The Fisherman's Lily 1 Year Anniversary

January 26, 2016

"DO NOT BITE AT THE BAIT OF PLEASURE, TILL YOU KNOW THERE IS NO HOOK BENEATH IT." - THOMAS JEFFERSON

The Fisherman's Lily: A Novel By Suzanne Spiegoski

The beginning of last year was the start to a very humbling experience. One year ago to this date, after spending over four years writing my first novel, my debut crime-thriller novel, The Fisherman's Lily was published by TouchPoint Press. Some of you may have heard about it, or may have also read it (which I very much so kindly thank you from the bottom of my heart!), but what some of you may not know is the origination of the story. Where it comes from. What made me finally want to put my metaphorical pen down to paper. And with today being my one year anniversary, I wanted to fill my readers with more details about the story behind the written story.

So where on Earth did I get this idea from? Well, it all starts back when I was just a teenager. While in high school I took a creative writing class. The teacher read a short story of mine and afterward insisted that I “should be a writer.” I’ve been writing ever since. I initially wrote several more short stories before taking an immediate interest in poetry. Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Butler Yeats were like long-lost friends to me during my teenage angst. When a few of my poems were published while in high school and in college, that sparked a deeper passion to perhaps take my writing a bit more seriously.

I began working on a memoir for several years before putting it on the back burner because I felt like I had a lot more to accomplish before completing an enormous project of that kind of magnitude. That and it's deeply personal to write about. That's when a lightbulb went off in my head. Why not take a stab (ha, ha I'm #punny) at fiction? And more in particular: crime fiction. How come? Not long ago, and initially wanting a career within law enforcement, I took it upon myself to receive a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. After obtaining my degree, I moved to New York City to continue pursuing my career as a police officer. But two weeks before entering the police academy, I felt I wasn't being true to my heart. For whatever reason, even with good intentions, it didn't feel right. I also wanted to fall in love, get married and have children, but I wasn't going to share my life with someone if I was in that kind of profession. I would've chosen to only be married to the job. Something was still pulling at my heart's strings. That's when I started ferociously writing every night, just to get the ick out of me and what was going on in my life. It didn't take long before I realized I wanted to change careers to pursue my ambitions as a writer, and very quickly was inspired to write about what almost could have been. And the best part? Writing fiction of course!

So, what is my book about? Lily Dietz, is an attractive New York homicide detective who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Her career is hindered by her psychological and physical frailties. Apart from being a borderline alcoholic she is close to being a full-blown manic depressive. With her partner John Fremont, Lily becomes engrossed in the hunt to catch a killer who favors Asian-American women – a category she herself falls into. As the race to unmask the murderer gathers pace, Lily must prevent herself from turning from hunter into prey.

The Fisherman's Lily is like an onion. It has many layers. I would describe the novel to be a mixture of police procedural, detective fiction, thriller/suspense and a family saga. It is dark crime and I would not say it is for everyone (it can get quite gruesome) but other parts of the novel discuss the complexity of our emotions and the human condition, such as feelings of anger, guilt, redemption, sadness … love. And how it all correlates within the relationships we have with others and ourselves.

Book Trailer for The Fisherman's Lily by Suzanne Spiegoski

Here's a fun random fact about my book: I'm a proud German Shepherd owner and in general, a dog lover. I love the breed so much I felt compelled to create a dog character in the book, Cuffs, Lily's beloved K-9 working-line GSD. He is her shadow, her confidant and best friend. It wasn't until after completing The Fisherman's Lily when my real-life dog, MaQ, came into our lives. Now he is my personal cheerleader, muse and hero. ♥

With my muse, MaQ, my German shepherd dog. © Gilles Decamps — With my muse, MaQ, my German shepherd dog. **© Gilles Decamps**

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Are you into crime fiction? Like the thrill of the chase? Perhaps you're a natural-born bookworm who's looking for something a little different from your usual reading? In honor of this special day I'm doing a book giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter your chance of winning a free, signed paperback copy of The Fisherman's Lily go on my Instagram page (@suzannespiegoski) and just follow the rules. :)

Enter your chance to win a free signed copy of The Fisherman's Lily on Instagram NOW! — Enter your chance to win a free signed copy of *The Fisherman's Lily* on **Instagram** NOW!

Got questions about my book or my writing? Leave comments below! I love interacting with new readers and other like-minded blogs, and of course, I can't leave out the familiar faces! Thank you so much for your continued love and support. I am forever grateful for you!

Thanks for stopping by and reading more about my life and my work. Don't forget to go on Instagram and enter your chance to win a free copy of The Fisherman's Lily!

Have a great rest of your Tuesday! The Fisherman's Lily is available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble, in kindle and paperback.

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Love & xx's,

Source: http://www.suzannespiegoski.com/thefisherm...

10 Years in New York City - Part 2

January 11, 2016

Friday's post was about the lessons I've learned from living in New York City from the past decade. Today I'm sharing with you what I did on my 10-year anniversary! First, I wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge with my favorite boys and take in the scenic view of my city (and to take some photos of course). It was pretty cold that day but I always find find this bridge especially to be so awe-inspiring. Talk about a landmark! Plus MaQ has never visited the Brooklyn Bridge before! I knew now was a good time as any, and it was such a treat for everyone. I really enjoy sharing as many experiences as I can with MaQ in the city of New York, he is after all a NYC dog!

MaQ & the Brooklyn Bridge. Doesn't he look majestic AF? :)

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, January 2016.

It's only about a 40 minute walk from the Brooklyn bridge to our apartment in the East Village so we walked our way back up. That's what makes commuting with a large German Shepherd rather difficult. He can't just take the subway or hop a ride on a bus. Same situation with restaurants (unless there's outdoor seating available if the weather permi). But walking through the streets of New York is also one of my favorite things to do with my furry man. I just love watching the world go by and he loves greeting them. On our walk up we made a couple pit stops to check out some graffiti and street art, something I've been documenting though the years with MaQ. As you can see in the photo below with Danielle Mastrion's incredible portrait, he is a natural born model. I also really love the first photo of this post because some of things I cherish most in life are apparent in it. Art, love, life, even rock music. New York, you are just supremely awesome. I can't believe how lucky I am to live here every day!

My husband surprised me for lunch at Cipriani Downtown. It's one of my favorite restaurants in New York. It's a more casual version of Harry Cipriani, and Downtown offers a slightly less formal menu than its uptown predecessor. Beautifully designed, the restaurant offers outdoor dining when the weather is agreeable, serving lunch and dinner in a party-like atmosphere. Not to mention the hip artwork and gorgeous people surrounding you as you dine. We shared the tuna tartar while downing their well-known Bellinis, a famous staple of Cip's. They're are the absolute best. For our main course, I had their scampi asparagus risotto and the hubby went for some delicious gnocchi. Like I've mentioned before, I'm a foodie and unfortunately foodie addicts like myself will sometimes forget to take photos of all our food that's to be enjoyed. Oops. :X All I have to tell you is it was damn good.

Cheers to the best Bellinis in the world!

Cipriani's Tuna Tartar. One word. Amazing.

I chose where to have dinner. On my very first night in New York, ten years ago, I went out partying like a mad woman until the wee hours of the morning before finally stopping at a 24-hr open Korean restaurant in K-Town. It was a blast. But fast forward ten years later, I wanted Korean again, but I wanted something a bit more upscale. We're talking a big celebration, y'all! I wanted the ultimate dining experience with a fantastic view. Enter: Gaonnuri. A penthouse-level joint (39th floor) in K-Town, this stylish Korean eatery offers panoramic views & tabletop BBQ. The meat was top quality; the service, impeccable. And the views were out of this world. I really want to try their Black Forest Cake on Fire dessert, but I was far too stuffed my first time around. A true gem I discovered in the heart of Koreatown and because of my sweet tooth (and hungry fatty-status), I will definitely be coming back soon! Very soon. :)

Empire State Building lit up in red and green.

With all these celebrations I'm left feeling remindful of what's important. Sure I have a tendency to get caught up in my work, but that shouldn't be a reason not to enjoy the little things. For example, I haven't been to a New York museum in a few years (YIKES), I itch a blog post coming up on this very soon... stay tuned! Thanks for stopping by and we wish you a great start to your week! :)

Love & xx's

Source: http://www.suzannespiegoski.com/maq-and-su...

Empire State of Mind. Brooklyn Bridge, NYC, January 2016. © Gilles Decamps — Empire State of Mind. Brooklyn Bridge, NYC, January 2016. © Gilles Decamps

10 Years in New York City - Part 1

January 8, 2016

Woah, it's official! This week marks my ten year anniversary living in New York City! I'm incredibly proud to finally be able to call myself a real New Yorker! In the past decade, I've changed careers twice, wrote my first novel, found MaQ, the German Shepherd dog I've always wanted since I was a child, and married the man of my dreams. Phew! But it's true what they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." One helluva ride, I've been doing a lot of reflecting over the past decade of my life and how far I've come. It's been a very humbling experience and New York has helped me grow in ways I didn't even know were possible. So, here are 10 things I've learned on my journey as a New Yorker.

1. YOU BETTER WORK!

RuPAUL, you are preaching to the choir! Living in NYC is ridiculously expensive and everyone out here wants their fair-shared bite out of the Big Apple. But in order to party hard, you better work even harder. And I mean you better work like you've never worked in your entire life! I've been working since the age of 12 and nothing ever came easy for me. For many years, I've held down 2 to 3 jobs at once all the while working on other projects like my novel or whipping up some new recipes or coming up with a new photographic series. I've worked my butt off to get to where I am today. And that kind of work ethic is vital to be able to live here. It's not even an option.

2. LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

Words are my life and have always been my gateway to outward expression and my release from the trials and tribulations of life. I had dabbled in creative writing such as short stories and some poetry during my adolescence, even getting a few of my poems published while in college. So, I started writing again after transplanting myself from the Motor City to the island of Manhattan. It was like a lightning bolt had struck me, straight to the core. Immediately I knew I wanted to take my writing more seriously. This could be my way of helping and contributing to society and most importantly, do something I love doing, no matter how long it was going to take to work my way towards becoming an established writer. Here if you want it bad enough you'll do it for free, but my firm belief is never work for money and/or success. Your work should feel significant and meaningful to you. Work for a cause, not for applause. The money will follow. Hard work pays off, for real though!

3. CAN'T READ MY POKER FACE.

Ever hear how New Yorkers aren't the smiling type? It's true. Sort of. We're honest folks, pretty blunt actually in it's truest and rawest form. New Yorkers are not about letting people know too much of their business because most people don't care, they're just curious. Nosey. Nobody's got time for that! They want to see you do good (perhaps), but never better than them - something I will never understand. I'm everyone's cheerleader! Why would you want someone to lose rather than win? Because it's an extremely competitive town and after a few years even, being in the Concrete Jungle, I think a person is only bound to build that "don't mess with me" type of NYC mentality. Plus it wards off the cacklers, trollers, fakes and haters of the world while keeping yourself in check!

4. THE FOOD HERE IS UNLIKE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

I may be tiny and petite, but I can eat like a horse. I LOVE FOOD. But my upbringing, in terms of food experience, wasn't very eclectic. I grew up mostly on Korean and American food. As a kid, The Olive Garden and Red Lobster were considered one of the 'nicer' restaurants. But living in NYC where the culinary melting pot is literally right outside your apartment, is one of my greatest pleasures living here. Never have I eaten better or with more wonder and joy than I have in the past ten years. NYC really does have every type of ethnic cuisine you can imagine and I've learned so much about cooking and food in general. Okay, now I need to stop talking about this. My stomach's growling. ;-) But seriously, you haven't had food until you've been to New York!

5. OOEY GOOEY ROMANCE AT IT'S FINEST

When I think of all the sights and sounds of the city, I am filled with so many memories (good and bad, and just downright ugly) of my past relationships. New York City is a great place to be single, but I think it's an even better place to fall in love. Two different types of people with two different types of perspectives, equals countless hours of exploring the city. Different parts of the city. Sure it's great to do some solo-adventuring, but it's the best when shared with someone you deeply love. Some of my favorite memories are nestled in this gorgeous town with the love of my life. My husband and I met in the East Village, he proposed at the Metropolitan Opera and we married in Central Park at Strawberry Fields, right on top of the John Lennon, 'Imagine' memorial. For me, the city brings out your romantic side, at full speed! Unforgettable moments. For reals.

6. NOTHING GOES AS PLANNED.

My dad used to say, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans." My five year plan after college was to join the police force. (I know, what?! I'll tell y'all about it another time.) Obviously I changed my mind, ha ha! I'm very thankful for all the experiences that I've gained from the different jobs I've had through the years. I'm constantly evolving as a person, and I think all that personal growth from work has helped mold me into who I am today. When I stopped trying to plan my life down to every single detail, the better life has become. Not to say that you should be some irresponsible hot mess, but unplanned events, both positive or negative, can lead to wonderful things. Don't try so hard because life really does have a funny way of working things out. Letting go can be very powerful. Everything will fall into place whether you like it or not!

7. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO LIVE HERE.

Life in NYC is not at all like the way the TV and big screen depict it. It's the fashion capital of the world, but not everyone is running around like Carrie Bradshaw. People dress the way they want to dress. New Yorkers do what they want to do and they do what they got to do too. This place can eat you alive, so never try to live by someone else's way. Be authentic and be true to yourself, through thick and thin, because the city life can get pretty stressful. Sometimes too much it seems. But don't give up. Be real to yourself. If you are, no matter what difficulties life wants to throw your way, you'll be able to figure it out. Look at how much pressure goes into making a diamond! That's the beauty of New York, you never know what can happen!

8. STAY CONNECTED BUT WATCH YOUR BACK.

It's all about who you know in this town but if that means having to force yourself in dealing with highly toxic people, walk away. You don't have to sacrifice your dignity or integrity for anyone or anything. That's far too important, to me at least, and life's too short. Work with those you can grow and learn from. If they're not bringing anything to the table and it's just negative, time to move on. You deserve better. It's tough being appreciated here, because the city of New York doesn't owe you anything. It's nothing personal and no one's perfect after all, but this shouldn't make you have to short-list what you feel is fair or right for yourself. Networking and staying connected is an imperative tool in New York, but that doesn't mean there's no snakes in the grass.

9. MAKE TIME AND SPACE FOR YOURSELF.

I will forever be a city girl at heart. The idea of living in the middle of nowhere with not much to do is a little nerve-wrecking to me. In my opinion that's too much space! But sometimes the city feels like there's not enough space. Trust me, you know what I'm talking about if you've ever squeezed into a subway car train during rush hour like sardines in a can! There is no sense of personal space in the city. So it's good to take a retreat every once in a while. I always feel rejuvenated and revived after spending some quiet time with nature and being outdoors. It does the body and soul good. :)

10. LIVING IN NYC VS. BEING IN NYC

Ambition means more in this town than talent, but that shouldn't deter you from having some kind of social life. Don't just work, play! There's a million and one things to do in NYC and one of the biggest perks living here is being able to do them. I've been to the Brooklyn Bridge many many times, but I particularly wanted to walk it with my boys on my ten year anniversary living here. It is such an epic landmark and was quite the New York moment to have. Make the most of this city because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

My city, my town. New York City Forever, baby!

Well, New York - I made it. And on my own terms. Feeling pretty groovy and happy to be alive. Keep banging. I will always love you. (But not without my whips and chains, you naughty city you! I need to straighten you out from time to time!) :P

Cheers to the greatest city in the world! Stay tuned for Part 2 of my NYC anniversary extravaganza! ♥

Love & xx's

The Best Gift

December 12, 2015

Three years ago today was the very first time my husband and I met MaQ! After several years of desperately wanting a dog in our lives, and perhaps a little more so on my end, we finally came to an agreement to, "just look."

The road to MaQ was not as simple as I hoped it to be. We initially wanted to rescue a dog, but more specifically, we also wanted to raise a puppy together. This doesn't discount the eternal bonds with any dog, regardless of age, shelter/non-shelter, but there is something significantly special in having your pup from the beginning.

I have friends with wonderful dogs who've been rescued, some even as a puppy but not too many here in New York City, and perhaps when we went looking it wasn't the right time because our experience was so heart-wrenching, I literally ran out of each shelter in TEARS! Most dogs were pitbulls and staffies, and I have nothing against the breed, but most of the dogs were much older and had cases of aggression and psychological trauma in their history, which never means a case is hopeless and every dog is worth saving, but some of the stories I heard I really wasn't prepared for and did not feel at all confident in having a type of dog with a complicated history as my first pet. It just broke my heart because I wanted to save every single pet but knew I wasn't the best option for any of them.

Feeling a bit discouraged after, my husband was the one who came up with the idea of going to a German Shepherd breeder just to look at the puppies. Since I was a child I've always, deep down in my heart only wanted a German Shepherd but my mother was adamant on not having a dog. And even though I was delighted for my father and brother when they got a German Shepherd after my mother's passing, it only made my desire for wanting a German Shepherd even greater.

So on that fateful day, three years ago, after researching for the top GSD breeders within the state of New York, we drove the 3.5 hours upstate to only start looking at the puppies. When we arrived, the breeders were a married couple who were friendly but extremely knowledgeable in their field. When the wife explained they only had one puppy available at the moment, something in my gut immediately made me want to meet this one!

We walked down the pathway which led us further into the compound, to meet this pup. In a smaller kennel sat two pups, one girl and one boy. The girl was already taken but the boy was MaQ! I'll never forget the first look we exchanged with each other. He was wearing this tiny red collar and his eyes were especially green for a Shepherd. I immediately fell in love, right then and there.

But it's not only about how I felt. I knew how important it was for MaQ and my husband, Gilles, too because it's true what they say, we don't just choose the dog, the dog chooses us as well. When the breeder opened the gate so we could meet, MaQ ran right out to greet us. We even got to meet MaQ's parents, which I felt gave us such insight on character and personality traits. His mother, Giovanna was one of the Alpha-females, and was on constant watch among her Master's and their property. His father, Satch, was a tad more goofy and approachable. Playful and inquisitive, I knew the contrast was an excellent match.

When it started to get colder outside, we brought MaQ inside the main house with us to continue talking and to also keep bonding with him. He wouldn't leave my side! We all knew I wasn't leaving this one behind! In less than an hour, after signing all the paperwork, I had him in my lap in the backseat of our rental car. And just like that, our beautiful boy entered into our lives, forever changing it. He didn't cry once on the drive back home!

MaQ is the best gift (besides my hubby) I've ever received. I have no idea what I would do without my boy, I love him so much! Remember though, dogs are not accessories but a lifetime commitment. Be ready to be truly devoted to your beloved furry companion because they are truly devoted to you. Dogs not only need love, but exercise, training, discipline, structure and consistency. They are a lot of work, so make sure you have the time and financial capabilities before owning a dog. Consider it your fur child! ;)

Have a great weekend! We hope it is spent with the ones you love! ♥

Love & xx's,

maQ + Suz

Lessons Learned in 2 Years of Marriage

November 18, 2015

You might start reading this blog post with a lingering 'ICK' in the back of your mind. But this isn't one of those entries where I'm going to go on and on about how wonderful marriage is or how blessed my life has become, now that we're husband and wife. I'm not one to fabricate - so this all all about keeping it real and remaining true to myself.

If any married couple wants to argue their relationship doesn't have it's ups and downs, all the while claiming they're 100% always happy with one another, then they're telling you a BIG FAT LIE. Don't get me wrong. I madly love my husband; with every fiber of my being. This doesn't mean I don't want to ring his neck simultaneously! Love is pain. And pain is love. Marriage isn't always easy. Think about it. You're making the ultimate commitment to another person. You're flawed. They're flawed. At some point, you're bound to come across some bumps in the road, even a cul-de-sac (or so it feels like at the time) every now and then, which can be downright frightening. Just because you love someone doesn't mean they can't disappoint you or let you down, or disagree with you or call you out on your bullshit. Some days feel like it'll never be right. But at the end of each day, if you both love each other, no matter what circumstances or obstacles life wants to throw our way, we're in this together. Just because you're on a sinking ship doesn't mean you need to bail. (Hello, Jack and Rose from Titanic!) Because for better or for worse, we are in it for the long haul. If that's not dedication toward another living soul, I don't know what is.

A week ago was our 2 year anniversary. I would've done a post earlier or on the actual day if my life wasn't so crazy at the moment. We still haven't even had a chance to celebrate because life has really gotten in the way lately. And with the past week, especially with so much chaos going on in the world, I still feel the need to fight against hate with acts of love. Whether they are in real life or down on paper, or in a blog post, I still and always have felt the urge to share some of the life lessons I've learned from my journey thus far. So here's a few lessons I've learned in 2 years of marriage.

Lessons Learned in 2 Years of Marriage

Always stay true to you. Sure, it's not about you anymore. And if you mix in children (furry or non-furry), it becomes less and less about you. This doesn't mean you should lose yourself in the process now that you are married. Be your own individual. Have your separate group of friends, your own thing, whether it's a career, or a hobby, or time-spent volunteering or getting in your workout fix. Just do it because you love to. Don't take it for granted or push it aside because (e.g; there's only 24 hours in a day, or whatever excuse you want to conjure ), life is too short to completely base your life on someone else. It is truly good to have your own time by yourself and in the process, remain true to yourself and to have your own identity.
Compromising is KEY. This can be challenging for my husband and I at times because we are both extremely opinionated, passionate and stubborn people. And when one partner is angry or upset by the other, it can be difficult to come to some sort of agreement. We always eventually do, but the longer I've been married, the more I'm starting to see that the sooner a compromise can be reached, the sooner you can move on from it. You have to keep the ebb and flow of life constantly moving. And it saves a lot of time and grief arguing over something that's usually not very important and actually quite silly.

Constant and open communication. This kind of goes with compromising because without talking to one another, neither of you are going to get very far! And if talking means shouting, yelling, screaming, or anything non-positive, this will also get you nowhere. You have to be able to sit down like two adults and talk things through, no matter how much you don't want to. The lines of communication (along with the compromise) have to be a two-way street, where you meet somewhere in the middle and work it out.

Focus on the good, not the bad. While it's easy to get caught up in what you find annoying, frustrating or irritating in your partner's flaws, try to remind yourself in the good qualities they carry instead. Don't just say, 'ugh, he sips everything through his teeth and I find it to be the most unnerving habit!' but rather, "yeah he sips through his teeth, but I adore him for making me coffee every morning." I find it that the more you're worrying about what is bothersome in your partner, you'll only become more in tune to whatever it is that's bugging you and you will start to mirror the bad habit! Everyday is a choice of how to look at your partner. And it should only be with loving, adoring thoughts - no matter how hard it may seem. Even on those absolutely terrible days.

Make time for just the two of you. Living in one of the most competitive cities in the world, it's challenging enough to work and thrive let alone maintain a social life. This should never be an excuse not to be able to sit down and plan for some quality time. Just you and him. (Or you and her ha ha!) It doesn't have to be extravagant, luxurious or even extraordinary. It's the two of you embracing one another, conversing with one another, sharing a moment together in time, because you're not alone. It can be just staying in and watching really bad prime time television, all the while joking together about it, snacking down on some tasty treats and spending whatever time is left together. Because you never will know when you're time is up.

Take a road trip together if you haven't already. To me, this is a milestone in your relationship, like when you two first moved in together. If you can survive through the experience and actually enjoy your time together with something like that, then you can pretty much get through anything. It's not a day trip kind of thing, but something that's going to take you at least a week to do. We did take a road trip before we got married and were only engaged. We drove from New York to Michigan for one of my close girlfriend's wedding and to see some relatives. It's one of those journeys together as a couple where you really see the person for who they are. And we both loved every single minute of it. We still laugh from those memories until tears are rolling down our cheek.

Always love. This seems easy right? Did you forget we're human? We may want to love 100% of the time, but we all have insecurities and pockets of anger, moments of sadness, pure despair. Even in those tickles of annoyances, you're probably not filled with only loving thoughts. Always try to remember, no matter what your partner is going through, if they're not intentionally hurting anyone or themselves, then love them with everything you have. It is the most courageous and powerful act of all. And I know for some you will find this way too cheesy, but I do too believe that love conquers all.