Please say who you are and why you've joined this group! Glad to have you!

You'll notice that there's a place for you to vote for your writing genre of choice under each discussion thread. Please vote, so we can see where the interest is.

Please leave your comments! I want to know who you are and what matters to you.

Hey I'm Katie.
I'm working on my first novel currently. I joined this group, because I wanted to see what people were talking about, as far as novels go. I have thought a lot about what goes into a classic book, and what separates the brilliant books from the rest. It'll be interesting to talk about it here. :D

Hello,
My name is Kim Culbertson and I've been a high school English, Creative Writing and Drama teacher for over ten years. Last June, my first young adult novel SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD was published by Hip Pocket Press. The book won the 2007 London Book Festival in the teenage category and was featured at the 2007 APLUS conference of personalized learning schools. It was just named a finalist for the 2008 Ben Franklin Award for Best New Voice in YA Fiction.

Teensreadtoo.com gave Songs for a Teenage Nomad five stars and wrote:
“SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD is a wonderful book. It is a high school classic reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, only it is more appropriate for a slightly younger audience. Calle is a wonderful character and, as the reader, you want her to succeed in all areas of her life.” – Becca Boland

I have curriculum that is available for the novel on my website at www.kimculbertson.com as well as information about writing workshops I teach. I have been touring with the book through California, Washington, Arizona and Hawaii and have had great response from teachers, students and librarians. At a recent visit to a Sausalito, CA school the librarian said: “My readers devoured the book – read it in one sitting and totally recommended it to me. I was encouraged by the level of your prose – not dumbed down like some YA fiction. I look forward to future books….thanks for inspiring the students.” --Marybeth Colman, librarian, Sausalito, CA.

This group looks really fun...I'm a total goodreads junkie :-)

Hi!

My name is Kristina Schram. I am a recently published author, focusing primarily on Young Adult fantasy. I am learning how hard this career path is, on many different levels.

Not that I'm an expert, by any means - I have a lot to learn, but I have been blogging about my "getting published" experience since September of 2007. In the process, I have written several blogs about writing...what I've learned, how to get started. Perhaps these can be helpful to aspiring writers? My website link is on my profile if you're interested.

I'm hoping to continue to grow and learn as an author. I've certainly learned to be more forgiving about typos when I find them other people's books, having had them pointed out to me in mine. Egad.

Anyway, writing is one process and publishing and then marketing your book is another. Those could maybe be separate discussions? Or maybe this is all about writing? Either way, I'm up for it!

Kristina

Hi, there. I'm Mark David...and, yes, I really go by "Mark David" as my first name. (I do have a last name: it's Gerson.)

I'm a reader, of course, or I wouldn't be on Goodreads, but I'm also a published author of two books.

The first is a fantasy quest novel titled The MoonQuest, a story about a time and place where stories are banned and storytellers put to death...a not particularly pleasant prospect for readers or writers!

The second, based on my 15 years of leading writing workshops, is The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write, designed for writers and wannabe writers at all levels and in all genres.

Something also of potential interest to members of this group is the new blog I've created of tips and inspiration for writers: The Voice of Your Muse. Please check it out and leave some comments.

Why am I here? To listen, share and learn.

P.S. In case I didn't do the book links correctly, the fantasy is The MoonQuest and the book on writing is The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write. There's info about both of them on my Goodreads profile and at www.lightlinesmedia.com

Hello! My name is Tara and I'm excited to be part of the group. I joined cause I wanted to meet other writers and hopefully find a really strong support system to help me through my blocks.

I currently work for the Colorado Judicial Branch and have been with the branch for 9 years now. It wasn't exactly the job of my dreams but it's definitely been interesting and I'm sure there's a story in it but I don't know if I want to be the next John Grisham.

In my free-time, I write regularly in a journal (even if I have nothing to say, I still write in it) and I have been struggling with what I hope will be my first novel. I started it in the fall of 2003 and put it down to focus on grad school, then "rediscovered" it recently and have been slowly posting it on another writing site for critiques.

Excited to be part of the group!

Hi there. I'm Margareth, from Jakarta, just join this group 4 few days. I used to write stories when I was on my elementary shool and really want to write some good novels someday, eventhough it seems not easy.
I work on Marketing Communications Div and some times I have to write health article as one of my jobdesc. So sad, 'coz that's the only "write-thing" that I've done so far.
I hope I can get inspiration and support to start writing by joining this group.

Hi. I am Pamela McFarland from Ky and I joined this group because I have a story inside me. All of my life I have worked with people that have handicaps and disabilities. My youngest brother was born with Cebral Palsy and was blind. I have lots of stories about how people that are different are treated and how they and their famlies and friends deal with the Prejudices of "normal" people. You remember how kids will treat anyone different. I hope that my book will show others how feelings of the person and their famlies are hurt by their actions. Maybe a more positive approach can be shown and love.

Hello all. My name is David. I'm the author of four novels -- a science fiction trilogy and a vampire novel. Also, Lee Clark Zumpe and I recently collected a handful of flash fiction stories in a single volume entitled Blood Sampler that's now available for pre-order at Sam's Dot Publishing.

I'm here to meet and chat with other writers and readers. Good to be here!

Hi All!
Glad to be a part of this group. I joined to hopefully get some tips and ideas from some of these wonderful people here. I am a stay at home mom and I homeschool my two teens. I have some good ideas for kids books, inspired by where I live. I just can't seem to get it all down and put it together. I was wondering if anyone could suggest if I should take any writing courses?

Thanks Kristina, I'll put up a thread about the writing process. I'll also separate the publishing and marketing thread. Love the input! Good luck with your YA novel.

Wow! I thought I did this already-lol. Hi! I'm Lynn and it's nice to be a member of the group. I'm a stay at home mom/bookkeeper for my husband's company. I love writing & art and am looking to expand my network of friends, get feedback, and all the other things writers need to keep sane. lol

Lynn

I'm Kylee and I review books and post the reviews on my blogs and on book sites.

I've toyed around with the idea of writing a book since 7th grade... 20 years ago.

I'm Lisa Solod Warren. My first book Desire: Women Write About Wanting, was published by Seal Press in November. It's available at amazon and barnes and noble and many other bookstores. Check out my website at www.lisasolodwarren.com. I have been publishing nonfiction and fiction for more than 25 years, have several unpublished novels, have gone through two agents (who could not sell my work) and am currently looking for a new one, while I finish my latest novel. I have an essay coming out next year in another Seal anthology, and am reading in NYC on May 17 for the Mamapalooze, Mothers Who Rock Festival....

Hi all,
My name is Katie, I think I joined this group a while ago but haven't had a chance to say hello yet. I work in the Silicon Valley at a law firm, but I'm just biding my time until I can crack into the publishing field and begin my true career there. I've written three novels in the last three years for NaNo, only two of which I have any desire to do something else with, one of which I actually am. I really loved the story, but realized recently that it needed a lot of work to get it to do what I wanted it to do. Thus begins that process. This is going to be the year of big things for me, however, I'm finally committing to this writer's life, and I'm going to do what it takes to make a living this way. I hope to be out of this law firm and in a publishing house by the end of the year, and to have a finished (new) draft of the novel by then as well.

I'm looking forward to learning from and with everyone here!

Hi. I'm Dan. I'm a computer programmer by trade and I write when I have an idea that I think has legs. And when I run out of ways to procrastinate. I mostly write humor and pulp fantasy.

Hi Im Kristin. By day I am a paralegal with a very part time job selling clothes in a store in a mall (there has to be a joke in there somewhere...) I love to write but, outside of my profession I don't write very well. I suppose the hard part is finding inspiration or something interesting and then translating it to paper. I was an English major at Ohio State and somehow got by there when it comes to writing papers. I love books and now that I am firmly in a good job I can read more (making up for ALOT of lost time) and maybe with some encouragement try writing again.

Hi, My name is Lisa from KY. I am a stay at home mom with a few ideas for a story (novel or short story--I'm not sure)that are trying to find the light of day. I thought the group seemed like a good idea, and with so many here being published writers, I felt I was in good company.

Hi, I'm Katherine, and I was invited to join this group. I have published two novels, currently working on my third. I love talking about the writing process and trading inspiration, tips, frustrations, etc. You can see more about my books on my profile. I'm new to Goodreads, so I'm learning my way around. Appreciate the focus of this group!

Hello, Michelle here. I work for a Christian book printer, and so I'm surrounded by books all day long. Who wouldn't be inspired by that? I used to write, and I would like to write again. Mostly short stories and poems. Right now I'm the most interested in stories that grow out of personal experience. I have very little discipline and I find I'm inspired by other writers. More than anything, I enjoying talking with other writers, being encouraged by them and encouraging them.

Well then, consider me one of your biggest cheerleaders, Michelle. I'm so glad you're here in this group.

Writing can be a lonely business, so personally, I'm glad to have other writers to talk with here.

Katherine, I hope you'll be sure to talk more about the writing process, and trade inspiration, tips and frustrations.

That goes for anyone who wants to talk about those things.

Hi. I'm Ephona. Though that is not really my name, it'll probably be my pen name. Anyway, I am in 8th grade and have so much planned. I started to love writing in 5th grade and started writing a book which really needs some CRITICAL revising or needs to be scrapped all together because it's not that great. Anyway, in 6th grade I got the idea for my series which is what I'm currently really into right now. I have many other books planned too; most of them trilogies or just one book.
I joined this group so I can get tips and share ideas and info with other people. I'm looking forward to it! ^-^

Hello,

I go by Chase here. I am a writer. My interests are broad and encompass novel writing, poetry, non-fiction, children's literature, and so on. I like meeting new people and talking about books, writing, the process, and techniques. I have just joined recently and am building my space here. It will be nice to get to know some more people here.

~~Chase
http://wanderingwriters.org

HI! My name's Heather, and I'm a 10th grader in MI... can't tell you where, or my parents might ground me. I'm workin on a couple different stories right now, when I have the time, and I was curious about the group!

I'm Teri. I'm an educational consultant in New York City, mainly working with families who choose alternative forms of education. I taught writing for many years and worked as an advertising copywriter before that. I've never written a single piece of fiction, but I fantasize often about doing so.

Heyas, I'm Ariel. I am an artist by trade...used to work in advertising, but I burned out, and now I paint watercolors. (www.yelodoggie.com)
I am an admitted dog junkie and have volunteered in companion animal rescue for the past 20 years. My first book, Born Without a Tail is about my misadventures in pet rescue.

If you want to know what matters to me, please visit my website, and click on the easter eggs in the paint daubs to get into the top secret areas of the site. (you'll see what I mean once you get there)Explore, explore, explore, there's lots to see. And if by chance you view my YouTube videos, please rate them and leave your comments!

Hello everyone. I'm J.P. Lowe, a small press author. I've published three poetry chapbooks and, most recently, a collection of my short stories titled PARIAH TALES (Onzo Imprints, 2007). http://pariahtales.blogspot.com

I joined this group because I think writers are often too isolated; I was looking for a community of like-minded individuals. I think I've found it here. Thanks for letting me sit in!

Hiya everybody! My name on here's Shanna Starle, even though its not my real one. It could be a pen name... I'm a Sophomore in High School and a good ol' band geek.

Anyway, I joined so I could see what other authors are up to, even though I don't consider myself an author just yet, I haven't finished my story. But I do love writing and reading fantasy. I hope to publish my story one day, so I'm hoping to get some tips on how to go about that.

And this looks like a perfect place to do just that! Not to mention I can meet people who think like me. Perhaps then I won't think I'm crazy... *laugh*

Hi!
I'm Allie, and I love reading and writing more than almost anything in the world. I love fantasy and fiction, but History and historical fiction iterests me a lot as well. I also love to dance. I'm one of the younger members of this group, but I still love writing and have a ton of stories and ideas jammed up in my head and would love for anyone to give me critique and tips.

Bonjour de Paris, France !!..........

Glad to meet you and to join You imagine!

I am a trainer and a coach in self development, management and communication.
I liked to work with people to develop creativity, imagination and communication skills.

May be, I would like to write poetry or a book.

"You Imagine" is a great idea and I hope that your project will grow up every day.

I particularly like You Imagine's icon. Where did you find this wonderful picture?

Every day, I like to find this wonderful "pig" on my Goodreads's home page..... LOL

Hello, my name is Jeanne. I just joined. I'm a third year uni student. I'm currently studying politics, though I am unsure if this is what I want to be doing. For the first two years of uni I studied Egyptology. I love reading and I have always wanted to write. Creative writing was always my strong point in school. I have even brought some of my teachers to tears. I mostly read sci-fi and fantasy but if a book appeals to me I'll read it, no matter the genre. As I said I love to read and write but I haven't read or written as much as I would have liked. I'm hoping to change that. I want to say that I am excited to join this group and hope to learn from other members.

Hi: My name is Arlette. I am an author with one book published. I self-;published my book after hitting my head on the publishing brick wall for almost 15 years. So far my book has been well recieved.
About myself. I am a native of New Orleans, and a French and Spanish Creole. I don't live in New Orleans any more. I was married to a Career Naval Officer who was also a fighter pilot. I was a stay at home mom all my married life, and I loved every minute of it. Also loved every minute of Military life. It was wonderful although lonely at times.
I have three grown children, one daughter and two sons. All very successful and all in long happy marriages and they all own their own homes. So they can't come back, only kidding. I have six grandchildren ranging in ages 25 to 7 years. Three boys and three girls.
Now that I am alone, my great passion is writing books. So far I've written four and am working on my fifth. I am getting ready to publish my second book in the very near future.
Sorry this is so long.

Hello everyone, I'm Cissy, from Finland. I've always been intrigued by literary mysteries and myths, and I would love to write a book one day. I'm currently working on one but it's still in early stages. I tend to dream my stories, which is a bit odd, I guess. This looks like a great group. :)

Hi. I tried to vote (say HI) for my favorite genre when I first joined, but there was no FANTASY. So I waited thinking it would soon be posted. Now the poll says closed. Still no fantasy? And no, SF is not fantasy, LOL even if, like paranormal and horror, it is all considered spec fiction.

I vote for FANTASY!

Nice to meet you all. Pamela

Hiya all. I joined some (weeks?) ago but have been insanely busy. This summer I'll be finishing up revisions on my first-or-fourth novel, a pre-apocalyptic speculative thriller. Then comes time to send it out into the world, and no I'm not conflicted about that at all.

As for reading, I love most genres. A good story is a good story, no matter what label it wears.

Did I ever introduce myself? I'm the original Forgetful Professor.... Guess I'd better do that now. Toni V. Sweeney, here. Be sure and include the "V". There are at least eight other Toni Sweeneys out there! I'm a currently out of work grandma transported from the wilds of Georgia to California by way of Nebraska (and if that isn't a wild stretch of climates and temperatures, I don't know what is!) Under my own name, I write science fiction/adventures and horror. Under the pseudonym "Icy Snow Blackstone" (Which is my great-great-great-great-greatgrandmother's real name), I write futuristic/paranormal romances. Under the name "Toni-Paul Vissage" I write dark fantasy and horror. Don't let the name "Sweeney" fool you. I'm French-Alsation. The Sweeney came from the Mister and Himself's long gone to his reward, whatever that might be. Currently, I have contracts out for three books coming out this year and I'm trying to get myself into talking with other writers, etc. Up until now, I'm been just involved with writing. My new publisher says I've got to get out and work a little. Fine with me. Writing's no work at all! :)) <- Big Writer's Grin.

Hi, my name is Diane Smith and I am a youth services associate at a public library in Kentucky. I am working on my Masters in Library Science, and would like to write my own fantasy book sometime (when I'm done with grad school).

Busy girl there, Tony.
Be sure to tell us all about the adventure as those books move into the marketplace

Hello Everyone!

My name's Joan, and I have never had anything published...yet! At the present time, I'm a busy mom of 3 kids, ages 13 on down to 2 and a half, as well as a first grade teacher in our hometown. I love to read, love to write, and love it when I find time (or make time!) to do either one. I also enjoy do-it-yourself projects, swimming, kayaking, arts & sciences, math, etc. etc. Always a new adventure! :)

I discovered this site through my new Goodreads friend Lynda Coker; Lynda, thanks so much for this connection! Ever since completing my masters' degree (Creative Arts in Learning, through Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts), I've been jotting down ideas for children's books and poetry chapbooks that have been rattling around in my mind for many years. Perhaps this group will be the fuel I need to get the fire started! I'm looking forward to learning about, and learning from, other group members! :D

Hi All!
I'm Rosie from Utah. I'm majoring in Illustration... choosing my major was difficult because there were (are) only two things that I've ever really truly wanted to do (Draw and Write) and I couldn't choose between them. (Illustration seemed a good compromise. :) I chose art because I don't have the same confidence in writing... I always end up convincing myself that whatever I've written isn't any good and that nobody would like reading it anway. I do, however, love reading, whether or not my writing is deficient :)

Hi Group!

I'm Ann from Atlanta. I'm a full time writer, which is to say I'm on a tight budget :). I've published over fifty short stories since 2004. My selected Black Mountain stories are featured this month at The Dead Mule. My essay, Surviving Mom, was chosen to appear in Marlo Thomas' latest collection, The Right Words At The Right Time Vol 2. I've several essays that have appeared in anthologies. My first love is literary fiction. I'm a book reviewer with over twenty published reviews. And most of all, I love to read.

I joined this group to be exposed to other writers of the same and different genres.

Ann Hite

HI I am al raines. website: www.alraines.net

i am the author of 3 books -

November Rain, a supernatural love story : http://www.novemberrain.in,

The Prayer, a horror novel in a new style called Cinema in Words :
http://www.theprayer.in

Soul Search Engine, a spiritual quest novel in 99 pages spanning from big bang till now :
http://www.soulsearchengine.in

all the books are doing well. and I am happy to be on goodreads to see so many people loving so many books.

Books are the only sign - we are still civilized.:))

Hi, I'm Stan, and I am an aspiring novelist and an entrepeneur. I finished a first draft of a 400 plus page novel called Caldera a few years ago and then put it away. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it, in part because I feel like it needs a complete rewrite and I'm not sure I'm up to it. I've started other novels but never finished any of them. I'm kind of stuck because I really admire great fiction (like Hemingway and Faulkner, etc...) and am a little embarrassed by the type of novel I was working on, because it is popular fiction!

I'm also a bit of an entrepeneur and really enjoy social networking sites like this one. I'm in the final stages of getting ready to beta launch a website called www.textnovel.com, which will be a way for authors to write novels online using email and cellphones (text messaging). This has been a big phenomenon in Japan and China and I'm hoping it works here. It will include some social networking features and voting (and ability to invite people to subscribe to your stories).

If anyone has any ideas about how to best market it or get the word out, let me know. I'll be offering a $1,000 prize to the winning story (contest ends December 31, 2008) and hopefully I can partner with a publishing house and during the second year will be able to offer a much larger prize. My blog is at www.textnovelblog.com.

Hi I'm Bridget and you guys have no idea how wonderful it is to surround yourself with people like you!! Those who dream of having the time to wander through bookstores, those who carry a paperback in your purse beneath the cell phone and keys, those who get excited about the channel called book tv on c-span and goodreads. I'm a writer and have written two books so far. The first one called Master and the sequel Alex. It's a historical, horror/romance. I'd never really tried to write until I turned 40, after that the stories began writing themselves. Still love to read as much as I like to write. In a coffeeshop right now and can't wait to begin editing my short story. Just a note, Urbis is a good source as well for having others review your writing, but goodreads is great. Now I have hundreds of books recommended to me that I can't wait to dive into. Can't thank you guys enough for being out there!!

Hey, I'm Rebekah. I'm 12 years old and in the sixth grade at Ann Richards school. Last year I wanted to be an author of books, but now I think I like poetry better, but I love to read big fat books!

Hi All--

I am catching up on email from a while back and realized I joined but never got around to introducing myself to the group. My name is Richard Newman, though I publish as Richard Jeffrey Newman, because there is another poet with the same name who is the editor of a well-known literary magazine, and I want to make sure people don't confuse us—which they were doing for a while.

I am a poet, essayist and translator. My own book of poems, The Silence Of Men, was published in 2006 by CavanKerry Press, and I have three books of translations from classical Iranian poetry out. I am the literary arts director of a NY-based cultural group called Persian Arts Festival, and I make my living as an Associate Professor in the English Department of Nassau Community College in NY, where I coordinate the Creative Writing Project.

I am looking forward, now that the semester is over, to being a little more active on Goodreads.

Rich Newman

Hi! I am Melanie and I love to write. I am not a "joiner"-out of fear? and rejection? I am not sure but this group sounds very interesting. Writing usually comes easy to me; the hardest part is the physical part...typing or penning it. However, I will honestly say that being reviewed terrifies me.
I am a mema and of course my family loves my writing. I know that there is alot that I can learn from all of you very gifted writers and I look forward to being a part of this group. I like to write children's stories, poetry and short stories.

Hi everyone, my name is Dan. I was told about this website by a friend, and I think it's a lot of fun. I used to write for Rotojunkie.com but have begun my first serious novel (although not very seriously). I love to read and to hear people's opinions on books no matter how different or similar from my own.

Hey! You can call me Angel. (any random nickname is fine too.) I've been trying to write multypl (wat ev) stories for a LONG time. I'm into fantasy books. (And writing them) Every single one of them have crashed and have never finished. I think I'd probably need help writing all of my stories.

Most of them start really well, but the characters become too much of a hassle and it becomes a complete narative.

I always think: I have too many ideas, and not enough paper! ':|