C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 57

My Computer Sucks.

DEADThis morning my computer decided it was going on strike so I couldn't blog. By the time I could switch over to my laptop life got in the way with a few emergencies.

Of course, today was the day the wonderful M.J. Joachim hosted me on her blog, Writing Tips, and I really wanted people to stop by and say hello to her.

While I've tried to give you the link to the post, my laptop doesn't like it enough to comply with my orders, so here it is in plain view. http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com/2014/02...

Hope you'll pay a visit while I find a sledge hammer to deal with this Apple product.


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

Small Things to Celebrate, UncommonYA Valentine's Day Giveaway &Hint #4 On Writing Sequels

VIKLIT

I'm celebrating Valentine's Day. AND a GIVEAWAY. Here's some treats for you.


We all love a good book. Read on to see which ones the Uncommon YA authors love!




One of my favorite books is Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles. I love the way she hits real topics head on with characters that are strong and tenacious. As a bonus: this author can write a seriously hot hook up scene *fans face* ;)　 Julie Anne Lindsey

I love The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons and have my fingers crossed the movie producers accept the script she is working on to turn it into a movie. I also love Where is the green sheep by Mem Fox because my kids and I have read it a billion times together and we know it off by heart. Melissa Wray

One of my favorite stories is Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter. First published in1939, the short novel portrays a　young couple falling in love during the end of World War I and the onset of the Spanish Influenza. The main character falls ill with the deadly flu, and her new boyfriend,　a recently enlisted soldier, finds her medical help　right before he must leave for training. It's a beautifully written snapshot of life during those uncertain times. Yvonne Ventresca
My favorite, most life-impacting book with respect to becoming an author is Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher. I was in the early days of recovery from childhood sexual abuse, and I was looking for something to read while working out on the treadmill. I went into my daughter's room and found Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes on her bookshelf. I had no idea what it was about or who Chris Crutcher was-- but as I walked on the treadmill, it was as if walls inside of me fell away and I realized that I had stories inside of me that might touch others as this book was impacting me. I was thrilled last year to get to meet Chris and talk with him. Beth Fehlbaum  


I book I really love right now is Jeff Vandermeer's Wonderbook. It's given me some really great insights on revision--and it's pretty to look at too :) Natalie Zaman

Here's a book I love: Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson for it's themes of friendship and dreaming big. It's a lovely, simple　little book that says powerful things. Lisa Cresswell


Divergent by Veronica Roth: Beautiful writing made for a fast-paced read in a fascinating dystopian setting with a strong female lead. It’s one of those rare books for me where I loved the story as much as the writing and it stayed with me long after I read the last word.
Erin Richards

   For a short time Uncommon YA is offering YOU the chance to choose your prize. Click on the titles below to learn more about each one. You can add it to your Goodreads shelf while you're there!WARNING. It will be a tough choice choosing just one to win!
             
ENTER NOW!
5 people will win their choice of selected titles. Book to be determined on win.
ENTER NOW!a Rafflecopter giveaway
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[image error] Maria Maria M WriterI've written five novels and just wrote my first sequel. The trick (I think) is to end the first novel on a cliffhanger so the reader knows another novel will follow.
What do you think about ending one book on a cliffhanger? And are you going to enter the UncommonYA Giveaway? Have a great Valentine's Day whatever you do.

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

How to Avoid Common Writer Mistakes & Cassa Fire's Special

If only it were easy to WhiteOut our mistakes.


Since I've made every mistake a writer can, I thought I could speak to this issue with some authority.

I waited way too long to start thinking about publicity.

I thought my publisher would do it all. Please don't laugh. I was a mere child when I began.

I said, "If I can write a book, surely I can promote all by myself."

I thought my book was good enough I didn't need to worry about promoting it. (This isn't exactly what I thought, but close.)

I thought that the media would pick up my Tweets and my Blog Posts and my FB Post in no time flat.

I thought that if I did a few Tweets, a few Blog Posts, a few FB Posts, I could kick back and have a nap.

I thought once I had a publisher, I didn't have to think about finding another one.

Now that I'm a seasoned soldier in the book publishing business I can admit to all these mistakes and more. So what to do to avoid these?


7 to 12 months before launch
start lining  up your reviewers.make a list of book fairs or events that are scheduled around your launch target. make a list of things you can count on your publisher to do for you and fill in the gaps yourself or hire a publicist. make sure your website is up to date.


6 months before launch
send announcements to newspapers, trade magazines, especially those with “up-coming publications” columns.write press release, so you'll have it to send with your ARCs or galleys.troll for blurbshave a professional author photo takenset up Google Alerts for both your author name and your book title


5 months before launch
update  your business cardsorder bookmarks etc.lay out a book tour for yourself. This can be in addition to what your publisher has done, or just what you want to do.


3-4 months before launch
have book trailer made.write letters pitching your book to media.check with local bookstores to see if they will carry your book.create launch materials: interviews, giveaway ideas, activities for blogs.


2 months before launch
schedule your launch appearances: virtual or in person, using your launch materials.memorize your tagline or pitch, so you can say it any time, anywhere.recheck website and add your buylinks.


Just before the big DAY
confirm everything with everyone. schedule Tweets with buylinks for AM and PM daily. 


After the big DAY: do not stop promoting. This isn't a complete list of things to do, so I hope you'll add to it. I've gleaned these steps from other bloggers, my experience and reading what publicists have to say. 

ALEX CAVANAUGH'S BLOGHere's a writer who know all of this stuff. Be sure to take advantage of this last day of his offer.  CassaFire is 99 cents at AMAZON and his publisher’s site. 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

Small Things To Celebrate Hint #3 on How to Write Sequels!

Today I'm celebrating a new UncommonYA Montage created by MELISSA WRAY. So many and authors with excellent realistic YA books.



Then there's always rain to celebrate. We finally had some of that wet stuff. Not enough, but it reminded me this is February, not July. Temperatures dipped to 50's!

Here's California from my deck last month. Had put all deck furniture away, thinking rain was sure to come. It did, but not much.



I'm celebrating sequels, too. Here's is the third HINT for WRITING SEQUELS. This hint comes from
Charles Ray, Freelance journalist/photographer.   

He says, "I think the key to success to sequels (and, I have two going now) is to create histories for your main and principal supporting characters so that they're consistent from story to story. That's what I really like, for instance, about Sue Grafton's books. I feel that I know Kinsey Milhone because Grafton has created a history for her (that she occasionally reminds readers of) that makes her an interesting character."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

Why I'm An Insecure Writer AND Major Cover Reveal!!!!

THE NINJA BEHIND IT ALL

Some time ago I rambled on about that edgy YA that was writing and so excited about, and then one day inspiration packed its bag and took a vacation. "So what," I said and gleefully launched a new project. I would turn one of my middle grade novels into a YA. That lasted for several days--8 I think.

So there I was at Chapter 7, feeling pretty smug when, wham, this other middle grade popped into my head, one I'd written and tucked away a year ago. All that book needed was a few adjustments, and I'd have something ready for my critique group, and maybe I could sub it by this summer.
That's when something very strange happened. 

Here's the story: I was at my desk, hammering out those "adjustment" when I heard this pounding at my front door. When I opened it a whole gaggle of people clustered outside. One, a young nondescript girl wearing either a sweater or a blouse, I couldn't tell, stepped out of the group.
"They've chosen me as the spokesperson," said she.
 "They?"
"Your characters."
I cast a wary eye over the crowd. Three young boys, one in a striped T-shirt, one kind of sandy haired, the other dark and growly, stood with their arms crossed, their eyes unfriendly.
"I remember you. You're in that Dragon story, right?"
They nodded in unison.
"Did I write you as hostile young boys?"
"No," the growly boy said. "It's the waiting that's made us this way."
"I see." I noticed an older woman looking rather lost and teary in the middle of the group. "Why are you so unhappy?"
"That's the way you left me two years ago. Could you please just step on it and figure out how to get me out of this slump?"
"Gee, I didn't think . . . I mean, you're just characters—" The crowd turned hostile. I held up both hand in apology. "I'm doing the best I can. Right now I'm all over that ghost story. 


They looked like Ben and Allie from Chapter 7
I picked out two characters who had to be Ben and Allie because they looked like Ben and Allie, the ones from Chapter 7. The other characters cast jealous glances in their direction.
The nondescript girl cleared her throat. "All we want is some follow through, you know? I'm tired of not having a personality or even decent . . . clothes." She passed her hand over her unexceptional self.
"Thank you for bringing me your concerns. I'll make a plan and stick to it. Promise." I turned to go back to the safety of my office, but stopped in the doorway and looked back at Ms. Average. "BTW, are you wearing a sweater or a blouse?"
She'd at least like a nice sweater.

"Good question. You never decided, remember? When you get around to finishing that story, however, I'd like a sweater. Cashmere. Bright yellow." And off she walked, or ambled, or cavorted. I haven't made up my mind.
So have your characters ever organized and confronted you? If they did what would they complain or applaud about your writing plan, or like in my case, non-plan? You might consider how you'll handle what I just had to because it can be very touchy. Once they turn on you, you could be in serious trouble.
Be sure to visit others like myself who have banded together for this IWSG. Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG.
Composers For Relief Cover Reveal for Beyond the Binding
I've been looking forward to seeing this for a while. I'm not disappointed. Are you?
Where Musician And Writers Collborate

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

Interview With A Bookseller

Learn more about KEPLER'S
Kepler's in one of my favorite Indie Bookstores. They are amazing with all they do for readers and writers. I met Angela Mann in 2009 when I published my first book and have kept in touch with her because she's one energetic and enthusiastic book lover. 
Angela's on the right. I've been fortunate to be invited to four Kepler's events since my debut, and each time I've had a great experience. When I asked Angela if she'd have time (she's one busy lady) to do an interview, she said yes. So here's Angela.

Lee: You carry a large selection of teen books in your store. How do you choose what books you’ll carry and what titles to feature in your store displays?
Angela: We work as a team. The staff of the youth department look through catalogs and mark what we would like to read, what we are looking forward to, and what we think we will sell well. We meet with publishers’ reps and then decide collectively what to carry, led by the buyer. Displays change all the time. Event books are displayed in the front window. There are seasonal displays (Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc.) and things that we just want to display (recent example: zombies and books to movies). Also led by the buyer.
Lee: I know you do so much to connect authors and readers. What advice would you give to new authors who want readers to find them?
Angela: Reach out to your local community: bloggers, other writers, YA book groups, local bookstores, local libraries, and schools. School visits are a great way to talk directly to your audience. Kepler’s has a wonderful program that connects hundreds of readers with new authors and titles every year. Bloggers do a great job of spreading the word about new favorites. Reach out to them. Send arcs. Let them host blog tours. Give interviews. Bookstores like to support local authors. Go to events of books in your genre, meet the authors and fans of these books, get known. Use social media. Twitter and facebook can connect you directly to your readers. Post photos on Instagram. Spend time getting your name out there.
Lee: Everything you've mentioned is right on, Angela. I participated in one high school event Kepler's organized and was blown away by that day with the teens. I'm looking forward to the next one you've put together at Los Altos High. Very exciting. 
Me at one Halloween event at Kepler's! Do I look kind of witchy?
Kepler's also organized a gig for me at Carlmont High. 



Lee: You do so many events at Kepler’s. Can you tell us what your most exciting events have been or your most effective?
Angela: I love all our events from story times for the very young to the teen panels. Each event brings its own momentum and energy. I’ve learned from each and every one of them. I hate to single anything out. 
But when I look back highlights have to be: 
*John and Hank Green for The Fault in Our Stars
*Anthony Horowitz for any of the Alex Rider events we hosted (he is so charming and we had an excuse to wear spywear!)
*The Smart Chicks tour (first of its kind)*
*Suzanne Collins for Mockingjay (and the two attendees we gave nerf bows and arrows and asked them to fight for first in the signing line)
*Marcus Zusak for the Book Thief (there was a mini earthquake while he was reading and we were so mesmerized we didn’t stop the reading)*
*Robin Preiss Glasser reading a Fancy Nancy story to a sea of little girls in tutus and boas and everything pink. 

*Neil Gaiman reading from the Graveyard Book on a stage full of gravestones (and unscripted a huge spider fell from the ceiling part way through the event)
*Terry Pratchett who came to Kepler’s just as he had been diagnosed with Alzheimers*Salman Rushdie (because meeting a literary idol is a huge deal)
*Jimmy Carter (no explanation necessary)


Lee: Those are all fantastic! No wonder Kepler's is so famous. I know you have a new “look” at Keplers. Can you tell us how your store is organized now? Where’s that teen section?
Angela: The youth department is at the back of the store and the teen section is to the right with a table in the middle displaying the newest titles.
Lee: Easy to find, then. There are so many new books coming out each year. How many do you and the staff read on average each year?
Angela: I don’t know how many other people read – I know we all read a lot. But I keep tabs on what I read online so I can tell you that I read 81 books last year and 61 in 2012.
Lee: Now that's an impressive number of books, Angela. What are some of your favorite books of this past year? What do you look forward to reading in 2014?
Angela: Last year my favorites were Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, Vicious by VE Schwab, Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, 5th Wave by Rick Yancy, Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, Splintered by AG Howard. There are so many I’m looking forward to reading in 2014. Cress by Marissa Meyer, Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor, After the End by Amy Plum, Panic by Lauren Oliver, We Were Liars by E Lockhart, Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi, Mortal Heart (His Royal Assassins 3) by Robin LaFevers, Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, Dorothy Must Die by Danielle paige, Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith, The Infinite Sea (5th Wave #2) by Rick Yancy, Armada by Ernest Cline, Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Ask and ye shall receive. Angela, you are over the top splendid. Thanks so much for taking time to do this interview!
So, readers and writers have you read any of these books, met any of these notable writers? Did Angela's advice for writers resonate with you? 

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 Small Things, Sequel Hints and Showing Off Another Book! Not in that Order

Thanks VIKLIT

Celebrating: This month's moon pie making. If you don't know about moon pie, I'm very sorry for you. But if you want the recipe, stay tooned. 
Also Celebrating: A New Book! Here 'tis!


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Sun and Moon by Lee Strauss(Book One in the Minstrel Series)
 January 26th!


If you’re a fan of the movie Inside Llewyn Davis, ABC television’s Nashville or Colleen Hoover’s upcoming novel, "Maybe Someday", the Minstrel Series is for you!
The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!





She has a past. He has a secret.Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest.

Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does.

There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous.

And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is.




*not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language


Buy now!

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | itunes



Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun and Moon, and a 12 month calendar from Dresden, Germany featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.

Dresden, Germany



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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WRITING SEQUELS
Hint #2: Here's another HINT about writing those sequels. Thanks to 

Ruth Ann Hixson: "Write it as a sequel but also as a STAND ALONE book in case the reader hasn't read the previous book."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 Small Things and Hints On How To Write Sequels

Thanks VIKLITI got to sleep in yesterday. That's the first day in five years I haven't had to get up early with tons of things on my TO DO LIST.
What more can you celebrate after that?

Sequel Almost ReadySo I decided to write a sequel, something I swore I'd never do because I usually am disappointed in sequels that I read. However, casting caution to the wind, I started a new story with my main characters, Pete and Weasel; then I thought, "Wait a minute! You don't have a clue about writing sequels." Right. So guess what?  I started asking questions. For the next week or so, I'll be posting about what I learned from people who dare to write these critters. If you write sequels, and I know several of you do, chime in and tell me what you think of these hints. Please add some of your own if you'd like. All hints appreciated.

Hint #1:
". . .use a secondary character who is already established with the reader if you don't want to continue using the same principal character. . . for young people, this could be the girl who always got the answers right in class; now we see that her home life isn't perfect[, ]so she puts her head down and studies, or something. It is important to make this a sympathetic character as some previous readers may resent having to switch to a different character, especially at a young age. Alternatively many authors will introduce a brand new character who just moved to the area. . . ." 

Thanks Clare.



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 Small Things and Hints On How To Writing Sequels

Thanks VIKLITI got to sleep in yesterday. That's the first day in five years I haven't had to get up early with tons of things on my TO DO LIST.
What more can you celebrate after that?
Sequel Almost ReadySo I decided to write a sequel, something I swore I'd never do because I usually am disappointed in sequels that I read. However, casting caution to the wind, I started a new story with my main characters, Pete and Weasel; then I thought, "Wait a minute! You don't have a clue about writing sequels." Right. So guess what?  I started asking questions. For the next week or so, I'll be posting about what I learned from people who dare to write these critters. If you write sequels, and I know several of you do, chime in and tell me what you think of these hints. Please add some of your own if you'd like. All hints appreciated.

Hint #1:
". . .use a secondary character who is already established with the reader if you don't want to continue using the same principal character. . . for young people, this could be the girl who always got the answers right in class; now we see that her home life isn't perfect[, ]so she puts her head down and studies, or something. It is important to make this a sympathetic character as some previous readers may resent having to switch to a different character, especially at a young age. Alternatively many authors will introduce a brand new character who just moved to the area. . . ." 

Thanks Clare.



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

What Worked? What Didn't?

Arlee Bird - http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/Yolanda Renee - http://yolandarenee.blogspot.com/Jeremy Hawkins - http://www.beingretro.com/Alex J. Cavanaugh - http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

In all honesty I think one strategy that's worked (even though on a small scale, 14 to 20 books sales in fifteen minutes) for me has been creating and presenting writing workshops. I'm able to meet readers in person and since many students return for two or three years, I build a small but steady reader base. They keep in touch, asking when my next book is coming. My biggest problem is having a new book ready for sale.


My Class of 2013!

Leslie Rose read Alligators Overhead to her fifth grade class and whether or not that sold books, I couldn't say, but I sure got a lot of feedback from her kids--wonderful notes and great pictures.
I think if I get my act into gear and finish that sequel, this classroom exposure might prove to be a great way to attract attention. Now I need more fifth grade teachers who want to read stories to their classes.


One Picture of the Haunted Mansion + Alligator

I contributed to two anthologies The First Time and Two and Twenty Dark Tales. That led to several bookstore appearances where I met other authors, but also booksellers. Knowing the people is a big part of getting books noticed. Plus I was well reviewed in both anthologies for Premeditated Cat and Into The Sea of Dew. Good reviews always help if only for the ego, but after the book signing, sales on Amazon went up for two of my books.



Me, Suzanne Lazear and Nina Berry at Mysterious Gallaxy Books
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