Nancy LaRonda Johnson's Blog, page 11

Writing Community Member: Graeme Brown

As I said during SK Anthony's cover reveal, this month is about promoting other writers. Today I’d like to introduce to you someone I met from LinkedIn.
As you know, the writing community can be filled with supportive people who want nothing less than all committed writers to succeed. I really learned this when Graeme Brownvolunteered to help me develop – and I mean it needed a lot of work – my pitch for Anticipation of the Penitent. And now he's my critique partner. 
Here is published writer, editor, artist, classical pianist, and budding mathematician, Graeme Brown:
Graeme Brown is an epic fantasy writer with two complete novel-length manuscripts. In July 2012, he sold The Pact, his first novella, to Champagne Books (released May 2013). He is currently working on its sequel (A Thousand Roads). In March 2013, he was promoted from line editor to junior editor, training to become a full editor for Champagne Books.

 He is an artist in various mediums, including vector graphics, painting, and music (classical piano). He also loves math, and plans on doing graduate research in the field of number theory and geometry. 
Graeme's website

Graeme's very insightful Author Interview:
What are your goals with writing, to publish novels, in journals or magazines, etc.?
I’d like to publish novels. I have many of them planned out and, based on that plan, expect to be writing one every one to three years for the rest of my life.
Part of that plan also includes taking November off to write a short book for NaNoWriMo each year (under a pseudonym, with genre and topic to be determined by whatever whim takes me at midnight on October 31st)
Are you currently published at all? What?
I have just published my first title, a short story called The Pact, through Burst Books (division of Champagne Books). Prior to this, I published a book of poetry, called Becoming, with a vanity press (no longer in print).
What is the most difficult thing for you with regard to writing?
Believing in what I am doing. I must often wade through doubts and despairs, thoughts like, “This is a waste of time. I can be doing something better with my life.” It’s a bit like the protest one might sometimes face before jumping on the treadmill and going for a run. Once I get going, with creativity rushing through me, I wonder how I could have forgotten, but then it’s time to pack up for the day and that means having to fight again to get started.
The good thing about writing a novel is it all adds up. I come back time and time and time again. Each time I look at my manuscript I feel like it’s a failure, but I don’t let that stop me. I jump in, get moving in the prose again – the same way I get on the running machine because I know it’s good for me.
I find that having beta readers helps, because they are the ones who convince me my writing is worth keeping. If not for one of my beta readers, The Pact would have gone in a drawer, and if not for some of the beta readers for my current WIP, I just might have convinced myself that I’d bit into a lemon.
What is the easiest?
Getting creative. I find once I sit down and write, with all my papers and careful notes to keep track of what I do, I’m like a kid with paints. I might outline that my protagonist is going to meet a widowed innkeeper in a village called Fishsprings, but once I get there and start writing, there’s a three-legged stool in front of the fireplace, a gold-bound Book of Prayer on the mantle, and a tough named Ande with large forearms who sits in a chair and reads romance books while he waits for the next drunk to pummel. I just let go with the creativity and it flows out – most of it stays, but sometimes I take it away because it doesn’t fit. There’s so much of it that when I sit down to write I just have to be patient and sit at the computer long enough to grow my manuscript a little more each day.
What would your dream life as a writer look like?
Oh, I’ve thought long and hard about this one. I’m still not finished thinking about it, though. See, my love for writing is shared with a love for mathematics. So, if I had the finances to write full time, I would no doubt continue to research. However, I would not be obligated to teach classes or tutor or meet certain deadlines in order to make a living. I would likely continue to research in collaboration and take part time courses to continue lateralizing.
In such a position, I would be able to set writing goals as my benchmark for the day. At present, I only write once – usually about 400-1000 words, sometimes more. I would want to quadruple that. I might write three times a day, or continue to write once but for longer; there’s that whole thing about getting started I mentioned above. I’d experiment, and probably change it up a lot.
Maybe I might move to Chile for a few months and stay in a guest room in the observatory there and work from midnight til 7am, just like the astronomers. Who knows? Wherever I go, whatever I do, I have a very large writing plan to develop, so if anything, my dream writing lifestyle would be one where I can put the writing first and be able to live with the spontaneity that allows the writing to be better.
I’m not one of those writers who thinks about the money and the wealth, unless that money and wealth means I can put that much more into going as deep as I can go into my writing.
Do you feel you’re on track as to where you want to be as a writer?
I would say so. As much as I often wish I could write more, I remind myself that I am a full time student working several on the side jobs to make a living, including editing, and so the fact that I take time, every day, to write a little, and that I am making progress – that counts for a lot. It gives me confidence. If I can accomplish this while juggling four other balls, how much could I accomplish if those other four balls became different aspects of this same writing project?
Where are you now in relation to your plans?
I’m right on track. I intended to be finished with A Thousand Roads, my current novel, by January, but my failure to meet that plan is more a reflection of misjudging than procrastination (I thought, when I started, that it was going to be a novella).
There’s one important thing I’ve learned with writing, and that’s this: though it is good to plan and set goals, you need a trump card. What is that? First and foremost: quality comes first. If you’re one of those writers who has to meet deadlines and you find yourself rushing off crap just so you can meet them, then, in my opinion, you’ve missed the whole point.
Be a rebel. Let your publisher fire you (or threaten to). Get a few readers angry. In the big picture, you will have happier readers in the long term, and greater satisfaction, if you put quality first. In fact, if you do this, your publisher might promote you when your book sells ten times as much.
One caveat: just make sure “putting quality first” doesn’t involve playing computer games during fits of writer’s block…
What options do you have?
When I am done with A Thousand Roads, before turning to the next book (White Star Fallen), I plan to write something quirky and fun for NaNoWriMo. I think this will be a good contrast to the long, epic arc I will be invested in for the next several decades.
What’s your WIP about? And is it typical of what you usually write?
My WIP is an adult novel about a young man caught up in a sorcerer’s intrigues. It follows one of the characters from The Pact, Jak Fuller, three years after the fall of Fort Lesterall, and is full of all the things typical of epic fantasy: adventure, haunted castles, Dwarf Men that hide in the shadows, quaint villages and nighttime pints by a cozy hearth. But it’s also got its share of darkness, violence, sex and raw inner monologue that takes you right into the heart of a young man wrestling with his identity in a world that seems to forge it for him. It’s rich and complex, and it turning out to be the hardest thing I’ve ever written.
Do you find your WIP to be taking as long as you thought?  If it’s taking longer, why do you think that is?
As discussed above, I thought A Thousand Roads was going to be a novella. I’d estimated 50,000 words. Now, that estimate is 130,000 words, and I expect that might be a bit short. No, I don’t keep adding things in. In fact, A Thousand Roads was carefully outlined, and, up to the scene I am on (17 of 26), I have deviated little from that outline.
What I failed to recognize was the complexity of the tale. When I outlined it, what I thought of as little scenes that would knit together into chapters ended up having all sorts of things buried in them. It’s the forest for the trees analogy coming to head. At least, in planning out the story, I made sure I wouldn’t get lost in the woods – I know where I’m going – but I could never anticipate all the little foot traps, goblin-filled glades and enchanted trees that would await me.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I have several beta readers. And I’m happy to say I will have one critique partner – none other than the other author who is kindly hosting this interview for me (thanks, Nancy!).
Have you considered marketing strategies? If so what?
My style is similar to George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, so when I look for places to advertise my writing, it is usually places where I expect to find readers of the series. However, I also look in the epic fantasy fan bases. Marketing is slow and steady, and I admit I’m learning as I go. One thing I’d love to do, should I earn enough money, is hire a marketing publicist to help me expand my campaign to reach more readers.
What advice can you give people who are where you’re at or have not gotten as far in their writing?
Keep writing, keep building. If you’ve published something but have realized the (hard) reality that, no matter how esteemed your publisher is, selling isn’t easy, don’t give up. If you focus on having breakout writing with everything you put forward, then trust your book and trust the process of word-of-mouth.
A big thing, though: don’t reinvent any wheels. Hire a web designer to do a nice website for you. If you can afford it, hire a publicist or a marketing consultant or an assistant. As an author, it’s your responsibility to promote yourself, but as an author your number one promotional tool is good writing, and if all your energy is gone because you can’t keep that part up, then the whole ship will sink.
Keep the balance. That is key.
Please tell me whatever else you’d like about yourself.
Well, I’ve said quite a lot! Thanks so much, Nancy, for having me here. It’s been a pleasure to take this time to reflect on writing.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about me, you can visit my website: http://www.graemebrownart.com/the_pact.html, my fantasy writing blog, http://www.fantasywritingjourney.wordpress.com, or follow me on Twitter: @GraemeBrownWpg


Enter the world of Will Lesterall, a boy who's grown up in the safety of his father's castle. Tales of the outside world ruled by warring kings and creatures of nightmare have never seemed a threat, yet on the night celebrating the two hundredth year of the sacred Pact that has kept Fort Lesterall safe, a secret intrigue ripens, and in the course of a few hours Will is confronted with a choice greater than he can comprehend. Join an unlikely hero as destiny pulls him into the middle of an ancient conflict between fallen gods and ambitious women, one that demands blood, both holy and wicked, and the power of an ancient fire bound in steel. As swords clash below a watching wood, hope and betrayal war as fiercely as fear and valour. Whether he lives or dies, Will Lesterall will never be the same.
Kobo: $1.97 http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=The+Pact+graeme+brown
Kindle: $1.99 http://www.amazon.ca/The-Pact-ebook/dp/B00CNW3WNU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367867255&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Pact+graeme+brown
Other formats: Burst Bookshttp://burstbooks.ca/product.php?id_p... 

Happy writing!

Lots a-brewing this Celebration

Let’s celebrate VikLit’s Celebrate the Small Things! There is so much to going on:My mom had a new pacemaker put in on Wednesday. Despite the doctor sending her home the same day without any type of pain medicine or antibiotics, after several hours of of nausea, vomiting and pain, she’s doing much better. Luckily she had leftover pain medicine that she was able to take. Now she’s still set on going camping on the 19th even though she doesn’t yet have a van or a generator/inverter for her oxygen machine. I tell you about moms! :)
I had my first newspaper write up in the San Mateo Daily Journal that came out on the 11th. I snagged several copies, and lots of my co-workers and other county workers saw it. You can check it out online here.
The Spiritual Media Blog has posted my author Q&A and book cover.
And I’m so happy to be back going to church regularly! It's been a couple of weeks now that I started going again, but I've still missed a day here and there. I've noticed my need to be more steadily in God's house, so I'm determined to not be a haphazard attendee.
See you all around the blogosphere! And have a wonderful weekend.

Cover Reveal: SK Anthony's "Kinetic"

This month is about promoting other writers. Not only will there be a litany of writers to introduce for the Blogger Book Fair from July 22nd to the 26th, today I’m involved with the magnificent cover reveal for the wonderful SK Anthony. Look out for it in September 2013! And here we go... How beautiful is this...?


Title: Kinetic Genre: NA Urban FantasyRelease Date: September 2013Cover Design: Mae I Design & Photography 

Synopsis:

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.

A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…

Links:

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18072566-kineticFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/S-Katherine-Anthony/403554526400225Twitter:https://twitter.com/SKathAnthonyWebsite:http://www.skanthony.com
Meet the Author: 

S. K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn’t busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!

Journal Past Blast - Deadened Hearts

Here’s another piece of writing I was surprised to come across in one of my journals. I’m not sure when in college it was written. Even though it’s near the end of the journal, sometimes, I’d write wherever I felt like it and not necessarily in page order. It’s one of those free writes that stemmed from emotions that were roiling around inside of me at the time.
The snow was falling on my head, on my toes, inside of me and my family. First it rippled on the outside, discoloring our skin. Then it melted and drained inside our hearts, freezing our vital organs. But only I noticed this. Only I noticed how our skin was slowly becoming a pinkish pallor; how our hearts, our very souls froze and dissolved into deadened facades. 

Friday, Friday, Friday - Celebrating is always looming...

This week I'm focusing on being happy for VikLit's Celebrate the Small Things.
Here are things I'm happy about:
Thursday was “me day.” I did what I wanted, when I wanted, and it was a blast! Yes, I did go see WWZ and really enjoyed it. I love that its focus wasn’t just on killing, but on the reasons why and how to combat the zombie disease. I’d say it’s in line slightly behind 28 Days Later and I Am Legend.It’s good to be writing on my WIP! Yes, if you know me at all, it’s slow going, but it’s going. Although I don’t know just yet how the subplot is going to work its way out, I’m just glad there is a subplot developing. There will also be another subplot that I’ve recently discovered to be developed too. Joy. True joy!I’m organizing a blog tour for my new book, SaltedWith Fire , that will be at the end of the month, and I am just thrilled that so many of my fellow bloggers have graciously agreed to host a day. I can’t believe I’m organizing it – organizing things is my Achille’s heel, and boy do the nerves want to start jumping a bit. But I’m keeping it cool and will let things develop as they do.I’ve agreed to announce for C. Lee McKenzieabout Sarah's Reviews – Interviews & Giveaways, who offered three of McKenzie's books on her blog. Check them out here before the giveaways end: The Princess of Las Pulgas, Sliding on the Edge, and Alligators Overhead.And finally, I’ve got a webpage at www.nancylarondajohnson.com! 
That’s it for now. Be happy everybody!

It's been too long IWSG!

Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and his 1st Wednesday of the month blog hop, Insecure Writer's Support Group, I get to whine, finally!
Once I did a post entitled, “Feeling blessed but lacking?” where I discussed how things – well I – just don’t seem to be doing enough. That was the gist of the post. I’m feeling a bit like that, but not in a melancholic sort of way. It’s one of those feelings like, “If you don’t read one more chapter,” “If you don’t read and comment on another blog” or “If you don’t write on your WIP today,” things will never get done and I’ll miss my opportunity. How crazy is that?
It doesn’t help when work this week has been slow, and I can’t even visit blogs at work while it’s slow. Instead, during slow times, I’ve been reading an indie book I need to finish and chapters of my CP’s work. So, this week  hasn’t been too washed out. And I’m off Thursday and Friday, during which I’m hoping to catch up on visiting blogs (Why does it seem you can never catch up?) I’m planning on not wasting too much time watching TV. Although I do have to see WWZ this weekend.
I pray that my mind focuses on blogging and writing, writing and more writing this weekend. Thanks for listening to me whine! Now I'll go listen to you. :)

From Journal Past Blast... My Perfect Lover

This week's Journal Past Blast entry is the first real poem that I ever wrote and liked. It was written during my first year in college – when I had my first real boyfriend. Anyway. Here it is.

My Perfect Lover
Cast over me theshadow of yourfine black skin
And provoke my anticipationwith visible glaresof inspiration.
Intrigue my mindwith the passionin your heart.
Beat your ambitious vowsinto my love’s chamber,accelerating my life’s rhythmto a thunderous, eloquent melody.
Brush not ungranted wishesupon my lips, but ignitethe blackened hopes ofmy love’s –, disparagingonly the temptationto forever illuminatethe glow of one lover’s night.
Whisper into my earsthe desires of such satisfactionand ease secret nightmaresof history’s sexual deceptionsengraved                 as tokensin my burdensome heartthat only now is pulsatingfrom your flaunting pleasures.
Lessen now the fireof our passion flared in rhapsodyand remain once morein your love’s soulso that we may discoveran incarnate, as such, asMy Perfect Lover  

Friday's Celebratin' Time!

It’s Friday!!! That alone is reason to celebrate, and it seems like it’ll be an absolutely beautiful weekend here in the SF Bay Area.
But there are other reasons why I’m celebrating this week for VikLit’s Celebrate the Small Things.
* I’ve got a couple author interviews lined up for local newspapers (well, one is still in the works), and still have the live blog interview scheduled for July 29th.
* Camp last weekend with my church’s singles’ group was very fun. The rafting was an all day excursion and was a blast. If anyone needs some lessons on rowing, I’m available. :) A couple of folks in my boat fell out once, but luckily I didn’t. After 5 hours, we were ready to head back to camp. My tent opened up to the river, and in the morning I’d have prayer time looking out. Here are some pics of the camp in Knight's Ferry, CA.
Looking out my tent door.
Riverside Campground
Knight's Ferry, CA What a front yard!

Closeup of full moon at campsite
* I’ve slowly started working more on Anticipating Dawn, the sequel to Anticipation of the Penitent. After having those initial feelings of "this is not good enough", I think I’m getting back into the groove of writing and planning out the subplots. I’ve got a seemingly reliable CP for it, so I’ve really got to get crackin'.
* The print version of Salted With Fire is just beautiful. I wish I could get the format of the eBook exactly the same, but I think it’s quite decent looking as well. So happy!
* I've written my story for Write Club while at camp as planned. I have to say I love it and hope it wins at least a few battles. Can't give out any info on the story (the contest is blind), but wish me luck! The deadline is June 30th, so there's still time to sign up.
I’ll be visiting y'all as I can over the weekend. 

A Journal Dedication

This week's Journal Past Blast entry is very short. It was written during my second year in college, possibly during the fall of 1987. It was meant to be the dedication I’d write for my first book. Well, my first book didn’t have a dedication, and I had nearly forgotten about two of the people mentioned here. Funny how the memory works – or whether how someone or a time so important to you way back when has been forgotten.
Dedicated to Maggie, my sister, who’s the light in my life;To Barry, who’s the warmth in my heart;And to Dave, who had gathered my senses.
I do remember them now, and especially how Dave had given me some calming advice when I was feeling very down and embarrassed about something I did that I thought would not make a difference.
Until next week, when I’ll post something more personal that takes a little gearing up to share. 

Save-A-Word: I too can be in such a swivet + Write Club

It's Save-A-Word Saturday, the word and writing prompts lovers weekly blog hop.
Today's theme is: porch swings
My word today is: swivet: (noun) a state of nervous excitement, haste or anxiety; flutter

Here's my writing for this word: 

The way that child pumps that swing in such a swivet, makes me wonder about her to no end. She’ll be a scatter-brain her whole life if we can’t get her to calm down.
This weekly word lovers and prompt writers blog hop goes like this:

1. Create a lovely blog post that links back to The Feather and The Rose blog - our host.

2. Pick an old word you want to save from extinction to feature in your blog post. It really must be an old word, not just a big one. We are trying to save lovely archaisms, not ugly giants (for example, "Dihydrogen Monoxide" is not an acceptable choice). Luciferous Logolepsy is a great database of lovely words if you're having trouble coming up with something on your own.
3. Provide a definition of your word. Use your word in a sentence (or even a short paragraph) vaguely related to the theme we have chosen this week. You may also add visual or musical interpretations of your word or your sentence. In fact, add anything that moves your creative spirit.
4. Add your post to the linky list below (sometimes I add it later in the day). Then hop to as many other blogs as you can in search of as many wonderful words as possible!
5. Use as many of the words as you can on the people in your life. Do leave us a note or add something to your own post to let us all know what wonderful old word you whipped out to befuddle your friends and relations.


Now for another blogging thrill: Write Club

Fight Club was one of my favorite movies, so of course I had to look into what this Write Club from DL Hammons' Cruising Altitude 2.0 was all about. And then to hear that it's a flash fiction contest - no more than 500 words! Man, I've got to get my butt in gear and write something fast, because the submission deadline is June 30! If I don't get something written for this, I'll be hecka bummed.

But, it's not too late for you either. Click on the button or link above and join in.