recycle! This one is huge! So many items are simply thrown away when they could easily be recycled! Paper, plastic, cans... They can all be tossed into a recycle bin instead of a trash can. It makes it easier, too, when a recycle bin is placed next to a trash can in a house! That way it becomes easier to recycle!

- Turning out lights and shutting down appliances (yes, the computer included!) when not in use cuts down tremendously on the amount of electricity used! And they are so easy to do! When leaving a room, just flip the light switch off or shut down the computer so it is not wasting electricity running all night while you're asleep!

- Carpool! When going out to lunch with your friends, instead of all driving separately, conserve gas and have one person drive everyone to lunch! And you can alternate who drives so it's fair to everyone! This way gas is not wasted unnnecessarily!

These measures are all so easy to use when deciding to go Green. But they're not nearly all the methods available for use. So let's share! What are some of the methods you all use to go Green?

Alyssa Montgomery
http://amontgomery99.blogspot.com/
Author of Where Are You?, Mr. Mysterious, and 9:53 PM (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Monday, June 1, 2009

Family Vacations...

... You gotta love them! Cause I know I do. These vacations are some of my fondest memories! But, as with seemingly all road trip stories that I've heard people tell, there's one commonality that runs through all these stories.

Getting lost.

Yup. And lots of people who have been on road trips are probably nodding their heads in agreement right now, probably with some sort of grin or smile on their faces, remembering the moments of driving around, searching for the hotel, restaurant, amusement park with the map lying uselessly on the ground.

In my family, at least, it's a team-effort to find where we're going. We've had five pairs of eyes searching in all different directions. And that's a great benefit! But you know what the worst part is? When someone finds the hotel, and it's on the opposite side of the freeway so it's lost again once you get off.

And here's another one. You're driving with the map, doing just fine, when the map tells you to go straight and a giant sign tells you that if you turn left, you'll get there. Hmmm.... Map or giant metal sign? We chose the giant metal sign. And that was one time we did not get lost. Ha.

But, even though on road trips we, like most other people, tend to get lost, it doesn't put a damper on things because the whole family is together and having fun as we try to find out where we're going. Because you know that, eventually, you'll find it.

What about all you guys? Any wacky stories on getting lost on vacation?

Alyssa Montgomery
Author of Where Are You?, Mr. Mysterious, and 9:53 PM (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Month of Prom!

Today I've decided to let my character, Melanie Ryder, take a break from writing blogs and grab this one myself.

So the month of May. Besides a variety of other things going on this month, there is one event this month that is probably bigger than all of the others:


Prom.

If you've been reading my Melanie's Monday blog, Melanie has been talking about her own road to the prom, and she is quite excited for the dance.

I'd have to say that I agree with her. And even though I'm not the world's best dancer (although I think I've managed to finally leave the bottom ten) I have been so excited for my own prom - I have my dress and shoes picked out, and I've finally decided how I'm going to do my hair.

And ...


(Drum roll please)

I remembered to buy a boutonniere! Can't have the date go without his flower, now, can we?

But, pushing all those aspects aside, I think a major part of Prom is just being with friends. What with graduation around the corner and everyone going to different colleges... It's a night to just hang out with friends and dance and have a good time before everyone begins going their separate ways.

And now enough with being sappy.

So Prom.

A time of memories, laughs, and fun.

And maybe some dancing if you're not too afraid.

Alyssa Montgomery
www.alyssamontgomery.com
Author of Where Are You?, Mr. Mysterious, and 9:53 PM (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Monday, April 20, 2009

Fantastical Paths from Pages to Film

Fantasy books.

Fantasy movies.


Fantasy books adapted into fantasy movies.

Hey everyone! It’s Melanie Ryder, one of Alyssa Montgomery’s characters, and I’m back for yet another blog!

One of my favorite genres to read is fantasy books. I simply love how authors create their own universe that you can easily blend yourself into and understand.

But one thing that always amazes me, however, is how they are able to take that fantasy book and adapt it into a movie that plays on the big screen. An idea that was once on paper has now come to life as an absolute vision so everyone can now, not only read it, but see it.

How cool is that??

I think one of the best examples of this adaptation is Harry Potter. These are my favorite books, and I get so excited each and every time the next book is made into a movie. What the people who work on the Harry Potter movies are able to do is amazing! Both Cal and I absolutely love the floating candles in the Great Hall (and not to mention the sky). And what about Quidditch? Those scenes were exactly as I had pictured them in the books! (And Parker wants to let you all know that the scenes are exactly the way he pictured them too).

So now that you all know about my love (and Cal’s and Parker’s) for the Harry Potter books and the adaptation of them into movies, what about everyone else? Are there any fantasy books that you love the movie adaptations of?

Melanie Ryder can be found in Alyssa Montgomery's short stories, Where Are You? and 9:53 P.M. (from the Heat of the Moment Anthology).

Monday, April 6, 2009

Fashion is Passion

Hey everyone! It’s Melanie Ryder from Alyssa Montgomery’s story, Where Are You?, and I decided to drop by today to talk about …

Fashion!

I think that fashion can be a tricky subject to talk about since everybody has their own fashion. And I think that’s great! Your own fashion can define who you are!

But before I continue, I wanted to make a quick announcement. I was so excited this weekend when…

Cal asked me to prom!

Isn’t that awesome?? I was so excited! And now I can’t wait for the dance to start! But I still need to buy my dress, so on to talking about fashion!

I remember when my cousin went to prom a couple years ago, and she showed me pictures of all her friends dressed up in dresses that looked absolutely beautiful! But the great thing about these dresses was that they were all different! There was not one similar dress in the group, and I think that it proves my point that each person can have their own fashion. These girls chose their dresses based on what they wanted to wear and what they thought was beautiful. And I think that is what fashion is all about – wearing what you want to wear. Each person creates their own style. And when there’s a fashion trend? That’s just when a bunch of people have the same taste in what they like to wear.

So that’s it for me! I’m off to shop for a dress! I’ll see everyone in two weeks for another blog!

The character of Melanie Ryder can be found in Alyssa’s Montgomery’s short story, Where Are You?, as well as in the Heat of the Moment Anthology in the story 9:53 PM.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Page Turning Technology

It's Wednesday, day four of Read An Ebook Week! I've been everywhere I can be, blogging and tweeting about my new-found joy of eReading. Honestly I've been surprised how easy it was to get started and get reading!


Thought I'd miss that new book smell. I was wrong. I'm totally into that instant download gratification.

Thought I'd miss turning pages. Wrong again. I can read Surviving Serendipity with one hand...can you?

The best part? My palm already goes everywhere with me, so I'm never without a book - without having to carry a book!

Discover these great authors in the eBook format that fits you best:

Locker Shock by Pam Ripling

Mr. Mysterious by Alyssa Montgomery

Death Match by Sam Morton

Happy eReading!

Regan
download your copy of Regan's Pixie Chicks today!

P.S. leave a comment (with your link) and you could win a free Quake download.

Monday, March 9, 2009

E-Book Week

I know I have already spent one of my blogs here talking about E-Books, but seeing as how this is E-Book week, I figured I would write another blog on them in honor of the week.

As electronic books are slowly gaining popularity, I have begun to read the electronic books myself. In fact, I just recently read two of the best books, and they were both published in the E-Book format.

A definite pro of E-Books I have noticed is the ease at which they can be read. You simply bring up the story on your computer, and there it is, ready for you to read. Nice and simple. Not to mention that it is easy to scroll through the pages as well. That’s always a nice plus.

So I know I hope to be celebrating E-Book week this week by relaxing and sitting down to read a E-Book!

Alyssa Montgomery
http://www.alyssamontgomery.com/

Where Are You? - Available Now!
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook51168.htm
Mr. Mysterious - Available Now!
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook77204.htm
Heat of the Moment - Available Now!
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook53777.htm