Jennifer Archer's Blog, page 5
February 15, 2012
The Power of Books
I'm posting today on my group Young Adult blog ADR3NALIN3 about the books I've never forgotten that I read as a child/teen. Please stop by and leave a comment about your own childhood/teen favorites!
January 18, 2012
What Strikes Your Muse?
I'm blogging today at ADR3NALIN3 about what strikes my muse. I hope you'll hop over and leave a comment! Tell me what inspires you.
While you're there, check out the ADR3NALIN3 group blog if you haven't already. A great group of YA authors blogging almost daily over there. I'm in very good company.
While you're there, check out the ADR3NALIN3 group blog if you haven't already. A great group of YA authors blogging almost daily over there. I'm in very good company.
January 8, 2012
What's Old is New Again
I'm excited to report that Samhain Publishing will be re-releasing my romance novel back list soon in ebook format under their new Retro Romance Imprint! First out will be ONCE UPON A DREAM, which was originally published in 2001. This was such a fun book to write. I skimmed through it recently and thought to myself, "Wow, I used to be funny! What happened???" Somehow, my writing has gravitated from humorous to dark. It's true that ONCE UPON A DREAM contains a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor, but it is also emotional. I think that's the consistent element in all of my work -- emotion -- whether the book is a romance, women's mainstream fiction, or young adult.
This is the original cover of ONCE UPON A DREAM. It's funny -- this is the classic historical romance novel "clench," however ONCE UPON A DREAM isn't an historical romance! It's set in 2001. The old West look was used because Alex and Robin, the hero and heroine of the story, share the same dreams which take place during the late 1800's in the Texas Panhandle.
I'm supposed to see the new cover next week! Can't wait to share.
This is the original cover of ONCE UPON A DREAM. It's funny -- this is the classic historical romance novel "clench," however ONCE UPON A DREAM isn't an historical romance! It's set in 2001. The old West look was used because Alex and Robin, the hero and heroine of the story, share the same dreams which take place during the late 1800's in the Texas Panhandle. I'm supposed to see the new cover next week! Can't wait to share.
January 4, 2012
ADR3NALIN3
Happy 2012 everyone! I started off the New Year by joining a great group of authors who write dark YA in a new blog called ADR3NALIN3! I'll be posting every other Wednesday and my first post went up today! I hope you'll check it out here. It's about "vomit" first drafts and finding the writing process that's right for YOU.
Also take a minute to look around the ADR3NALIN3 site at the fantastic authors who, each day, will be sharing their insights with you about books and the writing life. And check out their book covers. Some good stuff here!
So far 2012 is off to a great start for me. How about you? What new thing(s) are you going to do in 2012?
Also take a minute to look around the ADR3NALIN3 site at the fantastic authors who, each day, will be sharing their insights with you about books and the writing life. And check out their book covers. Some good stuff here!
So far 2012 is off to a great start for me. How about you? What new thing(s) are you going to do in 2012?
November 7, 2011
Creative Workshops I'm Planning
To my Amarillo, Texas and Texas Panhandle area peeps: If you have a second, (and an interest in creativity or creative writing), I would appreciate it if you'd read on and answer the 3 brief questions at the bottom. Cut/paste/ and email your answers to me at books@jenniferarcher.com or message me on Facebook. Also, please forward this to anyone you know with an interest in these topics.
Since publishing my first novel thirteen years ago, I've presented workshops, talks, and classes in creativity and creative writing for clubs, organizations, and in the classroom. I enjoy sharing with others what I've learned as a writer, so I'm planning three six-week workshops I'd like to offer in 2012. Your feedback will be extremely helpful to me.
The workshops I'm planning are:
Jumpstarting Your Creativity – This workshop is not only for writers, it's for anyone wanting to live more creatively, take your current creative pursuits to the next level, or rediscover your creative passions, whatever they may be, if you've lost them as an adult.Organic Writing: Unearthing the Story in Your Idea – This will be an intense 6 to 8 week workshop that will meet once a week. Students must already have an idea for a story in order to participate, and the workshop will help you to develop it into a complete story.Writing a Kick-Ass Book Proposal – This workshop is for writers with a completed (or almost completed) novel who are ready to start putting together a proposal to submit to agents and/or editors. We'll cover, step-by-step, writing the Query Letter, Synopsis, and sample chapters of YOUR BOOK, and will discuss studying the market to know where to submit. Fiction only. Please put "Proposed Workshops" in the subject line when emailing your answers to the following questions. Feel free to add your thoughts/comments/suggestions and to ask questions of your own. Thanks!
CHECK ANY CLASSES THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO YOU, AND/OR CHECK 'OTHER' AND LIST A CLASS TOPIC(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED. (a) Jumpstarting Your Creativity____ (b) Organic Writing: Unearthing the Story in Your Idea_____ (c) Writing a Kick-Ass Book Proposal___ (d) Other_______________________________________________________________________
2. DO WEEKDAY MORNINGS____ WEEKDAY AFTERNOONS____EVENINGS DURING THE WEEK____ SATURDAYS___ OR AN ONLINE CLASS____ WORK BEST FOR YOU? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
3. HOW LONG WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE IN "CLASS" ONCE PER WEEK? 1 hr____ 1.5 hrs____ 2 hrs_____
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS/THOUGHTS____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Since publishing my first novel thirteen years ago, I've presented workshops, talks, and classes in creativity and creative writing for clubs, organizations, and in the classroom. I enjoy sharing with others what I've learned as a writer, so I'm planning three six-week workshops I'd like to offer in 2012. Your feedback will be extremely helpful to me.
The workshops I'm planning are:
Jumpstarting Your Creativity – This workshop is not only for writers, it's for anyone wanting to live more creatively, take your current creative pursuits to the next level, or rediscover your creative passions, whatever they may be, if you've lost them as an adult.Organic Writing: Unearthing the Story in Your Idea – This will be an intense 6 to 8 week workshop that will meet once a week. Students must already have an idea for a story in order to participate, and the workshop will help you to develop it into a complete story.Writing a Kick-Ass Book Proposal – This workshop is for writers with a completed (or almost completed) novel who are ready to start putting together a proposal to submit to agents and/or editors. We'll cover, step-by-step, writing the Query Letter, Synopsis, and sample chapters of YOUR BOOK, and will discuss studying the market to know where to submit. Fiction only. Please put "Proposed Workshops" in the subject line when emailing your answers to the following questions. Feel free to add your thoughts/comments/suggestions and to ask questions of your own. Thanks!
CHECK ANY CLASSES THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO YOU, AND/OR CHECK 'OTHER' AND LIST A CLASS TOPIC(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED. (a) Jumpstarting Your Creativity____ (b) Organic Writing: Unearthing the Story in Your Idea_____ (c) Writing a Kick-Ass Book Proposal___ (d) Other_______________________________________________________________________
2. DO WEEKDAY MORNINGS____ WEEKDAY AFTERNOONS____EVENINGS DURING THE WEEK____ SATURDAYS___ OR AN ONLINE CLASS____ WORK BEST FOR YOU? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
3. HOW LONG WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE IN "CLASS" ONCE PER WEEK? 1 hr____ 1.5 hrs____ 2 hrs_____
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS/THOUGHTS____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 18, 2011
TeenShiver
Hey strangers! Long time, no blog, right? Wanted to tell you that I have some new projects in the works. One is a wonderful new group of Texas YA authors I've joined called TeenShiver. Rather than telling you all about the group here, I'd like to invite you to hop on over to our very cool website and blog at teenshiver.com There you'll see all the authors involved, as well as their books. I think you'll find some authors with whom you're familiar within our ranks, as well as some new authors whose books you'll want to explore. My first blog post is up today, so I hope you'll stop by!
As for my other new projects . . . I'll save those for another day.
I hope you're enjoying the Fall weather and getting your pumpkins carved for Halloween!
Happy Reading,
Jennifer
June 3, 2011
Winner of Friday Giveaway: FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan
We have a winner! How did I choose? Randomly. I asked my husband to choose a letter of the alphabet and the first poster with a name beginning with that letter won. He chose 'F' so the winner is....
FloeticFlo!!
Next week I will choose in a different random way, so don't despair if you're one of the last posters.
Floetic Flo, FIRELIGHT will be sent to you soon.
Happy reading!
FloeticFlo!!
Next week I will choose in a different random way, so don't despair if you're one of the last posters.
Floetic Flo, FIRELIGHT will be sent to you soon.
Happy reading!
June 2, 2011
Thursday's Choice: FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan
My choice today for tomorrow's Friday Freebie is an autographed copy of author Sophie Jordan's Firelight. If you want to enter the giveaway and have a chance at winning this fantastic book, leave a comment! Here's what Firelight is about:
From Booklist
Descended from dragons, the draki's ability to appear human protects them from hunters. Jacinda lives with her pride in the Cascades, but she chafes under her special status as the only fire-breather in hundreds of years. Recklessly breaking the "no-fly" rule, she attracts hunters; mercifully, one hunter, a beautiful boy who looks upon her with wonder, lets her escape. After this, the pride intends to hobble her rebelliousness, and Jacinda is forced to flee. But while twin sister Tamra, who never manifested and was shunned, is happy with the move, Jacinda feels only anguish within Nevada's desert climate. Then she meets Will and, despite recognizing him as the same draki hunter, feels herself come alive. Jordan's compelling addition to the supernatural star-crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance, with visceral writing and believable relationships among characters, particularly among Jacinda's family. A foreshadowed twist and a thrilling confrontation in the end pages leave Jacinda heartbroken and in trouble, and readers will howl for more. Grades 8-12. --Krista Hutley
From Booklist
Descended from dragons, the draki's ability to appear human protects them from hunters. Jacinda lives with her pride in the Cascades, but she chafes under her special status as the only fire-breather in hundreds of years. Recklessly breaking the "no-fly" rule, she attracts hunters; mercifully, one hunter, a beautiful boy who looks upon her with wonder, lets her escape. After this, the pride intends to hobble her rebelliousness, and Jacinda is forced to flee. But while twin sister Tamra, who never manifested and was shunned, is happy with the move, Jacinda feels only anguish within Nevada's desert climate. Then she meets Will and, despite recognizing him as the same draki hunter, feels herself come alive. Jordan's compelling addition to the supernatural star-crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance, with visceral writing and believable relationships among characters, particularly among Jacinda's family. A foreshadowed twist and a thrilling confrontation in the end pages leave Jacinda heartbroken and in trouble, and readers will howl for more. Grades 8-12. --Krista Hutley
June 1, 2011
Writing Class Wednesday: Using Sensory Detail -- Scent
By bringing sensory detail into your writing, you can stir emotion in your characters and in your reader, as well. Sensory detail puts the reader more into the mind and body of the character.
First, let's discuss scent. The nose knows.
My grandmother always wore Jergen's lotion. She passed away almost two decades ago, but one whiff of Jergen's lotion and immediately I experience a sense of security, and the love and happiness I felt whenever I spent time with my grandmother. The scent also brings back memories of how it felt to be a carefree child with a long summer stretching ahead of me, because I most often visited my grandparents during the summer. If I was writing a scene in which I wanted to create those emotions and memories in my character and the reader, I might use Jergen's lotion to do so.
Here's a rather simplistic example of how you might use scent in your writing to trigger emotion, and thereby help your readers connect with and relate to your character.
Let's make our character a woman -- a mother. We'll name her Sue. Sue is having problems with her rebellious, angry teenaged daughter, Heather. Heather blames her anger on her belief that her mother doesn't understand her, or even try to. One day, Heather storms out of the house after an argument, and Sue finds her daughter's car in the parking lot of a nearby mall. Late for a meeting and fed up with Heather's constant antics to get attention, Sue goes inside the mall to look for her daughter, and as she passes a perfume counter in a department store, her senses are filled with the scent of White Shoulders cologne. Sue's mother always wore White Shoulders, and the aroma instantly triggers a memory of being in her mom's bedroom when she was a teenager. She'd been trying to convince her mother to let her go away for the weekend with a couple of friends, but her mom was dressing for a party and was too preoccupied to listen to Sue's reasoning. The memory of the frustration she had felt over her mother's distracted refusal to take the time to talk to her, triggers an emotion of sadness in Sue, and suddenly her anger at Heather transforms into understanding and regret.
Most any reader who is or ever was a teenager will relate to these feelings of being ignored or misunderstood. Whether or not the source of the feelings was real or imagined, every teen has experienced frustration with a parent. And so your reader will relate. And every person associates certain scents with situations or people from their past. So they'll relate to Sue's experience when she smells White Shoulders, as well.
Try this exercise: Choose one of the following every day scents that most people have on hand-- vanilla extract, suntan lotion, or furniture polish. Smell the scent you choose then, using paper and pen, describe it without using scent descriptors. For instance: "The pie smelled of sunshine . . . of warmth and innocence and simpler times." (But you can do better than that. ;-) )
First, let's discuss scent. The nose knows.
My grandmother always wore Jergen's lotion. She passed away almost two decades ago, but one whiff of Jergen's lotion and immediately I experience a sense of security, and the love and happiness I felt whenever I spent time with my grandmother. The scent also brings back memories of how it felt to be a carefree child with a long summer stretching ahead of me, because I most often visited my grandparents during the summer. If I was writing a scene in which I wanted to create those emotions and memories in my character and the reader, I might use Jergen's lotion to do so.
Here's a rather simplistic example of how you might use scent in your writing to trigger emotion, and thereby help your readers connect with and relate to your character.
Let's make our character a woman -- a mother. We'll name her Sue. Sue is having problems with her rebellious, angry teenaged daughter, Heather. Heather blames her anger on her belief that her mother doesn't understand her, or even try to. One day, Heather storms out of the house after an argument, and Sue finds her daughter's car in the parking lot of a nearby mall. Late for a meeting and fed up with Heather's constant antics to get attention, Sue goes inside the mall to look for her daughter, and as she passes a perfume counter in a department store, her senses are filled with the scent of White Shoulders cologne. Sue's mother always wore White Shoulders, and the aroma instantly triggers a memory of being in her mom's bedroom when she was a teenager. She'd been trying to convince her mother to let her go away for the weekend with a couple of friends, but her mom was dressing for a party and was too preoccupied to listen to Sue's reasoning. The memory of the frustration she had felt over her mother's distracted refusal to take the time to talk to her, triggers an emotion of sadness in Sue, and suddenly her anger at Heather transforms into understanding and regret.
Most any reader who is or ever was a teenager will relate to these feelings of being ignored or misunderstood. Whether or not the source of the feelings was real or imagined, every teen has experienced frustration with a parent. And so your reader will relate. And every person associates certain scents with situations or people from their past. So they'll relate to Sue's experience when she smells White Shoulders, as well.
Try this exercise: Choose one of the following every day scents that most people have on hand-- vanilla extract, suntan lotion, or furniture polish. Smell the scent you choose then, using paper and pen, describe it without using scent descriptors. For instance: "The pie smelled of sunshine . . . of warmth and innocence and simpler times." (But you can do better than that. ;-) )
May 30, 2011
Let the Battle Begin...!
Cool news! THROUGH HER EYES has been nominated in the 'Fantasy' category in the 2011 Book Genre Battle over at the Most Important Letter Blog! This is a brand spanking new book battle and looks like lots of fun. Go take a look and VOTE if you're so inclined. 
