C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 68

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Alex Cavanaugh, Misha Gericke and Joylene Nowell Butler



Once there was a writer who woke to find that she had no more stories in her head. Imagine the feeling of suddenly not having characters stomping around, demanding to be described, demanding to be given dialog, demanding their "story" be set down. The horror of it all made this author sink into an insecure despair unlike anything she'd every experienced.



As she sulked and cried and then hid behind her desk, a small voice called to her--actually it was a radio talk show host, and he was telling about a profoundly wise recluse who had recently reached out to the world from his mountain retreat, beckoning all insecure writers to him. He claimed to have the cure for their malady.



Off she went, laptop under her arm, so she could take notes. Perhaps this sage would end her terrible story drought. She climbed and climbed the narrow, winding path to his door. When she knocked, the door swung open into an empty room. Where had the sage gone?



She stepped inside, calling, but there was no answer. On the single table in the room she spied a small piece of paper. Trembling with the fear that he had left without imparting the knowledge she craved, she picked up the paper and read.



"Get over it. And while you're here, this place could use some dusting."



Hope you'll visit some of the others who are in this Group. The list is long and varied. I won't be posting tomorrow due to some serious over-booking. See you next 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

Monday Miscellany

Some Publishing Tidbits







Over 1,000 books are published in the U.S. everyday. 


Grub Street Reads was established Jessica Bennett and Leslie Ramey who are Indie authors. They have set out to create a high standard for independently published books. Their seal says your book gets an A.


If you write Middle Grade stories, have you considered a mystery-thriller? It seems there's a lack of those and publishers would like a few.


Here are the 2013 Edgar Nominees for Best Juvenile mysteries.






Some New Books on the Way
Stay tuned for Lisa Gail Green's cover reveal coming on March 11.

New book out by Anna Silver, and she'll visit The Write Game on March 14.




A Touch of Humor to Kick Start the Week









Hope your week is off and running in the right direction. Any new books on your TBR list? You have at least 1,000 to choose from each day. How about some publishing tidbits you'd like to share?








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 Are Hopping

Scribblings of An Aspiring Author












The beauty in the smallest things is that you must stop and linger  for a moment or miss their importance.








Haiku is a small sampling of the universe. 




Ever lingering 

in the taste of the walnut: 

deep autumn. 




James. W. Hackett 









Join us in this small Hop. Sample. Enjoy.





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

Whatcha Reading? Her Grammarness Has a Sense of Humor . . .Kind Of

Whatcha Reading?


I've just finished May This Be the Best Year of Your Life by Bornstein and Blindsided by Kyra Lynnon, and my reviews are up HERE.





I won Keeper of the Lost City from The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow and so now I'm off on a wild adventure fantasy, written for middle grade readers.



I love that I can read anything and find something of value in all of them. So . . .whatcha reading?




_______________




Her Grammarness






I'm a huge fan of Richard Lederer, and I've kept many of his articles I've read over the years because they made me laugh. We all know how embarrassing it is to write something, then discover it has grammatical errors. Even Her Grammarness knows how that feels. *Face grows red.*

But here's a fellow who knows how not to embarrass himself. Thanks for sharing this, Mr. Lederer.












A Zoo keeper who lost two of his animals in a fire wrote to a zoological supply company:

Dear Sirs,

Please send me two mongooses.




When he re-read the letter, he thought it didn't sound right, so he tried again.

Dear Sirs,

Please send me two mongeese.




That plural sounded even worse, so he wound up with:

Dear Sirs,

Please send me a mongoose, and while you're at it send me another mongoose.




Do you ever write around a grammar issue that you're not sure of? What are the sticky wickets of standard written English for you?




_______________




Is everyone ready for the A-Z Blogging Challenge? Eeeek! Gotta go. I have a lot to do before April.








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: Neumarian Uprising and Some Other Important Stuff, Too

Neumarian Uprising












We need your help! Thanks to our spy, Ciara Knight, we are able to communicate with you today via blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media.The Neumarian uprising has begun. We are fighting for freedom and equality for all, but we need your help. Ciara informed us that you might want to know more about the uprising and why we ask you to risk your lives for our cause. To answer these questions I’ve agreed to let Ciara tell my sister’s, Raeth’s, story about her captivity. It will be free for you on a site called Amazon until March 1, 2013.







Our spies have told us this will help spread the word and find more recruits for our rebellion against the tyrannical queen. You can help by simply downloading a free copy of  




Weighted, a prequel to the Neumarian Chronicles. If you are intrigued and wish to follow our uprising, Escapement, book I of The Neumarian Chronicles, will be available for only $2.99 until March 1, 2013.






Here is a brief explanation of her telling of our uprising:




Ten years after the great war of 2185 the queen’s reign is threatened by uprisings and fear. In celebration of my sixteenth birthday it is my duty as princess to sacrifice a slave to be initiated into the ruling council, solidifying my mother’s empire. When my own erratic powers surface I’m captured and tried for treason. Slaves hate me, my mother wants me executed, and my only chance of survival rests in the hands of a young man, Ryder Arteres, whose sister I sentenced to death.







If you'd like a peek into our world, please view this short YOU TUBE clip. Then, of course, enter to win your own copy.







Rafflecopter giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway




________________

Now for some Miscellany





I couldn't possibly have Monday Miscellany unless I had something miscellaneous to include along with this major rebellion to report. So here are some fascinating items that I know will improve your day or your mind or something.






Did you know that Lady Gaga had a labral tear in her hip and had to cancel the Born This Way Ball? Ouch.









Did you know that major league baseball didn't come to the Pacific Coast until 1958? Huh? Why are we always last to get stuff?









Did you know that the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican was struck my lightning two times in the hours just after Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation.  Now that's headline news.




That's all folks. Are you off to buy your copy of Escapement? Have any juicy miscellany to share? 




























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

This week's SMALL THING turned out to be rather BIG and in our backyard. Can you see the pussy cat in the tree? She's about 150 pounds, and we later learned she has a guy with her, but when I took her picture he was in another tree. The lesson here is mountain lions can climb very high, so figure out another escape route.




Happy Friday All & thanks to 

Scribblings of An Aspiring Author 

for this fun 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

Monday Miscellany: A Chat With A Demon? How About Something Tamer? Writers4Writers?

Now available at AMAZON


Chat With Naite (Nye-TAY), Demon Guardian.




I don't usually ask to chat with Demons, after all they're not too friendly, but because I like Elizabeth Arroyo, I made an exception this time. Let me introduce her Demon Guardian Naite to you. *A shiver here is appropriate.




Terrified Blogger: Can you give a description of how you look? I mean just in case we run into you at some time and want to say hi. 




Naite: Oh, I'm afraid if you see my true form you'd probably run for the hills. Or wherever you humans run off to when scared out of your wits. Those that have seen my true form are bound to me. You can say it’s love at first sight. But, no, that wouldn't be right, because that person would probably lose their sight. Oh, let's just say I'm everyone and no one. I'm a shadow. A black mist rising from the depth of the earth. If you see anything like that, you give me a holler and we'll have us a great time.




Terrified Blogger: *Gulps water and swipes forehead with delicate lace hankie.*




Have you always been a demon, or did you work your way into the job?




Naite: I was born this way. My father is the second in command of our race. It's good to know someone on the inside. **wink, wink**




Terrified Blogger: *Hastily agrees with several quick nods.*




If you weren't a demon, what would you like to be? I don't suppose accountant is in your career choice mix, right? *Feeble attempt at keeping it light.




Naite: I wouldn't be a babysitter, that's for sure. I've been doing that job for a few thousand years and it's gotten me nowhere. No health care and the pay sucks...totally. I do have a knack for persuading people to do what I want, though it usually involves me slipping into their bodies and that can get nasty. No, I think I'd like to teach Zen Yoga. I need a bit of peace in my life.




Terrified Blogger: *Rolls shoulders back, relieved to hear Naite say the word Zen.*




What's the most exciting part about your job?




Naite: There's never a dull moment while orchestrating the end of the world. But if I have to choose one detail it'd have to be telling un-truths. It's not lying...really. 




Terrified Blogger: Thinks, End of the world?




We humans live with something called regret. You know we make mistakes, then we beat ourselves up about it. Do you ever have regrets about . . . oh say, ripping off heads or things like that?




Naite: Puh-lease. Ripping heads is not my thing. Okay, that's a total lie. It is. But every ripped head had a larger purpose in the grand scheme of things. Humans are just so dramatic. Anyway, regret is a human emotion. I wasn't born human like the other demons who have chosen this line of work. Those third tier demons may have regretted selling their soul, but, oh, well. A deal is a deal. 




Really Terrified Blogger: How many demons do you estimate we have in this world? Do you have any thoughts to share about how to treat demons--just some basic guidelines would be good.

Thinks, Where's the exit?




Naite: Our race has suffered some staff turn-over these past centuries. Something about unhealthy work conditions and unfair treatment have led them to seek opportunities with the angels. Free-will is a killer. 




Some basic guidelines to remember when dealing with demons:



We don't like humans. 
Everyone is at risk.
Tier 1 demons: Avoid the head honcho and his enclave. You can't distinguish them. They have solid human forms and can poof. Yeah, poof. Don't mess with them. If you're on their radar it's way bad. 
Tier 2: That would be me. You should really be afraid of me. I have no solid form and move in and out of anyone I please. You can say I'm a tad spoiled. 
Tier 3: We are hiring, if you're so inclined to sell us your soul. I refer to that kind of demon as the wannabe's. I really, really don't like these. They are humans who have chosen to become demon and have been given certain powers. These demons are soldiers and do our bidding. 
Overall, you should try to avoid us at all cost.


Thank you for hosting me. I have to get back to work doing...well, you'll find out soon enough. 




Terrified Blogger: Now in hiding. And no, I'm not under the bed, so don't look there.






You can find the author HERE.

Vist her BLOG and give her some support on FB,TWITTER



If you want the full effect of Naite, watch the TRAILER ,but be forewarned. This is spooky.




___________________















My Kind of Demon

About DEMONS: They're scary. They started out as angels, and then took on the Big Guy, so he tossed them out of paradise. That made them a tad cranky and, based on these images, kind of ugly. Do you have any favorite demons? Any that scare you more than others? Want to meet Naite in The Second Sign? Want to come hide with me?





To round out this Monday Miscellany, keep an eye out for Writers4Writers today and tomorrow. This month the spotlight's on Gwen Gardner and Melissa Bradley. Want to join in? Here's the Linky.



Host Stephen Tremp








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 Small Things Hop

Hosted by VitLit


Here are a few Small Things that have made my week into a celebration.









I finally held The Crow in Yoga for more than a minute, and I didn't fall on my nose this time.















I wrote two chapters on Dragon Trail, a work that's been in process for far too long.






silaynnestock.deviantart.com 

(I didn't have my camera, but this is darned close to how it looked.)







I woke up early to walk the trail to greet the sunrise. I'm not sure this is a Small Thing. What do you think? Hope you'll visit some of the other writers and read about their Small Things for the 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

Thundering Luv? Cover Reveal & Partay! Her Grammarness Goes On & On

New Books & Book Event


We have to have some LOVE on Valentine's Day, so LM Preston has provided us with her latest book and it's all about that subject.



Cover Reveal Ta da!



Here's the next book in the Luv series by LM Preston. This is a stand alone story, but if you want at taste of this series before you get your copy of Thundering Luv, just pick up a copy of Summer of Luv for $.99 at all ebook retailers.




Thundering Luv--a Short Story-YA Romance: Jewel has always been able to get the guy she wanted. The starting jock on the football team, the team captain on the basketball team, and the lead swimmer on the swim team. Problem is, she didn't find them the least bit exciting. Was she cold or a she-wolf for guys? Colin thought so, and he'd do anything to bring her down a peg or two. When these two collide on the sandy beach during their mixed up summer vacation,  sparks fly, making this a summer neither will forget.




Does this cover look hot, or what?







Release Date: June 1st, 2013

Format: Ebook Only Release, but will be part of a print book in 2014 that includes 3 short YA Summer Romances by LM Preston to include (Flutter Of Luv, Thundering Luv, and Double Trouble Luv)



FREE BOOK1 in the ‘Summer Luv’ series of short stories by LM Preston. Flutter Of Luv, to each person who:




comments within 2 days of the cover reveal
adds this book to their TBR list over at goodreads OR "like" Flutter of Luv at Amazon. (leave your like# in your comment here.












http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bc05448/



You're invited to join in the fun at the   Facebook Release Party : May, 18th, 2013 combined party with LM Preston's 2013 releases.






__________________________

Her Grammarness



The Continuing Saga of The Amateur Writer: We all have to be amateurs at the start, but we don't have to stay that way, do we? However, if amateur status is your goal, here are some things (semantic as well as grammatical) to include in your stories




Body parts that take on a life of their own:


Her hand flew to her mouth. (This is an interesting image. Wonder if she ducked?)
His eyes shot toward her. (Yikes! Incoming.)
The girl's head dropped onto the table. (That would ruin any meal.)






Which: use liberally and be sure it never connects with its noun:


I didn't write the story, which was very tragic. (Tragic that you didn't write the story or did you mean that the story was tragic? Oh dear, we'll never know.)
The aardvark ate the gorilla, which was truly amazing. (An amazing act, indeed for anything, especially the aardvark; however, just what is "truly amazing"--the eating of the gorilla or the gorilla itself?) 

Have you read any of these in WIP's? I have. I think I even found a few in some early writing at the back of my bookshelf. Incinerated now!

















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: Amateur Writers, Cocktail Party Fodder and Pithy Quotes

Amateur Writers





josephomotayo.blogspot.com




I read an article a while back titled, How To Remain An Amateur Writer. Just in case you're aiming for amateur, here are a few tips on how to stay in that category instead of moving into the arena with the pros. I think I've done all of these.




Use as many adverbs a possible to save time.
Come out of flashbacks with something clever like this: "Her thought returned to the present." 
Be sure to impress the reader with your stellar vocabulary.  Inchoate or vitreous should do the job.
Your characters should do a lot of these things: raise their eyebrows, shake their heads and sigh. 





Cocktail Party Fodder



Charles Dickens touched objects three times for good luck. Really? How silly. *touch, touch, touch*
The life span of a taste bud is about 10 days. Will it survive longer if I feed it chocolate?
A large river hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a four-foot child. I'm off to buy some platform heels just in case a hippo drops by.
Alec Guiness is the only actor to receive a best acting nomination of a performance in any of the Star Wars films. That makes total sense.



Pithy Quotes 



ideachampions.com





"If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor." Albert Einstein

"The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking." John Kenneth Galbraith




What are your pointers for remaining an amateur writer? I'm going to a Valentines Day party, so can you give me some more fodder? I suck at "small talk." Any pithy quotes you want to share? Please 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