Kimber An's Blog, page 8

I'm Interviewed!

At Ella's Muse

Nayu Reviews SWEET BYTES!

Sweet Bytes at Nayu's Reading Corner

SWEET BYTES Gets Four Stars!

Thank you for the awesome review, Jen!   Sweet Bytes at Jen's Bookshelf

The Difference Between a Love Story and a Romance

I'm talking about it at The Long and Short of It  today.

First Advance-On-Royalties Check!

Woo-hoo!  I got a treat and not a trick this Halloween.  Can't tell you how much it is, because back in nanny school we were taught never to discuss income.  What am I going to spend it on?
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Promo.
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And improvements on my work conditions so that I can write more stories, because I'm prone to Tendonitis.
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Like other home businesses, my income goes right back into it.
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Most new authors are not independently wealthy, yet we're responsible for a lot of the promotional activities.  (Psst, so are most Traditional authors these days, except J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer, of course.  Most authors, regardless, cannot quit their day jobs.  This kind of work is NOT a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme by any stretch of the imagination!)  Yes, there's tons of *free* opportunities out there and a lot where I can 'sing for my supper.'  Like, there's this one mega-site I can write a short, short story for and they either pay me or provide free advertising.  I think that's really innovative.  But, still, there are paid ads I'd like to run where my audience hangs out, like Facebook and Goodreads.  So, now I can do that.  Whereas before, any cash I started out with was already spoken for, to buy milk for my babies who always come first in everything and for always.  Speaking of babies, I need to get off and feed mine, so we're already for the Trick-or-Treaters!

Costumes!

*Kimber An as The Queen and her hubby as Han Solo*
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Don't have one for tonight yet!  Don't fret!  They're easier to throw together than you might think.
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Here's what you do, get thee down to the nearest thrift store with your head full of all your favorite characters from books and movies.  Then, start browsing.  The key is to find a 'foundational item,' like a karate uniform or a plain bridesmaid gown.
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Want to be a Jedi?  Buy that old karate uniform and then run to the grocery store  and buy a bottle of Rit, which is a clothing dye.  If you want to be Obi Wan Kenobi or Mace Windu, it's even easier.  Just brew up a huge pot of *black tea.*  Let your karate uniform soak in that for a good hour.  Make sure it's a tea with a scent you like, because it might stay on the fabric.  I'm not sure a Dark Sith Lord would be too scared of a Jedi who smelled minty-fresh.  Then, accessorize to suit the character.  You'll find boots, belts, and little leather pouch things (cell phone holders, etc...) which attache to belts at the thrifts store.
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Want to be a princess?  Pick out the perfect prom/bridesmaid gown and grab some rhinestones and Tacky Glue.  This is only for one night, so it doesn't need to be perfect.  Tiara's can be made with old necklaces glued to new headbands. 
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You can find everything you need at most thrift stores and the glues and dyes at any grocery store, but if you really want a selection and you've got the time stop by Michael's Craft Store or Joann Fabric & Crafts.  They're the biggies up here in Alaska and there's probably more down in the Lower 48.
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Let your imagination go!  That's the fun of this holiday.  Here are some old posts on costume making at an old retired blog I kept a while ago-
YA SciFi Costumes
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http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp?topnavlink=true
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http://www.michaels.com/
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Have a great night!
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P.S. Here's a Free short, short story of how Bianca and Ophelia handle Halloween-   'Bianca Bags a Vamp'   Their costumes are deceptively easy to make.  http://www.simplicity.com/p-1951-costumes.aspx

Start learning to sew right now and you can make this by yourself in a month and certainly by next year.

A free Short, Short Bianca Story

It can be found here-
'Bianca Bags a Vamp' at Fab ePubs
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or here-
Happy Halloween from Noble YA!

One Step Closer to Home

Fascinating how one good book in early childhood can impact a person's entire life.  Little House In The Big Woods 'Our House'   Crosby, Still, Nash, & Young

Homeward Bound

Sorry, I haven't been consistant with my blogging, but things should be settling down now that Sweet Bytes has been released. 
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We've found a beautiful log home on several acres in the Alaska wilds and are waiting for the numbers to be crunched to see if it will really be ours.  It's everything I've always dreamed of, but didn't dare set my heart on.  There's plenty of room for our children to run wild and to have lots of chickens and finally a dog too.  My husband can have a huge garden to putter around.
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Will keep you posted.
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By the way, I won't be starting to write down Blood, Dark and Sweet, until January 1, 2012.  This is to give my Tendonitis-inflicted hands a rest.  By that date, I'll have my Voice Activated Software and know how to use it too.  Once I get started, it should go fast.  After all, the entire series is already finished in my imagination. 

Cover Art and Symbols

I'm talking about it at Tia Nevitt's today!   She's a blogging book reviewer turned author too.