Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 32
May 17, 2012
Guest Blog with Meira Pentermann - Do You Believe in Ghosts?
Let me introduce, Meira Pentermann, author of Firefly Beach
. She's here today to talk about ghosts. Take it away, Meria!
I love a good ghost story. Eager for spooky details but
armed with a healthy dose of skepticism, I indulge my paranormal cravings
whenever possible. From the televised sounds or images caught by ghost hunting
equipment to a third hand tale of grandma’s apparition in the attic, a good
ghost story can literally give me goose bumps.
After seeing or hearing a particularly convincing tale, the
kind that makes you want to leave the lights on, my mind eventually wanders
into the realm of why? Why are they here?
Certainly not for my late night entertainment. Some ghost enthusiasts say
that a sudden, unexpected death causes a spirit to be confused. Others say a
spirit lingers because he or she has unfinished business. The latter
explanation resonates with me, maybe just because I can’t abide the thought of
a spirit being stuck forever. I need to believe that he or she has the
possibility of finding peace. Still, it seems like many ghost stories live on
through the generations – a particular ghost in one house, decade after decade.
Could so many spirits be stuck for eternity? These eerie places the ghost
hunters love to visit, are they all haunted by sad, trapped souls? Or do our
imaginations take flight because we are eager to hear a good story?
I personally would stay miles away from these haunted
places. In spite of my fascination with the paranormal, I’d much rather hear
the stories from the safety of my own living room. Imagine my surprise when my
husband and I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Maine and stumbled into a possible
haunting. When I told the proprietors of the b&b that I was writing a
paranormal mystery set on the coast of Maine, they became excited and relayed
several spooky tales from bed and breakfasts in the area. Then they casually
mentioned that a few visitors had seen a ghost in the room we had just settled
into.
What?
Allegedly, over a hundred years ago, a girl threw herself
out the window. Our window. I guess
our hosts thought I might be intrigued, but they had no idea what a chicken I
am. Seriously. I left the bathroom light on all night. We never saw anything,
thankfully. If we had I would have awoken the entire household. Three wonderful
breakfasts (and days of exploring the coast of Maine) later, we packed up and
left Maine, my nerves intact.
But I never lost the image of the girl who walked to the
window and jumped. Is she really there? Is she really stuck? And then my mind
goes full circle and I am back to why?
[image error]
When Beth LaMonte rents a cottage on the
coast of Maine,
she wishes only to withdraw and paint. A mysterious ball of light disturbs her
peace and leads her to a secret beach where she finds the diary of a girl who
disappeared in 1975. Now Beth is on a mission, not only to bury her own past,
but to put to rest the spirit of Firefly
Beach.
Author
Bio
On
slow, snowy days in her Colorado
home, Meira Pentermann enjoys cozying up on the couch with a novel. Naturally,
snow is not a requirement; neither is the couch. In fact, she sees no reason
not to indulge in reading three-hundred-and-sixty-five days a year. Apocalyptic
science fiction, mysteries, and young adult titles top her Kindle list, but
legal thrillers and chik-lit make an appearance now and then.
When not absorbed in writing or reading, Meira enjoys life’s little moments
with her family – the love and devotion of her black lab, the quiet wisdom of
her artistic twenty-one-year-old, the trials and triumphs of her petite sixth
grader, and the unlimited encouragement offered by her Dutch husband.
Meira
strives to write stories that deliver the unexpected. She prefers down-to-earth
characters that look and behave like regular folks. The prom queen and Adonis
take a backseat to reclusive, soul-searching heroines and quirky, introverted gentlemen.
Facebook
Twitter
WordPress
Website
Links to Buy
Amazon
Barnes and Noble Nook link
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
. She's here today to talk about ghosts. Take it away, Meria!I love a good ghost story. Eager for spooky details but
armed with a healthy dose of skepticism, I indulge my paranormal cravings
whenever possible. From the televised sounds or images caught by ghost hunting
equipment to a third hand tale of grandma’s apparition in the attic, a good
ghost story can literally give me goose bumps.
After seeing or hearing a particularly convincing tale, the
kind that makes you want to leave the lights on, my mind eventually wanders
into the realm of why? Why are they here?
Certainly not for my late night entertainment. Some ghost enthusiasts say
that a sudden, unexpected death causes a spirit to be confused. Others say a
spirit lingers because he or she has unfinished business. The latter
explanation resonates with me, maybe just because I can’t abide the thought of
a spirit being stuck forever. I need to believe that he or she has the
possibility of finding peace. Still, it seems like many ghost stories live on
through the generations – a particular ghost in one house, decade after decade.
Could so many spirits be stuck for eternity? These eerie places the ghost
hunters love to visit, are they all haunted by sad, trapped souls? Or do our
imaginations take flight because we are eager to hear a good story?
I personally would stay miles away from these haunted
places. In spite of my fascination with the paranormal, I’d much rather hear
the stories from the safety of my own living room. Imagine my surprise when my
husband and I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Maine and stumbled into a possible
haunting. When I told the proprietors of the b&b that I was writing a
paranormal mystery set on the coast of Maine, they became excited and relayed
several spooky tales from bed and breakfasts in the area. Then they casually
mentioned that a few visitors had seen a ghost in the room we had just settled
into.
What?
Allegedly, over a hundred years ago, a girl threw herself
out the window. Our window. I guess
our hosts thought I might be intrigued, but they had no idea what a chicken I
am. Seriously. I left the bathroom light on all night. We never saw anything,
thankfully. If we had I would have awoken the entire household. Three wonderful
breakfasts (and days of exploring the coast of Maine) later, we packed up and
left Maine, my nerves intact.
But I never lost the image of the girl who walked to the
window and jumped. Is she really there? Is she really stuck? And then my mind
goes full circle and I am back to why?
[image error]
When Beth LaMonte rents a cottage on the
coast of Maine,
she wishes only to withdraw and paint. A mysterious ball of light disturbs her
peace and leads her to a secret beach where she finds the diary of a girl who
disappeared in 1975. Now Beth is on a mission, not only to bury her own past,
but to put to rest the spirit of Firefly
Beach.
Author
Bio
On
slow, snowy days in her Colorado
home, Meira Pentermann enjoys cozying up on the couch with a novel. Naturally,
snow is not a requirement; neither is the couch. In fact, she sees no reason
not to indulge in reading three-hundred-and-sixty-five days a year. Apocalyptic
science fiction, mysteries, and young adult titles top her Kindle list, but
legal thrillers and chik-lit make an appearance now and then.
When not absorbed in writing or reading, Meira enjoys life’s little moments
with her family – the love and devotion of her black lab, the quiet wisdom of
her artistic twenty-one-year-old, the trials and triumphs of her petite sixth
grader, and the unlimited encouragement offered by her Dutch husband.
Meira
strives to write stories that deliver the unexpected. She prefers down-to-earth
characters that look and behave like regular folks. The prom queen and Adonis
take a backseat to reclusive, soul-searching heroines and quirky, introverted gentlemen.
WordPress
Website
Links to Buy
Amazon
Barnes and Noble Nook link
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
May 16, 2012
Question of the Week - Doors
Credit for picture
What did you sleep with your bedroom door open or closed? What about your closet door?
We sleep with both closed. For some reason, it makes me feel safer. Why I don't know. It's not as if a closed door will keep a killer out.
May 15, 2012
The Rock of Ivanore by Laurisa White Reyes and $50 Amazon.com Gift Code G*veaway
The Rock of Ivanore
The annual Great Quest is
about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of
Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll
commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn't tell them what the
Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself
to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands
and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he
succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of
menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story
in which nothing is as it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps
readers in suspense until the end.
Giveaway Details:
$50 Amazon.com Gift Code
Open to anyone 13 or older who can legally enter & use an Amazon.com Gift Code
Ends 5/22/12
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Laurisa White Reyes
Laurisa White Reyes has been writing since the age of 5
when she wrote her first poem on a scrap of poster board. After earning a
degree in English at California State University at Northridge, she spent
thirteen years writing for various magazines and newspapers, working as a book
editor, and teaching creative writing. She gave up all that six years ago to follow
her lifelong dream of writing novels. Her first book, The Rock of Ivanore, will
be released in May 2012.Besides writing, Laurisa is also a voracious reader. She
also loves musical theater, chocolate, sushi, ancient history, bearded dragons,
and rain storms. She lives in Southern California with her husband, 5
children, 4 birds, 2 lizards, 2 turtles, 1 fish, 1 dog, and a partridge in a
pear tree.
LINKS:
Website: http://www.laurisawhitereyes.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurisa-White-Reyes/148553665188339
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/lwreyes
Blog: http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com/
May 14, 2012
Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ!
A smile. An encouraging word. A
thoughtful gesture. Each day people interact with
us, help, and make our day a bit brighter and full. This is especially true in
the Writing Community.
Take a second to think about writers you know, like the critique
partner who works with you to improve your manuscript. The writing
friend who listens, supports and keeps you strong when times are tough. The
author who generously offers council, advice and inspiration when asked.
So many people take the time to make us feel special, don't
they? They comment on our blogs, re-tweet our posts, chat with us on forums and
wish us Happy Birthday on Facebook.
Kindness ROCKS!
To commemorate the release of their book The
Emotion Thesaurus, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting a
TITANIC Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ. And because I think KINDNESS is contagious, I'm
participating too!
I am randomly picking Sheri Larsen, who is amazing. She created an epic FB group - Writers Support 4U! It's a wonderful and supportive group and I love every member. Sheri, for my ROAK gift, I'm offering to critique your query or first chapter or synopsis - whatever you need!
If you have a minute, please
stop in at Writers' Ally and tell Sheri how awesome she is!
Do you know someone special that you'd like to randomly
acknowledge? Don't be shy--come join us and celebrate! Send them an email, give
them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. Kindness makes
the world go round. :)
Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for you as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up.
Have you ever participated in or been the recipient of a Random
Act Of Kindness? Let me know in the comments!
May 10, 2012
Guest Blog with Deb Hanrahan - Starting Out as a Writer - 5 Things You Should Know and Review and Giveaway of Changing My Wardrobe
Starting Out As A Writer – 5 Things You Should
Know
When
I completed Changing My Wardrobe, I
was naïve enough to think, “Yay, I’m done!” Little did I know that it was just
the beginning. Over the next year, I learned a lot but also wasted a
considerable amount of time and money. So I would like to pass along the five
things that I think every new writer should know.
1.
Someone else needs to edit your manuscript, but you can
proofread it yourself. It is essential to have another pair of eyes look at
your story and try to find any plot holes, character problems, timeline issues,
point-of-view slips, and tense inconsistencies. This doesn’t need to be done by
a professional but should be done by someone who reads a lot and is brutally
honest. Although, a professional could help you fix the
problems and not just point them out to you.
In my humble opinion, proofreading or line editing can be
done by the author, but spell check alone won’t cut it. I like to look through
my manuscript one item at a time. For instance, I will look at every comma,
then every apostrophe etc. After punctuation, I look for common word mistakes
like here vs. hear, and there vs. their. I use The Elements of Style by Strunk and White as a reference (according
to On Writing, so does Stephen
King.)
2.
Writing is going to cost you something—money, time, your ego,
your soul…. Even though the cost to actually write a book is minimal, the cost to
publish it can be high. Trust me, whether you plan to query agents or
self-publish, you will pay. If you don’t have a lot of money, plan to spend
your time, and if you don’t have a lot of time, plan to spend your money.
3.
Make peace with social media. If you want readers to find out
about your book, you will need to become a social media expert. You must have a
blog/website, a Facebook page, and a Goodreads account. These three things are
essential. You might also want to consider using Twitter, You Tube, Tumbler,
Pinterest…you get the idea.
4.
Choose your brand name carefully. When you are setting up
your various social media accounts, you should use your author name. It takes a
long time to amass a following, and if you need to change your name down the
road, you might lose followers. I made this mistake with my blog. At first, I
used a pen name for my blog address, and when I recently changed it to my
author name, I lost my Google ranking.
5.
If you want to write for a living, you will need to work at
it every day (or nearly every day.) Almost all popular authors have more than
just one or two books out there. So, like anything else in life, writing takes
work, dedication, and patience—lots and lots of patience.
Changing My Wardrobe
By Deb Hanrahan
Release Date: May 26, 2011
Description:
Lindsey, a high school freshman,
views her new school as a place to start over. With the help of her
friends, she hopes that a change in her wardrobe will prompt a change in
her image. She has some success until her long-time nemesis, Avery,
reminds Lindsey of her place. Without asking for help from the adults,
the main character and her friends struggle to manage the bullying.
Despite their efforts, tensions rise, and people get hurt. The ending of
this book will leave the reader shocked and heartbroken.
Changing
My Wardrobe is a cautionary tale about the immutable problem of
bullying. This story not only looks at bullying from the victim's point
of view but also explores the motives behind the aggressors’ actions.
Changing My Wardrobe demonstrates the fluid and complex nature of
bullying by shining a light on the contributing factor of social media.
About the Author
I live with my husband and three teenagers
in the Chicagoland burbs. After graduating from the University of
Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry, I worked at a nuclear power plant for
five years. I then left my career to stay at home with my three kids.
Seemingly, overnight, I went from being
crazy-busy to having way too much time on my hands. With my husband
working long hours and my kids pursuing their own lives, I had to
reinvent myself. So, I decided to write that book I always wanted to
write. Changing My Wardrobe is my first novel
Blog
Facebook
Links to Buy
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Nicole's Review: Changing my Wardrobe tackles a harsh subject. Bullying is a major problem for a lot of teens and it was great to read a book on this topic.
I do have to say that I liked Lindsey's friends more than Lindsey for most of the book. I wanted to like Lindsey but she treated Jocelyn poorly. Her thoughts and actions did not show Lindsey in a good light. At times, the dialogue between the characters felt flat. Teeny stole the spotlight from Lindsey on many occasions. I almost think the story would have been stronger if it had been told from Teeny's POV instead of Lindsey's.
The ending completely shocked me and almost redeemed Lindsey in my eyes. Very powerful ending. Seriously gripping. I love theme of this story and wish more YA books would tackle this subject.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE –
*Disclosure
of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours
and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although
payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no
payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no
obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are
entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author,
publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides
Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
Know
When
I completed Changing My Wardrobe, I
was naïve enough to think, “Yay, I’m done!” Little did I know that it was just
the beginning. Over the next year, I learned a lot but also wasted a
considerable amount of time and money. So I would like to pass along the five
things that I think every new writer should know.
1.
Someone else needs to edit your manuscript, but you can
proofread it yourself. It is essential to have another pair of eyes look at
your story and try to find any plot holes, character problems, timeline issues,
point-of-view slips, and tense inconsistencies. This doesn’t need to be done by
a professional but should be done by someone who reads a lot and is brutally
honest. Although, a professional could help you fix the
problems and not just point them out to you.
In my humble opinion, proofreading or line editing can be
done by the author, but spell check alone won’t cut it. I like to look through
my manuscript one item at a time. For instance, I will look at every comma,
then every apostrophe etc. After punctuation, I look for common word mistakes
like here vs. hear, and there vs. their. I use The Elements of Style by Strunk and White as a reference (according
to On Writing, so does Stephen
King.)
2.
Writing is going to cost you something—money, time, your ego,
your soul…. Even though the cost to actually write a book is minimal, the cost to
publish it can be high. Trust me, whether you plan to query agents or
self-publish, you will pay. If you don’t have a lot of money, plan to spend
your time, and if you don’t have a lot of time, plan to spend your money.
3.
Make peace with social media. If you want readers to find out
about your book, you will need to become a social media expert. You must have a
blog/website, a Facebook page, and a Goodreads account. These three things are
essential. You might also want to consider using Twitter, You Tube, Tumbler,
Pinterest…you get the idea.
4.
Choose your brand name carefully. When you are setting up
your various social media accounts, you should use your author name. It takes a
long time to amass a following, and if you need to change your name down the
road, you might lose followers. I made this mistake with my blog. At first, I
used a pen name for my blog address, and when I recently changed it to my
author name, I lost my Google ranking.
5.
If you want to write for a living, you will need to work at
it every day (or nearly every day.) Almost all popular authors have more than
just one or two books out there. So, like anything else in life, writing takes
work, dedication, and patience—lots and lots of patience.
Changing My Wardrobe
By Deb Hanrahan
Release Date: May 26, 2011
Description:
Lindsey, a high school freshman,
views her new school as a place to start over. With the help of her
friends, she hopes that a change in her wardrobe will prompt a change in
her image. She has some success until her long-time nemesis, Avery,
reminds Lindsey of her place. Without asking for help from the adults,
the main character and her friends struggle to manage the bullying.
Despite their efforts, tensions rise, and people get hurt. The ending of
this book will leave the reader shocked and heartbroken.
Changing
My Wardrobe is a cautionary tale about the immutable problem of
bullying. This story not only looks at bullying from the victim's point
of view but also explores the motives behind the aggressors’ actions.
Changing My Wardrobe demonstrates the fluid and complex nature of
bullying by shining a light on the contributing factor of social media.
About the Author
I live with my husband and three teenagers
in the Chicagoland burbs. After graduating from the University of
Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry, I worked at a nuclear power plant for
five years. I then left my career to stay at home with my three kids.
Seemingly, overnight, I went from being
crazy-busy to having way too much time on my hands. With my husband
working long hours and my kids pursuing their own lives, I had to
reinvent myself. So, I decided to write that book I always wanted to
write. Changing My Wardrobe is my first novel
Blog
Links to Buy
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Nicole's Review: Changing my Wardrobe tackles a harsh subject. Bullying is a major problem for a lot of teens and it was great to read a book on this topic.
I do have to say that I liked Lindsey's friends more than Lindsey for most of the book. I wanted to like Lindsey but she treated Jocelyn poorly. Her thoughts and actions did not show Lindsey in a good light. At times, the dialogue between the characters felt flat. Teeny stole the spotlight from Lindsey on many occasions. I almost think the story would have been stronger if it had been told from Teeny's POV instead of Lindsey's.
The ending completely shocked me and almost redeemed Lindsey in my eyes. Very powerful ending. Seriously gripping. I love theme of this story and wish more YA books would tackle this subject.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE –
*Disclosure
of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours
and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although
payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no
payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no
obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are
entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author,
publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides
Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
May 9, 2012
Question of the Week - Sports
Credit for picture
What is your favorite sport? Favorite Sport teams? Or do you not care about sports at all?
I love football and am a diehard Eagles fan. I also root for the Flyers, Sixers, and Yankees, although if the Yankees are out, I pull for the Phillies.
May 7, 2012
King and Queens and a Chance to Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card compliments of Author Courtney Vail
Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father’s fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek…or, no…maybe Alec…maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.
All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they’re sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it’s not like she cries wolf. Not really. They’d be freaked too, but they’re not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse.
So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do…try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.
Praise for Kings & Queens:
"I think the best way for me to describe the book is quirky. "Beautifully unique" would be another term I'd use. I just.. I love this book. Each character, especially Majesty, was like a 20-Layer Cake. The book was both character-driven and plot-driven, which promises to be an exciting ride for every type of YA reader."
~Missy from Missy's Reads & Reviews
"WOW. The description for this book on GoodReads.com does not do this book justice. This was an AWESOME, twisted, capturing tale. Like Gossip Girl with deadly consequences."
~Teresa Rice from The Duchess Mommy Reads
"Best YA Book I've read all year...out of 79 books."
~Jennifer Golub from Waiting on Sunday to Drown
"I don't think I've ever read a book like this one. A whirlpool of humor, bravery, slowly spreading horror, friendship, wrenching sadness, volatile emotion, barely contained passions: the literary equivalent of crystal meth. I hit a certain point, where the action and confusion and mystery were at their peak, that I narrowed my eyes and said, "All right, that's it! I refuse to put this book down until I know who is who, what this is really all about, how this fevered chase is going to end!" And I didn't put it down until I read the last word. Which was sometime in the very early morning. I passed out and re-awoke with a Kings&Queens hangover."
~ Lily Odell
"Courtney Vail thrills and shocks in her debut YA suspense, Kings & Queens. I really enjoyed reading this mystery because it reminded me of one of my favorite detective TV shows, Veronica Mars. The authentic high school drama and conspiracies were warped and utterly original."
~Candace @ Lovey Dovey Books
About Author Courtney Vail
COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.
Links:
Site: www.courtneyvail.com
Blog: http://gottahaveya.blogspot.com
Twitter @cvwriter http://www.twitter.com/cvwriter
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4744654.Courtney_Vail
Giveaway
Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card compliments of Author Courtney Vail.
Last day to enter is May 14th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
May 3, 2012
The Writer's Voice - My query and first 250 words of Crystal's Magic
Plot Summary from Query:
God answers nearly all of fifteen-year-old Crystal's prayers. At least
that's the way it seems since time slows down so she doesn't miss the
bus and speeds up so she doesn't have to answer questions in class.
But
after she discovers a note in a box hidden in her attic detailing how
her now dead mother sought the help of witches to conceive her,
Crystal’s faith becomes one giant question mark. She tracks down the
witches and demands answers. Supposedly, Crystal is the human
incarnation of magic—the only person whose magical potential is
limitless. The witches also claim she's been answering her own prayers
with her magic.
Although skeptical about being magic, Crystal's curious and struggles to learn how to fly and plays with magical fire. But it's not all fun and games. Witches and
shamans have been fighting for centuries, and now, both sides want to
use her power for their own gain. Then a witch hunter captures her
boyfriend, and several shamans snatch her aunt. For someone with
limitless magic, Crystal should be easily able to rescue them but every
time her emotions run amuck, her magic goes haywire. If she can't learn
to control herself, she'll never be able to save them or end the war.
Instead, Crystal just might start the Apocalypse and doom the entire
world.
First 250 Words:
"Crystal? Are you dressed yet?"
Crystal Miller groaned and rolled over. Covering her head with her pillow, she peeked with one eye at her alarm clock. If she didn't leave the house immediately, she'd miss the bus.
She scrambled around the room, hopping into jeans, trying to throw on a shirt and brush her hair at the same time. Somehow she wrestled her way into some clothes (whether or not they looked good together she hadn't the time to worry about) and ran downstairs. Her kiss missed her mom's cheek. "Bye, Mom!"
"Wait, Crystal, you forgot your school bag." Her mom held it out for her.
Crystal grabbed it and groaned again when she spied the kitchen clock. There was no way she'd make the bus. It probably drove past her house five minutes ago.
Still, she had to try. She'd been oversleeping a lot lately, and her mom couldn't drive her in anymore. Her boss was rather strict, and Crystal knew she couldn't be late many more times before he threatened to fire her.
Crystal threw her bag over her shoulder and hurried out the door. As she raced to the end of the long, windy driveway, she prayed, Please, dear Lord, let the bus be there. Please let the bus be there.
She ran with her eyes closed. She never prayed with her eyes open. When she reached the end of the driveway, she opened her eyes.
The bus was just pulling to a stop.
Crystal grinned. Thank you, Lord.
God answers nearly all of fifteen-year-old Crystal's prayers. At least
that's the way it seems since time slows down so she doesn't miss the
bus and speeds up so she doesn't have to answer questions in class.
But
after she discovers a note in a box hidden in her attic detailing how
her now dead mother sought the help of witches to conceive her,
Crystal’s faith becomes one giant question mark. She tracks down the
witches and demands answers. Supposedly, Crystal is the human
incarnation of magic—the only person whose magical potential is
limitless. The witches also claim she's been answering her own prayers
with her magic.
Although skeptical about being magic, Crystal's curious and struggles to learn how to fly and plays with magical fire. But it's not all fun and games. Witches and
shamans have been fighting for centuries, and now, both sides want to
use her power for their own gain. Then a witch hunter captures her
boyfriend, and several shamans snatch her aunt. For someone with
limitless magic, Crystal should be easily able to rescue them but every
time her emotions run amuck, her magic goes haywire. If she can't learn
to control herself, she'll never be able to save them or end the war.
Instead, Crystal just might start the Apocalypse and doom the entire
world.
First 250 Words:
"Crystal? Are you dressed yet?"
Crystal Miller groaned and rolled over. Covering her head with her pillow, she peeked with one eye at her alarm clock. If she didn't leave the house immediately, she'd miss the bus.
She scrambled around the room, hopping into jeans, trying to throw on a shirt and brush her hair at the same time. Somehow she wrestled her way into some clothes (whether or not they looked good together she hadn't the time to worry about) and ran downstairs. Her kiss missed her mom's cheek. "Bye, Mom!"
"Wait, Crystal, you forgot your school bag." Her mom held it out for her.
Crystal grabbed it and groaned again when she spied the kitchen clock. There was no way she'd make the bus. It probably drove past her house five minutes ago.
Still, she had to try. She'd been oversleeping a lot lately, and her mom couldn't drive her in anymore. Her boss was rather strict, and Crystal knew she couldn't be late many more times before he threatened to fire her.
Crystal threw her bag over her shoulder and hurried out the door. As she raced to the end of the long, windy driveway, she prayed, Please, dear Lord, let the bus be there. Please let the bus be there.
She ran with her eyes closed. She never prayed with her eyes open. When she reached the end of the driveway, she opened her eyes.
The bus was just pulling to a stop.
Crystal grinned. Thank you, Lord.
May 2, 2012
Question of the Week - What would you save?
Credit for picture
What would you save if your house was on fire?
If my house was on fire, I would make sure my family was safe and then probably not go back in for anything. If I was certain no one would get hurt, I might grab important papers and my hard drive.
May 1, 2012
Editing Services
Editing is not always an easy process. Authors tend to get
too close to their stories to be able to see mistakes or plot holes or other
issues. It's important to have critique partners and beta readers but
sometimes, you need more.
That's where hiring an editor might be a good idea.
If you're in the market for an editor, I hope you'll
consider me. I've been working as a freelance editor and proofreader for
various small presses for awhile now. I love editing and my favorite part is
helping an author to make their story shine even more than it already does.
Services:
Proofreading
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Grammar, spelling, punctuation, typos
Critique
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Overlook of the big picture, the plot points, the
characters, inconsistency, voice, head hopping, POV slips.
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Does not include editing or proofreading
Editing
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Overused words, tenses, clarity, pacing, dialogue, structure,
readability, tone, point of view, clichés, crutch words, awkward sentences, showing
versus telling, description, setting, etc.
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Includes critique and proofreading.
Prices:
Proofreading
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$1.00 for 1K
Critique
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$2.00 per 1K
Editing
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As I already mentioned, I think it's important that
authors use critique partners and beta readers before hiring an editor so that
their manuscript is already shining so I charge by the hour, not by word count
or pages. The better shape your story already is in, the less you have to pay
me for editing.
-
Send me your first chapter (up to 10 pages). This
sample I will edit for free. Based on this sample, I will determine the price
of a complete edit. There is no obligation at this point to hire me.
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I can do a chapter or partial edit in addition to a
full MS
Payment
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Half of the payment is due upfront.
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Rush is available for an additional charge.
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A discount is available if you want a second round of
edits.
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You can pay through paypal or by check. Your check must
clear before I start to work on your MS.
My Credentials:
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Editor and proofreader for various publishers
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7 novels and short stories published by small presses
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15 short stories published in anthologies
Submissions:
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Double-spaced, 1" margins, TNR, font 12
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Send to Nicole.Zoltack@gmail.com
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Any genre, any MS, even picture books. I have
experience editing fiction and non-fiction.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. And feel free to email me any
questions you have after I return your MS.
I look forward to working with you!
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