C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 38

Back Again

While I had every intention of visiting all blogs and doing more Twitter and more FB while I was on break, that didn't happen. Here's what did.


I went to Cuba. (more about that later)





I went to Mexico. (more about that later, too)




I came home. (his was the sensible choice for security)





I got sick.




I got sicker.



I'm just now climbing from between the sheets and looking around at what's happening in the world. 



And discovering it's Christmas. Really?

All of that is my way of saying sorry I didn't stop in to say hi. But I did do some things. I sent out my Special Offers Newsletter and I chose a winner! Lelia's name came out of the hat this time, so a signed copy of Double Negative is hers. Thanks for signing up for my Newsletter, Lelia. Each month I either offer something or I find special offers by others. Hope you'll sign up.
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I'm trying to get up to speed. Give me a push if you see me start to slide. Oh, and if you can please stop by Cover Wars to vote. There was a glitch in October, so all the votes were dumped. Maybe this has brought on my bed-ridden condition. The Great Time Lock Disaster needs help! I also see that Patricia Lynne's Snapshots is up for votes. And there are more. Vote everyday. Vote for several of your choice. It's kind of fun.
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Quote for the week: If you can accept losing, you can't win. Vince Lombardi

What do you suggest for getting back on track after a break and then after being totally out of it for days? Are you ready for Christmas? Do you know about Masquerade Crew and their Cover Wars? 
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

A Little Dab of Horror Does It

A Little Dab of Horror Does It




"A boy's best friend is his mother."

I can't write horror, but I love to dive into a good scary book or film every once in a while and scare myself. I love it when I can't wait to turn the page, but dread it at the same time. I love it when the next scene makes the back of my neck staticky. And I'm a real sucker for fangs and claws--in stories. 

There have been a lot of theories about why people buy books guaranteed to keep them awake at night or flock to see films like Psycho or Dracula and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. For me these are places to be scared, but safe. If I had to go mano a mano with a Zombie, you'd better believe I'd beat any sprinter's time on the planet. 

"I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner." 



"I never drink ... wine."

How about a little Ghoulash? 


Quotes of the Week (2 in honor of my favorite holiday): "Horror films don't create fear. They release it," Wes Craven 

“Where there is no imagination – there is no horror.” Arthur Conan Doyle

Now go out and make something terrifying. It's October! See you in December. And if I have internet at all, I'll be around to say hi before then.

Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Hats Off Corner Welcomes Stephen Tremp and a few Bad Girls

Thanks Lee for hosting me today. And thanks everyone for stopping by. As a writer, you can find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. My wife belonged to a Bible study group and one of the books they went through was Bad Girls of the Bible. I flipped through it a few years ago and sure enough there were some really Bad Girls doing really bad things. Some were repentant while others met a terrible death. I thought this would be a good topic as the thirteen antagonists in Salem’s Daughters are all Bad Girls. 
Potiphar’s Wife: Her name doesn’t appear in the Bible but this wild woman was bad news for Joseph. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Potiphar bought Joseph to be a household slave. Potiphar was ‘Captain of the Palace Guard’ and his title giving reference to butcher or executioner. 
And his wife had the hots for Joseph. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:12 
Joseph ended up spending many years in the dungeon on her false accusations he came on to her before being released and rising to second in command in Egypt. 
Delilah: She betrayed her husband Samson for money and he ended up a prisoner of the Philistines who blinded him. Samson did get his revenge by collapsing a stadium full of Philistines. 
Rahab: A prostitute, she helped the Israelites capture the city of Jericho she lived in. In exchange, her life and those of her family were spared for her cooperation. 
Jezebel: Often the measuring stick for bad girls everywhere. She incited her husband King Ahab to worship false deities, persecute the true prophets, and brought false witness against common folk and had them killed. Her ultimate demise: she was thrown off the top of a tower by members of her own court and ended up in a big splat where wild dogs ate her. 
Mary Magdalene: She had seven demons cast out of her, was repentant of her sins, and followed Jesus. She is commonly portrayed as a prostitute but her lifestyle was never spelled out specifically. She is mentioned twelve times in the Gospels, more than most of the disciples. 
Sapphira: She and her husband Ananias were killed suddenly after lying to the Apostles about money. 
Jael: She was actually a good person as she killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of King Jabin. She was more of a bad-ass than bad. 
"Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness.” Judges 4:21. 
Well done, Jael. Well done, indeed. 
Question: Do you have any favorite ‘Bad Girls’ regardless of the source? 
Short Blurb: A four hundred year old evil is unleashed when the daughters of those killed during the Salem Witch Trials find a new generation of people to murder at a popular modern-day bed and breakfast. 
Stephen Tremp writes Speculative Fiction and embraces science and the supernatural to help explain the universe, our place in it, and write one of a kind thrillers. 
Me with Spawn Number TwoYou can read a full synopsis and download Salem’s Daughters by Clicking Here. 
Stephen Tremp posts weekly blogs at his website Breakthrough Blogs. 
Next Stop: Wednesday November 11th with Michael Di Gesu at In Time. Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

IWSG November

Alex J. Cavanaugh

Here we go again! And just to show you how insecure a writer can be, I'm not even showing up this month. No. I'm hiding somewhere in the world and it isn't HERE. What this means is that I wrote this post back in October, then packed my bags and fled. I'll tell you about it when I'm home.



I will be back, but not for a couple of weeks. When I do return, I expect to find that all my INSECURITIES have vanished and I can get on with my life--my confident one.

I'll be around to say hi after I return, but hope you'll understand that I'll be a lot late this month. 


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In the meantime, here's something you can do to make this group even more secure and exciting (if it hasn't happened already in my absence). Email Writers’ Digest’s at writersdigest@fwmedia.com, subject line 101 Websites, and suggest the IWSG site be listed as one of Top 100 Best Websites for Writers! Be sure to include this link.  http://www.insecurewriterssupportgrou...
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If you're not signed up for IWSG. You can do that at any time. And just look at the gang you'll be joining!Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

My Schedule for October-November

Hi Everyone! I have to pull the plug on this blog for a while. Sometime life happens, and so this is when it happens for me.

However, because I have some IMPORTANT PEOPLE and IMPORTANT HOPS  and it my favorite HOLIDAY MONTH that I said yes to, these are the days I'm  here.





The WEP was here on Oct 21, and my contribution is HERE. 



The IWSG will be here on Nov. 4. I'll be late in my comments, but I'll be around.



Stephen Tremp will be here managing things on November 9. Hat's Off to Stephen!


A Little Dab of Horror in Honor of Halloween
If all goes well, I'll be back December 7. Sooooo if you are launching a new book or want to do a special giveaway in December, email me and I'll put you in the Hat's Off Corner.


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My Quote for the Week: "The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves." Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Mogul
 

Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

WEP Again! Youthful Frights vs Adult Fears

Hi Everyone! I do hope you've joined in the Halloween fun and signed up for this month's WEP. I'll try to get around to say hi to you if you have, but I may be late because I'm off on some family business, and then another trip. If I'm late, just remember that old saying about "better late than. . ." 


Yolanda Renee and Denise Covey

I'm a "if it goes bump in the night, I'm out of here" kind of person, but because I'm also something of a paradox at times, I adore Halloween. It has always been my favorite holiday. Maybe I'm a Druid at heart? Just a scaredy cat kind of Druid.

So here's my contribution for this WEP Halloween Challenge.


Unprepared by C. Lee McKenzie

Since childhood, her greatest fear has been this! She's guarded against it every year. Every year until this one. Well, there was the book to write, the new job. Lots of changes. No time. 

Now huddled in the room, she waits, heart slamming against her chest. And then. . .

A thud, thud, thud of knuckles against the wood summons her, and when she grasps the knob, when she twists it and the latch clicks free, the cautioning voice in her head hisses, “Don’t open that door.” 

Still she knows she must ignore the warning, and she must deal with the consequences. As the door swings in and the fingers of the October night chill her skin, they're out there. Eyes big and set on her, their demands unwavering. 

There are three this time, but more hovering just out of that cone of yellow light that thwarts the insects, but fails to protect her against these spirits. 

What does she have in her storehouse that might appease them and send them away? 

“Nothing.” That inner voice is talking to her again. 

If she moves fast, slams the door, locks it and turns off all the lights, will they vanish? Will she be able to climb between her sheets, knowing she’s escaped their vengeance? 

“Not on your life.” Damn! That voice won’t shut up.

Then from out of the darkness. . . “Trick or treat,” the first ghost sing-songs. 

Happy Halloween All!






Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Thanks SA Larsen & Why Flash Fiction?

Sequel to Alligators Overhead

I'm a GUEST along with Pete and Weasel from The Great Timelock Disaster! Yes, I've successfully cloned myself, and I'm here and HERE today. Thanks, SA Larsen for letting me invade your super site.



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And now. . . Why Flash Fiction?

It’s short. That’s one reason. 
After writing a novel, it’s a great way to get a piece of writing done in jiffy. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can afford to be sloppy. In fact, the shorter the fiction, the more attention to detail it takes. Each word, the sounds that repeat, those that add to the tone and the meaning of the piece need to be carefully chosen. 
wolfofgowstreet.com
So the second answer to my question, “Why Flash Fiction?” is because it makes you focus and be very selective about what you put down on the page. When you only have a couple hundred words to tell a story, it makes you think differently about your writing, and, for me, that’s a great brain exercise. And it seems to freshen the way I think about my craft.
Photo Credit
A while ago, the Flash Fiction Forum at Works Gallery in San José, CA asked me to sub something. I did, and they invited me read my piece for their audience. I did that Oct. 14 and had a great time. Here's some of what happened.
The Authors Who Read their Stuff
Me being Italian
Tania Martin (seated right) and Lita Kurth (standing) , Flash Fiction Founders
Ruth Littmann-Ashkenazi, reading "Session 3"
Me Laughing at Myself


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Quote of the Week: "People who love reading are often called bookworms--but that's the wrong way around. It's not you that worms into a book; it's books that worm into you." Amanda Craig, NovelistBeware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Hats Off Corner Welcomes Life Lessons for the Teenage Girl and Kelly Tonelli

The tragic issue of cutting is what started me on the path to writing for young adults. In my debut novel, Sliding on the Edge, my main character was a cutter. Writing this book was my attempt to understand why young, bright kids were self-abusing. My research led me to a lot experts, but the book I'm featuring today wasn't out yet, or I would have dug into it for more background information about the issues of teen girls and advice for dealing with those issues.
When I found Kelly Tonelli's book on Book Blogs I asked her to share her expertise as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist on this topic. I'm so glad she agreed.
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Kelly Tonelli
Available at
AMAZON and BARNES and NOBLE

Cutting is when a person injures themselves by making cuts or scratches on their body with any sharp object – often deep enough to break the skin and make it bleed. These injuries can be placed on any spot on the body including arms, legs, stomachs, and wrists. 
Why kids cut:Some kids cut as their way of coping with strong emotions, intense pressure or relationship problems. They may believe that experiencing physical pain will allow the release of emotional pain. Kids may be angry or ashamed about something they have done and are cutting in order to punish themselves for the “bad act”.Cutting may be used as a distraction from painful thoughts and feelings.The child may be trying to feel “something” – kids may feel emotionally numb and prefer pain to feeling nothing.Cutting can be a “cry for help”. Kids may cut in order to let others in their lives see how distressed they are in hopes someone will be able to help.

Cutting warning signs:Pattern of unexplained injuries, cuts and/or scratches. Insistence of wearing clothes that are counter to the weather (i.e., long sleeves or long pants on hot days) may be an effort to hide injuries.Finding sharp objects where they wouldn’t be expected (i.e., razors, unbent paper clips, box cutters).Blood stains on towels, tissues, clothes, sheets and blankets.Locking self away from others – being secretive about activities while alone.Series of “accidents” in otherwise not clumsy child.

What to do if you suspect cutting:Talk with your child about your concerns. Do your best to avoid shaming the child, but focus on wanting to understand and help.Problem solve alternative behaviors your child can utilize if the temptation to cut recurs. These can include: talking to you, physical exercise, writing about feelings, and distraction techniques (reading, TV, music, friends).Know when to ask for help. A mental health professional is a great resource for you and your child. Make sure your child knows the therapist is a resource to help the family, not to “fix” them or because they are “bad”.If your child shares future cutting incidents, do your best to come from a position of love and support, not anger and shame. Our goal is to increase communication about the behavior, not hide it away.Thank you for such clear and helpful information, Kelly. I appreciate it and I'm sure my readers do, too. This practice isn't going away from what I've read, so it's good to have the word out. I hope none of you have  to deal with cutting in your lives, but if you do, I know Kelly's information is sound and helpful. I enjoyed reading her book, and I've posted a review of Teenage Girl. HERE it is!



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Quote of the Week: "Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood." Marie Curie
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

IWSG in October

SIGN UP HERE
Fall is officially here and nights grow longer. Spookiness wraps its arms around you and you shudder in the chill of October. It's the perfect time of year to look under the bed before climbing in to sleep. And guess what you'll find there--besides those dust bunnies and the last page of your manuscript you lost in April. . .


INSECURITIES
Yep, there they are huddled together, waiting, hoping to keep you tossing in those sheets and sleepless with them nagging at you.




Well, heck no, INSECURITIES. Take that! 
But just in case you don't have a good left hook, SIGN UP for the IWSG and get the help you'll need to see you through the dark and stormy nights ahead.





And if you have a good story to share. Enter it to be included in the IWSG Anthology! ENTER HERE
Oh and speaking of Insecurities: There's nothing like a contest to give you the jitters. The Great Time Lock Disaster has been entered in the Cover Wars Contest over at Masquerade Crew this month. If you like the cover, it would be great to have your  VOTE . 


Amazon



Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Thoughts About Writing and Hats Off Corner Welcomes Susan McCarthy

Some Thoughts About Writing
I hate not knowing who the main characters are and where they're headed, early in a story. If I read more than a third of a book and still don't have the players firmly in mind, I'm more than annoyed. I may even close my eyes and pretend the book's not there. 

I love adverbs, just not in novels. Oh, once in a while, but when I'm overwhelmed with the "he looked at her longingly/adoringly/angrily" I go a little mad. Write me something steamy instead. "He looked at her and longed to rip off that cashmere." Now that's more like it. 
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Hats Off Corner Welcomes Susan McCarthy

I loved reading Circling the Sun and The Aviator's Wife, so when BantamDell asked me to host this author with such a high recommendation from those other authors, I said, "Yes."
Hope you'll enter to win a copy of this book. I am!





If you loved Circling the Sun by Paula McLain, then I have a treat for you! Susan McCarthy, author of the award-winning Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands, is back with a new historical novel, A PLACE WE KNEW WELL, set against the backdrop of Cold War panic. 

For the Avery family, the dark days of the Cuban Missile Crisis mark a turning point in their lives which will shape and forever change them. McCarthy captures pitch-perfectly the panic, tension, insanity and innocence of the time. The Avery family forms the emotional center of the novel, as their world starts to unravel during the heart-stopping buildup to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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The Great Time Lock Disaster has been entered in the Cover Wars Contest over at Masquerade Crew this month. If you like the cover, it would be great to have your VOTE . There are others there as well that are very exciting. 

Amazon
Quote of the Week: "The reader is the writer's only unrelenting, genuine enemy. He has everything on his side; all he has to do, after all, is shut his eyes, and any work of fiction becomes meaningless." Shirley Jackson, novelistBeware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew