Misa Rush's Blog

The audio book version of Family Pieces is narrated by popular TV actress Amber Wallace, who audiences are familiar with from her recurring roles on 90210 and One Tree Hill. Available now at Amazon, Audible and iTunes.

Family Pieces Audiobook Sample

Family Pieces Audiobook Sample

Hi and welcome to my page. The easiest way to communicate with me is through Facebook – so if you need to contact me or would like to ask a question, feel free to hop on over there.

If you’ve read and enjoyed FAMILY PIECES, please let others know. It’s as easy as telling them, writing a review, or sharing our Facebook page.

All the best and happy reading!

Misa

I’ve got a brand new, in the box, Kindle Fire sitting on my desk just waiting to meet its new owner. Now, if I can just figure out all of the details (and Facebook rules) I’ll get the giveaway posted. Stay tuned and follow along at www.facebook.com/familypieces.

Misa

Can you believe spring break is almost here? I sure can't.

Truth be told, I'm not sure I'm looking forward to summer quite yet. In all reality, I feel like Addison who, if you've read, was having an early midlife crisis at age 39. Yes, my birthday is this month and, yes, it is my last year in my thirties (enter boo hoo sounds here.)

Luckily, I have a great resource for skin care to help me fight the anti-aging wrinkles and sags that have decided to plague my face. We all know it's important to protect our face from the sun – if only I'd listened and lathered on the sunscreen all those years ago. With great products, I'm hoping to protect and maybe even reverse a few of the fine lines. Time will tell…

Need ideas for how to deal with your own skin concerns? You can follow Anita on Facebook and pick up some tips:

https://www.facebook.com/Anita.RandF?ref=ts

And, not to forget, if anyone you know is looking for a Spring Break read – Family Pieces is still available. Or, follow me on Facebook for some other great recommendations.

All for now,

Misa

Everything you learned in kindergarten should be applied at Disneyland. That includes using your manners.

As some of you know, we recently returned from a trip to Disneyland. The weather in California for January was amazing and my children, ages five and two, couldn't have enjoyed themselves more. However, what is supposed to be the happiest place on earth sure does draw a few of the unhappiest people. Although most people are extremely courteous, I'm always flabbergasted by many of my observations especially the manners of a few (or the lack there of).

So, here are a few reminders:

Respect the rules and wait your turn. (When there is an hour wait and others are standing in line with their children that means you wait in line with yours, too. That does not mean you stand in line for them and then let them cut in front of everyone at the front. Come on, what kind of respect are you teaching them?)
Clean up your own mess. (Yes, Disney does a great job at keeping things clean considering the amount of people visiting daily, but a little help from everyone keeps the place a bit more pleasant – especially in the bathrooms ladies.)
Be nice to others. (Millions of people are being herded like cattle. Say excuse me when you bump into someone. Say thank you when someone opens a door for you, and most importantly, say you're sorry (like when you run over my heel with your stroller).

It doesn't take much effort, but don't you agree if everyone is just a bit more considerate Disney (and the world) would be a much happier place?

It's been raining for two days straight. I need to go out, but I don't feel like being cold and wet. Yes, needless to say, I'm spoiled. Rain like this is rare in Arizona. Typically, it rains for a few minutes and then the dazzling sun shines down once again. The good news is that the weather is making it a bit easier to get into the holiday spirit (which is tough when it is sunny and seventy degrees out.)

So as the December 25th deadline looms, I am making my list and checking it twice. No…No…not to find out who's naughty or nice. I already know that. Just to see if everything is done. Holiday cards designed and ordered. Check. Gifts to be shipped sent. Check. Elf on the shelf watching over the kids. Check. But, still there is loads more to do. Somehow, year after year, it magically gets done (much like my first manuscript did). Maybe if there really were little elves that came to help it might go just a little faster. Wouldn't that be nice?

So as I continually search for a better way to manage the chaos, I also try to remind myself of what the holidays are really about. It is about love and giving. It is about being thankful for what we have and not what we get. It is about spending time with loved ones.

If you're feeling frantic and wondering how things will ever get done, take a moment for yourself. Make a cup of tea. Read a good book (I can suggest one.) and then tackle one thing at a time.

Wishing you a happy holiday season.

Misa

Websites, blogs, social media, press releases. You've written a book, now what?

Traditionally published and self-published authors have to wear more hats these days. It is exhausting and fun all at the same time. I love connecting with my readers and fellow authors, but squeezing in time between chasing two children is getting harder and harder (as is finding time to blog).

So this post is just to say hello as sorry to say it has been awhile… If you have read my book, please visit me on Facebook and let me know how you liked it. If you have written a book, please visit me there, too, and let me know where I can find it. I've found many good indie published books this way. And if you are here to spam me, please go away!

Thanks for visiting!

1. That they laughed while reading.

2. That they cried while reading.

3. That they suggested my book to a friend (or book club – even better!)

4. Questions about how I came up with something.

5. That they follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

6. That they couldn't put the book down and stayed up way too late to finish.

7. That they also write.

8. That they connected with a character.

9. That they want to read a second book.

A reader asked what inspired my story today. I thought that might be a good place to start my blog. So here goes…

(Spoiler Alert: I tried to not give away much for those who may not have read…but it wasn't completely possible.)

When I decided to write a novel (or at least when my husband challenged me to the task), I had no idea what to write. I did know, however, that I wanted to write something that I would like to read…something fun, girly and what would typically be described as chick-lit. I happened to run across a puzzle-piece shaped necklace charm and it caught my attention. I'd seen them before, mostly as the symbol for the Autism Foundation, but never ones that actually connected. My brain started moving and the thought of 'what if a piece were missing' entered into play.

Since this was my first book, I didn't do a lot of planning and I didn't know where the story would end up. It just unfolded in sequence. If a piece was missing, I needed there to be a reason why. Who had the missing piece? Why was it missing? Why did Karsen's mother keep the secret? And to make Karsen fully understand her mother's past, I felt I also had to put her in her shoes. From there, the story created itself.

Whereas Karsen had everything she could ask for family wise, Addison had everything financially. I wanted Addison's character to be trendy, but in complete contrast to Karsen. Addison has everything anyone thinks they could ever want, but still feels a void. She's guarded and has built walls to protect herself from her self-created doubts about her ability to be loved.

When I came to the point where the two women meet, I needed something catastrophic to bond them together. So far, what I created has gone over well…but I wondered if it would be too unbelievable. Good thing it is fiction, after all!

Lastly, as long as I'm the author, the book had to have a happy ending. And if I ever have an opportunity to write a sequel, I'm definitely on team Jacob.