Sydney Salter's Blog, page 26

Breaking Up with Shari Maurer

Please welcome Shari Maurer, debut author of Change of Heart. Leave a comment about her breakup story, and you may win a copy of her book! Here's Shari:

When I was eighteen, I was up at sleepaway camp, thrilled to be together with my boyfriend after spending most of the school year in different states. We had waited all year for camp and were enjoying our summer.

Until he tore his meniscus, cartilage in his knee, and needed to go home for surgery. A misplaced soccer kick had ruined all of...

Contest Winner!

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Kimberly B. was chosen at www.random.org to win a copy of Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready!

Summer WIP: 12,034 words

This week I managed to sneak away to various cafes to add another 4,000 words to my story. I also did a bit of rewriting, something I usually don't do while working on a first draft, but since I'm not working on a deadline or trying to earn a NaNoWriMo certificate, I figured I had the luxury of taking my time.
Here's this weeks' vlog post (filmed on location):



If you're reading this on Facebook go to www.mybignose.blogspot.com to see the video. Okay, I'm off to start Chapter Six!

Guest Writer: Emily Staley

I met 6th grader Emily Staley during a school visit at North Davis Preparatory Academy. She's very excited to share a bit of her novel with you:
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The Mixer Mystery

…"Get off my shoulders and let me see." He was looking at it, as he jumped off my shoulders.

"It looks like an old journal", Jackie said. "Maybe it says journal on it!"

"Nope."

"Let's look inside the cover, I suggested." It says, Drake 4824 E. 4900 W." "That's where we live."

"He must have lived here too!"

"OK, let's read it."

...

Breaking Up with Jeri Smith-Ready

Today I'm happy to welcome Jeri Smith-Ready, author of Shade. To win your own copy, please leave comment. Here's Jeri's breakup story:

I tried writing several breakup stories, but looking back, most of my relationships make me sound either feeble or evil.

Like my first boyfriend, a high school dropout who shoplifted my birthday gifts, ridiculed my virginity, and eventually wandered off in search of fresh prey. Or Boyfriend #5, who left me for Jesus. Or Boyfriends 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, whom...

Contest Winner!

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Bobbie is the winner of The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride. Yay!!!

Summer WIP: 8,813 words

Writing a new WIP over the summer when school is out can be tricky for me--and I often have to resort to bribery (here's a frappuccino, don't talk to me for an hour), sneakiness (um, yeah, I'll see you guys in a little while *runs to Starbucks*), and working in short bursts (everyone's ignoring me, let's see if I can sneak in a paragraph or two).
To motivate myself, I'll be posting vlogs about my WIP every week. Here's week one:




Okay, I'm off to my writing group! See you next time.

Guest Post: Living and Working in Tanzania

I love learning about the world--and wish I could travel and explore every nook and cranny of our amazing planet. Today Cindy Vine tells us about her experience in Tanzania.

Living and working in Tanzania

"Tanzania?" you might ask with eyes wide open in mock surprise, "Where is that?"

A quick answer would be, "East Africa, below Kenya, above Mozambique, on the Indian Ocean, oh...and we have a rather big mountain."

"Wow, exotic location," you'll drawl languidly.

The thing is, Tanzania...

Breaking Up With Kristina McBride

Today I'm happy to welcome Kristina McBride, author of the debut novel The Tension of Opposites. Leave a comment to win a copy!

10 Essentials to Surviving a Break-Up (according to Kristina McBride, that is):

10. A weekend of mourning where you allow yourself to wallow in snot, tears, and complete misery.

9. A comfy pair of PJ's to shuffle around in during said weekend of mourning.

8. Pounds of chocolate. Pick your poison: M&M's, Hershey Kisses, Hershey Bar. Just eat it.

7. Three...

Contest Winner!

Congratulations!!!!


Cheryl Renee Herbsman is the winner of a copy of Faithful by Janet Fox. Yay!!!