Natasha Wing's Blog, page 22

Closing in on Goal #1

One of my 2012 goals was to finish my tween novel by February 6th and get it to my agent. I took a workshop from Trai Cartwright through Poudre River Public Library called Jumpstart Your Rewrite and came to the conclusion that I needed a better opening and a more powerful climax. Trai asked, "Have you tortured your characters enough? Did you take away something they like?" With five characters, I have a lot of people to torture. So I'm rewriting and rewriting. And adding more conflict. But I am close.

Trai's next workshop is on dialog at the library on February 16th. Call 970 221-6740 to register.

Filed under: Natasha Wing

Setting Writing Goals

I have a lot of unfinished stories, and dreams of writing longer manuscripts other than picture books, so I put together a list of writing goals for 2012. With my agent's input, this is what I whittled them down to in the order of what I hope to accomplish:

1) Finish revisions of a Christmas picture book that an editor showed interest in.

2) Rewrite the first chapters of a tweenage novel and submit it to my agent before my birthday. (I like deadlines)

3) Develop a picture book biography.

4) Develop one of my picture book characters into an easy read series.

5) If an editor gives me the green light, develop an easy read series with 2 new characters.

6) Finish writing The Magic Conch and submit it to my agent for a decision on whether it should be submitted to a traditional publisher or released as an e-book.

7) Finish illustrating a picture book I started last winter.

I know, I know. It's gonna be a busy year, but I'm energized!

 

Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: New Year Goals

Contemplating the New Year

Buy me

This is the time of year when I reevaluate what's working and what isn't. I tend to go through my closets and weed out clothes I haven't worn in years. I clean off my desk and file stuff or recycle it, and put away stories that aren't going anywhere. I try to finish off a niggling project or two so I won't have to waste any more energy on it next year. And I re-evaluate my career.

It seems the children's book industry is changing even more rapidly than in past years. This whole e-book and app thing feels like it no longer is just sneaking up on me, but is in my face like a schoolyard bully. And what should I do, as a writer who publishes in the traditional paper markets? Do I keep my head down and continue to push forward like a draft horse wearing blinders, and try to convince myself that people still do love paper books when in reality they walk right past my book signing table to the NOOK booth as if I'm a ghost from the past? Or do I embrace the reality that NOOKs and Kindles are just so darned convenient? I mean, who wants to carry on extra weight when they travel? And who wants to build a physical library at home anymore when a whole library collection can be stored in the palm of your hand?

So the questions I'm facing are:

Do I continue to write and submit stories to traditional publishers?

Should I publish my own stories as ebooks?

And why aren't my paper books also e-books?

I've got a lot to think about. And more learning to do. Let's hope the first thing I learn is patience. The second, flexibility. And hopefully, good storytelling will always rise to the top, no matter what the medium. The ultimate goal is to continue to get paid for doing what I love.

Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: New Year's Day

Christmas Greetings

Ho-ho-ho at some Holiday Humor

MERRY NIGHT BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

Filed under: Natasha Wing

A Flight of Angels

Graphic novel for 14 and up

Young adults and adults who are interested in angel mythology, fantasy, and comic book fans. Not your "Precious Moments" sort of angels —this is a book for sophisticated readers who are lovers of fantasy art and complex, edgy tales. Contains comic book art nudity.

Blurbs:  

"Occasionally someone executes a standard storytelling device with such dazzling skill that it reminds you why that device became standard in the first place… [A Flight of Angels] is simultaneously as old as campfire tales and as fresh and full of possibility as the dawn. It's the sort of book that makes me proud to be a comics fan."      —Captain Comics 

"Dark, haunting, hypnotic–perfect tales for a night when the pillars of heaven are shaking!"      —Tamora Pierce (Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, The Circle of Magic)

"An angel falls to earth, and capricious fae argue his fate. A Flight of Angelsis a dark and delectable weaving of folklore, enigma, romance, and suspense, and so beautiful I want to put it on my wall in a hundred picture frames."      —Laini Taylor (Lips Touch Three Times, Daughter of Smoke and Bone)

Book Synopsis:

ANGELS: Guardians. Messengers. Warriors. Fallen. All these angelic aspects and more are explored in A FLIGHT OF ANGELS, a riveting tale in the tradition of The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales. A mysterious angel plummets to Earth and lands deep in a dark forest, where his dying body is found by the mystical denizens of this strange place. As the gathered fauns, fairies, hags and hobgoblins debate what to do with him, each tells a different story of who they imagine this celestial creature to be: a hero, a lover, a protector or a killer. Once the stories have been told, a verdict is rendered – and the outcome will leave you breathless.

Conceived and stunningly illustrated by fantasy art legend Rebecca Guay (Magic: The Gathering, Veils), A FLIGHT OF ANGELS is written by an all-star line-up of today's top fantasy talent, including Bill Willingham (FABLES), Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Alisa Kwitney (Token), Louise Hawes (Black Pearls), and Fort Collin's own Todd Mitchell (The Secret to Lying).

About the Artist:

Rebecca Guay did all the art for this book, showcasing her different styles and techniques. Fans of Magic: The Gathering will recognize Rebecca's work, as she's one of their primary artists.

See the artist's interview

Todd Mitchell

Interview with contributing author Todd Mitchell:

How did you get picked to contribute to this creative project? 

Rebecca mentioned to me a few years ago that she wanted to do an angel book, and she was looking for writers who were willing to tell angel stories. I'd never attempted to write a comic script before, but I decided to give it a go, and I submitted a manuscript. Rebecca liked it, so she forwarded it to Karen Berger, the editor for the project, who chose if for the book. Originally, though, the project was aimed at a younger audience, so the first story I submitted was very different from the final story I wrote.

Did you know of Guay's work before you signed on? 

Yes. Rebecca is someone I know outside of writing (she married my cousin), and I've been following her work for years. She's illustrated some amazing books. One, called Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic, is one of the most beautiful picture books I've ever seen. She's also well known as one of the main artists for Magic: The Gathering cards.

Which art style/segment of hers appeals to you most and why? 

I really like the hard lines with watercolor technique she uses for the Lucifer story. I'm not sure how she pulls this off. Some panels look like they use gold foil and acrylics as well. I know that most of the panels she paints are fairly large, then they get shrunk down for the book. The layers and texture in her art is pretty incredible. 

Did you read the other stories before you wrote "The Guardian"? 

We each got to read Holly Black's connecting story (or a version of it) so we could see who our characters were, and decide how we wanted to use their voice in our story. But we didn't get to see the other author's stories until the final project was put together. I think this was done intentionally, to insure that we each developed very different views and notions of angels. However, Karen and Rebecca gave us nudges along the way to make sure that our stories were very different.

How did the group decide who will write which part? 

Good question. Why I was given the flirty fairy maid's story to tell is beyond me. Rebecca just said she needed a romance, so I threw myself into that.

Are you religious? If so, how did this affect your story? If not, how did you view the concept of an angel? 

I am religious, but the commonly conceived religious notion of angels (in our culture) was something I wanted to get away from. I'll confess, I've always found heavenly beings of light playing harps and plump little cherubs popping people with love arrows to be rather nauseating. So before writing my script, I researched angel mythology, and was surprised by how many cultures have stories of angels, and how diverse the notions of angels are. Although originally, angels didn't interest me much, the more angel mythology I dug into, the more intrigued I became.

Do you believe in any kind of angel? 

I don't disbelieve in angels. I believe there may be other beings who exist in ways we don't understand or comprehend. But I think it's limiting to think that those beings are exactly the way we imagine them to be. After all, if they're beyond our comprehension, then we can't exactly say what they are.

What was different about writing a story in this comic book format versus others you have published?

 Things move very fast in comics. They have to. And you have to think visually –almost like a director imagining a film. In fact, the format for writing a comic script is very similar to writing a film script. Overall, I was surprised by how much you can convey in so few words.

How do four writers and one artist promote such a book? 

I wish I could say we had some unified strategy, but we don't. Mostly, if we get any press for the book, we let the others know about it so they can spread it around. Holly Black and Rebecca got a very nice interview in USA Today a few weeks ago. And Rebecca did an interview on a west coast NBC News affiliate that was great. I'm still trying to get on NPR, but Teri Gross has yet to return my calls . . .

How do you hope the stories will impact a reader? 

Mainly, I hope the stories will broaden people's sense of angels, and get them to see angels in more interesting ways. For those who think angels are boring, bland, boy scouts with wings, I hope this book will get them to take a second look at angel mythology, and see why stories of angels have intrigued people for literally thousands of years. 

Will there be a website or social networking site that will be a platform for reader discussion? 

That's a great idea. Volunteers?

What was your experience working with the publisher, Vertigo Comics? 

I love Vertigo! I'll be honest, pretty much the only comics I read before this project were Vertigo comics. Then, when I was told I'd get to work with Karen Berger on this project, I was thrilled. She's actually the only editor in the comic book world I'd heard of before doing the project. Karen's a legend in the business. She's worked with writers such as Neil Gaimen, Alan Moore, and Frank Miller (which even people who never read comics are likely familiar with, thanks to the many film adaptations of their work such as Stardust, Coraline, V for Vendetta, The Watchmen, The Dark Knight, etc…). Karen sent me a bunch of comics to read, and she helped me see how the writing and art need to interact.

Do you have any other comic book stories in the works? 

Not comics, exactly. But I have been working on a book for the past three years that involves art. Hopefully, I'll finish it soon (like today!).

Filed under: collaborations, Natasha Wing, Todd Mitchell Tagged: comic books, Holly Black, mythology, Rebecca Guay

What's your child's reading pleasure?

Something for every 3-8 year older

Dinosaur lover? Artist? Baker? Check, check , check. Going to school? Missing a tooth? Double check. I've got a book for the young ones on your list.

Filed under: Children's Books, Christmas gifts for kids., Christmas shopping Tagged: dinosaur

Mrs. Claus's Version

My friend, Ann Whitford Paul, is a talented children's book writer and poet. I received this version of The Night Before Christmas in her newsletter and wanted to share it with you. You know me, I appreciate a good twist on the Christmas classic.

T'was the late night of Christmas, when all through the house

everyone was exhausted, even the mouse.

The stockings were empty. They drooped on a chair.

I slumped on the carpet filled with despair

for my children were whining, the girl and the boys, 

complaining already about all their toys.

"My video game sucks."

"My doll lost her head."

"Enough!" Father shouted and took them to bed.

I dragged myself up and started to clean

the hurricane mess, the worst that I'd seen-

red and green papers smushed in a mound,

cards, boxes and ribbons, tossed all around,

dirty dishes and glasses, pots and pans, too.

"AGGHHHHHHHH!"I screamed like a wicked-witch shrew.

Out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I rushed to the door to see what was the matter.

Cloaks of thick snow covered the ground

and the trees stood like kings, icicle crowned.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

but a miniature sleigh led by tiny reindeer,

with a little old driver, white-haired and quick,

I knew right away it was Mrs. Saint Nick.

She parked in our yard, clamored out of the sled,

and greeted me with a slight bow of her head.

Then she rushed in the house and poured me sweet tea.

"Your job now is nothing. Just sit and watch me."

She surveyed all the clutter. Like an angry clerk,

she rolled up her sleeves and went right to work.

She scrubbed all the pans. She washed every plate.

In the blink of an eye she packed up and crated

the boxes and bags. She grunted and groaned

and dusted and swept 'til everything shone.

I gave her a hug, heartfelt and hard,

and walked her back out to her sled in the yard.

I heard her complain ere she drove out of sight,

"My husband has fun on Christmas Eve night,

BUT . . .

I'm forced to follow and set things back right." 

 
















Filed under: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Tagged: Ann Whitford Paul, Mrs. Claus

Discover More Colorado Authors

For the past 12 days, I spotlighted Colorado authors living in the Fort Collins area. But there are certainly more of us out there! If you'd like to learn of other Colorado authors, check out Patricia Stoltey's blog.

Patricia is a published mystery writer who has created a blog to help promote the work of other authors as well as her own books. With a special interest in Colorado writers of most genres, she regularly features guest posts, favoring articles that intrigue readers and encourage beginning writers. Patricia features one to three guests per week and invites authors to contact her through her blog (e-mail link is in her profile) if they would like to schedule a guest appearance.

In addition to her own blog, Patricia contributes a Tuesday post to Chiseled in Rock (the official blog of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers). She's the Member Liaison for Northern Colorado Writers and a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Pikes Peak Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America.

Thanks, Pat, for offering this great service and supporting creatives in Colorado!

Filed under: book reviews, writing blogs Tagged: author blogs, Colorado writers, Patricia Stoltey

The Twelfth Book of Christmas

This is the final day of my "The Twelve Books of Christmas" blog series. For the past twelve days I showcased a book written by a Colorado author who lives in the Fort Collins area. Please spread the Support Local Businesses love by purchasing a book by a local author at a local bookstore. That way your purchase will put a smile on everyone's face.

Two independent bookstores that I recommend in Fort Collins are: Old Firehouse Books in Old Town, and Reader's Cove on Harmony Rd. You can also find books at JAX Outdoor Gear on North College, Clothes Pony in Old Town, and the Northern Colorado Writers Studio at 108 East Monroe Dr. (Across from Tres Margaritas). Ask if they have any autographed copies in stock.

If you like cozy mysteries, then you'll love…

For teens and adults who love crafts.

The Home Crafting Mysteries are contemporary, cozy mysteries in which crime and mayhem play out against the backdrop of different colonial home crafts. Join amateur sleuth Sophie Mae as she juggles murder investigations with her Winding Road Bath Products business, soap making, preserving food, spinning, cheese making and learning about making mead. Along the way Detective Barr Ambrose, her best friend Meghan Bly, and Meghan's young daughter, Erin, help her track down the truth and bring killers to justice in the small town of Cadyville, Washington.

Wined and Died is the fifth in this mystery series. Something is brewing in Cadyville, and it's not only dandelion wine. Sophie Mae is intrigued by a recently discovered cassette recording in which a therapist fearfully contemplates her client's murderous threats. When the same therapist ends up dead, Sophie Mae is lured into another intoxicating investigation, one that explores the age-old arts of mead and wine making.

These books have a wide appeal among anyone interested in cozy mysteries or crafts, from teens to older adults. Library Journal says "Fans of Rosemary Harris and Maggie Sefton will appreciate McRae's crafty series." Most books in the series have also been published in large print editions.

Cricket McRae

Cricket McRae has always dabbled in the kind of traditional home crafts that were once necessary to everyday life. For two years she managed her own soap making business, and has worked at a variety of other jobs, ranging from driver's license examiner to program manager at Microsoft. This fulfills her mother's warning that she'd never have a "regular" job if she insisted on studying philosophy and English in college. For more information about Cricket or her books, visit her website at www.cricketmcrae.com or her blog at www.hearthcricket.com.

Filed under: bestsellers, book reviews, Christmas shopping, gift books, Natasha Wing Tagged: crafts, Cricket McRae, Home Crafting Mysteries, mysteries, wine

Dinosaur land

Everyone knows kids love dinosaurs. And Colorado kids are even more dinosaur happy because their state fossil is stegosaurus. But do they know how to raise a pet dinosaur? My book, How to Raise a Dinosaur will give kids helpful tips on how to choose and train a dinosaur.Check it out!How to Raise a Dinosaur