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I'M BACK PEOPLES! And now it's time to throw the confetti and start cheering. (Honestly, I'm sure none of you really thought about me that much while I was gone...but suffice it to say I was thinking of you all and I've missed you!) 

"How much reading did you get done?" I'm sure you're all wondering. "How much writing? How much editing? How much schoolwork? You've still got straight A's, right?"

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. Let's have a chat about hiatus (having taken one successfully, I can now claim to be an expert). I'll share some tips with you, as well as some things I learned (don't worry, only one of them will be precalculus-related) and some things NOT to do. 

1. THE INTERNET WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU. 

Crazy, I know! But the even crazier part is: IT'S TRUUUUUEEEEE. Leaving your Instagram account for a month doesn't mean Instagram will spontaneously combust (although it may be running super slow when you come back and make you question why you came off your hiatus in the first place because this is wasting even more time than it normally would). Everyone you know could take a hiatus at the same time, and guess what? THE INTERNET WOULD STILL SURVIVE. It's like a desert cactus. You can't get rid of it. 

(Although I believe those die after a while? Maybe not the best comparison, but we've established already that I am the queen of parentheses, not the queen of similes.) 

But anyway, the point is this. You can leave the internet alone. It probably won't even notice you're gone, if we're all being totally 100% honest. 

Which leads me to the next point: 

2. YOU WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT THE INTERNET.

You'll probably have more time! You'll probably be freer! Your brain will feel like it's on detox! It'll be hard for the first couple days but then, oh glorious then, you'll be alright. And it will be amazing. You're not gonna die. I promise. 

3. YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED THE INTERNET AS MUCH AS YOU THINK YOU DO.

Now, if you make your actual living through social media, I can understand why this step might not be true. But for the rest of us, who are on social media to expand our reach or even just for fun, it's not that big a deal to take a step back. It really isn't! Take a break. Your readers will understand, and you'll feel better for it. Freedom is a great thing.

4. WHEN YOU JOKE ABOUT BEING ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET? YOU'RE ACTUALLY ADDICTED.

Go cold turkey! Cut it down and weed it out! You don't have to TOTALLY leave the internet, but you do have an addiction to social media and you are going to feel those withdrawals/cravings in the first few days you're gone. Plan for that. Be ready for it. Do other things when you would normally reach for your phone. Condition yourself to not need the internet anymore. Breaking a habit/addiction can be tough, but you can do it. If I can, and I am the least self-controlled person alive, you DEFINITELY can.

5. DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE TIME YOU WOULD NORMALLY SPEND ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HAVE A PLAN!

For me, this meant homework. Hours and hours of it. School started in earnest for me this September, so I used the time I would normally be spending on FaceBook and Instagram and Goodreads to get into the wonderful world of tests, assignments, late night paper submissions, and piano practice. I also work a job, which while nice for money burns up about 24+ hours of my time a week, so it's been interesting trying to balance that with everything else.

My hope had been that the time I wasn't spending on social media would give me the time to finish my book, but I didn't have anywhere near that kind of time. I was able to finish beta reading for a friend, but that was...about it. So. Oh well :P

CONCLUSION

Synopsis:

London, 1910

Budding Private Detective Cyril Arlington Hartwell has a conundrum. London is being ravaged by the largest run of thefts in recent history. His hunch that it is all tied together may put him and those he loves in more danger than he could have reckoned.

Olivia Larken Hartwell is just home from boarding school for the summer anticipating time with her adoring parents.She misses her absent brother, Cyril, hoping for the day he will finally come home. But tragedy strikes, causing upheaval for all concerned and changes her life in a way she never could have imagined.

Olivia, Cyril, and their friends must bring the hidden to light, seek to execute justice, and dispel the darkness that hovers over London… and their hearts.

Buy it on Amazon!

This just looks like such a GREAT book! I have a copy on my Kindle right now, and can't wait to dig into it!!!!!


About the author:

There's a super-cool Facebook party happening this weekend too, so here is the link to that: FACEBOOK PARTY!!!!!

Today, I also get to interview the lovely Miss Lynn over here on my blog! Without further ado, here is that!

 Too many to name. My top favorites are sewing (I got to make my sister-in-law’s wedding dress this past year) music (I have been playing the piano for 15 years) and other crafting. I also enjoy reading and graphic design amongst other things. :D

Thank you so much for having me Faith!

Finally for y'all today, I have a giveaway! 

2 Second place winners. Open internationally. Receives one ebook copy of London in the Dark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have y'all read London in the Dark? Are you going to, now? I sure can't wait to! :D Will you miss me while I'm on hiatus? *puppy dog eyes* Chat with me in the comments! <3