Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 112
July 2, 2012
Monday Mishmash
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Hadley my German shepherd puppy
Puppy So many people asked for pictures of my new puppy, Hadley, so here's one for you. Migraines I had a migraine on Friday into Saturday. It was so bad I was shaking and sick to my stomach. I really hate them.Lake or yard? There was a water leak that flooded my side yard. We had a lake. It's fixed now thankfully.Revising I'm slowly making my way through revisions. Last week was crazy. (See #3)TBR list I got ahead with my reviews for YA Bound so I'm trying to catch up on my TBR list by reading books that released within the last year.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
*My free monthly newsletter goes out this evening. If you aren't signed up to receive it, you can do so here.*
Hadley my German shepherd puppyPuppy So many people asked for pictures of my new puppy, Hadley, so here's one for you. Migraines I had a migraine on Friday into Saturday. It was so bad I was shaking and sick to my stomach. I really hate them.Lake or yard? There was a water leak that flooded my side yard. We had a lake. It's fixed now thankfully.Revising I'm slowly making my way through revisions. Last week was crazy. (See #3)TBR list I got ahead with my reviews for YA Bound so I'm trying to catch up on my TBR list by reading books that released within the last year.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
*My free monthly newsletter goes out this evening. If you aren't signed up to receive it, you can do so here.*
June 29, 2012
Cover Reveal: Fae by Emily White
I have another great cover reveal for you today. Here's Fae by Emily White:
Fae Not all fae'ri tales come with a happy ending. Ella thought taking care of the ego-bloated Mamood god would be a sure way to bring peace to the galaxy and satisfy her taste for revenge. But she was wrong. Despite the fact their god is gone, the Mamood refuse to abandon their attack on the planet Soltak and Ella's own so-called friends start to turn against her. And with Soltak dying--its oceans drying up and its plants withering in the ground--Ella and Cailen suspect there's a new enemy at work. As more people die and more water is leached from the planet, they both prepare for something straight from a nightmare. The fae are coming.
Title: FaeSeries: Auri #2Author: Emily WhiteISBN: 978-1-937053-26-0 Release Date: December 10, 2013Formats: paper, e-bookCover Design: Vic Caswell of Sketcher Girl
This is the sequel to Elemental, which is totally amazing.
So, what do you think?
Fae Not all fae'ri tales come with a happy ending. Ella thought taking care of the ego-bloated Mamood god would be a sure way to bring peace to the galaxy and satisfy her taste for revenge. But she was wrong. Despite the fact their god is gone, the Mamood refuse to abandon their attack on the planet Soltak and Ella's own so-called friends start to turn against her. And with Soltak dying--its oceans drying up and its plants withering in the ground--Ella and Cailen suspect there's a new enemy at work. As more people die and more water is leached from the planet, they both prepare for something straight from a nightmare. The fae are coming.
Title: FaeSeries: Auri #2Author: Emily WhiteISBN: 978-1-937053-26-0 Release Date: December 10, 2013Formats: paper, e-bookCover Design: Vic Caswell of Sketcher Girl
This is the sequel to Elemental, which is totally amazing.
So, what do you think?
June 27, 2012
Be Inspired
The lovely Brenda at Passionate Pursuits tagged me in the Be Inspired blog hop. I have to answer 10 questions and mention 5 writers who inspire me. Here I go!
1. What is the name of your book?
Touch of Death
2. Where did the idea for the book come from?
I was writing another manuscript at the time and it had the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus, in it. I discovered a lesser known myth about Ophiuchus and Medusa, and Touch of Death was born from there.
3. In what genre would you classify your book?
Paranormal
4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie, who would you pick?
The girl on my cover is my vision for Jodi. I want to know if she can act. As for Alex, I'm not really sure. It's hard for me to find actors who look the way I envision my characters.
5. Provide a synopsis.
Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.
6. Is your book published/represented?
Touch of Death is represented by my amazing agent, Lauren Hammond and will be published January 15, 2013 by Spencer Hill Press.
7. How long did it take to write the book?
I drafted it in 14 days.
8. What other books in your genre would you compare it to?
Shatter Me meets The Walking Dead.
9. What authors inspired you to write this book?
Lauren Hammond, my awesome agent, was a huge inspiration for this book. She was very excited about it and cheered me on as I drafted.
10. Tell us anything that might pique interest in your book.
Here's my log line created by Spencer Hill Press: Having poison running through your veins and a kiss that kills really puts a dent in high school.
Now, tag five writers:
Rachel Harris
Trisha Wolfe
Jolene Perry
Shannon Duffy
Brenda Drake
And for everyone else, tell me about your WIP in the comments. I'd love to hear about them. :)
1. What is the name of your book?
Touch of Death
2. Where did the idea for the book come from?
I was writing another manuscript at the time and it had the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus, in it. I discovered a lesser known myth about Ophiuchus and Medusa, and Touch of Death was born from there.
3. In what genre would you classify your book?
Paranormal
4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie, who would you pick?
The girl on my cover is my vision for Jodi. I want to know if she can act. As for Alex, I'm not really sure. It's hard for me to find actors who look the way I envision my characters.
5. Provide a synopsis.
Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.
6. Is your book published/represented?
Touch of Death is represented by my amazing agent, Lauren Hammond and will be published January 15, 2013 by Spencer Hill Press.
7. How long did it take to write the book?
I drafted it in 14 days.
8. What other books in your genre would you compare it to?
Shatter Me meets The Walking Dead.
9. What authors inspired you to write this book?
Lauren Hammond, my awesome agent, was a huge inspiration for this book. She was very excited about it and cheered me on as I drafted.
10. Tell us anything that might pique interest in your book.
Here's my log line created by Spencer Hill Press: Having poison running through your veins and a kiss that kills really puts a dent in high school.
Now, tag five writers:
Rachel Harris
Trisha Wolfe
Jolene Perry
Shannon Duffy
Brenda Drake
And for everyone else, tell me about your WIP in the comments. I'd love to hear about them. :)
June 25, 2012
Monday Mishmash 6/25/12
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
New Puppy! We adopted a German shepherd puppy last Tuesday. Her name is Hadley, and she such a sweetheart. Spencer Hill Press Summer Blog Run Today I'm over J.L. Spelbring's blog for the Spencer Hill Press Summer Blog Run. Judy interviewed me, and I'm giving away some awesome SWAG for Touch of Death.Reading I can't seem to catch up on my reading this summer, and having a new puppy isn't really giving me more time to relax and read either. :(Summer Wow, did summer hit with a bang. It's been ridiculously hot!Revising I think this is the week I start revising my latest WIP. I've had ample time away, and I'm ready to dive in.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
New Puppy! We adopted a German shepherd puppy last Tuesday. Her name is Hadley, and she such a sweetheart. Spencer Hill Press Summer Blog Run Today I'm over J.L. Spelbring's blog for the Spencer Hill Press Summer Blog Run. Judy interviewed me, and I'm giving away some awesome SWAG for Touch of Death.Reading I can't seem to catch up on my reading this summer, and having a new puppy isn't really giving me more time to relax and read either. :(Summer Wow, did summer hit with a bang. It's been ridiculously hot!Revising I think this is the week I start revising my latest WIP. I've had ample time away, and I'm ready to dive in.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
June 22, 2012
Cover Reveal: Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller
I'm very excited to share another great Spencer Hill Press cover with you. Without further ado, here's Triangles!
Triangles
A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?
In the Bermuda Triangle--a lot.
Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who's practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser's suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she's full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that one of these "alternate realities" could become permanent.
She just has to ask herself one question--how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?
Title: TrianglesAuthor: Kimberly Ann MillerPublisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com) ISBN: 978-1-937053-36-9Release Date: June 18, 2013Formats: Paper, e-book
I'll definitely be reading this one!
What do you think of the cover and blurb?
Triangles
A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?
In the Bermuda Triangle--a lot.
Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who's practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser's suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she's full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that one of these "alternate realities" could become permanent.
She just has to ask herself one question--how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?
Title: TrianglesAuthor: Kimberly Ann MillerPublisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com) ISBN: 978-1-937053-36-9Release Date: June 18, 2013Formats: Paper, e-book
I'll definitely be reading this one!
What do you think of the cover and blurb?
June 20, 2012
Don't Be Afraid to Delete
Last week, I was working on a short story for an anthology submission. The ideas started flowing and so did the words. I wrote about half the story in one sitting and was pretty content. Until I went to sleep.
Before drifting off, a thought popped into my head. I wasn't using the right MC. I was telling the story from a male's POV, and when I cleared my mind and got ready for bed, I realized I needed a female. Okay, not too big a deal. I could tweek the voice and change the character while still keeping the plot and much of what I'd already written. I was pretty content. Until I woke up in the morning.
I did a little more research for the story and realized that the MC wasn't the only problem. I needed to change the plot. For a moment, I hesitated. This would mean completely starting over. Deleting all the words I'd written and starting from scratch. A lot of work.
I opened a new document and got writing. Did I think about those lost words? Maybe once or twice, but in the end, I'm glad I started over. The story needed it. It's better because of it.
So the lesson I learned is no writing is truly wasted. I had to write the first version to figure out I was on the wrong track. And once I got on the right track, the ideas took off.
Are you afraid to press delete or start over? Do you find yourself being married to your words?
Before drifting off, a thought popped into my head. I wasn't using the right MC. I was telling the story from a male's POV, and when I cleared my mind and got ready for bed, I realized I needed a female. Okay, not too big a deal. I could tweek the voice and change the character while still keeping the plot and much of what I'd already written. I was pretty content. Until I woke up in the morning.
I did a little more research for the story and realized that the MC wasn't the only problem. I needed to change the plot. For a moment, I hesitated. This would mean completely starting over. Deleting all the words I'd written and starting from scratch. A lot of work.
I opened a new document and got writing. Did I think about those lost words? Maybe once or twice, but in the end, I'm glad I started over. The story needed it. It's better because of it.
So the lesson I learned is no writing is truly wasted. I had to write the first version to figure out I was on the wrong track. And once I got on the right track, the ideas took off.
Are you afraid to press delete or start over? Do you find yourself being married to your words?
June 18, 2012
Monday Mishmash 6/18/12
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Father's Day I hope everyone had a great Father's Day. I was lucky enough to see my dad on Saturday and Sunday this weekend since he and my mom watched my daughter during my book signing. Short stories I've been writing more short stories lately as I distance myself from my latest YA manuscript. It's giving me time away before revising, and I'm really enjoying writing longer short stories again.Reading I thought since I'm focusing on short stories right now, I'd have more time to read. But summer is getting in the way. My daughter and husband are both home, so "me" time is almost nonexistent.Book signings I had a signing on Saturday at The Castle Inn in the Delaware Water Gap. It was a good time, and I came home with a sparkly purple headband for my daughter.Vacation We still haven't planned our summer vacation. How bad is that?That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Father's Day I hope everyone had a great Father's Day. I was lucky enough to see my dad on Saturday and Sunday this weekend since he and my mom watched my daughter during my book signing. Short stories I've been writing more short stories lately as I distance myself from my latest YA manuscript. It's giving me time away before revising, and I'm really enjoying writing longer short stories again.Reading I thought since I'm focusing on short stories right now, I'd have more time to read. But summer is getting in the way. My daughter and husband are both home, so "me" time is almost nonexistent.Book signings I had a signing on Saturday at The Castle Inn in the Delaware Water Gap. It was a good time, and I came home with a sparkly purple headband for my daughter.Vacation We still haven't planned our summer vacation. How bad is that?That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
June 15, 2012
Fiction is More Believable Than Reality
In my last post, I mentioned that my parents were really awesome when I was a teen (still are). My friends would hang out with them when I was at tennis lessons. I'd come home to find them drinking tea, eating, playing games, and having a great time without me. But if I wrote this into a manuscript, I think so many people would question the believability.
One of my writer friends recently told me an agent passed on her manuscript because she questioned something her MC did. The thing is, that incident was based on reality. It had actually happened in real life. Yet the agent found it unbelievable. See where I'm going here?
Reality is sometimes more unbelievable than fiction, which makes the whole "write what you know" thing tough sometimes.
Have you ever based a character or event on something that really happened and had it questioned for believability? Do you worry about this happening?
One of my writer friends recently told me an agent passed on her manuscript because she questioned something her MC did. The thing is, that incident was based on reality. It had actually happened in real life. Yet the agent found it unbelievable. See where I'm going here?
Reality is sometimes more unbelievable than fiction, which makes the whole "write what you know" thing tough sometimes.
Have you ever based a character or event on something that really happened and had it questioned for believability? Do you worry about this happening?
June 13, 2012
Parental Supervision?
There are a lot of YA books out there with parents who die in car crashes or some other accident so they are no longer in the picture. I'm not criticizing these books at all. Sometimes there's a definite need for the parents to be out of the story. But it got me thinking about my own manuscripts and how present parents are in them.
Without naming the manuscripts, here's my rundown:
single mother who only has a role in about half the storyabsentee parent who briefly comes back into the MCs lifehappily married parents who remain in the entire story (mostly in the background)happily married parents who are never seen because the MC runs awayhappily married parents who have an actual role in the storydeceased father leaving behind a wife and two kidscontrolling parents who want a say in everything While I do have three instances of happily married couples, I think the family types are pretty varied because of their situations. The only common thread between all of these parents is that they aren't major characters in the stories. They take back seats to my teen and/or pre-teen casts.
The funny thing is I'm the product of a happily married couple who did play a big part in my teen years. My friends came over for family dinners. My friends even hung out with my parents when I wasn't home. Yes, my parents are that awesome. But, in fiction, they aren't really believable. Maybe I'll write the cool parents one day, but I'm afraid no teen will believe me. (A topic for Friday's post)
What are the parents like in your manuscripts or favorite books? Do they play a significant role in the story?
Without naming the manuscripts, here's my rundown:
single mother who only has a role in about half the storyabsentee parent who briefly comes back into the MCs lifehappily married parents who remain in the entire story (mostly in the background)happily married parents who are never seen because the MC runs awayhappily married parents who have an actual role in the storydeceased father leaving behind a wife and two kidscontrolling parents who want a say in everything While I do have three instances of happily married couples, I think the family types are pretty varied because of their situations. The only common thread between all of these parents is that they aren't major characters in the stories. They take back seats to my teen and/or pre-teen casts.
The funny thing is I'm the product of a happily married couple who did play a big part in my teen years. My friends came over for family dinners. My friends even hung out with my parents when I wasn't home. Yes, my parents are that awesome. But, in fiction, they aren't really believable. Maybe I'll write the cool parents one day, but I'm afraid no teen will believe me. (A topic for Friday's post)
What are the parents like in your manuscripts or favorite books? Do they play a significant role in the story?
June 11, 2012
Monday Mishmash 6/11/12
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts today:
BEA I've been checking out great pictures from BEA. I'm so sad I couldn't go this year. But the Spencer Hill Press pictures have great shots of my book cover.Editing I'm finishing up edits (for a client) on a great book that will release December 1. I've had a lot of fun working on this one.Closed Hearts This weekend I finished reading Susan Kay Quinn's Closed Hearts. Such a great read!Time management Now that my daughter is finished with school for the year, I'm struggling to find time to get everything done. Luckily, she's gives me about an hour of uninterrupted work. The rest I do at night.Congrats to my agency sister, Trisha Wolfe I'm so excited to announce that my agency sister has big news! More info to come.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
*I'll be signing books at The Castle Inn in the Delaware Water Gap this Saturday at 1pm. Hope to see you there.
BEA I've been checking out great pictures from BEA. I'm so sad I couldn't go this year. But the Spencer Hill Press pictures have great shots of my book cover.Editing I'm finishing up edits (for a client) on a great book that will release December 1. I've had a lot of fun working on this one.Closed Hearts This weekend I finished reading Susan Kay Quinn's Closed Hearts. Such a great read!Time management Now that my daughter is finished with school for the year, I'm struggling to find time to get everything done. Luckily, she's gives me about an hour of uninterrupted work. The rest I do at night.Congrats to my agency sister, Trisha Wolfe I'm so excited to announce that my agency sister has big news! More info to come.That's it for me. What's on your mind today?*I'll be signing books at The Castle Inn in the Delaware Water Gap this Saturday at 1pm. Hope to see you there.
