Catherine Knutsson's Blog, page 5

Looking for a review copy of SHADOWS CAST BY STARS?

If you’re a reviewer/blogger looking for an ARC of SHADOWS CAST BY STARS, I just noticed that you can request an e-galley here on Simon & Schuster’s website!

Yay!

Now, back to writing for me!

Filed under: Shadows Cast by Stars

News about a giveaway, and fly-by word update

First: next week, Ill be participating in the YAmazing Race, a virtual scavenger hunt of sorts where participants can play to win the chance of receiving some really fantastic Apocalysie books and swag (including a signed copy of SHADOWS CAST BY STARS). Details will be posted May 1.

Second: I’ll be having my own giveaway to celebrate the one-month-until-release of SHADOWS CAST BY STARS. That will take place on May 5, so stay tuned for those details, too. I haven’t quite worked out what I’ll be giving away (a signed copy for sure, and some sort of swag), but…you’ll get a sneak peak of SHADOWS CAST BY STARS! Yep, I’ll be posting the first chapter for folks to read. Exciting!

Third: Wordapalooza continues on. I just didn’t get a chance to post yesterday, due to busy-ness. Just didn’t want anyone to think I was slacking…

Filed under: Shadows Cast by Stars, wordapalooza Tagged: giveaways

Wordapalooza #12

Words: 4100

Reason for stopping: the usual – getting sleepy!

I’m more than halfway along this Wordapalooza thingy – eight days left, actually – and I’m actually surprised at a few things.

One: Freedom is my ally. I mean, I knew that (Freedom being a nice little app that disconnects my computer from the internet), but once I’m disconnected, I can stay disconnected without the help of Freedom.

Two: morning writing helps. If I can get a thousand words down before noon, the rest of the day feels easy. For me, I think it’s an inertia thing. Once I’m going, I keep going.

And, three: I’m capable of more than I think I am. I doubt so much–will I ever write another book? Will that book be worth reading? What if the important people in my writing career read what I’ve written and point and laugh? What if I re-read what I’ve written and point and laugh?

It’s amazing what I put myself through. Pretty ugly, actually. (But I’m working on it! Promise!)

However. I have visual aids that help me! And one of those visual aids is a clip from a Rob Brezny horoscope that came through a couple weeks ago. Now, Rob Brezny’s horoscopes aren’t your usual horoscope fare. Mostly, they’re full of very sage thoughts about life in general, which I appreciate. Anyhow, the clip in question is this:

It’s your duty to stop doing your duty with such a somber demeanor and heavy tread. To keep from sabotaging the good it can accomplish, you’ve got to put more pleasure into it.

In other words, enjoy the process. Forget the rest of it. Control what I can control, which is the story. All that other stuff? Out of my hands.

So: tomorrow, more words. Yes. Words, glorious words!

Filed under: wordapalooza

Guest Post Up on the Tangled Girls blog!

I’ve got a guest post up on the Tangled Up in Words blog today. Writing this blog post (about why I write) was a very emotional experience for me. Thanks to the Tangled Girls for inviting to hang with them, and please do give it a read if you have time!

Clicky here!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Wordapalooza #11

Words: 4000

Reason for stopping: I know what happens next! Always a good place to stop.

It’s amazing when I get an early start on the writing. I mean, not early in real-job terms, but I had a thousand words written before noon, which left me time to get chores and running-around done, and then, time for evening words.

Also: so far, I’ve been working on two big projects, one that’s middle grade, and a second that’s YA. Tomorrow, I’m going to take a peek at another middle grade project that’s been hanging around for a while, one that I adore beyond adoration, because I think it’s time. I don’t know if I’ll work on it right now, but I definitely think it’ll be one of my summer editing projects (I tend to write during the non-sunny months and editing during the sunny ones, because I edit on hard-copy, and that means I can take my work out to the sundeck….ah, bliss!). So, I may begin re-reading to see what needs to be done (and, River Writer peeps, this is one you saw ages ago, involving, among other things, a hedge!), just because.

Also, dear April: you’re almost over. There are things I need to have happen in April, so, ya know, get on it? Or, if not April, maybe before my birthday, cuz that’s just around the corner. You know, just a gentle reminder. Love, me.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Book Birthday: THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST

My friend, Sarvenaz Taghavian, is having a book birthday today! Welcome to the world, THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST. If you like Middle Grade fiction (I certainly do!), then please do consider picking this one up!

The summary:

Goldenrod Moram loves nothing better than a good quest. Intrepid, curious, and full of a well-honed sense of adventure, she decides to start her own exploring team fashioned after her idols, the explorers Lewis and Clark, and to map the forest right behind her home. This task is complicated, however, by a series of unique events—a chance encounter with a mysterious old lady has her searching for a legendary blue rose. Another encounter lands her in the middle of a ragtag gang of brilliant troublemakers. And when she stumbles upon none other than the ghost of Meriwether Lewis himself, Goldenrod knows this will be anything but an ordinary summer . . . or an ordinary quest. Debut author Sarvenaz Tash combines an edge-of-your-seat adventure, a uniquely clever voice, and an unforgettable cast of characters to prove that sometimes the best adventures of all are waiting right in your own backyard.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Wordapalooza #10

Words: 3000

Reason for stopping: so tired! I got started late today, due to a whole host of reasons, and then, fatigue set in. I’ve recently upped my running mileage, and I think that, plus trying to figure out how to get enough protein when I’ve gone vegetarian, is taking its toll. Hmm. Must do some research.

On the other hand, my regular run is now 7km, so I’m not complaining!

And just because, here’s a photo of a baby muskox, from a few years back when we were up in Alaska. Baby musk ox! Eee!

Filed under: Photography, wordapalooza

Wordapalooza #9

Words: 2800 (foo)

Reason for stopping: I am worded out.

Must make up deficit tomorrow. Must.

Filed under: wordapalooza

Wordapalooza #8

Words: 3100

Reason for stopping: because it’s time for sleep!

I confess, today’s words were hard-won, partially because I’m processing, and partially because I started late. But, tomorrow! Tomorrow, I have the whole day to write, which is good because I’ve got some guest posts I need to work on. And then, story!

But now, sleep!

Filed under: wordapalooza

Wordapalooza #7

Words: 3000, on the dot.

Reason for stopping: because I’m in a funk. I’m amazed at how one moment the biggest writerly thing I’m worried about is whether anyone will read my book, and then, in the blink of an eye, that changes to being worried about whether anyone will like my book.

I am surprised that writers have fingernails. Mine may not fair well over the next six weeks.

In other less-unflattering news, this is day seven, and so, totals!

Project #1: 13,744

Project #2: 21,158

So, now the honeymoon is over and I’m into the hard work. Not that it ever gets easy. It just gets different.

PS: Favourite things post tomorrow, promise!

Also: taken on a walk last week:

Filed under: Photography, wordapalooza