C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 61

Cover Reveal Crystal Collier's Moonless & Then There's the Small Things to Celebrate

QUITE A COVER!





MOONLESS: Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless. 

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.



Release Date: November 13



Visit Crystal Collier's Website for more about her and her books.






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VikLit's LINKY



CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS




My regular readers know this year has been a little hectic. It seems that all the small things started snowballing into rather LARGE things. 




Then I had this break through and I'm managing much better in October than I was for the previous few months. I even took an unexpected trip. It was only a week, but that was enough to set me right again. Want to guess where I went? Bish is disqualified from guessing because she knows.





Here's where it happened.





Turtles Hatching. Hundreds of Them.



The Reef Only a Few Minutes Out--Great Snorkling 



At Last! Sand Between My Toes
















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

Dear Insecure Writer, A Letter To You

It's that time again. 


Thanks Mr. Alex Cavanaugh

LINKY



I receive messages from Dan Blank and once in a while I actually read them. Here's one that was perfect for today's Insecure Writer Me post.







A Writer On The Way To The Top






You, Dear Writer, Are Going to Fail Miserably



You, dear writer, are going to fail. Miserably.
Until you succeed.



You will be alone.
Until you are embraced with open arms.



We are going to make fun of you (giddily.)
Until we come to respect you.



We will find every tiny flaw in your otherwise decent story.
Until it grabs our hearts and makes us fall in love.



We will do the worst thing possible for way longer than you expect: we will ignore you.
Until we can't stop thinking about you, and talking about your work.



We will use you as a scapegoat for our own sense of inequity.
Until we strive to become more like you.




We will take pot-shots at you. Making fun of things that are none of our business.



Until you stop caring about those things.

We will grossly generalize what your work embodies, misconstruing it whenever possible.



Until you ensure we "get it."

Dear author, we are not going to make this easy for you.



Which is why so many authors stop. They stop writing.



They give up. Too soon.



Sometimes moments before success and validation; other times, years before.



We win. Game over.



 If you want an excuse to stop, to give up, oh we will gladly provide them. It's a hobby of ours, really.



Go ahead, try to get us to stop. We won't.



There are too many of us, and this is simply too much fun.



We won't stop until you start caring less about what we say, and more about the power of your own work.



Until our words hold no power over you. And likely, until that mirror you look into everyday that speaks our words in your own voice holds no power over you as well.



Who's the WE in this letter?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

Cassa Storm. . .And Then There Are The Small Things

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh




From the Amazon Best Selling Series!




A storm gathers across the galaxy…




Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.




After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.




Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…




What Some Are Saying:




“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse



"Cavanaugh makes world building on the galactic scale look easy. The stakes affect the entire known universe and yet Cavanaugh makes it intensely personal for our hero. The final installment of this series will break your heart and put it back together."

- Charity Bradford, science fantasy author of The Magic Wakes




“With a talent for worldbuilding and a compelling cast of characters, Alex J. Cavanaugh combines high powered space battles and the challenges of family dynamics to provide readers a space opera with heart.”

- Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the Southern Quilting and Myrtle Clover mysteries



A few weeks ago I sent Alex this question: Is there a chance we'll see Bassan as a young scientist, saving the universe, but not like his father did?

Here's his answer:  

I can picture what Bassan would be like as a young adult and could easily write short stories that feature him, but not sure I could pull off another book. Besides, I am content to end this storyline now. Maybe I could hold a fan fiction contest and let readers come up with their own versions of Bassan’s future?




Get your copy today. I read it. I reviewed it. I never review books that I can't applaud. I gave this ****, and I don't give **** easily. 




$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019

$4.99 EBook available in all formats




Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002

Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastorm

Book trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Umm2l0XdHc&feature=youtu.be




Alex J. Cavanaugh -

Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh  

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh




Small Things Hop





Thanks to www.viklit.com!







I'm supposed to be on break, but I'd promised Alex to post about his book, so this is my September EXCEPTION POST. And since it's Friday here's my Small Things Celebration post as well.




My break is a small thing, but it has been very big for me. I managed to list my mom's house with a realtor, set up an estate sale and see that she was in a facility where she could get the best daily therapy. She's improved a lot with the care she's getting. So my celebration has everything to do with all of that. 




Then, in the middle of all this. . . well, I'll keep that for when I return to blogging in October! 




In the meantime, here's that infamous Linky List. Go see what others are celebrating.






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

Dump Those Insecurities. Write That Book.

Thank to ALEX CAVANAUGH

Studies show that physical actions and positions can determine success and failure.  If you see successful people you often see them with open faced expressions, not those pinched ones of someone who's worried they're not doing the right thing, the right way. Or you see them standing tall and poised for action. They're not hunched over, biting their bottom lip.




On those Insecure Days, (the ones I'd rather not have) I do six things. 



STOP in place. 

STAND TALL, SMILE and STRETCH out my arms with palms OPEN.

and SAY "Yes."




Once I do that, how can I be Insecure anymore? I've just said YES to the universe. It does make a difference and it's so much easier to get on with the business of writing a good book.




********








CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LOOOOONG LINKY LIST












This month I'm taking a break, so if I don't get back to you right away, it's because 

1) I'm sleeping. 2) I'm writing 3) I've found that beach and am wriggling my toes in warm sand,

OR

 4) And this is the more likely scenario. . . I'm trying to sort out my life. 

I'll check in with you more regularly when I return in October! 








What do you do when Insecurity strikes?  Do you have any quotes to inspire? Share, please. 

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

Sometimes You Must Wait for Just The Right Small Thing to Celebrate

HERE'S WHERE TO JOIN



As some of you know I've not had the best year. It has to do with the fact that I'm a Tiger and this is the year of the Black Water Snake. Very bad for Tigers. Of course, I don't believe in such superstitious clap-trap, but here's a short list of my 2013.












January 
Mom's caretaker has heart attack at age 40.

I move Mom to assisted living facility until I can find replacement caretaker.


February
Mom falls, fractures her neck.

Mom needs more care. Cost astronomical--much more in home than in assisted living facility.

Mom stays in assisted living, but not happily. (Read between the comma.)


March
Must sell house.

Can't sell house until renter leaves.


April
Renter makes all kinds of excuses about why he can't leave.



Me in April

May

Start eviction proceedings.



Me in May


June
Renter promises to leave.



Me in June


July
Renter promises to leave.



Me in July




August. 
Renter leaves. (Here's where the celebrating begins.)






September
Taking a break while I get the house on the market. I've scheduled my INSECURE WRITER POST, so that will be the only post I'll make in September.  I'll be back in October, but will try to pop into your blogs to say hi and keep up with what you're doing.  I'm addicted to all of you, you see.


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

A Writer's Legacy, L.K. Madigan Remembered

In my first critique group, I met a writer named L.K. (Lisa) Madigan. Right away I knew she had something special to offer and I looked forward to reading her submissions. When she started a separate group and invited me to join, I jumped at the chance. All the writers she asked to join were discerning readers and excellent writers.



Her first book, Flash Burnout, came out in 2009, the same year my first book was published, so we were doubly excited. We'd published, and our critique partner had published, too. For her debut novel Lisa won the William C. Morris YA Debut Award!



AMAZON



Then Lisa announced some terrible news. She had a terminal cancer. Over the following months she posted about her end of life journey and don't remember ever feeling a loss of friend as keenly as I did the loss of Lisa. In a short time and over some distance we'd become close, and I know it was because we shared so much by discussing our stories.  Her contributions to my first two books improved them a lot.



AMAZON





She left another book and that has recently been published as an ebook. I haven't read this one yet, but if it's half a good as her first two, it's worth the read. I look forward to spending more time inside on of her stories.



AMAZON


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

How to Celebrate Small Things in Your Next Book

My grandmother always said, "The Devil's in the details." Details = SMALL THINGS, like dates and times and names spelling correctly. The T's you must cross.



I didn't really understand what she meant until later when I had a job that was filled with nothing but those SMALL THINGS. If I messed up--didn't hit a deadline or didn't schedule something when I was supposed to--I met the Devil and he wasn't pretty.







Fortunately, that job is gone, but another one, one that has just as many SMALL THINGS is now mine.














I'm what people call a WRITER. 



One thing I've learned (the hard way, of course) is that details not only have the Devil in them, they have the spark that can give a story some zing. (Did you notice this clever segue?) See what you think of these passages and their details.



* Here are some excellent details about how one character views another.



 I like your looks. You’re tall, your face isn’t exactly handsome, but it’s better than that. It’s interesting. I like that small sexy scar on your chin. I like the way your lips move when you smile, the expressions in your eyes, as if you feel a lot of things you don’t talk about. [Rock 'n Roll Suicide, West]



* Sometimes it's only a single word that snaps the picture into focus. Here's an example of that from the obscure book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabzn.



". . .and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags." [Rowling]



*This one makes me hungry all the time I'm learning to care about the character and what her life will turn out to be.



From a street vendor, Rasheed bought her ice cream. It was the first time she'd eaten ice cream and Mariam had never imagined that such tricks could be played on the palate. She devoured the entire bowl, the crushed-pistachio topping, the tiny rice noodles at the bottom. She marveled at the bewitching texture, the lapping sweetness of it. [A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini]



Do you have any favorite passages that sparkle because of some word or phrase, just the right detail to bring that character or that setting to life?







HERE'S WHERE TO JOIN VIKLIT'S HOP



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

#Writers4Writers W4WS

WRITERS4WRITERS, the super brainchild of STEPHEN TREMP, is here again. I'm lucky enough to be a featured author for August.  Here's how you can participate:











1. Be sure to visit WRITERS4WRITERS Facebook page. Click the LIKE button if you haven't already. Leave a comment, and, if you want, share one of the posts below. 



Kirkus Reviews says Alligators Overhead is a "swampy middle-grade story full of humor, hauntings, quirky characters and a mystery that continues to develop to the very end." http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57



Kirkus Reviews says, "The folksy diction and lyrical, verb-heavy storytelling will leave readers turning the pages all the way to the end, where big surprises await and the real villains are revealed." http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57



Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors. . . unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57












2. Twitter away! Here are some Tweets to make that easy for you. Just copy and paste.


KirkusReviews says Alligators Overhead non-stop adventure. http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57 #BookWorm #MGLit #KidLitChat #yalitchat 






KirkusReviews: Alligators Overhead "swampy middle-grade story full of humor & quirky characters."http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57 #MGLit #KidLitChat 



KirkusReviews: AlligatorsOverhead "a mystery that continues to the end." http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57 #BookWorm #MGLit #KidLitChat 



ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD takes you on one great swampy adventure. http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57  #MGLit #KidLitChat  #Kindle #library



Witches, alligators and spooky mansions: ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD. http://tinyurl.com/k85hz57 #BookWorm #MGLit #KidLitChat  #library


Please don't forget to add your own favorite hashtags to help spread the word. 



3. You can also go to #W4WS on your Tweetdeck and Retweet other Tweets. 



Thanks to all you wonderful blogger people. Sunflowers 4U! Don't miss Carrie Butlers page today either. She's gone Indie and is making a splash!













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

Small Things Celebration & Heads Up on W4WS

VIKLIT SPONSORED





Small things I Live to Enjoy 

One really good walk with a friend.

One kiss from someone I love.

One fresh strawberry just picked.

One super scene I've written and know is exactly the way I want it.

Oh, and a toothpick. I love that, especially after a Mosquito Sandwich ( You had to read my last post to get this one.)





THANKS STEPHEN TREMP





Hope you'll join in on Monday for the W4WS event. CARRIE BUTLER and I are up for the featured writers and would love your support. 





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

The Anti-Blog Hop, Hop & A Special Giveaway from S.R. Johannes

MR. ANTI, BUT NOT REALLY.



I've been known to HOP on any HOP that comes along. After all why not? I have nothing else to do. Just like other writers I spend a lot of time doing my nails, eating bonbons and napping in a hammock.  However, there are some HOPS that I would not be interested in. Here are three.











The Mosquito Sandwich Blog Hop. . .where everybody loses weight, but is itchy.










The Chat and Cat Blog Hop. . .in which the cat gets all the good lines and gloats.














The Close But Not Quite Blog Hop. . .in which an agent writes, "I loved your story, but. . ."

This totally insane, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT HOP, HOP is brought to you by





MARK KOOPERMAN



CAPTAIN ALEX J. CAVANAUGH 



ROCKIN' ROBYN ENGEL



"LIFE IS GOOD" TINA



Here's where you can find the LINKY with the other anti-HOPPERS. While they're lounging in those hammocks they would appreciate your stopping in to say hi!


*********




S.R.JOHANNES HAS SOMETHING FOR U. WANT TO SEE?

SORRY YOU CAN'T.

IT'S

 UNTRACEABLE.







HOWEVER, SHELLI IS NOT UNTRACEABLE. SO YOU CAN VISIT HER HERE. AND YOU CAN JOIN HER STREET TEAM. I DID BECAUSE SHE'S AN EXCELLENT WRITER. FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENIN'

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