A book that transformed my life is Misled by Kathryn C. Kelly, simply because it was my mother who penned it. Due to the very mature topics contained in the book, I didn't read it until years after it was released. But even before my eyes ever set sight of the novel's first words, it had a major impact on my life. When my mother began writing it, we were in a tough financial situation, and at risk of losing our house and only mode of transportation. At the time, I was ten, and just discovering my love for writing. Our lack of money was a source of stress for the whole family. I vividly remember my mother explaining to me and my younger sister the sticky situation we were in and how we might have to make some sacrifices, i.e. no snacks that we loved, no outside amusements, no extra toys, nothing that wasn't the necessities. Her finishing Misled seemed to be a race against time. She put everything on hold to focus on the story, and entrusted my grandmother and older sister to care for me, my younger sister, and the house we resided in. The months that it took her to finish it were very stressful, but I fondly remember the discussions she and my grandmother had about the storyline doing the writing process, and how she would come to life when talking about it. Seeing the joy that writing caused her not only warmed my little ten-year-old heart, but it resulted in me becoming more interested in creating stories of my own. When Misled was finally released to the public, the positive reaction it received was mind-boggling. Within a few months, we had gone from praying that we'd keep a roof over our head, to buying a brand new car and dining on crab meat. The success of Misled is what really solidified my dreams of becoming an author, as it was my first real example that you could earn money doing what you love. While the money that Misled made has long since dried up, and despite my hatred for one of the book's main characters, Misled will always be a book that transformed my life for the better and fostered my love for writing. And when I finally read the book in high school, I discovered a new passion of mine, critical analysis of characters and plotlines, a skill very useful when it comes to writing.

In my opinion, proper rest is the foundation of success. Many studies have shown the adverse side effects of lack of sleep, including limited brain function and decreased cognitive skills. Therefore, my best back-to-school tip is to ensure you have your sleep schedule in order. In the weeks before your start date, try to fall asleep nine hours before you'd have to wake up doing the school year. That way, if you have trouble falling asleep, you'll either have a one-hour grace period to get the recommended eight hours of sleep, or you earn an extra hour of rest! Instagram: tasteless_posts