C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 98

What To Do With Rotting Onions?

When the onions in my vegetable bin started to go soft I either whirled them in my garbage disposal or consigned them to my worm bin for composting.  Then one year when the garbage disposal seized up and my worm bin needed attention, but no more food scraps I simply dug holes in my garden and buried those rotting onions.  Here's what happened in June.



 Some fairly impressive live SCULPTURES, right?





Meanwhile back at the desk, I had this manuscript that had gone a bit soft as well. What I ...

Questions I Could Use Answers For

Okay, it's summer, the temperature is slowly rising, and I'm getting ready to tackle two things: a new book coming out and finishing my third YA novel. So why am I suddenly coming up with random questions? I don't have a clue unless, of course, it's one of my strategies for stalling. Anyway, I do have the questions, so if you can help me out with some answers I'd be ever so grateful.



Question #1: How do you autograph a book on Kindle? I went to a book signing for Heidi Kling (SEA) the other ...

June Inspirations

I thought today I share a few uplifting, inspiring, hopeful things for this June day.



Some lovely TIPS from QueryTracker.net Blog



Some great thoughts about the prairie and keeping in touch with those internal rhythms from SunnyRoomStudio.



And how about this bird with creative nest building talents? I put up my umbrella and when I came into the garden two days later this is what I found. She doesn't seem to mind my sitting under her while she hatches her brood, so I can watch her as she and...

The Princess of Las Pulgas

I got my cover art for The Princess of Las Pulgas and I really love it. The hall of lockers, the girl with her face turned away is perfect.



I'm excited about seeing this work go from manuscript pages to galleys to ARC to book. It's always such a rush when you look back over the years from the time when you first had the idea, then you thrashed through the first, second, third drafts wondering if you really did have a book after all.



Then came those critiques from writers you respect that s...

I Heard A Fly Buzz

Yep, I was waiting for Emily's fly to dive bomb me, but it didn't happen. I slowly but surely crawled back to life, and as I did I returned with great humility and a sincere appreciation for good health.  Here's what I vowed as I stood up after about two weeks of being horizontal:







1) I will never take feeling good for granted again.



2) I will never ignore my body when it says, "Hey, babe, slow down. Take a break. Do not push until you drop.



3) I will never say, "I'm never sick."





4) I w...

Sick

Finally have to throw in the old towel and pull the covers over my head. I may be back.Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09

Paying It Forward

I pulled myself out of my VERY SICK BED (make that) I pulled MY VERY SICK SELF out of my bed today and B. Miller, blogger extraordinaire, made the effort worthwhile.



What a great contest idea she has and what a great opportunity for winning something worthwhile.



Here's the deal:

The grand prize for this giveaway is the winner's choice. EITHER a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble (or Borders, Amazon, etc - whichever you prefer) sent directly to your preferred mail receptacle,OR...

The grand...

I Think, Therefore, I Write

As writers I'm sure you spend a lot of time balancing family, work, and writing. I know I often feel like a high-wire act edging my way across with a balancing bar in hand and praying there's a safety net below.

I was taking a break the other day--no family, no work, no writing-- and I stumbled upon a great article about philosophy. Remember that first-year course in college when you learned about existentialism and then had to figure out how to pronounce it?

I had the idea that if I...

Eric Luper and his Love Manifesto

I love authors. They are almost always thoughtful and thought-provoking, so I like to feature one every so often to give my readers a glimpse of a new book and the person behind it.  Today my guest is ERIC LUPER. His latest book is SETH BAUMGARTNER'S LOVE MANIFESTO. So glad you could come by The Write Game, Eric. Thanks.



Me:Now that you're here I have a few questions. Like, how did you come up with your idea for Seth?



Eric: Most of my books begin in my mind with a premise, or maybe better:...

I Hate to Admit This . . . But

Last month I rambled on about that edgy YA that was so exciting, and then on day 16 it packed its bag and took a vacation. Not to be hindered by fickle characters, I gleefully launched a new project and started turning one of my middle grade novels into a YA. That lasted for several days--8?



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 ha...