C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 97

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Author Kurtis Scaletta

I fell in love with MUDVILLE. It was quirky, warmhearted, and filled with brilliant moments between a father and his son. I was really pleased when KURTIS SCALETTA said he'd visit my blog and tell us more about himself and his next book. Welcome Kurtis and be sure to check out his contest below.



MUDVILLE



Mudville is about a small town where it's been raining for 22 years, suspending a game between two rival towns indefinitely. The hero is Roy, a good kid who loves baseball but hasn't been...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Author Me

I'm not supposed to be here this week, but one of my debut people had to postpone and I didn't want to contact all the rest to reschedule, so since I'm still technically a debut novelist I thought I'd pop in and take this slot. Besides I had some business to take care of, so here's the business first and ABOUT DEBUT ME next.



First, Carla Mooney has announced the winner of a signed copy of Owen and His Dragon. Sooooo, Julie Musil contact Carla through her website and give her your mailing add...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Author Carla Mooney

[image error] I'm such a sucker for dragons, and CARLA MOONEY has certainly given us one super dragon, hasn't she?



Carla is the author of more than 20 books for kids and teens, but  OWEN AND THE DRAGON is her first fiction trade book and, therefore, officially her debut book.



The books she's written for the educational market include: AMAZING AFRICA PROJECTS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF, and the upcoming SAMSON"S STORY (Fall 2010) AND GREAT GEORGE WASHINGTON PROJECTS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF (November 2010). As...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Author Mindi Scott

Isn't this an eye-catching cover? And here's Mindi Scott our Debut author of the week. She's offering some super swag for the best comment, so be sure to check out her contest below.



Welcome, Mindi and tell us about your novel, FREEFALL.

How do you come back from the point of no return?



Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed o...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Author Naheed Hasnet

I could hardly wait for NAHEED HASNET to be here. Her book sounds fabulous and when I read her bio I knew you'd find her incredibly interesting. (Be sure to check out her advice and the contest below.)



Welcome, Naheed. It's great to finally learn more about you and your debut novel  SHOOTING KABUL, which I can't wait to read.



Here's a bit about our featured debut novelist.



N.H. Senzai grew up speaking two languages, balancing a life lived on the edge of two cultures. She got on a plane for...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Writer Susan Kaye Quinn

Susan and I met over at YALitChat and have been sharing some emails and discussions. Her book caught my attention and her debutness qualified her for this series. Check out how to win her book below.

I'm really pleased you agreed to come and let my readers find out about you and your book. So, Susan, tell us about you. 

I grew up in California, where I wrote snippets of stories and passed them to my friends during class. My teachers pretended not to notice and only confiscated my stories...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Author Heidi Kling

It's great to have you here, Heidi. I enjoyed meeting you at your book signing earlier this month and I loved your book.









So let's find out who this author is.



Heidi R. Kling likes people, stories and blue things, necessarily in that order. A native Californian, she relocated briefly to NYC where she earned her MFA in Writing for Children from the New School. Heidi resides with her family in Northern California just over the coastal mountains from the sea, where she alternately wears flip...

On Being Published, The Process

After Sarah-Jane Lehoux stopped by last week to tell us about her debut novel THIEF, she offered to return and share what she'd learned in the process of going from unpublished to published.







A Writer's Life for Me





Writing has always been a part of my life. I have always been an introvert, and have felt more like an observer rather than a participant in life. Creating stories was a way for me to gain control, a way to make sense of the world, to communicate with others when I was ...

It's Summer. Let's Read with Debut Writer Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Having been a DEBUT writer just last year, I have a soft spot in my heart for anyone going through this process. When SARAH-JANE LEHOUX popped the questions about appearing on The Write Game I immediately said, "Absolutely. I'd love it." So let me introduce Sarah-Jane My first, It's Summer. Let's Read guest, and her debut novel THIEF. (Be sure to check out her CONTEST below.)



ABOUT SARAH-JANE:



Sarah-Jane Lehoux has always had a passion for storytelling. From grade school tales of cannibalis...

It's Summer. Let's Read

Starting June 25 and for the next few weeks I'm going to be interviewing debut authors. I think this is a perfect time to let everyone know about some great summer reads, so check out The Write Game when I kick off "It's Summer. Let's Read.



I'm hoping some of the authors will be offering advice for the pre- or newly published authors that visit. I know some plan to give away a signed copy or two of their books to make your summer reading even more enjoyable.



If you are a debut author or kno...