Robin Jeffrey's Blog, page 19
April 5, 2023
Countdown to Norwescon 45
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Norwescon 45!
Tomorrow is the first day of Norwescon 45, where I will be exhibiting in the Dealers’ Room all four days (April 6th through the 9th!), signing and selling my books, my flash fiction, and a host of other cool swag. I hope to see you all at the show: the Dealers’ Room is in the Northwest Ballrooms of the DoubleTree — swing on by anytime we’re open!
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April 2, 2023
Behind the Scenes Sunday
Let’s take a peek at the cogs inside the machine and talk about why I write and how I write on Behind the Scenes Sunday! Today I’d like to talk about what is simultaneously one of my most dreaded and favorite parts of being a professional author – networking with my fellow writers.
Part of growing in any profession is putting yourself out there as a resource to others and finding others who are willing to help you in your own journey towards success. Being a writer is no different. It’s important to nurture connections between yourself and people who are at the same point as you in your author journey as well as reach out to those who have gotten to places you only dream of.
But how do you do this? Especially if you, like myself and 90% of the writers I’ve ever met, are an introvert? Ah, the agony and the ecstasy; the desire to be known but the absolutely mind-numbing terror of being known. What do you do?
First, realize that you are not just ‘taking’ from people. Networking is not (or at least shouldn’t be) about ‘what you can get’ from others. It’s about building real and lasting relationships — friendships, even, if you’re lucky! And part of a relationship is giving as much as you receive. You have things to give – remember that! No matter where you are in your writing journey, you have a valuable perspective and valuable insight to offer.
Second, practice, practice, practice. I promise you, the more you put yourself out there and connect with others, the easier it gets. The less awkward you feel saying hello, the more comfortable you feel writing that follow-up email or Instagram DM or whatever, and the wider and stronger your network will grow. Things won’t always work out in your favor — not every connection will blossom into something special. But when it does, boy will you be glad you made the effort.
Do you have any tips and tricks for networking, either in the writing field or otherwise? Are you looking for a few author friends right now? Let’s start building some connections in the comments, this is the perfect time!
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Saturday in the Stacks
Saturday is the perfect time to wander through the stacks (that’s librarian-speak for “bookshelves”) and talk about books and the people who write them. Pull up a comfy chair and settle in, because today I want to chat about a perfect little volume from two fantasy masters: Instructions, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Charles Vess.
Instructions bills itself as “Everything You’ll Need to Know on Your Journey”. It’s a beautifully illustrated lyrical poem that guides the reader through a fantasy adventure of their very own, leading them down dark paths, glittering rivers, and back out again. You encounter eagles, ghosts, giants and so much more — you may even find yourself along the way.
Frequent readers of this blog with know that I am a huge and unabashed Gaiman fan, so perhaps its no surprise that I’m returning to his work yet again to see what it has to teach us. Charles Vess, however, may be less well-known to readers. He collaborated with Gaiman on Stardust, and is an American fantasy artist and comics artist who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales.
Why this book and why now? Well, it’s Spring, my dear readers, and with Spring comes new beginnings and the start of new adventures. This unassuming little book is, in my opinion, one of the very best gifts you can give to a new graduate, new parent, or to yourself as you start off on a new chapter in your life. The illustrations are fodder for even the most tired imaginations, and Gaiman’s words will transport you to a place where every thing is possible as long as you stay true to yourself.
Is there a book that is a ‘go-to’ for you at this time of year? That you find yourself returning to at the start of new adventures? That rekindles your adventurous spirit? Let’s chat about it in the comments!
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Countdown to Squatchcon!
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Squatchcon 2023!
Tomorrow is the first day of Squatchcon 2023 in Port Angeles, WA, where I will be exhibiting as a vendor all four days (March 30th through April 2nd!), signing and selling my books, my flash fiction, and a host of other cool swag. I hope to see you all at the show: I will be at Table 18 in the Artist Alley and Market at the Vern Burton Community Center Gym. Come find me – I promise I’ll be easier to spot than the eponymous Sasquatch!
March 26, 2023
Behind the Scenes Sunday
Let’s take a peek at the cogs inside the machine and talk about why I write and how I write on Behind the Scenes Sunday! Today I’d like to talk about one of the most important parts of being a writer – learning how to accept and grow from critique.
Writing well is a matter of practice — do it for long enough and you are bound to improve. But a big part of improving in any artistic craft is showing your work to others and listening to their feedback. Now, this is obviously easier said than done. You’ve poured your heart and soul into a book and now you’re just supposed to give it to someone and let them tear it to pieces? And you’re supposed to be grateful for that?!
Yes.
A key component of learning how to accept and grow from critique is realizing that a good critique partner is not telling you what isn’t working in your piece to hurt you – they’re doing it to help you. They are on your side. They also want the story to be as good as it was in your head. Too many people think of the relationship between artist and critic as adversarial, when really it’s a partnership (or it should be).
Once you’ve accepted that the person you’ve asked to critique your work is on your side, the other important thing to remember is this: they are critiquing the work – NOT YOU. “But I am my work!” I hear you cry. “It’s a part of me!”
No.
Repeat this a hundred times. Write it down and put it above the place where you write. YOU ARE NOT YOUR WRITING. You’re life will get so much better once you embrace this. When someone says “I just don’t know what I was supposed to get from this passage — it seemed sloppy and not very well thought out,” they are not saying “You are sloppy and not very well thought out, you should be ashamed”. They are saying the work could improve – which you knew already, that’s why you’re asking for critique!
What’s your secret for accepting critique? Do you have a ritual around critique that makes it easier to take? Or is it just the absolute worst part of the writing process for you? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!
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Saturday in the Stacks
Saturday is the perfect time to wander through the stacks (that’s librarian-speak for “bookshelves”) and talk about books and the people who write them. Pull up a comfy chair and settle in, because today I want to chat about a particular ‘tool of the trade’ of both readers and authors alike that has become fairly well-known in the book community: the app/website Goodreads.
Goodreads bills itself as “the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. [Their] mission is to help people find and share books they love.” Basically, for the uninitiated, it is a way for readers to track what books they read, sharing their reviews of those books with others while setting yearly reading goals, interacting with readers with similar tastes, connecting with bookish friends — essentially a social media platform with a reading focus.
If you’re thinking of hopping on Goodreads for the first time (whether as a reader or an author), here are the main pros and cons of the platform I think you should be aware of:
PRO: Never forget the name of that book you read again!CON: You shouldn’t judge a book by one bad review, no matter how tempting it may be!PRO: Easily recommend books to your friends and family!CON: Reviewing bombing can happen (read more about this horrendous practice here) so be wary!PRO: Connect with your fellow readers and your favorite authors!CON: Goodreads makes it very easy to compare your reading goals/speed with others – don’t get sucked in to this trap!PRO: If you were looking for some encouragement to read more, the Goodreads Reading Challenge could be just the thing you’re looking for!At this point, Goodreads is a standard of the industry, and as an author trying to make their mark, I don’t see myself walking away from the platform anytime soon. What about you? Are you a Goodreads user? Do you love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!
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Werewolf Wednesday
Happy Werewolf Wednesday, everyone! This week I’m going to talk about a werewolf flick that perhaps rightly flew under many people’s radars (but was loosely based on a much more well received young adult novel of the same name) – Blood and Chocolate.
The movie centers on nineteen-year old Vivian, a werewolf who lives in Bucharest with her aunt Astrid and cousin Rafe after the murder of her family by werewolf hunters. When Vivian meets Aiden Galvin, a young American graphic artist living in Bucharest and currently writing a graphic novel about the fabled loup garous of the region, they fall in love. But their relationship is not meant to be because Vivian has been promised to Gabriel, the leader of the Romanian werewolf clan, and Gabriel will go to any length to separate them.
As far as a film goes, the 11% on Rotten Tomatoes speaks volumes. It’s certainly not an Academy Award winner by any stretch of the imagination, and, frankly, even if you’re looking for a mindless, fun flick on a Friday night, you might want to give this one a miss and pop in Underworld instead. The melodrama is thick, the dialogue painful at times, performances largely phoned in, and CGI — well, perhaps it’s better if we don’t talk about the CGI.
I wanted to talk about this film though, because the book it’s based off is actually well worth the read if you are so inclined! Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause came out in 2007, at the beginning of the paranormal romance for teens craze (Twilight had burst onto the scene some 2 years previously) but is far better written, and deals with themes Twilight only skirts. It’s dark, visceral, and compelling. Plus, it deals with female werewolves — always of fascination to yours truly!
What are some other werewolf adaptions that didn’t quite live up to the original source material? I’d love to get some more book recommendations in the comments!
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Darke Passion by Rosanna Leo – Out Today!
I am so thrilled to be able to share with you the latest and greatest from fellow author Rosanna Leo! Her book Darke Passion, Darke Paranormal Investigations 1 is out TODAY — you’ve got to check it out!
Edwina Darke is one of a trio of ghost-hunting sisters who rid clients of their unwanted supernatural visitors. A badass by nature, Edwina doesn’t run from haunted houses, she runs into them. Yet no matter how many “ghosts” she debunks, she remains troubled by a demon from her own past.
Simon Teal is the co-owner of a historic B&B in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, a town famous for its connection to the 1812 War. Simon doesn’t believe in the spirit world, but something is chasing his customers away, so he reluctantly allows the Darke sisters to investigate.
As the team uncovers the star-crossed love behind the B&B haunting, Edwina and Simon’s attraction flares. It’s the last thing either of them needs. The dedicated Edwina refuses to lose herself in another relationship, and Simon is still reeling from a terrible betrayal.
When a darker presence reveals itself, triggering their protective instincts, Edwina and Simon succumb to temptation. But the evil entity has taken an interest in them, and if they don’t solve the mystery, someone new could end up going “into the light.”
And it could be one of them.
Hooked already? Buy your copy here!
Still not sure? Here’s a brief excerpt to wet your appetite:
This was a house that had seen things.
At first, Edwina would have sworn that the King Street Bed and Breakfast was as benign as any other well-maintained historic house. With its white-painted brick exterior, clean windows and established garden, it had plenty of curb appeal.
But there was something beneath its pristine surface, something that beckoned. It was one of those houses that had its own personality. Its quirks gave it life. They drew her in and made her want to explore.
Although the original building was symmetrical, there were some modern additions around the back and side of the structure. It now boasted a couple of bay windows and what looked like a breakfast nook. In front, there was a series of older, smaller windows. These were clearly part of the original architecture, and Edwina could almost imagine the faces of long-dead inhabitants pressed up against them.
It was clear that a lot of money had been spent to keep the exterior of the building tidy and fresh. The paint on the black shutters was new, as were the roof shingles, and there was an inviting wraparound porch. In the front garden, a rainbow flag flew proudly. Several ferns hung around the porch, creating a sense of privacy and balance.
And yet, something had disturbed the equilibrium here.
Edwina knew from experience that appearances could be deceiving. Even the coziest homes could make one feel ill at ease. Conversely, she’d been inside buildings that frightened neighborhood children, and hadn’t found any evidence of spirit activity at all. She knew to keep an open mind.
She glanced around the corner at one of the additions. According to Adelaide—and her weird pal, Maria—construction projects often upset spirit people. Indeed, Edwina had often read accounts of hauntings that had occurred as the result of a renovation.
Ghosts didn’t always appreciate people coming into their spaces and changing things around. Was that the case in Simon Teal’s situation?
She doubted it. These additions weren’t brand-new and might have even been added by a previous owner.
She peeked around the side of the house. It opened into a spacious back garden, one with many healthy perennial plants, but the most striking feature of the garden was that it backed onto a wooded ravine. She imagined that one could feel somewhat intimidated standing in that green space. The massive trees provided a wide canopy, and although it was beautiful, there was something wild about it as well. The canopy blocked out any view of the nearby homes, adding a touch of primeval atmosphere.
A low ringing began in Edwina’s ears. No, a hum.
She walked back to where Susannah stood in front, but the hum didn’t go away. There was a voice-like quality to the sound, and she glanced at Susannah to see if she was making the noise. However, her sister was quietly checking out the house.
“You okay?” asked Susannah.
“Yeah.” Edwina rubbed her ear. “Just a weird ringing sensation. It started a second ago.”
“Hmm. Well, you know what they say. Someone’s talking about you.”
“Right.”
When Simon Teal opened the door, Edwina forgot about the clamor in her ear. She glanced up, and her breath caught in her throat.
Don’t wait another second – pick up your copy on release day to get reading now!
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Behind the Scenes Sunday
Let’s take a peek at the cogs inside the machine and talk about why I write and how I write on Behind the Scenes Sunday! Today I’d like to talk about one of my writing rituals that I adopted during the pandemic and one that I still return to regularly, especially when I’m in a difficult spot in a project or just when I feel like treating myself: lighting candles while writing.
Scent is one of the strongest triggers of memory — we smell cookies baking and we’re transported not just to a particular moment in our past, but we can feel the way we felt at that exact instant. It creates a cascading effect with all the other senses: taste, touch, hearing, and sight. So it makes sense (pardon the pun) to try and harness this mental power for use when writing.
I pick out a particular candle for every project I’m working on. It has to be a pleasing scent, but more than that it has to resonant with the story I’m writing in some way. For example, when I’m writing fanfiction for my sister, I light a sweet tea scented candle — because sweet tea makes me think of warm summers, laughter, and just plain fun. It helps my imagination run wild and keeps me focused on the why of why I’m writing: to make my sister smile.
Before I sit down to write, I dim the lights in my house, light the candle and let it burn for a good five or ten minutes to let the scent begin to fill the space in which I’m working. This works for me in two ways: one, I love working by candle light. I feel like an old-fashioned author working late into the night; it just feels cool. And two, the scent keeps me focused, helps my flow, and is extremely pleasing.
If you had to pick a scent to work with while writing your current WIP, what would it be? Does this ritual appeal to you? Or does it totally turn you off? Do you have rituals of your own? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!
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Saturday in the Stacks
Saturday is the perfect time to wander through the stacks (that’s librarian-speak for “bookshelves”) and talk about books and the people who write them. Pull up a comfy chair and settle in, because today I want to chat about a particular medium of book – the audiobook.
I first started to listen to audiobooks as a pre-teen, when they became something of a family bonding activity for me, my sister, and my parents. The public library had an impressive collection of books on CD (to give you some context to when this story is taking place!) and we took full advantage of their offerings. For a while, it felt like every other week, we would head to the library, pick out an audiobook, then hurry home and pop it into the home entertainment system and gather round, listening to the story until the room went dark.
As I grew older, I started to listen to audiobooks while driving and found that, for me, it was one of the few things that kept me awake during long solo drives across states. I listened to Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Neverwhere this way and it felt right, somehow, that I was going on a literal journey at the same time the characters were going on their own, often internal journeys.
At this point in my life, I don’t get to listen to audiobooks nearly as much as I would like. But my partner listens to them all the time during his work day and I am super envious of him! He must go through four or five books a month that way and the way he delights in telling me about different narrators idiosyncrasies or the sound effects used in a particular book — it makes my heart glow.
Do audiobooks have a place in your reading heart? Have you never listened to one? What’s your favorite audiobook to date? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!
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