C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 56

A to Z Blog Challenge Theme Reveal and Those Small Things to Celebrate

Happy A to Z Blog ChallengeTheme Reveal 2014
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Déjà vu 2013
Remember this badge from 2013? Well this year I'll be taking you back to last year's A to Z. Some of you will recognize your own posts from last year, so you're sure to guess one right.

Here's how it will work:


I'll post a mystery A to Z blogger's post from 2013. I'll give you a hint if I can.There will be prizes each week for those who: 
1) guess the most mystery bloggers each week.2) leave additional information about the post, so I can learn something more about the topic. 3) make me laugh or think with your comment.

Can't forget to CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS!
THANKS VIKLIT

My lettuce crop is coming up. I'm eating Fava Beans from the garden. My peach tree is in full blossom. My computer works. I've finished reading John Adams' bio. I just started the final revisions on my sequel to Alligators Overhead. 
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 Blogger Wish List

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***15 DAYS UNTIL APRIL 1***
Since many of us are getting ready for the A to Z Blog Challenge, I thought I'd rant a bit about what I wish wouldn't happen in the Blogging World.



I wish there was no such thing as Word Verification. I get somewhat testy after taking out the magnifying glass and deciphering the cryptic numbers and blurred letters, then seeing this message: "Your comment will be available after approval." 

kakisky


I wish that bloggers would tidy up their profiles so that long abandoned blogs were not listed. 




I wish that comments like "Congrats!" and "Have a good day!" didn't appear after someone posts about their Pomeranian's abduction by aliens or their liver transplant.  Reading the post or at least gleaning the message makes the blogging exchange interesting.So there's my wish list. Anything you'd like to add to it?
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My book and I are guests at thebooksage today. I'd love it if you'd stop by, take a peek at the review and say hi to this book reviewer. 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

Celebrating The Small Things. The A to Z Blog Challenge!

Thanks VIKLIT
The lettuce I planted is up an inch. In a few weeks I'll be eating my own fresh crop.The library asked me to do a book presentation for the middle graders. Yay!Two wonderful friends called and we're getting together next week after several months of not doing that.I slept late this morning because I. . . (fill in the blank)I love my A to Z Blog Challenge theme for 2014. I'm ready to REVEAL my 2014 A to Z theme on March 21st.This is March.I'm still "with it" enough to know this is March. (Not really a small thing, but I wanted to include it.)I just had the best cup of coffee in world.
DON'T MISS OUT! SIGN UP NOW.
MARCH 21 COMETH! 
Thanks to Damyanti’s amazing Team for hosting this fine event. Be sure to visit their blogs now – Vidya, Anna, Csenge, Guilie, Samantha, Jemima and Mary.

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

School Presentation: How and Why To Do Them

LOS ALTOS HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS


On Thursday I was at Los Altos High and had the pleasure of talking to three English classes--one senior and two sophomore sections. The kids were so wonderful that it made me nostalgic for those classroom days when I taught English.

LOS ALTOS HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASS

In the 40 minutes I had, I told them a little about who I was and what I wrote, read from two of my YA novels, then gave them a 10 minute writing exercise, saving the last 5-10 minutes for Q and A.

I based the exercise on beginnings. A few weeks before I'd submitted sample beginnings of stories I'd written, they'd read them and we discussed what I call the EICE, /ice/, formula. Credit for this goes to Stein in Stein on Writing, and I keep it posted above my desk.


Excite the reader's curiosity about the character or relationship.Introduce the setting and tone.Create images for reader.Evoke emotions.
They wrote, trying to follow the formula and produced some great beginnings. 
The best part of this kind of presentation is that you not only engage with young readers, you also have the chance to meet their teachers and talk to school librarians. As a result of my presentation, my books will be on Los Altos library shelves. 
I left bookmarks, business cards and some postcards with my book covers on them. The students snatched those up, so I'm hoping they'll be interested enough to follow through with a visit to my website and that they'll be curious enough about my books to read them. 
Of all the promotion I do, this is my favorite.



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Are you ready for the A to Z Blog Challenge of 2014? About three weeks to kick off! Sign up. Create your theme. Then reveal it if you want on March 21!
SIGN UP HERE FOR THE REVEAL









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

Celebrating Friday Among Other Small Things

THANKS VIKLIT
My computer hasn't exploded yet today.I've gradually recovered most of my data from the nuclear explosion on my C Drive last week.I enjoyed the Academy Awards Ceremony with some friends.My high school presentations went well. The kids were great.I have my Young Writers' Workshop organized for Saturday.
That's enough to Celebrate, don't you think? What are you celebrating this week?
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

Insecure Writers' Support Group and Some Gratitude and I'm Totally Blitzed

THANKS TO NINJA ALEX CAVANAUGH
Just a touch of InsecurityMight detract from my Maturity.Some days my prose soars to the sky.Then on others it might well die.If I could only surely say That the muse was here to stay,You would never hear my childish screams,And I would sleep in bundled dreams.



THANKS TO SHERI LARSONIt has taken me over three months to come back to a center where I feel somewhat stable. My mom's death and my son's accident coming at the same time, threw me off in many ways. First, I didn't have time to think about my mom not being here. I was so steeped in making trips to the hospital to see my son and talking to doctors that I often forgot my mom entirely. Then one evening, when I usually called to check in with her, I picked up the phone to say hi. Only to tell myself I couldn't call her because I'd have to tell her about her grandson, and that would upset her. It a few moments before I knew that wasn't reason I couldn't call her.


My gratitude is that my son has improved and that doctors feel he will continue to do so. My gratitude is that I have a caring supportive family and friends. My gratitude is that I can appreciate what I have and not dwell on what I do not. THANKS DL HAMMONS
Yesterday we BLITZED Bish Denham and Nicole Olea. Are you next?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

Communicate What You Mean: Her Grammarness Lives. Then There's Something Called A to Z Blog Challenge

Her Grammarness Wears This While Writing.
(Not really)If you can't express your ideas clearly on the page, you're not communicating what you want.At a book signing one of the people in the audience asked, "Do you pay attention to grammar when you write?"

I was with two other authors. One said sometimes. The other said never.

Guess what I said?

Actually, I think I uttered more of a loud English teacher moan before I said, "Without following the writing conventions, we can't communicate what we really mean."

Kind of pompous? Maybe, but come on writers, if you're not clear when you set down your ideas on a page, what do you expect, your readers to do--call you up and ask, "What did you mean when you wrote this?"

Personally, I don't like late night phone calls (I expect that's when I'd get these kinds of calls), so I'm willing to put in the extra care to get the grammar and, for that matter, the punctuation as correct as I can. Even then, I want a keen-eyed editor going over my prose--I messed up on this once, but never again. That's a long and embarrassing story that I shall reveal upon my deathbed, but not before.

I went exploring on the good old Internet and found a few places that are great resources for anyone trying to put ideas on a page. Here are some links, so check them out when you're not sure about your punctuation or when you have to win an argument over that lie/lay-sit/set-passed/past issue. Never again dangle those participles and never again wonder if your clauses are restrictive and need commas or non-restrictive and don't.

QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS
THE GRAMMAR BOOK
FREE GRAMMAR HELP
GRAMMAR SLAMMER




I caught the tail end of the #atozchallenge Tweet Chat Friday night. I met some new Tweeps and chatted afterward. As one of M.J. Joachim's Team, I like to explore what's going on. You might check out the Chat next Friday evening. It starts at 5PM. 

Here's the rest of JOCHIM'S lovely A to Z Team

Ann Hinds - Yeakley/Jones Family HistoryRunner 5Suzanne Sapsed - Suzanne’s TribeSherry Ellis - Mama Diaries & Gone Gardening  Laura - My Baffling BrainBish Denham - Random ThoughtsSliding 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

Celebrating The Small Things from A to Z

VIKLIT


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Apples are the best fruit. Highly portable, delicious and keep the doctor away. So I'm celebrating my apple trees. By April this one will be full of blossoms.  Then the deer will hang out and wait for the fruit. They'll clear the bottom limbs, but I'll get the apples higher up. . .if I hurry before the birds find how juicy those red things are.




Butterflies always deserve to be celebrated.
GEDCI'm almost done with my A to Z posts. Want to see what my THEME is this year? Check back MARCH 21.
VIDYASURY

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

Honest Indie Reviews & Awards and HOPS!

I would love it you'd stop by and say hi at INDIE UNIVERSE. Gary of HONEST INDIE REVIEWS  has hosted me at his blog today and I'm yappin' away about selling books. 











The Award!

Hello wonderful writer friends, the amazing Deanie Humphrys-Dunne nominated me for this award. I so appreciated the Dragon's Loyalty Award, Deanie.
Here are the rules: Display the Award on your Blog.Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who awarded you.Present 15 deserving Bloggers with the AwardLink your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded. Write seven interesting things about you. And the nominees are: (in no particular order) Bish Denham http://bish-randomthoughts.blogspot.comAngela Ackerman http://writershelpingwriters.netM. Pax http://mpaxauthor.com/blog/River Fairchild http://riverfairchild.blogspot.com  Julie Musil http://juliemusil.blogspot.comNas Dean http://nas-dean.blogspot.coNatalie Aguirre http://www.literaryrambles.com Jemi Fraser http://jemifraser.blogspot.ca L. Diane Wolfe  http://circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.comTyrean Martinson https://plus.google.com/115770577729067626605/postsNutschell http://www.thewritingnut.comAngela Brown http://publishness.blogspot.coRuth Schiffmann http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.comCarol Kilgore http://www.underthetikihut.blogspot.comMichelle Wallace http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za


7 interesting things about me:

I used to change my name every time I moved to a new school. Usually I'd choose Kathleen or Maria. My teachers thought I was using a middle name that wasn't on my records. My mom finally caught me and put a stop to my renaming.I hate smoked oysters, but love 'em raw.I never liked dolls much. They kind of scared me.I love to play tennis.My favorite pastime is hiking.To me cooking is like dancing, it's a lot of fun when I'm in the mood.When I'm not writing I'm dreaming. Best wishes to all of you great bloggers/writers. If any of you are too busy to participate, it's understandable.


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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

Celebrate The Small Things, Hint #5 On Sequels, The Boy Who Loved Fire

VIKLITCalifornians are celebrating rain. 9 inches in some spots last week.

RAIN



At the higher elevations we're celebrating some fresh powder. I've seen cars with skis heading out of town! Proof that we have some white stuff in Tahoe.

SNOW




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Tip #5 How to Write Sequels









Tralisa McNeal

Author ". . .the advice I would give a person writing a sequel is to publish the books back to back. Put them all out at the same time or at least the first two if writing a trilogy."
I can't take this hint. I didn't decide to write a sequel to Alligators Overhead until two years later.  How do you feel about waiting a long time between series books to read them? I'm sure it's harder work to re-interest readers and that's why Rowlings and others kept 'em coming.
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I finished Julie Musil's book, THE BOY WHO LOVED FIRE, last week and really enjoyed her fast-paced, page-turner story. Her protagonist is Manny, a boy who is self-centered and selfish, but who is given a chance to change his destiny, much in the same way as Scrooge. Musil cleverly brings her visiting spirits up-to-date for readers in this century and increases the tension to the very end of the story. While the story centers on a teen boy, it has an Everyman aspect that teen girls will also be caught up in.




If you haven't signed up for the A to Z Blog Challenge, shame on you. Still time, though.



And if you like the idea of a beautiful BLITZ, sign up for that, too!








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