Toi Thomas's Blog, page 96

Passion in Writing by Darlene Jones

provided by D. Jones

Heaving bosoms? Throbbing members? Sorry, but that’s not where I’m going with this. I’m talking about the passion that drives us to do the things we do. In my mind passion is a must for authors. We have to have passion for the writing itself and passion for the things we write about.

I also believe that our writing reflects our passions and they are revealed when we see them on paper. This came as a bit of a shock to me when I looked back at what I had written. My intent was to write an entertaining novel of magic and romance. I didn’t know it would grow to four books before the “happily ever after” ending. Nor did I know, when I began, that my books would touch on a number of serious world issues.

Rereading my novels is an exercise in discovery. I see that teaching and teens play significant roles in each. I was an educator and most of my career was spent working with grades seven to nine, so I guess that’s not so surprising. I criticize anyone who denigrates teaching. Teachers get the whole world started. And I refuse to accept the answer, “I’m just a teacher” to the question, “what do you do?” I believe all children should have a solid education base and I wish I could wave a magic wand to make it so. Yes, I’m passionate about education.

I also rant about war, the media, rich versus poor…. How could I not after having lived in Mali, traveled extensively in Africa, not to mention all the time I spend in Mexico? If I were to make a list of injustices, it would be a long one. The problems are much too grand for any one individual to solve, but we can impact the whole if we make our own little corner of the world a better place.

A recent survey asked people to rank the things they looked for in their fiction reading. I was surprised to see that “learning something” was number one. On reflection, I realize that the books I love best are ones that teach me something. In Domingos Angel I learned about conditions in Spain during Franco’s rule. In The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor I learned more about Canadian history. In The Winter Pony (an amazing story told from the horses’ point of view) I learned about the trek to the South Pole. The list could go on and on, but what is most interesting is that the books I learned something from are the ones that remain most vivid in my mind.

I, too, try to get readers thinking while they are being entertained. Perhaps that’s yet another passion. I do hope my stories will be vivid in readers’ minds long after they have finished reading them.

For more from Darlene Jones, check out these links: www.emandyves.com and Amazon Author Central.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts Tagged: angels, guest post, passion, process, writing

Top 5: 04 Action Heroes

This is a list of my top five something. Most of the time my lists are pretty static, but sometimes I do change my mind. While I do try to apply some logic to my choices, sometimes I pick things that make no sense and for no good reason other than “I like it.”

Watch your language –image from Google search screeninsults.com

Fictional Action/Adventure Heroes

1. John McClane

2. Indiana Jones

3. James Bond

4. Ender Wiggin

5. Captain Nemo

-Honorable Mention- John Spartan

This list is a combination of characters from books, movies, and movies based on books (I think I’ve just covered all the movies). I like action. As much as I adore my comic book and superheroes, sometimes it’s cool to see or envision just a man, woman, or kid kick butt.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: About Me Tagged: action, author, biography, fiction, heroes, likes, personal, top 5

Sample Sunday 16

Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

It’s Like the Full Moon chapter 2.3 (wip)

Rebecca decided to roll out of bed and start her day since Lisa had been so excited for her; and she figured she’d check out her phenomenal view. She stood up from the bed and stretched, reaching up to the sky and then down to her toes. She tip toed over to the window and looked out and was taken aback. It was beautiful. She looked out over the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II with its beautiful shops and devoted travelers. Rebecca stood there for a moment adoring her wonderful view and then turned and finally viewed her room. It was more than elegant; she could not have dreamed of such a place. The whole suite blew her away. Rebecca looked at the time and decided not to waist a moment more.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

Filed under: Full Moon, Samples Tagged: contemporary fiction, drama, fiction, friends, romance, wip

Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.3

DayBreaker Review

By Vanessa Grosett: Authors Care Agency, LLC

The main character is eighteen year old Sambi Prince and takes place in Toronto Canada. Sambi has a brother named Sam. They both don’t have a great start in life, as they relocate constantly and don’t have a good relationship with their mother.

Sambi meets also eighteen year Matthew Greenwood in her Chemistry class, and there is certainly chemistry between them as they take an instant liking to each other. Matthew however is not all what he seems, he comes from a supernatural world that Sambi is also part of though she does not find out until later on in the book.

An unfortunate incident makes Sambi leave her household, her brother goes missing and after a heated argument with her mother Sambi decides to look for him, with Matthew, during their travels Matthew decides to tell her who she is, part Nephilim.

It seems like humans are not the only one in this world as well as the Nephilim there are the Nightlife who are demons. There are three clans in this book, DayBreakers are Nephilim which means they are fallen angel they want to exist peacefully among humans, the Dark Angels are too Nephilim however they have sided with the Nightlife by interbreeding with humans, the more children their make the more their DNA will remain. Making this supernatural world that they can rule over, and eventually humans will be extinct.

This book contains action and adventure. The reader can really relate to Sambi, her confusion, pain and be a part of the world she lives in. This book is not afraid to step into the unknown, and doesn’t shy away from topics that some publishers think people might be uncomfortable with. When in fact there is a great interest in the supernatural world and this book brings this to readers.

It is such an enjoyable unique book. The writer has thoroughly research this topic. A must read.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:

Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

On behalf of author, Brita Skinner, and myself, I do hope you have enjoyed this spotlight and will take some time to look into the creative works of this talented author.

*This review has been posted (text provided by author) per the request of the author being featured. This review has been written by a professional agent representing the featured author. The relationship between author and agent is based on an agreed upon monetary exchange for services rendered, but the details of each individual case varies. With that being said I, Toi Thomas, have not requested and have not received any compensation for posting this review.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts, Reviews Tagged: author, biography, books, Christian, excerpt, muscular disease, promotion, reading, spotlight, writing, YA

ToiBox Blog Weekly Recap 10/12/13

Check out my Recent Posts links to see what I was up to this week.

I started out the week with Sample Sunday 15- Eternal Curse: Battleground chapter 2.2

One Monday, I started a new feature post with my 1st Author Spotlight: Brita Skinner 1.0, the introduction.

My Monday didn’t stop there. I also posted My Geekdom: Marvel Comics…

And Nina Soden stopped by again to share another book, Beginnings.

On Tuesday, I added to my character files a biography of Mr. Thornton.

On Wednesday, I barely got in my monthly contribution to WWW Wednesdays. I’ll have to do better next month…

Then I posted 1.1 of the author spotlight, the excerpt of DayBreakers.

On Thursday, I posted my 8th WIP Update.

On Friday, I posted 1.2 of the author spotlight, a brief bio…

And today I’m posting a special review of DayBreakers per my featured author’s request.

I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself this week and enjoy a very pleasant weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: author, biography, blessings, blogging, books, character, culture, discussion, entertainment, fashion, geek, interviews, journal, life, likes, lists, reading, reviews, sample, spotlight, wip

Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.2

A Brief Bio

image provided by author

Brita Skinner is a young adult Christian Secular Thriller author who lives in Calgary, AB with her husband where she continues to write and support not only her husband but also her dad and step mom who suffers from Dementia.  She is currently working on book 2 of her Nightlife series for which Daybreaker is a part of.  She is also plotting out future projects to work on after her Nightlife Series is complete.

Brita is the oldest of three children.  She also has several brother and sister-in-laws and a multitude of nephews and nieces, all of whom she loves dearly and loves to spend time with.  Brita has a younger brother who is married with a son and is currently working as a mechanic.  Her younger sister is currently a student at Cornell University in New York on a full scholarship doing her Doctorate of Music History.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:

Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

On behalf of author, Brita Skinner, and myself, I do hope you have enjoyed this spotlight and will take some time to look into the creative works of this talented author.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts, Interviews Tagged: author, biography, books, Christian, promotion, spotlight, thriller, writing, YA

WIP Update 08

I’m not going to keep blaming my lack of significant progress on being busy, even though I am. Life happens and you just have to work with it. It’s not like I’m sitting around doing nothing; I’m just not doing as much as I’d like to. With that being said, I do have a bit to report on.

First, I’ve received notes and edits back for my short story project. After advice and consideration, I’ve decided to keep the short stories separate from my novella (novelette). What exactly is the word or page count for a novella or novelette?

“Unexplained” seems to a work that will be well received by general audiences and will give my fans and readers a chance to see something different from me outside of Eternal Curse and It’s Like the Full Moon. This collection contains shorts of various lengths that delve into the genres of romance, psychological thriller, paranormal, and general fiction.

The novella(?), “The Legend of the Boy” will be a little more tricky. I will have to find a way to market it to a sci-fi audience. It’s difficult to describe this piece without doing a full on promo for it, but that’s coming down the road. For now, just know that, a boy not from this world will have to save the world and destroy it in order to move the human race forward. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s good. I promise.

Second, I have done absolutely NOTHING with Solomon Sword and still haven’t finished that last chapter of Full Moon so I can do my final read through. I was so close when I wrote my last update, but…but, (breathe- in a nice calm voice) Life happens and we just have to work with it.

Third, I’m still working on my little collaborative project with the authors I’ve interviewed. Things are moving a bit slow, which I expect, working with so many different people in different parts of the world and in different stages of their lives.

I any case, I HOPE I am able to have some of these projects finished before the holiday season.

Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search My Topics, WIP Updates, to get all caught up. Also check my WIP tab to see what else I may be working on.

Do you have a WIP update to share?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: WIP Updates Tagged: author, books, character, fiction, process, wip, writing

Author Spotlight 1: Brita Skinner 1.1

An excerpt from DayBreaker

Prologue

I knew I had my gifts and that I was unique.  But to have it confirmed I am peculiar and so different from everyone else that I never expected.

I never gave much thought to where my life was going. I honestly thought I would follow in my mom’s footsteps, go to college one day, start a career, get married and start a family of my own.  Some of that has changed now and I know I can’t go back to where I was or where I thought I was going, even if I wanted to.

My life has changed so much I have loved and lost, fought to save what was important to me, and while I have failed more times than I can count, I know that I have to move forward I can’t let what has been keep me from what will be.

If I die in this struggle, then I know my life will have some meaning. If I survive then I will have to face a new world that has been changed by what we do here and now. Each of us plays a dangerous game in our own way, from hiding who and what we are to what we are really doing.  So many have put their lives on the line for what they believe.

I don’t know anyone who would come out of this untouched and be able to continue living the life they knew.  What happens next, we do for what we believe…

Chapter One

The First Day at School

I have always hated the first day at a new school.  There were the big things everyone thought about such as meeting new people, teachers, and learning the hallways.  But there were also the small issues, like finding a new locker, the smell of a new place and surroundings.  I was always stressed when I started new schools; I knew my peer’s were just fascinated with me. Why they would have so much curiosity over a five foot three, long black haired, and blue eyed girl is beyond me. Oh yeah did I mention the fact I was skinny well let me say slender that makes me sound more attractive, plus I just turned eighteen but that shouldn’t make me stand out.

Let me tell you a secret I know there is something odd about me. Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m human though I look like one, and no I’m not some alien from out of space. I just knew deep down I was different I just didn’t know how.

Anyway back to my moan. If there was anything worse than a first day, it was starting a new school at the start of senior year, when everyone around me had grown up together and already had their bonds.  This first day of senior year, was going to be one of my worst, I could sense it. But never could I have ever imagined that it would be this bad.  Nothing I’d ever seen – or had seen – prepared me for this day.

I stood outside my new school which was a vast Toronto public school, in the chilly September morning. As you properly guessed I wasn’t excited, and leaping for joy instead I wondered Why me?  I was underdressed in nothing more than a simple sweater and leggings; not exactly fashionably I know! But I did not want to make a fashion statement. I did not want to be here full stop.

I was extremely unprepared for the noisy chaos I walked into.  There were hundreds of kids around me, all clamoring, screaming, cursing and shoving each other.  It was more like a prison yard; trust me you would not want to be here.

Everyone had too much energy or maybe it’s just me acting like a granny. Whatever the case I was exhausted and sleep-deprived as most of us teens are. I did wish the noise would die down and no this is not my granny act coming out I just needed that peace and quiet.

Reaching into my pocket I felt my iPod.  Fantastic some nice calming Beethoven that I could listen to I inserted my earphones, cranked the volume up but no sound came out I peeked and saw the battery was dead, great!

So the iPod was not working I needed some distraction from all this chaos before class started, so what is the next best thing? The cell phone I grabbed mine out of my pockets hoping for some text messages but there were none. This makes me sound like a loner but I’m not honest. Because I had to move around so much I never got that close to anyone but I had made friends, I may not have been miss popularity but at least I made friends.

Chapter Five

The Disappearance

I ran.  The bullies were back, this time with friends, just like Matthew had warned me; they were chasing me down the alleyway again.  There was a dead end before me, a massive wall blocking my way, but I kept on running anyway, right towards it. As I ran I was picking up speed, it was a supernatural speed, the wind was rushing through my hair and I knew they couldn’t catch me.

The closer to the wall I got, the more I felt I had wings and I could fly.  Suddenly my feet left the ground and I was standing on top of the wall.  Looking down I could see the bullies and their friends stopped in their tracks as they tried to figure out how to get me.

For more information about Brita Skinner or to contact her, please try these links:

Web: http://britaskinner.wix.com/britaskinner#, Email: authorbritaskinner@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts, Interviews Tagged: author, biography, books, Christian, excerpt, muscular disease, promotion, reading, spotlight, writing, YA

WWW Wednesday 10/9/13

WWW WEDNESDAYS… is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of “Should Be Reading”, where you share: (1)What you’re currently reading, (2)What you recently finished reading, and (3)What you think you’ll read next.

As I am only contributing to this meme on a monthly basis, while comments and shares are welcomed here, be sure to visit Should Be Reading each week to see who’s reading what.

1. What am I currently reading?

I’ve overloaded myself with too many things so, of course, my reading has been affected. I’m editing, formatting, blogging (as usual), and more. At the moment, I’m still making my way through: The Woodcutter, The Bridge of Deaths, Chasing the Avatar, The Once and Future King (just started), and just because I can, I’m listening to the audio book of Night Circus (I read it last year) because it’s such a wonderful story and relaxes me at the end of the day.

From GoodReads
The Woodcutter by Kate Danley

From GoodReads
The Bridge of Deaths by M.C.V. Egan

From GoodReads
Chasing the Avatar by Jovan Jones

From GoodReads
The Once and Future King by T.H. White

From GoodReads
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Jim Dale (Narrator)

2. What did I recently finish reading?

I finally finished Sacrifice just in time to see sneak peeks of Ascension. It is due out in November . I’m not thrilled about the cover changes to the series, but that won’t keep me from reading the next installment. I finished Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, an while I enjoyed both, once I finish The Bridge of Deaths, I’ll be taking a break from classic literature and historical fiction for a while.

From GoodReads
Sacrifice (Gryphon #3)
by Stacey Rourke

From GoodReads
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen

From GoodReads
Mr. Churchill’s Secretary
(Maggie Hope Mystery #1)
by Susan Elia MacNeal

3. What do I think I’ll read next?

I still haven’t picked up Seraphina yet, but it’s on my night stand. I’ve been very distracted as of late so my reading has been a little slow and I want to make sure I can focus on it when I start it.  Artemis Fowl, The Guardian’s Apprentice, and Angels Without Wings still look pretty good to me, but I’ve just discovered a bunch of new ebooks that will be battling it out for my attention as well as sequels to series I’ve already started.

From GoodReads
Seraphina (Seraphina #1)
by Rachel Hartman

What is your WWW Wednesday?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Memes Tagged: books, try this

Character Files from the ToiBox 30: Mr. Thornton – Bio

 

Biography:  Subject FM 5-Mr. Thornton

Mr. Thornton is a retired banker from the U.K. who moved to the U.S. with his very young son. He raised his son by himself since his wife, and love of his life, died when the boy was very young. Mr. Thornton is a of lover of jazz music and conversation. He’s always lived a simple life and wants nothing more than to see his son settled down and living a simple life of his own.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Character Files, Full Moon Tagged: character, contemporary fiction, fiction, friends, profile, romance