Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blog Challenge. Since this is my 4th challenge, I received special status. Please, feel free to call me Special Agent, Sydney (Thanks Nicole). It’s not weird, that I printed this out and carry it with me at all times. You never know when you need to show your credentials.
The A to Z Blog Challenge is the brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out. We post every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet.
The A to Z Challenge is a great way to get into the blogging habit and make new friends.
My theme: Books & Tattoos
A is for the Artist. The tattoo artist is the most important person in the tattoo process. Pick your artist carefully. I have been fortunate to get inked by some amazing artist who understood my ideas and made them better and tattooable (I make up tattoo words all the time. Deal with it.).
I’ve been tattooed by Shane (Greenich Village, New York), Jason (Dallas, Texas), Gabe Shum (Hong Kong), Coco (Shenzhen, China), Vincent (Hong Kong), Manny (Dallas, Texas) & Michael (Brooklyn, New York).
Gabe Shum is an amazing artist in Hong Kong. He is responsible for two of my tattoos. He is the first artist who drew my tattoos freehand directly on my skin. 
He created my favorite tattoo – Chinese Bull. CJ (yes, I name my tattoos) is holding three picked of bamboo, which represent happiness, long life and wealth. This tattoo was the catalyst for me pursuing my dream of becoming a writer.
Gabe has also tattooed David Beckham & NBA player Carmelo Anthony.
(Gabe did those Chinese characters. It means ‘Death and life have pre-determined appointments; riches and honor are from heaven.’
Pretty cool, huh!
I’ll share more of my ink over the month and share stories from other inked up authors. I will also introduce you to some of my favorite writer inspired tattoos and inked themed novels.
Do you have a tattoo? How important was your tattoo artist to the process?
If you have a tattoo story and want to be featured on #tattoootuesday, let me know in the comments. 
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
I can appreciate the artistic talent, but I’m not a fan of tattoos. I doubt whether I would ever get one.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Hey Arlee. Another A to Z. Yeah!!! I know you’re not a fan. haha.
My husband designed most of my tattoos – not an artist, just quite good at designing tattoos. The best of the tattoo artists took that design and improved it – the others just copied and tattooed. Not a huge problem, I loved the initial design, but some of the artists wanted to add their mark.
Annalisa at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
My latest big tattoo, I gave the artist three ideas and told him to mix them together and come up with something. He did an amazing job. I had seen his work on other people and trusted him to do something amazing. He didn’t disappoint.
Hi Sydney, I don’t have a tattoo, but I have been thinking of getting one. A small one to start with.
Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna’s Scriptorium
Hey Rachna, Long time! haha. If you get one, you have to share it on Tattoo Tuesday. Let me know.
Well, why not name it?
And you are on an awesome Minion team.
Thanks Alex. haha.
If I can ever reconcile the traditional prohibition against tattoos with the modern Responsa arguing that there’s nothing forbidden based on a realistic reading of the line in Leviticus, I’d get a typographical tattoo. I’d like to get typographical tattoos, probably on my upper legs so my Orthodox friends couldn’t see them, saying “All things must pass” and “Be here now,” which of course come from George Harrison songs. If I could stand the pain, I’d also be interested in getting the opening 12 lines of The Divine Comedy on my back.
Hi Carrie-Anne, it is such a personal decision. If you do get one, those quotes are awesome. I have a few script tattoos that even years later motivate me when I read them.
Your tattoo looks great! I’ve got a fear of it getting messed up, I mean I’ve had a couple of bad haircuts, and they’re much easier to fix. However, I’ve been thinking of getting a small tattoo in tribute to my late stepson. It’s better if they’re personal and unique, not just something lots of people have.
Hi Nick. I love that idea of a memorial tattoo. My first tattoo is a mess and I also have another one that isn’t quiet quality, but I love them too because of what they mean.
This is my first year with A-Z. I am looking forward to it. I know NOTHING about “inking”… I was looking for other flash authors to blog with…. but your site intrigued me and an author can never have enough base knowledge… Looking forward to an education! Enjoyed the first post.
https://rogershipp.wordpress.com/ 1432
Alternative Aspirations of Picasso
Hi Roger, Welcome to A to Z. I hope you have a great month and thanks for the follow.
Looking forward to it.
I personally don’t have a tattoo, but I know lots of people who do and thus know how important it is to research the artist. I’ve seen some pretty awful tattoos come out of artists who didn’t disclose that they can’t freehand, and I’ve seen some amazing ones come out of artists who downplay their own ability.
If I didn’t know the artist, I asked to see his portfolio and it’s alway good to see him work on someone else. I put a lot of research into them to make sure they are worthy of scarring my skin. haha
I like tiny, little tattoos. My daughter has the body art. It is interesting art.
Hi Cathrina, pretty name. I have a few tiny ones, too.
I just went with my best friend to get a Harry Potter tattoo the other day. It turned out amazing. The artist did an incredible job.
Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com
This looks great! Can’t wait to see your books and ink. I have wanted a lit tat for a long time but I can’t make up my mind. I’m another A to Zer with Pam’s An Unconventional Alliance. Good luck on the challenge! Come visit me at The Bones!
No tattoos here but I do love seeing other peoples. Some are just amazing. Very neat to have been tattooed by artists all over the world! Love that.
Anna @ herding cats & burning soup
What a cool theme – I have pondered a tattoo for awhile now, probably in honor of my kids, but I can never decide where to put it or even what to get. Also, needles totally freak me out…
Your tattoo theme is one of my most favorites of the challenge so far! I like how you started April off with one of the first and most important steps when getting inked….finding an Artist who is not only skilled in what you want but also experienced in that field. Also no I don’t think it’s weird at all that you printed out your MMB credentials and carry around. I think it’s great. Makes me kinda proud 😉
~Nicole
#AtoZChallenge CoHost
The Madlab Post