Michelle McLean's Blog, page 22

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Finally, Inspiration Strikes! But...

I've been having a lot of epiphanies lately about several of my projects. Major, breakthrough epiphanies. Things I have been stuck on for MONTHS. Problems I haven't known how to fix. Plot holes that were so deep I thought there was no fixing them. And then, all of a sudden, for no logical reason at all, I've had these strokes of super-insight and BAM! Inspiration strikes. I've got answers to questions I didn't know I had. Motivations I didn't know I needed. New directions I didn't know I wanted to take. And a few fixes I knew I needed to boot :)
I'm thrilled. Elated. Over the flipping moon excited to implement these changes.
One problem....
None of these epiphanies apply to my current project :D Because of all the stucky-suckiness I've been experiencing regarding my current novel-in-progress, I put it aside for awhile and decided to work on a short story I've been wanting to write. And I've been editing (again and again) the picture book I'm working on with the amazing Lisa Amowitz (who is running an AWESOME contest on her blog today. Head over!)
I am about 2 scenes from finishing the short story (life got in the way for a few days. Hopefully we are back on track today). Yet, instead of finishing the dang thing, I'm having creative bursts of literary awesomeness for a book I haven't touched in months.
Honestly, I think I have issues with finishing projects and I'm starting to think this is my brain's way of preventing me from finishing yet another one.
"Oooo almost done with that story, are you? Well take THIS *throws inspiration mojo for another book* Mwahahahaha!"
Well, crazy little mixed up brain. Joke's on you. I've taken lots of notes. I'm going to finish this short story THIS WEEK and then....then, I'm diving head first into that poor, neglected WIP of mine and finishing THAT too. Thanks for the motivation. Sincerely, Me :)
Do you ever have this happen? Get sudden inspiration for one project while working on another one? What do you do? Do you abandon one for the other, or finish Project B before going back to Project A?

Friday Funnies

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Blog Chain - Love to Hate 'Em

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This round of the ol' Blog Chain was started by the lovely Amparo who wants to pay some Valentine's homage to a villain or two :D Here is the topic:

Since Valentine's Day is around the corner, I think it's only appropriate to pay homage to those we love. But instead of our better halves, family members, and friends, this blog chain will be all about loving the haters: write a love letter to your favorite literary villain/villain-ish character. It can be short, long, serious, funny. You can use song lyrics or poems instead. Choice is totally yours :)
There are quite a few villains I love to hate, Darth Vader being among the forefront of those, for reasons very similar to those I'll outline below for the villain I chose. But for this post, I've got to go with.....



Dear Professor Snape,

The reason why I love you is simple. You were so vile, so evil, so downright mean that with every book, I despised you a little bit more. And then, when I couldn't fathom hating you even one drop more, your true story came to light and broke my heart. Suddenly, everything you'd done for the past seven books was cast in a different light. Your attitude and seeming cruelty made sense and there were times when I even sided with you and wanted to smack my favorite characters upside the head. Sure you were surly and nasty, but honestly, you probably dealt with it all better than I would have. Instead of rejoicing at your death, as I'd always assumed I'd do, I shed tears for the tragedy of it all.

You were the perfect hero disguised as the perfect villain. And for that, you'll always have my heart.

Happy Valentine's Day,

Me


Check out Eric's favorite villain and head over to Tere's tomorrow to find out who she loves to hate.

Who is your favorite villain?

Friday Funnies

Things That Make Me Go WOW...and Grab a Pen

Okay, bear with me through the fangirl gushing for a paragraph or two - I promise there is writing related stuff coming :D
Has anyone seen that Sherlock series on PBS (or BBC depending on what side of the pond you live :) It comes on right after Downton Abbey)? Like Downton Abbey, I resisted watching it despite glowing reviews from my friends. And like Downton Abbey, once I saw one episode I was completely hooked and found a way to watch ALL the episodes, seasons 1 and 2. And I'm completely bummed I have to wait until next year (most likely) for season 3.
The show is, simply put, brilliant. There are so many twists and turns - and not just regular twists and turns, but COOL twists and turns. The situations are serious, the dialogue is awesome, and the characters make me laugh and sometimes cry. 
When I watch something like this, I sometimes sit back and just think, "Man! I wish I could write like that!" It makes me want to pull out my WIPs and rewrite them, or add to them, or just amp them up in a million different ways. It makes me think harder about the twists I put in my own stories. It makes me try harder to be more original, to surprise my readers more, to make them care more about my characters.
The hubs will sometimes ask me why I'm watching shows like this instead of writing. I do it because of all the reasons above. Sure, it's an enjoyable way to procrastinate :) But it's also a wonderful inspiration and motivation to make my own writing BETTER.
Have you ever watched anything that just made you think - Oooo that makes me want to be BETTER?

Friday Funnies

Christine Fonseca's Dies Irae Release Day!!

Today I want to wish a HUGE Happy Book Birthday to my dear friend Christine Fonseca - Congrats Christine!!!

Today kicks off the launch of her blog tour for her novella, DIES IRAE, a prequel to her Requiem series (the first novel, LACRIMOSA, will be out in March).

If you haven't yet heard of this book, here's a little teaser along with its gorgeous cover:

Some sacrifices should never be made—even for love.

Mikayel lives by one rule—obey the orders of the angelic Council at all costs. That is, until he and his friends, Azza and Demi, are sent to Earth. Assigned as Watchers while they await their decision of which angelic order to serve, the three assume the bodies of teenagers and experience life as human.

The sensations are overwhelming as the angels experience a host of human emotions—rage, terror, love—and come ever closer to breaking one of the unbreakable rules—never fall in love.

But being human isn't the only problem facing the three angels. Unbeknownst to the Council, demonic activity is on the rise, threatening to break a tenuous peace that has existed for a millennia; a peace Azza seems bent on destroying.

Caught in a struggle for power with unseen demonic forces and Azza, and fighting against his rising emotional attachment to Demi, Mikayel must now decide how much he is willing to sacrifice for his new found love—a decision that could reignite an ancient war and will threaten the only thing that matters to the angels, the survival of humanity.

You can check out the awesome book trailer HERE.

We've got a fun guest post today with a little Q&A with the characters from DIES IRAE.

Take it away guys!


Getting to Know the Angels of DIES IRAE 
I'm so excited to start my blog tour for DIES IRAE with my NF buddy, my CP, and my BFF, Michelle. Michelle asked me to introduce you to the main characters of DIES IRAE. So, the best way to do that I think…An interview. 

So, I asked Mikayel, Azzaziel, and Demetra to join me today and talk with all of you.Without further adieu, I bring you the angels of DIES IRAE:

Mikayel: Oh please, you make us sound so…
Azzaziel: Ridiculous; the word you're looking for is ridiculous.
Demetra: I was thinking old.
Christine: Whatever guys. You know what I meant. I'm just happy you're all here for our readers. Now, to get started, let's have each of you tell everyone a little bit about yourselves. Mikayel?
Azzaziel (whispering to Demetra): Told ya he'd go first.
Demetra (whispering to Azzaziel): Shh. Don't be so rude.
Mikayel (Clearing his throat): Thanks Christine. I'm Mikayel and I'm sort of the leader of the group.
(Azzaziel coughs loudly)
Mikayel: What? I am. Anyway, I'm the reason we were assigned as Watchers. And we won't leave until I'm ready. (smiles smugly at the others)
Christine: Thanks Mikayel. Azzaziel, you're up.
Azzaziel: First off, call me Azza. You know I hate it when people address me by my full name. Let's see. I guess I would say that I'm Mikayel's best and most loyal friend. Where he goes, I go. Which isn't always a good thing.
Christine (laughs): Thanks Azza. Demetra, tell us a little about you.
Demetra: Well, I'm Demetra, Demi for short. Like Azza, I am loyal to Mikayel. I'm sort of like the voice of reason with these two.
Christine: Isn't that the truth!
Demi: Yep. And trust me, it's a constant battle to keep them in line.
(Mikayel and Azza laugh)
Christine: Tell me more about that.
Demi: The boys are both tricksters, constantly trying to pull one over on me. It's kind of a nightmare assignment really.
Christine: Ha! I bet. Okay, we're almost out of time. Last question. Describe the other angels in one word. Let's start with you, Azza.
Azza: Easy. Mikayel is confused. And Demi is a hard-nose.
Mikayel: Confused? I don't think so!
Christine: What are your words Mikayel?
Mikayel: For Azza, stubborn. And for Demi…beautiful.
Azza: I think I'm going to be ill.
Christine: Demi?
Demi: Mikayel is strong and Azza, he's reckless.
Azza: I think we can see where everyone's loyalties are now. Just remember that I met Mikayel first. We've been friends a lot longer than the two of you.
Demi: Touchy, touchy.
Mikayel: Guys, knock it off.
Christine: Is it always like this with you three?
Mikayel, Azza and Demi (together): Yes. Always.
Christine: Well, I think that is it for now, then. Thanks for stopping by and introducing yourselves.

And there you have it—my brief, but, um…interesting (I hope) interview with the angels of DIES IRAE. To find out more about them, and their adventures on earth, be sure to check out DIES IRAE.

Thanks for stopping by Christine!! Here's a little info on the fabulously talented Christine along with info on where to get this amazing book. And keep scrolling for a little teaser on the first novel in the Requiem series. AND head over to the Operation Awesome blog tomorrow for a chance to win TWO COPIES of this awesome novella! CONGRATS AGAIN CHRISTINE!!!

To buy DIES IRAE, head to - Amazon, Barnes & Noble


About Christine Fonseca 
School psychologist by day, critically acclaimed YA and nonfiction author by night, Christine Fonseca believes that writing is a great way to explore humanity. Her debut YA Gothic series, The Requiem Series, including DIES IRAE and LACRIMOSA, examines the role of redemption, sacrifice and love. When she's not writing or spending time with her family, she can be sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. Catch her daily thoughts about writing and life on her blog.

For more information about Christine Fonseca or the series, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com or her blog http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com.


LACRIMOSA
As if casting out demons isn't hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the warrior angels called Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan.

He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate. But she can't, because he's also the love of her former life as a human girl—a life that ended too soon, tying her to emotions she was never supposed to feel.

Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty—damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell—or saving him, and condemning herself.

Author Endorsement(s): "LACRIMOSA reaches out, grabs readers by the heart, and takes them on an emotional journey from the first page to the last. The last novel you'll need to read to understand true sacrifice."
~Elana Johnson, Author of POSSESSION

Friday Funnies

Submission Calls

Looking for a place to send your unagented short story or novel? I've got a list with a few publishers with open calls out over at Operation Awesome today. Check it out! :)