Missy Fleming is thankful for...

Missy Fleming, author of Into The Deep, is here with a list of things she is thankful for in honor of American Thanksgiving this week (we Canadians celebrated our Thanksgiving back in October). Also, be on the look out in the next for days for my review of Into The Deep - it's a great mermaid story and I was super excited to be able to review the book.

THANKFUL

When thinking of something to do for my guest post, I thought I’d do something with Thanksgiving in mind since it’s right around the corner. So here are five things I am thankful for.

Books – This is an easy one. Without books, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love, which is writing. In a lot of ways, reading led to writing. And I still love actual books. Nothing beats the feel of a real one in your hands. Because of books I’ve traveled to far off lands, to new worlds, even to outer space. They help me escape a stressful day. A familiar character can comfort me. There are a few cases a character has even made me fall in love. Looking at a bookshelf that is crammed and overstuffed just makes me happy. I love to share books with people too. If I’ve read one I know a friend will enjoy, I pass them on. Not a lot of things allow us to do that, to connect with others or with an author we’ll never meet.

The place I live – I live in Bozeman, Montana, just an hour north of Yellowstone National Park. Besides being beautiful, the state is huge. There is always something I haven’t explored yet, a new town to visit. The town I call home is fairly big, I think we’re getting close to fifty thousand, without a twelve thousand student college. What I love most about it is the little things the city commission does to make it unique. Each new business that comes in has to follow strict guidelines and fully landscape their parking lot before opening. For example, our super Walmart? It’s not a boring blue and red square. It’s brown, with two rock entrances, big timbers holding up the entryways. Same with all the other department stores. Everyone grumbled at first, because it’s scared some stores away but the end result is awesome! And we’re a great melting pot, which I guess is a result of the college, but so many different cultures collide here and instead of strife, it works. I doubt I’ll ever move.

Family – An obvious choice, but I am really close with mine. My idea of getting away for the weekend is to travel twenty miles down the road and stay with my parents. My nephew is the coolest person I know, he amazes me every day. My sister is my best friend, in a way that I can’t think about how much I love her without getting choked up. My dad is hilarious, southern to his very core and often sounds just like Jeff Foxworthy. Mom is an inspiration. She has fibromyalgia and she inspires me constantly. They know my moods, know when to steer clear, and they are endlessly supportive. Especially when I blow off family dinner to write.

Snow – It’s snowing outside as I write this and it’s so pretty. I love snow. I hate driving in it but I love being inside while it’s coming down. Especially at night. The world outside gets so quiet, peaceful, and the sky gets that pink glow. Until the next morning when I have to shovel and unbury my car! No, this is our first big snow and the flakes are huge. Mostly I’m thankful for snow because living where I do it keeps our forests wet. If we don’t get enough, it’s a summer full of nasty forest fires.

Bloggers – This is another easy one. Without bloggers willing to take a chance on unknown, debut authors like me, it’d be so much harder for us to promote our novels. They help get the word out about new books that might not be in stores yet or have a big publishing house behind them to do the promoting. It’s a huge blessing and I am so very thankful for it. I even find some great reads by browsing these sites. Keep up the good work!

Missy - thank you for sharing your post with us today. I have to admit I love the items you chose to be thankful for. And I do like the looks of snow too and all the fun it can bring, but I dislike shoveling the stuff. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND ALL OF MY AMERICAN FOLLOWERS!

Find Missy Around The Web: Blog | Goodreads

Into The Deep by Missy Fleming

Published: October 23, 2013

Publisher: Fire and Ice Young Adult Books

Pages: 240

Buy Now: Amazon

No one understands the fury of the ocean like Zoey.

Ten years ago, she lost her leg in a freak shark attack. The night after her sixteenth birthday, she has yet to accept her awkward prosthetic limb or the fact she will always be different. Wary of the sea, and its hidden threats, she ventures to a bonfire at the beach. She’s mesmerized by its awesome power, wondering what she ever had to fear, until a rogue wave sweeps her into the cool, salty water.

Zoey believed mermaids were creatures of legend, characters in silly children’s stories, but it’s hard to ignore the captivating tail that’s suddenly appeared, or the sense of finally being whole. She abandons her life on land in search of answers about who she really is and where she came from.

What she discovers is a kingdom full of intrigue and danger, as well as a royal father she never knew existed. Settling into her role as a mermaid princess, she learns her family is under attack, both on land and in the water. Raging storms swell up, threatening coastal cities, and sea levels rise practically overnight, endangering the lives of everyone she loves. Determined to stop the strange phenomena, Zoey becomes caught up in the race to track down what, or who, is responsible for the catastrophic events.

But, Zoey possesses another secret, one born of legend and more powerful than any mer or human can imagine.