Molly Ringle's Blog, page 32
October 25, 2010
Volunteer Dracula brigade, stand by!
Any last-minute takers for Dracula lines? We have some blank spaces from the no-shows, and need to fill them in. It's easy and quick (as long as you have a computer that can record voice samples), and you get to be part of this cool little Halloween project, the third in our spooky series so far. Hop up and volunteer, and if I don't hear from the original voice actors by the end of today, you'll get a line!
October 20, 2010
Send in those Dracula lines...
And now, a word from the Count...
Vun! Vun beautiful person who has sent in her 'Dracula' line!
TWO! Two lovely people who have sent in their lines!
THREE! Ah-ah-ah! Three vunderful people sending me their fabulous spooky lines!
Come, send me your lines, everyvun! Thank you.
Vun! Vun beautiful person who has sent in her 'Dracula' line!
TWO! Two lovely people who have sent in their lines!
THREE! Ah-ah-ah! Three vunderful people sending me their fabulous spooky lines!
Come, send me your lines, everyvun! Thank you.
October 17, 2010
For we do not do that, that is why.
Oldie but goodie, much funnier now that I have children than when I first read it over a decade ago (and it was funny even then)...
Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father
by Ian Frazier
Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the living room. Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither may you carry such therein. Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither may you drink.
But if you are sick, and are lying down and watching something, then may you eat in the living room.
Laws When at Table
And if you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they were. Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me. Yes, even when you have an interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke. Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils, nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for; if you will dip your blocks in the milk, and lick it off, you will be sent away. When you have drunk, let the empty cup then remain upon the table, and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck; for you will be sent away.
When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister what is within; I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your sister has done the same to you. Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is. And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw not with it upon the table, even in pretend, for we do not do that, that is why. And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not do that, that is why. Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away. Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.
Laws Pertaining to Dessert
For we judge between the plate that is unclean and the plate that is clean, saying first, if the plate is clean, then you shall have dessert. But of the unclean plate, the laws are these: If you have eaten most of your meat, and two bites of your peas with each bite consisting of not less than three peas each, or in total six peas, eaten where I can see, and you have also eaten enough of your potatoes to fill two forks, both forkfuls eaten where I can see, then you shall have dessert. But if you eat a lesser number of peas, and yet you eat the potatoes, still you shall not have dessert; and if you eat the peas, yet leave the potatoes uneaten, you shall not have dessert, no, not even a small portion thereof. And if you try to deceive by moving the potatoes or peas around with a fork, that it may appear you have eaten what you have not, you will fall into iniquity. And I will know, and you shall have no dessert.
On Screaming
Do not scream; for it is as if you scream all the time. If you are given a plate on which two foods you do not wish to touch each other are touching each other, your voice rises up even to the ceiling, while you point to the offense with the finger of your right hand; but I say to you, scream not, only remonstrate gently with the server, that the server may correct the fault. Likewise if you receive a portion of fish from which every piece of herbal seasoning has not been scraped off, and the herbal seasoning is loathsome to you, and steeped in vileness, again I say, refrain from screaming. Though the vileness overwhelm you, and cause you a faint unto death, make not that sound from within your throat, neither cover your face, nor press your fingers to your nose. For even now I have made the fish as it should be; behold, I eat of it myself, yet do not die.
Concerning Face and Hands
Cast your countenance upward to the light, and lift your eyes to the hills, that I may more easily wash you off. For the stains are upon you; even to the very back of your head, there is rice thereon. And in the breast pocket of your garment, and upon the tie of your shoe, rice and other fragments are distributed in a manner wonderful to see. Only hold yourself still; hold still, I say. Give each finger in its turn for my examination thereof, and also each thumb. Lo, how iniquitous they appear. What I do is as it must be; and you shall not go hence until I have done.
Various Other Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances
Bite not, lest you be cast into quiet time. Neither drink of your own bath water, nor of bath water of any kind; nor rub your feet on bread, even if it be in the package; nor rub yourself against cars, nor against any building; nor eat sand.
Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so afflict it with tape? And hum not that humming in your nose as I read, nor stand between the light and the book. Indeed, you will drive me to madness. Nor forget what I said about the tape.
Complaints and Lamentations
O my children, you are disobedient. For when I tell you what you must do, you argue and dispute hotly even to the littlest detail; and when I do not accede, you cry out, and hit and kick. Yes, and even sometimes do you spit, and shout "stupid-head" and other blasphemies, and hit and kick the wall and the molding thereof when you are sent to the corner. And though the law teaches that no one shall be sent to the corner for more minutes than he has years of age, yet I would leave you there all day, so mighty am I in anger. But upon being sent to the corner you ask straightaway, "Can I come out?" and I reply, "No, you may not come out." And again you ask, and again I give the same reply. But when you ask again a third time, then you may come out.
Hear me, O my children, for the bills they kill me. I pay and pay again, even to the twelfth time in a year, and yet again they mount higher than before. For our health, that we may be covered, I give six hundred and twenty talents twelve times in a year; but even this covers not the fifteen hundred deductible for each member of the family within a calendar year. And yet for ordinary visits we still are not covered, nor for many medicines, nor for the teeth within our mouths. Guess not at what rage is in my mind, for surely you cannot know.
For I will come to you at the first of the month and at the fifteenth of the month with the bills and a great whining and moan. And when the month of taxes comes, I will decry the wrong and unfairness of it, and mourn with wine and ashtrays, and rend my receipts. And you shall remember that I am that I am: before, after, and until you are twenty-one. Hear me then, and avoid me in my wrath, O children of me.
Copyright © 1997 by The Atlantic Monthly Company.
Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father
by Ian Frazier
Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the living room. Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither may you carry such therein. Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither may you drink.
But if you are sick, and are lying down and watching something, then may you eat in the living room.
Laws When at Table
And if you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they were. Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me. Yes, even when you have an interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke. Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils, nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for; if you will dip your blocks in the milk, and lick it off, you will be sent away. When you have drunk, let the empty cup then remain upon the table, and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck; for you will be sent away.
When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister what is within; I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your sister has done the same to you. Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is. And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw not with it upon the table, even in pretend, for we do not do that, that is why. And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not do that, that is why. Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away. Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.
Laws Pertaining to Dessert
For we judge between the plate that is unclean and the plate that is clean, saying first, if the plate is clean, then you shall have dessert. But of the unclean plate, the laws are these: If you have eaten most of your meat, and two bites of your peas with each bite consisting of not less than three peas each, or in total six peas, eaten where I can see, and you have also eaten enough of your potatoes to fill two forks, both forkfuls eaten where I can see, then you shall have dessert. But if you eat a lesser number of peas, and yet you eat the potatoes, still you shall not have dessert; and if you eat the peas, yet leave the potatoes uneaten, you shall not have dessert, no, not even a small portion thereof. And if you try to deceive by moving the potatoes or peas around with a fork, that it may appear you have eaten what you have not, you will fall into iniquity. And I will know, and you shall have no dessert.
On Screaming
Do not scream; for it is as if you scream all the time. If you are given a plate on which two foods you do not wish to touch each other are touching each other, your voice rises up even to the ceiling, while you point to the offense with the finger of your right hand; but I say to you, scream not, only remonstrate gently with the server, that the server may correct the fault. Likewise if you receive a portion of fish from which every piece of herbal seasoning has not been scraped off, and the herbal seasoning is loathsome to you, and steeped in vileness, again I say, refrain from screaming. Though the vileness overwhelm you, and cause you a faint unto death, make not that sound from within your throat, neither cover your face, nor press your fingers to your nose. For even now I have made the fish as it should be; behold, I eat of it myself, yet do not die.
Concerning Face and Hands
Cast your countenance upward to the light, and lift your eyes to the hills, that I may more easily wash you off. For the stains are upon you; even to the very back of your head, there is rice thereon. And in the breast pocket of your garment, and upon the tie of your shoe, rice and other fragments are distributed in a manner wonderful to see. Only hold yourself still; hold still, I say. Give each finger in its turn for my examination thereof, and also each thumb. Lo, how iniquitous they appear. What I do is as it must be; and you shall not go hence until I have done.
Various Other Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances
Bite not, lest you be cast into quiet time. Neither drink of your own bath water, nor of bath water of any kind; nor rub your feet on bread, even if it be in the package; nor rub yourself against cars, nor against any building; nor eat sand.
Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so afflict it with tape? And hum not that humming in your nose as I read, nor stand between the light and the book. Indeed, you will drive me to madness. Nor forget what I said about the tape.
Complaints and Lamentations
O my children, you are disobedient. For when I tell you what you must do, you argue and dispute hotly even to the littlest detail; and when I do not accede, you cry out, and hit and kick. Yes, and even sometimes do you spit, and shout "stupid-head" and other blasphemies, and hit and kick the wall and the molding thereof when you are sent to the corner. And though the law teaches that no one shall be sent to the corner for more minutes than he has years of age, yet I would leave you there all day, so mighty am I in anger. But upon being sent to the corner you ask straightaway, "Can I come out?" and I reply, "No, you may not come out." And again you ask, and again I give the same reply. But when you ask again a third time, then you may come out.
Hear me, O my children, for the bills they kill me. I pay and pay again, even to the twelfth time in a year, and yet again they mount higher than before. For our health, that we may be covered, I give six hundred and twenty talents twelve times in a year; but even this covers not the fifteen hundred deductible for each member of the family within a calendar year. And yet for ordinary visits we still are not covered, nor for many medicines, nor for the teeth within our mouths. Guess not at what rage is in my mind, for surely you cannot know.
For I will come to you at the first of the month and at the fifteenth of the month with the bills and a great whining and moan. And when the month of taxes comes, I will decry the wrong and unfairness of it, and mourn with wine and ashtrays, and rend my receipts. And you shall remember that I am that I am: before, after, and until you are twenty-one. Hear me then, and avoid me in my wrath, O children of me.
Copyright © 1997 by The Atlantic Monthly Company.
October 12, 2010
Draculas we have loved...
I'm working out the 'Dracula' lines and will assign them soon. If you want in at the last minute, I can probably still find you one--just volunteer.
In the meantime, for your amusement and edification, check out![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380438177i/889613.gif)
teenybuffalo
's Draculas I have loved, a quick photographic rundown of the many Draculas throughout film history. She has given them updated titles, such as "Riverboat Gambler Dracula" and "Retro Beatnik Dracula." See if your favorite Dracula is there, and let her know if she missed him!
In the meantime, for your amusement and edification, check out
teenybuffalo
's Draculas I have loved, a quick photographic rundown of the many Draculas throughout film history. She has given them updated titles, such as "Riverboat Gambler Dracula" and "Retro Beatnik Dracula." See if your favorite Dracula is there, and let her know if she missed him!
October 8, 2010
Still time to sign up for Dracula...
We've got a bunch of takers already for getting a line from Dracula to read aloud, but I'll happily take more. It's easy and fun! See details and sign up here. Feel free to ask questions, too. Cheers!
"When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - Unrelated to Dracula, but it made me laugh, so I'm sharing.
"When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - Unrelated to Dracula, but it made me laugh, so I'm sharing.
October 6, 2010
Dracula read-aloud: official sign-up!
Okay! Comment here, with the number of participants from your household, if you'd like to be assigned a line or two from Dracula to read aloud for a little Halloween audio project. I'm thinking we'll be doing the log from the doomed ship that carries Dracula (and his boxes o' dirt) to England.
Sign-up will be open until next Monday, Oct. 11. Then I'll close the door, divvy up the excerpt, and hand out lines. You will record yourselves reading them aloud and email the file to me by, say, Oct. 24, one week prior to Halloween. (I think I can take just about any normal audio file, and will let you know if it doesn't work.) I'll piece them together in the right order, apply spooky background music (professional composer
madbard
has graciously allowed me to raid his stuff), and put it online for your listening chills in time for Halloween.
Once more, I highly encourage youngsters, oldsters, foreign speakers of English, and those with strong regional accents to apply, as well as all average folk. The more varied the mix of voices, the cooler the end product. It says, "Literature is a realm any person can enter freely, and appreciating it will therefore save the world and keep it safe for democracy." Or something like that. In any case, our project will say, "Halloween is fun!"
To listen to the previous projects, check out 2007's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" or 2008's "The Raven". We didn't do 2009. I had a young infant and stuff.
Sign-up will be open until next Monday, Oct. 11. Then I'll close the door, divvy up the excerpt, and hand out lines. You will record yourselves reading them aloud and email the file to me by, say, Oct. 24, one week prior to Halloween. (I think I can take just about any normal audio file, and will let you know if it doesn't work.) I'll piece them together in the right order, apply spooky background music (professional composer
madbard
has graciously allowed me to raid his stuff), and put it online for your listening chills in time for Halloween. Once more, I highly encourage youngsters, oldsters, foreign speakers of English, and those with strong regional accents to apply, as well as all average folk. The more varied the mix of voices, the cooler the end product. It says, "Literature is a realm any person can enter freely, and appreciating it will therefore save the world and keep it safe for democracy." Or something like that. In any case, our project will say, "Halloween is fun!"
To listen to the previous projects, check out 2007's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" or 2008's "The Raven". We didn't do 2009. I had a young infant and stuff.
October 5, 2010
Move over, Maeve Binchy: meet Jessica Chambers, awesome women's fiction writer!
Today's interview features one of the best new writers I've discovered lately--she pens romantic, addictive, suspenseful, beautifully written women's fiction, and she's English too, which of course always appeals to me. Please welcome Jessica Chambers!
Congratulations on the release of Voices on the Waves! As you know, I loved reading it, and am always impressed with how adroitly you handle an ensemble cast of highly diverse characters. How much character and plot detailing do you plan out before you begin writing a novel?
As far as my characters go, I like to know as much about them as possible before beginning. It really helps to understand what makes them the people they are, and how they're likely to react in a given situation. With regards to the plot, though, I've discovered that too much planning dampens my creativity. I tend to have the main plotline worked out, but let the characters and subplots find their own way.
Give us a line from Voices on the Waves that you personally love.
Gosh, Molly, you're really putting me on the spot here. I suppose this line always strikes me as rather poignant. It describes a point in the story where Faye Wakefield, the owner of the farmhouse retreat where the novel's set, is analyzing the reason behind her attraction to one of her guests, the handsome but unscrupulous Marcus Armitage.
"Or perhaps, deep inside, she knew the chance to have one last fling, of enjoying the thrill of intimacy with another's body, was slipping through her fingers as surely as the flour had done moments before."
If you could step into the world of any novel, which would you choose?
Ooh, I'd love to be transported into the pages of Pride And Prejudice, to experience the world of afternoons spent painting watercolors and playing the piano, of taking tea in the parlor and attending grand dances. If Mr. Darcy happened to drop by, so much the better!
Your book centers around a vacation that changes the lives of all involved. Have you ever had such a vacation, for better or worse?
Hahaha! If only my life were that interesting. Most of my holidays have been family oriented, leaving little room for steamy romances. Admittedly, our holidays have seen a fair few explosive rows, when my relatives realize they're not meant to be cooped up together in a poky caravan, and of course some entertaining moments when one or other of my cousins have gone to town on the cheap booze. All pretty run of the mill stuff, really.
What would your dream vacation be?
One that combines gorgeous weather, delicious food, plenty of historical sites to explore and miles of golden sand for me to stretch out on to read a good book and listen to the waves. In fact, where did I put those holiday brochures?
Now that you're a published author, how has your outlook changed about your future? Do you feel more pressure, or more optimism? Or both?
Definitely both. More optimism because I've cleared the first hurdle of getting my debut novel published, but also more pressure because now readers have certain expectations I need to live up to.
What's up next for you and your writing?
I've just started work on a novella, which will be written as part of a series with a group of my fellow authors at Red Rose. The idea is that we each write a book based on a reality TV show, and I'm taking the inspiration for mine from talent shows such as American Idol and The X Factor. It's shaping up to be really great fun!
I'm also in the throes of editing a novel called Painting The Summer. More of a mystery than Voices On The Waves, it centers around a wealthy English family whose lives are torn apart when they invite a handsome young artist into their home to paint their portraits. All going well; I'm hoping both novels will be published some time in 2011.
Anything else you'd like to share with the world?
I'm a total book addict. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. So long as a novel has a great plot with memorable characters, I'm there. I also enjoy critiquing the work of fellow writers on The Next Big Writer online writing group, and helping to promote published authors on my blog.
Buy Voices On The Waves now from Red Rose Publishing:
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=853
Thank you so much, Molly, for inviting me on your blog today, and to all of you for stopping by. Anyone kind enough to leave a comment here, or at any point during my blog tour, will automatically be entered into the draw to win a $15 gift voucher for either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, so don't forget to provide an email address in case I need to contact you. I'll be announcing the five winners at the end of my tour on October 31st over at my blog -
http://www.jessicachambers.co.uk/blog
...so good luck!
Tomorrow, the Voices On The Waves Blog Tour continues over at the home of Hywela Lyn, where I'll be answering more questions and sharing an excerpt from my novel. Hope to see you there!
http://hywelalyn.blogspot.com/
---
Thanks so much, Jess! Everyone keep an eye out for more from Jessica Chambers--I'm certain she'll be climbing the bestseller ranks before long. Cheers, as they say...
Congratulations on the release of Voices on the Waves! As you know, I loved reading it, and am always impressed with how adroitly you handle an ensemble cast of highly diverse characters. How much character and plot detailing do you plan out before you begin writing a novel?
As far as my characters go, I like to know as much about them as possible before beginning. It really helps to understand what makes them the people they are, and how they're likely to react in a given situation. With regards to the plot, though, I've discovered that too much planning dampens my creativity. I tend to have the main plotline worked out, but let the characters and subplots find their own way.
Give us a line from Voices on the Waves that you personally love.
Gosh, Molly, you're really putting me on the spot here. I suppose this line always strikes me as rather poignant. It describes a point in the story where Faye Wakefield, the owner of the farmhouse retreat where the novel's set, is analyzing the reason behind her attraction to one of her guests, the handsome but unscrupulous Marcus Armitage.
"Or perhaps, deep inside, she knew the chance to have one last fling, of enjoying the thrill of intimacy with another's body, was slipping through her fingers as surely as the flour had done moments before."
If you could step into the world of any novel, which would you choose?
Ooh, I'd love to be transported into the pages of Pride And Prejudice, to experience the world of afternoons spent painting watercolors and playing the piano, of taking tea in the parlor and attending grand dances. If Mr. Darcy happened to drop by, so much the better!
Your book centers around a vacation that changes the lives of all involved. Have you ever had such a vacation, for better or worse?
Hahaha! If only my life were that interesting. Most of my holidays have been family oriented, leaving little room for steamy romances. Admittedly, our holidays have seen a fair few explosive rows, when my relatives realize they're not meant to be cooped up together in a poky caravan, and of course some entertaining moments when one or other of my cousins have gone to town on the cheap booze. All pretty run of the mill stuff, really.
What would your dream vacation be?
One that combines gorgeous weather, delicious food, plenty of historical sites to explore and miles of golden sand for me to stretch out on to read a good book and listen to the waves. In fact, where did I put those holiday brochures?
Now that you're a published author, how has your outlook changed about your future? Do you feel more pressure, or more optimism? Or both?
Definitely both. More optimism because I've cleared the first hurdle of getting my debut novel published, but also more pressure because now readers have certain expectations I need to live up to.
What's up next for you and your writing?
I've just started work on a novella, which will be written as part of a series with a group of my fellow authors at Red Rose. The idea is that we each write a book based on a reality TV show, and I'm taking the inspiration for mine from talent shows such as American Idol and The X Factor. It's shaping up to be really great fun!
I'm also in the throes of editing a novel called Painting The Summer. More of a mystery than Voices On The Waves, it centers around a wealthy English family whose lives are torn apart when they invite a handsome young artist into their home to paint their portraits. All going well; I'm hoping both novels will be published some time in 2011.
Anything else you'd like to share with the world?
I'm a total book addict. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. So long as a novel has a great plot with memorable characters, I'm there. I also enjoy critiquing the work of fellow writers on The Next Big Writer online writing group, and helping to promote published authors on my blog.
Buy Voices On The Waves now from Red Rose Publishing:
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=853
Thank you so much, Molly, for inviting me on your blog today, and to all of you for stopping by. Anyone kind enough to leave a comment here, or at any point during my blog tour, will automatically be entered into the draw to win a $15 gift voucher for either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, so don't forget to provide an email address in case I need to contact you. I'll be announcing the five winners at the end of my tour on October 31st over at my blog -
http://www.jessicachambers.co.uk/blog
...so good luck!
Tomorrow, the Voices On The Waves Blog Tour continues over at the home of Hywela Lyn, where I'll be answering more questions and sharing an excerpt from my novel. Hope to see you there!
http://hywelalyn.blogspot.com/
---
Thanks so much, Jess! Everyone keep an eye out for more from Jessica Chambers--I'm certain she'll be climbing the bestseller ranks before long. Cheers, as they say...
October 1, 2010
Writing news of "Yay!"
What Scotland Taught Me, the novel once known as Tourist Attractions or The Yank Girl's Guide to Cheating Abroad, is now finally available as an ebook. Look--it's currently on the publisher's front page! And seriously, I can't get over how gorgeous that cover art turned out.
As it's the featured book of the week, or month, or something, its price is cut in half for a limited time, making it a temptingly low $2.50. The genre is young adult on the cusp of adult; a snarky-yet-sweet comeuppance tale with lots of romance and a few ghost stories, and several moments in which I describe how pretty Edinburgh and other Scottish locations are.
Read the first chapter for free here.
This novel underwent lots of merciless and extremely useful critiquing by several writers, who I hope are reading this. I worked your suggestions in, and the book has become much better for it. I can't thank you enough!
Now, in OTHER fun writing news, here's a complete short story of mine that you can read for free. It's called "Midsummer Daisies" and is 3,000 words of paranormal romance, and is currently being outvoted by my competition, so get yourself a (free) login at AllRomanceEbooks and please vote for it! Here's the page--my worthy competition and I are Pair #8.
Have a great weekend, regardless of what you read or don't read. Cheers!
As it's the featured book of the week, or month, or something, its price is cut in half for a limited time, making it a temptingly low $2.50. The genre is young adult on the cusp of adult; a snarky-yet-sweet comeuppance tale with lots of romance and a few ghost stories, and several moments in which I describe how pretty Edinburgh and other Scottish locations are.
Read the first chapter for free here.
This novel underwent lots of merciless and extremely useful critiquing by several writers, who I hope are reading this. I worked your suggestions in, and the book has become much better for it. I can't thank you enough!
Now, in OTHER fun writing news, here's a complete short story of mine that you can read for free. It's called "Midsummer Daisies" and is 3,000 words of paranormal romance, and is currently being outvoted by my competition, so get yourself a (free) login at AllRomanceEbooks and please vote for it! Here's the page--my worthy competition and I are Pair #8.
Have a great weekend, regardless of what you read or don't read. Cheers!
September 21, 2010
Halloween read-aloud party: Dracula?
For past Halloweens, as you may recall, I had lots of you read spooky lines aloud from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" or "The Raven," and spliced them together into little audio projects. Anyone interested in doing the same this year for Dracula? If so, which passage should we choose? Something sort of early on, from Jonathan Harker's journal? The increasingly terror-driven ship's log of the doomed vessel that brings Dracula to England? Vamp Lucy getting dispatched? Or what?
I do also like the ...
I do also like the ...
September 16, 2010
How to win friends and sell books
What can an author--or any artist, really--do or say in a two-minute TV interview that would sway you into looking up his or her work?
I do not ask this question idly. Next week I'm due to get filmed by Art Zone, a local show that discovered me via the Bulwer-Lytton contest. They're now being kind enough to have me read the winning sentence and then promote whatever else I'd like to promote.
So, uh...eek! What do I say or do to charm the world? Or at least the local viewership? Ideas? And how ...
I do not ask this question idly. Next week I'm due to get filmed by Art Zone, a local show that discovered me via the Bulwer-Lytton contest. They're now being kind enough to have me read the winning sentence and then promote whatever else I'd like to promote.
So, uh...eek! What do I say or do to charm the world? Or at least the local viewership? Ideas? And how ...
