Tess Hilmo's Blog, page 13
January 19, 2011
Win an Editor Critique!
Do you have a finished MG or YA manuscript?
Would you like to have that manuscript critiqued by a fabulous editor that worked for Harcourt for over a decade? And is a novelist herself?
For Free?!?!
Click over to deareditor.com for more details on this smashing giveaway.
Come on, who's entering with me?
Would you like to have that manuscript critiqued by a fabulous editor that worked for Harcourt for over a decade? And is a novelist herself?
For Free?!?!
Click over to deareditor.com for more details on this smashing giveaway.
Come on, who's entering with me?
January 13, 2011
Can You Read This?
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh?
Also the reason I'm hoping I caught all/any type-o's in my formatted pages....hope my brain didn't skip over any!
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh?
Also the reason I'm hoping I caught all/any type-o's in my formatted pages....hope my brain didn't skip over any!
January 9, 2011
What are First Pass Pages?
This weekend I received my first pass pages on With A Name Like Love.
If you're like me, you may not have a clue what first pass pages are. Thanks to my discussions with members of both the Class of 2k11 and the Elevensies, I was able to know a bit about them before they came my way.
What are they?
Your formatted book! Up to this point, we've been working off a manuscript. You know, 8x11 regular typed pages.
Now I get to see how it will be formatted...what font they have chosen, how the chapters will be marked.
It's way cool!
It's also my last chance to make any changes and search out any errors. From here, it's almost to print...eek!
so I wanted to share some pics.
the title page above and also a chapter heading. I very much like the slightly modern touch to the script they've chosen on this historical piece. I think it gives the work a fresh look that I hope will appeal to readers.
Questions: have you heard of the term first pass pages...why do they call them that when really it is your LAST pass? Any ideas out there?
January 7, 2011
Mad Lib Friday
Pop over to the Class of 2k11 for a fun mad lib game. All players (play along in the comments) are entered to win a $10 gift card to B&N/Amazon/Indiebound!
Free stuff and a game to boot!
Question: What are you planning for this weekend? We're trying a new restaurant that is getting great reviews in the city and then I'm gluing my hiney to the chair for some WIP progress. Wish me luck!
Free stuff and a game to boot!
Question: What are you planning for this weekend? We're trying a new restaurant that is getting great reviews in the city and then I'm gluing my hiney to the chair for some WIP progress. Wish me luck!
January 5, 2011
You Gotta Know this....Seriously!
My friend and fellow Wad member Amy told me about a scary site that houses way too much personal info on us.
At first I thought she was joking....could there really be a site out there that has my income, google picture of my house (both aerial and face shots), children/spouse info, etc...??
So I looked it up.
Holy Cats, Batman...she wasn't joking.
It made me sick to think this info is out there...and that for only $2.95 someone could even get my credit report and more detailed info.
On the bright side, she also told me how to delete my profile from this lousy site and today, I'm sharing that with you all.
First, go to spokeo.com
put your name in the search bar (it's a painfully slow site but worth the time)
find your state, double click, find your specific name and address
double click on that (again, this may take some time to search but wait it out)
up comes your profile. At the top of the box you will see tabs...one is "property"..that's where they had pictures of my house. The income was way off (they had me as rich...woot!) but the spouse and my unlisted phone number, google map to my unlisted address was all there.
once your profile is up, copy the specific URL (that's in your top address bar)
then click on the tiny, gray "privacy" word on the page bottom.
follow the guidelines for removal...paste your specific URL in the designated box, leave an email and CATCHPA phrase then go to your email and follow up on the final deletion step.
It really does delete the info (though only from this specific site)
scary, scary stuff.
Check it out and report back...and spread the word....this is stuff NO ONE is entitled to. Seriously, what is our world coming to????
At first I thought she was joking....could there really be a site out there that has my income, google picture of my house (both aerial and face shots), children/spouse info, etc...??
So I looked it up.
Holy Cats, Batman...she wasn't joking.
It made me sick to think this info is out there...and that for only $2.95 someone could even get my credit report and more detailed info.
On the bright side, she also told me how to delete my profile from this lousy site and today, I'm sharing that with you all.
First, go to spokeo.com
put your name in the search bar (it's a painfully slow site but worth the time)
find your state, double click, find your specific name and address
double click on that (again, this may take some time to search but wait it out)
up comes your profile. At the top of the box you will see tabs...one is "property"..that's where they had pictures of my house. The income was way off (they had me as rich...woot!) but the spouse and my unlisted phone number, google map to my unlisted address was all there.
once your profile is up, copy the specific URL (that's in your top address bar)
then click on the tiny, gray "privacy" word on the page bottom.
follow the guidelines for removal...paste your specific URL in the designated box, leave an email and CATCHPA phrase then go to your email and follow up on the final deletion step.
It really does delete the info (though only from this specific site)
scary, scary stuff.
Check it out and report back...and spread the word....this is stuff NO ONE is entitled to. Seriously, what is our world coming to????
January 2, 2011
Get To It Already!
Do not dwell on the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.
---Buddha
I love this concept because it reminds us we only have today.
I'm the queen of, I'm gonna start a more strict writing/exercising/reading/work schedule....really I will.....soon, I swear....
But today is the day for me to get off my duff and DO IT.
Yes, today is the day.
right after my nap ;)
Happy New Year all. Tell me....what will you resolve this day?
*
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.
---Buddha
I love this concept because it reminds us we only have today.
I'm the queen of, I'm gonna start a more strict writing/exercising/reading/work schedule....really I will.....soon, I swear....
But today is the day for me to get off my duff and DO IT.
Yes, today is the day.
right after my nap ;)
Happy New Year all. Tell me....what will you resolve this day?
*
December 13, 2010
I am FREAKING out!
I need to slow down, take a deep breath and stop jumping around the room...
why all the fuss?
Sept 27, 224 pages....
and they are keeping my title which I adore.
Freaking out, I tell you.....FREAKING OUT!
why all the fuss?
Sept 27, 224 pages....
and they are keeping my title which I adore.
Freaking out, I tell you.....FREAKING OUT!
November 30, 2010
Something to Look Forward To
There are some pretty special MG and YA novels to look forward to next year. Here is the trailer from the Class of 2k11 to whet your appetite.
On a personal note, seeing my name and little southern story in this trailer floors me.
After almost nine years, three completed novels, four abandoned partially completed novels, tears, laughter and many rejection slips torn into itty bitty tiny shreds my book is really coming.
Holy Cow.
On a personal note, seeing my name and little southern story in this trailer floors me.
After almost nine years, three completed novels, four abandoned partially completed novels, tears, laughter and many rejection slips torn into itty bitty tiny shreds my book is really coming.
Holy Cow.
November 19, 2010
Game, Prizes and a Question for You...
Take a peek over at the Class of 2k11 blog today. We started our ongoing Friday feature called Mad Lib Friday....we post a quote, you Mad Lib it and then everyone who comments is entered in a drawing for a monthly prize (a book buying gift certificate, folks!)
Don't miss out on the fun!
Also...as a Middle Grade authorly person of more quiet books, I sometimes get discouraged at today's market and the insatiable appetite for all things NOT contemporary or historical.
Don't misunderstand, I love a good, action packed, paranormal, sci fi or fantasy read....
but is there still any place for regular stories like Because of Winn Dixie or Witch of Blackbird Pond or the like???
This question came to mind again this morning when I saw this announcement in Publishers Marketplace. KUDOS to the author...I am sincerely and honestly happy for her success. Truly, I am. But it does make me wonder where my sweet little stories that feature regular kids in everyday settings might fit into today's literary market....
PM announcement (names removed because it is not about this specific author or deal but more about my question of how and where the market stands on different genres):
Children's: Young Adult
four-book YA futuristic, fairy-tale inspired series, starting with CINDER, Cinderella is re-envisioned through teen heroine Cinder, part girl and part machine, who must piece together her mysterious past before she can fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom -- and the rest of planet Earth -- from an otherworldly enemy; as Cinder's quest continues through the series, she finds allies loosely based Little Red Riding Hood (SCARLET), Rapunzel (CRESS), and Snow White (WINTER) -- as they join forces to conquer evil and find their happily-ever-afters, to XXXof XXX, in a major deal, for high six-figures, at auction, by XXX at XXX.
It seems like a fun, action packed read. I mean a MC that is a half girl and half machine Cinderella? Wowza!
thoughts??
Don't miss out on the fun!
Also...as a Middle Grade authorly person of more quiet books, I sometimes get discouraged at today's market and the insatiable appetite for all things NOT contemporary or historical.
Don't misunderstand, I love a good, action packed, paranormal, sci fi or fantasy read....
but is there still any place for regular stories like Because of Winn Dixie or Witch of Blackbird Pond or the like???
This question came to mind again this morning when I saw this announcement in Publishers Marketplace. KUDOS to the author...I am sincerely and honestly happy for her success. Truly, I am. But it does make me wonder where my sweet little stories that feature regular kids in everyday settings might fit into today's literary market....
PM announcement (names removed because it is not about this specific author or deal but more about my question of how and where the market stands on different genres):
Children's: Young Adult
four-book YA futuristic, fairy-tale inspired series, starting with CINDER, Cinderella is re-envisioned through teen heroine Cinder, part girl and part machine, who must piece together her mysterious past before she can fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom -- and the rest of planet Earth -- from an otherworldly enemy; as Cinder's quest continues through the series, she finds allies loosely based Little Red Riding Hood (SCARLET), Rapunzel (CRESS), and Snow White (WINTER) -- as they join forces to conquer evil and find their happily-ever-afters, to XXXof XXX, in a major deal, for high six-figures, at auction, by XXX at XXX.
It seems like a fun, action packed read. I mean a MC that is a half girl and half machine Cinderella? Wowza!
thoughts??
