S.L. Viehl's Blog, page 51

Brittle Box Recycled Junk Journal

As my first project for Recycled Journal week I picked an old, clean, colorful box that once held peanut brittle. Mom left it behind after one of her visits, and I saved it because it was pretty and made of laminated card stock, and it reminded me of her (she is a nut for peanut brittle).

Along with the box I pulled a stack of old paper from my recycling bin to use for the pages. I decided to use all different types of paper for the pages to add interest:



I then unfolded the box to how much material I had to work with:



If you want to recycle a food box, the best kind for journals are those that are clean (anything that held a plastic bag inside, like a cereal box, is generally reusable) and match or could be cut down to the book size you want. You also want something that is reasonably sturdy.

For this journal I simply trimmed off the end flaps and folded my paper into pages to fit the dimensions of the box, using the left side panel as the spine. I then stacked four sets of pages (aka my signatures), perforated the folds with an big embroidery needle to create sixteen evenly-spaced holes, and sewed seven sets to the spine area with three strands of embroidery thread in a simple running stitch (which I did in dark green thread so you can see it; normally I'd use thread to match the paper color):



The final result still looks like the original object from the outside:



But when you open the cover, it looks like this:



Any trimmings you create while working can also be recycled; I used the two big end flaps I trimmed off the box to make a bookmark for the journal by gluing them together with a piece of ribbon. Total project time: two hours.

Recycled Journal Week

This week I'm giving myself a creative challenge to make some journals out of stuff I have sitting around the house. First, the stuff:



Why make journals out of three used boxes, an unused/out of date calendar, and a mini-quilt I picked up at a show some years back? For fun, mainly, but also to recycle and repurpose these items into something I'll use (versus simply tossing them in the trash or donating them to a thrift store.) I'll post each project daily, along with pics and notes on what I did in the event any of you want to try the same.

When making journals out of recycled items the best place to start is with the item itself. Look at the dimensions, the material it's made from, and how it might lend itself to becoming a book. Virtually any flat surface can be converted into pages or covers for a journal, but don't limit yourself to cutting things apart and binding them back together. Consider painting them or dyeing them to alter and/or enhance their appearance. Binding can be as simple as stapling your signatures to your cover materials, or if you have thin pages and covers and a sewing machine, you might try stitching your book together. If you've never made a recycled journal and want to watch someone do it, check out these video tutorials at Jennibellie Studio blog.

Stay tuned for updates on my progress and more info on how to make your own recycled journals.

Pic Ten

Ten Things I Saw on My Birthday
(Because you can never bore people enough with your one-day vacation photos)

GW Cover, LT ER

I've finished fiddling around the cover art for Ghost Writer, so here's a look at what will be on the final edition:



I've also received another free book from Library Thing's Early Reviewer program:



Just at a glance-through I think this book is going to be seriously cool, too. Looks like it's packed with info on free internet stuff. I'll have more to report once I've read it.

Genius

This gorgeous dream of a film offers a view of the Renaissance world through the genius who was Da Vinci (with background music, and some nudity, for those of you at work or who have minors in the vicinity):

DA VINCI PROJECT from Escalle Alain on Vimeo.

Just Write

Today I'm off to write something new and post it online before midnight. Everyone inclined to do the same is invited to join me.

My link: More on Ghost Writer (click on the title to go to the .pdf), with new material beginning on page 94.

For more details on Just Write Thursdays, click here to go to the original post.

Image credit: windujedi

Sub Op

Scheduled to launch in November 2015, NineStar Press would like to see submissions of "LGBTQA romance fiction, literary novels, and erotica shorts.

For romance
Length: 12-120k words.
Heat: Sweet (no sex or “fade-to-black”) through to fully erotic.
Content: The story must have an LGBTQA romance running through it. Both HEA and HFN accepted.
Genre: Currently seeking works in the following genres—contemporary, paranormal, romantic suspense, sci-fi & fantasy, horror/thriller, crime, BDSM, historical, cowboy/western, New Adult/college.

For erotica
Length: 5-12k words.
Heat: Super hot. Scorching.
Content: Must be focused on LGBTQA characters. Romance isn’t necessary. Lust/sexual tension definitely is. Strong payoff.
Genre: All genres and kinks considered other than those listed in the “what we don’t accept” section below.

For literary novels
Length: 45-120k words.
Heat: If applicable, sex scenes of any heat level are fine, provided they serve the story.
Content: Must have an LGBTQA main character. Romance plots aren’t necessary. We’re particularly interested in well-crafted stories about trans, ace, aro, nonbinary, and genderfluid characters.
Genre: All considered.

Standalones, series & serials all considered across the board. Serials must have a defined ending in each instalment. Previously published or self-published books are considered. Authors with orphaned books after the folding of a publishing company are encouraged to submit. You must own all rights to the story.

What we don’t accept
Pedophilia
Necrophilia (doesn’t apply to vamps, zombies and any other kind of “undead”—they’re a-okay with us!)
Incest (step relations are considered)
Bestiality (doesn’t apply to shifters or most sci-fi & fantasy creatures with human forms)

Special Call for Seasonal Stories!
In addition to our regular submissions request, we’re also currently on the lookout for seasonal stories for the holidays/winter release period. These stories must have a winter or Christmas/holiday theme. Any genre, any category, and within the word count length parameters stipulated in our general guidelines. Please put “Seasonal Submission: [Title], [Author Name]” in the subject line and follow all other guidelines as stated above.

Why submit a manuscript to NineStar Press?

40% net royalty on ebooks, paid monthly
A contract term of 2 years
An author-friendly contract—no rights grab!
Absolutely NO fees/payments required of you—ever
No ROFR clause in your contract
Thorough editing to ensure your book is the absolute best it can be
Stunning cover & promo art
Excellent publisher-led promo. We don’t expect you to do all the work! We will organise a blog tour for your book, submit to reviewers, include it in paid advertising, blast it across social media, and so much more! We believe that maintaining a promo & marketing budget in the company finances is one of the most important things a publisher can do for authors."

For more information, visit their website or the original listing over at AbsoluteWrite.com.

Fabric for Life Contest

I don't often put non-writing contests on the blog, but PBW has a lot of quilters and fabric fans who visit, so this one might tempt some of you:

Keepsake Quilting, from whom I buy fabric now and then, is sponsoring a very cool contest that includes a 20-year supply of fabric for the grand prize winner and a brand new sewing machine for first place. The contest is open to adult U.S. residents only (sorry Fran K and our other outside-the-U.S. pals), but you can enter daily until December 31st, 2015. To enter, click here.

Disclaimers: I have already entered the contest, and when you click on my link and enter, you will also be giving me an extra entry. Since today is my birthday I'm thinking you won't mind. Also, because it's my birthday I'm taking the day off to be with my crew here, so I'm going to shut down comments for this post and go enjoy myself. See you tomorrow.

Summertimes

Just as I'm settling in with the new computer, our modem decided to start acting up. We've replaced the problem component but if for any reason I'm not around to approve comments it's likely because I am temporarily out of internet access.

Despite these technical woes, a very rainy June, a pretty hot July and what I expect will be a stormy August, summer is still my favorite season. I think it dates back to summer vacation from school. For me it was like being released from a too-small cage lined with sharpened spikes, and I'm sure my teachers felt the same way when they saw the back of me running out on the last day of school.

Summer was the only time I could spend my days alone, too; something that didn't often happen in a house overcrowded by too many kids and relatives. During the summer months I could ride my bike, take the bus to the beach or go to the library all day. Literally, all day -- as long as I was home before dark I could do whatever I wanted. It wasn't that my mother didn't care; it was the way things were back then. Also, we were too afraid of our parents to get into any real trouble.

I was a good kid, and spent most of my time at the library because I could stay there and read or write whatever I wanted as long as I liked and no one cared. Also, the librarians loved me because I was a quiet kid. Even when the library was crowded I'd borrow a stack of books, tuck them in my bike basket and head to the park, where there was always a good shade tree to sit under and read the latest Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames or SF by A.M. Lightner, or pen my latest story in longhand.

I'll never be that kid again, but as an adult I still try to preserve some of the fun from my summer memories. I make an effort to visit book stores and the library a few times a week. I read out on the porch every day. I write for fun and for myself in a journal. And I spend time by myself in places that make me happy.

What do you do to recapture your childhood summers? Let us know in comments.

Sub Op

Haunt Jaunt has an open call for their upcoming Shadow People & Cursed Objects anthology: "What we're looking for: 13 fiction stories about ghosts or haunted objects. (As long as your story contains one or the other, we want to read it!) We’re open to any genre of fiction. Your story doesn’t have to be horror. It can be a paranormal romance, literary, humor. (Although, we’re not going to lie. We love horror. But we’re looking for the very best stories about ghosts and/or haunted objects that we can find.) It must, however, involve either a ghost or a haunted object. (We can’t reiterate this enough.) The twist: Our anthology is going to be a little different. We want readers to participate by trying to figure out if your tale of a ghost/shadow person or haunted object is based on a true story or not. The print version will have a section at the back detailing whether the author based their tale on a true story…or if they culled it purely from their imagination." Length: up to 5K; Payment: $50.00 + 10 print copies. Reprints okay, electronic submissions through online form only, see guidelines for more details. Deadline: July 31st, 2015.