Aneta Cruz's Blog, page 2
November 11, 2013
Last Words
I have a confession to make. I’m one of those people who have a weird habit and don’t want anyone to know about it. But today I’m going to let you in on my strange ritual, so next time, when you see me at the bookstore, you’ll think twice before shooting me a nasty glare, which I got from someone at Barnes and Noble yesterday (it wasn’t the first and probably not the last, either).
So, this is what I do before I buy/read a book. I leaf through it and read the last sentence. Yup, it’s one of those “Bruce Willis is a ghost” moments. Don’t get it? Let me explain. Some years ago, my husband and I were just about to leave for the movie theater to see The Sixth Sense, when his friend, Alfredo Melendez, pulled up in our driveway, asked where we were headed, and when he received the answer, he said, “Oh, yeah, I saw that movie. Bruce Willis is a ghost.” So much for our movie-going that day. You get the picture. So, from that day on, anytime someone spoils the ending of anything, we say “Bruce Willis is a ghost.” Thank you, Fredo!
You must wonder why I would do it to myself; why would I have a “Bruce Willis is a ghost” moment each time I open a new book. Shouldn’t the hook be the first sentence, not the last? The first sentence of any book may hook you, but will it reel you in? You have to read on to see whether the story is worth your time. And pretty soon you’re through with the first paragraph, the first page, the first chapter, and you’re still not sure whether you’re interested enough to continue. Then you realize that the book is pretty thick, say three, four hundred pages, and so far you’re iffy with continuing to read. You sigh, close it, and put it back on the shelf. You’ve just wasted your precious time and energy.
I have very little of both, so I try to conserve as much as I can. I start at the end. I read the last sentence first. If I find it intriguing, I read the sentence before it. And then I wonder, jeez what could have possibly happened that the book ended this way? I have a bazillion antecedent scenarios playing out in my head, and yes, you’ve guessed it—I’m hooked, reeled in, and hanging on the line like a fish out of water.
Here are some great last words. And let’s play a game. Can you guess to which book they belong?
1. They said that of all the kings upon earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame. 2. Big words are always punished, and proud men in old age learn to be wise. 3. With man gone, will there be hope for gorilla? With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?4. Honi soit qui mal y pense. “Evil to him who thinks evil.”5. The creatures outside look from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. 6. And no one can help me. Not even you.7. He was soon borne away by the waves, and lost in the darkness and distance. 8. Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger. 9. So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.10. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran.
A. Ishmaelby Daniel Quinn B. The Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles C. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight D. Fahrenheit 451by Ray Bradbury E. Animal Farmby George Orwell F. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini G. The Great Gatsbyby F. Scott Fitzgerald H. Beowulf I. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley J. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Answers:
1H. 2B. 3A. 4C. 5E. 6D. 7I. 8J. 9G. 10F.
So, this is what I do before I buy/read a book. I leaf through it and read the last sentence. Yup, it’s one of those “Bruce Willis is a ghost” moments. Don’t get it? Let me explain. Some years ago, my husband and I were just about to leave for the movie theater to see The Sixth Sense, when his friend, Alfredo Melendez, pulled up in our driveway, asked where we were headed, and when he received the answer, he said, “Oh, yeah, I saw that movie. Bruce Willis is a ghost.” So much for our movie-going that day. You get the picture. So, from that day on, anytime someone spoils the ending of anything, we say “Bruce Willis is a ghost.” Thank you, Fredo!
You must wonder why I would do it to myself; why would I have a “Bruce Willis is a ghost” moment each time I open a new book. Shouldn’t the hook be the first sentence, not the last? The first sentence of any book may hook you, but will it reel you in? You have to read on to see whether the story is worth your time. And pretty soon you’re through with the first paragraph, the first page, the first chapter, and you’re still not sure whether you’re interested enough to continue. Then you realize that the book is pretty thick, say three, four hundred pages, and so far you’re iffy with continuing to read. You sigh, close it, and put it back on the shelf. You’ve just wasted your precious time and energy.
I have very little of both, so I try to conserve as much as I can. I start at the end. I read the last sentence first. If I find it intriguing, I read the sentence before it. And then I wonder, jeez what could have possibly happened that the book ended this way? I have a bazillion antecedent scenarios playing out in my head, and yes, you’ve guessed it—I’m hooked, reeled in, and hanging on the line like a fish out of water.
Here are some great last words. And let’s play a game. Can you guess to which book they belong?
1. They said that of all the kings upon earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame. 2. Big words are always punished, and proud men in old age learn to be wise. 3. With man gone, will there be hope for gorilla? With gorilla gone, will there be hope for man?4. Honi soit qui mal y pense. “Evil to him who thinks evil.”5. The creatures outside look from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. 6. And no one can help me. Not even you.7. He was soon borne away by the waves, and lost in the darkness and distance. 8. Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger. 9. So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.10. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran.
A. Ishmaelby Daniel Quinn B. The Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles C. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight D. Fahrenheit 451by Ray Bradbury E. Animal Farmby George Orwell F. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini G. The Great Gatsbyby F. Scott Fitzgerald H. Beowulf I. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley J. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Answers:
1H. 2B. 3A. 4C. 5E. 6D. 7I. 8J. 9G. 10F.
November 5, 2013
No NaNo
I owe you a huge apology for my absence. Perhaps you’re one of those people who try to look for excuses and make up scenarios for why I haven’t been contributing to the Conundrum Corner lately.
You may think I’ve been too busy reading, or writing, or working, or cooking, or rearing children, or imagining. You are correct. I’ve been doing all of the above and more. The one thing I have not done, and meant to, was join NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, here’s the low-down. It’s a month long frenzy in which you write like mad a minimum of 50K words—I’m keeping the explanation as short as possible. There are many perks and other details that go with it, but they are not as important as starting and finishing a literary masterpiece in one month. Well, something to that effect. So I had meant to join the writing craze and then decided against it.
Writing 50K in a month and creating something cohesive is a LOT of work. And I’m the Queen of Procrastination! I would probably be up all night on the last day of NaNoWriMo, pounding on the keys of my laptop, writing what would surely be a disaster. So no. I’m not going to write something that’s going to take the rest of my life to revise. I think I’ll stick to my moments of clarity, escapism, and musings. They are rare, unfortunately, but when I have them, I feel like my fingers move across the keyboard at the speed of light; my spirit is completely detached from my body; and my eyes see the beyond into which I’ve submerged my ethereal self. Those are the moments I cherish the most because they have allowed me to be a vessel for words and sentences at which I can only stare with my mouth open, thinking...
And then comes the hard part. Spreading the word. Yup, authors have to be marketers as well. This is the part of book publishing in which we generally suck. I know I do, so please, if you have any ideas on how to get my books into as many hands as possible, don’t be shy. Spill! Oh, and get a copy HERE while you’re at it.
Talk to you soon. I promise!
You may think I’ve been too busy reading, or writing, or working, or cooking, or rearing children, or imagining. You are correct. I’ve been doing all of the above and more. The one thing I have not done, and meant to, was join NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, here’s the low-down. It’s a month long frenzy in which you write like mad a minimum of 50K words—I’m keeping the explanation as short as possible. There are many perks and other details that go with it, but they are not as important as starting and finishing a literary masterpiece in one month. Well, something to that effect. So I had meant to join the writing craze and then decided against it.
Writing 50K in a month and creating something cohesive is a LOT of work. And I’m the Queen of Procrastination! I would probably be up all night on the last day of NaNoWriMo, pounding on the keys of my laptop, writing what would surely be a disaster. So no. I’m not going to write something that’s going to take the rest of my life to revise. I think I’ll stick to my moments of clarity, escapism, and musings. They are rare, unfortunately, but when I have them, I feel like my fingers move across the keyboard at the speed of light; my spirit is completely detached from my body; and my eyes see the beyond into which I’ve submerged my ethereal self. Those are the moments I cherish the most because they have allowed me to be a vessel for words and sentences at which I can only stare with my mouth open, thinking...
And then comes the hard part. Spreading the word. Yup, authors have to be marketers as well. This is the part of book publishing in which we generally suck. I know I do, so please, if you have any ideas on how to get my books into as many hands as possible, don’t be shy. Spill! Oh, and get a copy HERE while you’re at it.
Talk to you soon. I promise!
September 18, 2013
Teaching Miley Cyrus an Astronomical Lesson
How does this and this
go together, you ask?
It so doesn’t. Therefore, I’m glad to announce that the engagement of Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus has been called off. Whew. The possible future children of “Lialey” have been spared the embarrassment of having a wicked weirdo for a mother! Also, does anyone else think that her tongue is just abnormally long and large? If Miley licked a frozen pole, she’d probably be able to turn around, get into her car, and drive to Starbucks to get a hot tea/coffee to defrost her slug-like tongue on steroids.
Yeah, yeah, I know some people have to put in their two cents and defend her by saying: “She’s not doing anything new. Just look at Madonna and Lady Gaga!” To those people I say, Puh-leeease. You cannot put Miley Cyrus in the same category as Madonna and Lady Gaga. It would be an astronomical mistake. And since we’re on astronomy, let’s do an astronomical comparison. Pretend Madonna is the Sun, Lady Gaga is Jupiter, and Miley Cyrus is Pluto. You see the difference there? Pluto is not even considered a planet anymore. It’s only a dwarf planet. Why? Because in order to be a planet, you need 3 things:
1. Orbit around the Sun in an elliptical path—Miley doesn’t orbit around Madonna. She trails behind her. Far, far behind her. 2. Possess enough gravity to maintain its body—Miley seems to be high on some sort of a “make me an idiot look-alike” drug; therefore she possesses no “common sense” gravity and she keeps changing her body image. She went from a blond Hannah Montana wig, to dark hair and chubby curves, to short, bleached blond hair, half shaven skull, and lanky limbs. Who is this constantly morphing person? I sense some serious identity issues. 3. Have cleared its orbit of the majority of space “debree”—Miley still has a lot of clearing to do. From her image to her videos, and I’m not even talking about personal life, family, and relationships.
So why would anyone go to these obnoxious lengths to gain momentum and attention? The only reasonable answer is this. Your music, Miley Cyrus, sucks. It’s not nearly as good as the music of the giants you are trying to emulate (Madonna, Lady Gaga) and so to pull attention away from your mediocre art you must draw focus somewhere else—your dirty performance. Now, go take a shower and clean up your act!
go together, you ask?
It so doesn’t. Therefore, I’m glad to announce that the engagement of Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus has been called off. Whew. The possible future children of “Lialey” have been spared the embarrassment of having a wicked weirdo for a mother! Also, does anyone else think that her tongue is just abnormally long and large? If Miley licked a frozen pole, she’d probably be able to turn around, get into her car, and drive to Starbucks to get a hot tea/coffee to defrost her slug-like tongue on steroids.
Yeah, yeah, I know some people have to put in their two cents and defend her by saying: “She’s not doing anything new. Just look at Madonna and Lady Gaga!” To those people I say, Puh-leeease. You cannot put Miley Cyrus in the same category as Madonna and Lady Gaga. It would be an astronomical mistake. And since we’re on astronomy, let’s do an astronomical comparison. Pretend Madonna is the Sun, Lady Gaga is Jupiter, and Miley Cyrus is Pluto. You see the difference there? Pluto is not even considered a planet anymore. It’s only a dwarf planet. Why? Because in order to be a planet, you need 3 things:
1. Orbit around the Sun in an elliptical path—Miley doesn’t orbit around Madonna. She trails behind her. Far, far behind her. 2. Possess enough gravity to maintain its body—Miley seems to be high on some sort of a “make me an idiot look-alike” drug; therefore she possesses no “common sense” gravity and she keeps changing her body image. She went from a blond Hannah Montana wig, to dark hair and chubby curves, to short, bleached blond hair, half shaven skull, and lanky limbs. Who is this constantly morphing person? I sense some serious identity issues. 3. Have cleared its orbit of the majority of space “debree”—Miley still has a lot of clearing to do. From her image to her videos, and I’m not even talking about personal life, family, and relationships.
So why would anyone go to these obnoxious lengths to gain momentum and attention? The only reasonable answer is this. Your music, Miley Cyrus, sucks. It’s not nearly as good as the music of the giants you are trying to emulate (Madonna, Lady Gaga) and so to pull attention away from your mediocre art you must draw focus somewhere else—your dirty performance. Now, go take a shower and clean up your act!
September 14, 2013
Seeking Spiritualists
Does anyone have Theresa Caputo’s, the Long Island Medium’s phone number? Or does anyone know anything real about spirits? Because I’m seriously puzzled here. Do you remember when I wrote my blog post “Who Wants to Live Forever,” which was about my grandma? If not, please go back and re-read. So, in that post I talk about a very deep connection to my grandmother, promising her I would invent some medication to make her live forever, and then having her visit me in my dreams after she’d passed away. In the last dream, which was very heartbreaking and I woke up with a tear-soaked pillow, she told me she wouldn’t be able to visit me any longer because it was time for her to reincarnate.
Last night I had another dream involving my beloved grandma. The dream was ALL about her; however, she was completely absent. It went something like this: My husband, children, and I flew to Slovakia to visit her, but for some reason she had moved from her old house to a new one (this was beyond my understanding; how could she have abandoned the house of my childhood memories?). So when I queried my uncles, aunts, and cousins about her new address, no one wanted to tell me. They were in some sort of cahoots, each one coming up with excuses like, “She takes a nap at this time of the day. You shouldn’t disturb her” or “She’s doing her shopping around this time; she won’t be home” or “She usually has coffee with one of her lady friends. Wait till tomorrow.” I finally pried my grandma’s whereabouts out of one of my younger cousins, loaded my luggage, husband, and kids into a taxi and headed to my grandma’s anyway. When the cab arrived at some kind of an odd, crumbling neighborhood, I realized my cousin had tricked me and sent me out to the loonies. I cursed but began taking the suitcases out of the taxi anyway, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. As soon as I turned my back, however, two gypsy boys ran up to the cab and stole the suitcase that contained all our passports, money, and return flight tickets. We ended up at the police station which was useless since the two little thieves were long gone and indescribable. And that’s where my dream ended. I never got to see my grandma.
So to all of you who know something, anything about spirits…is it possible for the spirit that has reincarnated to leave that body and come “visit” its loved ones? Is it possible that they are somehow trapped and need our help? How does the spirit world work anyway? What are the rules? And what are the consequences for rule-breaking. I may be a fool, but I feel like my grandmother is calling out to me and that, this time around, I’ve failed her.
Last night I had another dream involving my beloved grandma. The dream was ALL about her; however, she was completely absent. It went something like this: My husband, children, and I flew to Slovakia to visit her, but for some reason she had moved from her old house to a new one (this was beyond my understanding; how could she have abandoned the house of my childhood memories?). So when I queried my uncles, aunts, and cousins about her new address, no one wanted to tell me. They were in some sort of cahoots, each one coming up with excuses like, “She takes a nap at this time of the day. You shouldn’t disturb her” or “She’s doing her shopping around this time; she won’t be home” or “She usually has coffee with one of her lady friends. Wait till tomorrow.” I finally pried my grandma’s whereabouts out of one of my younger cousins, loaded my luggage, husband, and kids into a taxi and headed to my grandma’s anyway. When the cab arrived at some kind of an odd, crumbling neighborhood, I realized my cousin had tricked me and sent me out to the loonies. I cursed but began taking the suitcases out of the taxi anyway, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. As soon as I turned my back, however, two gypsy boys ran up to the cab and stole the suitcase that contained all our passports, money, and return flight tickets. We ended up at the police station which was useless since the two little thieves were long gone and indescribable. And that’s where my dream ended. I never got to see my grandma.
So to all of you who know something, anything about spirits…is it possible for the spirit that has reincarnated to leave that body and come “visit” its loved ones? Is it possible that they are somehow trapped and need our help? How does the spirit world work anyway? What are the rules? And what are the consequences for rule-breaking. I may be a fool, but I feel like my grandmother is calling out to me and that, this time around, I’ve failed her.
September 13, 2013
A Wickedly Good Author on Friday 13th--Interview with Cathrina Constantine
It is Friday 13th! What does this mean? Well, for you superstitious people, it means that you are freaking our right about now because you haven't thought about it until I just put it in front of your eyes, making the day even more frightening than it normally would have been. And for you non-superstitious folks it simply means that the work week is over and you can't wait to start your weekend. For me it means that a wonderful author has stopped by my blog and sat down for a short interview. Cathrina Constantine is the author of Wickedly They Come. And what better day than to come on Friday 13th? Here's what we talked about.
1. Do you remember when you knew you wanted to become an author? When was it and what had you written that solidified your decision to get published.
Well, that’s a long answer. Many moons ago, I wrote short stories and submitted a few to magazines without luck. I have a vivid imagination; however, sometimes it can be difficult to write down exactly what’s happening in the brain. Four years ago, right out of the blue as my husband would say, I had an urgent need to buckle down, and started to write. Just like that! After much trial and error, I liked when the characters came to life and I persevered in writing, reading, and learning what I could about the publishing industry. I’m still learning.
2. Wickedly They Come is a very strong, promising title which suggests that your novel has supernatural elements. What supernatural element do you believe? Have you ever seen a ghost, an alien, a toothfairy…?
I truly believe in ghosts, or spirits, good and evil. I harbor a great belif in God's holy angels, and if you don't believe in His condmned angels, you will when you see one! I’ve seen a bright light that overtook a forest of darkened trees when I was on a holy pilgrimage. I’ve seen rosary chains turn gold, I’ve seen the sun dance, I’ve seen and heard people exclaim in wonder as a blessed woman appeared in the sky.
3. When it comes to characters, are there any you’ve based on someone you know? If so, how are they similar? How are they different?
My characters are purely fictional. Though, all writers will acquire certain traits from various people and meld them into one or two characters.
4. Every great writer is a great reader. What are you reading right now? What’s next on your list?
I’m a multi-reader. I can read four books at a time or one. Right now, I’m into Shadow’s Edge, Seduced by Innocence, Cassafire, and Clash of Kings (which will take forever). I have a long to read list.
5. What do you think is the best job in the world (well, besides being an author, of course) and why?
The best job in the world is being a Mother. A good, nurturing mother that can mold and raise decent, respectable children for the next generation is a Godsend!
Wickedly They Come is a dark and gripping, thought-provoking fantasy:
Haunting visions, unusual strength, and special paranormal talents are the norm for Seeley and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Jordan. Their lives become perilous when the leader of The Black Order stalks them, trying to fulfill a prophecy to consecrate Jordan to his lord—Lucifer.
Previously homeschooled and naive, Jordan is inducted into the social culture of teendom at Elma High, where she encounters Mark, a mysterious new classmate who is hell bent on keeping her unscathed from the forces of evil. The battle between heaven and earth is escalating—and earth is their battleground!
Buy Links:
Black Opal BooksAmazonBarnes and NobleSmashwordsYou can find Cathrina at these sites: http://www.cathrinaconstantine.comhttp://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.comhttp://www.facebook/www.cathrina.constantine.3https://twitter.com/cathconstantinehttp://www.goodreads.com/user/show/16051029-cathrina-constantine Twitter: @cathconstantine
ANDCathrina has a sweet giveaway. Enter below. Good luck, especially today. :)a Rafflecopter giveaway
1. Do you remember when you knew you wanted to become an author? When was it and what had you written that solidified your decision to get published.
Well, that’s a long answer. Many moons ago, I wrote short stories and submitted a few to magazines without luck. I have a vivid imagination; however, sometimes it can be difficult to write down exactly what’s happening in the brain. Four years ago, right out of the blue as my husband would say, I had an urgent need to buckle down, and started to write. Just like that! After much trial and error, I liked when the characters came to life and I persevered in writing, reading, and learning what I could about the publishing industry. I’m still learning.
2. Wickedly They Come is a very strong, promising title which suggests that your novel has supernatural elements. What supernatural element do you believe? Have you ever seen a ghost, an alien, a toothfairy…?
I truly believe in ghosts, or spirits, good and evil. I harbor a great belif in God's holy angels, and if you don't believe in His condmned angels, you will when you see one! I’ve seen a bright light that overtook a forest of darkened trees when I was on a holy pilgrimage. I’ve seen rosary chains turn gold, I’ve seen the sun dance, I’ve seen and heard people exclaim in wonder as a blessed woman appeared in the sky.
3. When it comes to characters, are there any you’ve based on someone you know? If so, how are they similar? How are they different?
My characters are purely fictional. Though, all writers will acquire certain traits from various people and meld them into one or two characters.
4. Every great writer is a great reader. What are you reading right now? What’s next on your list?
I’m a multi-reader. I can read four books at a time or one. Right now, I’m into Shadow’s Edge, Seduced by Innocence, Cassafire, and Clash of Kings (which will take forever). I have a long to read list.
5. What do you think is the best job in the world (well, besides being an author, of course) and why?
The best job in the world is being a Mother. A good, nurturing mother that can mold and raise decent, respectable children for the next generation is a Godsend!
Wickedly They Come is a dark and gripping, thought-provoking fantasy:
Haunting visions, unusual strength, and special paranormal talents are the norm for Seeley and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Jordan. Their lives become perilous when the leader of The Black Order stalks them, trying to fulfill a prophecy to consecrate Jordan to his lord—Lucifer.
Previously homeschooled and naive, Jordan is inducted into the social culture of teendom at Elma High, where she encounters Mark, a mysterious new classmate who is hell bent on keeping her unscathed from the forces of evil. The battle between heaven and earth is escalating—and earth is their battleground!
Buy Links:
Black Opal BooksAmazonBarnes and NobleSmashwordsYou can find Cathrina at these sites: http://www.cathrinaconstantine.comhttp://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.comhttp://www.facebook/www.cathrina.constantine.3https://twitter.com/cathconstantinehttp://www.goodreads.com/user/show/16051029-cathrina-constantine Twitter: @cathconstantine
ANDCathrina has a sweet giveaway. Enter below. Good luck, especially today. :)a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 3, 2013
21 Questions with Jennifer Gibson
Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you enjoyed you Labor Day weekend. For me it was fabulous. My husband and I celebrated. It's been 15 years since we met at Laguna Beach and still, I can't get rid of him. No, I'm joking here. He's a wonderful man and I wouldn't trade him for anyone. He's been my rock and a mountain of support...to some extent like the boyfriend of protagonist Jesse in Jennifer Gibson's novel Destiny. Jennifer has agreed to play a little game with me, so enjoy!
21 Questions with Jennifer Gibson
1. Do you remember the first time you wanted to become an author? What feelings did that desire evoke in you? I’ve been writing poems, short stories and articles since I was young kid. Ironically it never really occurred to me to consider writing as a profession since my focus was more on art and photography. I’ve had writing teachers all through college who tried to encourage me to switch to writing instead of illustration. They loved my work. It wasn’t until I met Michael Buble a few years ago, prior to his concert in Toronto that I began to think about it. He is the one who sparked that fire in me to seriously consider a different path in life. As I watched him on stage, I realized that he didn’t reach that level of success without hard work, grit and an incredible sense of passion. I wanted to be proud of my achievements and have my dreams come true, just like him. My mother was my strongest supporter who gave me this advice: "Follow your dreams and trust your heart. If it feels right, go for it." That’s exactly what I did.
2. Do you remember the first story/poem you wrote? What was it about? That’s funny you asked me that, I was just going through a box of my old school reports, yearbooks, stories and poems that I wrote for their newsletters. My very first published poem was when I was in grade 2 and it was about my white cat. Growing up, I’ve always had cats and they were a big part of my life. It’s no surprise that they ended up in my novels.
3. Great authors are also devoted readers. Which author do you look up to and which element of his/her craft do you find most intriguing?Yes, that is true. I’ve always loved reading. My mother often gave me books to keep me entertained and out of trouble. I was not an easy kid to raise. I’m a big fan of the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher about a wizard living in today’s society. I enjoy his frank sense of humour and his gumption for trying to fit in even though he is quite different from everyone else. He’s not afraid to hide it and has learned to embrace his uniqueness. Ironically, the author, Jim is also a fencer and martial artist, just like me.
4. We all fear something. Authors often fear a certain genre. Which genre do you fear and think to yourself, I could never write this! Why?Most likely a murder mystery along the lines of Kathy Reichs, who is the producer of the tv series Bones. I’m amazed at her ability to write so many stories in that genre. It takes a lot of imagination as well as a very confident and thorough sense of plotting. It’s an impressive feat.
5. I’m always interested to know how authors come up with ideas for their novels and how they bring them to life. Do you write an outline, come up with characters, the first or the last sentence, drink gallons of coffee, lock yourself in the basement, rub the magic lamp…? What is your writing process?It changes with each book depending on the theme and the mood I’m trying to maintain. I wrote my first novel Sway in my bedroom on an old-fashioned school desk with a small hole for an inkwell. It worked well since there were a lot of scenes that took place at high school. For the second book, Compass, I wrote parts of it on the school desk as well outside on the porch during the warmer days since there were more scenes away from school. I wrote Destiny in various locations including outside on the porch and beside a crackling fire in the living room. All three books were written out by hand in journals and notebooks which made it easy for me to write anywhere. Inspiration can hit me at any time and I want to be able to grab a pen and jot it down before the characters drive me insane with their incessant chatter. I usually know the overall arc before I start writing, I tend to have a good sense of how it will begin and end. Any plotlines, ideas for a chapter or specific conflicts are written down so that I can include at the right time and keep track of my progress. When I realized that Sway was going to be a trilogy, I had to include a much larger arc that spanned three books. Coffee and dark chocolate was a definite must-have item beside me during my writing process. I also like having scented candles on the table while I write which is interesting since those scents can trigger a memory. Whenever I smell frosty pine, it reminds me of when I wrote Sway since I had used that particular candle at the time.
6. Your novels, Sway, Compass, and Destiny in which you draw on personal experiences are about a hard of hearing teenage girl. What advice would you give to today’s teenagers who face the same or similar challenges like your protagonist? What would you tell the bullies?My advice to teenagers who are struggling with issues like this is to believe in yourself and stay strong. If you have a confident personality, you will become less of a target. Instead, they will look up to you and want to be your friend. If it’s a difficult situation, I highly recommend finding someone that you can trust to talk about what’s happening before it gets any worse. Having a sense of support is extremely important. In my experience, there is usually a reason why someone chooses to be a bully and it’s often related to something happening at home and they are transferring their anger on to someone else so that they don’t have to feel the pain. It’s an unfortunate and vicious cycle of hostility. We need to learn to let go of that negativity, we don’t need it in our life. That’s one of the reason’s why I have the phrase "Find the light within you and let it SHINE." written on the back cover of Destiny. It’s to remind people to focus on the positive attributes of their personalities. When I was very young and at a new school, I became a target by a particularly cruel teacher who didn’t know how to deal with disabled kids. That kind of negative attitude was contagious which spread to other teachers and students. They continuously lashed out at me and made going to school a terrifying experience. I wish that someone had listened to me, gave me the support I needed and did something to stop it.
7. Is there an essential advice regarding the craft of creative writing you live and breathe?Yes, keep a journal. Write down your dreams, ideas, intense emotions and thoughts. That’s what I did and many of those moments ended up in my books. It made it easy for me to expand on them and turn it into a wonderful story.
Now, on a more personal note, just so everyone knows that authors are human, not just some ethereal force spewing words onto pages.
8. What makes you laugh? My cats, when they are being silly. And the hilarious antics of Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural.
9. What makes you cry? Whenever I see an animal suffering from neglect. I’m like the cat whisperer around here, they seem to find me and ask to be rescued. I will also cry when I run out of dark chocolate or coffee. Jensen Ackles (aka Dean Winchester) is extremely good at making me cry, he tugs at my heartstrings whenever he is conflicted with his inner demons. * sniff *
10. Favorite film? Do I have to pick just one? For the kid in me, it’s Tangled. To appeal to my geek side, the winner is Serenity. The X-Men series with Hugh Jackman has a special meaning to me since it involves being different from the rest of the society and learning to embrace it.
11. Favorite children’s book? Bruno and Boots by Gordon Korman, I had always wanted to write books like that and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle for having a unique imagination.
12. What are you reading right now? I just received Midnight Riot by Ben Arronovitch which is similar to the Dresden Files.
13. What is your favorite word? Believe.
14. Which word do you hate? Disabled.
15. Since we’re with words; I’m always on the lookout for a new Oxymoron. Care to share one? “Original Copy” and “New and Improved”
16. What are you wearing right now? Orange jeans, rich purple t-shirt with a large orange heart in the centre that I wore to the Coldplay concert. It’s the beginning of fall and I’m in the mood for something more colourful, especially in warm hues.
17. Favorite junk food? Potato chips.
18. What do you believe? I believe in kindness and not judging people. And that Mulder was right: The truth is out there.
19. What do you think is totally far-fetched? That Obama will put a stop to genetically modified food.
20. When was the last time you tripped and fell in the physical sense? A few weeks ago when one of the cats got tangled up between my feet.
21. And finally: Look at your coffee table. What do you see shouldn’t be there but is and why?A huge stack of books. They belong in a bookcase but I don’t have any room.
Blurb:The trilogy series was based on a true story featuring snapshots of the author's life growing up with a severe hearing loss. Many real life scenarios have been incorporated into the story to provide a rich and sometimes, gritty setting that can be shocking at times to read. Aside from the moral lesson of dealing with a disability, it offers an amazing sense of appreciation of how much it takes to persevere through a difficult time in life. Throughout the turmoil in her life, Jessie discovers that she has friends in the most unexpected places. Together they guide her through some of the darkest moments she has to endure and they help her rise up and believe in herself once again. Synopsis for DESTINY, Book 3: Jessie’s journey began in Sway and Compass. As we continue to follow her in Destiny, she stumbles across a revelation that could change everything and finds herself standing on the precipice of life.
Jessie is determined not to let her hearing loss hold her back. She aims her sights even higher as she ventures in a new direction. With a Black Belt on the horizon, and so close to achieving it, she is unaware of the danger closing in on her. Will she be strong enough to hold on or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her?
*Includes BONUS SHORT STORYHappy Holidays...or is it?
Purchase Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYAPLDO
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destiny-jennifer-gibson/1116046839?ean=2940148392712
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/336082
KOBO: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Destiny/book-AqDVirPKZ0eIajd7PY60rQ/page1.html?s=SGQSeNeegUq2irf7nCaamA&r=1
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-destiny-1241445-140.html
BOB: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/store-home/paranormal-romance/destiny-with-bonus-story-happy-holidaysor-is-it
Author's Bio:
Jennifer is an award winning photographer, freelance Illustrator, graphic designer and published author.
Her photography & graphic design has been featured extensively in many media formats including CHEX TV, National Geographic, SNAP magazine and Watershed Magazine as well as various local tourism/promotional materials. Jennifer's current line of work features professionally designed book covers for authors from around the world.
Jennifer was selected as one of 12 winners for the prestigious 2010 Oticon Focus on People Award and the only Canadian to have won in this national competition (North America). She was nominated as an outstanding individual with a hearing loss and for the portrayal of a hearing impaired teen in her young adult novel entitled Sway. Recently, Sway was nominated as a Finalist in the 2012 InD'tale Magazine RONE Awards.You can view more information about the series at her website http://www.jennifergibson.ca/jennifers-books.php
Latest news are featured on her FB Author page www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferGibson
She's on Twitter: @charmedchickJG
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Gibson/e/B00CAWK4TS/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_nu_X7.ArbA48F9A4
21 Questions with Jennifer Gibson
1. Do you remember the first time you wanted to become an author? What feelings did that desire evoke in you? I’ve been writing poems, short stories and articles since I was young kid. Ironically it never really occurred to me to consider writing as a profession since my focus was more on art and photography. I’ve had writing teachers all through college who tried to encourage me to switch to writing instead of illustration. They loved my work. It wasn’t until I met Michael Buble a few years ago, prior to his concert in Toronto that I began to think about it. He is the one who sparked that fire in me to seriously consider a different path in life. As I watched him on stage, I realized that he didn’t reach that level of success without hard work, grit and an incredible sense of passion. I wanted to be proud of my achievements and have my dreams come true, just like him. My mother was my strongest supporter who gave me this advice: "Follow your dreams and trust your heart. If it feels right, go for it." That’s exactly what I did.
2. Do you remember the first story/poem you wrote? What was it about? That’s funny you asked me that, I was just going through a box of my old school reports, yearbooks, stories and poems that I wrote for their newsletters. My very first published poem was when I was in grade 2 and it was about my white cat. Growing up, I’ve always had cats and they were a big part of my life. It’s no surprise that they ended up in my novels.
3. Great authors are also devoted readers. Which author do you look up to and which element of his/her craft do you find most intriguing?Yes, that is true. I’ve always loved reading. My mother often gave me books to keep me entertained and out of trouble. I was not an easy kid to raise. I’m a big fan of the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher about a wizard living in today’s society. I enjoy his frank sense of humour and his gumption for trying to fit in even though he is quite different from everyone else. He’s not afraid to hide it and has learned to embrace his uniqueness. Ironically, the author, Jim is also a fencer and martial artist, just like me.
4. We all fear something. Authors often fear a certain genre. Which genre do you fear and think to yourself, I could never write this! Why?Most likely a murder mystery along the lines of Kathy Reichs, who is the producer of the tv series Bones. I’m amazed at her ability to write so many stories in that genre. It takes a lot of imagination as well as a very confident and thorough sense of plotting. It’s an impressive feat.
5. I’m always interested to know how authors come up with ideas for their novels and how they bring them to life. Do you write an outline, come up with characters, the first or the last sentence, drink gallons of coffee, lock yourself in the basement, rub the magic lamp…? What is your writing process?It changes with each book depending on the theme and the mood I’m trying to maintain. I wrote my first novel Sway in my bedroom on an old-fashioned school desk with a small hole for an inkwell. It worked well since there were a lot of scenes that took place at high school. For the second book, Compass, I wrote parts of it on the school desk as well outside on the porch during the warmer days since there were more scenes away from school. I wrote Destiny in various locations including outside on the porch and beside a crackling fire in the living room. All three books were written out by hand in journals and notebooks which made it easy for me to write anywhere. Inspiration can hit me at any time and I want to be able to grab a pen and jot it down before the characters drive me insane with their incessant chatter. I usually know the overall arc before I start writing, I tend to have a good sense of how it will begin and end. Any plotlines, ideas for a chapter or specific conflicts are written down so that I can include at the right time and keep track of my progress. When I realized that Sway was going to be a trilogy, I had to include a much larger arc that spanned three books. Coffee and dark chocolate was a definite must-have item beside me during my writing process. I also like having scented candles on the table while I write which is interesting since those scents can trigger a memory. Whenever I smell frosty pine, it reminds me of when I wrote Sway since I had used that particular candle at the time.
6. Your novels, Sway, Compass, and Destiny in which you draw on personal experiences are about a hard of hearing teenage girl. What advice would you give to today’s teenagers who face the same or similar challenges like your protagonist? What would you tell the bullies?My advice to teenagers who are struggling with issues like this is to believe in yourself and stay strong. If you have a confident personality, you will become less of a target. Instead, they will look up to you and want to be your friend. If it’s a difficult situation, I highly recommend finding someone that you can trust to talk about what’s happening before it gets any worse. Having a sense of support is extremely important. In my experience, there is usually a reason why someone chooses to be a bully and it’s often related to something happening at home and they are transferring their anger on to someone else so that they don’t have to feel the pain. It’s an unfortunate and vicious cycle of hostility. We need to learn to let go of that negativity, we don’t need it in our life. That’s one of the reason’s why I have the phrase "Find the light within you and let it SHINE." written on the back cover of Destiny. It’s to remind people to focus on the positive attributes of their personalities. When I was very young and at a new school, I became a target by a particularly cruel teacher who didn’t know how to deal with disabled kids. That kind of negative attitude was contagious which spread to other teachers and students. They continuously lashed out at me and made going to school a terrifying experience. I wish that someone had listened to me, gave me the support I needed and did something to stop it.
7. Is there an essential advice regarding the craft of creative writing you live and breathe?Yes, keep a journal. Write down your dreams, ideas, intense emotions and thoughts. That’s what I did and many of those moments ended up in my books. It made it easy for me to expand on them and turn it into a wonderful story.
Now, on a more personal note, just so everyone knows that authors are human, not just some ethereal force spewing words onto pages.
8. What makes you laugh? My cats, when they are being silly. And the hilarious antics of Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural.
9. What makes you cry? Whenever I see an animal suffering from neglect. I’m like the cat whisperer around here, they seem to find me and ask to be rescued. I will also cry when I run out of dark chocolate or coffee. Jensen Ackles (aka Dean Winchester) is extremely good at making me cry, he tugs at my heartstrings whenever he is conflicted with his inner demons. * sniff *
10. Favorite film? Do I have to pick just one? For the kid in me, it’s Tangled. To appeal to my geek side, the winner is Serenity. The X-Men series with Hugh Jackman has a special meaning to me since it involves being different from the rest of the society and learning to embrace it.
11. Favorite children’s book? Bruno and Boots by Gordon Korman, I had always wanted to write books like that and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle for having a unique imagination.
12. What are you reading right now? I just received Midnight Riot by Ben Arronovitch which is similar to the Dresden Files.
13. What is your favorite word? Believe.
14. Which word do you hate? Disabled.
15. Since we’re with words; I’m always on the lookout for a new Oxymoron. Care to share one? “Original Copy” and “New and Improved”
16. What are you wearing right now? Orange jeans, rich purple t-shirt with a large orange heart in the centre that I wore to the Coldplay concert. It’s the beginning of fall and I’m in the mood for something more colourful, especially in warm hues.
17. Favorite junk food? Potato chips.
18. What do you believe? I believe in kindness and not judging people. And that Mulder was right: The truth is out there.
19. What do you think is totally far-fetched? That Obama will put a stop to genetically modified food.
20. When was the last time you tripped and fell in the physical sense? A few weeks ago when one of the cats got tangled up between my feet.
21. And finally: Look at your coffee table. What do you see shouldn’t be there but is and why?A huge stack of books. They belong in a bookcase but I don’t have any room.
Blurb:The trilogy series was based on a true story featuring snapshots of the author's life growing up with a severe hearing loss. Many real life scenarios have been incorporated into the story to provide a rich and sometimes, gritty setting that can be shocking at times to read. Aside from the moral lesson of dealing with a disability, it offers an amazing sense of appreciation of how much it takes to persevere through a difficult time in life. Throughout the turmoil in her life, Jessie discovers that she has friends in the most unexpected places. Together they guide her through some of the darkest moments she has to endure and they help her rise up and believe in herself once again. Synopsis for DESTINY, Book 3: Jessie’s journey began in Sway and Compass. As we continue to follow her in Destiny, she stumbles across a revelation that could change everything and finds herself standing on the precipice of life.
Jessie is determined not to let her hearing loss hold her back. She aims her sights even higher as she ventures in a new direction. With a Black Belt on the horizon, and so close to achieving it, she is unaware of the danger closing in on her. Will she be strong enough to hold on or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her?
*Includes BONUS SHORT STORYHappy Holidays...or is it?
Purchase Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYAPLDO
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destiny-jennifer-gibson/1116046839?ean=2940148392712
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/336082
KOBO: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Destiny/book-AqDVirPKZ0eIajd7PY60rQ/page1.html?s=SGQSeNeegUq2irf7nCaamA&r=1
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-destiny-1241445-140.html
BOB: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/store-home/paranormal-romance/destiny-with-bonus-story-happy-holidaysor-is-it
Author's Bio:
Jennifer is an award winning photographer, freelance Illustrator, graphic designer and published author.
Her photography & graphic design has been featured extensively in many media formats including CHEX TV, National Geographic, SNAP magazine and Watershed Magazine as well as various local tourism/promotional materials. Jennifer's current line of work features professionally designed book covers for authors from around the world.
Jennifer was selected as one of 12 winners for the prestigious 2010 Oticon Focus on People Award and the only Canadian to have won in this national competition (North America). She was nominated as an outstanding individual with a hearing loss and for the portrayal of a hearing impaired teen in her young adult novel entitled Sway. Recently, Sway was nominated as a Finalist in the 2012 InD'tale Magazine RONE Awards.You can view more information about the series at her website http://www.jennifergibson.ca/jennifers-books.php
Latest news are featured on her FB Author page www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferGibson
She's on Twitter: @charmedchickJG
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Gibson/e/B00CAWK4TS/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_nu_X7.ArbA48F9A4
August 27, 2013
Nana Prah Loves Her Tabs! Oh, and Writing, too.
I'm sure you're expecting me to nag about Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMAs. I was going to but then decided I wouldn't give that Trash room to dirty my sparkling white pages. Instead I invited someone who's the exact opposite of Miley Cyrus. She's talented, articulate, chic, and her art is worth your time. Please say hello to a fellow author, the fabulous Nana Prah, whose novel Love Through Time has just been released by Black Opal Books. She's got an awesome book and an awesome giveaway. Drum roll please ...... and enjoy!
Hello everyone. Aneta was generous enough to allow me to bogart her blog for the day. I hope you enjoy reading the post as much as I cracked myself up writing it. If you don’t, remember that I’m a writer and I have a weird sense of humor, aka, I’m a little crazy.
When I’m on the internet and I see a link within a page that I’m enjoying I will open a new tab so that I do not lose my place. I’ll open up as many tabs that interest me. When I have finished reading one page, I’ll close it and then go to the next one. Sounds normal right? I’m sure most of you do the same thing. If you are asking yourself, “What’s a tab?” I’m going to do my teacher thing and say, “look it up.”
Every once in a while after opening a tab, after a few seconds, someone will start talking which scares the crap out of me. Or music will come from my computer and I’ll be like “What the bleep?” But then I remember that I have about twenty tabs open. Good freaking times happen now, because I have to go through all of those web pages (before I’m ready, mind you) to find out which one is talking to me about erectile dysfunction (because it’s an advertisement on a page, not because I clicked on something about erectile dysfunction).
It’s one thing if you’re by yourself, and a totally other embarrassing thing if you are at an internet café with loads of people staring at you because it’s taking you so long to find which darn page is playing the stupid music.
By the way this post has absolutely nothing to do with my newly released book Love Through Time. When you open my blog page you will not get the bejeebers scared out of you with an unexpected video or music playing. I promise (he he he).
Love Through Time Blurb:Defending her family – no problem. Recalling past lives – maybe just a small problem. Taking a chance on love again – well…
Jasmine Gibson has her world turned upside down when she meets gorgeous Sean Taylor. He’s the first man she’s been attracted to since her fiancé dumped her two years ago. But when the disturbing daydreams start, Jasmine begins to fear that her actions in a past life may have finally caught up with her.
Sean finds it impossible to stay away from Jasmine even though he can’t shake the inexplicable feeling of betrayal, simmering deep inside him every time he sees her.
To complicate things, someone is out to hurt Jasmine and every time she and Sean are together, the police have to be called. Even if Jasmine can make Sean trust her, the two of them may not stay alive long enough to enjoy their love this time around.
Buy Links: Black Opal Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Smashwords|ARe
Find me at:Blog : www.nanaprah.blogspot.comTwitter: @NanaPrahFacebook: Nana Prah, Author
Thank you for the great post, Nana.
Now everyone, call your Lady Luck because Nana is giving away three $10 Amazon gift-cards at the end of her blog tour through a random drawing by Rafflecopter. Enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hello everyone. Aneta was generous enough to allow me to bogart her blog for the day. I hope you enjoy reading the post as much as I cracked myself up writing it. If you don’t, remember that I’m a writer and I have a weird sense of humor, aka, I’m a little crazy.
When I’m on the internet and I see a link within a page that I’m enjoying I will open a new tab so that I do not lose my place. I’ll open up as many tabs that interest me. When I have finished reading one page, I’ll close it and then go to the next one. Sounds normal right? I’m sure most of you do the same thing. If you are asking yourself, “What’s a tab?” I’m going to do my teacher thing and say, “look it up.”
Every once in a while after opening a tab, after a few seconds, someone will start talking which scares the crap out of me. Or music will come from my computer and I’ll be like “What the bleep?” But then I remember that I have about twenty tabs open. Good freaking times happen now, because I have to go through all of those web pages (before I’m ready, mind you) to find out which one is talking to me about erectile dysfunction (because it’s an advertisement on a page, not because I clicked on something about erectile dysfunction).
It’s one thing if you’re by yourself, and a totally other embarrassing thing if you are at an internet café with loads of people staring at you because it’s taking you so long to find which darn page is playing the stupid music.
By the way this post has absolutely nothing to do with my newly released book Love Through Time. When you open my blog page you will not get the bejeebers scared out of you with an unexpected video or music playing. I promise (he he he).
Love Through Time Blurb:Defending her family – no problem. Recalling past lives – maybe just a small problem. Taking a chance on love again – well…
Jasmine Gibson has her world turned upside down when she meets gorgeous Sean Taylor. He’s the first man she’s been attracted to since her fiancé dumped her two years ago. But when the disturbing daydreams start, Jasmine begins to fear that her actions in a past life may have finally caught up with her.
Sean finds it impossible to stay away from Jasmine even though he can’t shake the inexplicable feeling of betrayal, simmering deep inside him every time he sees her.
To complicate things, someone is out to hurt Jasmine and every time she and Sean are together, the police have to be called. Even if Jasmine can make Sean trust her, the two of them may not stay alive long enough to enjoy their love this time around.
Buy Links: Black Opal Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Smashwords|ARe
Find me at:Blog : www.nanaprah.blogspot.comTwitter: @NanaPrahFacebook: Nana Prah, Author
Thank you for the great post, Nana.
Now everyone, call your Lady Luck because Nana is giving away three $10 Amazon gift-cards at the end of her blog tour through a random drawing by Rafflecopter. Enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 21, 2013
I Come from the Land of Stories
I cannot believe how quickly this year’s summer break came to an end. At least for me. I have to go back to work tomorrow. [sigh] But I have to admit I’ve accomplished a lot during my time off. As promised, I’ve worked on my summer project of fairy tales although it didn’t turn out as planned—what does anyway? Instead of writing a book of fairy tales, I realized that the project is going to be several books, with one fairy tale by Yours Truly and illustrations by my talented cousin Cecelia Bowen, in each. I feel like concentrating on one tale at a time is better because the characters always order me around. And who am I to say “no”? I’m merely a vessel, so I just go with the flow. The first book, The Mysterious Mandolin, is in its final stages and since it was received very well by my beta readers, it will be available in print soon. You and your children have something awesome to look forward to. I promise.
Another over-the-summer accomplishment of which I’m proud is the The Guardian’s journey. From my head, onto the pages, through a rigorous editing process, and on to be my MFA Thesis, this baby is now resting on the shelves of National University’s library in Los Angeles, so please go visit. It will also be available for the world in print and as an ebook thanks to Black Opal Books, with whom I signed a publishing contract.
I’ve also been working with a certain literary agent of a certain literary agency, whose name I cannot disclose, as a reader of manuscripts that made it from the slush pile and realized that most aspiring authors are so caught up in word count and trying too hard to impress by over the top language that they completely miss the point of writing.
Dear Aspiring Writer, We (as in Readers) don’t care if your book has one hundred or one thousand pages. We want a good story. We want conflict right off the bat, not halfway through the novel. We want immediacy. We want characters we can love or love to hate; we want to know them intimately. We want a voice that pulls us in. We do not want to have a dictionary on hand while we are reading your words. We do not want a story that describes actions on pages and pages to come, yet nothing ever happens. We want a plot that twists and turns and surprises. We want a story we wish would never end, and when it does, we want to be exhausted yet exhilarated, sad yet satisfied, fulfilled yet empty like the page after the words "The End".
Hmmm. Now I’m thinking I should start a Writer’s 101 in my future blogs. :o) So, if this certain literary agency didn’t pick up your novel for representation, it’s most likely because something listed above was missing, and I pointed it out.
And lastly. Those darn signs about which I wrote in I’m a Graniac and so Are You blog are following me again. This is what happened. I flew home this summer--home to the Czech Republic, that is. On the first day I found the missing page from the book of fairy tales I had brought back with me six years ago and for which I’ve been desperately looking this whole time! My hometown hasn’t changed drastically, well, except for a few new malls and Downtown which is my Heaven now. There is a book store on every corner! No, I’m not kidding. I mean it literally. And what did I find there? Old comic books from my childhood, which I used to take to Pioneer Camp (during the Communist days) with me every summer. That was a sweet find as these became a collectors’ item during the decades.
I got back to California last week, with a suitcase filled to brim with books and some necessary European delicacies. As I battled jet lag and tried to get my taste buds used to the bland flavor of American food, I realized that I was already homesick. Just then, a commercial for my country and its sightseeing spots began playing on TV. Not only did my homesickness (if that’s even a word) intensified, but I also felt some sort of a knowing pulse through my body. I knew that I am exactly who I’m supposed to be because of where I come from. I’m a Storyteller. I come from the Land of Stories.
Click below to see something breathtaking. DREAM IN THE LAND OF STORIES
P.S. On 8/27 I will have the lovely and talented storyteller, Nana Prah, here as my guest. She’s promoting her novel, Love Through Time, available here. So, show some love and order it now.
Another over-the-summer accomplishment of which I’m proud is the The Guardian’s journey. From my head, onto the pages, through a rigorous editing process, and on to be my MFA Thesis, this baby is now resting on the shelves of National University’s library in Los Angeles, so please go visit. It will also be available for the world in print and as an ebook thanks to Black Opal Books, with whom I signed a publishing contract.
I’ve also been working with a certain literary agent of a certain literary agency, whose name I cannot disclose, as a reader of manuscripts that made it from the slush pile and realized that most aspiring authors are so caught up in word count and trying too hard to impress by over the top language that they completely miss the point of writing.
Dear Aspiring Writer, We (as in Readers) don’t care if your book has one hundred or one thousand pages. We want a good story. We want conflict right off the bat, not halfway through the novel. We want immediacy. We want characters we can love or love to hate; we want to know them intimately. We want a voice that pulls us in. We do not want to have a dictionary on hand while we are reading your words. We do not want a story that describes actions on pages and pages to come, yet nothing ever happens. We want a plot that twists and turns and surprises. We want a story we wish would never end, and when it does, we want to be exhausted yet exhilarated, sad yet satisfied, fulfilled yet empty like the page after the words "The End".
Hmmm. Now I’m thinking I should start a Writer’s 101 in my future blogs. :o) So, if this certain literary agency didn’t pick up your novel for representation, it’s most likely because something listed above was missing, and I pointed it out.
And lastly. Those darn signs about which I wrote in I’m a Graniac and so Are You blog are following me again. This is what happened. I flew home this summer--home to the Czech Republic, that is. On the first day I found the missing page from the book of fairy tales I had brought back with me six years ago and for which I’ve been desperately looking this whole time! My hometown hasn’t changed drastically, well, except for a few new malls and Downtown which is my Heaven now. There is a book store on every corner! No, I’m not kidding. I mean it literally. And what did I find there? Old comic books from my childhood, which I used to take to Pioneer Camp (during the Communist days) with me every summer. That was a sweet find as these became a collectors’ item during the decades.
I got back to California last week, with a suitcase filled to brim with books and some necessary European delicacies. As I battled jet lag and tried to get my taste buds used to the bland flavor of American food, I realized that I was already homesick. Just then, a commercial for my country and its sightseeing spots began playing on TV. Not only did my homesickness (if that’s even a word) intensified, but I also felt some sort of a knowing pulse through my body. I knew that I am exactly who I’m supposed to be because of where I come from. I’m a Storyteller. I come from the Land of Stories.
Click below to see something breathtaking. DREAM IN THE LAND OF STORIES
P.S. On 8/27 I will have the lovely and talented storyteller, Nana Prah, here as my guest. She’s promoting her novel, Love Through Time, available here. So, show some love and order it now.
July 15, 2013
As Good As Dead
They—whoever they are—say death comes in threes. If that’s true, our pal the Grimm Reaper had put in some overtime this weekend and worked off two thirds of his workload as he’d hit the two-in-one jackpot with a single swing of his scythe.
The first one cut down at the prime of his youth and career was Glee’s rock and founding member, Cory Monteith. Cory has had a problem with alcohol and drug addiction since he was twelve, but for some reason he radiated such innocence and the boy-next-door look, with dimpled cheeks that when mixed with his smoldering gaze made him the epitome of sexiness. Yes, yes, I know you’re thinking that these young starts have it coming because of the lifestyle they lead, and I agree. You’re absolutely right. The sad part is that Cory had tried to turn his life around and almost succeeded. He finished his rehab program in April and did great for a while, well at least until Saturday when his body was found in a Vancouver hotel room. So, while the sequence of these events is pretty normal and has repeated itself throughout history with Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix and so on, what I found really eerie about Cory’s death is his foreseeing of the future. Not too long ago, he and some of the Glee cast were interviewed on the Inside the Actors Studio show and when asked, What do you think God will tell you when you get to the gates of Heaven?, Cory replied: “Sorry I haven’t been around; there’s good explanation.”I hope Cory got the explanation and that it was indeed good.
The second death affects more people than just those who rout for a young-and-coming star. It is the death of fairness, quality, and really, the death of a good story.
A great reveal has been made over the weekend in the world of publishing; one that has left the faces of publishers as scarlet as the infamous letter. Let’s start from the beginning. J. K. Rowling’s manuscript of Harry Potter had been rejected countless times. Then after more than six years, Rowling found an agent who would represent it; however, twelve publishing houses decided to pass on the story. Finally, it was picked up, but only under the condition that Joanne went under the ambiguity of her initials because female authors couldn’t sell a large quantity of books. WTF? Hello! Red flag right there! After Rowling had made a name for herself, she published Casual Vacancy, which soared to the top of the reading charts even before it hit the bookstores. For whatever reason, Rowling decided to publish her next novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, under the name Robert Galbraith. Rejection letters poured in like an avalanche. Publishers and agents said the story was too vague; they’d read too many books like that already; the market for such a story was too overcrowded; it’s salability wouldn’t be viable. So Rowling finally decided to go back to the same editor and publishing house that had put out Harry Potter, and The Cuckoo’s Callingsold a whopping 449 copies. But wait, it gets better. Some reporter did a little digging and dot connecting and found out that Rowling is Robert Galbraith. Of course, once the news leaked, The Cuckoo’s Calling flew up to number one in book sales overnight, and agents and publishers began apologizing and praising Rowling’s new novel.
This just proves how much bullshit goes on in the world of big publishing houses. So when you go online and you see big publishing houses say they strive to put out great stories or stories that have literary quality or books that are great reads, THEY LIE. What they publish are names. Big names, to be more accurate. Names that will bring income even though their next story is just eeeh. I completely understand that publishing is a business and in order to stay afloat and compete with the ever growing platform of indie publishers and self-published authors these big houses have a lot of work to do. But shouldn’t that mean that giving new voices a chance is more important than ever? Safety should be the alarm companies’ motto, not the publishers’. Live a little, believe in a good story by an unknown author, risk it, and you will be rewarded. I think the readers are intelligent enough to smell the stench of a pile of crap even when it is masked with the fragrance of Stephen King and the likes. Don’t bury a good story just because the name of the author is yet an unknown.
So, that’s two deaths of the fabled three. But then again, as they say, three’s a crowd. Let’s hope these two deaths are enough for the week. Make it a great one!
The first one cut down at the prime of his youth and career was Glee’s rock and founding member, Cory Monteith. Cory has had a problem with alcohol and drug addiction since he was twelve, but for some reason he radiated such innocence and the boy-next-door look, with dimpled cheeks that when mixed with his smoldering gaze made him the epitome of sexiness. Yes, yes, I know you’re thinking that these young starts have it coming because of the lifestyle they lead, and I agree. You’re absolutely right. The sad part is that Cory had tried to turn his life around and almost succeeded. He finished his rehab program in April and did great for a while, well at least until Saturday when his body was found in a Vancouver hotel room. So, while the sequence of these events is pretty normal and has repeated itself throughout history with Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix and so on, what I found really eerie about Cory’s death is his foreseeing of the future. Not too long ago, he and some of the Glee cast were interviewed on the Inside the Actors Studio show and when asked, What do you think God will tell you when you get to the gates of Heaven?, Cory replied: “Sorry I haven’t been around; there’s good explanation.”I hope Cory got the explanation and that it was indeed good.
The second death affects more people than just those who rout for a young-and-coming star. It is the death of fairness, quality, and really, the death of a good story.
A great reveal has been made over the weekend in the world of publishing; one that has left the faces of publishers as scarlet as the infamous letter. Let’s start from the beginning. J. K. Rowling’s manuscript of Harry Potter had been rejected countless times. Then after more than six years, Rowling found an agent who would represent it; however, twelve publishing houses decided to pass on the story. Finally, it was picked up, but only under the condition that Joanne went under the ambiguity of her initials because female authors couldn’t sell a large quantity of books. WTF? Hello! Red flag right there! After Rowling had made a name for herself, she published Casual Vacancy, which soared to the top of the reading charts even before it hit the bookstores. For whatever reason, Rowling decided to publish her next novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, under the name Robert Galbraith. Rejection letters poured in like an avalanche. Publishers and agents said the story was too vague; they’d read too many books like that already; the market for such a story was too overcrowded; it’s salability wouldn’t be viable. So Rowling finally decided to go back to the same editor and publishing house that had put out Harry Potter, and The Cuckoo’s Callingsold a whopping 449 copies. But wait, it gets better. Some reporter did a little digging and dot connecting and found out that Rowling is Robert Galbraith. Of course, once the news leaked, The Cuckoo’s Calling flew up to number one in book sales overnight, and agents and publishers began apologizing and praising Rowling’s new novel.
This just proves how much bullshit goes on in the world of big publishing houses. So when you go online and you see big publishing houses say they strive to put out great stories or stories that have literary quality or books that are great reads, THEY LIE. What they publish are names. Big names, to be more accurate. Names that will bring income even though their next story is just eeeh. I completely understand that publishing is a business and in order to stay afloat and compete with the ever growing platform of indie publishers and self-published authors these big houses have a lot of work to do. But shouldn’t that mean that giving new voices a chance is more important than ever? Safety should be the alarm companies’ motto, not the publishers’. Live a little, believe in a good story by an unknown author, risk it, and you will be rewarded. I think the readers are intelligent enough to smell the stench of a pile of crap even when it is masked with the fragrance of Stephen King and the likes. Don’t bury a good story just because the name of the author is yet an unknown.
So, that’s two deaths of the fabled three. But then again, as they say, three’s a crowd. Let’s hope these two deaths are enough for the week. Make it a great one!
July 12, 2013
I'm a Grainiac and so Are You
I watched one of my favorite movies, The Signs, last night, and it got me thinking about just that—signs. I love the part where Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix are sitting on the couch in the middle of the night in front of the TV that shows images of extraterrestrial lights in the sky, and Gibson gives his highly philosophical theory on the two kinds of people. Either you belong to group one, to those who see a sign and interpret it as a miracle, as evidence that there is someone out there watching out for them, and that fills them with hope. Or you belong to group two, to those who see a sign and interpret it as luck, a chance that is fifty-fifty. Could be bad, could be good. But deep down they know that whatever decision they choose to make, they are on their own. So this theory really begs the question: Are they signs or are they just coincidences? Do we make too much of not enough and connect the dots in a way that suits us, creating elaborate theories from circumstantial evidence? Sometimes I think we do, especially people like authors and artists, whose job is to enter the realm of imagination and create realities from nothingness. And it is in these times when something freaky happens, as if trying to convince me otherwise. Like this morning when I read my wonderful author-friend, Nana Prah’s blog...and guess what! She wrote about coincidences. Freaky, right? Now, is that a coincidence or a sign? And if it’s a sign, what is it signaling?
So I thought a little deeper and wondered to which group of people I would belong. And I’ve figured that I need a third group. I belong to the group of people who don’t think that there is someonewatching out for them. I belong to the group of people who know that they are no more than a grain of sand in a giant hourglass called the Universe. Does that mean, therefore, that they are unimportant? To the contrary! Every grain counts. Without it, the hourglass would be useless. Without it, its purpose would be meaningless. Just how can you accurately measure time if you disregard even one grain of sand? And so every grain has its particular role, its path, its destination. And should it stray from its purpose…well, there’s really nowhere to go being in an hourglass and all, but its chances aren’t fifty-fifty, good or bad. They just are the way they are meant to be because the hourglass is shaped in such a way that if you look at it from above or below, you’ll find that the destination of the grain of sand is always the same, no matter how it gets there. So it doesn’t matter whether you believe what you see or whether you see what you believe. What matters is that you are here and that you are a part of something spectacular--something that would be useless and imperfect without you.
So I thought a little deeper and wondered to which group of people I would belong. And I’ve figured that I need a third group. I belong to the group of people who don’t think that there is someonewatching out for them. I belong to the group of people who know that they are no more than a grain of sand in a giant hourglass called the Universe. Does that mean, therefore, that they are unimportant? To the contrary! Every grain counts. Without it, the hourglass would be useless. Without it, its purpose would be meaningless. Just how can you accurately measure time if you disregard even one grain of sand? And so every grain has its particular role, its path, its destination. And should it stray from its purpose…well, there’s really nowhere to go being in an hourglass and all, but its chances aren’t fifty-fifty, good or bad. They just are the way they are meant to be because the hourglass is shaped in such a way that if you look at it from above or below, you’ll find that the destination of the grain of sand is always the same, no matter how it gets there. So it doesn’t matter whether you believe what you see or whether you see what you believe. What matters is that you are here and that you are a part of something spectacular--something that would be useless and imperfect without you.
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