Gwen Gardner's Blog, page 20
August 26, 2013
Not Just a Ghost of a Chance
I hope you all had a blessed weekend.
I don't really have a post today, just a bit of trivia. But if you come back tomorrow, there's going to be a
Partners in ParanormYA cover reveal!
I'll leave you with this:
The real Chance Gardner
This little guy right here, who just happens to be my granddog, Chance, has a role in my next book,
A Guilty Ghost Surprised. He plays a ghost dog AND his name is Chance in the book.
He is also featured prominently on the cover. You will be amazed at the likeness my illustrator, Corona Zschusschen, created.
Have you ever featured people or pets you know in your books?
I don't really have a post today, just a bit of trivia. But if you come back tomorrow, there's going to be a
Partners in ParanormYA cover reveal!
I'll leave you with this:
The real Chance Gardner This little guy right here, who just happens to be my granddog, Chance, has a role in my next book,
A Guilty Ghost Surprised. He plays a ghost dog AND his name is Chance in the book.
He is also featured prominently on the cover. You will be amazed at the likeness my illustrator, Corona Zschusschen, created.
Have you ever featured people or pets you know in your books?
August 20, 2013
Brewing Some Awesomesauce at Untethered Realms
What is awesomesauce?
Can you taste it? Chew it? Lick it off a spoon? Hug it?
Rock it?
Wrap it in a cocoon?
That's the question. If you want to know, go over to Untethered Realms today.
That is all.
Rock it?
Wrap it in a cocoon?
That's the question. If you want to know, go over to Untethered Realms today.
That is all.
August 14, 2013
My Back-in-San-Diego Pictograph
I'm back in San Diego and still adjusting. It's funny how habits are formed. I hesitate at things like putting the trash out the night before (as suggested by the trash company), until I realize San Diego doesn't have bears.
We're in a rental house and still trying to sell our house in Colorado.
But there are some awesomesauce things about being back in San Diego...
My Garden, photo by me. I have a pumpkin patch!!! This is the pumpkin patch I inherited with the house. I am so thrilled about it! The other pumpkins are still green, but there are more. This one was still green two weeks ago. I've already weeded it and water it lovingly every other day.
Sorry, don't know who to credit for this awesome pic. And I hope to have some of these soon. I planted a variety of Sunflower seeds (I grew black ones once, that were totally awesome!) around my pumpkin patch on Saturday. They take 7 - 21 days to come up. I can't wait to see their little heads pop up out of the ground. It is such a miracle! (Yes, I did this instead of unpacking!)
Cactus Joe, photo by me. Cactus Joe has not bloomed in four years (the whole time we were in Colorado). But give him a little sunshine and he shows off by growing a crown. I've had him since he was an inch tall - that was 18 years ago. I always thought he was a barrel cactus, but he has these appendages starting to protrude which makes me think he might be a saguaro...
The beach, photo by me The beaches. I don't remember if this is Del Mar or La Jolla. Other great things about San Diego?Old friendsMexican foodMargaritasHappy HourSea WorldZooBalboa ParkMexican foodMargaritasHappy HourMexican foodMargaritasHappy Hour...
What's new with you?
Do you like to grow things?
Have you had to move and/or adjust?
We're in a rental house and still trying to sell our house in Colorado.
But there are some awesomesauce things about being back in San Diego...
My Garden, photo by me. I have a pumpkin patch!!! This is the pumpkin patch I inherited with the house. I am so thrilled about it! The other pumpkins are still green, but there are more. This one was still green two weeks ago. I've already weeded it and water it lovingly every other day.
Sorry, don't know who to credit for this awesome pic. And I hope to have some of these soon. I planted a variety of Sunflower seeds (I grew black ones once, that were totally awesome!) around my pumpkin patch on Saturday. They take 7 - 21 days to come up. I can't wait to see their little heads pop up out of the ground. It is such a miracle! (Yes, I did this instead of unpacking!)
Cactus Joe, photo by me. Cactus Joe has not bloomed in four years (the whole time we were in Colorado). But give him a little sunshine and he shows off by growing a crown. I've had him since he was an inch tall - that was 18 years ago. I always thought he was a barrel cactus, but he has these appendages starting to protrude which makes me think he might be a saguaro...
The beach, photo by me The beaches. I don't remember if this is Del Mar or La Jolla. Other great things about San Diego?Old friendsMexican foodMargaritasHappy HourSea WorldZooBalboa ParkMexican foodMargaritasHappy HourMexican foodMargaritasHappy Hour...
What's new with you?
Do you like to grow things?
Have you had to move and/or adjust?
August 12, 2013
Switched = NA + Romance + Cassie Mae + Chocolate
Ahhhh, sweet romance! Who doesn't love it?! I was fortunate to have been wined and dined and properly courted by my husband. He likes to say that he chased me 'til I caught him, and it's so true. I've been married for 25 years and still going strong. Just yesterday morning, my husband said how fortunate I was that I liked coffee in bed and how he liked to bring it to me. Of course, I had to agree. Yes, I am spoiled!
And so I do love a good romance. When you read the blurb, you just KNOW things are going to end up right in Switched, by Cassie Mae. But this is just the cover reveal - you'll have to wait until December 30th to read it and find out how it all turns out.
Cassie Mae redefines the New Adult genre with a novel that answers the eternal question: What do you do when you’re head-over-heels for your best friend’s guy?
Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart. But time is ticking and they must act now, before Talon gives Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for.
Sure enough, the once-happy couple is fighting, Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “just a friend” ever should. But something just isn’t right. Then Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together, and discover a hitch they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ending after all.
Cassie Mae
About The Author:
Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestseller REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and SWITCHED. She also has a three book deal with Swoon Romance Publishing, including her book HOW TO DATE A NERD. She spends time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.
Books by Cassie Mae:
Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend
Friday Night Alibi released July 29th by Random House Flirt
How to Date a Nerd to be released September 24th by Swoon Romance Publishing
Switched to be released December 30th by Random House Flirt
Find Cassie Mae:
Facebook
Blog
And so I do love a good romance. When you read the blurb, you just KNOW things are going to end up right in Switched, by Cassie Mae. But this is just the cover reveal - you'll have to wait until December 30th to read it and find out how it all turns out.
Cassie Mae redefines the New Adult genre with a novel that answers the eternal question: What do you do when you’re head-over-heels for your best friend’s guy?Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart. But time is ticking and they must act now, before Talon gives Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for.
Sure enough, the once-happy couple is fighting, Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “just a friend” ever should. But something just isn’t right. Then Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together, and discover a hitch they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ending after all.
Cassie MaeAbout The Author:
Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestseller REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and SWITCHED. She also has a three book deal with Swoon Romance Publishing, including her book HOW TO DATE A NERD. She spends time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.
Books by Cassie Mae:
Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend
Friday Night Alibi released July 29th by Random House Flirt
How to Date a Nerd to be released September 24th by Swoon Romance Publishing
Switched to be released December 30th by Random House Flirt
Find Cassie Mae:
Blog
August 7, 2013
IWSG: I. Can't. Keep. Up.
It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. As always, our host is Alex Cavanaugh, and his co-hosts this month are M. Pax, Karen Walker, and
Melissa Maygrove.
Many thanks for making the time to come support your fellow writers! If you want to join the IWSG, go HERE to sign up. You must have noticed the title of this post. That pretty much sums it up for me. Now that I have a full time job, I can only write /edit / blog / tweet at night or on weekends. Sure, I can schedule the blog and tweet posts, but to interact, it mostly has to be at night. Sometimes I can sneak in during the day, but it's sporadic. I belong to a couple of writer groups that I struggle to keep up with. I know I'm lagging and not interacting enough. So many times I get to the party late and struggle to catch up with what's going on. I've thought about quitting everything. When you get right down to it, all the pressure comes from myself. Nobody but me. I don't have to write / edit / blog / tweet or belong to writer groups. But I love it and want to stay involved with other writers as much as I can. And so I'm going to keep hobbling along until someone takes away my Writer's Card and kicks me out of The Club.
Thanks for listening! What are you struggling with?
August 6, 2013
Kooky Me and Me Meme
I've been tagged in a meme by Tara Tyler, and have agreed to answer four questions.
But FIRST! I posted a blog over at Untethered Realms about Symbolism and What We Hide In Our Trunks. And you'll learn something totally kooky about me. I hope you can stop by and check it out???
And now.....
1. What are you working on right now? I’m working on getting out the next book in my Indigo Eady Paranormal Mystery series, called A Guilty Ghost Surprised. Just sent it off to my wonderful CP and Partner in ParanormYA, Angela Brown. I’m also working on book II of my novella Afterlife series using the same characters.
2. How does it differ from other works in its genre? It’s light for YA, more like upper MG/lower YA. It sort of has a comical bent because of the mishaps the characters encounter. The difference is like a cozy mystery vs a hard core mystery. That’s why I sometimes refer to my books as paranormal “cozy” mysteries.
3. How does your writing process work? I am a hardcore plotster. Oh how I’d love to be a pantser, though. I’ve tried, I really have. But I just come to a complete stop after the first chapter. So I write a detailed outline of scene prompts for the whole book before I sit down to write. I know everything that’s going to happen. Of course I add things along the way, what with the ideas clambering to be included, you know? But mysteries in particular require planning, I think, in order to plant the clues. Does that make me a planster?
4. What is the hardest part about writing? For me, it’s the conflict. I always want a happily-ever-after all tied up with a big purple bow. And so my conflicts come in the mishap variety rather than the rock-em, sock-em, kick-em in the knee kind (See what I mean? Why didn't I just say kick-em in the head? That would have made a better action scene.) It’s what I enjoy writing, but perhaps it’s not what most young adult readers are looking for. That’s why I sometimes refer to it as upper MG/lower YA.
So, that's it about me!
Here are the people I tagged, who have agreed to accept this challenge:
1) Misha Gericke
2) Anonymous
3) Anonymous
4) Anonymous
Okay, Misha is the only one, LOL! Everyone I tried to tag is either already doing it or have already done it. But thank you, Misha!!!
But FIRST! I posted a blog over at Untethered Realms about Symbolism and What We Hide In Our Trunks. And you'll learn something totally kooky about me. I hope you can stop by and check it out???
And now.....
1. What are you working on right now? I’m working on getting out the next book in my Indigo Eady Paranormal Mystery series, called A Guilty Ghost Surprised. Just sent it off to my wonderful CP and Partner in ParanormYA, Angela Brown. I’m also working on book II of my novella Afterlife series using the same characters.
2. How does it differ from other works in its genre? It’s light for YA, more like upper MG/lower YA. It sort of has a comical bent because of the mishaps the characters encounter. The difference is like a cozy mystery vs a hard core mystery. That’s why I sometimes refer to my books as paranormal “cozy” mysteries.
3. How does your writing process work? I am a hardcore plotster. Oh how I’d love to be a pantser, though. I’ve tried, I really have. But I just come to a complete stop after the first chapter. So I write a detailed outline of scene prompts for the whole book before I sit down to write. I know everything that’s going to happen. Of course I add things along the way, what with the ideas clambering to be included, you know? But mysteries in particular require planning, I think, in order to plant the clues. Does that make me a planster?
4. What is the hardest part about writing? For me, it’s the conflict. I always want a happily-ever-after all tied up with a big purple bow. And so my conflicts come in the mishap variety rather than the rock-em, sock-em, kick-em in the knee kind (See what I mean? Why didn't I just say kick-em in the head? That would have made a better action scene.) It’s what I enjoy writing, but perhaps it’s not what most young adult readers are looking for. That’s why I sometimes refer to it as upper MG/lower YA.
So, that's it about me!
Here are the people I tagged, who have agreed to accept this challenge:
1) Misha Gericke
2) Anonymous
3) Anonymous
4) Anonymous
Okay, Misha is the only one, LOL! Everyone I tried to tag is either already doing it or have already done it. But thank you, Misha!!!
August 5, 2013
Partners in ParanormYA Sequel Sign Ups!
Wahoo! Guess who's getting ready to release their sequels? The Partners in ParanormYA!
Last October, Angela Brown and I released our debut novels, Neverlove and Givin' Up The Ghost. This October, we're releasing the sequels, They All Fall Down and A Guilty Ghost Surprised.
But first, to the covers. We're really excited for everyone to see them.
We're slated to reveal the covers on August 27th.
I'm having problems with the linky, so if you can't sign up, just leave a message in the comments.
You can add our books to your TBR list on Goodreads, too.
They All Fall Down by Angela Brown
AND
A Guilty Ghost Surprised by Gwen Gardner
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky..." type="text/javascript">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=205920
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky..." type="text/javascript"> Thanks so much for participating!
July 31, 2013
Tree of Life Collaborative Writing Challenge
I'm participating in the TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative writing challenge over at Sam Geary's blog. A group of writers are putting story to music. My part will appear today! And...just a hint...there will be unicorns...I hope you can stop by and check it out HERE.
Want to know more? Check out this blurb from Sam's site:
Welcome to the TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative writing challenge, where creative minds meet epic movie music. To read the collective story in its entirety as it unfolds and for more details on this groundbreaking collaboration with Audiomachine click HERE.
Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – An Unfinished Life – Tree of Life
July 24, 2013
Nether Fire Cover Reveal
Guess who has a new book coming out? Bonnie Rae! Check out this cover and blurb. Doesn't it just exude excitement and adventure?
Nether Fire:
After being gravely wounded by her little sister, Ava awakes in Arcadia and the City of Angels isn't so welcoming. She is, after all, Lucifer's Angel of Death and she has only one mission. Open the portal between Arcadia and the Nether World allowing Lucifer's army to penetrate the gilded walls of Heaven. Too bad Arcadia has other plans. Before she has the chance to set Lucifer's plot in motion, they send her and Devon hurtling back to Earth. Now, stripped of their powers, the two must put aside their differences and race against time to save Christa's soul and the shattered remains of Mankind. If they fail, darkness will rule their two worlds and obliterate what is left of Earth. If they succeed, Ava could still lose everything.
Including herself.
Nether Fire:
After being gravely wounded by her little sister, Ava awakes in Arcadia and the City of Angels isn't so welcoming. She is, after all, Lucifer's Angel of Death and she has only one mission. Open the portal between Arcadia and the Nether World allowing Lucifer's army to penetrate the gilded walls of Heaven. Too bad Arcadia has other plans. Before she has the chance to set Lucifer's plot in motion, they send her and Devon hurtling back to Earth. Now, stripped of their powers, the two must put aside their differences and race against time to save Christa's soul and the shattered remains of Mankind. If they fail, darkness will rule their two worlds and obliterate what is left of Earth. If they succeed, Ava could still lose everything.
Including herself.
July 22, 2013
What's On Your Bookshelf?
Life has been interesting lately, to say the least. Most of you know that I moved for work a couple of months ago while my husband stayed behind to sell the house. He's still there, but more on that another time.
I couldn't bring a lot with me, just whatever fit in my van, really. Things I thought I'd need or want for a few months. (BTW, it's amazing how few things you really need to be comfortable).
I was just checking out my makeshift bookshelf and the books I brought with me. It's an interesting mix, and goes something like this:
The Beloved Works of C.S. LewisWhen God Winks: New Beginnings by Squire RushnellCreate Your Writer Platform by Chuck SambuchinoIt's Your Time by Joel OsteenThe Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent PealeShowing and Telling by Laurie AlbertsThe Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak ChopraLiving, Loving and Learning by Leo BuscagliaThe Illustrated Screwtape Letters by C.S. LewisThe Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca PuglisiHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingThe Clockwork Princess by Cassandra ClareEveryday A Friday by Joel OsteenI have thousands of books (according to my husband) at home, but these are the ones I selected to bring with me. Some of them lend inspiration, and others are simply easy to get lost in. Even a couple of books on writing.
If you had to leave home, what books would be on your makeshift bookshelf?
I couldn't bring a lot with me, just whatever fit in my van, really. Things I thought I'd need or want for a few months. (BTW, it's amazing how few things you really need to be comfortable).
I was just checking out my makeshift bookshelf and the books I brought with me. It's an interesting mix, and goes something like this:
The Beloved Works of C.S. LewisWhen God Winks: New Beginnings by Squire RushnellCreate Your Writer Platform by Chuck SambuchinoIt's Your Time by Joel OsteenThe Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent PealeShowing and Telling by Laurie AlbertsThe Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak ChopraLiving, Loving and Learning by Leo BuscagliaThe Illustrated Screwtape Letters by C.S. LewisThe Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca PuglisiHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingThe Clockwork Princess by Cassandra ClareEveryday A Friday by Joel OsteenI have thousands of books (according to my husband) at home, but these are the ones I selected to bring with me. Some of them lend inspiration, and others are simply easy to get lost in. Even a couple of books on writing.
If you had to leave home, what books would be on your makeshift bookshelf?
