Hello Everyone!

All right, can you guess where this building is located at? Do you know what this building even is? If you guessed Nashville, TN then you guessed right but what is this building?

I didn't see the inside during this trip but I wanted to. They were giving tours for the right price and I didn't want to pay what they were asking so I just took this picture so I could remember being there lol.

During my short trip to Nashville, I learned something that I wasn't expecting about this city. I always thought that people in this area would be neighborly, you know wave at you when you walked by (or drove by). I was raised that way being a country girl but it wasn't like that. Sure, some people did wave. Most people were actually rude to us (my husband and I). We got lost a few times and asked for directions. Most people just kept on walking, didn't even look at us. That gave me a very bad impression about the city. The music capital of the world wasn't as great as I thought it would be. So it turned out being a bad choice to market my books but I still enjoyed the site seeing, what site seeing we were able to do lol with being lost most of the time. But at least we were able to find the original Grande Ol Opry which was a site. Did you know this building was originally built as a church? I didn't know until I saw the building up close! That was nice!

I did see real "mountain" people when I was there. They were nice. When they all passed us, they smiled and said hi to us. They were dressed in older clothes like the ones I've seen on television. Not sure if they were really from the hills like my husband said they were but they sure appeared to be. I was too afraid to ask, didn't want to offend anyone. I'm not the type of person who likes to do that sort of thing, you know hurt someone's feelings or affend someone. It isn't me. With my past, I know what it's like so I avoid it as much as possible. Even if it means lying to someone or biting my tongue. I refuse to do it! So with winter slowly approaching, that may be my last trip for the year. I wonder where I'll go next year. Somewhere I've never been I imagine! It makes everything so worth while!!

Any ideas?

Amber Rigby Grosjean

http://www.argrosjean.com/

Back to School! College!!

So what are we going to discuss this time? Gee, what is there? Ok, we know that school is slowly approaching. That can be really scary for those who are going for the first time--college that is. Even for kindergarteners, it can be a scary experience.

Thoughts run through your mind like will the other students like you and your style--yes, they will, some may not but that's life. You will make friends! Just be yourself! Other thoughts will be, will I like it? School is what you make of it. You're there to learn. If you chose your classes, there is a reason why you chose them. If it is to learn about something you already like, chances are you will like those classes. And what about those teachers? They're not there to be your friends. They are doing their jobs, help you learn. Whether you like them or they like you doesn't matter. Keep your eyes set on your goal and you will do great and your teachers will respect you for that.

Don't worry about what's in style, ladies. Be who you are and what ever you wear will be just fine. If you're into gothic, there will be others who are too and they will love your fashion. If you are into dressing glamorous, again, there will be others who do too. No matter what your style is, there will be others who agree with that style. Don't try to fit into one group, let that group fit you! Be your own person and others will follow!

Now we do have plenty of time before that first bell does ring. Do you have all your supplies? You got plenty of paper, pencils, pens, folders, something to carry it all in? Did you order your books for those classes you chose? Remember, you can always get slightly used books to save money. They may already be marked in but at least you'll know what's important to study that way lol. Have you decided where you'll be staying during the next four years? Will you have room mates?

If you know where you're staying, check out that area before school starts. Maybe there's places you can work for extra cash or even hang outs for after study time is over. You don't have to be stuck inside your new home after school is out. Make friends and on the weekends, party a little. Just don't party too hard! I've heard that the friends you make in college are the friends who stick with you for a lifetime!

College is a lot different than most highschools. Instead of have 7 or 8 classes being an hour each everyday, you will have maybe 3 classes one day with 2 or 3 hours long and 2 classes on another day that are longer. Each class will be different depending on the day it's held. This could mean shorter days or longer days depending on what you have chosen. It is always a good idea to know what you want to be when you graduate going in your Freshman year but if you don't, you can play around with different classes your first year until you figure it out. But the next year, you should have it figured out so you can get enough classes in to get ceritified for that career.

Ok, that's enough. Anyone else have something to say to those who are getting ready to head into school? No horror stories please lol!

Amber Rigby Grosjean
http://www.argrosjean.com

Peterson Estate

I have recreated a world that has been with me since the beginning of my writing career. During this journey, I had some fun but at the same time, I was mourning the death of a couple chapters. It was a little hard to let go of those two chapters.

A few people were given the chance to read the story before any of those changes were made and they liked the story the way it was. I also read it to a couple children. While one hung on every word, one (a little girl) had nightmares from one of the scenes. She was a bit younger than her brother which told me her age group was too young for the story. That was when I knew it was for young adults.

Over the years, I had countless rejections from publishers who appeared they hadn't even read it. I was determined to get it published though. I put all my other stories on the back burner and planned on getting this story published first. When Cursed Blood and Stolen Identity were finally finished though, I changed my plan and put threw them both out to the sharks, happily surprised when they were accepted right away.

As time drifted by, I began to think about my original plans of writing for all age groups. Another couple months later, I decided I couldn't give up on this story. I had to work on it and make it fit what I am writing now. When the rewrite began, I felt happy about this decision and enjoyed the journey it took me down.

Now the rewrite is finished and I feel so relieved. I completely took out a couple chapters and I mentioned one of them. In the original story, those two chapters were in someone elses POV and they appeared too childish. Neither chapter really pushed the story along as the new story emerged.

There are still multiple plots pulling through the veins of the story but now there is one major plot that pulls it all together which it really didn't have before, not really. I mean it was there but it wasn't the focus of the story. Now it makes better sense and I'm glad I was able to make it happen. Peterson Estate took a few rejections and a major rewrite to make it what it is and I'm glad it happened this way. Now I just have to get it published! Back to the sharks it goes!

Amber Rigby Grosjean
http://www.argrosjean.com/