taylorhondos – Page 11 – Taylor Hondos

Posted on November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 by taylorhondos — Leave a comment

Challenge with Christian Carter-Ross

Dear Readers,

Introducing my friend, Christian Carter-Ross, who is an inspiration to me every day with his work.

It’s that time again! Three day challenge lives on. I am going to start the week off by giving you guys a little information about Christian. Last year we had this challenge and it went pretty well. Each year we plan to advance a little more. So here is my very talented friend, Christian Carter-Ross. He is an inspiration and I can’t wait for you to see just how amazing he is in his work.

Here is a preview of some of his work this year.

Tell us who you are in a few sentences?

I am Christian Carter-Ross, known to few as Trey (my middle name). In the future my hopes are that I’m known as Christian “The Photographer.” I am currently a senior at UNCG majoring in New Media & Design (fancy for art). My passions are photography, fitness, poetry (spoken word) and music. I’ve been shooting since high school but have only taken photography seriously for about three years.

How would you describe what you do?

Visual storytelling. A story that YOU make up but use my photos as inspiration.

What is your favorite thing to photograph?
I’m big on capturing moments as they happen so I guess I’m driving in the lane of “lifestyle photography.” If you’ve ever gone through any of my blogs you’ll find a lot of my photos are of specific moments. I might walk by someone and ask to take a picture of their shoes because I think they’re cool. I’m literally the person to walk by a pile of garbage and try to make a photo of it. Only photographers understand the urge ha!

What inspired you to begin photography? Did someone inspire you?

I remember as a child, taking a field trip to the zoo in Asheboro and buying this small little toy camera with pre-rolled images inside. The images were different wild animals, doing whatever they do in their habitats but it fascinated me. Little did I know, I’d come back around to photography in high school. Back then it was just something to do after school so I joined the Photography club. What made me get serious about it was the aesthetic behind a photo. How it told a visual story without text or how you could even make up your own scenario within the photo. The majority of the time, the photographer has complete control over what’s in the photo and what he or she wants to display to you. Sometimes it’s intentional the photographer didn’t directly tell you what to look and they want the viewer to make up their own story. To me that’s what makes photography…attractive. As I begin to meet people from the art community, they started influencing my style in photography so I guess you could say I was slightly inspired.

What sets you apart from other Photographers?

Other than the obvious watermark of my own photography small business, style. One of my favorite rising photographers said, “the best watermark you could have is style.” I want people to walk in a room with works from 100 different photographers and still be able to find my work without my name on it. That’s special to me. I’m learning, as I’m taking these art history courses, what famous photographers styles are like. I can now look at a photo and know “Dorothea Lange took that” just from simple elements of the photo.

Do you have a favorite Photographer?

I have many! It’s really hard to choose but if I had to I’d say Devin Allen. He’s recently gained fame from his documentary work during the Baltimore riots back in the spring. I follow him on social media and had the chance to chat with him here and there. He’s a very down to earth guy with incredible work. His most recognized piece actually made the cover of time magazine (below) and will surely go down in history. No no, literally—they’re already placing the photo in new history textbooks.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hopefully I’ll be working for a major publication like The New York Times. That’s always been my goal but I’m willing to work for any major publication whether it’s a fashion magazine like Vogue or shooting for ESPN on the sideline at a Panthers game. I would even settle for just continuing to run my small business in photography, which has become successful in the North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia area over the last year might I add! I’m for whatever God has planned for me within photography.

Stay tuned this week. I will be posting Christian’s photos as well as my poems/stories. Stay inspired to do what you love. Find someone who will push you in life. Find a friend who wants to see you succeed. That is what I have and I am thankful every day for it.

Happy Reading<3

Taylor

Posted on October 28, 2015 by taylorhondos — Leave a comment

Dear Young Writers,

Dear young writers,

I was like you once. I was afraid to put myself out there because of the fear of being judged or embarrassed. Let me tell you that there comes a time when we have to decide who we are going to live for. Will it be for ourselves or others?

I have a lot of advice for younger authors because I was still in High School when I began writing. My first book was published when I turned 19. I am only 20 years old now so I think I can relate to young writers. This advice may be something that you’ll never think of again, but maybe it will help just one of you out there.

1.Do not be afraid of rejection.

This means by the public, by a publisher, by a literary agent, by a friend or even by a family member. I didn’t let the rejection of publishers or literary agents stop me. I knew that one day I would find my place in the book world and I have. You can expect a lot more from me. I will be publishing books left and right one day. This is my passion. It will continue to happen for me just like things will start happening for you.

Read. Read a lot!

Not one idea that I have for a book has come from me doing nothing but writing or reading. I read. Every single day. Ideas blossom that way. Continue to read and love to read. You will have ideas from those books. You will think of ways to change the story and make it better. I’m not saying copy their ideas (please don’t do that). I’m saying to keep your mind running on how to make yourself a better writer. It’s always so humbling to see your mistakes as a writer and then to see that someone you look up to has made the exact same mistake in their book. I always think to myself, “I forget that they’re human too.” We all make mistakes. Learn From Them.

Write as much as you can.

I have to admit that when I get busy, I do not write. I can go a week without writing but then my fingers are itching to write something, so I do. I have a journal that I write in every single day, but I should be writing on my books at that moment instead! If you don’t write at least every week, then you will probably start to think less and less about it and that isn’t good. Write always. Write every single day (preferably) but try and write every week.

When you think you’re done editing, you’re not.

Learn from me. There is always work to be done. There is always room for improvement. When you think your book is PERFECT. Look again. No one has a perfectly written book. When you think you’re ready, keep working on it until your editor says, “Now this is a good book.” I edited “Antidote” more than 50 times (no kidding) and it still is nowhere near perfect. I have to keep practicing the art of writing before I get anywhere near the authors out there today.

Write because it is your passion.

Don’t write for fame. Don’t write for money. I write for the enjoyment. I mainly write because the way books affect me. If I am having a horrible day, I pick up a book and get lost for hours. My main goal is to give readers this. I want to be the author that people look up to as I look up to Jennifer L. Armentrout or Wendy Higgins. I want to make a difference in someone’s life as these two ladies have done for me. Reading is my passion and I got lucky with the patience to be a writer.

Surround yourself with positive people and supporters.

No matter what, please surround yourself with positive energy. If someone is telling you that you aren’t good enough, run away from them. They aren’t going to move you forward, they will push you back and you don’t need that. Let people tell you the truth but make sure they are looking out for you. Most people want to see you fail. It is the sad truth of the world today, but some people really want to see you become the best person you can be (thanks mom, dad, Dina and Dimitri for giving me this kind of support).

Any type of criticism is GOOD for you.

I remember the first criticism I ever got for my book. I cried. Not to him but to myself and my dad. My dad sat beside me and said that if I can’t handle the bad criticism then this isn’t the job for me. I remember thinking “This is my dream. This is my life’s goal. I can do this.” So my advice for you is that all criticism is GOOD for you. I went home and began to scan the things he said. He was right. I fixed all the mistakes he told me I was making, and I am a way better writer now. Don’t cry if they hurt your feelings. Take what they said and be constructive with it. Who am I to say don’t cry? CRY if you want to, but take the advice with you.

Make small goals for yourself and work from there.

My goal starting out was be a bestseller. Okay, so one day YES. I really hope it happens for me. If it doesn’t then that is okay because as you read above, my goal is to touch lives. My goal for now is to see happiness associated with my book. I’m meant to write more books and my next goal is to write a book that will help someone through a hard time like I’ve been through in my lifetime. Make small goals. Don’t jump to the big goals.

Find what works for you as a writer.

I’ve found what I can do to make words pop onto the page. Some days are harder than others. I know that I have to sit down at night. Sometimes I need music with words, sometimes no words. I have to meditate for at least a minute before beginning. I have to embrace that some days I am writing complete CRAP but I have to just come back to it later on. My mind has to always be going. I have to write something down before the day is up. Find what works for you. Do you want to be in silence? Do you want to self publish? Do you want to be passionate about your work or do you just want the fame, money and recognition?

Most of all, take it day by day. Life isn’t about the destination.

These past few months I’ve been through a lot. I’ve found out that making plans for the future isn’t realistic because you begin to really miss out on life. Plans fall through. Things change. Remember that there is something special about each day. I know you’ve heard “Life is about the journey, not the destination.” I used to roll my eyes at that saying. But it is the truth. I’ve been humbled. Life is about the stuff in between your destination. You may want to be a great author just like me. I thought about how could I get there faster. It’s not about that. I don’t know how much time I have on earth just like the rest of us don’t but I do know that it will take time to be a bestseller. It will take time to master all writing techniques (even a few). It will take time because no one has the same journey of life. No one has the same journey of becoming an author. That is the beauty of life. We will never walk the same paths. The journey of life is entirely up to us.

Happy Reading<3

Posted on October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 by taylorhondos — 3 Comments

Blog Tour: The Goddess of Suburbia + Guest Post

Stephanie Kepke Talks About Her Writing Process

I’m a pantser. That’s the best way to sum up my writing process. I don’t plot. I just can’t, though Lord knows I’ve tried. In fact, I took a plotting workshop with the fabulous and prolific Cherry Adair – it was so incredibly informative. I took all the different colored Post-Its, markers in every hue of the rainbow and a giant poster board and plotted my little heart out. I went from start to finish, outlining an entire novel called, Out of Nowhere. I had layers and layers of neon Post-Its, all scribbled with different colored markers, detailing scenes, characters, motivations – you name it, it was on that poster board. Cherry was impressed.

I was amazed at how easily I came up with the intricate plot about a single mother of a son who’s battling obsessive compulsive disorder. She and her son witness a hit-and-run not long after her husband has committed suicide (the hit-and-run is mysterious, with the body disappearing by the time the police arrive and the husband’s suicide wasn’t quite what it seemed).

In the days following the workshop, the story was really shaping up to be a tense thriller that readers just might have gobbled up. And then… I stalled. Sixty pages or so in, I hit a brick wall. Weeks passed and still the document hovered around sixty pages. That was when I realized that having the entire plot in front of me squelched my creativity. The once flowing creative juices slowed down to barely a trickle. I realized that I needed my characters to evolve organically – I needed them to tell me where to go next. I couldn’t dictate the flow, without getting to know them first.

Letting my characters write themselves might seem crazy, but that’s often just what they do. A scene I added to Goddess of Suburbia during revisions ended up being not at all what I envisioned at first, but it was so much better than I could have planned. I expected the character to act a certain way, but as I was writing it, I realized she just wasn’t emotionally ready. It was too soon after her husband betrayed her for her to be so vulnerable. And that scene ended up packing much more of an emotional punch than I ever anticipated – it was just supposed to add a bit of heat. I can’t say any more, because it would give too much away.

I have to admit, although I prefer to let my characters lead me in their journey, I do need to know where that journey will end. I must know where the story is heading, so I often write the last scene right after I write the first scene and then I fill in the middle. In Goddess of Suburbia, I knew where Max was heading. I knew the lessons she would learn and with whom she’d find her happily ever after. How she got there just kind of worked itself out as my fingers flew over the keyboard night and day.

One of my favorite tricks to spark creativity during the writing process is creating a Pinterest soundtrack board for the book I’m working on. Music is always a huge inspiration to me and I’ve found that gathering songs that capture the journey my characters are on make it that much easier to get the ideas out of my head and onto the page. I have soundtracks for each of my books and short stories, and they are packed with the music that fits each story perfectly.

One thing I don’t use Pinterest for is to generate story ideas. I don’t browse boards looking for my next hero. The one time I decided to find photos to inspire my hero, he ended up looking completely different anyway. I can’t look for story ideas – they just come into my head, usually an idea is sparked by something I’ve seen or maybe even something that’s happened to me. The idea knocks around my head for a while. I take it and extrapolate it out into different scenarios – best, worst, craziest. Sometimes, one will stick and then it kind of hounds me until I write it. Sometimes, an idea will drive me to what feels like the brink of insanity, by pinging around my brain for weeks or even months, until I have no choice but to write it. Occasionally, I simply imagine an alternate reality to the life I’m living (in Goddess of Suburbia, I imagined what it would have been like if I had started dating my future husband / former bad boy musician in college, instead of at twenty-five years old and he was “the one who got away”).

Every once in a while it’s a character who sticks in my brain, rather than a full story idea – like Tessa, that single mom to the son with obsessive compulsive disorder. I didn’t end up finishing her story in Out of Nowhere, but she still needs to be written, simply because I haven’t forgotten her. I have another story for her and it’s perfect. I know exactly where she’s headed, but I trust my process enough to know that she’ll surely make some unplanned detours on her journey to happily ever after. I know there will be a happily ever after because even though I write women’s fiction and not romance, I always want my readers to close my books with a satisfied sigh. And that’s really the most important part of my writing process – making sure that every scene I write makes a reader feel something. For me, that means writing from the heart, rather than just writing what I think will sell, because if you write from the heart, your words will always touch your readers.

cover70335-medium Suburbia meets scandal in this hopeful and honest portrayal of that moment in every woman’s life when it’s time to make a change, even if that means risking losing it all. Goddess of Suburbia by Stephanie Kepke is a must-read for women looking to reconnect with their passions, and live authentically.

When pillar of the community and PTA mom, Max, allowed her husband, Nick, to record a sex video of them on his cell phone, she thought of it as simply a way to keep Nick interested and entertained during his frequent business trips. But suddenly, Max is trending everywhere-her video lighting up the blogosphere and Twitter, thanks to the fact that she’s a genuine, imperfect woman. Now the paparazzi are chronicling her every move; her daughter wants to disown her; and her marriage has completely fallen apart. Just as things can’t get any more chaotic, Max’s college boyfriend, shows up two decades after he broke her heart. Now Max must learn to stop going through the motions of her life on auto-pilot and start living authentically, or risk forever being a suburban lemming running towards the cliff of old age.

LINKS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | The Book Depository

Posted on October 17, 2015 by taylorhondos — Leave a comment

The Sweet Trilogy Review

Get yourselves ready. I AM IN LOVE with this series. I mean…. I thought nothing could ever come close to the Lux Series but these books straight up tie with it.

So let me give you a really run down version of the plot. No spoilers here.

Anna is a sweet girl. She feels an urge towards drugs and alcohol but doesn’t ever give into them. In comes BEAUTIFUL, SEX ON A STICK Kaidan Rowe. *SWOONS* Life changes forever. Anna finds out her father is the Duke of Substance Abuse. Anna has to start working. Only to fool Kaidan’s father, Duke of Lust. Okay. WILL not spoil at all because YOU HAVE TO READ THIS.

So here were my phases of reading this magical series.

I was depressed guys…. I mean… deep depression.

So then I start reading this book. I sit it down. I pick it up. Every morning I read it on the bus. It made me feel warm inside but I was so sad… I didn’t want to feel it. So I read it super slow. Then…. the road trip happens. Kaidan pushes her away…. and I said to myself… I relate to you. Let me keep reading….

Then…. I couldn’t stop… at all. After the Summit… I was like A MAD WOMAN!

SPOILERS AHEAD :

My friends…. I was in love with this book. I mean….. Kaidan and Anna are perfect. They’re beautiful together. So in the Lux Series, Daemon and Katy get married. I cried. In the Sweet Trilogy when Anna and Kaidan get married…. I sobbed. I sobbed at the very end too. I can’t handle their love. Why is love not really like that? *sigh*

So Sweet Evil starts with Anna at a club watching a band play. She experiences a sense of lust for the first time ever. Kaidan approaches her and asks, “who is your angel?” First I was like…. DO WHA?! but it makes sense eventually(: Kaidan gets tangled up in Anna when she comes to visit him at his house where the Duke of Lust finds Anna there and all horrors of horrors… SHE’S a virgin.

She has to start working, he insists that Kaidan take her virginity. They embark on a road trip to find Anna’s father and when they do… he is a good guy. I was expecting him to be a total jerk-off but he’s so so loving and he continued to surprise me throughout the series.

Kai pushes Anna away… he has to work but he wants Anna. Anna has her first kiss. I squealed inside. He pushes her away and thennnnnn THE SUMMIT HAPPENS.

Anna screws up. Has to get up in front of everyone to prepare to die.. or be punished and KAIDAN STANDS UP. Ready to defend her. OH he does love her….!!!!! I felt like I was going to pass out!!!

Then.. Kaidan has to leave…

End Book one. Enter Book Two.

EVERYONE IS SUSPICIOUS OF MY GIRL.

She has to pretend work and she is still our sweet Anna. She is sent on many trips searching for her alliances with ….. Kopono.

Now I like Kope… but my bae is KAIDAN. Long story short.. Kope kisses Anna.. wants Anna. Pissing me off….. but it was because Kaidan gave his blessing to Kope that he could have Anna. NOT COOL.

When Anna goes to California….we see that Kaidan loves Anna. So sweet….

A prophecy is spoken to Anna and…. OH MAN. Can’t say what it is…or you wouldn’t even read the book.

Skipping through the book because a lot happens and I can’t spoil too much. Someone dies and I wasn’t ready… nope…

Sweet Reckoning. BEST ONE IN THE SERIESSSSSSS.

Anna and Kai get married as I pointed out. So the Duke of Lust won’t suspect Anna of being the one the prophecy predicted.

Kaidan Rowe is hands down the sexiest character that I have ever read about…

There were many relationships in this book. A death I cried over. I was so happy the way it ended but I was extremely upset that it ended.

On a side note. I am happier than ever. I’m not afraid to say that this series brought me back to life. I was depressed and lost myself in these books and I am happy once more.

These books will suck you in. Give you all the feels (damn you) and you will be a huge fan of Wendy Higgins.

This will not disappoint you. You’ll be swooning over Kaidan Rowe.

Give it a shot and Happy Reading<3

Posted on October 15, 2015 by taylorhondos — Leave a comment

I Have A Shopping Addiction…

And I’m not afraid to say it.

So this year I’ve been through a lot. Lost a lot of people I thought I’d always have but that’s besides the point. I’m going insane with shopping. Yesterday I bought new books and did I mention I have 15 series to read now. Including Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Covenant series AND The Dark Elements series. SO i have a lot of reading to do.

My mom said I am crazy and need to stop buying books… and

And That is absurd. I won’t stop. I can’t.

Then I saw my bank account had dropped tremendously and I was like…

But anyways I have been trying to expand my reading horizons and I am happier than ever about it. I used to only read the popular books.

Currently I’m reading “The Iron Fey”series. I’m on the second book called “The Iron Daughter.” It’s pretty great. I want to read Julie Kagwa’s Blood of Eden series.

So I have a list of what I am reading next:

Bloodlines series (Richelle Mead)

Demon Trappers

Soul Screamers

The Archers of Avalon

Shadow Falls

The Forbidden Game

The Goddess Test

The Syrena Legacy

The Raven Boys

Georgina Kincaid Series

The Immortals

Strange Angels

The Violet Eden Chapters

The Shade Trilogy

The Hollow

Dorothy Must Die

Hex Hall

Firelight (Sophie Jordan)

Witch Eyes

Torn Trilogy

Winterhaven Trilogy

Taken (Erin Bowman)

Watersong (Amanda Hocking)

House of Night

Throne of Glass

The 5th Wave

Shifters Series

Literally all Jennifer L. Armentrout books

Beautiful Disaster

Starcrossed

Grey (Yes mock me. I LOVE IT)

Twilight: Life and Death (Again. Mock me)

The list goes on and on.

Most of all WINTER comes out November 10th and I am going to FREAK OUT. It is the fourth book in The Lunar Chronicles and I cannot wait<3

Now that we’re on books, here are some recommendations for you to read:

The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins (Please read this, it is a masterpiece. I will read this again.)

The Lux Series if you haven’t read it already!!! by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Mara Dyer Series by Michelle Hopkins

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Vampire Academy Richelle Mead

Sharp Objects Gillian Flynn

Dark Places Gillian Flynn

The Mortal Instruments Cassandra Clare

The Selection Kiera Cass

The Lunar Chronicles Marissa Meyer

Fallen Series Lauren Kate

Happy Reading<3

Go crazy and get in trouble by buying so many books that you don’t have enough room for them.