When I’m not writing… By Leah Cypess & Giveaway

 

 

I announced last Saturday this new feature, and Leah Cypess is the first author to dive fearlessly in this project! Leah is a debut author, and her first book Mistwood (you can read my review here) hit the shelves on  April 2010. I honestly never would have guessed what she does in her free time, so keep on reading to find out!

 

 

 

One of the things I love to do, when I’m not writing, is to exercise. I’ve gone through many types of exercise, with walking and biking being the most constant. I even used to do gymnastics on a very, very amateur level, until I hurt my back trying to learn a forward flip and was told by a chiropractor that “Gymnastics will eventually destroy every bone in your body.” At which point, being sensible, I took a summer off and then went right back to it.

What eventually ended my gymnastics career was not any sense of self-preservation, but my law school schedule. (Which probably wasn’t so great for my health either, come to think of it.)

Fortunately, in law school I moved on to my new exercise obsession: playing DDR, or Dance Dance Revolution. Observe:

That’s pretty much what I look like. Except a little taller and much less cute.

I discovered this game in New Roc City, an arcade in New Rochelle, NY, along with my sisters. It was two dollars per game at that arcade, and we played for several very expensive hours. Then we found out that they had the game in Coney Island, a ten-minute drive or bike ride from our home. Those were only one dollar per game… but we went almost every night. And finally, toward the middle of the summer, we bought the game, the dance pads, and a Playstation 2.

Best investment ever.

DDR is the kind of game where, in order to get good, you have to first look idiotic. I am not naturally very coordinated, so for several months I looked intensely idiotic. It’s amazing to me that my sisters, who are more graceful than I am, not only allowed me to play with them in public but never suggested that I pretend not to know them.

For a long time, I was obsessed with this game. I could close my eyes, hear the music, and envision the flashing arrows. I played for hours at a time. It was much healthier than my previous game addiction, which was minesweeper.

Eventually, though, my addiction faded. I got to the point where I could pass all the games at the expert level, I moved to Boston while my sisters stayed in New York, and then a couple with a year-old baby moved into the apartment below me. Having a one- year-old myself, I am aware that if I interrupted naptime by pounding on their ceiling, no jury would convict them for whatever they chose to do to me. So my dance mats now live forlornly behind the TV.

But recently I was browsing on amazon and discovered that there are new DDR games out, and I don’t even know about them! And I began to wonder if the baby downstairs has a regular nap schedule yet. More importantly, I wonder if it coincides with my baby’s nap schedule. Maybe it’s time to make friends with my neighbors…

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Thank you very much Leah for sharing this tidbit of your life! Maybe I should get one, It sure sounds like a way to stay in good shape lol Not sure my downstairs neighbor would agree though

Now on to the giveaway!

Leah is offering… 1 signed copy of Mistwood!

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have. Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat. Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALY (Thank you Leah!)

To enter, please FILL THE FORM

Leah would also like to know your own most fun or favorite type of exercise, please let us know in a comment!

You don’t have to be a follower, but you are responsible for claiming your prize.

Ends August 21st, 2010

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Enjoyed this post? There will be more “When I’m not writing…” post in the future!

Please visit This Page to find out who my future guests are, and a chance to suggest authors you would like to see featured!

Authors, you would like to visit and share with us?

Please email me at TyngaUF(a)gmail.com

Posted by Tynga at 00:03

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Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

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