Heidi R. Kling's Blog: Witch's Brew (Spellspinners 1) Launched!, page 4

nationalbook:YES, your twenties really are terrible. But it...

nationalbook:

YES, your twenties really are terrible. But it gets better!

And Daniel Handler (AKA Lemony Snicket) and Kate DiCamillo know your pain. Here’s what they had to say about being twentysomething.

DH: So then who were you when you were 25? 20?

KD: Ah, yes. Well. I was someone who wanted to be a writer, but who wasn’t writing. I was someone buying books on writing. I was someone telling people that I was writer. But I was not writing. I was working at Disney World, Circus World, campgrounds, greenhouses. That is who I was. Who were you then?

DH: At 25 I saw myself as a profound failure. I was working half-time answering phones and writing a novel I couldn’t sell. The thing that got me through was another dream, that in retrospect the time in my life would look free and bohemian rather than pathetic, and that has in fact turned out to be the case.

via Buzzfeed

DiCamillo photo: Catherine Smith Photography
Handler photo: ©Meredith Heue

20s: I worked at a costume shop, led the YMCA at a nursing home, directed children’s theatre and dressed as Tweetie Bird at a stranger’s birthday party in a state I hated living in. Why doesn’t Harper Collins like the unagented novel I dropped on their doorstep? Debit card bounced repeatedly at grocery store. 

30s: Got a literary agent. Wrote and published novels. Had and are subsequently raising, two beautiful children. Most of the time my credit card works at the grocery store. 

20s are building your life one little brick at a time.

30s are living it.

This book I'm writing is hard so sometimes I fantasize about writing an "easier" book.

This book I'm writing is hard so sometimes I fantasize about writing an "easier" book.:

malindalo:

You know, one with witches in a gothic mansion — NO WAIT a gothic BOARDING SCHOOL — investigating mysterious murders that might have to do with an ancient curse that involves rituals requiring black robes, candles, midnight escapes from the dorm, and a hawk-nosed headmistress who resembles…

THIS is exactly what I thought about venturing into fantasy from contemporary and what I still think as I struggle through my contemporary revision until I think DOH I ALREADY HAZ COMPLICATED FANTASY SERIES and realize there is just no escaping ever because all writing is hard the end and this is one terrible run-on. Thanks, MLo! xx

Turning Hate into Art

This is really fascinating. 

As an author rather involved in social media (Twitter mostly, tumblr some, Facebook because hey, who doesn’t want to connect with middle school buddies and aunties daily?) I sometimes run into trolls, not often—I guess I’m lucky—but I do see it some, the faceless ranters who hide behind anonymous accounts essentially spewing venom into the ether.  They seem to be mostly females bashing other females whether they are jealous for their success, looks, confidence. It’s disconcerting and ugly and sad, but it’s also, dare I say it—- mostly harmless. To me, it’s like social media accounts have replaced the journal writing of my youth. I spewed plenty of scandalous crap into loads of notebooks—but the only person who read them was me. I think some people honestly don’t realize they are speaking to another person online. It’s all so 2D and unreal. And if they do realize it and they are still that mean, it’s about THEM not the person they are directing the anger at. It’s like hate reading a book so you can throw it or hate watching a TV show so you can laugh at it. It may not be healthy, but people still do it. As artists we are fortunate to have the choice of spinning the world’s ugliness into something beautiful, something profound. 

Anyway, this artist turning her hate into an art project is pretty cool. 

(Source Zoe-Ruth Erwin on FB.)

"Premise is ideal for television."

My TV-loving, Damon fangirl heart did a little flutter this morning when I read this magical review from The Silver Petticoat this morning:

"In the style of L.J. Smith (The Vampire Diaries; The Secret Circle), there is a strong sense of destiny and soul mates in the first three books (the story does not end at book 3 so fair warning). Lily and Logan can’t help but be spellbound by the other as if they are meant to be but are they? There is also a mysterious and handsome warlock named Jude that claims he is the one the witches have been waiting for. Never a dull moment, the romance will enchant you with the story’s magic, leaving you breathless in battle or romantic interludes. While the main focus is on Logan (half the story even from his point of view), something about him compels me and I can’t wait to see what Kling does with him in the next installment. As much as I love Logan, I can’t help but feel I might switch sides if he becomes the Damon Salvatore character of the series. I do have a thing for the bad boy.”

"Since this book is still ongoing, I believe that the longevity of the books would make for an excellent TV series. Part Romeo and Juliet and part The Secret Circle, the premise is ideal for television. Personally, I would love a show about a warring group of witches and warlocks destined to be together but cursed to be apart. The intense action scenes would just be the cherry on top."  — The Silver Petticoat Review

How cool is this bundle banner??

I need to print this into a poster and hang it in my office, like, yesterday. #want 

THIS.

THIS.

The Bundle (I'm in TWITTER JAIL--#TVD100 interruptus!)

Was I able to sneak on? Too much chatting put me in an orange jump suit. :(

Anyway, here’s the bundle link to books 1-3 in Spellspinners series.

DEVIL'S FROST + 3-book bundle out today!

I’m so excited to have this book out in the world! Make sure you read till the very end. All three POVs. You’ll see why. :)

Check them out on Kobo or wherever you like to buy ebooks! 

DEVIL'S FROST + the 3-book bundle out today!

 

"Hotter than The Originals; better than The Secret Circle" - YA Book Central

Thanks for spreading the magic, guys! 

(This cover is my absolute favorite—and I love them all.)

Witches > Football

Check out our pre-release bundle + DEVIL’S FROST sale!!!