Lorijo Metz's Blog: ScifiWritermom, page 11
June 8, 2012
Cat Girl’s Day Off, by Kimberly Pauley
Full disclosure: Kimberly Pauley was in my writer’s group for (sadly) only a short time before she moved to London. She started writing Cat Girl’s Day Off while here in the Chicago area, and so I’d already read the first few chapters. Understand that I in no way felt obligated to read this cute little YA cat fantasy of a novel because I didn’t know Kimberly long enough to feel obligated and—even if I did—she’s in London!
But read it I did. Purely, I might add, for selfish reasons. In the short time Kimberly was in my writer’s group, I quickly discovered she was one of those writers who’d show up and say something like, “Oh, I just wrote this. It’s not very good…blah, blah, blah.” And, of course, I’d read it and think, Really? This is your first draft? I should quit. Right now. I should just quit writing immediately. Sigh…
Seriously, Kimberly’s an amazingly clever, quirky, little writer who somehow knows how to take what many of us might consider a lame premise (i.e. cat whispering) and turn it into a wacky, wonderful, page-turner of a novel. (Heck, if Michael Jackson could make a hit out of a love song about a rat, anything’s possible.)
In Cat Girl’s Day Off, Kimberly introduces us to Nat Ng, a girl whose superpower is, of all things, the ability to communicate with cats. The kind of superpower that practically begs you to make fun of it. (Hey, Cat Girl, want some milk? Meowwwww) Even worse, Nat is the middle child—the middle girl—in a family of super-talented geniuses (Her sisters’ abilities include levitation, lie-detecting, and the chameleon-like ability to blend into one’s surroundings).
Like any good writer, Kimberly forces Nat to face her biggest fear: everyone—especially her high school peers—learning about her ability. When a spoiled pink cat belonging to famous Hollywood blogger Easton West insists that the person who looks like “his person” is really an imposter, Nat’s star struck friends (and the only two people besides her family who know about her ability) insist she help them find the missing blogger. Chaos ensues as a film crew, complete with screaming divas and hunky actors, that Easton West had come to town planning to cover, descends upon their high school to film some scenes.
While there’s plenty of mystery, humor, and nail-biting scenes, my favorite part of Cat Girl’s Day Off are the scenes with the cats. It’s easy to picture this as the next Pixar or Disney animated movie with scenes such as the one where a whole kitty litter load of cats descend upon Wrigley Field to help Nat and her friends try to capture the villain.
Cat Girl’s Day Off is clever and fast paced. The characters, from Nat’s super-talented, dysfunctional family, to the clever, neurotic, and heroic cats made it a Super Fun, summertime read!
Find out more about Kimberly Pauley at: http://www.kimberlypauley.com/
Other books by Kimberly Pauley include:
(Which I’ve also read and highly recommend!)
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Filed under: REVIEWS Tagged: animated, Cat, Disney, Fantasy, Hollywood, Humor, Kimberly, Kimberly Pauley, London, Michael Jackson, mystery, Pixar, Superpower, Wrigley Field, YA
June 6, 2012
SFNetcast: Your Source for Indie Sci-fi on the Web!
SFNetcast.com is your source for Indie Science Fiction on the web.
Just returned from a road trip down south, Savannah, Georgia way! Beautiful weather, gorgeous trees, plus lots of historic places and ghosts (or so they say…). However, it’s what happened while I was away, via the Internet, that really has me excited.
SFNetcast.com, your source for indie Science Fiction on the web, is featuring me, Lorijo Metz, as their June, Indie Sci-fi author of the month. I’m incredibly honored and, more important, pleased with the nice little review they wrote for WHEELS.
…Lorijo Metz has managed something that, quite frankly, I thought impossible… She got me to read a YA novel from beginning to end.
Humm…I think that’s good? Anyway, I realize this news is probably more–NO, let’s face it–definitely more exciting for me than it is for you. If so, then here’s a couple more reasons to check out SFNetcast.com:
SFNetcast.com is a great source of links to indie SF/Fantasy series on the web. Personally, I can’t wait to check out more of these links. It’s total fun for a sci-fi geek like me.
WHEELS isn’t the only SF/Fantasy book they’ve reviewed. In a world flush with indie authors, SFNetcast.com is a great source for new, worthwhile, indie SF/Fantasy books.
Love SF/Fantasy comics? SFNetcast.com also provides plenty of links to those.
What the heck–it’s a fun website. Check it out!
Thanks SFNetcast.com! “May the force be with you”, “Live long and prosper”, and… “Hasta La Vista, Baby!”
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Filed under: MUSINGS Tagged: Art, Fiction, Independent music, Literature, Lorijo Metz, Programs, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, SFNetcast.com, Television
May 29, 2012
Twitter, Goodreads and Browsing For Books: The Key, by Pauline Baird Jones
Sheepishly, I must admit, I’m just your typical hypocrite who, on the one hand, bemoans the fact that I no longer have a local bookstore to sip coffee at and browse books; while, the next minute, I’m clicking over to Amazon to buy another book.
I miss being overwhelmed by a bountiful array of book covers—that sensation of so many books, so little time I used to get walking into a bookstore. I’d pick up one book and turn it over to read the back, only to have another glossy cover catch my eye. I’d look through the stalls searching for the perfect cover/back page combination that would make me say, “Enough—this the one!”
Online, my field of vision is limited to a page, a few square inches of Internet. I know there are thousands—millions of other books out there, but I can’t see them. I can’t grab them. What if one of them is the next book I should be reading?
That’s where Twitter and Goodreads come in.
I’ve just finished reading The Key, by Pauline Baird Jones, a book I never would have picked up, or known about, had I not met the author on Twitter. It’s actually the third book I’ve chosen this way. And it’s suddenly occurred to me that as my Twitter and Goodreads’ following grows, so does my field of vision. While Goodreads offers me lists and recommendations, on Twitter I actually get to interact (of course, in a limited way) with the author. So why did I pick The Key? On the author’s Twitter picture, she’s wearing this funky, steampunkie looking hat—a hat that intrigued me and prompted me to check out her books. I have to say, I’m so glad I did!
For me, The Key has all the sci-fi elements I love. It’s got tech and adventure; but most of all, it’s got great characters. There’s also humor and romance and, of course, most it takes place between humans and aliens with special abilities.
The main character in The Key is Captain Sara Donovan. We meet her after she’s crash-landed on a planet and been rescued by a good-looking, though not-much-one-for-words, alien named Fyn. Sara and Fyn quickly became two of my favorite fictional characters. Sara is strong, smart, sassy and, since this is science fiction, more than your average female. Plus, she can play piano, dance and sing! In short, she is everything I’d want my daughter to be. Heck – I want to be Sara! Fyn is strong, mysterious and humble. While he could easily be just another knight in shining armour, he falls for the one girl who, for the most part, doesn’t need one…or want one.
The Key isn’t great literature, but it is great fun. If you love Star Trek, Dr. Who and you’re looking for a book that takes you away from it all and leaves you smiling, this is the book for you.
I wanted to ask Pauline if she ever served in the military. Her ease with military lingo and battle scenes read to me like firsthand knowledge. Who knows, maybe she’ll honor me with a comment.
The Key is the first in Pauline Baird Jones’ Project Universe series, which includes: The Key, Girl Gone Nova, Tangled in Time, Steamrolled, Dreamspell Steampunk and the newest release, Kicking Ashe.
Read more about Pauline Baird Jones and check out some of her other books (she writes mystery and nonfiction too) at: http://paulinebjones.server101.com
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Filed under: REVIEWS Tagged: Action, Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Book, Dr. Who, Goodread, Goodreads, Key, Pauline, Pauline Baird Jones, Romance, science fiction, Social network, Star Trek, The Key, twitter
May 22, 2012
Followed By A Scalloped Potato Recipe
@Scallopedpotato
About a week ago, I noticed one of my Twitter followers was a scalloped potato recipe. Linda’s scalloped potato recipe, apparently. I don’t know Linda, but I was able to get to know her scalloped potato recipe a little better by clicking on a link to it. I have to admit, if I’m ever in need of a scalloped potato recipe, I may click on that link again. If I can find it. The scalloped potato recipe doesn’t tweet very much. At this posting, 6 tweets to be exact.
Anyway, my first thought was, Why is this scalloped potato recipe following me? Obviously, I’ve underestimated scalloped potatoes and their love of young adult science fiction. Silly me! Scalloped potatoes are the perfect audience for my book. Smothered in all those bland, milky layers of white sauce—of course they’d be searching for a little sci-fi adventure. Or, at least, a few jalapeños tucked in between their layers.
So, 6 lonely little tweets and not even a fancy quiche or a gourmet truffle–just your standard old scalloped potato recipe. A scalloped potato recipe that has OVER 4 TIMES the amount of followers I do! Yes, Really—4 Times! I spent years writing and editing my novel, slaving over every word, begging people to read it (People who, I might add, were very happy they did!), and this saucy little scalloped potato recipe comes along all starchy and buttery, and full of milk and onions, and snags 4 TIMES the amount of followers.
It’s enough to make somebody go au gratin!
Argggg!
Fine, I’m finished ranting. I just hope the scalloped potato recipe has the decency to buy my book because, well, I’m starving and for some reason I’m craving…scalloped potatoes.
Suddenly craving scalloped potatoes? Go to: http://www.scallopedpotatoesrecipe.ca/
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Filed under: MUSINGS Tagged: Butter, Cook, Easter, Fruit and Vegetable, Gratin, Lorijo Metz, Potato, Recipe, science fiction, twitter, Wheels, Young adult
May 18, 2012
Versatile Inspiration
I’m always looking for inspiration. Sometimes I’m sniffing, feeling and listening for it too. To put it another way, I’m always trying to get a sense of what I want to write about next. For the next month or so, however, I need look no further than the contract I’ve signed for a series of educational books. Not exactly, science fiction…but writing, nonetheless. (And, oddly, fun at times.) Better yet, they’re paying me for it!
($$ + Books = Happy Writer)
The point is, while I do have a “Next” novel project in mind, I have little time to think about it. I have even less time to think about my next blog post and wouldn’t you know it, my Twitter and Writer friend, Pauline Baird Jones, just awarded me The Versatile Blogger’s award.
Dear me… I don’t feel versatile at all right now!
So, to motivate me and to motivate you, I want to quickly share one of the most visually stimulating and inspiring websites I follow: Chicquero.com. (A note here, not everything on this website is appropriate for children).
According the website’s creators, who were born in Brazil, Chic means “stylish or smart, as an element of art, fashion and design,” while Quero means to “like, want; will, desire; love; list”. The photos and art on their blog definitely live up to all these descriptions.
Click on the pictures below (and the one up above!) to check out a few of my favorite posts. And bloggers, be on the lookout…I’ll be awarding The Versatile Blogger’s award to a few of you quite soon!
Thanks Pauline! (P.S. I’m halfway through reading your novel, The Key, and loving it!)
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Filed under: SHARINGS Tagged: Art, award, Blog, Brazil, Chic, inspiration, Pauline, Pauline Baird Jones, Quero, The Key, twitter, Website
May 12, 2012
May The Muse Be With You
Friday, in between trying to write two more chapters in a nonfiction series I’m working on, I spent the entire day plugging my book and its brand new shiny, lovely review from Pocketful of Books. Bottom line, once again I was at the computer all day.
Today, I’m exhausted and bug-eyed, and have chosen to use Mother’s Day as an excuse not to work. (As a workaholic, I do need a reason). Instead, I’ve taken the dog on two walks, watched a few episodes of the Extras on HBO GO and, finally, googled: Ted Talks, Creativity. My muse must have been watching over me (and you’ll understand why I say it this way in a bit) for I stumbled, or rather, googled upon a Ted Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love; a book I rather enjoyed reading. (I know…it’s not Sci-fi. I don’t always read Sci-fi.) Anyway, it’s a wonderful, inspiring talk and I wanted to share it you—all my creative alien-loving and non-alien-loving readers out there. Enjoy 
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Filed under: SHARINGS Tagged: Arts, Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, Extras, Google, Literature, Mother's Day, TED
May 10, 2012
Freebie Friday!
To celebrate my new review and author interview (find out all my deepest, darkest secrets) on Pocketful of Books, I’m giving away free ebooks today! That’s right, it’s Freebie Friday! Surf, don’t stroll, to your nearest Amazon.com and download your free copy of WHEELS, my YA, Sci-fi, Adventure. Better yet, click on the book cover and transport there now!
And may the force be with you!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/J5rttm
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/J5rBJn
Amazon France : http://amzn.to/J5rJsn
Amazon Germany : http://amzn.to/J5rPjZ
Filed under: SHARINGS Tagged: Adventure, Amazon, Amazon.com, eBook, Free, Free ebooks, Freebie Friday, Lorijo Metz, Sci-fi, science fiction, Wheels, YA, Young adult
May 7, 2012
The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
I decided to create a new category for what, I consider, very special words and books. One of the best things about eBooks is that I can highlight scenes and lines that are stunning, insightful or, in some way or other, simply delicious–then easily find them again. This category is for me (hopefully you’ll enjoy it too). It is a way to document great moments in reading that I might otherwise forget. On that note, first up: The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern.
Reading Morgenstern’s story, I felt as if I were watching a dream unfold. A mysterious, eerie, lovely, romantic, Cirque du Soleil sort of dream. The Night Circus is so unique it almost deserves a genre of its own. Here are a few of the words I want to remember…
“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”
“…the ship is made of books, its sails thousands of overlapping pages, and the sea it floats upon is dark black ink.”
“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mention or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”
https://www.youtube.com/v/WZJiW2w1xdc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0
Filed under: WORDS I LOVE, WRITERS I ASPIRE TO Tagged: Animal Welfare, Books, Circus, Cirque, E-book, Entertainment, Erin Morgenstern, Literature, Morgenstern, Night Circus, reading, Writing
May 4, 2012
Johnny Depp Cast As The Next Harry Potter?
He’s even got the glasses. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Have you ever watched a movie based on a favorite novel and thought, Yuck, they really got that wrong. (Twilight fans…please, don’t get me started!) Or maybe you just want to recast Harry Potter. Author, Fan, or future Hollywood director—have I got the site for you!
About a week ago, StoryCasting.com notified me my novel, WHEELS, had been added to their site. That’s cool, I thought. But what is it? I’ll tell you… it’s every author’s daydream.
At StoryCasting.com, you get to populate your story with your dream cast of Hollywood actors and actresses. Want Johnny Depp to play the part of your hero? On StoryCasting.com, he’s available. Tired of Johnny, pick Brad Pitt (Angelina can stay home and take care of the kids!).
So, surf on over to StoryCasting.com, open an account (it’s quick and simple) and start playing God with your favorite characters. Below is my cast for one of my recent reads.
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Filed under: MUSINGS, SHARINGS Tagged: Actor, Brad Pitt, Dark Shadows, h, Harry Potter, Hollywood, Johnny, Johnny Depp, Lorijo Metz, Twilight, Wheels
April 27, 2012
Summer’s Crossing by Julie Kagawa
Briefly (because I still have that non-fiction deadline looming), I finished Summer’s Crossing by Julie Kagawa, the second book in her Iron Fey series. Actually, it’s more of a book 1.5 in the series, as it’s basically a short story about Robin Goodfellow, or Puck, and Prince Ash of the Winter Court, two characters who I really like.
I got the feeling that Julie Kagawa likes these characters too and enjoyed writing this story in order to develop their relationship. They are opposites and it’s quite fun to watch, or rather, read their interactions. Anyway, I enjoyed it and highly recommend it if you’re into Iron Fey series, as I am. It’s short but totally worth the ridiculously low price you pay for a
