Kai Strand's Blog, page 73
January 19, 2011
Watch Out for the Splatter!
I visited with Susan Kaye Quinn over on her blog Ink Spells. Please visit. Feel free to heckle, in a good-natured way. Topics that leave themselves wide open for it are; the Midwest accent I worked so hard to get rid of that comes back when I'm speaking in front of a room of people or when I'm talking to my big sister, my snobby attitude and how well THAT worked for me or maybe my lack of focus in my writing based on my subs and WIPs.
Now onto more serious matters. Exploding heads. That...
Now onto more serious matters. Exploding heads. That...
January 17, 2011
My Apology, Fellow Authors
Dear fellow authors,
This is a formal apology for what I am only now discovering is my intense ignorance. I thought I was doing good things to help promote you and your fabulous works, but now I'm discovering there is more that can be done. Simple, easy steps I can take that will make a difference to an author sitting in front of his or her laptop obsessing over their online presence or their Amazon numbers. As I discover the small things that can make a big impact, I feel so bad that I...
This is a formal apology for what I am only now discovering is my intense ignorance. I thought I was doing good things to help promote you and your fabulous works, but now I'm discovering there is more that can be done. Simple, easy steps I can take that will make a difference to an author sitting in front of his or her laptop obsessing over their online presence or their Amazon numbers. As I discover the small things that can make a big impact, I feel so bad that I...
January 13, 2011
Sad News
Wow. On my last Recents post. I wrote this:
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan– humble rating: Motivational Speaker – I have come to the conclusion that I really like L.K. Madigan's writing! This was so very different from Flash Burnout, yet I enjoyed it just as much. Talent abounds.
While she wrote this: Hard News
Even standing eye to eye with agony and heartbreak, her words are eloquent. I'm so sorry she will have the indignity of more cancer treatment. I'm so sorry her family will...
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan– humble rating: Motivational Speaker – I have come to the conclusion that I really like L.K. Madigan's writing! This was so very different from Flash Burnout, yet I enjoyed it just as much. Talent abounds.
While she wrote this: Hard News
Even standing eye to eye with agony and heartbreak, her words are eloquent. I'm so sorry she will have the indignity of more cancer treatment. I'm so sorry her family will...
January 12, 2011
Recents
I was hanging out on Donna McDine's blog today, Write What Inspires You. Please click over when you have a chance.Recent Reads
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon– humble rating: Golf Clap – I can't quite figure out how I felt about this book. What I do know: the characters are still with me, especially Dante = good, the book felt like it went on forever = bad. Tough one.
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan– humble rating: Motivational Speaker – I have come to the conclusion that I really like...
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon– humble rating: Golf Clap – I can't quite figure out how I felt about this book. What I do know: the characters are still with me, especially Dante = good, the book felt like it went on forever = bad. Tough one.
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan– humble rating: Motivational Speaker – I have come to the conclusion that I really like...
January 10, 2011
Linkage
I am visiting with Beverly Stowe McClure over at The Story of a Writer. Please stop by and say hi.
GAP Family Blog announced great news for The Weaver and many other GAP books at Amazon today.
I have a date for my local book signing event! Yippee!! If you are anywhere near Central Oregon February 10th, I'd love for you to come by.
GAP Family Blog announced great news for The Weaver and many other GAP books at Amazon today.
I have a date for my local book signing event! Yippee!! If you are anywhere near Central Oregon February 10th, I'd love for you to come by.
Blogview with Susan Kaye Quinn and Life, Liberty and Pursuit
Today blogview is happy to present middle grade and young adult novelist, Susan Kaye Quinn. Make some noise on those keyboards and welcome Susan!
Susan, I must say, you seem so approachable and kind. If I were doing this interview in person (which, btw, I really wish I were!) would I offer you coffee or tea? Flavored? Cream or Milk? Sugar?
Susan: Straight black tea, none of that sissy stuff in it. I need caffeine!
Describe the location you are answering these questions from. Is this your...
Susan, I must say, you seem so approachable and kind. If I were doing this interview in person (which, btw, I really wish I were!) would I offer you coffee or tea? Flavored? Cream or Milk? Sugar?
Susan: Straight black tea, none of that sissy stuff in it. I need caffeine!
Describe the location you are answering these questions from. Is this your...
January 9, 2011
Attention Avid Readers
What a difference a year makes. At the close of 2009, I called out to all my online writer friends to suggest books for my to-be-read list for 2010. I got a LOT of great suggestions. Read many of them.
Yet this year, I didn't need to raise my virtual hand and ask my question. Why? Because now I belong to Goodreads. I love Goodreads! I don't even use all the awesomeness that it offers, but one feature I fully appreciate is the ability to easily add to my tbr list based on the books my...
Yet this year, I didn't need to raise my virtual hand and ask my question. Why? Because now I belong to Goodreads. I love Goodreads! I don't even use all the awesomeness that it offers, but one feature I fully appreciate is the ability to easily add to my tbr list based on the books my...
January 4, 2011
Tips for the Trade
New to online promotion? I don't claim to be an expert, but I'm happy to share some of the idiosyncrasies I've picked up along the way that don't seem to be intuitive.
When you want to steer people to your most frequent blog post, don't just post the general url for your blog. Post the specific url for that post. You might think that it is better for someone to have to see all of your witty posts when they are looking for a specific one, but trust me when I say, it annoys! Recently, dealing ...
When you want to steer people to your most frequent blog post, don't just post the general url for your blog. Post the specific url for that post. You might think that it is better for someone to have to see all of your witty posts when they are looking for a specific one, but trust me when I say, it annoys! Recently, dealing ...
January 2, 2011
When Death Becomes Public
Words. They can be so beautiful. So powerful. So heartbreaking.
Just when I think I've wrapped my head around the reach of social media, it surprises me yet again.
Around Thanksgiving an acquaintance of mine posted her very own goodbye on her wall on Facebook. She'd been battling cancer for a couple of years and it became obvious that her war was almost over. The responses from her family and friends were eloquent and touching. Each word written was the most beautiful word I'd ever seen.
As ...
Just when I think I've wrapped my head around the reach of social media, it surprises me yet again.
Around Thanksgiving an acquaintance of mine posted her very own goodbye on her wall on Facebook. She'd been battling cancer for a couple of years and it became obvious that her war was almost over. The responses from her family and friends were eloquent and touching. Each word written was the most beautiful word I'd ever seen.
As ...
December 30, 2010
Recents (A Summing Up of a Year of Reading)
Recent Reads
I did it! Got the last 3 reads in this year. Total number of books read in 2010 = 73. Many much more than last year. I can't thank my family enough for all the time they endure of me reading. Might I suggest for my birthday, a speed-reading course. I started the year with Maggie Stiefvater's, Ballad, and ended with Suzanne Collin's, Mockingjay. That sums up the awesomeness of the year right there. Were they are all as beautifully written as Ballad or as heart pounding as...
I did it! Got the last 3 reads in this year. Total number of books read in 2010 = 73. Many much more than last year. I can't thank my family enough for all the time they endure of me reading. Might I suggest for my birthday, a speed-reading course. I started the year with Maggie Stiefvater's, Ballad, and ended with Suzanne Collin's, Mockingjay. That sums up the awesomeness of the year right there. Were they are all as beautifully written as Ballad or as heart pounding as...
