Kyle Pratt's Blog: Musings & Rantings, page 8
July 31, 2018
A Winning Novel
I don’t like contests or competitions.
From spelling bees, science fairs, and athletic events in school, I entered only when required and usually lost.
Two years ago, an author friend of mine, Lisa Brunette, won the Book Readers Appreciation Group medallion for her book, Framed and Burning. She had won earlier for Cat in the Flock and, as we talked about her writing, she encouraged me to enter the competition. .
Because of my aversion to such events, I kept putting it off. However, I knew when I finished writing my most recent novel, Through the Storm, that I had a winner.
In the novel, Neal Evans is in Nevada when he hears that an immense coronal mass ejection will soon slam into the Earth’s magnetosphere. Will it cause only beautiful auroras to dance across the night sky or will it throw technology back a hundred years? Politicians and scientists are still debating when Neal decides to act. As night falls, he has ten hours to drive home before the first CME strikes.
His son, Drake, is a happy high school freshman. Conner, his older brother, has gone hunting, instead of watching over him while their father is away at the conference. So now it’s party time!
The Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion
As the world sinks into darkness, Neal and Conner must confront a dangerous new world on their long journeys home. Drake, alone on the farm, must become a man even before he figures out his teen years.
Through the Storm was released in September of 2017 and finally in March of this year I entered the competition.
Earlier this week I received a email from Geraldine Clouston, the president of IndieBRAG LLC, stating that my novel Through the Storm had been selected to receive a B.R.A.G. Medallion. Yesterday, I received the formal notification.
I can’t say that I enjoy contests, but I’m glad I entered this one.
Click on the following links to read my author bio, or to read more about this and other writing projects.
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July 23, 2018
Funtime Festival
Stefanie Bridges-Mikota with Kyle Pratt at the Napavine Funtime Festival
I live outside of the small town of Napavine. For the last forty-plus years, they have had a Funtime Festival. Usually, I just see a small part of it and go on with my day, but this year my friend and fellow author Stefanie Bridges-Mikota suggested that we have a booth together with some fun activities for the kids and displays of all our books. I thought it was a great idea. We set up near the Ace Hardware Store and across from the car show. If you live near here you’ll know exactly where we were.
The sky was blue and the sun shined the entire day. I’m glad Stefanie had the canopy for us to sit under. From that shady spot, I was able to watch the parade talk with old friends and new ones and sell some books. Stefanie seems to know everyone in town. She also made the sign I’m holding.
Thanks, Stefanie, for the great idea and all the work you put into it!
Click on the following links to read my author bio, life in Lewis County or more about my life on the farm.
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July 22, 2018
You know you live in the country when …
That title could be the start of a joke, but in this case, it isn't. I live near Napavine, in Washington state. The town was incorporated over a century ago and is growing, but still has less than 2,000 people. I guess you could say that it isn’t growing quickly.
On Hamilton Road and turning onto Hamilton Road
Folks tend to start directions by saying, “Go to the stoplight and ….” There are actually two stoplights in town, but the other one just blinks red or yellow at you.
I know my way around and so don’t usually bother to read street signs; however, the other day one caught my attention. I’ve driven through that intersection countless times, but as I gazed at the sign, I had to laugh. Then I turned off my car, got out and walked into the middle of the road and took the picture you see here.
Some might think such things are all a joke, but to me, it’s just part of living in the country.
Click on the following links to read my author bio, or read more about my life on the farm.
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July 20, 2018
The Deer and Other Animals
The deer spend less time in our backyard now.
Sometimes during the winter, when snow covered every bit of pasture, there would be five or six deer waiting near our backdoor in the morning. My wife would talk to them like friends as she tossed out apples for them to eat. That happens less often during the summer, but they still know that this is a safe and welcome place to come. They often spend the night in the forest just beyond our yard.
My son, James, throws apples to deer in our backyard
Over the years we have seen a wide variety of birds that return to the area every summer. These include eagles, hawks, doves and, pigeons. Just like in California, we have swallows that return each year.
Rabbits and squirrels don’t hibernate during the winter, but they do hunker down in their homes, try to stay warm, and sleep more. So, we don’t often see them in the winter. However, this time of year they are out in abundance. We have to keep the barn doors closed or they would both be inside eating the chicken food.
Living in the country can be hard work, but I wouldn’t want to live in a city or even a suburb ever again.
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Click on the following links to read my author bio, or read more about my life on the farm.
July 13, 2018
Pondering the Nativity
The writing of What Will You Do
Most of us are familiar with the birth of Jesus from the biblical account. In Luke, we read that on that first Christmas an angel appeared to shepherds and tells them that the Messiah has been born in Bethlehem. They run to the village and see the baby Jesus.
While that account is beautiful, in both its telling and meaning, I’ve felt for a long time that it’s merely the surface layer of a much deeper story. Why did the angel tell the shepherds? Did Satan know about the birth? Did he try to stop the shepherds or even kill the baby Jesus?
Perhaps I will receive answers to those questions when I stand before God, but probably not while we’re here on Earth. Still, I wonder and, since I'm a writer, I took pen in hand and using the talents God gave me created an answer.
My story, What Will You Do, will appear in the Christmas in Time anthology coming out this October. Between then and now you can read more about the both right here. I hope you enjoy my contribution to the anthology along with the other six stories.
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Click on the following links to read my author bio, or to read more about this and other writing projects.
June 11, 2018
Facebook & Me
Most of the time I’m not fond of Facebook
A social media presence is all but required for authors today and because most people are on Facebook, that platform can be very useful. Facebook can also be very irritating—like throw-something-at-the monitor-and-make-them-go-away, exasperating.
Yesterday I decided to change the name of my author page to, The Facebook Home of Author Kyle Pratt. But Facebook has a rule that you can’t use Facebook in the name. Why? It is my Facebook author home.
But I’ve learned I won’t win arguments like that with Facebook, so I removed there name from the title and they approved the change in seconds. Then I noticed something surprising. The name of my page now reads, The Home of Author Kyle Prat. (One “T,” not the two that are everywhere else on the page!)
Now, Facebook tells me that I can’t change it for seven days.
Today, I really dislike Facebook.
Click on the following links to read my author bio, or read more about current writing projects.
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June 9, 2018
Merry Christmas
I’m working on a Christmas story.
Where I live, in the northern hemisphere, we’re less than two weeks from the official start of summer, but I’m trying to write about Christmas.
Lately, it has been really nice outside, warm but not hot. The swallows and hummingbirds have returned and the rabbits and squirrels are very active. Many of the flowers are in full bloom. Out in the orchard, the flowers on the fruit trees have gone, but now you can see the apples, pears, and plums growing on the limbs.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting in this office trying to write a Christmas story.
My story is part of an anthology with seven other writers. The anthology is titled, Christmas in Time and my story is called, What will you do? Each story is set during a different time period. My story looks at the first Christmas through the eyes of Tovi, a shepherd out in the field on the night of Christ’s birth. Tovi believes in God, but life has beaten him down. So early on that very special day, he prays that God will help him understand why things have happened.
I’ll finish the story this by the end of the month, earlier if the weather turns cool.
Click on the following links to read my author bio, or to read more about this and other writing projects.
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April 28, 2018
My Second Readers’ Favorite
Another reason for excitement!
In Five Stars of Excitement, a blogpost from earlier this month, I announced that Through the Storm had received a 5-Star review from the Readers’ Favorite organization. Shortly after submitting Through the Storm for review I also sent in Seekers of Earth. I am proud to announce that Seekers of Earth has now also received a 5-Star rating from Readers’ Favorite.
In her review, Sefina Hawke said that Seekers of Earth, the first book in the Guardian Knights of Terra series is “a young adult science fiction novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience of teens and tweens who enjoy books that take place away from Earth with aliens and alien cultures. A well-written story that left me interested in reading the rest of the series. I particularly liked the way that the author did not waste time ... catapulted me straight into the heart of things ... I greatly enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and uncover more about what is truly going on.”
Readers Favorite is the fastest growing book review and contest organization online. It’s used by publishers such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and the organization has received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors.
If you’ve read Seekers of Earth and haven’t reviewed it, please do. In many ways, average reader reviews are more important than professional reviews and good reviews really do help sales.
If you have left a review for Seekers of Earth—Thank you!
Click on the following links to read my author bio, or read more about current writing projects.
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April 22, 2018
I Need Your Help
I’m working on the last two chapters of a sidequel to Through the Storm—but I need your help with the title. If you’re willing to assist me you could win a signed first edition copy of this, as yet unnamed, story.
What do you need to do?
You don’t have to have read Through the Storm, but that would be helpful. You can look at the Amazon page for that book by clicking on the title. Then click on this special contest page link.
There you can read the back cover description of the upcoming novel along with the first two chapters and take the three question survey. That should take less than a minute to complete.
If you leave your name and email address you’ll have a chance at winning a signed copy of the novel when it is released.
Good Luck!
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Click on the following links to read my author bio, or read more about contests and giveaways.
April 14, 2018
Largest Ever Book Giveaway
Searching for your next Sci-Fi or Fantasy novel?
Look no farther! Each month I work to bring my readers exciting book discounts and giveaways. This month I’m announcing the largest single book giveaway I’ve ever held and it all starts today.
Click to see all the ebooks that are available!
For this ebook giveaway, more than seventy-five (75) authors have joined together including, Don Viecelli, Dani Hoots, Niel Bushnell, Sara Fields, Nicole MacDonald. All of these ebooks from both bestselling & new indie authors, including my own novella, Seekers of Earth, are available right now for FREE download!
However, this is a limited time offer, so click on the image or here to check them out now!
Click on the following links to read my author bio, or read more about contests and giveaways.
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