Book Review: Fully Alive by Michael J. Surdyka

 

Fully Alive by Michael J. Surdyka

Rating: 5/5 Stars

It is very rare that I give a non-fiction book five out of five stars. Let's be real, yes I am biased, I am not a fan of non-fiction and it can be hard to connect with the work unless I am truly interested. However, to be a book reviewer you have to be open to all types of works and look at the work objectively. I would like to say that it was not too hard with Michael Surdyka's book Fully Alive.

Fully Alive is written by Michael as an action guide to overcoming addiction. Right away he tells the readers that this book isn't just about overcoming the addiction but finding a way to anchor yourself to a healthy recovery. He calls it The Sobriety Blueprint, a personalized battle plan that focuses on the individuality of each person. It is apparent that he does his research as data and interviews appear throughout.

Surdyka's voice is also calming within the work as he guides the reader slowly but surely. Furthermore, the inclusion of infographics helps break up all the information you are reading. These graphics are bright, simple but informative. So if you are a visual learner, this might help you out or if you are like me and enjoy brightly colored images, then this is a hit. This book does its job at opening every crevice to help one understand addiction, and how to combat it with assistance from within and around you.

Although I do not suffer from addiction, I have seen it in my personal life. Additionally, my Master's is in Criminal Justice, so addiction was something that popped up quite frequently in my research. So Michael, excellent job in breaking this shit down because let's be real folks it is not easy to understand. Addiction can stem from various things, and it can cause devastation. So why not pick up a book to undo that devastation and build a support system!

Do I recommend this book? Yeah, I do. Who do I recommend it for? That was the tricky part, so I would say it is best marketed to adults but also those interested in subjects such as psychology. Understanding the mind can be a bore but Michael, he makes sure that you are constantly learning with each flip of the page (or in my case screen?).

The book won't be ready until February 2021 but you can still view Michael's site for the book here and view his Goodreads.

I received this ARC in exchange for a review.

2020 NaNoWriMo Winner

NaNoWriMo 2020

One of my faves but one of the hardest. 

Fall 2020 - 200th Post

 In a year where every day is uncertain, enjoy images of pure happiness during the fall season. 

Colors Change. Nature Doesn't

Young and Running Free; 
As Any Child Should

Happy 200th Post 

NaNoWriMo 2020 - Day 1 (Word Tracker)

Here is a small post today in the spirit of the first day of NaNoWriMo! The Word Tracker I will be using this month! It was drawn and designed by me, and if anyone would like to use it themselves! Write a comment or shoot me an email!

Book Review: Like My Mother Before Me by Naley Gonzalez

Like My Mother Before Me by Naley Gonzalez

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Alizé Salvas is your ordinary average teenage girl. She likes to cut class with her best friend Estelle, she has a playful relationship with her older brother and she plays on her junior varsity volleyball team. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, she has the ability to see ghosts and has a demon with a grudge against her. Totally normal right? Wrong, and Alizé would agree with me because nothing about that is normal. Before all of this Alizé’s worst problem was trying to complete her homework, and I just have to say same sis. However, when she witnessed a ghost in her father’s office shit just gets real. From that moment things begin to spiral for her and you feel for her! That is what Gonzalez does amazingly in this novel. 

Emotions leap off the page and you get pulled deep into the story. You laugh when Alizé plays around with her brother, you’re frightened when Alizé first sees the skeletal woman in her father’s office, and your heartbeats a little faster when Martín sweet talks her. These instances are what make this book gold but not the only thing! As a Latina, it was great to see bits of my own culture in there, especially with the familial relationships. Don’t we all have a Tia Ida? As a daddy’s girl, the relationship with Alizé and her father was spot on. You see the different ways he tries to protect her even in the beginning, it’s all in the dialogue. When Tia Ida and Gabriel are talking, you start to put things together. I won't spoil the ending, you're just going to have to read it yourself.

Do I recommend this book? Hell yeah, especially in time for spooky season. This novel is a great read that allows you to escape to a new world just for a few hours. Also, while you are at it get the short story “Let Me Down Slowly” because it makes everything click into place.  

It can be purchased here and you can view Naley's website here

 

Preptober - Notes

 

NaNoWriMo 2020 Notes

Preptober - First Week

Hello, Fellow Readers and Writers, welcome to October! This month means a lot to me in various ways. My anniversary is in this month, my birthday, and of course Preptober for NaNoWriMo! This year I feel more inspired than usual which can either mean two things! Great things will be coming or I will crash and burn this year. 

This year I am writing the novel I am looking to have traditionally published but also working on an old novel. Challenging myself to do that has been an interesting one but helpful. Both novels are YA Fantasy with similar ideas of magic, and friendship. Editing one is inspiring the other which in the long run is helpful. 

Prepping for this month includes using some brand new journals I got from Typo through Cotton: On, and brand new BIC Gel Pens. This makes me feel at peace, I think other journal obsessed lovers would understand. The main goal for these projects is honestly to just get into the groove of writing again. This pandemic has stopped some other elements in my life but writing has been itching in the back of my mind. 

If anyone wants to connect, I am Kimmyax3

Happy Writings!

I Am Cath Avery

If you have been following my blog for a while (seven years) then you will realize that this post is similar to I Am Fern Walters. That post focused on Fern Walters from Arthur, who like I, is an introverted writer who second-guesses her self. Well today I will be talking about another character that I relate to very much

Cath Avery

Cath Avery, is the protagonist from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell a freshman who just started the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her twin sister Wren. What relates me to Miss Cath? She is a writer and a fanfiction writer who basically is an introvert while her sister Wren is considered to be the "social one". Cath hates anything social and she is obsessed with the Simon Snow series (Harry Potter parody) which is similar to me because I am a Potterhead who also hates being social. However, the point of this post is to talk about Cath and her love for fanfiction. 

When I first picked up this book, I fell deep into it because I felt just like Cath. In middle school and high school, I had dabbled in fanfiction for series such as Charmed and Dawson's Creek. However, my show was One Tree Hill, and I just fell into the show but I wanted more and I started writing my own stories. I learned what fanfiction was in 2003, and never looked back. Writing fanfiction showed me that writing was my passion, and I wrote a lot of fanfiction for the show like A LOT. They are somewhere deep in my laptop and emails but I was obsessed and so is Cath. She focuses her time on writing these stories and learns that writing is her passion. 

As the novel progresses we learn how much Fanfiction has saved Cath through the facets of her life. Fanfiction has always had and will be a part of my life. I still write it but for other things but a girl may go back to One Tree Hill because I can definitely rewrite those stories (I was a teen and my grammar game sucked). The point is, it is a lost love of mine and I cannot wait to re-explore it. The novel also touches upon anxiety, romance, and mental illness. Things that plague my own life, and overall it is an amazing novel. 

I recommend it to writers of fanfiction and writers overall. 

This novel deserves a sequel! 

Happy Birthday Inksoaked Page

Hola Fellow Writers & Readers :)

First Happy 7th Birthday to this amazing blog! I cannot believe I have been blogging on this platform for seven whole years! Time does tend to fly by, but boy do I have some updates for you guys. 

First, the last time I updated this blog was in January 2020 where I decided to dedicate a good chunk of my time to my novel. I did not think a Pandemic would occur just a few months later but although it had shaken everything in my life around, it helped me. I was able to dedicate a bit more time to my novel but also helped me balance my last graduate semester, fellowship, and work. It also showed me it was time to leave New York City. As much as I love my city and roots unfortunately it's just ultimately a difficult place to live with a growing family. In a few weeks, I will be going to a new state to view houses with my husband Eric and daughter Emmy. 

Due to all of that I will be taking a step back from writing and balancing everything else. When we are settled in then I will return back to the writing. Next is finalizing my PhD applications, some job opportunities and wrapping 2020 up with a bow. Although this pandemic has stalled some things it has definitely pushed me to make major decisions. 

I will try to get this blog back to writing and book reviews. 

Stay Tuned

Major 2020 Goal & Update

Here is a Facebook post that I put up a few weeks ago. This year I wanted to focus on my writing, and take a step back from writing and editing for others. 2020, is a big year for me personally and I want to end the year with a traditionally published book (and maybe one self-published piece). Writing has been my dream, and it's been mentioned multiple times on this blog, but this year I am going full force with it. No this does not mean I will stop reviewing books! I will answer my backlog of messages ASAP, but I will be more mindful of personal writing on this blog and strictly keep major projects to myself. 

Wish me luck on this adventures 💟