Phil Giunta's Blog, page 117

A Day on the Water for My 40th B-Day!

A great day of fishing at Beltzville Lake in Carbon County , PA for my 40th b-day. Couldn't have asked for better weather or variety of fish including largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, even a few rock bass but best of all was the chain pickerel that came as the final fish of the day! I didn't have time to measure him because I had to take the pics myself on my iPhone and get it back into the water, but I estimate it at approximately 14" long. Not too shabby!

Author Interview: Kieryn Nicolas

At the risk of sounding like that creepy Benny Mardones song, she's just sixteen years old...and has two novels on the market already!   I learned about Kieryn Nicolas through the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group when she announced the release of her second YA novel, Flawless Ruins, earlier this month.  On my relentless quest for new blog material and the opportunity to promote other authors, I reached out to Kieryn at that time and she graciously agreed to an interview. 

On Saturday, June 25th, I had the opportunity to meet Kieryn and her mom at the Allentown Library as part of Kieryn's book tour.   It was a pleasure to chat with them and I was very impressed by their promotional materials. I walked away with two signed books, a stack of bookmarks, even an autographed poster promoting literacy.  It instills hope when I find someone so young with the commitment, talent, and ambition to achieve the long term goal of completing not just one, but two novels.

And as I understand it, there are plenty more on the way.  It's an honor to welcome Kieryn to my blog...

1.       First, tell us where we can find you online such as blogs, websites, Facebook, etc.

My website is www.kierynnicolas.com. I blog at www.kierynnicolas.blogspot.com, and also at www.yalitsix.blogspot.com on Tuesdays. I have twitter (kierynnicolas) and feel free to friend me on Facebook!

  

2.       What genres do you enjoy reading and which authors influenced you? When did you decide to venture into the craft of fiction writing?

I enjoy almost any genre, as long as I connect with the characters. I usually gravitate to the YA section of the library but recently I’ve enjoyed some memoirs and even some nonfiction. I think Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Tree House books, was a big influence when I was younger—I read every book in that series, even the nonfiction companion guides. Also, J.K. Rowling (of course) spurred my imagination. Because I read at an early age, I started making up stories at an early age too, and as soon as I understood writing I’d write them down.
 

 

3.       Your first YA novel, RAIN (Quake, April 2009) is a globe trotting tale of teen espionage.  Please tell us with us how the story came about?   

To be honest, it started with a weird dream, one I couldn’t get out of my head for days afterward. Finally I sat down to write a scene with the elements of spies, friendship, and Australia (which was not only in the dream, but also top of my real-life Places I Really Want To Go list), and that scene turned into a novel.  

        How long did it take you to write from concept to final draft? 

A year and a half—six months on the rough draft, and a year for it to simmer and undergo revisions. 

 

4.       You followed up the next year with a short story, Poison Ivy (Quake eBooks, November 2010) that touches on themes of peer pressure and the courage to stand for what’s right, even at the cost of losing social status.   Was this story born from your own personal experiences?

Poison Ivy is fictional, but the idea formed after I read To Kill a Mockingbird. The themes and concepts of that (amazing) book rolled around in my mind and I decided to apply similar ideas to a social setting with which I was familiar.  

 

 

5.       Your latest YA novel, Flawless Ruins (Quake, May 2011) , is set in a post-war, futuristic America where women have advanced further in society than ever before.  Your protagonist, Morgan Waters, seems to live a fairly blissful life until she discovers something disturbing in her ‘flawless’ society.

 

What more can you tell us about the world you created in Flawless Ruins?  What inspired the story?

The idea for Flawless Ruins was a detour my mind took as I complained about girls—fictional and real—who had/thought they had “perfect” love interests. The world of Flawless Ruins is just that—perfect! With a few strings attached, of course. Or maybe they’re more like iron cables. Because nothing is perfect, not even in the future. 

Are you a science fiction fan or was this genre new territory for you?  

I’m not a science fiction fan and I’m not not a science fiction fan—I’m a story fan. If a story is good I’ll enjoy reading it, regardless of the genre—I think the same can be said for writing a story.  :-) 

 

6.       According to your bio, you were a competitive figure skater for nine years. What sparked your interest in skating?    What made you decide to stop competing? 

My grandma gave me skating lessons when I turned four, and I fell in love. Even though I got extremely nervous at competitions, I loved the challenge of working on new techniques (and landing double jumps, once I got to that level!) and doing the annual ice show at my rink was as exciting as a second holiday season. However, when I reached a certain point, I had to choose between dedicating my life to skating (which would’ve required moving) or allowing myself to explore other activities, such as writing and school activities. I’m usually an all-or-nothing kind of person, and I chose the latter. I’m glad I did, because now I’ve had the opportunity to pursue taekwondo and writing and I still have all the lessons I learned from skating, like how to deal with competition and how to apply stage makeup. Important stuff. 

 

7.       What does Kieryn Nicolas do when she isn’t writing?

 
Kieryn likes to sleep in! But that only happens during the summer. When she’s awake, Kieryn goes running and hangs out with her friends and reads awesome books. Sometimes she argues with her sister, but usually they get along. Ish. Also, she works on her driving-a-motor-vehicle skills. They’re kind of coming along.


 

About This Writing Stuff...

This week's batch of articles comes from a variety of sources.  What does J.A. Konrath mean by an  'estributor'?  M.J. Rose talks about reaching out to book clubs while Becky Levine discusses balancing your writing with summer fun.   Alan Rinzler explains why you should trust your readers and John Locke becomes the first self-published author to sell one million books on Kindle.  Read on!



5 Things More Important than Talent by Jane Friedman

Reaching Out to Book Clubs by M.J. Rose on Writer Unboxed

Summer Writing by Becky Levine

Are You Hoarding Ideas?  by James Chartrand

How to Write Like No One is Watching by Ali Luke

Agent Advice: Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency by Ricki Schultz / posted by Chuck Sambuchino

The First Self Published Author to Sell 1 Million Kindle Books by Laura Hazard Owen

Trusting the Reader by Alan Rinzler

Estributors Redux by J.A. Konrath

The Toy Robot Museum in Adamstown, PA

Adamstown, PA is known as the Antiques Capital of USA and since 2002, I've been visiting the Toy Robot Museum in the Stoudtburg Village  at least two to three times per year.  

Curator and retired NYC police officer, Joe Knedlhans has managed to compile over 2,100 toy robots from the 1960s to modern day.   His collection began when his late wife, model and Hollywood actress Margo Moore , bought a toy robot for him on a lark.  In his days on the force, Joe worked on the team that employed robots to assess dangerous situations prior to sending in human officers.

This past weekend, my fiancee and I  went out there with my friend and publisher, Steven H. Wilson and his family and my friend Omar Caal who had celebrated a recent birthday.   For the Wilsons, it was a first time visit and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Omar donated a Robby the Robot ornament to the museum and I donated an autographed photo of actor Robert Dix from Forbidden Planet.  In the past, I've donated autograph photos from Leslie Neilsen, Kenny Baker (R2-D2), and Nancy Allen (RoboCop).

After the museum, it was off to lunch then a trip to just a few of the many antique shops, far too numerous to visit in one day.  Some of my favorites include The Mad Hatter, German Trading Post, Antiques Co-Op, Renninger's, and Adams Antique Mall.

We ended the night with a wonderful dinner at Johnny's Steakhouse with Joe.   All in all, a fun day was had by all and it was a pleasure to spend time with good friends!

 



 

Testing the Prisoner premieres on Podiobooks!!

Testing the Prisoner debuted today on Podiobooks!  The first five chapters have been posted with a new chapter premiering each week.  The book was recorded by me one year ago and originally ran on Prometheus Radio Theatre .

Best of all, the audio book is FREE.  So have a listen!  Testing the Prisoner on Podiobooks.

About this Writing Stuff...

This week, Elizabeth Sims dishes out 8 ways to write better characters while Chuck Sambuchino shares 5 fast facts on book publicity.  Author Alexis Grant explains why she's keeping her day job, David Kazzie shares how he got his agent and in July, veteran media tie-in author and comic book editor, Bob Greenberger, gets roasted at Shore Leave 33 !


8 Ways to Write Better Characters by Elizabeth Sims

5 Fast Facts on Book Publicity by Chuck Sambuchino

What is a Literary Executor? by Brian A. Klems

Why One Writer is Keeping Her Day Job by Alexis Grant / posted by Chuck Sambuchino

The Necessity of Failure Plus How "Accidents" Happen posted by Jane Friedman

Successful Queries: Agent Roseanne Wells and "Dumbemployed"   posted by Chuck Sambuchino

How I Got My Agent: David Kazzie posted by Chuck Sambuchino

The Character Assassination of Robert Greenberger - Shore Leave 33 Comedy Roast of the veteran SF & Media Tie-In Writer

A Day at Lake Wynonah

One of my hobbies, passions actually, is freshwater fishing.   I spent the greater part of today at Lake Wynonah in Auburn, PA.   Lake Wynonah is a gated community set in the woods and encircling to freshwater lakes.  A friend of mine from work lives there and most days, I wish I did, too!  Maybe someday...

While fishing there, I was at one point run over by a chipmunk.  How is this possible you may ask?  There was a chipmunk chase behind me as I stood on a short bulkhead about 10-12" above the water line. The lead chipmunk fell or dove into the water while the pursuer decided to scamper along the top of the builkhead and, consequently ran over my feet.  There is a first time for everything.  As chipmunks are rather capable swimmers, the lead chipmunk made it across the cove successfully.

I am sunburned and exhausted.  Time for a nap.

Testing the Prisoner breaks into Top 100 Ghost Kindle eBooks!

Testing the Prisoner has broken into the top 100 ghost Kindle books on Amazon at number 61!  I don't know how long it will remain there.  This may be a fleeting accolade but I will take it as a wonderful start to my weekend!

Click HERE  to see the rankings!

About This Writing Stuff...

This week, Amazon's Kindle becomes clogged by spammers!   Jane Friedman plays with numbers as she gives us 5 tips for platform building and 4 steps to useful critiques.  

First, though, I'd like to shout out to urban fantasy author,Kelly Meding, on her recent and upcoming successes.  First, she interviews audio narrator Xe Sands, who is recording the audio version of Kelly's Dreg City series of novels.    Secondly, Kelly discusses the first book in her MetaWars series with Pocket Books, called TRANCE. 

Also, Bob Greenberger  announces the re-release of The Spider-Man Vault in wider distribution.


Interview: Xe Sands, Audio Narrator by Kelly Meding

Q&A about TRANCE by Kelly Meding

Spam Clogging Amazon Kindle Self Publishing by Alistair Bar for Reuters

New Agent Alert: Stephanie Sun of Weed Literary posted by Chuck Sambuchino

Agent Advice:  Eric Ruben of Ruben Literary Agency posted by Chuck Sambuchino

Available Once More: The Spider-Man Vault by Bob Greenberger

5 Excellent Tips for Platform Building posted by Jane Friedman

4 Steps to Useful Critiques: The Lerman Method by Wolf Pascoe / posted by Jane Friedman


 

  

Testing the Prisoner has been Nook'd!

Testing the Prisoner is finally available as a Nook book from Barnes and Noble!  Click HERE  to check it out!