Judith Graves's Blog, page 8
September 30, 2012
Fangs, Fur & Fey Giveaway Hop
Blog hops are a great way to find fascinating new blogs, bloggers, and win great prizes. This week I’m taking part in a FANGtastic Halloween themed hop: FANGS, FUR & FEY – hop participants are to giveaway a book that features at least one of these elements.
I’m giving away a copy of UNDER MY SKIN, the first book in my snarky monster hunter SKINNED series – and it just happens to have all three.
But the beasties don’t stop there. The creatures in the SKINNED cast are many and varied: vamps, werewolves, dark sprites, witches….and more – all trying to survive the haunting town of Redgrave. If you like your paranormal reads fast paced, filled with dark humour, and a few scares – you’ll want to enter this contest.
To enter….comment on this post, or you can enter via the handy Rafflecopter thingie below:
Skin of My Teeth Trailer Launch Contest
Yes, it’s that time….CONTEST TIME!
TRAILER LAUNCH CONTEST: The SKIN OF MY TEETH trailer has clawed it’s way into this world! Share the trailer on your Facebook page, blog, website, or just tweet about it, and I’ll enter you in a draw for
a wicked triple threat – an ebook copy of UNDER MY SKIN, SECOND SKIN, and the SPIRITED anthology to one lucky winner.
You gotta message me or comment on this status update so I know you’ve entered and are helping to spread the word. Multiple entries allowed. Contest ends: October 1st at midnight EST. Trailer link: http://youtu.be/-V2ea80qFHU
And here it is for your viewing pleasure:
Author Interview: Sara Tribble
It’s a great thing to help promote other authors and there’s nothing quite like hosting a blog tour. Welcome to Sara Tribble, writer, editor, and debut novelist with one hell of a story to tell.
The BEYOND THE CELL blurb:
Sixteen-year-old, Sonata Wilde is living in Hell.
Not literally Hell, more like a prison stashed away in the mountains known as The Cell. All mythical beings were banished to live here nine years ago, segregated from the humans. Being trapped in captivity is breaking her down and the temptation of escaping grows stronger, regardless of what it might cost her.
No one has ever made it out of The Cell, not with the extreme voltage on the wires and constant guards on patrol. It’s damn near impossible, minus one loophole. Sonata has a plan ready to set in motion, along with help standing by to make sure it all goes accordingly. The taste of freedom is within her grasp and she’s ready to embrace it once again.
All she has to do now is stay alive.
The interview:
1. What projects are you working on / have published?
Currently, I am working on a YA Sci-Fi manuscript and two short stories, one fantasy and one horror while trying to draft a future project. As far as published, my first YA novel, Beyond the Cell, is being released by Fire & Ice at the end of September. I’ve also recently sold a short story, Survive, to an anthology following a modern H.P. Lovecraft theme. This is my first anthology to be included in so that’s pretty awesome.
2. Best writing advice you’ve heard?
It’s repeated everywhere, “Keep Writing.” Sad, but true, it really is the best advice. You cannot help but improve your craft with practice and persistence. However, during a writer’s conference a speaker mentioned something that sparked some great advice and that was write what you usually sell. I tend to place horror stories in markets quite easily, but I’ve never once thought about writing a horror manuscript…I’m brewing one now to start after my Sci-Fi.
3. What inspires you?
My personal dreams hugely impact my stories, characters and objects. Beyond the Cell actually has a couple of things taken directly from my dreams, which is pretty neat. Besides that, I’ve been inspired by a piece of candy to songs playing on the radio. Inspiration is everywhere, the hard part is choosing which one to go with.
4. Did you write stories as a teen? If yes what has/hasn’t changed?
Yes, I did, but very sparingly unlike now because writing is more of a wonderful routine. I did have a short paranormal story published while in high school and always enjoyed composition courses and took as many as I could. Writing has never intimated me, by length or subject, and that still has not changed, which is probably why I freelance when I have lots of spare time.
Something that has changed is my style and grammar. It can be a challenge to write formally and without voice, especially in an unbiased manner and not bending punctuation rules.
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Find out more about Sara during the BEYOND THE CELL blog tour!
Check out her website: http://www.saratribble.com
September 19, 2012
Ferocious Movie Screening
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the Toronto International Film Festival. Red carpet photos, the dissection of actor ensembles, over-evaluation of facial expressions and what they mean in relation to the person standing next to said actor. Kind of makes a movie screening seem….kinda Ferocious. Like maybe if you’re a star basking in all that light, “Fame can turn on you”.
Which brings me to the Robert Cuffley thriller, FEROCIOUS, which will enjoy a wicked screening this weekend at the Calgary International Film Festival. Why should you care? Well, it’s a Canadian film with bite. Cuffley has written and directed it, and it has a fierce cast. Plus, it will be the first film screening I will attend and I can’t FREAKING WAIT! 
Here’s the blurb:
Amanda Crew stars as Leigh Parrish, a successful actress on a trip home to visit her small town roots. While dodging the careful eye of her manager (Dustin Milligan), Leigh, steps out from the lights and cameras and into the shadows of her old life, confronting her unsavory past and ex-employer, Maurice (Kim Coates).
Sounds like fame just might be a double-edged sword for Leigh. And you know I love how small town secrets can assume lives of their own – a running theme in the SKINNED series. If you’re in the Calgary area, I encourage you take in a film or ten at the festival, check out the website here for ticket info.
Why not be dazzled by the trailer?
August 17, 2012
Fun Announcement
Author Dawn Dalton and I have multiple projects on the go, from solo to team efforts as with our Most-Wanted Monsters young adult series. But the fun doesn’t end with print media.
We also work together in the writing and development of scripts for film and television, and to further complicate things, we do so under our real names, Dawn Ius and Tracy Belsher. We’re keen to announce we’ve signed with film/tv literary agent, Anna Archer of Lucas Talent for our individual and collaborative screenwriting projects. Lucas Talent is one of Canada’s leading talent agencies and we’re thrilled with the professionalism and comfort level we’ve experienced thus far.
Here’s to navigating TV Land!
You can follow our fiction writing and screenwriting careers on our blogs:
Dawn Dalton: http://www.dawnmdalton.blogspot.ca/
Dawn Ius: http://www.dawn-ius.blogspot.ca/
Tracy Belsher: http://flexyourwords.blogspot.ca/
Judith Graves: http://judithgraves.com/
July 14, 2012
My Writer Buds Around the Blogosphere
From my little corner of the young adult fiction scene I’ve managed to connect with some amazing talent and wonderful people – the sort I look to as examples of how to conduct yourself professionally – but kickass. Awesome writers are out in the Blogosphere, every day, providing a ton of information, advice, tips, and hey-don’t-try-this-at-home type warnings for readers, writers, and anyone with an interest in the written word.
If you’re an aspiring writer, or you just want to support artists, a great place to start is by following author blogs and getting all that cool, behind the scenes perspective.
Here are a few recent blog posts of note from my writer friends:
We’ve all had them – criticism is part of the industry. Art is subjective. I love Denise Jaden’s take on how to deal with and overcome the sting of negative reviews in her post Bad Reviews: A New Perspective.
Dawn writes under two names, Dawn Dalton for young adult and Dawn Ius for adult thrillers. On ALL of her social media sites she offers great insight into the motivation, stressors, and wild and crazy times for an up and coming author. One to watch – especially her muse posts on her Dawn Ius blog – if you’re looking for some eye candy inspiration. And if you’re in for some snarky advice for the lovelorn, you won’t want to miss her Jagger Valentine character’s blog. Trust me.
Nothing better than an author that loves to share the spotlight. Janet Fox features fantastic guest authors on her blog sharing writing tips, writing life, contests, book announcements and more. Love this post with author, Victoria Hanley, on Conflict.
Forget blogging, Shannon is the master of connecting with readers, writers, bloggers, and more via Facebook. Her page is alive and highly interactive. Plus, like me, she’s ventured into the steampunk / gaslight genre, as well as writing about – WEREWOLVES!
Speaking of steampunk, Mike Perschon, aka the Steampunk Scholar, is an English professor and blogging authority on all things Steam. His site is NOT to be overlooked as a resource for new Steam titles / Steam discussions and debates. His intelligence is keen and his wit – sharp. Love this post on outcry from the steampunk community regarding the Justin Bieber steampunk video. (Have to admit – I’m one of the appalled.)
Class of 2k12 / Class of 2k11 / Class of 2k10 / Class of 2k9 / Class of 2k8 / Class of 2k7
If you follow my blog, you’ll know I was a member of the Class of 2k10 and that I am and will be forever thankful that Under My Skin launched with the Class. Being a debut author is tough. In the planning for the launch of that first book, you have revisions, edits, other WIPs, and yet you are also your own publicists, marketer, and the best representative for your work. The process is so much easier and rewarding when you have the support of others in JUST your position. ANY of the site from ANY Class will offer loads of info.
June 22, 2012
Summer Workshops
If you’re local, I’ll be doing a few summer workshops at the Cold Lake Public Library. AND if you’re a writer looking to hang out / share / learn from others, please join us for the first meeting of the Cold Lake Writing Club. Here are the details:
Screenwriting Workshop
Local young adult paranormal author, JUDITH GRAVES (2012 Alberta Screenwriters Initiative Winner) shares her experiences writing scripts for network television and offers tips on the craft of screenwriting. Graves will delve into the benefits of collaboration, including the power of Google Docs and screenwriting programs such as Scrivener, as well how to plot a script using her outline structure, The Bones of the Story. From gripping logline to epic showdown, she’ll provide you with the foundation you’ll need to create your own dreadfully cool scripts. Please call to register 780-639-3963
Date and Location: Tuesday, July 3, 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Centre Branch
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Fiction to Die For
Local young adult paranormal author, JUDITH GRAVES, shows you what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your work, aka revision with BITE! Be prepared for writerly battle as she introduces you to the beasties known as storyboarding and character cards. Once tamed these tools can help with plot structure and character development. Those in attendance should be prepared for writing activities and bring any supplies (pen, notebook) that they may require. For ages 12-18. Please call 780-639-3963 to register
Date and Location: Wednesday, July 4 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grand Centre Branch
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Lots-A-Books / Cold Lake Writing Club
Our local indie bookstore wants to help establish a community for writers in the Cold Lake area. Please join me and Ben, from Lots-A-Books, in this initial gathering. Bring a short sample of your work to read / share and let’s come up with a plan to kick off a thriving, welcoming, productive Writing Club!
Date and location: Saturday, July 7 at 1:00pm at Beantrees Coffee House
June 17, 2012
Killer’s Instinct
Things have been, well, just plain crazy around here the last few weeks and hopefully I’ll get to share the madness soon. But in the meantime, there’s THIS!
The cover reveal for KILLER’S INSTINCT the first book in the Most-Wanted Monsters series I’m co-writing with the fabulous, Dawn Dalton. Want a taste of Dawn’s stellar writing style? Check out her ghostly tale, Thread of the Past, in the SPIRITED anthology. Dawn and I have been writing together for almost two years now and we have many stories to tell. In various formats. Which I may be babbling about soon.
Killer’s Instinct blurb:
Where there is NO life – there’s Hope…
Hope has always been a bit of a freak. But when her mother crawls from her grave and her undead corpse goes MIA, Hope’s last thread of normal snaps with a vengeance.
Enrolling in a militia-style school for monster slayers seems the only course of action. And the best bet at tracking her mother down.
June 5, 2012
Winter Wonders Anthology
Another steampunk tale of mine, Steadfast, a retelling of the Steadfast Tin Soldier, will appear in this charity anthology published by Compass Press:
Contributing authors are below:
Anne Riley, Heather McCorkle, Alexandra Shostak, Christine Fonseca,Connie Keller, Crystal Harris, Elle Strauss, Harley May, Jamey Stegmaier,Jen Stayrook, Jessica Naccari, Jodi Burrus, Judith Graves, Karen Amanda Hooper, Krissi Dallas, Mercedes Yardley, Natalie Cone, Regan Leigh, Susan Kaye Quinn, TS Tate, and Tina Moss.
May 20, 2012
The Puca Tour
Nothing like a blog tour stop to get the reading vibes flowing. Welcome to young adult author, Heather McCorkle and her latest release:
Hi Judith and friends, thanks for having me over. Today I’m dropping by to celebrate the release of my young adult historical fantasy about the last of the druids in ancient Ireland, To Ride A Puca. Though parts of it were heartbreaking to write, this one was a labor of love that will always hold a special place in my heart. I have an excerpt for you but first, here is a bit about the novel:
Invaders are coming to take what isn’t theirs, again. Neala wants to stand and fight for her homeland, but as one of the last druids, she may be standing alone. Persecuted, hunted down, forced to live in obscurity, the druids have all but given up. Can the determination of a girl who has barely come into her power bring them together? Or, just when she finally finds her place among her kind, will they end up losing a homeland their very magic is tied to?
And here is the excerpt from Chapter 1:
With a trembling hand, Neala adjusted the spyglass to get a better look at the ship that marred the perfect blue horizon of the ocean. It was still too far away to tell much about it, save that it was large and imposing. A twist of the spyglass revealed the fierce figurehead on the prow. Fear rose up and clamped an icy grip on her throat.
“Danes, oh no,” she murmured.
To be continued this Thursday on Kristie Cook’s blog.
I’ll be giving away great prizes, a new one to a new winner, every week for the next four weeks. This week I’m giving away an eBook of BECOME by Ali Cross, a twist on a Norse tale that will leave you breathless, and RUNNING WIDE OPEN by Lisa Nowak, an adrenalin pumping ride with a hot tempered teen who loves car racing. Stop by this link. to enter to win. The contest will be open until May 27th, the winner to be announced on the 28th.
