Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 545
November 17, 2011
Giveaway: $50 Code MyPublisher to Make Holiday Photo Cards
My Publisher offers holiday cards, Christmas cards, Hanukkah cards, even New Year's cards.
From cute to whimsical and everything in between including designer styles you can find a card that fits your personality. Flat cards, folded cards, take your pick.
I made holiday cards for my family- the program is simple and easy to use. You just pick a design, upload your photos, drag and drop into the design tool and put them where you want. You can crop, zoom in and put the photos exactly where you want them.
I absolutely love the results, my card is great and I can't wait to send it to all my friends and family on my holiday mailing list.Here's the card I choose- Here's my card- sorry I could not get a larger image of it
Anyway, now it's your turn to create a gorgeous holiday card- for free
One lucky winner will receive a $50 code to MyPublisher.com so they can create and order their own holiday photo cards.
Giveaway Time!
Want the $50 code?
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your email.
Receive a bonus entry for being a GFC follower
Receive another bonus entry for "Liking" Fang-tastic Books on Facebook
Receive another bonus entry for following me on Twitter
1 Winner will be chosen on Black Friday, Nov 25
Open to US Shipping
Giveaway: $50 Code MyPublisher to Make Holiday Photo Crads
My Publisher offers holiday cards, Christmas cards, Hanukkah cards, even New Year's cards.
From cute to whimsical and everything in between including designer styles you can find a card that fits your personality. Flat cards, folded cards, take your pick.
I made holiday cards for my family- the program is simple and easy to use. You just pick a design, upload your photos, drag and drop into the design tool and put them where you want. You can crop, zoom in and put the photos exactly where you want them.
I absolutely love the results, my card is great and I can't wait to send it to all my friends and family on my holiday mailing list.Here's the card I choose- Here's my card- sorry I could not get a larger image of it
Anyway, now it's your turn to create a gorgeous holiday card- for free
One lucky winner will receive a $50 code to MyPublisher.com so they can create and order their own holiday photo cards.
Giveaway Time!
Want the $50 code?
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your email.
Receive a bonus entry for being a GFC follower
Receive another bonus entry for "Liking" Fang-tastic Books on Facebook
Receive another bonus entry for following me on Twitter
1 Winner will be chosen on Black Friday, Nov 25
Open to US Shipping
Interview with Robin P Waldrop
Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to write in this particular genre?
My name is Robin P. Waldrop and I was born in Miami, but have lived in central Alabama for the last thirty years. I'm co-owner with my husband of a painting company where I still work part time. I'm a mother of five, grandmother of seven, and own a variety of animals.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
I never thought I would write vampire novels, not to mention YA novels. I only wrote in the suspense/thriller genre until one day I picked up a vampire novel, started reading, and was immediately hooked. Not long after that, I decided to try my hand at writing one. Needless to say, the rest is history.
What inspired you to write this book?
I had read several vamp novels previously and in every single one the protagonist was a wimpy girl who depended on her big strong vampire man to protect her. I decided I would write one with a tough girl who could take care of herself, but at the same time she had to still be likable, which was a bit of a challenge.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Ties To The Blood Moon, is about a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the accidental death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns that the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her boyfriend, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
I think when I sat down to write my first novel I did do a ton of research and ended up not using one name that I found. So now after I decide each characters personality their names just come to me.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Yes! Genevieve, the protagonist in this book. She is a typical teenage girl complete with mood swings and all. Her character is just so real to me that I almost fins myself wanting to call her sometimes.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I'm definitely the type of writer that allows each character to form their own personality. All I do is come up with the general description and as I write I allow each one to develop their own characteristics.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
One of my favorite scenes is where Genevieve and her friends are on an airplane, and Genevieve is pretty down in the dumps about something(I can't say what) and Joseph( a friend) grabs his sister's hairbrush and starts dancing and singing to Genevieve. Of course he gets a laugh out of her and sort of starts to melt the ice around her heart.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Well, I am currently writing the second of a three or four book series. My goal is to write each book in such a way that they would stand alone, but of course I suggest the readers start with book one, because they won't want to miss a thing.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
I think every writer has at least one character that they either mimicked from themselves or someone close to them. In my first novel, the heroine, Grace Giovanni, has some qualities similar to mine. She's Italian, long hair, bad temper, and zero patience—that's me!
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?
What writer doesn't? When I get writer's block, I close my computer, freshen up my coffee, and curl up on the couch with a movie. I usually only get a half hour into the movie before the particular scene I was trying to write just pops into my head.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
I don't know if you call it a quirk or ritual, but I never stop writing in the middle of a chapter—ever! Whenever I've done that in the past and then came back to finish, I ended up having to delete most, if not all, of the chapter.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes. Like I said I started out writing what I loved to read which was FBI-suspense/thrillers and mysteries. But now that I've started writing YA, I may never go back. Also, I always wrote in third person, but I found that in writing YA, it needed to be told in first person.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
No. But, I cannot work on more than project at a time. I guess I'm not god at multi-tasking.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
When I was four and wrote my first piece, which was a commercial. I performed it my living room for my mom and dad, and they got the biggest kick out of it.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Coffee and Dove chocolate. I swear, I'm so addicted. I don't eat too much chocolate, but I drink Duncan Donuts coffee 24/7, and I'm not even exaggerating.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
My son gave me a metal detector for mother's day, and I love to go treasure hunting. No, I haven't found anything of great value yet, I'm still learning how to use it.
What was the last amazing book you read?
Healey's Cave written by my dear friend and author, Aaron P. Lazar. He is more of an adventure writer. I know his books are classified as mysteries, but they are really much more of an adventure. He is the type of writer that when you finish one of his books it leaves you with such a good feeling. I just love books like that.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
No, I like to pile up a bunch of pillows on my bed and stretch out where it's quiet—something that there isn't much of in my house.
What can readers expect next from you?
Book 2 of the Ties series, and I'm also getting ready to release an FBI suspense/thriller novel titled The Cabin in spring 2012.
Where can readers find you on the web?
I'm all over the place:
http://www.robinpwaldrop.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/robinsauthorpage
http://www.twitter.com/robinpwaldrop
And I'm also on Gather, Goodreads, Smashwords, and Textnovel. My book, Ties To The Blood Moon, is currently available on Amazon and smashwords, and soon will be available on all eBook sites.
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Prologue
Aunt Bev kept telling me it wasn't my fault. But, if I had waited one more day before leaving to spend spring break with her in Alaska, I would have been home to pull my mother from the burning house. I knew my aunt meant well, but it hadn't helped with my dreams for the past two weeks. Or should I say nightmares?
As soon as I lay down and closed my eyes, the same scene filled my mind over and over again. Almost like a memory. I was in the woods just outside my house and helplessly watched a huge ferocious dog-like creature circling my house while it burned. At first glance the animal appeared to be red, but as I continued to stare, the color of his fur shifted like that of dancing flames.
My childhood home was on fire and I looked helplessly on, listening to my mother's screams coming from somewhere inside. I knew I had to save her, but I was afraid.
"Mom," I screamed, and started to rush for the house when the beast noticed me and snarled. I froze, unable to move. His yellow eyes glowed as if they reflected the fire behind him and I saw his blood stained fangs.
I quickly ran away from the house. Away from saving my mother from the hungry flames that consumed her. I glanced to either side as I ran and saw the faint reddish glow of several other dogs through the trees. They had joined the first dog in the pursuit of his prey.
My lungs burned as the woods ignited behind the dogs, forcing me to run faster or be consumed by the same fire that claimed my mother's life. I skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff and spun around to face the pack of wild beasts as one-by-one they emerged from the burning trees and approached me. They appeared to be almost smiling.
I had two choices. Each of them a death sentence. I chose the latter and leaped from the cliff. The dogs peered over the edge as I fell away from them. They seemed disappointed with my choice. As they moved away out of sight I looked below and saw the ground rushing up at me.
Right before impact I woke up and realized I was still falling. I hit the hardwood floor beside my bed and cried out.
November 16, 2011
Giveaway 18x24 Poster Print from Uprinting
Authors here's a great giveaway for you- you can create an 18x24 poster print of your book cover!
Or you can create a poster of your favorite photo or other image- for free!
Prize Details:
- one winner of an 18" x 24" Poster Print
- semi gloss or high gloss
- 1 Business Days Turnaround time
- Free US shipping only
- Winner to be chosen Nov 23
Entry Requirements:
1) Like Uprinting on Facebook
2) Tweet how you will use the poster if you win the giveaway be sure to include the UPrinting Poster Printing URL in your tweet http://www.uprinting.com/poster-printing.html
3) Leave a comment on this spot with your email address
Restrictions:
Open to US residents only, must be 18 and above to enter.
Winners are allowed to win only once over a six-month period. If you have already won a Uprinting prize in the past 6 months you are not eligible
Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive a poster for hosting.
Interview with John G Hartness
Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I'm a lifelong comic book fan, so the idea of writing a super-team book has always appealed to me. In the YA fantasy genre, I have to come up with some reason for people to have super powers, so the apocalypse seemed like as good an idea as any. So I blew up the world (metaphorically) and when the dust settled, people had magical powers!
What is it about the paranormal that fascinates you so much?
I love the idea of magic, of people being able to do things outside the norm, and I always wanted to be one of the X-Men.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Genesis is the first book of the Return to Eden trilogy. It stars Christin and Matt Kinsey, a pair of high school siblings who realize that the end of the world as they know it is upon them and get out of town with a couple of other folks. As they are hiding in the hills, they develop magical powers tied to the elements of nature. Then they run afoul of local authorities and have to leave, so they begin a search for their parents.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Having never been a teenage girl, there were some challenges to getting into Christy's head. I consulted my nieces a lot.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I really enjoyed writing Bob Freeman. He's kind the wise old gypsy character, a crotchety old mountain man. He, and particularly his dialogue, was a lot of fun to write.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I get a rough idea of their basic character traits and they tell me the rest as I write them.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
The training scene is probably my favorite. I've always loved those montages in movies where the hero is training, so getting to write one of those scenes was a real kick.
"Try again." Ashley's voice cracked like a whip through the chilly mid-morning air. "Ground and center."
"I am centered, you granola-covered drill sergeant!" Dave growled back from the middle of the river. The lanky boy was sprawled on his butt in the creek, ice cold water rushing up the legs of his shorts and making his teeth chatter.
"If you were centered, you wouldn't have gotten shocked."
"Or wet," giggled Angie from her spot a few feet away. The pretty blonde was standing on a perfectly flat disc of water, made solid as pavement by her power. She was barefoot to give her better contact with her element, with cutoff jeans and a borrowed bikini top showing off her curves to a distracting advantage.
"Come on, Davey, you're not gonna get beat by a girl, are you?" Christin mocked from her spot beside Ashley.
"Maybe if there wasn't so much distraction around, you could concentrate better." Ashley suggested, tossing the soaked boy a bandana. "Put this over your eyes."
"What?" Dave protested as the girls fell into more peals of laughter.
"You can't decide which girl to stare at, much less concentrate on protecting yourself. Cover up, Skywalker." Dave stood, tied the rag across his eyes, and reached out to the water. He let his consciousness dive inward, finding the very center of himself, the calm heart of Dave that was always there, no matter what. Once he had locked onto his center, he spun his awareness out to the world, reaching fingers of himself out for the water that flowed all around him. He felt it, smooth and tumbling, giddy with speed and light dazzling through it as it rolled over the rocks of the stream. He grabbed hold of the water and quickly and surely built his own platform, rising up out of the water to stand next to Angie.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
This is the first book in a series, and it's intended to be read in order. The characters that are introduced in this book will only be outlined in future books, and relationships that begin will be picked right up in Book 2, so these can't really stand alone as well as some of my other series.
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?
Writer's Block is a myth that we writers use to explain being lazy. When I get stuck, it's because I screwed something up and I need to go back and fix it.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
I need to have music while I write, and I tailor to music to the scenes I'm writing.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes. I write urban fantasy, YA fantasy, I'm working on a thriller with no paranormal elements, I've just started a paranormal YA romance series. I also write poetry, memoirs and short literary fiction.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
No. I have a lot of stories in me and they don't all go bump in the night.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
It's hard to say. There are milestones, like when I cashed the first check, when my writing income first surpassed my "day job" income, when I got my first contract, my first advance. But I guess I considered myself a writer when I autographed the first copy of one of my books.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
I don't believe in guilt, so I revel in all my bad taste and vices J. But I'm a huge Glee fan if that's what you mean.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I've been in theatre for twenty years as an actor, director and designer, so that certainly counts. I love comics as well, and I enjoy riding my bike.
GENESISBy John Hartness
The end of the world was just the beginning.
Now they have to stay alive.
17-year-old Christin Kinsey started the day with nothing more pressing than an English exam. But when an EMP attack knocked out all technology across the globe, she found herself in the mountains of Georgia trying to stay alive in a world suddenly thrown back in time a hundred years or more.
And when she starts shooting lightning bolts out of her hands, things get really weird. Christin, her younger brother Matt, and Matt's cute friend Dave have to figure out what this new world is about, why they suddenly have super powers, and what happened to their mom in this apocalyptic fantasy novel geared for audiences 16 and up.
Mad Max meets X-Men: First Class in the first book of the Return to Eden trilogy by the best-selling author of The Black Knight Chronicles.
AUTHOR BIOJohn G. Hartness is a recovering theatre geek who likes loud music, fried pickles and cold beer. John is an award-winning poet, lighting designer and theatre producer, with a theatre career spanning three decades.
His first novel, The Chosen, is an urban fantasy about saving the world, snotty archangels, gambling, tattooed street preachers, immortals with family issues, bar brawls and the consequences of our decisions.
He followed up The Chosen with Hard Day's Knight, a new twist on the vampire detective novel and the first book in the highly successful series The Black Knight Chronicles. The second book of The Black Knight Chronicles, Back in Black, landed in March 2011 and enjoyed immediate success. Knight Moves, the third Black Knight book, was released in August 2011.
John has been called "the Kevin Smith of Charlotte," and fans of Joss Whedon and Jim Butcher should enjoy his snarky slant on the fantasy genre.
He can be found online at www.johnhartness.com and spends too much time on Twitter, especially after a few drinks.
www.johnhartness.com
www.facebook.com/johnhartness
@johnhartness
Winner Wednesday
1st place winner ebook copy North of Need
Sebrina said...
I've said it before, I've loved everything I've read from you. Dying to read more.....thanks for the chance at this giveaway.
GFC: Sebrina C
Sebrina_Cassity(at)yahoo(dot)com
2nd place winner trading cards
Barbara E. said...North of Need sounds like a fantastic book and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
The winner of Who Do Voodoo is:
Chrisbails said...Wow, great excerpt. I have been following along with these reviews and they just get better and better. This is a new author for me and always looking for new books and authors to check out. Love the cover and would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
christinebails@yahoo.com
November 15, 2011
From Russia with Blood Guest Blog with Michael J Lee
Writing action scenesThere are three things you have to worry about when writing a paranormal adventure, love scenes, supernatural scenes, and action scenes.
I'm going to talk about action scenes. Strangely enough this was covered in my college creative writing course. My professor handed out a copy of some poor anonymous sap's writing.
My god it was horrible.
It was full of blood and pain and suicide and we couldn't stop laughing. The overwrought descriptions turned what was supposed to be tragedy into farce. Then my professor handed out and example of published fiction. This was a story about a woman in the eighteenth century who was kidnapped by Native Americans. The writing was terse and the violence conveyed with only a few simple sentences. That lesson stuck with me.
That lesson has been brought home time and again when I read scripts for contests. There are a lot of action scripts out there and unfortunately most would be writers try to be the next John Woo. They load up their scripts with gunfights that last five pages or more. The ironic part is that kind of overwriting SLOWS a story down. After a while I was beginning to think Shakespeare had the proper idea. He would always just write "They fight."
Then a few years ago I stumbled across a post on thriller writers. I found the examples fascinating especially those of Lee Child. The way he wrote, it put the reader in Jack Reacher's skin as he was struggling to stay alive. I could finally see how the proper action scene was supposed to be executed. It's about character.
The more I learn about writing the more it comes back to character. In fiction it doesn't matter what a scene looks like, what matters is how it feels to the characters. You don't need to choreograph a fight like Bruce Lee. What you need to do is make the reader feel every punch and kick. That's what I tried to convey in From Russia with Blood. I want the reader to feel like they are in the field with Ian as he's being stalked by four assassins. I want them to be with Larissa as runs for her life across Connecticut streets. If I've done that, then I've done my job.
From Russia with BloodBy Michael J Lee
400 year old vampire Ian Redd joined British Intelligence during the Cold War. But after the Berlin Wall came down they decided they no longer needed his services. He was retired, almost permanently. Ian escaped and has lived the quiet life in a small town until a professional hit team arrived at his doorstep. Who sent them? That's a question that will lead Ian into the arms of a beautiful woman named Larissa Barton and into the most dangerous operation of his unlife.
Larissa Barton's life has barely begun and it's already gone off the tracks. She's back in her hometown working as a barista. But things change when Ian Redd enters her life. Dark, mysterious and gorgeous, Ian is her only protection her from the people and creatures who suddenly want her dead. With Ian by her side Larissa plunges into a world of magic, werewolves, vampires, spies and assassins and discovers her own secret past.
"One part James Bond, one part Dracula, and a whole lot of action and adventure. From Russia with Blood kicks ass!" - Vivi Anna, award winning author of the Valorian Chronicles
About the Author:
Micheal J Lee was born in the Midwest and has spent time out on the East Coast and in LA.
He learned the craft of screenwriting the hard way, as a barely paid reader. That's how he got a good feel for writing form and the craft of storytelling. His approach to a story is a lot like Bruce Lee's approach to fighting, absorb what is useful.
Lee published his first paranormal romance, My Frankenstein, recently. It's been an adventure – and now he's on to book 2, From Russia with Blood.
http://myfrankensteinebook.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4849011.Michael_Lee
November 14, 2011
Tour Finale and Giveaway with Trish McCallan
Giveaway!
Would you like an ebook copy of Forged in Fire?
Leave a comment on this post with your email address to be entered
Forged in FireBy Trish McCallan
Genre: paranormal romantic suspense
Beth Brown doesn't believe in premonitions until she dreams a sexy stranger is gunned down during the brutal hijacking of a commercial airliner. When events in her dream start coming true, she heads to the flight's departure gate. To her shock, she recognizes the man she'd watched die the night before.
Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters comes from a bloodline of elite warriors with psychic abilities. When Zane and two of his platoon buddies arrive at Sea-Tac Airport, he has a vision of his teammates' corpses. Then she arrives—a leggy blonde who sets off a different kind of alarm.
As Beth teams up with Zane, they discover the hijacking is the first step in a secret cartel's deadly global agenda and that key personnel within the FBI are compromised. To survive the forces mobilizing against them, Beth will need to open herself to a psychic connection with the sexy SEAL who claims to be her soul mate.
"Forged In Fire is a smoking hot adventure with an irresistible alpha hero. Danger, action, suspense, and a steamy romance make a story that's impossible to put down!" ~Patti O'Shea, National Bestselling Author of Through a Crimson Veil
Available at Amazon B&N Smashwords
About the Author:
Trish McCallan has been writing for as long as she can remember.
In grade school she wrote children's stories, illustrating them with crayons and binding the sheets together with pencil-punched holes and red yarn. She used to sell these masterpieces at her lemonade stand for a nickel a book. Surprisingly, people actually bought them. Like, all of them. Every night she would have to write a new batch for her basket.
As she got older her interest changed to boys and horses. The focus of her literary masterpieces followed this shift. Her first full length novel was written in seventh grade by pencil in a notebook and featured a girl, a horse and a boy. At the end of the book the teenage heroine rode off into the sunset . . . with the horse.
These days she sticks to romantic suspense with hot alpha heroes and roller-coaster plots. Since she is a fan of all things bizarre, paranormal elements always seem to find a way into her fiction. Her current release, Forged in Fire, was the result of a Black Dagger Brotherhood reading binge, a cold, a bottle of NyQuil and a vivid dream.
Find Trish Online:
www.trishmccallan.com
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100001292925346
http://twitter.com/#!/TrishMcCallan
November 12, 2011
Halloween May Be Over But You May Need Costumes for the Upcoming Holidays
Pure Costumes has costumes for all occasions including Thanksgiving costumes and Christmas costumes.
They have everything from cute to sexy.
[image error] Lil' Gobbler Infant/Toddler Costumelisted price $67.95Pure Costumes Price: $49.95
This adorable baby turkey costume is the cutest thing.
If you want to dress up like [image error] Tribal Princess Adult Costumelisted price $63.00Our Price: $47.95 [image error] Tribal Princess Plus Size Costumelisted price $64.95Our Price: $49.95
Lil' Warrior Toddler Costumelisted price $29.95Our Price: $22.95
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Santa, Mrs Claus, Elves, Angels....even the abominable snowman.
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November 11, 2011
Farsighted Tour and Giveaway with Emlyn Chand
This is a guest post by Emlyn Chand, author of FarsightedWhen did you have enough confidence in your abilities to officially call yourself a writer?
For me, it was when I first received money for my work as a freelance columnist. For you, it may have been when you finished the first chapter of your first novel or won a prize for a short story. Maybe you never had any qualms about saddling yourself with this label. Maybe you still don't consider yourself a "real writer."
Me? Now I know enough to see that I was a writer long before someone handed me that first paycheck. It's kind of something you're born with—like it or not.
But being an author, that's different.
The term writer focuses more on the craft—engaging in the actual activity of writing. The term author encompasses not only the craft but also the business aspect of it.
So when are you worthy of the label author? Why, when you publish your first book of course!
I write this post just days before I make the transition from writer to author. My first novel Farsighted releases on October 24, which means my 26-year-long (AKA life-long) dream is finally coming true. When I look back at the journey that brought me to the peak of this beautiful achievement, I can't help but think of what I wish I'd have known before starting on my path.
I've identified 10 lessons I've learned along the way. Maybe you already know these things. Maybe you don't. I'm gonna share 'em anyway...
1. Something's gotta give. Writing is not something you can do with just a little bit of effort. To get through the first draft, editing, what-have-you, you'll have to work hard! Yes, you could space it out over several years, but if you want to finish anytime this year, you're going to have to make sacrifices. For me, this was less time with friends and family, less television, and less attention to my health (eating right and exercising). Oops.
2. Write what you want to write—not what you think you should be writing. Boy, this was a hard one to learn. I've always fallen back on being "that smart girl." When things didn't go right in my personal life or when I was picked last in gym class, I took pride in my intellect. Therefore, I've always done what I can to improve my wit and make my best trait the best it can be. That being said, I spent a long time forcing myself to read classic literature. I did enjoy it, and I still do, but it's definitely not what I find most entertaining (YA is). Still I kept at the classic literature because it was important to me that others respect my intelligence (damaged by high school much? :-P). Naturally when I decided to write a novel, it came out as literary fiction. That's the me I wanted to portray to the world. I wanted people to salivate over my talent and proclaim my literary merit... Except the novel wasn't that good, because it wasn't a piece of who I really am. Now that I've cozied into YA, I couldn't be happier. And the larger facade of who I once pretended to be has lifted. I. AM. FREE. Now this lesson doesn't just mean: don't put on a false front. It also means: don't chase trends. Write what your heart wants to write, and it'll all be good in the end.
3. You're going to make mistakes. LOTS of mistakes. Practice makes perfect. Well, it makes it better than before. You may be an excellent writer, but if you've never written a novel before, you're a newbie. That's okay too! When writing that all-important first novel, you're pretty much going to make every mistake in the book. In my first novel, I really struggled with keeping a consistent point-of-view and writing authentic dialogue. The POV problem was very difficult to fix, but in trying, I learned an important lesson—one I couldn't have learned if I hadn't made such huge blunders. Now that I do know how to correct and avoid these problems, dialogue and POV are two of my strongest areas (at least that's what readers tell me).
4. Writer's detour is a bigger problem than writer's block. Writer's block gets all the PR, but it's not as dangerous as writer's detour. When you're blocked you're not moving forward. When you take a detour, you're moving in the wrong direction. Will you get to California quicker by taking a small rest in Boise, or will you get there quicker by following a pretty red car to Ontario first? (My advice, drive straight-on through to Cali if you can). Don't get so caught up with a minor character (or a theme you want to convey) that you stray all over the place. Which brings me to my next point...
5. Structure is important. We writers fall into two camps: pantsers and plotters. Some pantsers consider themselves superior, because their writing leads their plots—not the other way around. I used to think like that too. Even if you want to keep your plotline fluid, you need some form of structure. Shudder at the thought of outlining? Then mapping your characters is crucial. You need to know where you're going and/or who's taking you there. Otherwise you're just groping about in the dark. Yes, writing is absolutely a creative process, but don't under-estimate the value of good planning.
6. Novel #1 may never leave the drawer. Or it may leave the drawer, journey around the query circuit, and then come right back to where it started. My first novel DID get me an agent, but 9 drafts later, it still wasn't good enough to publish. When my agent suggested I change 2/3 of it for draft 10, I decided to move onto my next project. I just wasn't enjoying the process anymore. I'm so glad I finally called it quits on novel #1, because novel #2 is so much better, and now I get to put it out there into the world. If I would've kept agonizing over the inferior manuscript, novel #2 may have never happened!
7. When you're done, you're not done. I'm just a big ball of sunshine today, aren't I? But it's important to understand just how much work follows being "done." Anne Lamott said it best in Bird by Bird, you're going to write "shitty first drafts." I can guarantee it! Don't let that stop you, just be prepared for it.
8. Writing is a business just as much as it's an art. Getting a novel published and promoting it once it's out there is infinitely more work than writing a novel in the first place. That's not to under-value the writing process, but it's true. Sure, you can finish your novel, self-publish it, and then do virtually nothing to promote it. Fine. But if you actually want to sell copies of your book, you've gotta handle the business side of things. Finding an agent is an extremely formal business interaction—you even have to write fancy business (AKA query) letters. Marketing your book is a TON of work. It's pretty fun (at least, I think so, but I moonlight as a book publicist, so I realize I might not be normal). However, being fun is not equivalent to being easy. Not even close. Expect lots of work and lots of stress and not very much sleep. The good news: you get out what you put in, so give it all you can!
9. Querying will destroy your soul. My unhappy place is remembering query letter Hell. I honestly can't remember anything harder in my life. Ever. Make sure you have a good support system in place. Because even if you're brilliant, you can pretty much expect a slew of rejections. I ultimately got an agent but had to suffer through 60 "not for us"s first. Of course, it hurts. As writers, we pour our hearts and souls into our manuscript. Our words are a part of who we are. Having a faceless stranger tell you it's not good enough is pure torture. End of argument.
10. You will sustain injuries. Gosh, my neck is killing me while I'm writing this post. You're probably going to get neck and back pain too. Headaches from staring at the computer too long. Possible eye problems. Definite poor posture. Maybe even carpal tunnel syndrome. That's just the way it goes, so be prepared.
Seems pretty cynical, doesn't it? I <3 the craft and would never abandon it (like I even have a choice), but I find that those who are starting out with visions of Stephen King or JK Rowling-esque fame already see the pretty side of writing—the glamor. Having a balanced picture is so important. Even still, all the practical knowledge just can't compare to experiential knowledge. Follow YOUR path to author-hood, make your own mistakes, learn lessons from them, and then share with the rest of us.
Blog Tour Notes
THE BOOK: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still "see" things others can't. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com's Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author's birthday).
THE CASH PRIZES: Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That's right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you'll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that.
THE GIVEAWAYS: Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you'd like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.
MORE FUN: There's more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!
Farsightedby Emlyn Chand
Genre: Paranormal YA
Short Synopsis:
Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still "see" things others can't. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.
Long Synopsis:
Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.
Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.
In this enthralling debut novel, Emlyn Chand creates a world in which friendship, perseverance, and a handful of psychic powers come together to fight against what appears to be the inevitable and all-too dangerous future. This is a book you won't want to put down—even after you finish it!
Excerpt - http://www.emlynchand.com/2011/09/farsighted-chapter-one/
Book trailer - http://youtu.be/tZjskE5zjzM
GoodReads 10-book give-away - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12368215-farsighted
Author Bio:Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity.
Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb.
Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info.
Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!
