Heidi R. Kling's Blog: Witch's Brew (Spellspinners 1) Launched!, page 46
March 6, 2011
If you can't go to Paris, bring Paris to you!
If you can't go to Paris, bring Paris to you!
March 4, 2011
"You have to answer for Santino, Carlo. You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people. -Michael Corleone"
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The Godfather came out the year I was born, which both dates and brands me with a stamp that reads B.A.D.A.S.S. (Only hoping on that second part!)
The past couple days, the YA internets— Twitter in particular—has burst with Mafia jokes because a few folks hinted a "YA Mafia" may be lurking in our midst. Specifically, a core group of published writers who could make or break careers. I found this especially amusing after a week of Charlie Sheen rants, and coming off of Freddy the Moose narrating the Snowpocalypse retreat like the friggin' Country Bear Jamboree.
At first I thought #YAMafia was just a joke. But after digging a bit, YA Highway had the most extensive post with links, I got to thinking about some of the complaints, and they made me sad. The greater YA community is a wonderful group of people. My book debuted in June, and I've always felt welcome. And appreciated! Last year when we launched AUTHOR APPRECIATION week, I got nice messages from many of the winners. I have a lot of author friends. I'm proud to know them, and I'm lucky to have them. If I didn't? I would feel incredibly lost in this vast world of publishing, which is often quite challenging to navigate. Do I get invited to every retreat out there? Nope. But guess what. Nobody gets invited to EVERYTHING. Not even Libba Bray. Not even John Green. That's not how the world works. Do I think there is a gang of established writers who actively try to stop new authors from gaining ground in this business? No flipping way.
If you're an aspiring author, the best thing for you to do is work on YOUR CRAFT. Join a critique group. Take writing classes. Try not to worry about what everyone else is up to. Focusing on that stuff will drive you crazy. My particular brand of internet poison is Twitter. I love it. Mostly because people are cool there. Friendly, funny, and generally likable. I mean, unless you are Kanye West it's hard to be too harsh in 140 characters.
I can pop in and out while I'm writing, while I'm watching my kids, while I'm juggling bowling balls.
The rest of the internet, these blogs where people are generally behaving badly, is simply not my cup of tea, will not further my career, so why spend time there?
About bad reviews. Everyone gets them. Everyone. It's how you respond to them that determines your character. But authors, like anyone, are just people. People who love to create other worlds, who often fall in love with those worlds, so when someone bashes their book, it stings. And sometimes authors behave badly too. Does that mean they need to sleep with the fishes? Of course not. It's just a learning opportunity for them, to know how to react better next time.
It's a crazy time in our country, and in our world.
People are stressed out and tense. It's just the way it is.
But we write & review & publish & represent books for a generation full of potential. We have responsibility to them to set a good example.
All Vatican Warlock Assassin joking aside, it's up to us to be the good guys.
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February 28, 2011
Sliders! Made them myself. :)
Sliders! Made them myself. :)
February 26, 2011
Writing retreats are a major perk of the authorial existence,...
The mighty writers of YA, That's Why!
This is totally real.
Magic mirror on the wall...
Writing retreats are a major perk of the authorial existence, and this weekend's Snowpocalypse* in San Francisco was no exception. We wrote. We latteed. We ate cheeseburgers. We may have even discussed nom de plumes.
From left to right: Whitney Miller, Heidi R. Kling (moi), Martha Flynn, Ingrid Paulson
*really weather predictors? really? And I brought my white puffy hat and everything.
February 25, 2011
New Blog!
Please visit me at my pretty and lovely to use blog:
http://heidirkling.tumblr.com/
Spammers, you're welcome NOT to follow.
Love,
Heidi
"The main thing is to WRITE. Some days it might be 2000 words. Some days you might tinker with two..."
— L.K. Madigan"
- Lisa's quote above says it all. The fact that I stumbled upon this quote on her Goodreads just now as I write my first blog post on my new blog? There is so much magic in this world yet explained, just waiting to be discovered. Thanks my friend, for living on through your words, your spirit, your particular brand of magic. For always.[image error]
In Support of L.K. Madigan
As we mourn the loss of such an incredible talent and human being, Lisa, we can help her wish of her son's attending college come true.
For more information and to offer condolences to Lisa's family, go here:
http://lkmadigan.livejournal.com/185397.html
Rest in Peace, lovely lady.
You will be forever missed.
February 16, 2011
February 15, 2011
Idaho librarian reading SEA to her fishies
Idaho Librarian reading SEA to her fishies. :-)
This photo was submitted by YA Librarian Kath Ann Hendricks of Pocatello, Idaho: "Jamie Bunn, Circulation Staff,(aka Master Bunn) reading Sea by Heidi Kling to enraptured fish at Marshall Public Library." That fish DOES look really into it, doesn't he?
Librarians, the giveaway ends today! Get your entries in by midnight eastern time. Click here for details on how to enter to win 55 books for your library's collection.
http://community.livejournal.com/10_ers/563595.html
February 10, 2011
What time is it?
Tomorrow is the last day to vote for your all-time favorite YA SMOOCH of 2010!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XMC75T9
Peekaboo!
Results on VALENTINE'S DAY.
Naturally.
:-)
Witch's Brew (Spellspinners 1) Launched!
WITCH'S BREW is book 1 in a multi-book series about estranged witches and warlocks, as they fig ...more
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