Lydia Rodriguez-Clement's Blog: The Guardian

Lydia Rodriguez-ClementAh, the Fall Season. The feel of a cool breeze (Texas weather), the smell of pumkin spice baked goods, and of course Halloween. I LOVE IT!!!

What is it about Halloween that makes this holiday so irrisistable? Why do we LOVE being scared out of our wits? The answers to those questions are just as individual as the Halloween costumes we pick. For me? Well, I suppose it's the adrenaline rush, the not knowing what's coming up next, or the opportunity to dress up and just act silly.

But for some, Halloween can last all year long. Today we have a wide variety of "Ghost Shows". These addictive shows have investigators, mediums, and lots of cool gadgets searching for the truth. The truth about "The other side". Do ghosts really exist? Is there something beyond this earthly life? Questions that have plagued us since the beginning of time are on the edge of being answered. Or are they?

Sometimes, just a good scary movie is enough. I remember the now classic movies that scared me to death like "The Exorcist" and "Freddy Krueger". I recently showed these movies to my teenage kids tantilizing in the thought that they would be just as scared as I was when I first saw them. But guess what they did? They laughed!! They thought they were spoofs!! Oh the disappointment!! Oh the injustice!!

Well, I suppose I'll have to resort to having them READ Stephen King novels like "It". One thing I have learned is that our imagination is much more intense than watching it on the television or at the movies. There is nothing like those moments when you are really into your book and you know the scary part is coming up. If you are anything like me, you stop reading just to surround yourself with pillows from your bed like a shield. It is a well known fact in my house that pillow shields guard you from all evil. Haha.

No matter how you celebrate Halloween or how you scare yourself for entertainment, I hope you all have fun and a safe holiday. And remember you can look up my book "The Guardian" at http://www.Facebook.com/LydiaGuardian.

Until next time, what is your all time favorite ghost show, scary movie, or your Halloween costume for this year?

I know I have been M.I.A.for the past few months, but life sure does know how to throw those curves at you when you are not looking. It seems that 2015 was meant to be a year of hospitals, surgeries, and clinics. Not just for myself, but for family members as well. Sometimes it all made me feel like the universe was looking to take one of us out of this world. Didn't care who. And the year is not over yet!!

But the writer in me is getting me through it. How? Well, life experiences. Life experiences are 'diamonds in the rough' in the writing world. When a writer puts pen to paper, the story has more substance if you are writing about something you have actually experienced. You can, from experience, know the smell, sound, feel, and or taste of let us say baking cookies. Another example, as in my case, I can now explain in detail how it feels to go through Chemotherapy. The muscle reflex of your arm as it almost uncounsiously tenses up right before a needle goes into your vein.

I hope that no matter what you all are going through,(falling in love, making a baby laugh, getting a divorce) remember how you felt, what you saw, what you thought about at that moment, and anything else, because every experience in this life is all we have.

facebook.com/LydiaGuardian

Wow! This month is really flying by! I hope everyone's Summer is extremely fun so far. I, on the other hand, have picked a serious subject to read... The Holocaust. Why? I suppose it's because it is a subject- a time in history, that we are rapidly forgetting.

I picked up Elie Wiesel's Trilogy: Night, Dawn, Day. I have already posted my review on Night, which needless to say, has really opened my mind to the autrocities many Jews were forced to endure. The memoir made me realize that the torture was not only physical, but mental as well. How could anyone be a whole productive human being after witnessing the pure evil people are capable of? Suffice as to say that this memoir has truly affected me.

Schindler's List does give me hope, but I would like to find books that show the German's side. What were they thinking? How did they rationalize everything? Etc.

Well, until next time folks! Please comment if you have a book recommendation for me about this subject. Thanks!!

Please visit me at http://www.Facebook.com/LydiaGuardian

The GuardianThe month of May for many readers signify the end of yet another school year and the beginning of Summer vacation. For others, it's the start of making finishing touches to long awaited vacations and making sure your boss approved your time off. Which ever group you fall into, I have a two week special going on right now. Here on Goodreads I have a week long May 4-8, Q&A available through my "Ask the Author" feature. You can ask me anything about myself, self publishing, marketing, and or my book, THE GUARDIAN. While you are there please take the time to Follow, add my book to your 'to read' list, become a fan, and send me a friend request.
www.Goodreads.com/LydiaClement

Now week two May 11-15, I will be having a Giveaway on my fan page for THE GUARDIAN at www.Facebook.com/LydiaGuardian. I will be giving away eBooks of THE GUARDIAN and some book swag!
Of course, while you are there, I hope you will LIKE, FOLLOW, and SHARE my fan page with all of your Facebook family and friends.

With these two weeks I'm hoping it will get you excited enough to start your Summer reading list and take my book along with you on vacation. (Please!! I really need a vacation!! Hehe) Just to let you know, my book has been reviewed and given the title of "clean romance". In case you have any young adults or tweens interested in Paranormal Romances.

So until next time, what are your plans for Summer vacation? Where is your vacation destination? (Please tell me so I can live vicariously through you. Hehe)

If you have been following my blog, you might have read that I'm a big *peanut* fan. I love all kinds of peanuts and nuts in general. But, here is something you might not know about me... I am also a *Foodie*. What's a *Foodie*? Well, many people have their thoughts on this subject, but to me it's simply a person who LOVES to EAT and COOK all kinds of food.

I can't remember a time in my life when cooking or baking hasn't been a big part of my life, other than writing. (Even going Vegetarian for most of my college years) Like many large families, every gathering is met with an array of foods. For me it was mostly traditional Hispanic foods. In the beginning of my food education, it was really out of necessity that I learned how to bake my own bread, grow my own vegetables and herbs, and lastly can them. My life at this time was hard. I had my five children and only my husband's income to survive on. Hence, the necessity to make our food stretch. But let me tell you, there is nothing like the smell and taste of fresh made bread. Or how fresh herbs enhance the taste of everything exponentially.

Nowadays, the making of your own food, using organic food, or shopping from local growers has become a huge movement. My own journey has changed from *necessity*, to *I wouldn't have it any other way*, and trying to gather as many *grandma's recipes* as I can. I wish I could show you some pictures of the food I cook here in this blog, but if you can follow me on Instagram or go check out my Facebook fan page, I usually have some pics to share.

Besides growing my food, and putting my own spin to recipes, or re-creating dishes I have eaten in restaurants, I've also tried many kinds of food. Have I tried any unusual foods? Well, I have tried these: squid, shark, swordfish, alligator, caviar, sardines, oysters, cow tongue, pig feet,and turtle. Yeah. They might not be unusual for some people, but I'm willing to eat something new at least once. Lol.

Until next time!! What is your favorite food to eat and cook? Have you tried any unusual food? What was it?

Instagram - lydianna1
Facebook - Facebook.com/LydiaGuardian

I think like most people, Spring is my most favorite season next to Fall. The long awaited feel of the Sun's warm rays rejuvenates not just plants, but animals and humans alike. The massive exodus from homes to the out doors are met with yard work and wonderful barbeques. And believe me, I never say ' no' to barbeque!

With this season also comes Spring cleaning (Ugh) and new ideas (yay). So, here comes the new idea. Are you ready for it? Brace yourselves!! Hehe. I now have a 'ShopNow' button on my facebook fan page! Well, it's a big deal for me. So now you can view my reviews of THE GUARDIAN with my Goodreads App. and follow my twitter feed with my Twitter App., as well as, go straight to my Amazon author page to purchase the book with my 'ShopNow' button.

How about celebrating Springs arrival with a copy of my book? Please visit me at Facebook.com/LydiaGuardian (fan page) today. After all, Spring is known as the season of Love.

Until next time!!
What is your favorite Spring season activity?

Hello Everyone!!
Well, Spring Break was great this year for me and my family. The kids loved their annual visit to the zoo, and we took a road trip to Lockhart Texas for some absolutely amazing BBQ.
Now it's St. Patrick's Day and although I'm hispanic, my husband is half Irish. So, I got out some recipes for Irish soda bread. (my first time making it) We'll see how that turns out. Hehe. (crossing my fingers) I will also be making my family's favorites: corned beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and onions. Yum, yum. The house already smells delicious. After this scrumptous dinner, we plan to watch some movies like; The Quiet Man with John Wayne or Darby O'Gill and the Little People with Sean Connery. My college kids like to watch Boon Dock Saints with Sean Flannery and that Walking Dead actor. (forgot his name)
How do you all plan to spend your St. Patrick's Day? Do you have a family tradition that you do for this day?
Well whatever you do, please be safe and enjoy the day. Until next time!

Well, the last time I blogged I relayed to you all the daunting tasks of moving from one small town to a big city, and then, renovations. It has been a very long and hard road for me. This is not to say that everything is done, and I am back to writing my second novel. On the contrary, my renovations still continue, but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, this morning I thought I would take a break.

I had started to read one of my favorite novels again, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I love all of her novels. I began reading it several days ago to relax, and since I took the day off today, I started binge movie watching with a Jane Austen's novel movie marathon. I began with, of course, Pride and Prejudice with the very handsome Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, and then I followed it with Northanger Abbey and Emma. The list goes on.

I really enjoyed my day, and I know I will be having some very sweet dreams tonight. So before I go I would like to ask you... what is your favorite Jane Austen novel?

Sorry it's taken me so long to write another blog. Even now I'm writing this on my phone. I have been so very busy moving. Not just from one house to another, but from one town to a big city. I've actually moved back to my childhood home.
After a slew of renters through the span of 20 years, the house was vacant again and I had the opportunity to move in. It was a difficult decision, because like many of you, my childhood was not exactly picture perfect. I did have some great memories and that's what ultimately changed my mind. Especially the fact that when I saw it again, the house, it was so neglected by the tenant before that I could not in good conscience leave it like that. So, I've taken the house under my wings and have been giving it the much tender loving care it desperately needs and began the daunting tasks of renovation since Christmas. I hope that since most of the construction is behind me now, that I can get back to work writing.
If you had a choice, would you go back to your childhood home?
Until next time!!

Wow! The Holidays are here and people are racking their brains and scouring the department stores trying to find the perfect gifts. Well, what better gift than a book!! No seriously, think about it. If you have a child that you wish would get away from the video games, or if you would like to spend more time with them, what better gift than a book. A book will help the video gamer use their own imagination, and believe me, reading to your children builds wonderful memories. What about those teenage kids? Yep, you guessed it... a book. Most of the movies out now first began as a book. The busy woman? A wonderful romance (preferably my paranormal romance novel. Hint, hint} would be great to finally RELAX with. How about that hard to please man that is tired of getting tools every year? Their are How To Books out there that can give him just the right boost to encourage his next project. Books, books, books! I love them!

Please take a look at my fan page http://www.facebook.com/LydiaGuardian for my reviews on the Goodreads App.

When you are ready to order, go to http://www.amazon.com/author/lydiargu....

My best Holiday wishes are with you all. Be safe, be merry, and be blessed. Until next time.