Janel Gradowski's Blog, page 13
November 5, 2013
Pssst….Recognize Anybody Here?
Indie author extraordinaire, Gemma Halliday, has started a new venture – beyond writing several fantastic series. Here is a list of authors that are writing for her new publishing company. Does anybody look familiar to you?
http://www.gemmahalliday.com/Halliday_Publishing/ourauthors/
November 2, 2013
The Bartonville Series Is Like A Tree
The second book in the Bartonville series, “The Queen of Bad Decisions“, is releasing in less than a week. I have had a few questions about things like: Why is the book so short? and Why is book two a prequel to book one? So I thought I would explain my plans for the series and how it will be structured.
Honestly, that structure has changed since I first came up with the idea last year. At that time I wanted all of the volumes to end up about the same size. So one novella, three novelettes, six short stories equaling in total about 30,000 words per book. Over the summer I started looking into serial fiction after hearing so many other authors talking about places like Wattpad and JukePop for publishing serials. What I had thought was a revolutionary series concept, releasing stories ranging from flash to novella length instead of novel length work, turned out to be another form of serialized fiction. Different than the chapter at a time format that “Ready Or Not” has, but still a serial. When I began researching how other people were writing this type of series I decided to drop the 30,000 word per volume format and add in some shorter books. So people have a choice of story length and price.
Think of the series as a tree. A trilogy of novellas will make up the trunk. The main plot of the series, written linearly, will be in the novellas. Shorter stories are like the branches and leaves. In the case of “The Queen of Bad Decisions“, the tree’s roots. I will be using the smaller stories to detail subplots or give a glimpse into minor characters’ lives. I’m even writing a serial inside a serial with “Ready Or Not” on JukePop Serials. That story is also a prequel to “Must Love Sandwiches” and the main character is a minor character in that novella.
I have seen many people say they don’t like shorter fiction, but I am also seeing many essays and articles proclaiming short fiction is trending as readers have less time to indulge in the pastime. I’m rolling the literary dice and hoping that people will like my series.
October 23, 2013
Want To Help Launch My Book? Request A Free ARC To Review
Daisy’s life is sliding downhill at breakneck speed. Leaving her worthless boyfriend lands her back at her parents’ home, sleeping on the couch. After only a few days she is tired and annoyed. Her parents give new meaning to the term “early riser” and she can’t avoid unpleasant encounters with her obnoxious brother. The only escape from the familial torture is her job at a book store. Her boss finds a solution to the housing dilemma, but Daisy will need to change more than her address labels to make the arrangement work.
This book is a novelette that contains approximately 11,500 words. Two, short bonus stories along with recipes are also included. This is a prequel to Volume 1 of the Bartonville series, “Must Love Sandwiches”.
On November 8, I will be publishing the next installment of the Bartonville series, “The Queen of Bad Decisions”, as an ebook on Amazon. I would love to get some reviews up for it quickly, to give it a little boost and hopefully put it on the reading radar of more people. If you would like to review this novelette (it takes around an hour to read), please let me know. I realize that book bloggers will not be able to fit a review into their schedule on short notice. If you can add a review to Amazon, Goodreads or other book review sites, that would be perfect. And the reviews don’t need to go up as soon as the book is released. Anytime in the next month would be wonderful. If you do have a blog, I would be happy to set up guest posts, interviews or contests for any of my books at your convenience.
If you would like to receive an ARC (advanced reader copy) of “The Queen of Bad Decisions” to review, please fill out the contact form below or send an email to: janelg.author@gmail.com. The ebook will only be available on Amazon for the next 3 months, but if you don’t have a Kindle I can send you other file formats, like .epub and .pdf.
[contact-form]
October 16, 2013
Site Spotlight: Daily Lit
From the website: We got the idea for DailyLit after the New York Times serialized a few classic works in special supplements a few summers ago. We wound up reading books that we had always meant to simply by virtue of making them part of our daily routine of reading the newspaper. The only thing we do more consistently than read the paper is read email. Bingo! We put together a first version and began reading “War of the Worlds” and “Pride and Prejudice”. We showed it to friends, added more books and features at their request, and presto, DailyLit was born.
Serialized fiction has been gaining in popularity as people have less time to indulge in reading. Daily Lit has a large selection (over 1000) of classic and contemporary books that you can read in serial form. Installments can be emailed to you or subscribe to an RSS feed of installments instead. Convenient delivery in easy to digest segments. You take the time to read countless emails every day, why not enjoy a great book in the same way? Since Alice Munro just won the Nobel Prize, I plan on reading her book “Fiction“.
October 11, 2013
Ready Or Not…It’s Here!
Micah has been homeless for a over year, by choice. Marketing herself as a temporary artist in residence has allowed her to travel to art galleries all over the state of Michigan and beyond. Being an artistic vagabond is interesting and lucrative, but her life is about to change whether she’s ready or not.
I have been working on several “top secret” writing projects lately and one of them has found a home. “Ready Or Not” is my first foray into serialized fiction and I am so happy to be a part of the JukePop roster of authors. If you aren’t familiar with serialized fiction, think of it as the literary equivalent of a television series. Instead of the entire book (season) being released at one time, serial fiction is published one chapter (episode) at a time.
The first chapter of “Ready Or Not” is now up at the site. It is part of my Bartonville series, so I will be posting some of the recipes mentioned in the story here on my website. Eventually, when the story is complete, I will release the entire thing as an ebook. Until then, you can read the chapters as I publish them. It is free to read my story, and many others, on JukePop, but you do have to register to read beyond first chapters, leave comments and vote for your favorite stories. The site pays bonuses to authors who have Top 30 stories, determined by votes, each month. So make sure you show your favorite authors some love by voting.
As a reader, your comments can help shape the story. If you like or dislike something, leave a comment to let me know. I will take everything in consideration as I’m writing the story. How often to you get a chance to change the destiny of a fictional character?
I am so excited about this new writing adventure! If you would like to help me get the word out, please share it with your friends. I would really appreciate the help. There are sharing buttons under the cover and at the bottom of the chapter.
Have you ever read serialized fiction? What do you think of it?
October 9, 2013
Date Cookie Dough Smoothie
As with everything else in life, my food preferences have changed over time. As a child and into my mid-20′s I couldn’t stand fresh tomato. Cooked tomato in things like spaghetti sauce was fine, but finding a slice of tomato on my hamburger had the potential to ruin my entire meal, depending on how easily it could be removed and how much “residue” was left behind. I’m still not to the point where I can pop a cherry tomato into my mouth and enjoy it, but I do like thin slices on my sandwiches and I gobble up fresh tomato salsa.
Dates are another one of those formerly-hated foods. As a kid I would scarf down any baked good my mom made, unless it had dates in it. Date bread and date bars were left to the adults. My interest in dates has just developed over the last year or so. I’ve seen dates used on some of my favorite food blogs, so maybe that is what piqued my curiosity now. I don’t know. I DO know that dates are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. They’re also a great way to add some healthy sweetness to a smoothie.
I used chopped dates, soaked in hot water for a bit, for the first few incarnations of this smoothie. Even with my high-powered blender, I still ended up with straw-clogging date chunks. So I popped the rest of the package of dates into a sauce pan, covered with water and simmered them for 10 or 15 minutes. I removed the dates (saved the liquid) and pureed them in my food processor. I ended up using a bit of the liquid to thin the paste out. Using this paste makes my smoothies much more…smooth. The Green Thickies blog has several ways to make date paste, along with a ton of healthy smoothie recipes. My smoothie is a great, filling way to squelch some of those pesky sugar cravings without the use of refined sugar.
If you also have a craving for a bit of fiction, I have also written a story that features this recipe. It stars one of the main characters in the Bartonville series. I’m offering it as a “thank you” for people who sign up for my new newsletter (I promise I won’t bug you with frequent or annoying emails). Sign up form is here or in my sidebar.
Date Cookie Dough Smoothie
Author: Janel Gradowski (http://www.janelgradowski.com)
Recipe type: Smoothie
Serves: 1 large or 2 small
Note: If you would like a smoother texture, cook and cool the oatmeal first
Ingredients
1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup
3 tablespoons date paste
¼ cup oatmeal (regular or quick)
4 ice cubes
1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
Instructions
Put ingredients in blender in order given. Pulse a few times to get everything moving and then blend until smooth.
3.2.1255
This post is part of Weekend Cooking at Beth Fish Reads
October 5, 2013
Win “Must Love Sandwiches”
The fabulous blog, 1 Book Lover’s Opinion, is spotlighting me today. Stop by for a chance to win one of two copies of my novella with recipes, Must Love Sandwiches. Hurry, deadline is October 7!
Enter here: http://www.1bookloversopinion.com/2013/10/author-spotlight-and-giveaway-janel.html?spref=tw
October 3, 2013
Site Spotlight: ReadWave
Stories are all around us. From your first date, to your first day at work, our entire lives are filled with unique stories. We believe that an amazing story can change your life, and that every one of us is the hero of our own story. We created ReadWave to give everyone a place to share their stories. Hear an interesting story today? ReadWave it!
What is a ReadWave?
A “ReadWave” is a short piece of writing. It could be something that has happened to you, or something you heard from a friend. It could be a piece of fiction or an article on something you’re passionate about. A ReadWave is a story that you want to share with world!
If you are a fan or writer of short stories, ReadWave is a great site to explore. You can find everything from creepy flash fiction to essays with advice on writing. Travel, Food, Opinion, Geek and Diary are just a few of the many categories listed on the bottom of the home page. Of course, you can also check out lists of Editor’s Choice, Latest and Trending ReadWaves.
To me, ReadWave is like a combination of a huge online literary journal and a social media site. Since anybody can share a story on the site, the quality of writing and subject matter is varied. It reminds me of a short story only version of the hugely popular serialized fiction site, Wattpad. There are even some serialized stories on ReadWave. Readers can “Like” stories, leave comments and follow authors, as well as share links to the stories on Twitter, Facebook and G+. One handy feature is the estimate of how long it will take to read each piece, nice if you only have a few minutes and would rather read an entire story than have to quit in the middle.
As an author you can see how many people have viewed your story, always an exciting thing, and respond to comments. ReadWave will even send you an email when your story has reached milestones like being viewed 50 times or if it is trending. You can upload your own cover photo or pick one from the images the site provides. There are even weekly contests where an excellent story can land you on the front page. Of course, every user can set up a profile with a biography and photograph. You can find mine here.
Have you ever visited ReadWave? What do you think of the site?
September 27, 2013
Site Spotlight Coming Soon
It seems that lately I have been discovering many fascinating websites as I wander around the internet. Some have interesting concepts while others are pioneers exploring new worlds. Since I have been bookmarking more and more of these gems, I decided it is time to share the wealth. Soon I will be doing occasional Site Spotlight posts that will feature everything from new social media platforms to literary journals.
Have you found any websites that made you go “Wow!” lately? If you have, please leave a comment and tell me about it. I may feature that site in a future post.
September 20, 2013
#FridayFlash: Potluck
The kitchen counter looked like it belonged on the set of a cooking show. A collection of white bowls contained diced vegetables, rice and shredded chicken. Unopened bottles of spices were lined up next to the stove. A pile of dark green cilantro leaves sat on a wooden cutting board. It all looked out of place in her kitchen, the land of heat and eat convenience foods. Emma studied the page she had ripped out of a magazine and compared the list of ingredients to the real food in front of her. What had she been thinking when she signed up to make the casserole for the potluck?
On the third Friday of every month the residents of the artists’ colony held a potluck dinner. While she always brought chips and deli-made dip, most of the other artists cooked a delicious array of dishes. A rich beef stew with red wine, tender shrimp-filled dumplings and a spectacular crepe torte layered with lemon curd were some of the most memorable offerings.
Two, loud thumps interrupted her thoughts. She opened the apartment door. Daisy, her best friend, stood in the hallway cradling a slow cooker in her arms. “Sorry about kicking your door. I don’t have any hands left to knock,” she said as she squeezed past Emma.
“Thanks for bringing the slow cooker, but I’m not going to need it. I can’t make this.” Emma waved the paper. “I’m not going tonight.”
“The potluck is always fun and you need a break.” Daisy set the crockpot on the counter and plucked the recipe out of Emma’s hand. She slid her fingers along the ragged edge of the page as she read. “All of the ingredients are ready, so you’re half way done. Come on, I’ll help.”
“How about you cook and we eat here?”
Daisy shook her head as she grabbed Emma by the shoulders and guided her to the stove. “No deal. Put on your big girl panties or chef’s hat or whatever. It’s time for you to cook. Show everybody you are more than a pretty face and experienced salsa purchaser.”
Emma sighed as she turned on the burner under the pan. She was an artist who knew what to do with paint and beads, not rice and black beans. She had come to terms with the fact that she wasn’t a good cook, but Daisy seemed to have decided it was her duty to turn her into a kitchen goddess.
“Dump these in and let them warm up,” Daisy said as she handed Emma a can of tomatoes and the bowl of chicken. “The tomato juice needs to be boiling before you add anything else.”
The tangy scent of tomatoes and chili peppers rose from the skillet. It smelled good. Maybe the dish would turn out to be edible. Her mother didn’t teach her how to cook, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t learn. She was a grown woman, after all. A constellation of bubbles formed in the liquid in the center of the pan. “It’s hot. What next?”
“Add everything else, except the cilantro.”
Emma dumped the contents of the bowls into the pan and stacked the empty dishes into a wobbly tower. “Okay. Done.”
Daisy began running hot water into the sink. As she piled dirty bowls into the basin a layer of thick soap foam engulfed the dishes. “When everything is warm, toss in the cilantro.”
“Nobody’s going to believe I made this,” Emma said. She tasted a spoonful of the rice. It was savory and perfectly spicy, not fire-breathing hot like the last time she had made a Tex-Mex meal for Daisy. “You’ve fed me so many times I want to pay you back. Grab a bowl and let’s eat.”
Daisy flicked soap bubbles at Emma. “What’s the real reason you don’t want to go tonight? It’s not like mooching food from me or bringing deli containers to the potluck have ever bothered you before tonight.”
Busted. Better to fess up and admit the real reason behind the sudden change of heart. A full-fledged interrogation from Daisy usually involved large quantities of alcohol and relentless whining. Tired and hungover was not how she wanted to spend the next day. “I don’t want to be around Max and the freaky pin-up girl.”
Max was Emma’s ex-boyfriend. Recently ex. When he broke up with her she had believed his lame excuse that he wanted to concentrate on his career and didn’t have time for a relationship. A few weeks later there was a Marilyn Monroe look-alike clinging to him. It seemed that her main goal was to maintain as much body contact as possible at all times.
“He won’t be there.” Daisy bumped shoulders with Emma before plunging her hands into the dish water again. “You made him go to the potlucks.”
“I did not. I just asked him to go with me.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “And if he didn’t, what were the consequences?”
“There weren’t any.”
“Okay, then what did he get in exchange for being a good boy?”
“I didn’t reward him for accompanying me.”
“Uh-huh. By the end of the meals he was drooling like a hound who had just gotten a whiff of rabbit and it wasn’t because of the dessert table.”
“Stop it!” Emma was already too warm from standing in front of the hot stove. She didn’t need to remember the after-dinner trysts with Max. Time to steer the conversation in a different direction. She scooped up another spoonful of rice and fed it to Daisy like she was a baby. “Is this too spicy?”
“No.” She dried her hands on the dish towel. “Everybody will love it. So let’s get going. I need to stop at my apartment to grab my brownies.”
“I don’t want to be around Max.”
“He won’t show up.”
“What if he does?”
Daisy tilted her head to the side and then grinned. “You’re right that people won’t think you cooked this. Tell him your new boyfriend made it.”
***
It’s been a long time since I’ve participated in Friday Flash, so I figured it’s about time to get back to writing and posting on a more regular basis. The original version of this story was a freebie for people who liked my Facebook page. I recently redesigned that page, so I revised the story and now I’m making the story available to everyone. I have also published it on Readwave – a great site that features short fiction in many different genres.
This story features characters in my Bartonville series. If you would like to try your hand at making the dish featured in this story, here is the recipe for Mexicali Chicken & Rice. Enjoy!
