Kelly Hashway's Blog, page 116

Sunshine Award

Both Tabitha Olson and Michelle Pickett gave me the Sunshine Award. So sweet of them. :D




Here are the rules:

Thank the person who gave you the award and provide a link.Write a post about itAnswer the questions below.Pass it on to 10 bloggers who you think really deserve it and let them knowAnswer 10 Questions:Favourite colour: GreenFavourite animal: DogFavourite number: 8 (Because it's the same upside-down or right-side up)Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Toss up between coffee and green tea with orange, passion fruit, and jasmine.Facebook or Twitter: Twitter My passion: Writing and spending time with my family (I stole this from Tabitha.)Getting or giving presents: Giving and I'm usually so excited I can't wait.Favourite pattern: Anything that's complexFavourite day of the week: Monday (I work from home.)Favourite flower: Orange roseI'm passing this on to:Brenda MoguezJulia KingDonna YatesLeigh CovingtonCatherine StineKatie ClarkClaudine G.Adrianne RussellBeverly DiehlThe Desert Rocks
Your turn. Who do you think deserves the Sunshine Award?

Read, Read, Read

One of the things I'm guilty of as a writer is getting so wrapped up in my WIP that I don't read as much as I should. Don't get me wrong. I'm ALWAYS reading a book, usually two. But sometimes (usually thanks to Goodreads asking me to update my progress) I realize I've been reading the same book(s) for a while. That means I'm not spending enough time reading.


Why is this a bad thing? Well, first of all I really believe reading is the best form of research when you're a writer. If you want to have your book published, then read published books. Become familiar with what's out there and the quality, style, etc. of writing. I'm not saying follow trends. I don't do that. But know what's out there.


Another reason is that as writers we need to support other writers. Even as reviewers or book lovers in general, we have to buy books to keep the industry thriving. 


So I've decided that I will read every day. Every day. Not just days when I run on the treadmill or when I'm between manuscripts. Every. Day.


How important is reading to you? Do you make time for it every day?

Monday Mishmash 3/26/12

Happy Monday! I'm excited today, so my mind is a crazy mishmash of thoughts.
Touch of Death tag line  I got my copy of PURE by Jennifer Armentrout and the cover for Touch of Death is in the back with this line: "Having poison running through your veins and a kiss that kills really puts a dent in high school." I may have cried tears of joy upon seeing it. ;)Beta time  I sent my YA contemporary romance off to my betas, and my critique group will be getting it soon, too.Hollyweird  I got this ARC from Netgalley and I devoured it.Spectral by Shannon Duffy  The release is just around the corner, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. It looks so good. I love books about witches.Easter  With Easter right around the corner I'm filling baskets and getting orders for Santa Bunny. Yay!That's it for me. What's on your mind today?[image error]

Doubt and How I Kick it to the Curb

Doubt. It creeps up on us out of nowhere and makes us feel like we're not good enough. This happened to me recently. I wrote a manuscript that my agent loved. Her comment was, "You nailed it!" Great, right? Yes and no.


I was working on another WIP when her comments came back to me. At first I was so excited. Then doubt set in. Can I write another MS that's just as good? This isn't the first time I felt this way either. After getting my book deal for Touch of Death, I thought, Can I do it again? What if this was a fluke? A one-time thing?


So what did I do? I kept writing. And some days I felt like what I wrote wasn't my best. But other days, I got back into the zone and lost track of the hours as I just wrote. We all experience doubt, but we can't let it stop us. We have to push through, even when we feel like we aren't writing our best stuff. Keep writing. You will hit that groove again, and you can fix any sub par parts during revision.


When was the last time you had to kick doubt to the curb?

Pure by Jennifer Armentrout

Synopsis:
Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.


Opening line:
I stared at the ceiling of the gymnasium, little black splotches dancing in front of me.


This is the second book in the Covenant Series. It's out on Kindle now and will release in print on April 3, 2012. You can pre-order it here.


Anyone read Half-Blood and dying to get their hands on Pure?

Monday Mishmash 3/19/12

Happy Monday! Here's what's on my mind today:
Finishing my YA contemporary romance  I was so worried about writing a contemporary novel, but I loved it. I'm finishing it up today and can honestly say it was so much fun to write.Book Expo  I registered for my local Book Expo in July. Yay! It was a lot of fun last year, so I'm looking forward to doing it again.SWAG for Touch of Death  I've got some killer SWAG in the works for Touch of Death. Look for lots of giveaways in the months before the release!Editing  I've got some new editing clients, which is always fun. I love getting to work with new writers.Kindle Fire  I really want one! I'm so glad they came out with a color Kindle because my new PB, Santa Bunny, is selling well on it. (Easter book and it's only $2.99-- yes, that's a shameless plug *bows head*)That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Cover Reveal: Perfection by J.L. Spelbring

I'm super excited to share this book with you because Judy is my agency sister and my publishing house sister! Her book, Perfection, will be published in 2013 by Spencer Hill Press.
Coming 2013

Synopsis:
The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa's spent her whole life under her creator's strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic.

Only Ellyssa isn't perfect. 

Ellyssa feels emotions--a fact she's spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities. 

But he does. 

His unspoken words and visions of a place she's never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection. 


Title: PerfectionAuthor: J.L. SpelbringPublisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.SpencerHillPress.com)ISBN: 978-1-937053-34-5Release Date: May 7, 2013Formats: paper & e-book


So, what do you think of the cover and the synopsis? Are you as excited as I am?[image error]

Where Do You See Yourself?

When I started writing as a career and not just as a hobby, I had a definite vision in my head of where I wanted to be. I wrote a book that I thought was wonderful. (It was awful.) I got feedback from a multi-published author and revised before querying agents. I had dreams of finding an agent and landing a big book deal. Instead, I ended up completely rewriting the book. Completely. Blank document. New characters. New genre. I don't even know why I call it the same book because it's not.


My dream didn't happen the way I'd planned. But I adapted and created a new plan. While querying with a much better book. (Seriously, it really was light years better.) I began writing picture books and almost immediately landed a contract. Well, that wasn't exactly my dream, but I went with it. And later I did find my amazing agent. And I did land a book deal. Only it wasn't for that book. It wasn't even for the next book I'd written after it.


What's the point of all this? I keep trying to figure out where I see myself ending up as a writer, but really I don't have a clue. I keep trying to better myself and fulfill my dreams, but really, where I'll end up is a mystery. And I'm okay with that. As long as I'm writing, I'm happy.


Where do you see yourself as a writer? Have you changed your dreams along the way?[image error]

Monday Mishmash & Cover Reveal

Happy Monday! I'm participating in the cover reveal for Rachel Harris's debut YA, My Super Sweet 16th Century, coming September 11, 2012 through Entangled.





And here's an excerpt:


I hear their muffled whispers and understand every Italian word. Every witty comment made at my expense. It's like my brain is automatically translating. I bunch the soft fabric of the dress in my hand and then reach up to feel the ribbon in my hair. I lightly skim my fingers over my chin and feel my lack of zit. I take in the costumes of the crowd, the stench of the animals, and the Italian I can now speak and understand. And suddenly it hits me. Reyna must have pulled some kind of gypsy mojo. Maybe this is one of those nifty "change your life" magic scenarios like in the movies. I mean, mostly I'm still expecting to blink and be right back in the midst of overpriced, gaudy tourism, but for now, the gypsy-time-warp explanation is infinitely better than thinking I've lost my mind. As I decide to go with that option, I feel my frantic tension melt away. The growing crowd seems to notice my change in demeanor and begins shooting one another amused looks, but I don't care anymore. A smile stretches across my face. Evidently, I was wrong earlier; Reyna is a psychic mind reader, because if this is her special brand of bibbity-bobbity-boo, the
My Super Sweet 16th Century, by Rachel Harris is available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! 


Now on to my mishmash of Monday thoughts:
Daylight Savings  Losing an hour is never fun. I forced myself out of bed an hour early on Sunday just to make sure I didn't lose the time during the day.From Paranormal to Contemporary  I'm used to writing in the paranormal genre, and now that I'm writing a contemporary, I keep waiting for the paranormal element to pop up. LOL. I'm seriously laughing at myself over here. *There's no paranormal in a contemporary romance, Kelly.*St. Patrick's Day  I'm 6 different nationalities and Irish happens to be one of them. Happy St. Patrick's Day!Marketing  This weekend I had the pleasure of speaking with my marketing consultant at Spencer Hill Press. How cool is that? She is amazing, and I'm so excited to work with her on Touch of Death.Writing Goals  At the beginning of the year, I set the goal to write three books in 2012. Somehow, I'm on the third already. How did that happen? That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

Lucky 7 Meme

I was tagged by Cherie Colyer for the Lucky 7 Meme. Thanks, Cherie. This is seriously the coolest tag I've ever gotten. 

Here are the rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS2. Go to line 73. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating4. Tag 7 authors5. Let them know
Now, I have a slight problem because I just started a new WIP and I'm not up to page 77 yet, so I'm modifying this to page 7 for me. Here it goes:


YA Contemporary Romance titled Broken

          I exit the courts and meet him on the grass, immediately wrapping my arms around him. He showered and smells all nice and clean, which makes me pull away. I'm sweaty, not anything too gross—Grayson and I spent most of the evening working on serves, but still. It's never good to be the smelly girlfriend.            "You heading home?" Asher asks, holding my racket-free hand.            "Yeah, I think we've done all we can for one night."            "So, what time tomorrow?" Grayson asks, putting her racket back into its bag. "Five or seven?"And here are the 7 people I'm tagging:Rachel HarrisTara FullerShannon DuffyTrisha WolfeJolene PerrySheri LarsenKatrina DeLallo
And now for the rest of you. What's the 7th line on the 7th page of your WIP? Leave it in the comments, please.