Hi everyone! I just wanted to come on here and make a blog post about my second book and why it is taking so long because I know a lot of you out there have been asking about it.

So the first half of this post will be an announcement about my second book and when it will be released. The second half will be an explanation about why it is taking so long and whats happening in my life. Feel free to stop reading at any point, some people don't care for information about my personal life and thats totally okay! 

Alright, so my second book. Yes, it was originally supposed to be released in the spring of 2017. Unfortunately, that did not happen due to reasons I will get into below. But the second book is finished now and I'm currently in the process of editing it. After that, I will get into the real publishing process of designing the cover and putting it into a book form. Publishing, sadly, is a very LONG process that I wish I could speed up. But I can't, because it sacrifices the quality of the book.

But, I am trying to edit as quickly as possible and start working with my designers. I do not have a set release date yet because it is too far in advance but the second book realistically should be out in the spring of 2019. As soon as I get an exact date from my team I will post it everywhere I possibly can and make sure you guys know about it. I am so incredibly grateful all of you are excited for my second book and keep asking about it because it motivates me to edit faster, and get the book released. So thank you for remembering, loving, and asking about TCC, it has saved me and comforted in more ways than I can possibly express. I am in love with my second book and I'm so excited for everyone to read it and to follow Alyssa, Amber, Zack, and Haven as they travel to Brazil!

Alright, here is where I will get into some information about my personal life so if thats not your cup of tea, feel free to just stop right here. 

I've never really spoken publicly about this before, not even during my motivational presentations. But the truth is, I actually struggle with debilitating chronic pain because of a chronic migraine disorder. I've had this disorder since I was ten years old and I would get a lot of migraines from it, about three to four a week. 

The year my first book came out in 2016, was the best and worst year of my life. My book came out obviously, which was amazing, but I had a REALLY bad pain flare up that year. It was insane. I had a migraine for eight months straight, twenty four hours a day, every single day. It was like some awful nightmare I was trapped in. I couldn't get rid of the migraine, no matter what I did. I missed most of the school year because of it and was bed ridden a lot of the time. This impacted my writing obviously. I started my second book and had plans to finish it quickly and to publish it, but it was just not possible. It was extremely difficult to write when in pain all the time, and as a result, my progress on my second book was slow. 

Things slowly got better as I visited more doctors and learned more about the disorder, but I was still in a lot of pain for most of the days in a week. Truthfully, my mental health suffered a lot because of it. I developed pretty bad depression and anxiety and it suddenly became an effort to even leave my house. Everything, no matter how small, mentally and physically exhausted me. I withdrew from my friends and social life, and kept to myself a lot. The only thing that I looked forward to was writing which I continued doing on the days where my pain was tolerable. 

Because of this condition, I was put on a lot of heavy medication to treat it which caused a lot of side effects. One of them was extreme exhaustion and I remember the many nights where I would fall asleep at nine pm. Before the medication, I would stay up until 1 am writing, and as any writer knows, sometimes the best writing comes to you in the night where the world is asleep and you are awake. Ideas just seem to flow from you like a fountain at night. But the medication made me extremely confused and I didn't feel like myself. I didn't know if I could ever finish a book with the way my life was going. 

But in my darkest moments I remembered my fans and the people who support me and I always clung to that as a sign of hope. So I continued to write a little when I could, and eventually my second book started to come together. Over time I was able to get my migraines under control to the point where I could have a normal life again. I almost forgot what normal felt like. I remember waking up in the morning and immediately wishing for it to be night time again so I could sleep away the physical pain and my emotional pain. But writing truly did save my life and it was one of the only things combatting my depression. It gave me a purpose to keep fighting. 

I finished my second book eventually in May of 2018 after my first year of university. As anyone who is in university knows, life gets freaking busy. I was a first year english student and I was buried in essays, readings, migraines, depression, and novel work. It was a LOT of writing, to say the very least. But I found that writing my book was really fun and I was never sick of doing it, even when I had to write fifty essays for my english classes, aka, How Well Can You BS An Essay on Shakespeare 101. 

So that is kind of a summary of where I've been and whats been happening in my life. My second book is set to be published and will be out very soon and I am SO excited guys. I love this book even more than my first. It's like my child. I feel like I gave birth to my second child. 

But on a serious note, the moral of this story is that you should never let anything like a disability or a mental illness stop you from reaching your goals. Yes, at times you're going to feel like shit and you're going to cry and binge watch Netflix while eating ice cream. And that is okay, because things will ALWAYS get better. Even if it doesn't feel like it, there is always a rainbow at the end of a storm, no matter how long that storm lasts. My storm is still ongoing. I mean, it isn't metaphorically pouring and hailing on me anymore, it's lightly drizzling, like on a spring day in the middle of April. I still have issues with mental health and migraines but life is looking up for me. I love my school, I love where I live, I love my friends, I love my book, my fans, and my job. There is always a silver lining in any situation. Today for example, I had a terrible migraine and laid in bed for four hours but eventually it passed and I picked myself up out of my bed and now I'm sitting here writing this blog post. Just having this platform to express myself is a silver lining to my day. 

For anyone out there struggling with a disability of any kind or a mental illness, do not be afraid to reach out for help. I am here for you and you are loved by so many people in your own life who would want to help you. Having a disability does not change who you are as a person or your worth. Having a disability does not make you broken, which is what society sadly leads us to believe. Having a disability makes you strong and gives you the capacity to love and appreciate every single day. We take nothing for granted. We laugh because we have felt extreme pain and we love because life is short and unpredictable and a single moment should never be wasted. So, if you are dealing with something in your personal life, I believe in you, I am thinking of you, and you are strong enough to carry on and to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Chin up, because life is a rollercoaster and theres crazy loopholes and twists at every turn. Life is exciting and beautiful and we are all here for a reason. Embrace yourself as you are, be kind to yourself, and love yourself for who you are, not who you want to be or who you think you should be. 

I love you guys and thank you for loving my book series as well as the person behind those words. I would not want to be doing anything else with my life. Again, I am so grateful for your support and kindness and it really has saved my life. 

Thank you for reading this. I hope that  what I've shared here has helped some of you, or even one of you. 

Much love, 

​Alessia 

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another blog post.

Here is a playlist for all the Zyssa shippers out there. Let me know what you think in the comments! Happy holidays everyone!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbcCG7PkI18&list=PLiCD_8_VdyI_5lFEKbD-vTsRKtS-O_Gw_

xoxo 

Alessia

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another blog post. 

I've decided to start creating playlists that remind me of different character relationships in TCC. I've decided to do a Haven x Alyssa playlist first as it is the most popular ship in the fandom! However, I will be adding more playlists for other characters (the next one will be a Zack & Alyssa then Alyssa & Amber playlist). If you are a Haven x Alyssa fan I hope you enjoy the feels this playlist will give you!! If you have a song suggestion to be added to this list, please leave it in the comments, DM me or head on over to my contact me page. Also if you have any ideas for a ship name let me know in the comments.

​www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiCD_8_VdyI_24uBo1CN-RyiWNG2Nooqm

​
Hello everyone! 

Welcome back to another blog post. Today I was cleaning out some of my old stuff and I came across my books and poems from many years ago! So, I thought it's time to share my unique story of how exactly I became a writer! And I guess it's time to tackle the age old question: does fate exist??

So I guess we can start literally on the day I was born. April 23rd 1999. A few years ago I learned April 23'rd is World Book Day and is the birthdate, and death date of many famous writers such as William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso De La Vega, Maurice Druon, Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. Let's just talk about that massive list for a moment. Are you freaking kidding me??? On all the days I could be born April 23'rd just happened to be the day? And it just so happens to be World Book Day?  And eerily, many famous writers share this date for either their death date or birthdate? Ironic right? Ummm... thanks for keeping with the  tradition mother.

I started writing the moment I could hold a pencil and string together literate sentences. I started writing novels and poetry at age 6. By the time I was 9 years old I had written dozens of poems, short stories, and a novella series Sarah the Detective which consists of 50 books! During this time I won multiple poetry and short story contests and spend my days writing or thinking about writing. There wasn't much else to me. I was bored to death by anything that wasn't books or writing. What can I say, I was a strange child. But by age 10, which was when I was in fifth grade, I started writing my YA book series, The Crystal Chronicles.

As you can probably tell from reading that, I literally cannot remember a time where I didn't want to be a writer. Being a writer wasn't just something I wanted to do, it was something I had to do. It was like this knowledge that was innately stored within me from the very moment I entered this world. 

Many people do not believe me when I tell them, but I wrote the bulk of The Crystal Chronicles in sixth grade. The first draft of the book ended up being a whooping 500 pages! That is so freaking long, sometimes I don't even know how little and awkward 12 year old me, managed to write so much! So in the years following in grades 7, 8, 9, and 10, I edited and rewrote and edited and rewrote some more. Talk about a good use of time. And by the time I was fifteen I was ready to publish. So I decided to take the dive and just do it. I had come so far anyway and I wasn't going to stop at the very end. 

It took me a year and half to publish the book with my publishing company, Friesen Press. The book was released in February of 2016 when I was only 16 years old. I was in 11th grade. I'm now in 12th grade and currently writing the second book in my 5 part series. Since publication I've appeared on CBC television, have held book signings in Chapters Indigo, and have appeared in two newspaper articles, The Vaughan Citizen and CBC news. 

A month after my book came out I started touring local elementary and high schools to speak to students from grades 4-12 about the importance of literacy as well as urging students to reach their own aspirations. I am completely dedicated to changing the world one school at a time, and I work tirelessly to ensure students realize their own potential and capabilities. 

To date I've spoken at 43 schools in York Region and I'm scheduled to visit many more in the upcoming months. I'm also expected to appear in many other exciting television programs, media, festivals, and writing workshops in the upcoming year. As of right now, I  spend my time touring schools and working on my second book which will be released in the winter 0f 2018 as well as working towards my Ontario High School Diploma. 

If you told my ten year old self I would one day become a motivational speaker/author I would've laughed in your face. But once I started giving speeches to kids I felt like I'd found my purpose in life. To write books and to inspire kids to do great things. It is an incredibly rewarding job and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. 

If you asked me if writers were born or made I wouldn't be able to tell you. Part of me is scientific and believes no one is born anything, and we choose what we become. But another wistful part of me believes I was fated to become an author and speaker to become a symbol of inspiration to other kids. So do I believe in fate? I would have to say no, but many strange events have occurred in my life to lead me to not dismiss the idea completely.

But bottom line: you write the story of your life. You control where each chapter will go. You choose the direction and the people in your life. You control everything. So just do something you love and write your life as a story you would want to read. 

Thanks for reading everyone. I feel like my life is one crazy rollercoaster and I'm having the time of my life riding it.

Below are some pictures of my earliest written works such as my poems, novellas, and short stories. I plan to publish most of it one day because it was written between the ages of 6-9 and therefore, appeals to children at those ages. The Crystal Chronicles is for ages 10 and up so it would be really nice to have books for all ages.

For now they are just pictures though. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog! Today I’m going to be reminiscing a little on my past. So here are some thoughts if anyone’s interested in taking a read!
 
Today I had the honour of visiting my old elementary school, Our Lady of Fatima to speak to their 4-8 students! I was so incredibly blown away by all the support and love I received from the staff and students. So thank you everyone. Truly. From the bottom of my heart.
 
Sometimes I am so caught up in the rush of my crazy life that I forget where I come from, my humble beginnings, and where it all started. If you don’t know me personally you may not be aware, but The Crystal Chronicles was born at Our Lady Fatima elementary school back when I was in grade 5. It was out in their schoolyard where I did laps with my best friend for hours at recess, planning and developing the entire series.
 
wait-say-what-gif.gif


It took my whole grade 5 year to plan the series and it was in Our Lady of Fatima’s classrooms where the entire novel was written, rewritten, and then rewritten some more. The bulk of the novel was written by my 12 year old self in grade 6. It was then edited in multiple notebooks about 100 times in my grades 7 and 8 classrooms. The only pieces of TCC written after elementary school are the prologue and epilogue, which was written when I was in grade 9. I of course, edited the book in grade 10 but 90 % of my novel was written by my little grade school self.

 
Our Lady of Fatima is a place of firsts. I wrote my first ever book there, back in grade 2. In grades 3 and 4 I wrote 50 mini novellas in those classrooms. Fatima was the first place where I brought my first printed manuscript of The Crystal Chronicles. It was the end of grade six and that bulk of pages barely stapled together was my lifeline. It was my sole purpose in life, the only thing I really felt connected to. This was my purpose. In that school I learned to write, to make good characters, to make good plots and I slowly learned how to be the person I am today.
 
Planning and writing The Crystal Chronicles back at my little elementary school are some of my favourite memories of my entire life. It was exhilarating, and it was exciting. I had so many friends and teachers at that school that supported and believed in me. I never doubted I would publish the book but I never ever could’ve foreseen this outcome.
 
For any of my readers who are still in elementary school or actually attend Our Lady of Fatima, please know anything is possible. If one small idea in a playground can turn into all this, that just goes to show you that if you can dream it, you can do it. This is the message I try to bring to all the schools I visit. Age is just a number. It really is.  If you truly love something, you can achieve anything. And that really is the be all end all of my message.
 
I was a different person back Our Lady of Fatima. Some people would be surprised if I told them that. I was painfully shy and my heart would pound every time I answered a question in class. The thought of speeches or presentations made me physically ill. I never voiced my opinions or thoughts and even though I had a lot of them – I could only write them.  I had a few close friends and I was just the girl who was writing a book and who was always writing it in her notebooks. That’s all I felt like I was good at back then. I thought writing was my voice and it would always be my voice. But I was so wrong.
 
This is for the kids who were shy and timid like I was. Trust me, one day your voice will be heard, even if you feel like that day is not today. You will change and grow into something completely different. In grades 9, and 10, I was still painfully shy and rarely spoke out in class. By that point I was editing and working on publishing my novel. I was no longer the girl that writes books I was now the girl publishing them. Then in grade 11 I had a personality transformation. I was thrust into the limelight, in front of huge audiences and suddenly I had to speak by myself for a whole hour to hundreds of people on the only thing I actually loved: writing and my book.
 
And suddenly, I found my spark. The spark I needed. And boy, did I ignite. I discovered I loved sharing my story with the world; I loved inspiring students with my experiences and teaching them to love literacy. This was my purpose. To inspire kids to do something great whether that be writing or something else. I wanted to touch the lives of as many kids as possible and there was only one way to do it. I had to visit schools and speak to them in huge gyms and libraries. So that’s exactly what I did. I started touring local schools. To date I’ve spoken at 40 schools around York Region and the number continues to grow by day. I’m now a motivational speaker and an author. You can be so much more than one thing, please believe that.
 
 
Also, please know I never started writing for money and I don’t speak at schools for the money. I do it purely for the love of doing it. I do it purely for the kids who are my wonderful readers. And their love and support is priceless. Because in my experience, I’ve learned it only takes one spark, just one, to reach a kid’s ears and inspire something great in them. Every single day I try to be that spark. To try to reach them and make them aspire to do their own amazing things. We are a generation of capability. So just go out and do. It can be whatever you dream of. Just don’t stop and keep your eyes on the prize. You’ll reach it eventually. And even if you stop I’ll be lecturing each one of you to start again and keep going. Think of me like your personal guru. I’m always here for every one of my students and or readers (as many of you do not live in Canada). My contact box is always open. I’m here for you in every way I can be. This is what I want. To give back to this world and leave it in a better state than I’ve found it.
 
Inspiration is lacking in schools teachers. You have a duty to your students to bring that inspiration back. Strive for that. Always strive for that. And students, work to inspire each other. Great things come out of inspiration. I’ve experienced that firsthand.

If any of you reading this are actually from Fatima, remember this: you can walk those halls and walk at recess and strive for great things at the same time. Don’t be discouraged by anything or anyone. Don’t be discouraged just because you’re a kid at a small little school in Woodbridge. That didn’t stop me and that shouldn’t stop you.
 
I am eternally grateful for the 40 schools I’ve visited these last two years. Each and every school has encouraged me and has made me into the person I’ve always wanted to be. So thank you for everyone who’s listened to my story. From my Vaughan kids to my Brampton kids, to my Markham kids to my Lake Simcoe kids, to my kids outside of Ontario, to my kids who don't even live in Canada, please remember I love each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.
 
Anyway Our Lady of Fatima will always mean so much to me. It really is the birthplace of something that has allowed me to touch the world in all the ways I know how. Thank you Fatima. For being the place that built the foundation of my whole world. If anyone from Fatima is reading this, rep us in the comments! 
 
And again, thank you to all my readers and to the ones reading this blog post. I am so incredibly lucky to have this space to express my thoughts.
 
Cheers,
 
Alessia

​

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another blog post! Poetry has always been something I've been really interested in. I would love to one day release my own poetry book alongside my fantasy YA books. Here are a few pieces I've written over the last few months. Enjoy!

Note: Some pieces below are inspired from the book The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. Others are inspired from common human experiences.

The Battlefield
 
They say love is like going to war
I just never understood it until you.
You use your words like an impenetrable shield
These days our bedroom feels more like a battlefield.
We circle each other with our weapons drawn
I use silence and you use touch,
Knowing full well how a mere graze of your fingertips is as lethal as hemlock.
My body goes weak and suddenly I’m down on my knees
But maybe you want that,
So you can turn around and stab me in the back.
You always win those drunken midnight battles
Sometimes I don’t even know what we’re fighting for,
But if this continues we’ll both lose the war.
You love to drop bombs like, “you can’t stay the night,”
So I act like you mean nothing to me
Are we ever going to learn two wrongs don’t make a right?
Yet when I see him with his arms around you
I want to beg for a mercy killing
But when you’re in my arms the next night, it makes it all the more thrilling.
I’m just tired of hurting you and letting you hurt me
But when I close my eyes at night, you’re still the only face I see.
I want to try and make it work
I’ll put down my weapons if you put down yours.
Lets take off our armor.
There’s no need to be so guarded
Lets just finish what we started
After all, you’re all I ever wanted.
I surrender.
 
 
 Disassembled
 
Sometimes I think you’re the center of gravity
For the way you pull me to you.
You crawled inside my beating heart
Shattering me into a thousand pieces
Turning me into a shadow of the person I used to be,
Then you took them and put the pieces back differently.
I don’t recognize the new person you assembled.
Driven mad by your intimacy and luring smiles
Overwhelmed with the desire to be as close to you as two pages in a book
Paralyzed by your theatre of expressions and stalking beauty.
Only you can undress me with a single look across a busy room.
You don’t even lift a finger.
You’ve always seen right through my carefully crafted mask
Exposing me in a way I’ve never been exposed before.
Tonight you ask me why I love you
But I’m not sure you would believe my answer.
For I would shed my skin down to the bone to prove it wasn’t your exterior that drew me in.
 Darling, I first fell for your soul.
 
The Villa
 
Up in this villa I look down on the city below
Past the fields of green and the cluster of Italian cypress trees,
To the cobblestone streets where the Renaissance men left their legacies.
Where Michaelangelo sculpted the David and spent his time painting
The exact place where Leonardo Da Vinci lived while he was training,
To become a great artist, mathematician, and inventor.
 
I wish I could take Da Vinci’s wings and fly around the Duomo
To admire its terracotta tiles
I bet from up high, Florence seems like it stretches on for miles.
I want to go to the golden Gates of Paradise
So I can memorize the bible.
I’ve never been one to pray but in this city the Roman Catholics practically sing
Hymns of praise and devoted adoration to a heavenly king.
 
Someday I’ll leave this Villa and take a walk down to Ponte Vecchio
And visit The Birth of Venus
Or learn about the Medici’s reign,
But for now, staying in this deserted hospital is the only thing that keeps me sane.
The war is not yet over and I can still hear the battle cries
I’ve always thought the horrors of war forces the humanity out of soldier’s eyes.
 
If the war drops bombs down on this city
The world would weep
And God would look down from heaven stricken with grief.
For Florence has its own eternal heartbeat
And a precious culture bleeding from the stone cracks in the streets.
 
For now, I sit in the garden beside the fountain
Taking refuge in this Italian haven.
But upstairs my burned man sleeps
While death hovers nearby, patiently waiting for his soul to reap.
 
The Past
 
These days, life is holed up in these same four walls
  The company we keep are the ghosts that roam these bomb filled halls.
The only escape route is the book on the bedside table
Holding clues to the life you once lived
Before you fell out of the sky.
Hurtling towards the earth burning as bright as Hailey’s comet.
The flames covered you in third degree burns and battle scars
And I know you don’t remember who you are.
But maybe it’s better that way.
War turns us all into monsters
And flower fields into cemeteries.
Do you want to remember all the faces that met the barrel of your handgun?
Some soldiers don’t have the luxury of forgetting.
The past can be as painful as my finger touching your charred chest.
 
I wish I could be as lucky as you,
Or wake up with amnesia.
Because every time I close my eyes I hear explosions,
And the cries of men begging me to save them.
It’s as if death has wrapped me in her cold embrace
Plucking people from my life one by one.
This grief feels like a storm cloud, constantly blocking the Italian sun.
But I swear you’ll be different.
I’ll pull you away from deaths skeletal grasp
And I’ll sit here in this garden hiding from my past.
 
Sonnet: Free
 
Shins that are burned black to the very bone,
Unable to touch the skin without pain.
That huge book is the very last thing you own,
And you say the love of your life was slain.
 
These days you can only lie flat in your bed,
You’ve surrendered completely to my care.
Caravaggio says your best friend is dead,
So while you’re asleep, heaven hears my prayers.
 
You’re finally remembering who you are,
But sick and tired of living this way.
It was your past that caused those horrid scars,
You hear my begging, but don’t want to stay.
 
And I wish you wouldn’t ask this of me,
But tonight I’ve decided to set you free.
 
 
That's all for now guys! Again thank you for reading! Please check out my Youtube channel at Alessia Dickson, new content will be uploaded very soon! I will also be running another international giveaway in the coming months! 

xoxo

Alessia

 
 

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another blog post! This week I'm going to be sharing who I think, would be awesome to play some of my characters in a potential (and hopeful) TCC movie! 

​This is all hypothetical of course. If a TCC movie were ever in the works you'd hear me screaming from the hills. Let me know what you think of my casting skills in the comments below! Or share someone you think would be fitting to play one of my characters!

# 1. Chloe Moretz as Alyssa Brooks

There is something striking about Chloe that I always thought resembled Alyssa. Chloe is close to Alyssa's age, and shares numerous physical features. All Chloe would have to do is put on green contacts and she'd be Alyssa Brooks!

# 2 Neels Visser as Haven Reeves

Neels is exactly what I picture Haven to look like. I think the biggest factors is his blond hair and striking blue eyes. But yep. He pretty much looks like he jumped out of my book. Sooo if Neels ever wants to give acting a try... I think he'd play the role well. Also can we just appreciate that middle picture??? Aquarian most likely. 

# 3 Maggie Lindemann as Amber Travie

Maggie looks how I always imagined Amber to look. Like perfectly dressed, well kept, and overall, just striking. So can Maggie please get into the acting business? I think we need her. 

# 4. Jay Steevie as Zack Travie

Because every movie needs a hot older brother. No but seriously, this is what I imagine Zack to look like, but with green eyes. Wouldn't these four absolutely slay together? Imagine all four of them in that battle scene? Hell yeah.

# 5 Marc Warren as Kurt Bell

God isn't he just so perfectly creepy for Kurt Bell? I can literally see this guy running through the streets of Tokyo. I think he's the right age to play Kurt too. 

# 5. Betty White as Elda

Because every movie needs a cute old lady. Plus Betty White is one of the oldest actresses in Hollywood. I think she would own the role of Elda.

Thats all for now guys! I would love to hear some of your opinions and suggestions so leave them in the comments below! And fingers crossed TCC becomes a movie one day!

PSA: I have officially started a Youtube channel! I will be posting content as often as I can! My channel will feature topics regarding writing, publishing, reading, lifestyle, travelling and beauty! I have one crazy life friends! Time to share it with all of you! <3 

You can subscribe to my YT channel here:

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3DzmgQncGg

xoxo,

Alessia

Hey everyone! I am so honoured to tell you all I am featured on CBC's Our Toronto! If you are interested in watching my segment please click the Youtube link above!
 
It will also be airing again on CBC television on Sunday February 19th and Monday February 20th at 11 AM! 
​
CBC also wrote an amazing newspaper article on me! Feel free to read it by following the link below:
​
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/young-adult-author-lectures-students-about-following-passions-1.3974365?utm_content=buffer20f95&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

As always I am so incredibly humbled and blown away by all the support I recieve everywhere I go. This is why I do it friends. To spread a message that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. So here's to changing the world one student at a time!

Cheers!

xoxo

Alessia Dickson

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another blog post! Today I will be answering some more frequently asked questions! Whenever I give my motivational speeches TONS of people have questions and I can never seem to get through them all! So here are a few in case you were wondering!

Q. Will TCC become a movie?
A. I would love, seriously love if TCC became a movie. I've been told by countless people that it would make a great Hollywood Blockbuster. So if that opportunity comes my way you will hear me shouting from the hills about it. (So check any of my social media basically). 

Q. If TCC does become a movie who would you get to play the characters?
A. See, this is such a fun question. I'm not a big movie buff, I much prefer books so I am not too well versed in the world of actors and actresses but I think Chloe Moretz would be perfect to play Alyssa Brooks. I've just always imagined Alyssa to look similair to Chloe. 

Q. Is the staff on your front cover the weapon the crystals create?
A. No, the staff on the front cover is not, and I will repeat, is not, the weapon the crystals create. The staff on the front cover is the Society's trademark symbol, the Staff of Asclepius. I can definitely see why so many people ask this! But if you are wondering, of if you are nearing the end of the book, the weapon the crystals create is called the Orb.

Q. What inspired you to become a writer?
A. Well, in all honesty, nothing really inspired me to become a writer. Since the day I could hold a pencil and string together literate sentences, I had wanted to be an author. My aspiration never changed, so I just well, went out and did it. That's pretty much the truth. Sometimes I feel like I was destined to be an author. (or maybe thats me being all self righteous). 

Q. Do you have any other interests other than writing?
A. Of course! Gosh I'm not that boring! I like doing things other seventeen year olds like doing, like binge watching Netflix and Youtube. I also work as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. 

Q. Can you dab?
A. No. I mean yes technically I could but I don't want too. Somehow someone asks me this at least once a presentation! (lol). 

Q. Are your characters based off of your friends?
A. Oh my god no! That would be so awkward. I would hate for someone I know in real life to pick up my books only to find out that they're "in" it. I try to make my characters as fictional as possible. Plus, my friends could never be as cool as Alyssa, Zack, Haven or Amber. (Sorry guys.)

Q. If you could be one Elemental which one would you be?
A. I took my own What Kind of Elemental are you Quiz and discovered I'm an Aquarian. 

Q. Do you get stopped by people in your own school because of your book series and writing career?
A. Luckily, no. I don't think I would want that because I would probably die of embarrassment. When I'm at school I'm just a regular kid trying to finish my classes. 

Q. Did you ever have a back up plan that wasn't writing?
A. Yes I did have a back up plan and I still have one now! It's okay to have a back up plan, in fact it's better if you do! You never know where life might take you!

Q. Who's your favourite author?
A That's so difficult. Probably Cassandra Clare.

Q. Do you watch anime and get ideas from anime?
A. Yes I've watched various animes in the past. By the time I got into it my book was already on the path to being published. Now quite frankly, I'm to busy to watch any of it! 

Q. What's your official job?
A. As of right now I am a full time author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, lifeguard, swimming instructor, and a stressed out grade 12 high school student.I guess you could say I'm pretty busy.

Q. How did you deal with being different and any negativity/doubt from people?
A. All my life I've known I was different. I liked things no one liked and had dreams that most people laughed at. When I was in primary school in grades one and two people started to notice I was unusually good at writing and that often set me apart from other kids. I learned to let negativity role off my back. I can't control what people think about me, whether it's good or bad. The only thing I can control is the way I feel about myself. Right now, I'm pretty happy with who I am, what I've accomplished, and what direction my life is headed. And that's all that matters to me. Define yourself. Don't let anyone else influence you into being someone or something your not.

Q. Whose your favourite singer/group?
A. This is another question I always get! It's so hard to choose one but my favourite solo artist is hands down Ed Sheeran and my favourite group/band is hands down the Lumineers. 

Q. Is Alessia Dickson your real name?
A. Yes! I am not a fan of pen names. I like to claim what is mine and print my real name on books!

Q. What is your cultural background? 
A. I always find the curiosity about my life from my audience very endearing. For the record my mothers family comes from Italy and my dads family comes from England. Together they created a very Italian/English name. 

Q. Have you visited all the places in TCC?
A. No! But it's on my bucket list! I've only visited Pompeii in Italy. But damn, I'd be on the next flight to any of the other three places if I could!

Q. Can you tell us something random about you?
A. I get this from my junior grades a lot. It's so cute. I'm not all too interesting but I share a birthday with William Shakespeare and my birthday is also Word Book Day. What a weird coincidence right?

Q. Can you drive?
A. Yes! I just got my license a few months ago.

Q. Whats the craziest thing a fan has done for you?
A. One time, this really sweet little girl gave me a portrait of myself she drew and made me a book mark which had quotes that I am apparently famous for saying from my speech. It was pretty freaking awesome. 

Q. What's the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to do?
A. I'm not gonna say weird exactly, but one time this kid made me sign his Air Jordan shoes. Another time this girl memorized a song to show me and sang it right on the spot. Again, I love kids.

Q. Are there people who can control all four elements in your book?
A. Yes. That's all I can say about it.

Q. Can you buy your book in Chapters?
A. Yes. You can buy it at any major bookstores but it will have to be ordered to the store!

Q. Are you ever going to introduce a new element?
A. Probably not. The four major elements will always stay the same but some of the smaller elements like ice, metal and electricity, fall under one of the four main ones.

Q. I have an idea for your book. Can you use it in your future books?
A. Hey, I'm open for ideas if you want to share any. I can't guarantee I'll use them but I'll hear you out. You never know, maybe you could use some ideas to make a novel of your own! 

Q. Are Alyssa and Kurt related?
A. Oh God no. Ew. Ew. I think the blond hair is the thing that makes people think that. But no!

Q. Why is Elda in a wheelchair?
A. Elda was injured in an accident years ago. That's all I can say without major spoilers!

That's it for now everyone! Again thank you to everyone who always takes the time to ask me these great questions. I love Q and A sessions so much! As always if you have a question you would like to ask me in private, or a question I didn't answer here, just head on over to my Contact Me page!

xoxo

Alessia

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another blog post! Today I'm going to be releasing some TCC trivia! These are little tid bits from book one and some spoiler tidbits from the second book! (nothing major though lol). 

• Author Fun Facts!
• The second TCC book will be called The Crystal Chronicles and the Lost Temple.
• Kurt Bell was the first TCC character ever created.
• Haven Reeves was originally named Haven Rodrigeuz.
• The first few drafts of TCC included wizards as a sixth element.
• In the first draft of TCC Amber had a pet cloud named Nula. (don't know what my sixth grade brain was thinking).
• The next major character who will be introduced is Dylan Rodrigeuz and he was originally a werewolf. (He is now a Terran).
• The Crystal Chronicles was developed from one of my earlier stories about twins who were a fairy and a mermaid. A year later it morphed into TCC (and thank god for that).​​
• Up until last year all of the characters in TCC were older than me. 
• TCC was originally called The Forgotten Secret.
• The TCC fandom have named themselves Crystalites and I love it!

• Character Fun Facts!
• Despite being an Elemental, Zack wants to be a musician and almost exclusively listens to classic rock.
• Amber has battled depression most of her life.
• Haven suffers from insomnia and severe night terrors. 
• Alyssa is originally from Michigan.
• Alyssa has been bullied most of her life.
• Zack is born on February 3rd 1996.
• Amber is born on March 15th 1997.
• Alyssa is born on June 21st 1997.
• Haven is born on December 31st 1997.
• Haven is the youngest major TCC character.
• Kurt is the oldest major TCC character.
• Haven is considered a child prodigy in Aquarian magic and mortal academics. 
• Zack is physically the strongest character out of the main 4 characters.
• Amber does not have many friends for often seeming cold and standoffish. 
• Haven is extremely nosy, a fact that seems to greatly annoy the other characters. 
• Zack spends 70 % of his time at Magnorium intoxicated. 
• Amber is the best hand to hand combat fighter out of the 4 main characters.
• Kurt has nicknamed Alyssa, Amber, Zack, and Haven, the Great Four. 
• Kurt suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). 
• Amber and Zack are from Spanish descent.
• Haven is from a German and English descent.
• Alyssa is from a English descent. 
• Haven originally lived in Beverly Hills before moving to Magnorium.
• Amber and Zack were from upper state New York before moving to Magnorium. 
• Kurt's real name is Kurtis.

Alright that's all the trivia I will be releasing for now! Don't want to give too much away lol! Hope you guys enjoyed! I always get TONS of questions on my characters!

PSA: Also for my Canadian readers, if you are interested on watching me on TV CBC has done a segment on me and it will be airing on Saturday February the 11th at 12pm and again on Sunday February 19th and Monday February 20th at 11 am. I'm so excited guys I can't wait! For my international readers I will post the link from the CBC website to watch it if you interested!

xoxo

​Alessia