Kimberly Kinrade's Blog, page 23

The Chicken Nuggets Must Live!

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LEFT: "This is what happens when you litter on the earth." RIGHT: "This is what happens when you keep the earth clean."

The Making of a Revolutionary

When my oldest daughter was 2 years old and first learned the sad hard truth of the chicken nugget, she formed a revolt. "The Chicken Nuggets Must Live!" she shouted, tiny fist in air.

She turned 9 years old this Halloween, and while she still eats the occasional nugget (my children were contemplating a world where nuggets were made of people, butterflies and dinosaurs ^.^), she is still a revolutionary, and the staunchest environmentalist I know.

I have been recycling–and sometimes composting–since she was born. She went to a Waldorf School for her first year, and she loves animals and nature. It's not surprising then, that she doesn't want the Earth to die. What is surprising to me is how consistent she is in the little things.

She will pick up the grossest, nastiest piece of garbage you can imagine, and walk blocks to find a proper receptacle for it. As a mother, I cringe. And caution. And buy her gloves. As a human, I applaud her. (I do this as her mom too, don't get me wrong.) She even cleans up lunch trash while other kids play. And she is making a difference. With each piece of garbage she picks up, she is saving something of our Earth for the future.

Lessons From the Young

So often we as grown-ups get so burdened by oil spills and toxic waste and ozone layers that we forget to bend down and pick up that paper on the sidewalk. Yes, we need to be conscious of the global impact our collective choices make, but, don't let those issues become so overwhelming as to paralyze you from the simple day-to-day things we all can do to make life more beautiful.

When she was 8 years old, after cleaning up some trash in our neighborhood, she came home and drew the picture you see above. On her own. Without any prompting. I was floored, and awed, and proud. In case the quality makes it hard, that's an X in the eye of the deer eating trash, because it will die. (The other deer is smiling, by the way, and I'm really mostly sure that's a leg…)

Inspiration

My kids inspire me daily–in my writing and in life. They are the reason I took a small break from writing my YA paranormal novel Forbidden Fire (book #2 in the Forbidden Series) to write three children's chapter books based on worlds they discovered.

About Lexie World

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Lexie and her sisters cross the Waters of Waste and battle Garbage Goblins to save Lexie World!

5-year-old Lexie is tired of getting in trouble for leaving her stuff and trash outside. She doesn't mean to litter or ruin her shoes, but it's just so hard to remember sometimes.

When she, her two big sisters and their dog TayTay end up finding a portal to Lexie World, Lexie discovers the consequence littering has had on Lexie World. Garbage Goblins have taken over and are destroying the Earth!

To save Lexie World, the girls (and dog) must travel with their new Unicorn friend through the Waters of Waste and over the Mountain of Lost Clothes to retrieve a piece of the Mirror of Ice in order to remind the Garbage Goblins of their true form and break their curse.

On this journey, Lexie learns about courage, love and the importance of taking care of her world.

I'm a Mom

I'm a mom, and I wrote this book, and the subsequent books, for my kids. I also wrote them for your kids. Lexie World includes discussion questions for you and your child to talk about how they can participate in caring for the Earth.

Book #1 of The Three Lost Kids series, Lexie World, is now launched and available onSmashwords and Bookie Jar, where you can download any version that works with your eReader or computer. (I think you can even print out the PDF and read it that way.) The book includes full color illustrations by the amazing Josh Evans.

And remember, we can help in small ways to keep our Earth beautiful. What are some ways you and your family care for the environment?

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Exciting Month for Evolved Publishing

[image error]As many of you may know, I am an author and Marketing Director for Evolved Publishing, a wonderful author-centric company that puts authors first. I love my team at Evolved and am very excited to for the coming year with them.

This month is a big month for us. We have lots of new releases, including three fully illustrated lower grade chapter books  that I've written, plus the omnibus! Watch for a post this weekend with more details about the books, but in the meantime, check out my editor/publisher, Lane Diamond's, blog to see the line-up for December.

Hint: Psychological thriller, children's books, an anthology and more! Something for everyone!

There's No Such Thing As BAD Words…

There. I said it. There's no such thing. Words are not bad or good—they are amoral. They are symbols constructed by society in order to communicate and be understood by others, and it's absolutely absurd that we have deemed some words bad and others not.

I've always felt this way. And I stand by it, even with my kids. We NEVER say a word is bad. I've taught them that some words are inappropriate for them to use at this age, because of how society reacts to certain words. I've also taught them that these words aren't bad, and when they have a more complete vocabulary and are old enough to use good judgment and discernment in how and where to use such words, they are free to use them.

This week I've been editing the first of my children's chapter books that are set to come out this month. The first book, Lexie World, had Lexie, a five year old, saying "freaking." As in "that's so freaking cool!" I see no problem with this word. My kids use it. But my editor felt differently. Because it's a substitute for the F*word he felt it was inappropriate for this age group. I don't agree, but after doing a google search I realized that many parents do agree, so I changed the word.

But really? Because it makes some people think of the F*word, we can't use it? What about "Oh shoot!" or "Darn it" or "Dang it?" Are these words also off limits because they are substitutes for sh*t and damn?

Does anyone else see how stupid this is? And let's look at the big bad words. The baddest of the bad. The ones that led to many of us getting our mouths washed out with soap. We've got F*&K and SH*T and a bunch of words that basically all mean vagina or penis. What do these words have in common? They either refer to sex, sexual body parts, or natural elimination of waste that occurs with every human being in the world.

They do not represent some of the more violent, horrible acts that human beings have been known to commit on one another. They don't symbolize war or hate or destruction. Quite the opposite, they represent what gives life and creates life.

Do you see a theme? Our bad words all represent a suppressed society full of people who can't embrace their natural body or sexual nature. I'm not going to whip out Freud or anything, but it's no secret we herald from a very puritanical culture. And now we are carrying the residue of that with us in our language. (And our irrational responses to some words.)

Why? Why do we continue to perpetuate these myths about language? Why would we rather our kids see heads blown off then someone having sex? It makes no sense to me.

And if we're going to really nitpick about bad language. Why didn't ain't make it on the list. That word—if you can call it a word—bugs the heck out of me! (Oh sorry, is heck a bad word because it's a substitute for hell?)

I'm just saying, maybe we should worry more about teaching our kids proper grammar, than fretting over synonyms.

What do you think? Do you think certain words are bad and should never be used except by drunk sailors in a bar? Why or why not?

***Added after some heated comments: I want to be really clear that my editor DID NOT insist that I remove or change the word. He simply brought up the possibility that it wouldn't be appropriate and let me make my own choice. Another beta reader also flagged that word, and after doing a google search, I decided there's enough controversy around that word for children that it wasn't worth alienating readers to keep it. Lane is write (see comments below) this is a business. And while I wouldn't have removed it if doing so damaged the story in some way, in this case it didn't. So I changed the word, to no ill effect toward the story at all.

It simply brought to mind a topic that I think about a lot. I'm not suggesting we all walk around dropping the Fbomb every other word. But that's just as irritating to me as using *like* every other word. To me it's more about effective communication and recognizing that words only have the power we give them. They are not bad. They can be used as weapons, but they don't have to be. And it's not just the *bad* words that can be wielded with ill intent and cause serious harm. Any word can do that.

So, please know that there was no censorship or anything from my publishing company or editor. I made the choice based on my own research and feedback from a few people. And while I do think it's silly and unnecessary, it's where we are as a society. ***

[image error]**Don't worry, Lexie World is now free of any words that might be offensive to others and contains a wonderful message on caring for the environment. I may not agree that words are bad, but I'm not out to offend anyone with my children's books. I hope you'll check it out on Goodreads and watch for it Dec. 20th**

Gaia Wars: Guest Post & chances to win!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of The Gaia Wars eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What's more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle Fire, Amazon gift cards up to $100 in amount, 5 autographed copies of the book, and 5 autographed copies of its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 9th, so you don't miss out.

 

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Gaia Wars for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today's featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

 

…And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity's site to fill-out the contest entry form, don't forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

 

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We're kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We'll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of The Gaia Wars or its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Don't forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you're over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here's the tweet: Looking for a YA read that's full of adventure & intrigue? Check out The Gaia Wars. Reduced to just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7ywpZ #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there's yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand's most recent post (you'll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity's Facebook page and share their latest post (you'll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). It's ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author's site! Win a Kindle Fire or a $100 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Kenneth's most recent blog post. How easy is that? Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Remember, it's all about the books!

About The Gaia Wars: DEADLY SECRETS have been buried in the Cascade mountain wilderness for centuries. Hidden. Out of sight and out of mind. Until today… Warren Wilkes, age 13, doesn't like what a greedy housing developer has done to his peaceful mountain community, so he vandalizes the developer's property, flees into the wild, and stumbles upon an ancient human skeleton revealed by torrential rain. More than old bones have been exposed, however, and the curious artifact Warren finds makes him question his own identity, and his connection to an ancient terror. A terror destined to rise again and annihilate all that Warren loves. He must fight or see his whole world destroyed. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About Battle for Cascadia: When Warren Wilkes, age 13, stumbles upon a mysterious relic deep in the Cascade Mountains, wonder reigns. Brimming with secrets and sentient energy, the relic leads Warren to a fantastic chamber, and to shocking revelations about his identity. Now wonder has turned to dread. A forgotten terror—a demon that knows Warren better than he knows himself—has risen again and is assembling an army; gathering power with a singularly evil goal in mind: to capture and enslave the wild spirit of the Earth itself. As war erupts and the planet slips into chaos, Warren embraces his destiny and finds help where he least expects it. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Kenneth G. Bennett is the author of the Young Adult novels The Gaia Wars and Battle for Cascadia (the second book of The Gaia Wars), as well as the forthcoming Exodus 2018, a paranormal thriller set in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. A wilderness enthusiast who loves backpacking, skiing and kayaking, Ken enjoys novels that explore the relationship between humans and the wild. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son. Visit him on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

 

Now please enjoy this guest post from the author…

 

HOW A NASA SCIENTIST'S THEORY INSPIRED A PARANORMAL THRILLER

 

THE GAIA WARS is fiction, but it was inspired—at least in part—by The Gaia Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by NASA scientist James Lovelock, states that the Earth—the entire Earth—is a living thing. A vast, "super-organism."

I read an article about Lovelock's theory a few years back and thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard.

The Earth is alive. Think about it. If Lovelock's correct, the Earth isn't simply a chunk of interstellar rock hosting a collection of random ecosystems; it's a cohesive entity. An organism. A being. I daydreamed about this idea, mulled it over; wondered how it might be incorporated into a novel. And in my imagination, I took the theory to the next level: What if the Earth is not simply alive, I asked, but also sentient?

I did some reading, and discovered that a lot of so-called primitive cultures believed this very thing. Understood it in their bones. Our ancestors were in tune with the planet in ways that we've forgotten. They could feel her heartbeat. Interpret her rhythms. They created Earth Goddesses to worship and celebrate.

Gaia (pron. guy-uh) is one of the principal deities of the Greek Pantheon. Other cultures used other names: the Tibetan people called the deity Chomolungma—Goddess Mother of the World. The Sumerians knew her as Ninhursaga. To Mesoamerican peoples she was Tlazolteotl.

A fictitious Pacific Northwest culture called the Denelai is at the center of THE GAIA WARS. As readers learn, the ancient Denelai people believed in the Earth goddess so profoundly that she would sometimes appear to them in human form.

At the start of the novel, troubled 13-year-old Warren Wilkes unearths a treasure deep in the Cascade Mountains while fleeing the law, learns about the Denelai and Gaia's periodic visits, and finds that on one such occasion in 1550 AD, the tribe was attacked and the Earth Goddess wounded. The Indians were slaughtered and Gaia lost her memory and vanished into the wild.

As Warren soon discovers, Gaia is still alive and still trapped in human form. What's more, the beast that attacked the Indian village 500 years earlier is on it's way back with an army bred specifically to capture Gaia, unlock her secrets, and seize control of the planet. Warren must fight or see his whole world destroyed.

Readers seem to like the idea of a paranormal thriller with a thinking, feeling Earth at its heart. The feedback has been tremendous. Humbling. Yesterday (November 24, Thanksgiving Day) THE GAIA WARS rose to #17 on Amazon's list of Top 100 Best Sellers in Children's Action & Adventure. The Second Book of The Gaia Wars, BATTLE FOR CASCADIA, (just released) is also doing well. A huge thank you to all the wonderful readers giving these books a try!

One Last Christmas

[image error]This week on Facebook many people rallied together to pray for and support a woman who had been in a horrible car accident. Her 5-year-old brother had died, she had lost the baby she was carrying and was in critical condition and facing brain surgery.

Hearts all over the world broke for her–until we found out that it was all a hoax. For books, attention or likes–or some other reason altogether– this woman had faked the whole thing. Her Facebook page has since been removed and many people are hurt by the betrayal.

I understand the feeling, however I'm also very grateful. Grateful that this little boy's parents aren't mourning his loss. Grateful that an unborn baby didn't die.

This weekend, after learning about all of this, I was running errands with Dmytry and our three little girls and a song came on that brought me to tears.

One Last Christmas by Matthew West is based on a true story of a young boy, Dax, who was diagnosed with leukemia and given 4-6 weeks left to live. It was September. His parents, realizing that he wouldn't make it to his favorite holiday decided to give him an early Christmas.

So in the wee hours of the night, his dad climbed into their attic and pulled out all the Christmas boxes. He put up the tree, the lights, all the trimmings on the house. Even put Dax's name in lights on the front yard.

The neighbors began asking questions. Why were they celebrating Christmas in September? When they learned about Dax, they too set up all their lights, skipping fall and Halloween decorations in order to give Dax his Christmas.

Soon the media caught wind of the story– and the entire town in Illinois joined in the spirit. People came from all over to give Dax presents and make his last Christmas special.

Even writing this, I can't stop the tears. Tears for the parents who lost their son. Tears for the love a small Illinois town showed to this boy and his family. Tears for the power of the human spirit to join together in support of another in times of need.

The Facebook hoax was a horrible thing to do. And that woman probably does need professional help. But what I'm taking from this experience is how so many people and pages all over Facebook came together to support someone in need. A stranger.

Yes, this person broke the trust of many. But the show of support renewed my faith in the human spirit.

So enjoy this song. Get some Kleenex though. And remember this holiday season that as corrupt and jaded as the world can be, there are still people ready to celebrate Christmas in September to give one little boy his last wish. With people like that in the world, it can't be all bad.

Gobble up $200 in prizes!! 3 Days, 4 YA Novels, 5 Ways to WIN!

[image error]Ah yes, Thanksgiving. Nothing says the holidays like sitting around a fully decked out dining room table with mouthwatering temptations waiting to be gobbled up. Everyone waits anxiously for the big reveal… the turkey!

Lovingly prepared since early that morning, the turkey is brought out in a covered, silver serving platter. Aunt Edith smacks little Tommy's hand as he attempts to steal a candied yam dripping with marshmallow. The collective breath is held as the silver cover is removed… revealing… a zombie turkey!

What—what? That's right folks, this year, we are celebrating this American holiday paranormal style. And what says paranormal holiday better than a walking, talking zombie turkey?

This zombie turkey brings you important tidings of great prizes that shall be for all people… who participate and win of course.

November 25-27 you could win up to $200 in prizes!

Three days. Four YA paranormal books. Five chances to win!

And who are these crazy paranormal authors? Check them out. It's like the Nightmare Before Christmas, Thanksgiving style!

[image error]Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted

"Psychic or not, you'll never see the end for this one coming! Emlyn Chand is pioneering 'the next big thing' for YA." ~ Emily Reese, author of Second Death

Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still "see" things others can't. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.

Monster Mash: Emlyn says… I. AM. WEREWOLF! And why's that you ask? First off, my name (Chand) literally means moon in Sanskrit. Next, werewolves are super cool–we can blend in with common folk, and then out of nowhere, kapow! I'm a werewolf, and I sure am hungry. Lastly, Team Jacob 100%. Now excuse me while I cock back my head and howl at my namesake.

[image error]Patti Larsen, author of Family Magic

"Patti Larsen is truly gifted because I read Family Magic cover to cover and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment!" ~ from Goodreads review

Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord, but she just wants to be ordinary. When her coven comes under attack, Syd must face the fact only her power can save her family's magic.

Monster Mash: Patti says… I am a witch. Naturally. I weave spells with my words, cast incantations from my keyboard, mix up the very best potions in my cauldron of documents. You want to stay on my good side. Trust me. Unless you enjoy waking up as something… unnatural.

[image error]Kimberly Kinrade, author of Forbidden Mind

"Forbidden Mind is a thrilling, dark and deeply romantic read that had me sitting on the edge of my seat and eagerly awaiting the next installment." ~Refracted Light Young Adult Book Reviews

Paranormal teens with unimaginable powers. An evil organization with deep secrets. When Sam, a girl who reads minds, meets a boy who controls minds, she discovers her future isn't what she thought. Together they must escape and free the others… or risk losing everything—and everyone—they love.

Monster Mash: Kimberly says… I may look like a demon, but I'm actually a succubus. Enchanting and seductive, I weave stories that will fuel your passions and make you fall in love. But be warned… once you fall under the spell of my words, your world will never be the same.

[image error]John Corwin, author of The Next Thing I Knew

Corwin does a phenomenal job of including humor throughout this novel. This book was like . . . Ghost (the movie) meets The Host (by Stephanie Meyer) meets MIB (Men In Black the movie). ~Maryann, Chapter by Chapter

The afterlife is the last thing on Lucy's mind until she and every other human on the planet drop dead and find themselves in the hereafter. Lucy drags her social life back from the grave and enlists her friends to figure out the rules of the afterlife and, more importantly, to discover who or what killed everyone and why anyone would do such a mean thing.

Monster Mash: John says… I am a ninja. After all, vampires are simply ninjas with fangs. They can hide in plain sight, right in your living room. Jump out and scare the wits out of you. Drop a smoke bomb and poof! All you're left with is stinky smoke in your house and soiled underclothes.

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The Prizes

Four $25 Book Entries: For each of the four books in the contest, you can enter to win $25 (up to $100 in giveaways!) Simply buy a copy of the book (each is priced at just 99 cents for this special promotion) and email the proof of purchase for that book OR submit the first sentence of the fifth chapter for that book to ParanormalTurkey@gmail.com. Winners will be chosen randomly. Each person can submit one entry per book. Here are the links for each book:

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand : http://ow.ly/7tqhx
Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade: http://amzn.to/rKraMo
The Next Thing I Knew by John Corwin: http://amzn.to/tSlj8A
Family Magic by Patti Larsen : http://goo.gl/r2Bsm

And… if you buy all FOUR books, you are entered to win the Grand Prize!

The Grand Prize

One randomly selected reader who enters to win all four book prizes (Family Magic, Farsighted, Forbidden Mind and The Next Thing I Knew) will win the grand prize of $100.

So go on now and pick up a copy of these fantastic paranormal reads before the zombie turkey eats you!

What? Still around? Then enjoy these fun book trailers and Paranormal Turkey Tour trailer. (Then go buy the books.) Also, leave a comment and help your favorite blog host win a $50 prize!

Notes:

All winners will be chosen randomly using random.org.
Amazon links are provided, but books purchased through any online vendor will qualify with proof of purchase.

Dear Anne McCaffrey… a letter to a legend

Dear Ms. McCaffrey,

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Anne McCaffrey at Worldcon 2005 in Glasgow, August 2005. Picture taken by [http://home.agh.edu.pl/~szymon/ Szymon Sokół

Perhaps I should have written to you before you passed away Monday. You lived a long life, 85 years, but not long enough. I grew up with your Dragonriders of Pern books. Loaned to me by a friend, they were early inspirations for a life of writing and reading fantasy.

You published nearly 100 books in your lifetime and were the first woman to win the Hugo Award for a work of fiction and the Nebula Award. You were a legend in your time, and I have no doubt your legend will live on.

In your bio on your website, you shared about your approach to writing and your first novel, which was published in 1967:

"Her first novel, 'Restoree,' was written as a protest against the absurd and unrealistic portrayals of women in s-f novels in the '50s and early '60s. It is, however, in the handling of broader themes and the worlds of her imagination, particularly the two series 'The Ship Who Sang' and the fourteen novels about the 'Dragonriders of Pern,' that Ms. McCaffrey's talents as a story-teller are best displayed."

Your website shows your commitment to your fans. Just a few weeks ago you responded to questions from those whose lives you touched. It seems surreal that you will no longer be checking your site, updating your comments, or adding to the legacy of your work.

I once had a French professor who never got sick a day in his life. I attended Sorbonne in France because of him. I even interviewed him for a newspaper article about the program he led. I head rumors after graduating that he was sick and so I called him to check on him. He was ill but fighting it. Months later I called again, and the phone just rang and rang. He was no longer there to answer the call.

I never knew you personally–never called you on the phone or even interacted with you on your site–but you were a part of my life for many years.

The world will miss you Anne McCaffrey. I will miss you. But your legacy will live on in so many. Thank you for paving the way for girls and women in the world of fantasy, sci fi and fiction. Thank you for creating work that ignited the imagination of so many. Thank you for the many gifts you have left humanity.

As my friend and another fellow author, Patti Larsen, wrote today, "the dragons are waiting with the ship who sang."

The Rise of YA Fantasy: Indie Carnival

[image error]This week for the Indie Carnival, we are discussing the rise of YA Fantasy, a topic so near and dear to my heart.

Why is YA fantasy such a popular genre?

First, let's look at the YA part. Young Adult novels are popular, in part, because the themes of YA are themes we all resonate with throughout our lives. They are stories that blend archetypal symbolism with coming of age themes that we can all relate to, regardless of age.

In our society, we rarely acknowledge the rites of passage that are present throughout our lives, but as teens we get a small taste of this in sweet 16 parties, graduations, first loves and more. When we–as teens or adults–slip into the world of these characters, we get that camaraderie of shared experience that lives inside us forever.

Teens build a connection to these worlds and characters, finding their current struggles and triumphs brought to life on the page. Adults are brought back to those first moments where everything was new and the world was ready to open up before us.

But more than just taking us to our past, these stories re-cast our current life challenges in a new light. We are allowed, within those thrilling pages, to celebrate ourselves and our choices, to mourn our bitter defeats, to feel the world in all it's highs and lows beyond the mundanity of paying bills and doing dishes. It's the best blend of wish-fulfillment and validation.

YA novels are typically not muddled down in themselves, but rather the writing is crisp and exciting, more about the story than trying to impress the massive with heady, weighty prose. (Not that all adult novels do this!)

Adding Magic Makes Everything Better

If YA does all this, YA Fantasy does all this even better! Talk about wish-fulfillment! We all daydream at some point in our lives about being magical, psychic or some kind of paranormal being. There is an allure to the world beyond rationality and science that is impossible to deny.

As a YA fantasy author and avid reader of this genre, I can tell you that we are a group who never stopped believing in magic, fairytales and monsters. We write the worlds we secretly (or not so secretly) know exist somewhere.

Fantasy, as a genre, gives us a chance to escape the moral ambiguity of shades of grey and live in a more black and white reality of good and evil. The bad guys and good guys are clear, and we get to fight and even kill the bad! In modern society, there are few outlets beyond sports and war that allow us to 'fight' in this way. Fewer still that give women and girls full power to flex their fury.

As a teen I loved fantasy because it was painted with broad brushstrokes that gave us grand opportunities to engage in an epic way. I could escape into my novels and kick some evil butt with killer super powers or magical abilities. I was no longer under the restraining forces of adults when I read these novels. I was powerful, mighty and alive.

As an adult, the process is slightly different, but not by much. I still escape into these worlds where anything truly is possible and the normal rules no longer apply. There is something so stimulating about the regular societal restraints crashing down to reveal a world of magic, a dystopian future where society has collapsed, or our regular world where there's more in it than we ever imagined.

I hope this trend never fades, because I will always write in this genre. It started when I first read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as a child and will last my whole life!

Check out my fellow indie authors:

1.
Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2.
Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series


3.
Heather Self
4.
T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series


5.
Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6.
Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING


7.
Lexus Luke
8.
PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH


9.
Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
10.
Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog


11.
K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
12.
Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series


13.
Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga
14.
Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy


15.
Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
16.
Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey


17.
M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping
18.
Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys


19.
Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
20.
Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls


21.
Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
22.
Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden


23.
Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
24.
TG Ayer


25.
Melissa Pearl, author of Golden Blood
26.
YA Fantasy

3 days… 4 Ya paranormal novels… 7 chances to win up to $300! Plus exciting announcement!

So many exciting things are going on lately, I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with my first announcement!

ATTENTION ALL BLOGGERS:

[image error]Now recruiting bloggers for the first ever, Paranormal Turkey Tour! Three days. Four YA paranormal books. Seven chances to win! From November 25-27 during our post-Turkey giveaway, you could win prizes just for copy-pasting a pre-written, pre-formatted promo article and sharing the contest with your readers. You can see what the post looks like by clicking here. It's easy, easy, easy!

Four YA paranormal authors are hosting a blog tour with giveaways for each book, a grand prize giveaway and blogger giveaways.

The prizes ready to be gobbled up:

4 $25 prizes given away by each author at their site.
2 $50 blogger giveaways given to two bloggers who blog about this promo
1 $100 grand prize giveaway given to a randomly selected person who enters all four giveaways for each author.

There are the 4 books featured:

[image error]To learn more about this tour and to sign up, go to the Novel Publicity Paranormal Turkey Tour page!

Not a blogger? No worries! You could still win up to $200! Swing by here on Nov. 25, 26 or 27th for your chance to enter! And bring a friend. The more the merrier!

Another Big Announcement!

I am so excited to announce that Forbidden Mind is one of the winners of the 2011 Forward National Literature Award. How cool is that?

And I'm having bookmarks made to celebrate! (Ok, I was going to have them made anyways, but it's still super exciting!)

This is what they look like: (Design by Sarah E. Melville)

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I will be doing some kind of giveaway with these little beauties. When they arrive in a few weeks (all 2,000 of them!!!) I will announce what that will be!

Okay, I think we've covered most of the big news. Thanks for coming by! This Thanksgiving is going to be SO. MUCH. FUN! What can beat a zombie turkey I ask? Nothing. That's what!

50 free eBooks & a chance to support our troops!

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Winston Churchill

This weekend, November 11 – 14, Terri Giuliano Long, author of the bestselling novel In Leah's Wake, joins 50 indie authors in Blog Tour de Troops, a charity blog hop sponsored by the Indie Book Collective.

To celebrate, Terri is hosting Emmy-winning film editor Nina Gilberti, currently a full-time editor for the hit CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. Nina is also an indie filmmaker. On Terri's blog, Nina talks about her upcoming documentary, When Jane and Johnny Coming Marching Homeless, a powerful film about the horrors faced by some veterans upon their return home after war.

In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield.

Douglas MacArthur

Did you know that one-third of the people living on the streets are veterans who served in the Vietnam War?

In addition to physical homelessness – whether couch surfing, living in a car or existing on the street – many vets also face emotional, psychological, and spiritual homelessness. While they may seem fine on the outside, within they struggle with the hidden wounds of war – issues like Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD), nightmares, hyper-vigilance, meaning they are on high alert all the time, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), drug & alcohol abuse and addiction, prescription drug addiction – resulting in high divorce rates, joblessness, spousal abuse, and suicide. Naturally, these life-altering problems also affect the spouse, children, and parents of veterans.

With her film, When Jane & Johnny Come Marching Homeless, Nina hopes to inspire our nation to care, to generate real compassion – and perhaps create a movement towards profound healing and understanding for these veterans and their families.

Blog Tour de Troops

This Veteran's Day Weekend, November 11 – 14, 50 indie authors are participating in a daisy chain blog hop to support U.S. troops. Anyone who leaves a comment on a participating author's blog will receive a coupon for a free eBook – plus the author will give a free eBook to one active-duty U.S. troop. This means you have a chance to collect 50, yes 50, FREE eBooks.

For details and a list of participating authors, please visit the Indie Book Collective site: http://indiebookcollective.wordpress.com

AMAZING PRIZES

Leave a comment on Terri's blog and receive a coupon for an In Leah's Wake eBook – for every comment, Terri will also give a free eBook to an active-duty troop.

PLUS, just for leaving a comment, you'll be entered in a random drawing for one of these amazing prizes:

FIRST PRIZE – a $ 50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the Criminal Minds script for episode 701- the season seven opener written by executive producer and writer Erica Messer, SIGNED BY MS. MESSER AND THE ENTIRE CM CAST, PLUS an autographed photo of the Criminal Minds cast!

SECOND PRIZE (total 3) – autographed photograph of the Criminal Minds cast!

WIN A CARE PACKAGE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SOLDIER

With your comment, leave the name of a U.S. troop and he or she will be eligible to win an awesome care package, consisting of: $ 100 Amazon gift card, a boxed video set of Criminal Minds, Season 6, PLUS an autographed photo of the CM cast!

* Winners to be determined by a random number generator, using random.org.

To learn more about the film When Jane & Johnny Come Marching Homeless and to enter the raffle, please visit Terri's blog: http://www.tglong.com/blog/2011/11/blog-tour-de-troops/