C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 62

How Small Things Add Up

VIKLIT's CELEBRATION

It doesn't take much to make small things into something to celebrate. Here are some small things I'm celebrating today!



A few years ago I planted grapes, so they'd shade the pond in summer. Actually, the fish put in a request. So now I get fresh grape leaves for my dolmas and lots of grapes. After eating all we can, what then? Here's the story in pictures.





ON THE VINE





IN THE BASKET



IN THE JAR



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

Insecure Writers: Try, Try, Try, Then Succeed!

THANKS MR. NINJA ALEX





This post comes with a warning. It has Lady GaGa being. . .well, being Lady GaGa. However, I love her song and it speaks to everyone.



When she says, "Thanks for believing in me." I think, "No. You should thank yourself for that."



And that's exactly what everyone should do--I'm working on it, okay?--We must believe in ourselves or others will not. We must always TRY. TRY. TRY.



Here's my Insecure Writers' contribution for August. I'm not here. I scheduled this last month. I'm off TRYING. I hope you enjoy and I'll be around to everyone once I return.







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

Monday Miscellany Featuring Nancy LaRonda Johnson & How to Make Your Social Media Work Harder for You

Salted With Fire: 

Nancy LaRonda Johnson says,


Black magic, murder, insanity, humor, honor and devotion. Salted With Fire is a journey of flash fiction and poetry that shows my writing transformation from worldly to wanting to please God.










Flash fiction is my passion; poetry is my release. I love creating a complete story, with a beginning, middle and end, with twists, humor, drama, compassion and horror, all under 1000 words. Salted With Fireisn’t just a book of stories and poetry, it is my journey as a writer, from writing only for the mere joy of it regardless of the message, to writing stories that highlight God’s will for people, even if the stories themselves are not religious in nature.












Inside are fifteen flash fiction pieces and twelve poems with full-color pictures, and short Biblical discussions after each story.




Enter to win your copy of SALTED WITH FIRE!




http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/64c1680/



AMAZON and SMASHWORDS






And here's Nancy's first book. And be sure to visit her at her WEBPAGE.





AMAZON and SMASHWORDS









How to Make Twitter More Effective--If That's Possible




Promoting your books and having them noticed is a hard job when you're in a sea of writers doing it too. But there are some things you can do to make that job a bit easier and more effective. Let's tackle that wonderous 140 character beastie, Twitter.




1) Give your Twitter page some "bling." By that I mean put wallpaper up for your background. Use any image that expresses your brand.



2) Find some people to follow that are recognized in the business. If they use hashtags, you should use the ones they use.



3) I've posted this before, but maybe it's worth repeating. Clean up your Twitter Follower list once in a while. If people aren't following you, it's better to unfollow and find new people who are interested in what you have to say in those 140 characters. Here's the LINK to that clean-up site.



4) I'm scheduling my Tweets now, so I can plan a few days ahead for what I want to put out about my blog or my events. It's easy to schedule 2 in the morning and 2 in the late afternoon. The one problem: I have to reload the Tweedeck page a lot. For some reason the scheduling drop down freezes on me. If you know why that happens, let us know.



5) Keep your Tweets short so it's easy for others to RT and lose some of your message.



Here's someone who knows more about this than I do ( or care to).



THE LONELIEST PLANET



Is Twitter worth the effort? Any data that says it helps you become more visible to the world of readers? Have you entered to win Nancy's 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

It's Friday. It's Time to Celebrate Again!

Celebrating Small Things




Thanks to VIKLIT

I'm celebrating my AWARD from BISH DENHAM and  SUZANNE FURNESS. Now I'm passing it on to others in the SISTERHOOD. Ready?









MERE JOYCE 

She's a Librarian and all Librarians deserve awards.



LEXA 

She's an all around good gal who makes me laugh a lot.




S.R. JOHANNES 

She always writes such thoughtful posts.




P.K. HERZO 

A great person to share the blogosphere with.




THERESA MILSTEIN 

She's such a dedicated writer and blogger. 




ANGELA BROWN 

She always makes smile when I see her picture. She's enjoying everything.




 
OLD KITTY

Well, really this goes to Gumdrop, too, but Old Kitty won't mind sharing. 




NUTSCHELL 

She amazes me with all her events!





CYNTHIA CHAPMAN

She doesn't complain and she doesn't give up.



LAURA ENO


She's just snarky enough to be fun and generous enough to be a good blogging friend.



Don't forget to visit other bloggers who are CELEBRATING SMALL THINGS





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

Featuring Bassan From Cassa Storm &The Write Club

Visit Alex Cavanaugh's Great Blog.






I always love to hear what kids have to say about their lives and the world they live in, so I'm really excited about having Bassan, Byron's young son, here today.




Hi Bassan. I've read CassaStorm and feel as if I've visited Tgren. Can you tell everyone what your home planet is like, so they can understand where you live?




Good day, Lee. A lot of Tgren is desert, although there are areas of vast lakes and grassy plains. Where I live, there’s a lot scrub brush, except near the river. We grow most of our crops near the river. Our buildings are made of stone and clay, with lots of windows to catch the breeze. Of course, I live on the Cassan base with my parents, and all the buildings are of Cassan design. Still really dusty though. Makes me sneeze sometimes.




Nice to know that even in the future Kleenex is a necessity. :-) 



You have a wonderful mom. What's she like?




Mother is wonderful! She always makes time for me and we play games and stuff. She almost never gets mad, either. Of course, I don’t want to make her mad. Sometimes I worry when she and my father are flying. I don’t want to lose them.




They have a lot of responsibility for your planet's safety. I can see why you worry. 






I know you've had some problems with other kids because you're half Tgren and half Cassan. Tell us what's it's like being different from the others.




Most days it’s no fun. I attend classes with the other Cassan children and sometimes they call me a half-breed. My best friend Drent is half Tgren, but no one messes with him. Wish I was tough enough to stand up to the bullies.




Some things like bullies and intolerance never change. I'd hoped those kinds of things would be long gone from our galaxies. Guess not. 






Your dad's famous. What's it like being the son of a famous Cosbolt pilot?




It’s really awesome what he did during the Vindicarn War, but it makes me feel awkward. I’ll never do anything as great as that. I don’t even like to fly.




We all have our place in our worlds. I'm sure you'll find yours.



What do you want to be when you're grown up?




I want to work on the alien ship that’s buried in mountains next to our city. It carried my ancestors to Tgren! I want to know more about the ship and those people.




 See? When you grow up I'll bet you'll be a great scientist and make amazing discoveries for all the inhabitants of these worlds.




Is there anything you’d like to change about your life?




I wish I could fit in better. I wish people respected me like they respect my father. I’m not even sure he likes me that much.




That's hard, but when I met your father in the book he seemed like someone who had deep feelings for his friends and family. He just didn't show them very much. 



If you could send a message back to a planet called Earth, say about 2013 or so, what would you tell them about your time?




They need to be prepared, because they aren’t the only ones out there. And not everyone is nice, either.




I'm passing this along. It's a great heads up for this century.




Thanks so much for coming here today, Bassan. It has been very interesting to talk with a young representative from the future. You're amazing!









********




Book three, Cassa Storm, finds Byron facing a galaxy-wide war that could end life on all of the planets. In this stage of his life, Byron has more to fight for than ever--his mate, Athee and his son, Bassan. Facing his greatest challenge, Byron must convince the diverse and warring races to sign a peace agreement if he's to save his world and his family. However, the the final step in securing peace will put him and his son in terrible danger.

I liked how the racial conflicts propelled much of the plot in this story, driving home a message that's relevant to our own world and giving the book an interesting texture.

At the center of the family theme, is the coming together of father and son. Byron learns of his son's isolation as a mixed race child and Bassan learns of his father's love and belief in him.  READ MORE




CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars









View all my reviews








********




Have you voted for your favorite entry in the WRITE CLUB? It's hard to choose, but very interesting to read the entries this year. 















I'll be celebrating some small things on Friday! Hope you'll join me and the others in this Celebration.








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 You Can Celebrate Small Things and Raise Your Amazon Rankings

Thanks to Scribblings of An Aspiring Author

I'm celebrating Getting Reviews as one way to improve your sales and your ranking.



Have you tried STORY CARTEL to ask for reviews?  I just put ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD up on their site. The basic listing is free with an option to pay for more book exposure in their newsletter. You give reviewers a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. I added a chance to win 3 $10 Amazon gift certificates, but you can also add an autographed copy of your book. I'll let you know how or if this works.



Another way to boost your Amazon number is through short stories, small stories with BIG meaning burrowed inside. I think they're harder for me to write than novels because I have to pack a lot in and do it in a small space. Most of the short stories I celebrate are those that require me to interpret, not escape. If I'm lucky I can have a bit of both. And those with a bit of both are the kind I try to write. It has been a challenge, but I've managed to publish two short stories, and I hope I've succeeded in tantalizing the readers' interpretive talents and also let them escape if only for a while.













When I contributed Premeditated Cat to the anthology of short stories, The First Time, I did it because I wanted to see if I could write to a deadline and a theme that someone else set out.







When I contributed Into The Sea of Dew to Two and Twenty Dark Tales, I did it because I wanted to see if I could write a retelling.



I discovered that I could accomplish all of that. Whew! What I didn't discover until later was that I could boost my Author Ranking on Amazon by being included in these anthologies.



If you check your profile on Amazon Authors Central, you should see the list of your books. Be sure all of them are included. Don't forgot those anthologies with your stories. Amazon ranks you in different categories. Some of these you might not even write in, but if you're in an anthology that's included in this category, you will be, too.



Now that's a reason to celebrate, isn't it?



Here's the list of others who are celebrating the SMALL things this week. Stop by. Say hi!






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 A Few Tricks Can Keep the Momentum Going on That New WIP

Strategy Part II: Continuing from PART I


When I'm trying to get started and I'm a little scared that I might not be able to keep the momentum going I resort to a few tricks.



Sometimes I write against my usual habits. So, for me, that would be to do absolutely NO description. I try to put everything into dialog or action.  Or I work at nailing the emotional moment with internal thought or an expressed desire. Sometimes this strategy stretches my brain out and makes me see possibilities I hadn't before.








In Sliding on the Edge I'd written all kinds notes about my MC's lifestyle: her crummy apartment, the seedy part of town she lived in--tons of description. I loved it all, but I couldn't think of starting my book with any of it. 



Then I wrote two words. They expressed her internal fear. Not one bit of description. Amazingly enough this is how the book began. Something's wrong. 











Another little trick I play on myself is to write what the character wants more than anything else. 



Here's a start to one of my young adult WIP's. I'm still fiddling with this, but I'm getting closer to where I think this book should start.






After the hanging, Catherine made one vow. She’d clear Pa’s name. She’d have him buried in sanctified ground. Until she’d done both of those things, she’d not rest. And she didn’t. Then Jonah arrived, but over a hundred years too late.







Action, especially if I can combine character, helps me with my starting point, too. Here's how I've decided to begin the sequel to Alligators Overhead, my first middle grade novel.






Pete rolled his bike across the porch and down the ramp, slow and quiet. Once he got to the sidewalk, he straddled the seat and shot off to Weasel’s. After being grounded for almost a week Pete needed a Weasel fix. Mostly he needed to tell him about the mess he was in and get him to figure out how to read the mysterious note. That note might be exactly what he needed to get out of trouble.


Any tricks up your writerly sleeves? I'm always looking for more ideas. Actually, I need all the help I can get. :-)







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

Celebrate the Small Things, Especially Your Puddings

Thanks to VikLit for this Challenge





Some of you will remember this post from the AtoZ CHALLENGE this year.







And you may remember Hilary's post on her blog POSITIVE LETTERS-INSPIRATIONAL STORIES about Pond Pudding, a 199 year old recipe that set me off to experiment with creating this frothy concoction.



Well my first attempt was a success and I shared the pudding with some friends which led to the question of how high should you go to make this pudding the best frothy delight ever. And now we have the results of the highly scientific experiment that came from that discussion. (wine was involved)




The First Pond Pudding: 4 1/2' from top of stool to spout


The Stool #1












The Second Pond Pudding: 6' from top of ladder to spout





The Ladder #2





The Scientist Carefully Measuring Attempt #2


The Third Pond Pudding: 13' from top deck to lower deck







Intrepid Scientist with Teapot


Results: 
#1 Very Frothy. Very Tasty. Spatters: Minor, but sticky.

#2 Very, Very Frothy. Very Tasty. Spatters: Needed hose to clean deck.

#3 Extremely Frothy. Very Tasty. Spatters: Amazing. Needed power washer to clean deck.




Conclusion: 
1. Forget #2 and #3. You get the same taste, just different froth from 4 1/2' than you do from 6' and 13' and clean-up is easier.



2. Drink less wine with friends while discussing Pond Pudding.



Celebrating SMALL THINGS today? These people on the Linky are, so stop by and see what they're 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

How To Start Writing That Next Book and Not Lose The Excitement

Getting Started 

on your next story is always exciting, but sometimes it can be frustrating. If you're anything like me, you dither a bit about how to start. My mind blurs with questions about just what I can write to capture the readers' attention and make them want to continue into my story.







Should I launch right into the scene where we meet the young boy in Afghanistan? He's a main character. His journey is central to the plot.

















Or should I start back in the idyllic setting where another main character has a rose garden and dreams of his first trip to Afghanistan where he will be a teacher?














No. No. Let's go to that other MC--the one the rose garden guy will meet on his journey--the one who has only football on his mind when he meets and falls in love with a girl who's a USAID worker heading to Afghanistan.













But there's the romance!  I should start here because this is inciting incident, right? This is where Francesca breaks up with Enrico because he's so selfish. She's girl on the rebound when she meets that football guy . . . .













By now my head's in a twist. If I'm not careful I could wind up dumping the whole concept and going for hike. I've done that. But wait! I can start. I just have to have a strategy. Here's some of mine.




Strategy Part 1


First I take a few deep breaths to untwist my synapses; then I choose one of the story elements that excites me: maybe it's the interaction with another character or the environment. I might write about how a character in this element looks or acts. I might write a few lines of dialogue to "hear" the voice.


I might even write a single scene and not even think about where I'll finally use that scene in the story. All I care about is Getting Started.


I love to write description--you know the stuff you have to cut and cut and finally dump all together--so I do that. I've been known to write pages and pages of nothing but setting. Other times I go on and on about the character's childhood. I know I won't see that in the story, but I'm creeping up on my starting place. I'm finding out  more and more about the characters, where they live, how they interact with others, what makes them tick. These are my messy pages. Really messy.








The best part is after I know where I want to start, I don't have to come up with those perfect opening lines just yet. The killer lines will come. They'll fit the story in tone and engagement because they will have grown from the heart of the story.


Do you have a strategy for when you're stuck with Getting Started? Share, please. I have some more ideas and I'll post those next Monday. If I find other techniques for getting over this blank page problem, I'll put them in as well. I'll probably need them in the future.




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 Hop and Hop and Hop!

Thanks to Scribblings of An Aspiring Author





It's Friday again. It's time to CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS that aren't really small at all. They're the things that make up our lives, minute by minute. They're the things that make us smile or pause as we rush into the big things just ahead. They're the things that, if we aren't careful, slip past and are lost to us. Too late. Gone! I missed the moment. I missed my chance to CELEBRATE.



So this week I didn't miss them. Here they are.
























My SMALL THINGS This Week.


A visit from one of my favorite creatures. Annie came to show me her new outfit.











I tweeted and posted on fb about SK Anthony's beautiful COVER REVEAL. It's great isn't it?








GOODREADS*FACEBOOK*TWITTER*WEBSITE




I tested my theory about HILARY'S SPLENDID POND PUDDING. I'll be posting the results soon.











My First Pond Pudding Event During the AtoZ CHALLENGE 2013

Double drat about the toes!


















Be sure to share your SMALL THINGS and visit the others in this CELEBRATION!









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