Liv Rancourt's Blog, page 38

Presidential Debate – Must See TV?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock – or outside the sphere of the US news media, a place that sounds pretty appealing right now – you know that tonight President Barack Obama will engage in a debate with his challenger, Mitt Romney.

Are you going to watch it?

Estimates say more than 50 million people will. Or 60 million, depending on your source. While I don’t want to make this a political post, this morning I started thinking about why so many people will watch. Whether it’s based on one issue or many, people already seem pretty committed to their candidate of choice. Will the debate really change any minds?

I listened to a Public Radio International story that compared the French Presidential debate with our version. The French debates run three hours long, and the candidates don’t use notes. They’re grounded in a structured format, where the participants make an argument, then support it with three substantive points.

In comparison, the reporter described American debates as more scripted, with preplotted and rehearsed ‘zingers’ designed to tag the opponent. He said it often seems as if the candidates are not engaging with each other; rather they use the forum to get their own points across. As Todd Graham, director of debate at Southern Illinois University, says in a CNN article: “For God sakes, don’t actually debate. If you actually debate you tend not to do well in the polling the next day. The public tends to think they (the candidates) were too aggressive and mean and they don’t like them.”

Makes it sound more like a choreographed political speech to me.

If we’re not going to hear a substantive debate, why watch? One argument suggests that the debates are more like public job interviews, where we get to see how our guy is going to respond or who throws down the best one-liner. In a CNN article, history professor Julian Zelizer suggests it’s all about their appearance.

“The mistakes the presidential candidates have made over the years are numerous. Poor body language has been a  common blunder. As much as candidates focus on perfecting the substance of what they say before the cameras, a large number of Americans are really most interested to see how they say it.”

We saw Nixon looking sweaty and pale during the first televised debate, which arguably lost him the election, and Ronald Regan asking if we were better off than four years ago. Between the gas lines and the Iranian hostages, poor President Carter was done right there. One writer suggested that in today’s media market, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D Roosevelt wouldn’t survive to election, because neither had the strength and/or physical attractiveness to present the right image.

So maybe we’re watching to see who cracks under pressure. Will Mr. Romney look at his watch, the way George HW Bush did, giving voters the impression he had somewhere better to be? Or will  President Obama sigh in response to his opponents points the way Al Gore did, coming off as condescending? According to their campaigns, they’ve been brushing up on their ‘zingers’ and should be ready to come out swinging, each trying to reframe the election to their own benefit.

And, like the old Romans watching their gladiators, 50 or 60 million of us will be camped in front of our TV screens, waiting for the killing blow. Will you?

Peace,

Liv

 

…and for more political entertainment, here are the sources I used for this post…

Why French Presidential Debates Are Rough Business

The Presidential Debate: Romneys ‘Last Best Chance’ 

In Debates, Presidential Candidates’ Tics and Tells Matter 

What History Tells Us About Presidential Debates 

Presidential Debates: A History of the Biggest Gaffes and Zingers 

I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

Long before I decided to call myself a writer, I was a choir geek. Still am, though the focus of my energy has shifted. Other than my weekend church cantor gig and the occasional guest spot at a wedding or a funeral, I’m all about writing, and while you can take the girl out of the choir, you can’t entirely take the choir out of the girl.

Photograph of female members of drama circle and choir from Canadian Ukrainian Institute “Prosvita”, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1927

Even so, I want to point out a couple cultural differences I see between music and writing. Now, I’m going to make a generalization here, keeping in mind that my husband and my closest friends are all musicians. I don’t mean to insult anyone, but of the two groups, I find writers to be way more inclusive.

There. I said it.

In music, you audition. For the band or the choir or the solo. In writing, you submit. To agents, or editors, or whoever.  In music, if you don’t get the gig you want, you can always do your own thing and put your creation up on YouTube. In writing, if you don’t get the gig you want, you can now self-publish and put your stuff up on Amazon. In both worlds, networking is as important as learning your craft.

Despite these similarities, writers seem to have adopted an attitude of  “we’re all in this together” that is different from what I experienced as a musician. In the last month, I made a run at a couple of pitch contests – Pitch Madness and GUTGAA (Gearing Up To Get An Agent) –  and while neither has (so far) resulted in a contract, I still consider them both to be great experiences. You know why? I saw old friends and made new ones, right here on the internet. There was a sense of camaraderie, of supporting each other, even though we were competing for the same thing.

And my memories of similar audition situations in the world of music? Shuttered faces, nerves, condolences, and did I mention nerves? People getting asked to participate in things on the down low, while the rest are left wondering “why not me?” I’m probably just splatting my own baggage across the internet, but when you’ve got twenty women trying for ONE solo spot, there are going to be hurt feelings, and possibly some catty whispering whenever the Diva leaves the room.

I’m sure writers would never behave like that.

Well, actually, we’re all human, and so probably, if I knew where to look, I’d find bad behavior in the writing world, too. To an extent I’m protected by the distance created by participating on-line instead of in person. (I was going to type “in real life” but the internet is real life, with more space involved.) The voice is such an integral part of who I am that whenever I audition for something and don’t get it, I feel the rejection is about me, personally, physically, and not the sound I can create. When I’m writing, it’s all about the editing, so if someone doesn’t like a particular combination of words, I simply rearrange them. And if one agent doesn’t like my query, I send it to someone else. And instead of worrying about what’s wrong with me and constantly battling nerves, I have people cheering me on just because I showed up. Instead of everyone aiming for ONE spot in a choir or band or show, there’s a sense that EVERYONE can have a place or a contract or an Amazon author’s page.

I truly hope we all reach the goals we’re aiming for.

To an extent the title of this post is a lie, because there are clearly things I want that I haven’t got. Yet. But honestly, I wouldn’t trade my experiences – both as a musician and a writer – and the community of writers that I’ve found, for anything. You guys rock. Thanks for making this ride so much fun!

Peace,

Liv

…and since I stole the title from a Sinead O’Connor album, I’m finishing off with her video for the song Mandinka. It’s not technically from that album, but it’s my favorite Sinead song (and haven’t we all heard Nothing Compares To U once or twice already?).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Devil and Cute Pets

Didja ever have a week where you didn’t have much to say?

That was me this week. No fresh ideas – for blog posts anyway – and no energy to generate them. I’ve been working on a synopsis for Sisters and gearing up for one last push to finish the current WIP, and there just wasn’t enough gas in the tank for anything else.

I thought about doing a book review post, but can’t really remember what’s been on the Kindle lately (and that’s MY problem, not the lovely authors). Well, I did just finish Devil In The Dollhouse by Richard Kadrey.  If you ever want  a lesson in how to write aggressive, where the voice is consistently in-your-face, violent and funny, check out one of his Sandman Slim novels. Dollhouse is a novella (maybe even a long short story) bridging book 3 to book 4 in the series. I wasn’t as crazy about book 3 but the opening chapters of book 4 are included at the end of Dollhouse and it’s starting out a bit stronger. I read Mr. Kadrey whenever I want a refresher course in how to use language. Words like vigorous and muscular come to mind, but they’re kind of cliché, so I won’t use them here.

Oops. Heh.

I’m also taking a leisurely ride through Seanan McGuire’s book One Salt Sea, the 4th (or 5th?) October Daye novel. I’m moving slow because there seems to be a lot of Tybalt-teasing in this one and I kind of have a crush on him and want to enjoy it. If Toby and Tybalt ever get past the teasing stage, I swear I’ll do an entire blog post on it.

Other than that, I’ve spent too much time playing SongPop. Anybody wanna challenge me? I’m not very good, but I try hard…And on that note, I’ll leave you with a picture of my critters. Have a great weekend!

Peace,

Liv

Woody the Cat & Burnsie the Dog cuddle on the couch. No, seriously, they were cuddling till I got the camera out.

 

 

 

An Accidental Witch

It’s here!

Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft made its appearance on Amazon yesterday!  I’ll tell you what, reading my own words on my Kindle is so much fun. It’s probably not cool and professional to admit that, but there you go. I’m not going to babble on much – I’ll let the excerpt do the talking. If you’re interested in giving the anthology a read for review, either email me or use the magic “contact me” ouija board on the website here and I’ll hook you up. Thanks so much!

Peace,

Liv

An Accidental Witch

A little harmless magic nearly turns into more than this Wiccan can handle.

Just for the record, I’m not a witch. I practice Wicca, which is a slightly different thing. Stop. I can hear you groaning from here, and can assure you that I do NOT take myself too seriously, and I DO have a sense of humor.

            About some things.

My friend Maybelle, on the other hand, is an actual witch. She and her coven are out to change the world with a series of “Magicks” with a capital M. They’re showy but relatively harmless. They gather in the forest wearing lots of drapey fabric, cast their circle, light candles, chant, and dance, and when that drapey fabric interferes with their dancing, they take much of it off. It can be pretty wild stuff for a bunch of girls from Shelburne Falls, a little town on the western edge of Massachusetts that’s better known for its touristy “Bridge of Flowers” than for witchcraft. We live in the shadow of Salem, but the coven can fly their broomsticks under the radar here.

Maybelle and I met for dinner about once a month. October was my month to choose the restaurant, so we were at Pizza Carvahlo, the best restaurant on Main Street. It happened to be run by one Richard Carvahlo, whose hearty Portuguese nose, strong woodworker’s hands, and fiery black eyes had been out of my league since high school. Just as I indulged Maybelle’s tales of Magicks, she indulged my mooning over Richard. It was a level playing field.

            On this night, my favorite witch was late, which was unusual. When she finally bustled in, she had on a floor-length black hooded cape that latched in front with a series of buckles made out of old cogs and gears. Underneath was a purple velvet gown with a black corset laced up the front. She had on huge hoop earrings big enough for me to put my fist through, and her loopy salt-n-pepper curls were tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head. Apparently the coven was experimenting with Steampunk. It was all I could do not to giggle.

            She dropped into the seat across from me. “I have got the biggest news ever.”

            I swallowed a mouthful of water, using the sweating glass to hide my grin. “Really? Ever? Like, bigger than the time you and the girls tried to recruit high school seniors for that meditation marathon?” Because eighteen year olds are the most focused creatures on this planet. I swear.

            “Charlotte.” She looked at me sternly over the top of her wire-framed glasses. “That would have totally worked if they hadn’t kept trying to make out with each other over by the rest rooms.”

            This time I grinned openly, remembering her story of how the circle kept getting smaller and smaller as the students snuck off for bathroom breaks…and didn’t make it back. “Yeah, and that’s not counting the ones who were over by the creek smoking pot.” My tone of voice might have been a wee bit sarcastic. See, I do have a sense of humor.

            “Well, this is much a much bigger deal, anyway.”

            I flipped open the laminated menu, pulling myself away from Maybelle’s drama to do a quick scan of the room. No Richard sightings. Darn. “Okay, don’t keep me in suspense. What’s going on?”

~~~

Beltane: Ten Tales Of Witchcraft is available from Amazon and Smashwords, and will be coming to Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and ITunes.

That Kind Of Magic

I’ve had a run of the most awesome guests! Hope you’re enjoying their posts. Today I get to welcome Ceri Hebert, who sat down with my interview questions and came up with some ideas about life and writing and her newest release, That Kind Of Magic. I got to know Ceri through Still Moments Publishing, and I love her work.  While I haven’t finished this one yet, I can tell it’s going to be good! 

LR: What’s the most compelling thing about your most recent project, the thing that has kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?

CH:  I’m currently working on the sequel to That Kind of Magic. Cassidy needs her story to be told and  I want to see how it ends! I’m going full pantster on this project so except for the basic Happily Ever After they must have, I have no clue how they’re going to get there.

 

LR: Oh, Cassidy’s story! How cool.  You’ll have to come back when it’s done. Now, if you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class or a book or a workshop, what would that be?

CH: My greatest resources have been the crit/writing groups I’ve belonged to. I never ever could have gotten anything published without the help, guidance, encouragement and criticism I’ve received over the years. My biggest piece of advice to anyone starting on this path-find a few good online writing groups.

 

LR: Good advice, for sure. Next question: fantasy or reality? Do you have a preference, or do you swing both ways?

CH: Lately I’ve been walking the tightrope between the two. I started off with reality, but more and more the paranormal is creeping into my stories, with either ghosts or gods. My biggest desire is to write a full-blown fantasy. I adore the genre.

 

LR: Clutter or quiet? Describe your perfect writing situation.

CH: Well, quiet would be my ideal, but somehow I’m surrounded by clutter, whether it be stuff or people. My desk is located in Grand Central at my house and with four kids back and forth (hubby works 2nd shift so we don’t see much of each other during the week) it’s hard to concentrate for a long period of time.

 

LR: Sounds like my set-up. Sometimes I’m amazed that I get anything done. Toward that end, how to you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee, housekeeper, writer)?

CH: I have to set priorities as much as I can. I have a full time job outside the house so I have no choice where I am from 7am through 330pm. Then there are the mandatory errands to run-groceries, kids’ activities etc. As I said, my husband and I only really see each other on weekends, so I don’t get much writing done then. Luckily the kids are pretty good about letting me write when I’m home and there’s nothing else going on. This is why my projects seem to take forever to complete.

 

LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a closet Zumba addict? Could you crochet a house-cozy if you had to? Maybe you secretly want to appear on Antiques Roadshow?

CH: LOL Does sleep count? Hiding away with a good book? It used to be painting, but I’ve given that up due to lack of time. But I guess that would be it. I’d love to get back into painting.

 

LR: Football, basketball, baseball or soccer? Which one gets your blood moving the fastest – or is there another sport you prefer?

CH: Well, my favorite sport only gets my blood pumping when I’m taking part in it-which I haven’t done in over 18 years. Horseback riding. I used to compete when I was a teen right through college. Nothing like being on back of a horse. I don’t watch much sports on tv except when “my” team is in the Super Bowl or the World Series. That would be the Patriots and the Red Sox. Otherwise I really don’t watch.

 

LR: I like riding too, but was never good enough to compete. I’m kind of in awe of you now.  ;)   What’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or other upcoming project.

CH: My current wip is the sequel to That Kind of Magic. Cassidy Riordan (Patrick’s little sister) is dealing with a vicious spirit and her patron goddess has enlisted a little help in the form of demi-god, Jarrod. I’m loving Jarrod because he’s a bit of a cad.  I’m also working on a contemporary romance called The Staying Kind which is about a nomadic woman who’s been on the road for about fifteen years. She’s finally found a place she loves, working with horses for a spinster woman in a small New Hampshire town, but she’s never been one to put down roots, and suddenly she has her boss’ nephew and his distrust to deal with while she decides if she can finally make a home and a career on the horse farm.

~

Thanks for the interview, Ceri. That Kind of Magic is available from Amazon, and if any of you want to know more about Ceri & her work, you can check out her blog, or find her on Facebook or Twitter.

Peace,

Liv

I’m not a Mommy-Blogger, but…

What do you do when your kid makes choices that you’d rather they didn’t?

I’m not talking breaking-the-law kinds of choices, (No, you may NOT smoke that joint, dear) but other, more socially acceptable kinds of choices. Like, for instance, what would you say if  your son told you he wanted to sign up for the football team?

That one’s a little trickier.

In the huddle after a big win.

I had to answer that question a few years ago. The first time he asked, he was in 2nd grade and I said NO. 7-year-olds in pads? Ridiculous. Then in 3rd grade, he asked again. This time I waited a little longer before saying NO. See, his best friend played football, and I guess there was part of me that thought there might be wisdom in letting him get it out of his system before he and his opponents were big enough to do any real damage.

We went to see his pediatrician for his yearly check-up, and I posed the question to her, fully expecting  to put the issue to bed right then and there. “Well,” she says, after giving my son a long look, “you gotta go where your passion is.”

Gee, Doc, thanks for that.

So in 4th grade, we went where his passion was and signed him up. Immediately I got to learn about the things kids’ll do to ‘make weight’ when they want to play on a team. And, supportive mother that I am, I took him on a 2-mile run the morning of the weigh-in, then didn’t give him anything to drink till after he got off the scale.

Mother Of The Year, that’s me.

Flash forward a few years, and he’s still following his passion. Last year was a wash because of a (not football related) knee injury, which he handled with an amazing amount of patience and grace. That’s making this year a little sweeter. I mean, that’s him in the picture, the one with the huge smile after Saturday’s victory. He’s in middle school now, playing on the offensive line (left guard, maybe?) and having a blast.

The teaching hospital where I work has arguably the BEST pediatric residency program in the country, which means I work with amazingly smart people every day. And they’re pediatricians-in-the-making. And when I mention that my son plays football, most of them respond pretty much like the Doc I was on with the other night. There’s a pause, a sincere and slightly concerned look, and then the question, “How do you feel about that?”

Well, Doc, I’d rather he was on swim team, but there  you go.

Every now and then I’ll run across a pediatric resident who DOESN’T get all PC and concerned, like the guy who was a UW Husky lineman as an undergraduate and might possibly be the largest human being I’ve ever had a conversation with. Nice man. Good doctor. It gives me hope. So does the fact that my son says that after high school he’s done with football.

As long as he gets through without any major damage, I’m good with that.

I can think of career choices that I’d struggle with, along with various high-risk extra-curricular  activities that I can see him getting into when he gets older. He’s a pretty good piano player, which might seem like a safe hobby, except do  you KNOW what goes on in bars at night? I’ve been in bands myself, and the drugs and the alcohol…

Okay, have to stop here or go crazy.

I guess when it comes down to it, there is no SAFE. As a kids sport, soccer gets all the love, despite the high rate of knee & ankle injuries and concussions. Yeah, football’s dangerous, but so are a lot of other things. The trick is to know which risks you’re willing to take.

So do you let your kid play football, or not?

Peace,

Liv

Gratuitous close-up of the Himalayan Honeysuckle in bloom out back, just because it’s so cool.

 

 

 

 

Wicked Sense…by…Fabio Bueno

 So this morning my neighbor Fabio stopped by for a chat. Well, we’re nearly neighbors, anyway, and he’s here to talk about his new release, Wicked Sense. It’s an award-winning YA novel – first place finish in the Sandy Literary Contest Young Adult category – that’s been getting enthusiastic endorsements on Goodreads & Amazon. Check out his interview to learn more about both the story and the author.

LR: What’s the most compelling thing about your most recent project, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?

FB: Wicked Sense is told in alternate chapters between the male and the female protagonists. This made me really focus on the writing, since they have distinct voices and personalities. It felt like writing two different books.

LR: If you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class or a book or a workshop, what would that be? What’s had the most impact on your work?

FB: It depends on the stage you’re in your career. My first craft book was “The Weekend Novelist.” It taught me discipline, most of all. “Elements of Style,” always. “Plot & Structure” was a revelation. Books by Noah Lukerman. And, for inspiration, “Bird by Bird” and “On Writing.” Wait, did you say “one”?

LR: Fantasy or reality? Most people lean one way or the other in their work. Do you have a preference, or do you swing both ways?

FB: Fantasy. It’s a way of understanding reality (paraphrasing one of my favorite quotes, actually : )

LR: Clutter or quiet? Which one makes it possible for you to be creative? Describe your perfect writing situation.

FB: I’ve written with kids playing around me, but I prefer quiet. It doesn’t need to be silent though. My best, most inspired, and most efficient writing sessions happened at the study room of one of King County libraries, with plenty of water and old-school hard rock blasting on my headphones. Oh, and the internet must be off : )

LR: How to you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee, housekeeper, writer)?

FB: It’s not easy. It’s impossible to schedule, because of the unexpected (and, at least in my case, a huge lack of discipline). But if you set some time aside for family, writing, chores, it can be done. Set a minimum of x hours writing, all meals and a few outings with your family, and you’re halfway there. The rest of the time will be life coming at you, anyway.

LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a closet marathon runner? Could you crochet a house-cozy if you had to? Maybe you’re an aficionado of free-form jazz?

FB: Actually, I ran the Seattle half-marathon last year. Well, “ran.” Kind of ran. Jogged. Okay, almost jogged. Anyway, I’ve got a finisher t-shirt, a medal, and a “13.1” sticker. That’s all anyone needs to know.

 

LR: Football, basketball, baseball or soccer? Which one gets your blood moving the fastest – or is there another sport you prefer?

FB: I play all of those, but only with my kids (my daughter throws the football pretty well!). And I’ll watch any sport on TV. Anything. I’ve scheduled vacations to coincide with Summer Olympics and World Cups. After the 2001 magical, historical, and heartbreaking Mariners run, I almost stopped watching baseball, though. And Ichiro is now a Yankee (*punches the wall, sighs, gets back to interview*) As you know, Liv, rooting for a Seattle sports team is a great way of building character.

LR: What’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or other upcoming project.

FB: I’m currently working on a sequel for Wicked Sense. Another current project is a darker YA novel with an original premise. I can’t talk about this one, but I’m very excited about it!

 Thanks, Liv! I loved this interview. Hoping to see you soon on YAmondAY!

~

No problem, Fabio! I’m looking forward to turning the tables and being your guest soon.  Thanks so much for the interview. And for those of you reading along, you can find Fabio at his  Website, Goodreads, & Facebook. 

Peace,

Liv

Wicked Sense is available… 

·        On Amazon (readers can also download a free sample for kindle and free kindle apps)

·      On Goodreads (free sample available in .epub format for most other e-readers)

·         Check out the Goodreads giveaway (until Sep 19th): win 1 of 5 signed copies!

Blurb: 

“Witches inhabit our world, organized in covens and hiding behind a shroud of secrecy—the Veil.

Skye’s London coven sends her to Seattle’s Greenwood High to find the Singularity, an unusually gifted witch who may break the Veil and trigger a dangerous new era of witch-hunting. Things get complicated when Skye meets a charming new classmate, Drake. Skye’s job becomes even trickier when she clashes with Jane, an intimidating rival witch.

Drake falls for the mysterious Skye, but odd accidents, potion mix-ups, and the occasional brush with death kind of get in the way of romance. Once he discovers Skye is a witch, he goes to war for her, even though his only weapons are a nice set of abs and a sharp sense of humor.

Fighting off wicked Jane and the other dark forces hell-bent on seizing the Singularity’s immense power, Skye and Drake will risk everything to save the covens.

Going on a date has never been harder.”

It’s That Time Of Year…with YA Author Martha Bourke

Through the magic of Twitter I’ve gotten to know a wonderful Young Adult author, Martha Bourke. We chat…er, tweet, every so often, and I just know that if we didn’t live at opposite ends of I90, we’d be great friends. Martha’s delightful first book is called Jaguar Sun and she is eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, Jaguar Moon, which could be out as soon as next week. I’m going to get out of the way now and let Martha tell you about fall, her very favorite time of the year…

~~~

There’s a crisp, chilly feel to the air, and I woke up this morning to find that the high temperatures for the week were all at seventy degrees or even slightly below. As I write this on our sleeping porch, I notice to my delight that some of the trees on our property have a few gold leaves mixed in with the green. In New England this can all only mean one thing: fall is here!

Photo by Martha Bourke

Autumn is by far my favorite season. I’m sure this has to do partly with being a New Englander. After all, who can say no to all that lovely foliage, apple cider donuts, and perfect fall sweaters? But there is something much more sinister at work here, my friends, which is that I ADORE Halloween. It’s by far my favorite holiday. I’ve loved stories about ghosts, witches, and the like for as long as I can remember. In fact, if I can clear the cobwebs from my brain for a moment, I think I remember a ghost story being the first piece of prose I ever wrote.

You may be wondering if this has anything to do with the fact that I write Paranormal Romance? Well, yeah! I’m all about the creepy, the crawly, and things that go bump (and, yes, also BUMP in the night.) There’s nothing more romantic to me than a few ghosties. I’ve always got characters chasing one another around. So what if one (or possibly both) isn’t human? After all, my favorite movie of all time is The Uninvited. Remember the 1944 classic with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey? It may be the best ghost story ever put to film – low on special effects, but high on suspense. (Never mind that it gave us the gorgeous standard “Stella by Starlight.”)

I was also Spanish teacher for fifteen years before I started writing full time, and Mexican culture has gifted us with yet another fall holiday, the Day of the Dead. It’s more an honoring of our friends and family members that have gone before us than anything else. I’ve probably lost my mind, but spending all night in a cemetery surrounded by candles, candy skulls, and cempasúchil flowers (they’re kind of like the fall mums we put out here) sounds good to me!

It’s got to be better than last year, when it was seriously a case of trick over treat. We had a freak snowstorm Halloween weekend, while all the leaves were still on the trees. The weight of the snow caused branches to fall and take out power lines all over the northeast. My hubby and I had to pack our dog and two cats into the SUV and hightail it to VT to stay with my parents for the week, because it was twenty degrees at night. Where should we have been? In Sleepy Hollow, New York of course! But don’t you worry; we’ll get there this year, even if I have to fight vampire tooth and coffin nail.

~~~

You guys can find Martha on her blog/website, twitter, or facebook. Thanks so much, Martha, and I hope you have a blast in Sleepy Hollow. Best of luck with the release of Jaguar Moon!

Peace,

Liv

 

 Jaguar Sun

December 21, 2012 – Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind? Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.

Maya Delaney is just an average sixteen-year- old. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in. But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control. In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfill an ancient Mayan Prophesy and bring forth a New Age on earth. Will the spirit magic Maya wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping her from her destiny? Or will that destiny destroy her?

 

 

 

 

 

Jaguar Moon

Sixteen-year-old Maya Delaney has survived becoming a shape-shifter, being kidnapped, and bringing the world into a new era at the end of the Mayan calendar.Maya hoped the worst was behind her, but troubling dreams still haunt her sleep. When a mysterious stranger appears, she suspects he may hold the key to her true identity. But to find out, Maya must decide to leave the ones who love her most.

Will the answers she seeks give her solace, or will they push her further away from all she holds dear?

Releasing week of September 17th 2012!

Mystical Press ~ Achieve YOUR Dreams

So you all know that this is my Year of the Short Story, right? And many of the short stories I’ve made have ended up in anthologies from Still Moments Publishing, right?  What you probably don’t know if that one of the best parts about working with Still Moments is the chance to have my work edited by AJ Nuest. She’s brilliant and funny and has a magical way of saying, “You know, hon, I’m not so sure about…” without making you feel like a complete idjit.

And now she’s giving everyone the opportunity to experience her wit and wisdom!

Check out this post from Mystical Press, a project that AJ has put together with her friend Arial. I’m pretty sure I’ll be taking advantage of their services, and hope you will, too. They’re especially excited about their class, “How To Write A Winning Synopsis”, and who doesn’t need a little help with that, right? Keep reading…

Peace,

Liv

 

Greetings and Salutations!

Many thanks to Ms. Liv Rancourt for hosting us on her blog today! We’ve got some really exciting news to share with everyone so grab that cuppa and let the blogging begin!

 

September 1-15th marks the official

Grand Opening of Mystical Press Services!!!

This means 50% Off all our classes

and services through September 15th!

http://mysticalpress.com

 

In case you haven’t yet heard about our website, allow me to introduce you to a place where you just might find the fulfillment of your dreams. That’s right! The talented folks at Mystical Press want to help you reach your publishing goals!

 

How do we do that? I’m glad you asked!

 

Arial Burnz

Mystical Press is the culmination of an idea that came from two authors and professionally trained editors—Arial Burnz and AJ Nuest—where we help authors bridge the gap between the form rejection letter and publication. In fact, we believe in this venture so passionately, our tagline is “Helping authors achieve their dreams.”

AJ Nuest

 

 

 

At Mystical Press our primary goal is to help writers. As authors, we understand the frustration of not receiving constructive and useful feedback, the aggravation of navigating the murky depths of the publishing industry and that, sometimes, authors just need a place to vent. Well, we’re here to tell you, the insanity can end!

 

Like-minded individuals can gather online at Mystical Press to work one-on-one with professional editors who help authors prepare their manuscripts for submission. Whether you are looking for a Manuscript Evaluation, Submission Evaluation, or a full story edit, we will give you honest, encouraging feedback and work diligently with you on your story to make sure it’s ready to land on an editor’s desk. No project is too big or too small and all receive the same precise attention to detail.

Perhaps your submission is ready but you need assistance with smaller editing projects like a query letter and synopsis? Have no fear! Mystical Press is here! We offer a full edit of query letters and synopses with comments and suggestions that come directly from AN EDITOR! TAH-DAH!

 

And don’t worry! If your goal is to write your very own dynamite synopsis, at Mystical Press we believe in “teaching a man to fish”. Our Power Class, How to Write a WINNING Synopsis, is designed to easily guide you through the process of crafting your very own synopsis! Yes, that’s right. I used “easily” and “synopsis” in the same sentence!

 

The self-paced course curriculum at Mystical Press can assist in tackling those pesky problem areas as well (e.g., show vs. tell, POV shifts, realistic character and story development, etc.). If you’ve read books, articles and/or taken workshops and are still in search of that elusive contract offer, perhaps Mystical Press can help. Take one class or take a whole series—our online classes are designed to meet each writer’s individual needs.

 

 

Is your next project of the self-publishing variety? Mystical Press has a selection of pre-made covers we guarantee will only be used once! No one will have the same cover! Or, if you’d like, we can design a cover specifically tailored to your vision—you will work one-on-one with our talented cover artists! We are also happy to edit your baby and can even format the document to meet the specifications of most popular self-publishing platforms. 

 

Remember to mention Mystical Press to all your friends and fellow writing pals – here’s why. Mystical Press offers a free Referral Program. Just register on the site and we will assign you a Referral ID. If anyone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a referral fee! Whether you choose cash or a credit for products or services on the site, consider this our thank you for helping us spread the word.

 

Oh! And before I forget…we offer a wide range of gift certificates designed specifically with the writer in mind. Tired of searching for the “write” present for your author pals? Maybe that next birthday calls for an eGift from Mystical Press!

So now that you know all about us, please tell us all about you! Head on over to Mystical Press and register free on the site. Everyone who does will be entered into our drawing for fabulous gifts and prizes! Join our celebration and together we will strive to get your voice heard!

 

Fabulous Cover Art

We’re heading into fall and I’m wrapping up my Year of the Short Story. It started last November with the release of “The Santa Drag” in the Christmas Treats anthology and continued with my second short story, “Tangled Dreams”, which appeared in the Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires anthology last January. Since then, I’ve had a short story come out somewhere just about every month.  I’ve had a blast and learned a ton about writing, and really appreciate the great editors I’ve been able to work with and learn from.

Given that, it’s kind of appropriate that my last releases of the year (that I know about so far!) will be “An Accidental Witch”, coming soon in the anthology Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft,  and the re-release of “The Santa Drag” on 10/12/12 as a single short. Today, I’m totally excited to show off the cover art for both the Beltane anthology and “The Santa Drag”.

 

Here’s the Beltane cover – artwork by Leah Skerry, edited by Rayne Hall.

 

 Here’s the cover for “The Santa Drag” – artwork by Keri Neal, edited by Annie Seaton & Still Moments Publishing.

I think both the covers are very cool, and I’m excited to be involved in both projects. I’ll be posting buy links and excerpts when they’re available. Be sure to ping me if you want to know more about either of the artists who made these covers.

Peace,

Liv