Writing is obviously my life, and so creating outcomes for my characters is kind of like second nature to me. It seems only natural that I should have an “ideal” storyline plotted out for my own life. . . . Not so much, it appears.

When Nadine sent me the prompt to participate in the blog hop to support the release for her dystopian thriller “A Time to Die,” I was pretty ecstatic. Nadine is a good friend of mine (“We’ll always have dancing,” darling, which is a poor Bogart imitation), and I had the privilege of reading her book about a year ago. And let me tell you, I could NOT put it down! It was exciting and engaging, and I was in tears at the end—and you all know that if a story moves me like that, it’s a keeper and I’ll be obsessed; it’s just how I roll.

The entire idea of the book revolves around what we would do with our time if we knew our days were numbered, but more specifically, if we knew the exact moment our clocks would run out. It also challenged me personally to examine passing interests of mine and the things and places that I’m really passionate about. I am honored to be a part of Nadine’s Launch Team!

Sooooo…. Drum roll please….

If I had 1 Year Left to Live, I Would:

Find out what and who is really important in my life—get close to those people and experience those things that I’ve only ever dreamed about. I have one year, and that means time is precious.

Buy a lottery ticket to afford all that I must do. 😉

Spend three weeks holed up in my room furiously penning away the final book in the Rising Shadows Trilogy, make it the best and most impacting it can be, and then send it off. I hate leaving things unfinished, and so to tie up loose ends in the series is important to me. Plus it’s guaranteed to become a best-seller after I’m gone, so step aside Nicholas Sparks! After that, though, as much as it pains me to say, I believe I would stop writing with deadlines in mind. But if some idea sparked my fancy, I definitely won’t keep myself from writing period; I can’t cut cold-turkey! 😉

Take three months to backpack around Europe, seeing history, meeting new people, enjoying foreign lands and cultures. This has been on my bucket list since I started one, and now I really want to hop on a plane and travel! I only have 12 weeks, so I would have to crack down and select the monuments and places that are a must-see.

—The Eiffel Tower. The facts are these: I will go up to watch the sunset, stay until closing to see the amazing lights, and then come back the next morning to sip a cappuccino and eat a croissant while reading a book on the grass. It all just seems so dreamy. And then the Louvre to top it all off, of course. When in Paris… ^_^

—Every museum in London (and also Ben Franklin’s house!). The National Gallery, the Henley Museum, Queens Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, to name a few.

And to complete my European tour, I would spend plenty of time in my dreamland of Ireland. I could picnic on the hills, visits castles, admire God’s green creation all around me—and meet the craziest people, I hope! I will also purchase the perfect little cottage in which to retire. There is just something so magical about Ireland and the small towns and their gorgeous rolling hills that call to me. *sighs dreamily*

Work at an orphanage for a time. A year really isn’t a lot to accomplish fun things and save the world, but I’ve always been passionate about children and helping them to see their potential and how big God’s love is for them. It would be amazing to tutor and encourage kids who have no hope and don’t believe they have a future.

Travel to Israel. If my clock’s working properly, then I still have a couple months left to explore the land. Yippee! I’ve always been fascinated by Israel and all of the Biblical history there, and I am so passionate about going. I would see every Biblical monument that they’ve marked, and hopefully discover some new ones, absorb every sight and sound, and dive into the Word during my stay. It would definitely be an eye-opening trip.

Spend my final days in my Irish cottage admiring God’s incredible handy work. What better way to spend my last hours than enjoying time with my Creator?

So, there are my answers. And that begs the questions: If you had 1 year left to live, what would you do? Hopefully read “A Time to Die”! ^_~

Read the summary for “A Time to Die” below, and don’t forget to purchase your own copy of the ebook or pre-order the paperback (to be released October 1^st, 2014).

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Die-Out-Book/dp/1621840298/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411703342&sr=8-1&keywords=a+time+to+die+Nadine

Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system.

But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall — her people’s death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out.

• Website: http://nadinebrandes.com
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Want to hear what other people would do with their last years? Click the links below.

This is what it will look like:

9.03.14 – Nadine Brandes

9.08.14 – Ashlee Willis

9.11.14 – Caitlin Schesser

9.15.14 – Jennette Mbewe

9.17.14 – Heather Fitzgerald

9.19.14 – Kristen Stieffel

9.22.14 – Rebekah Gyger

9.25.14 – Lydia Thomas

9.26.14 – Ashley Olson

9.27.14 – Angel Roman

9.28.14 – Rosalie Valentine

9.29.14 – Aubrei Crooke-Adams

9.30.14 – Sarah Grimm

10.01.14 – Jon Del Arroz

10.02.14 – Amy Brandes

10.04.14 – Kathrese McKee

10.07.14 – Karen DeBlieck

10.09.14 – Bethany Jennings

10.10.14 – Angie Brashear

10.13.14 – Adam Collings

10.15.14 – Bree Courtney

10.20.14 – Gretchen Engel

10.24.14 – JC Morrows

10.30.14 – Lisa Gedfries