M.L. LeGette's Blog, page 28
June 30, 2014
June 18, 2014
Summer Reading and Giveaway
Hello all! I’ve teamed up with Sher A Hart: Written Art and Mothers Daughters Book Reviews’ Kid Lit Blog Hop. (Phew! That was a mouthful!) I wrote a little guest post over on Sher’s blog about my favorite summer reads as a kid AND I’m giving away an ebook of my own middle grade adventure, THE ORPHAN AND THE THIEF.
If you’re interested, pop on over there and tell us what your most cherished childhood books are.
June 12, 2014
Spotlight on the Review #9
Happy readers make happy writers
Ahhhh, free books are great, but they’re even better if they’re actually good books. ;)
M.L. is a great author. She’s able to twist her unique fairy-tales to fit the imagination of children and the attention of adults. Her writing style is amazing.
I enjoy this book as much as my two year old niece does!
The Orphan and the Thief is a story about two people- Melena and Toad- with vastly different lives. Under the pressure of poorly crafted lies and longing for something better, they fall together and find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime. Embarking through distant lands, Melena and Toad ward of dragons, ogres, and mean spirits, but not without the help of their… Unique friend, Joe. In the end, Melena and Toad find that they have more in common than originally suspected. This tale will take you on an adventure like none other can!
Five stars to not only the book, but also to M.L., who has been very kind every time I message her. She’s not only an exceptional writer, but an exceptional person, and I am very happy to be able to read her books!
The Orphan and the Thief is definitely worth reading!
THE ORPHAN AND THE THIEF is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Have you added it to your to-read list?
June 9, 2014
Monday Book Lines :: The Orphan and the Thief
Every Monday I’m going to be pulling an image that showcases a moment in one of my books, along with an excerpt. None of these images are mine. At times I am unable to find the copyright owner. If you see your work featured and you are not credited, please let me know.
From THE ORPHAN AND THE THIEF:
It wasn’t hard to climb the iron fence that surrounded Mr. Owl’s lush property. Toad scampered up and over it in no time, quickly seeking cover under a cluster of flowering bushes. The house was enormous, the biggest in the city: three stories of heavy brick. There were balconies, with intricate ironwork railings; the grounds were manicured and crisp, sporting gushing fountains and thick hedges. The property was so large that the bustling of buggies and shouting of shop owners was muffled to a murmur.
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Photo credit: Phillipp Arnold
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THE ORPHAN AND THE THIEF is on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and so many other places.
June 8, 2014
Guest Author Karen Dowdall
Today I want to welcome writer Karen Dowdall. She has been so incredibly kind to me in just the few short months that I’ve known her. I’ve read and reviewed her first fantasy debut, which you can find here.
What’s your name? Where can we find you? Blog? Twitter? Facebook?
Karen DeMers Dowdall
Twitter: @kdemersdowdall
Give me a random tidbit about you. It could be anything. Anything at all.
What many of my friends don’t know about me is that I have an identical twin sister, Lauren.
How long have you been writing? How many books have you written? They can be published or not published.
I have been writing prose, poetry, and short stories for years, but a long time ago. I only recently started writing again. I self-published my first book: Delphi Altair Strange Beginnings in 2013.
In DELPHI ALTAIR Strange Beginnings, I really loved the sea side town. It was very vivid to me and reminded me of my childhood beach vacations. Did you grow up by the ocean?
Until the age of 12, I lived in Granby, Connecticut. It was and still is a bucolic farming community founded in 1680 as The Salmon Brook Settlement and at that time was an outlier for colonial settlers. Our home on Canton Road was originally a ten thousand year old trail, made by the Algonquin people. It meandered all the way to South Carolina. The community was bounded by a large forest preserve with so much history and lore.
When I was twelve years old, we moved to Apalachicola and lived with my grandmother. Her two hundred year old home was located on a coastal hill over-looking the bay and the ocean, not far from the Apalachicola River. We grew up spending most our leisure time walking along the beaches, hunting for clams, fishing, and swimming.
I knew it! That sounds like a beautiful place to grow up. What genre do you prefer writing the most? What challenges do you face in this genre?
I enjoyed writing Delphi Altair Strange Beginnings, a middle grade story with lots of fantasy, magic, and the paranormal. The book I am writing now is completely different. I think there is something about most genres that would be interesting to do, however, writing about fantasy, magic, and supernatural things comes naturally to me, but other genres probably won’t and that will be challenge for me.
Tell me a little about this new book you mentioned.
Right now I have two works in progress in two very different genres. One of them is a character study and the other a paranormal murder mystery. I skip from one to the other depending on what I am feeling at the moment.
How do you typically begin your project? Do you create outlines and character profiles or jump right in with the initial idea?
When I first began to think about writing Delphi Altair’s story (the idea), I knew how the story would begin and how it would end. I had a first sentence and a last sentence. I just had to learn how to write the whole story. So, the answer would be that I completely visual my story first, come to know the characters well, the events that will happen, and how it will end long before I ever sit down to write. I do not do a draft or character profiles.
What aspect of your writing do you consider your strength? Your weakness?
I think a writer must believe completely in the characters in the story, along with the environment they inhabit, and the events that take place. I see my characters as being very real. I am only the one telling/writing what they believe is their extraordinary story.
I had not written a short story in a very long time and I had forgotten how to write, how to compose. As a clinical researcher who deals only with clinical ascertains, I found it difficult to shift my way of thinking. I had to relearn everything. I knew nothing about fiction editing and how to get a story ready for publishing. That is why I did a second edition of Delphi Altair Strange Beginnings.
Probably the editing process is our most challenging. How do you go about editing your work? Do you have any tips you’d like to share?
I find editing a story, for me, a daily work-in-progress. I have learned to edit my story starting with the first sentence, then paragraph, then page, and then chapter. Each chapter must be complete and ready to publish. Doing a first draft does not work for me, but to do daily editing, a writer must know the story by heart. So, I do lots of thinking about my story first until I know it by heart and then I am ready to retell it in writing.
After publishing, the next trouble facing writers is marketing. What do you typically do when marketing your novel? Do you have tips you’d like to share?
They say all politics is local, well in writing that is where a writer should begin. Friends, relatives, community, newspapers, local organizations, and small privately owned bookstores are very helpful. I found that giving my books away and having a print version is very important beyond the typical eBook. Although, I think it is important to market your book well before it is published as an eBook or print version with websites and all the rest. However, in the meantime, trying to procure a literary agent is so very important right from the start, even if your story is only a draft, to really get your work noticed on a grand scale. I have not been successful at that so far.
What advice would you give a writer who is starting out?
What I have learned is to keep learning everything I can about writing and publishing. There are so many great venues for learning in today’s market place. There are so many people wanting to help writers to achieve their goals. It is truly amazing.
Thank you so much Karen for the lovely interview!
If you are an author and would like to be interviewed, check out more at Be My Guest.
June 3, 2014
Melissa Reads :: DELPHI ALTAIR Strange Beginnings by Karen Dowdall
Synopsis:Twelve year old Megan Donnelly, devastated by the loss of her mother, receives a mysterious package to be opened on her thirteenth birthday. Inside the package, she finds an ancient -looking, leather-bound journal. Fascinated, Megan begins to read the secret journal about a mysterious young girl named Delphi Altair and her only friend, Donovan Ryan. Soon, Megan is swept up in a fantastical adventure that takes her to another place and time where dragons, wizards, sorcerers, and strange menacing creatures inhabit a place far, far away. Soon, Megan realizes that the magical adventure within the secret journal is becoming frighteningly real.
My Rank: 5 cups of coffee
Dowdall deftly weaves science fiction and fantasy in her debut novel where creatures and characters abound. I particularly enjoyed the lush and vivid settings of both the little sea town and the majestic (and at times bizarre) planet, Janji. Reminiscent to The Neverending Story and The Princess Bride, here is a middle grade adventure that will entertain and leave you with chills.
Favorite Lines
Delphi never thought the air could taste like sugar, but on Janji even the clouds tasted like sugar.
May 19, 2014
Monday Book Lines :: The Tale of Mally Biddle
Every Monday I’m going to be pulling an image that showcases a moment in one of my books, along with an excerpt. None of these images (unless otherwise stated) are mine.
From THE TALE OF MALLY BIDDLE:
“The news of you being a mushroom hunter’s all over the castle! He wants to quiz you.”
“Quiz me?” Mally repeated nervously.
“Yes, so will you go talk to him?” Lita said wearily. “Archie can have a sour temperament if he doesn’t get what he wants, and I don’t want to be eating gruel for the next week, so impress him!”
“No pressure, Mally,” Gerda winked.
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THE TALE OF MALLY BIDDLE is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
May 18, 2014
Guest Author Eric Buffington
Today my guest is Eric Buffington, a fantasy writer who just published the second novel in his Stones of Power series, which was featured on By Candlelight.
Eric is also doing a special deal for the first book in the series, The Exile: you can now purchase an autographed copy. Available in the US only. Check it out here.
What’s your name? Where can we find you? Blog? Twitter? Facebook?
Eric Buffington
website: http://www.ericbuffington.weebly.com
facebook/stonesofpower
twitter: @ericbuffingon1
Give me a random tidbit about you. It could be anything. Anything at all.
I almost failed English class in High School. I’m sure my teachers would be completely shocked if they ever knew I wrote a book.
How long have you been writing? How many books have you written? They can be published or not published.
I’ve been writing for about three years. I have one trilogy (Stones of Power) that is pretty much done being written. (Just a few more edits on book 3 and I’m done.)
That’s fantastic news! I’m so amazed by people who can churn out a series. What genre do you like writing the most? What challenges do you face in this genre?
I like writing fiction. I struggle when I have to do hours of research just to get a couple of pages of writing.
Tell me a little about your current work in progress.
I’m currently working on a fantasy novel based in a world where the nobility keep the peasants in control because only nobility can use magic, and only nobility are educated. The main character is a girl who is a farm worker and she desperately wants to learn how to read. She meets a noble boy, who starts secretly tutoring her, but, of course, their relationship is forbidden.
Sounds exciting! How do you typically begin your project? Do you create outlines and character profiles or jump right in with the initial idea?
For Stones of Power Book 1 I just started writing and about 30 pages in I decided I wanted an outline. I stopped for several months while I made character outlines and restructured the entire trilogy. Through that, I learned that I work best with an outline. I’ve also learned to make the outline as basic as possible because characters tend to change things as they develop.
What aspect of your writing do you consider your strength? Your weakness?
I’m a pretty good storyteller. Because I enjoy telling stories, I feel like that is my strength in writing. What I definitely don’t feel completely comfortable with is romance elements. This current WIP is going to stretch me and help me grow as a writer, as there is a romance element that is more obvious than in previous works. In Stones of Power I actually purposely skipped from telling one character’s story because there was a romance developing, and I didn’t feel like I wanted to tackle it. Then when my wife read the book she insisted that I go back and include it.
Oh, the romance. I’m happy to hear I’m not alone in finding that aspect of story telling difficult. Do you focus on one project or do you work on multiple manuscripts at once?
I tried to focus on one project at a time, but it hasn’t worked out very well for me. I find that if I wait until one project is completely done before I move on to the next, I’d never get anything finished. Now that I’m writing on my blog regularly that also is like having another unending project.
Probably the editing process is our most challenging. How do you go about editing your work? Do you have any tips you’d like to share?
I used to be worried about sharing my writing with others. I wanted it to be perfect before anyone saw it. With a little experience I now use my beta readers as early in the process as possible. When other people look at the work and give honest feedback it can really shape the writing into something wonderful. When it comes to editing I love it when people tell me all the things that are wrong with my books. Just remember the people who are giving feedback want your book to be the best it can be so be open to their advice.
After publishing, the next trouble facing writers is marketing. What do you typically do when marketing your novel? Do you have tips you’d like to share?
I’m still trying to figure out marketing. I think there is a balance with marketing, I want to get my name out there, write blog posts, go to events, do author interviews, etc, but I also want to have time for more writing. I think it’s good for authors to know that a variety of types of marketing are important, but it’s also important to not over schedule yourself with marketing so you don’t get any writing done.
What advice would you give a writer who is starting out?
Make sure you write something you really like, because through revisions, edits, events etc. you’re going to quickly get sick of your own book if you don’t really love it.
One more piece of advice that I’m still struggling with: Be patient. Things take time in this industry.
Thank you so much, Eric!
If you are an author and would like to be interviewed, check out more at Be My Guest.
May 13, 2014
Books on Parade ~ Splintered by A.G. Howard
Featuring books that have caught my eye — welcome to Books On Parade! If you are an author and would like your novel featured in Books On Parade, click here to find out how.
Splintered
This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.
About A.G.
A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would’ve happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.
When she’s not writing, A.G.’s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.
May 12, 2014
Monday Book Lines :: The Unicorn Girl
Every Monday I’m going to be pulling an image that showcases or represents a moment in one of my books, along with an excerpt. None of these images (unless otherwise stated) are mine.
From THE UNICORN GIRL:
What seemed like a thousand ravens were perched in the high limbs around us, each one staring down at us, ruffling its wings … “My God,” Sylvia whispered. “She controls them all.”
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THE UNICORN GIRL is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
