Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 113
June 8, 2012
Tag!
I've been tagged again. According to this game, I have to answer 11 questions created by my tagger, Allyn. Then I have to make up questions and pass on the tag.
Here I go!
1.Would you choose to have diarrhea or constipation the rest of your life?
LOL. I can't even stop laughing long enough to choose!
2. Would you choose between falling in love with any movie star in the world, or any athlete in the world. And who would it be?
TV star--Jensen Ackles. :)
3. Would you choose to add a certain trait or quirk about yourself or take one away? And what would it be and why?
I have a ton of quirks, and I'd like to keep them all. ;P
4. Would you choose to turn into a fairy or a vampire?
Vampire fairy--how cool would that be?
5. Would you choose to live in the rain or live in the hot dry desert forever?
My hair is voting for the desert.
6. If you had to choose between being a reader or a writer for the rest of your life, which would it be?
What kind of life would that be? I guess I'll say writer because I could at least read my own work.
7.Would you choose to be the president of the united states or the queen of England?
Neither. Too much responsibility.
8. Would you choose to have big luscious lips or big boobs?
LOL. The big boobs in my family skipped me. I do have full lips though. (Yes, I avoided answering that.)
9. Would you choose to be taken care of or take care of someone else?
Take care of someone else
10. Would you choose to be the cheerleader or on the debate team?
Debate team
11. Would you choose to have warts all over your body or hair?
Really, Allyn?
I'm totally cheating here because I'm tagging all of you. And to be nice, I'll only make you answer two questions:
What book do you wish you'd written? (You know, the old "Why didn't I think of that?" feeling when you read a great book.)Who's your big fictional character crush?
Here I go!
1.Would you choose to have diarrhea or constipation the rest of your life?
LOL. I can't even stop laughing long enough to choose!
2. Would you choose between falling in love with any movie star in the world, or any athlete in the world. And who would it be?
TV star--Jensen Ackles. :)
3. Would you choose to add a certain trait or quirk about yourself or take one away? And what would it be and why?
I have a ton of quirks, and I'd like to keep them all. ;P
4. Would you choose to turn into a fairy or a vampire?
Vampire fairy--how cool would that be?
5. Would you choose to live in the rain or live in the hot dry desert forever?
My hair is voting for the desert.
6. If you had to choose between being a reader or a writer for the rest of your life, which would it be?
What kind of life would that be? I guess I'll say writer because I could at least read my own work.
7.Would you choose to be the president of the united states or the queen of England?
Neither. Too much responsibility.
8. Would you choose to have big luscious lips or big boobs?
LOL. The big boobs in my family skipped me. I do have full lips though. (Yes, I avoided answering that.)
9. Would you choose to be taken care of or take care of someone else?
Take care of someone else
10. Would you choose to be the cheerleader or on the debate team?
Debate team
11. Would you choose to have warts all over your body or hair?
Really, Allyn?
I'm totally cheating here because I'm tagging all of you. And to be nice, I'll only make you answer two questions:
What book do you wish you'd written? (You know, the old "Why didn't I think of that?" feeling when you read a great book.)Who's your big fictional character crush?
June 6, 2012
Hi, My Name is...
My characters usually introduce themselves to me by name. Thankfully! I get a little bummed out when I get an idea and don't have a character name in my head. This happens more for short stories than novels though. Usually, I get a character in my head and then the plot develops from there.
With Touch of Death, Jodi Marshall just came to me. She was unlike any other MC I'd written and I really loved her. The funny thing is, I've only met a few Jodi's in my life, so I have no idea why that name came to mind. And Marshall? No clue.
For another manuscript, which I'll talk about more soon, my MC is Sam. For a while, I'd wanted a name that was shortened and could be male or female. With this MS, Sam came to me, and I loved her name immediately.
Meeting characters is like meeting new friends to me. They come complete with names. I felt the same way when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I knew her name was Ayla. There was no doubt. It was almost like she introduced herself to me just like my characters do.
What about you? Do you name your characters or do they name themselves?
With Touch of Death, Jodi Marshall just came to me. She was unlike any other MC I'd written and I really loved her. The funny thing is, I've only met a few Jodi's in my life, so I have no idea why that name came to mind. And Marshall? No clue.
For another manuscript, which I'll talk about more soon, my MC is Sam. For a while, I'd wanted a name that was shortened and could be male or female. With this MS, Sam came to me, and I loved her name immediately.
Meeting characters is like meeting new friends to me. They come complete with names. I felt the same way when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I knew her name was Ayla. There was no doubt. It was almost like she introduced herself to me just like my characters do.
What about you? Do you name your characters or do they name themselves?
June 4, 2012
Monday Mishmash 6/4/12
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Author visits I had an author visit yesterday at East Stroudsburg High School South and this Saturday I'll be at The Castle Inn in the Delaware Water Gap. I love author visits.Newsletter My free monthly newsletter goes out this evening. If you aren't signed up and would like to receive it, you can sign up here.SWAG I got the coolest SWAG for Touch of Death. I'll be hosting giveaways in the months leading up to the release.Zombie aPROMcalypse Spencer Hill Press is organizing a zombie aPROMcalypse at Arisia in Boston on January 18-21. I'm so excited!Reading I'm sad to say my reading has taken a hit in the past two weeks. I've been editing so much for clients and reading their manuscripts, that I can only fit in a little reading time for books on my TBR list. That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Author visits I had an author visit yesterday at East Stroudsburg High School South and this Saturday I'll be at The Castle Inn in the Delaware Water Gap. I love author visits.Newsletter My free monthly newsletter goes out this evening. If you aren't signed up and would like to receive it, you can sign up here.SWAG I got the coolest SWAG for Touch of Death. I'll be hosting giveaways in the months leading up to the release.Zombie aPROMcalypse Spencer Hill Press is organizing a zombie aPROMcalypse at Arisia in Boston on January 18-21. I'm so excited!Reading I'm sad to say my reading has taken a hit in the past two weeks. I've been editing so much for clients and reading their manuscripts, that I can only fit in a little reading time for books on my TBR list. That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
June 1, 2012
Where Do the Ideas Come From?
I have a secret. I often find myself in situations where I wonder what on earth I'm going to write about. This happens mostly when I write short stories, but it does occasionally happen with novels as well. Writing short fiction is great because it doesn't take a lot of time, but the downside is you have to be so creative. I've had over 100 short stories published, and seriously, sometimes I wonder where I come up with the ideas.
Today, I'm telling you my secret. Are you ready?
I sit down. I open a blank document. I start typing. Sometimes, I have no idea what I'm writing or where I'm going with the story. But that doesn't matter. When I get myself in the chair and typing, my brain kicks into gear. It's like I've trained myself to be creative on command.
That's it. Yes, it's the old butt in chair method. It works. The great thing about being a writer is we are creative by nature. So, the next time you think you don't know what to write about, put yourself in your writing space and go through the motions, because your brain knows how to react to the computer and be creative. All you have to do is get yourself there.
How do you find ideas when you think you've exhausted them all?
Today, I'm telling you my secret. Are you ready?
I sit down. I open a blank document. I start typing. Sometimes, I have no idea what I'm writing or where I'm going with the story. But that doesn't matter. When I get myself in the chair and typing, my brain kicks into gear. It's like I've trained myself to be creative on command.
That's it. Yes, it's the old butt in chair method. It works. The great thing about being a writer is we are creative by nature. So, the next time you think you don't know what to write about, put yourself in your writing space and go through the motions, because your brain knows how to react to the computer and be creative. All you have to do is get yourself there.
How do you find ideas when you think you've exhausted them all?
May 30, 2012
What Makes a Good Female Lead?
Last week I talked about what makes a good male lead, so it's only fair that I talk about what makes a good female lead this week. Now, there are a ton of strong female leads out there, and while I love a girl who can handle herself, I don't like a girl who doesn't show a softer side.
If you've read THE IMMORTAL RULES, you know Allison becomes a vampire, but not a monster. She retains her humanity. She's strong, yet caring. To me, that's a great combination. I like my female leads to show strength as well as compassion, and Allison does this well.
I also liked Sophie in HEX HALL. She struggled with her abilities, but she didn't let her struggles get her down. She pushed through them. I like that because it adds a realistic kind of conflict to a paranormal story. Having to struggle to come to terms with who you are is something just about everyone experiences and can relate to.
So, I guess, male or female, I like my lead characters to show different sides to their personalities. That makes them real and likable.
Who are your favorite female leads and why?
If you've read THE IMMORTAL RULES, you know Allison becomes a vampire, but not a monster. She retains her humanity. She's strong, yet caring. To me, that's a great combination. I like my female leads to show strength as well as compassion, and Allison does this well.
I also liked Sophie in HEX HALL. She struggled with her abilities, but she didn't let her struggles get her down. She pushed through them. I like that because it adds a realistic kind of conflict to a paranormal story. Having to struggle to come to terms with who you are is something just about everyone experiences and can relate to.
So, I guess, male or female, I like my lead characters to show different sides to their personalities. That makes them real and likable.
Who are your favorite female leads and why?
May 28, 2012
Monday Mishmash 5/28/12
Happy Monday and happy Memorial Day! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
End of the school year My daughter's last day of pre-k is Wednesday. I can't believe it's over. I feel like yesterday was her first day. Her school put together a slideshow of the year, and I totally cried.Father's Day I'm so glad I'm finished shopping for Father's Day. I love when I get ahead of my holiday shopping.Editing I'm in full editing mode for the next few weeks. I have clients lined up. It worked out perfectly because I just finished my latest WIP.Sequels The WIP I just finished drafting was a sequel. For some many reasons, sequels are hard to write, but I do love getting to spend more time with characters I love. This is the second and final book with these characters, so I'll miss them.Revisions Somehow I managed to put myself in a situation where I have two manuscripts waiting for me to revise them. How did that happen? I'm starting to think I might write too much. ;) Nah!That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
End of the school year My daughter's last day of pre-k is Wednesday. I can't believe it's over. I feel like yesterday was her first day. Her school put together a slideshow of the year, and I totally cried.Father's Day I'm so glad I'm finished shopping for Father's Day. I love when I get ahead of my holiday shopping.Editing I'm in full editing mode for the next few weeks. I have clients lined up. It worked out perfectly because I just finished my latest WIP.Sequels The WIP I just finished drafting was a sequel. For some many reasons, sequels are hard to write, but I do love getting to spend more time with characters I love. This is the second and final book with these characters, so I'll miss them.Revisions Somehow I managed to put myself in a situation where I have two manuscripts waiting for me to revise them. How did that happen? I'm starting to think I might write too much. ;) Nah!That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
May 25, 2012
Disconnected
Last weekend, I went to Cape May for three days, and the hotel I stayed in had no internet access. None. I didn't even think that was possible. My laptop felt very neglected. And since my smartphone only works on WiFi, that didn't help me either.
What was it like having three days of no internet? Not as bad as I thought it would be. At first I panicked. I love talking to all of you. I worried what I'd miss. I worried my email inbox would explode. But do you know what? Everything was fine when I got back. My inbox was quite scary. I won't deny that. But I was realistic about what needed to be responded to and what could wait. And while I'm sure I missed some cyber-awesomeness, I experienced a new setting, and that is so valuable to me as a person and as a writer.
I admit I hated the thought of being offline. But in the end, I'm glad I was forced to step away for a few days. I lived life, and I missed all of you amazing people. All in all, I'm more appreciative of both.
When was the last time you disconnected from the internet?
What was it like having three days of no internet? Not as bad as I thought it would be. At first I panicked. I love talking to all of you. I worried what I'd miss. I worried my email inbox would explode. But do you know what? Everything was fine when I got back. My inbox was quite scary. I won't deny that. But I was realistic about what needed to be responded to and what could wait. And while I'm sure I missed some cyber-awesomeness, I experienced a new setting, and that is so valuable to me as a person and as a writer.
I admit I hated the thought of being offline. But in the end, I'm glad I was forced to step away for a few days. I lived life, and I missed all of you amazing people. All in all, I'm more appreciative of both.
When was the last time you disconnected from the internet?
May 23, 2012
What Makes a Good Lead Male?
I love a good male lead. He doesn't have to be the MC, either. But what makes a guy a good lead character? Here are some male leads I loved for different reasons:
Reese from DESTINY'S FIRE by Trisha Wolfe ~ He's seriously hot, totally intense, literally kicks ass, and risks everything for the girl he loves.
Jameson from NIGHT SKY by Jolene Perry ~ He's a total guy. I mean, seriously. He is the narrator, and his thoughts are so true to a teenage guy. But despite his urges, he is sensitive. (I might have a huge crush on him. *blushes*)
Seth from The Covenant Series by Jennifer Armentrout ~ He's the Apollyon, which gives him control over all the elements. He is edgy and despite his soft spot for Alex, he would hurt anyone he needed to or wanted to.
Henry from The Goddess Test Series by Aimee Carter ~ He's Hades. Do I need to say more? But he's not the "I can do whatever the hell I want" (Yes, that was a bad pun) portrayal of Hades. He pines over lost love and doesn't get involved in things he shouldn't.
They're all different, yet I fell for each of them because they stood out to me. The one consistent between them all was their conflicting personalities. Each is strong in his own way, yet vulnerable at the same time. For me, that's the key. I call it perfectly flawed.
Who's one of your favorite male leads and why?
*I was interviewed by Kendra Saunders for 13 1/2 minutes on IPN Nation. Listen here.
Reese from DESTINY'S FIRE by Trisha Wolfe ~ He's seriously hot, totally intense, literally kicks ass, and risks everything for the girl he loves.
Jameson from NIGHT SKY by Jolene Perry ~ He's a total guy. I mean, seriously. He is the narrator, and his thoughts are so true to a teenage guy. But despite his urges, he is sensitive. (I might have a huge crush on him. *blushes*)
Seth from The Covenant Series by Jennifer Armentrout ~ He's the Apollyon, which gives him control over all the elements. He is edgy and despite his soft spot for Alex, he would hurt anyone he needed to or wanted to.
Henry from The Goddess Test Series by Aimee Carter ~ He's Hades. Do I need to say more? But he's not the "I can do whatever the hell I want" (Yes, that was a bad pun) portrayal of Hades. He pines over lost love and doesn't get involved in things he shouldn't.
They're all different, yet I fell for each of them because they stood out to me. The one consistent between them all was their conflicting personalities. Each is strong in his own way, yet vulnerable at the same time. For me, that's the key. I call it perfectly flawed.
Who's one of your favorite male leads and why?
*I was interviewed by Kendra Saunders for 13 1/2 minutes on IPN Nation. Listen here.
May 21, 2012
Monday Mishmash with a Cover Reveal
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
Cape May I may be home but my mind is still back in Cape May. It was a great weekend getaway. Although, I had no internet for 3 days!Finishing my WIP I'll be finishing up the draft of my WIP this week. I've already written the ending, but I have some of the middle left to write. ;PRadio Show I was on Geek Chick Radio with other Spencer Hill Press authors last Tuesday. You can hear the show here.Guest Post On Friday, I did a guest post and interview on Elaine Stock's blog. If you missed it, it's still up. Find it here.My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century I revealed the cover of Rachel Harris's debut YA novel a while back, but the cover has been redone. I love it! Here it is:
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Cape May I may be home but my mind is still back in Cape May. It was a great weekend getaway. Although, I had no internet for 3 days!Finishing my WIP I'll be finishing up the draft of my WIP this week. I've already written the ending, but I have some of the middle left to write. ;PRadio Show I was on Geek Chick Radio with other Spencer Hill Press authors last Tuesday. You can hear the show here.Guest Post On Friday, I did a guest post and interview on Elaine Stock's blog. If you missed it, it's still up. Find it here.My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century I revealed the cover of Rachel Harris's debut YA novel a while back, but the cover has been redone. I love it! Here it is:
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
May 18, 2012
Time for Reflection
Let's face it, this industry is tough. We face rejection, characters who won't fully reveal themselves to us, and plot holes. I say we need a moment to stop and reflect on the positives because they are the things that keep us going. That make us push through the tough times.
It doesn't matter if you haven't been published or haven't gotten a book deal or an agent. Positive things are finishing your first manuscript, revising your manuscript so it's ready to query, sending out that first query letter, etc. There are so many things that we accomplish that we rarely stop to give ourselves credit for.
So, today is all about reflection. What are some positives in your writing career? And don't dismiss something because you think it's small. Even deciding to write your first book or short story is a positive, and I want to hear it. I want to cheer you on.
It doesn't matter if you haven't been published or haven't gotten a book deal or an agent. Positive things are finishing your first manuscript, revising your manuscript so it's ready to query, sending out that first query letter, etc. There are so many things that we accomplish that we rarely stop to give ourselves credit for.
So, today is all about reflection. What are some positives in your writing career? And don't dismiss something because you think it's small. Even deciding to write your first book or short story is a positive, and I want to hear it. I want to cheer you on.
