Monday, December 03, 2018

Dragging out my muse and shameless bragging

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My creativity had flatlined, and I was struggling with a case of writer’s block. My muse only comes out when I’m angry or depressed. This past weekend, someone brought her out and gave me an idea for a new plot.



Let me say this. I’m normally a fairly nice person. I’m no angel and I certainly like to complain, but I’m generally a fairly nice person—until I am provoked. I have enough leftover issues that I don’t often stand up for myself, but I am quick to stand up for my children and often go overboard when I do. I don’t apologize for that, and I never will. I have been wronged enough in my life that I will never sit back and watch as someone attacks my children. I won't allow them to be treated poorly. I don’t feel bad about it. I won’t feel bad about it.

Having said that, I do hate that people had an opportunity to see that side of me. When I am defending someone, I tend to get ugly as it escalates. While I don’t apologize for the depths I am willing to stoop to rush to their defense, I know there are people who will use it as an opportunity to point a finger and say that I am indeed an awful person. That’s okay. I’m willing to be an awful person to protect my children or grandchildren. I’d gladly don horns and tote a pitchfork to defend them and would never once regret it. That’s how it is, and I will not apologize for that.

Also, I’m going to do something I don’t often do. I’m going to stick up for myself for a moment.

Do I think I’m somebody?

Yes. Yes, I do. I think I’m somebody because I am. I’m going to take a moment to be vain and shamelessly brag here. Take a moment and Google this: author Amy Pilkington. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Done?

Yes. That’s me. Think it’s a fluke? Take a moment to go to Bing and search this: Amy Pilkington. Yep. Me again.

When you ask who I am and say I act like I’m somebody…well, I am somebody. I worked hard to be somebody. I put my talent to work and became somebody. Let me tell you exactly who this somebody is.

I have over two dozen books published and more on the way. They’re available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walmart.com, on iTunes and Google Play, and several other places. One series spent time on Amazon bestseller lists in five countries on four continents. I’ve received a royalties check every single month since 2012—right after my first book was published.

I’ve had pieces published by Health magazine, Huffington Post, USA Today, San Francisco Gate, and Grown & Flown, just to name a few. I occasionally take on private clients for various projects, and when I do I don’t work for less than $75 an hour. Why? Because I don’t have to. My reputation means I don’t have to. I have a reputation because I am somebody.

Am I someone important?

Don’t ask me. Ask Google. Ask Bing. Ask any of my clients. See what they say.

Okay. I’m done bragging. I've made my point. Now I’ll share the basic idea of the plot my muse generated.


How many carats does it take for a coked out drug trafficker to buy a gold digger? Drawn in by a love of material possessions, she was willing to overlook his criminal activities for a taste of a lavish lifestyle. As long as he kept spending money, she ignored his bad behavior. All the while, he was devising a plan to kidnap and torture her. She was his, he thought. She belonged to him. He had bought and paid for her. Would she pay this debt with her life?


I think the idea has potential. It just might be one of my future novels.

Anyway, I’m on top of the world.


One last thing...

If you're looking for a new book to read, browse through the books listed when you Google author Amy Pilkington. 

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Civil behavior is key to adulthood

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Adult relationships are complicated, aren’t they? We are the problem. We are making them complicated. Let me explain.



People disagree. People argue. People can be angry at one another. People can hurt others—quite deeply. And people can still be civil even after all these things have occurred. It’s a choice.

Civil, you say? After this person did *insert whatever crime they committed against you*? Yes. And if it is egregious enough that you can’t or shouldn’t be cordial, you can simply ignore the other person when required. You can walk away. It’s a choice.

“Hello. How are you? I’m good, too.”

It’s that easy to be civil. And it’s a choice.

The problem becomes a matter of pride, and it is nothing to be proud of.

“I keep it real. I keep it 100.”

Being civil has nothing to do with ‘keeping it real.’ Is there any need to engage in a screaming match every single time you encounter a person who has wronged you? You’re going to be screaming nonstop for the rest of your life, and that’s me ‘keeping it real.’ That’s the reality of it. Mind you, I’m not saying you shouldn’t stick up for yourself or you shouldn’t confront someone who has wronged you. You absolutely should stand up for yourself. I’m learning how to do that this many years into the game. I have never had a problem standing up for others, but I have always had a problem standing up for myself. What I’m saying is there is no need to confront the same person every time you see them again until one of you dies. You’re not accomplishing anything, no matter how ‘100’ you think it is. It’s a choice. Keeping it real doesn’t mean what you think it means. It means being honest. It means you stand for something. It means you stick to your convictions without wavering. It doesn’t mean walking around screaming at everyone around you until you fall over dead. It means knowing when to walk away and when to stand your ground.

“Two-faced!”

In the past couple of years, I had several people block me on social media outlets. I was grateful. These people screamed this phrase to no end, but they had no idea what it means. When I confronted them with an issue, they called me ‘two-faced.’ Two-faced isn’t being confronted by a person. Two-faced is when a friend purposely does something behind your back to hurt you. Don’t mistake being civil for pretending to be a friend. Don’t mistake being polite for being a friend. They are not one and the same. Having polite conversation in passing is being civil. A polite wave or nod is being civil. Being a friend to someone is so much more than that. So much more. You can have an outright screaming match with a person and still be civil the next time you see them. That’s not being two-faced. That’s not pretending to be a friend. It’s being civil. If you believe a person is truly your friend, and they stab you in the back, behind your back—that’s two-faced. If you know a person doesn’t like you or you know they have a grievance with you but they still offer polite conversation or a quick nod when they pass you, that’s being civil. That’s what adults strive for—civility. You must do it at your job. You must do it in certain social situations. You’re going to find that most of your daily activities require you to be civil. If you can’t be civil or the offense was particularly heinous, simply walk away.

“Wishy-washy!”

This is similar to the two-faced explanation in that being civil isn’t being wishy-washy. It’s simply being civil. Or it could be the beginning of forgiveness or an attempt to reconcile differences. It’s what happens in adult relationships, or else no friendship would ever last. No relationship of any sort would ever last, because conversation must start somewhere in order to fix problems. All relationships have problems. If you believe someone extending an olive branch is being wishy-washy, you’re going to find that your relationships don’t last long-term. This does not mean you need to keep giving abusive people chances, no matter how many times they try to mend fences. That’s an entirely different conversation, but forgiving an abusive person should not mean giving them another chance to abuse you. Still, being civil to someone you don’t like or who has wronged you, whether you have forgiven them or not, is not being wishy-washy. It’s being an adult.   

Let’s talk about forgiveness for a moment.

It is indeed possible to forgive someone for things they have done to you—no matter how egregious. Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean a person wants to mend a relationship. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. It is entirely possible for someone to do the absolute worst things to you and still forgive them for it. Whether a person decides to attempt to remain friends after forgiving them varies, as it should. It has no bearing on whether or not you were hurt before, and forgiveness does not negate what a person has done to you or suggest the offense wasn’t that serious. Forgiveness is an acknowledgment of the things they have done and a willingness to make peace with it. It does not mean forgetting. It does not necessarily mean rebuilding a friendship and allowing a person to hurt you again. It also doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility of some degree of friendship. Again, don’t mistake friendship and civility. They are not one and the same. A person can be civil whether or not they have chosen to forgive the other person. A person can also be willing to forgive someone and attempt to mend the friendship on some level. This has nothing to do with “keeping it real.” It has nothing to do with being two-faced, and it certainly isn’t being wishy-washy. It’s being an adult and understanding adult relationships, friendships, and civility.

Throughout my life, I have forgiven people for things that did not deserve to be forgiven. I’ve given people many more chances than they should have received, and I have learned from it. Here is what I’ve learned:

It doesn’t make you a bad person for refusing to forgive someone who has hurt you many times over or hurt you very deeply, no matter how many times they apologize. Some apologies aren’t really apologies. Some apologies are actually a trap. It’s okay to refuse to forgive someone, and it is possible to be civil—even if civility is simply ignoring the person in social situations. I’ve learned to walk away from repeated apologists who refuse to change their bad behavior and people who refuse to apologize.

It doesn’t make you a pushover or stupid to forgive people who hurt you. This was a tough one for me to figure out, because I have forgiven people who offered empty apologies. That doesn’t reflect on you. It reflects on them.

It’s okay to be open to a discussion to resolve issues with people who hurt you—or not. It is important to know when it’s time to realize a person isn’t going to change and walk away. It’s also important to stop forgiving abuse. I’m open to discussing issues with someone willing to listen to how their behavior has hurt me, accept that they have hurt me, and apologize for it. I am not entertaining people who say, “Let’s just forget about it and move on.” Apologies and a frank discussion of how certain things aren’t acceptable is required. I am not willing to forgive repeated abuse, and I am not willing to forgive people who don’t acknowledge abusive behavior. I’m learning I deserve to be treated fairly. If you’ve read my latest release, The Lesser of Two Evils, you are familiar with the character Peter. I am not willing to forgive someone like Peter, and civility would be avoidance.

I can be civil to everyone, even when it means simply ignoring someone. I am also willing to call out someone for hurting others, and I am learning to call out others for hurting me rather than taking it on the chin. This is a tough one for me, but I’m learning it’s okay to stand up for myself. I’m learning that I don’t deserve to be treated poorly. I’m learning, but at the same time I recognize that civility after confrontation is important—up until the point where it becomes a safety issue. That’s where I must draw the line and stick to it.

Adult relationships aren’t as complicated as we make them. Yes, things aren’t always black and white and there is a huge gray area in many things. It’s still not complicated. Confront those who hurt you. Be open to discussion and an apology. Be open to apologizing when you’re wrong. Learn to forgive when it’s appropriate, and learn to walk away when it is not. Decide what behavior is not acceptable to you, and stick to it. Don’t allow people to cross that line after you’ve decided. Be civil after you’ve confronted someone, even if the only way you can be civil is to walk away.

That’s it. 

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Something to cry about

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My daughter’s wedding was beautiful. Her dress, hair, and makeup were flawless, and she truly did look like a princess straight out of a fairy tale. I fought back my tears well into the night. If I cried, she would have cried. I wanted her photos to be perfect.

The photographers did an excellent job capturing the day’s events. Hair and makeup, revealing her dress, walking to the altar, saying “I do,” the first dance, and more—they turned all these moments into beautiful memories. Her daddy’s friend brought one of his gorgeous classic cars for photos, and she now has a stunning reminder of how lovely she truly was on her wedding day.  

Photo: David and Sarah's Photography

There are so many breathtaking photos, but one picture is something to cry about.

The bride and groom both wanted to honor people in their lives who had passed away before their big day. There was a row of empty seats dedicated to these loved ones, and photos of some of their grandparents were displayed on a nearby table. It was important to them to have the people they loved attending their wedding, even if only in spirit. There was one important person still living that wouldn’t be able to attend.

My daughter’s grandfather has suffered multiple strokes and has a number of other health concerns, including mobility issues. When she was told he couldn’t come to her wedding, she understood. She really wanted him to be there, but she knew how difficult it was for him to leave the house.

When he arrived at the wedding, my husband rushed to me and whispered, “He’s here.” He promptly excused himself to regain his composure. He didn’t want to make our daughter cry right before the ceremony. He made it. No matter how difficult it was for him, her grandfather made it to her wedding. It was the best present she could have received on her wedding day.

There are many memories of that day that bring a smile to her face, but there was indeed something to cry about.

Photo: David and Sarah's Photography


This. This photo is something to cry about.

No matter how hard it was for him, he was there to watch her walk down the aisle. No matter how difficult it was, he managed to show up at her wedding and witness a princess marry her prince. No matter how painful it was, he was there…because he loves her. To her, it will always be something to cry about. 

Sunday, February 25, 2018

The Lesser of Two Evils: Is it, or Isn't it?

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I’ve been hyping a book I intend to release this year. That’s what an author does - they talk about their next release long before it is actually released to begin marketing. Marketing is a big part of my job as an author. That’s how one of my series ended up going to the bestsellers list in five countries.

It seems some feathers are ruffled by my marketing and people would like to attempt to discredit me before its release. Even though the subject matter of “The Lesser of Two Evils” has been restricted to mentioning that it’s about real life monsters, there seems to be some concern about its content. While I am not going to release any information about the book’s content today, I will feed your curiosity.

I have bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed more than a decade ago. Most people know this already. I ran a blog discussing life with bipolar disorder, and it was recognized by Health magazine as one of the best six mental health blogs on the web. I was published in Health magazine when they asked me to write an article about coping with holiday stress. I was also published in Voices of Bipolar Disorder by LaChance Publishing (Under Table of Contents, Pushing Forward by Amy Pilkington). I served as a peer counselor for several years. It was never a secret. Why should anyone be ashamed of mental illness? 

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder. It makes me depressed or manic. It doesn’t affect the work I do. Anyone with any knowledge of the disorder knows this already. My mental illness has been well-controlled for years and is closely monitored to keep it under control. None of this was secret. Most people already knew. To call me crazy is a stretch. Am I quick to react now? Yes. Try being silenced for most of your life and you will eventually speak out every chance you get.

***NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is an excellent resource if you’re interested in learning more about bipolar disorder. The disorder is genetic and is passed down through the generations. If a family member has bipolar disorder, you may have this disorder. Treatment generally involves an initial assessment by a professional to obtain a diagnosis, followed by a prescribed regimen of medication and/or talk therapy. Maintenance generally involves routine assessments and continuing any medications deemed necessary to control the illness. If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, know there is hope and you can live a normal life with the right treatment.

If you want to know why I cheated on my first husband, why I turned to pot to cope during an almost unbearable time in my life, why I left over and over again, why a child was taken from me, and why I allowed the lies about me to snowball over the years - you’ll have to read the book.

If you want to know about the physical, sexual, and mental abuse I endured, you’ll have to read the book. If you want to know how it was hidden and how I was demonized to keep others from believing the truth, you’ll have to read the book. If you want to know exactly how a person can build a wall of lies to conceal horrors beyond what some could endure, you’ll have to read the book.

If you want to know the biggest secret someone worked especially hard to discredit and conceal, you’ll have to read the book.

“The Lesser of Two Evils” is about real life monsters. It is indeed horror based on a true story. Is it really about all of these things I just rattled off, or is it a book about two random evils in a great big world filled with evil? Is anything I've written here true? Do I know the difference between reality and fiction? Do you? 

Is it, or isn't it? 

Right now, people can be left to assume. I’m not telling. If you want to know what the book is really about, you’ll have to read it.

Intrigued?

Marketing. Doing it right.

Follow my author page on Facebook for clues along the way. 

If you read this thinking I was going to answer all your questions about an upcoming book release... 


You'll have to buy the book. 

Tuesday, January 09, 2018

Rest in Peace, 'Wes'

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I have suffered a great loss. I'm not sure how I'll get it over. Rest in peace, 'wes'. You will be greatly missed.

Pardon me while I grab a tissue. *sniff, sniff*

I remember the moment I learned about wes's passing. My sweet little Tater Tot was jabbering away when it just popped out.

"What did she just say?" I'm sure my face reflected the sheer terror I felt in that moment. No. No it couldn't be. It just couldn't be true. Alas, it was true. Wes was dead, and all I could do was look at her like she had said the most foul word you've ever imagined. Avery had uttered a 'yes' instead of the cute little 'wes' I loved so dearly.

'Wes' was the last cute little mispronunciation in her daily vocabulary. It was the last bit of baby talk. It was end of a special era, and someone is going to have to drag me out of it kicking and screaming. It isn't time for her to be a preschooler. She is still a toddler, I say. Still a toddler. All evidence points to the contrary. She is shooting up in height and has plenty of hair now. She can spell her name and bingo. She can say her ABCs. She knows so many things and is capable of doing so many things on  her own. She is a big girl. I know this. I really do. I'm just not ready.

I think back over all the cute phases, phrases, faces and such, and I feel sad. I was happy to have been such a big part of them all, but I am genuinely saddened by each small loss over the past three years. I should be used to this. My youngest child is very near adulthood. (*shudders*) I know there will be plenty of other great things over the years, but this was the cutest of the cute phases. Now, the last piece of it is gone.

Pardon me while I grab another tissue. *sniff, sniff* *blow*

Any minute now (hint, hint, baby) there will be a new addition to the family. Any minute now (seriously, baby) there will be a new baby to go through all the cute phases. I'm excited about that, but I am still grieving the loss of my beloved Tater Tot's 'wes' and all of her other cute things.

So long, little bear (Rawr!)
http://www.granthegreat.com/2015/12/tater-isms-and-tater-says.html

Adios, Beaker and the other Muppets.
http://www.granthegreat.com/2015/12/tater-dances-to-carol-of-bells.html

Goodbye, sweet chubby cheeks reading Gran the book.

Ta-ta, cute baby piggy tails.
http://www.granthegreat.com/2016/09/frogs-no-snails-and-piggy-tails.html

See you later, 'ta-da'.
http://www.granthegreat.com/2015/12/tater-tot-sweetheart.html

And, finally, goodbye, 'wes'. I think I might miss you the most.

Pardon me. You know why. *sobs* *blows* *sniff,sniff*

For everyone mourning a similar loss, raise your glasses of milk for a toast. To all the cuteness we've lost, you will not be forgotten as long as there is a grandmother around to tell the tale.

Nursing a broken heart,
Gran

P.S. A memorial service may be held sometime in the near future. Or daily. Probably daily for a while.