Kacey Vanderkarr's Blog, page 10
June 30, 2013
SUCKER BLOG TOUR – DAY 1 – INTERVIEW WITH HANNAH GOODMAN
If you haven’t heard by now, I’m working for the fabulous Sucker Literary. My very first project? THIS BLOG TOUR!
Welcome to the very first Sucker Blog Tour – I’m so excited to bring you an interview with Founder/Editor Hannah Goodman. Let me tell you from working with this woman – she is a force to be reckoned with! She is taking the Young Adult Genre by storm and letting fledgling authors have their say in a very tight, and often unforgiving, market.
You started Sucker after searching the market and finding it lacking in YA. How is Sucker different from what’s out there?
Sucker Literary is the only literary anthology that focuses on YA short fiction ONLY. It is also the only literary anthology out there that includes images with stories. Sucker Literary is the only literary enterprise comprised of an all volunteer staff, including marketing and website design and development and has a staff who functions in multiple capacities including writing. From the quality of the writing and the publication to the way we function as a staff, there really isn’t anything out there like us
Ideally, where is Sucker five years from now?
An entity in the publishing world that is larger than just a publication.
Sucker has a mentor process for submissions. How does this work?
I field the submissions to our readers. Then our staff of 25 plus readers must fill out feedback sheets, which include whether or not a piece should be accepted, rejected, or mentored. Then they send those back to me, and I read EVERY SINGLE one. How long does that take? Depends on the 900 other things I have to do. But I always make time for Sucker!
I have a day job, my own writing, and a family with two kids under ten. SUCKER LITERARY is my labor of love, but in order for it to happen and to happen in the best way possible, each part of the process takes a lot of time : )
Decisions about accepting and mentoring come from initial recommendations (on the feedback sheets) from readers, but ultimately the piece must resonate with me. This part of the process also takes some time and cannot be rushed because I want to publish the VERY best work from emerging writers of short form YA fiction.
Once final decisions are made regarding pieces, notes and feedback sheets are given to the folks we have agreed to mentor or accept. And they, like all of us on staff, have lives filled with many other responsibilities. I do not like to rush their process of revising. So that part of the process can take more weeks or months. Revising can also take a round or two and so add a few more weeks or months onto that. Once revisions are completed, well, that’s a whole other timeline and blog entry!
The folks we agree to mentor are given 1-2 rounds of notes and revisions. Sometimes a piece doesn’t come together in these 1-2 rounds. Those folks sometimes are invited to resubmit with further revisions for the next reading period. But other times, it’s time to part ways. Rejecting those folks is very hard. Sometimes they do submit again, and they still haven’t gotten the piece where it needs to be. My least favorite thing to do is tell them no. . . again. But I provide reasons why and also encouragement to keep going because sometimes it’s just not a perfect fit and they can go elsewhere and find a home for the piece.
I’m a teacher by trade. Our writers, even those whose pieces we accept, go through revisions. The difference between a piece that’s accepted for publication and a piece that makes it to the mentoring round but not to publication has to do with foundation of the story. If a story has plot holes or under developed characters after 2 rounds of revisions, then it’s not ready to be published.
Sucker seems like a “brand name,” what kinds of stories fit the Sucker brand?
Edgy, sassy, humorous, intelligent, bold, colorful, thought provoking, engaging.
Perks of Being a Wallflower is a good example of contemporary fiction that we like. Feed by M.T. Anderson for the dystopian genre. Carolyn Mackler’s novels are the kinds of romances we like. But don’t think that’s all. I am pretty open to anything. Just take a look at our first two volumes.
As the editor, what is the most challenging part of publishing Sucker?
My day job! Translated: TIME
Publishing is a lot of “who you know,” who’s on Sucker’s Most Wanted list? (Who do you want to notice Sucker?)
Carolyn Mackler
John Green
Stephen Chbosky
Erica Lorraine Scheidt
Just to name a few.
What advice can you give rejected writers?
It’s cliché but true: don’t give up. Also, each rejection brings you a step closer to the right fit in terms of agent or publisher.
How does the upcoming Sucker Volume Three differ from Volume Two?
I’ll tell you when I finish making decisions about submissions. So far, it’s pushing the edge a little bit more than volume 2.
Open Door Day is coming up, what’s that all about?
24 hours of opening the “doors” to submissions for volume 3. No mentoring and no feedback. Send your very very best.
Running a literary magazine is hard work, what keeps you coming back for more?
Insanity. An electric impulse to create and make things grow.
Include anything else you want-
I love you, Kacey!!!!! And my entire staff and all supporters!!!!! (She really said that! I swear!)
Hannah Goodman is a YA author represented by Erzsi Deàk of Hen&ink Literary Studio. Her YA novels have won awards and garnered praise but her proudest endeavor is Sucker Literary. She owns The Write Touch, offering a variety of services for clients of all ages. Hannah is a member of SCBWI as well as a graduate of the Solstice MFA program at Pine Manor College. She resides in Bristol, RI with her husband, two daughters, and three cats: Lester, Maisey, and Judy. More about Hannah can be found on her website: hannahrgoodman.com
Now for Sucker Literary, Volume 2!
When Alex’s bandmates invite a girl to sing lead, a battle of the sexes becomes a battle over something unexpected. . . A girl tells her friend about hooking up with longtime crush Fred, but his kisses are not what makes that night in his car memorable. . . A therapy session with Doug might just make Jason go insane again. . . Wallflower Aubrey hooks up with Gordon after the cast party, which would be fine if he weren’t the most forbidden fruit of them all…Savannah certainly doesn’t sound like a convict’s name, so maybe hanging out with her isn’t all that dangerous. Miki is committed to getting over Dex, yet she can’t get him off her answering machine—or her doorstep. In between puffs of cigarettes and attempts to smear lipstick on her face, Allie’s grandmother dishes out advice that maybe Allie should take. . . And finally, what’s a girl to do with Satan as both her boss and father? Nine short stories pose the questions we obsess over whether we’re growing up or all grown up: Who should I love? Am I doing the right thing? Is there ever an end to heartbreak? In its second volume, SUCKER continues to showcase the very best emerging talent in young adult literature and give (some of) the answers to Life’s Big Questions along the way.
Sounds great, right? Because it IS!
Get Sucker in all these places:
Sucker Free Day is July 20th and 21st. Get a FREE digital copy of Sucker Literary Volume 2 on Amazon.
Sucker is looking for more short stories for Volume 3. Get the details for Open Door Day (August 1, 2013): HERE.
Don’t be a Sucker, follow our tour:
July 1st – Kacey Vanderkarr
Featuring Sucker founder:
Hannah Goodman
July 3rd – Stephanie Keyes
Featuring Sucker author:
Ann Karasinski
July 5th – Lisa Voisin
Featuring Sucker author: Paul Heinz
and an excerpt from Sucker
Literary Volume 2
July 7th – Vincent Morrone
July 8th – Book Reviews by Dee
Featuring an interview with Sucker author: Claudia Classon
July 9th – Write All the Words
Featuring Sucker author:
Josh Prokopy
July 10th – Living Fictitiously
Featuring an interview with Sucker author: Suzanne Kamata
and an excerpt and giveaway of Sucker Literary Volume 2
July 12th – Tanya’s Book Nook
Featuring an excerpt, giveaway, and review of Sucker Literary Volume 2
July 14 – Catrina Beeny
Featuring Sucker author:
Kelly Samuels and an excerpt from Sucker Literary Volume 2
July 15th – Three Book Reviewers
Featuring an excerpt from
Sucker Literary Volume 2
July 18th – Living a Fictional Reality
Featuring a review of Sucker
Literary Volume 2
July 20th – Brooke Blogs
Featuring a review of Sucker
Literary Volume 2
July 21st – Page Flipperz YA
July 24th – Cellar Door Books
Featuring Sucker author:
Aida Zilelian and a review of Sucker Literary Volume 2
July 26th – Martha Allard
Featuring Sucker author: Candi Fite
July 29th – We Do Write
Featuring an excerpt from
Sucker Literary Volume 2
July 30th – Justine Manzano
Featuring Sucker founder: Hannah Goodman and Sucker Social Media Director: Kacey Vanderkarr
July 31st – Kacey Vanderkarr
Featuring Sucker author:
Mima Tipper
Thank you Hannah and Sucker. It feels great to be a part of something so wonderful.
All the best,
Kacey
THINGS I HAVE LEARNED
The past year has been a tremendous time of growth for me as a writer. A little over a year ago I joined the Flint Area Writers, an amazing group of gals and guy (and occasionally guys) who have taught me SO MUCH. It’s taken my writing from “just okay,” to something that’s a bit more. While I’m not one to blabber on about my own stuff, I can tell a difference, not only in my writing, but also in my confidence. Sometimes now I actually feel like I might know what I’m talking about.
1. Show your work to a lot of different people.
Writers tend to be stagnant. Admit it, we’re set in our ways. When you work with lots of different people, you’re going to get LOTS of different opinions. My favorite thing when working with someone (either as a writer or critique partner) is when you get or give the response: Oh, I hadn’t thought of it. Interesting…
I write YA. This means I’m always in fantasy land because I’m an adult. I tend to overlook things like “laws” and “rules” that apply to normal life. My writing group is really good at pointing that out.
2. Let your work simmer.
I’m an anxious writer. If someone tells me to fix something, I fix it and then get all frantic to get it back to them for more feedback. Give yourself a few days, weeks, if you can manage it. Let the feedback settle, look at your work from a different angle, THEN rewrite. Then simmer again before you send it back.
You don’t want to regret your revision decisions. In the end, your story should resonate with YOU, which brings me to number 3.
3. You write for YOU.
It’s great to think, “Oh X person is going to love this because I totally considered everything they think when I wrote it.” Except, no. We write because we have to. And I don’t mean that in the it’s a job so I must do this kind of way. We write because it fulfills our lives in a way that nothing else does. Your writing should make you happy. You should feel proud of it. If you have edited something beyond pride and happiness, it’s no longer yours.
Claim ownership! Sometimes this means saying no, and that’s okay.
4. Know how to say no.
Have you ever heard the phrase Those that can’t do, teach? This is true of some editors, too. They can’t write their own work, so they want you to turn YOUR work into THEIR work. Don’t. Do. It.
This doesn’t mean that you need to say no to every editor as this isn’t always the case. But you need to think and consider what they’re telling you to do. If it changes WHY you wrote the story to begin with, they may not be the editor for you. Writing is your art, it’s subjective, but it should always be yours.
5. Have an open mind.
It’s hard to have your work critiqued, but my view on this has changed. I used to be scared to get responses, but now I LOVE IT. You should take any chance to improve and immerse yourself in it, especially from people who are better writers than you. The writing world is unique in this way, we love to help one another. Every critique may not be the correct one for you, but you should consider it. Welcome feedback. Beta with someone you don’t know who isn’t afraid to hurt your feelings.
6. Write the stuff that hurts/ that’s scary/ that takes you out of your comfort zone.
So many times I hear, I can’t write that! And I ask, why? Time and time again, the answer is, I’ve never done it before or I’m scared, or I don’t know how. Here is where I quote Warm Bodies:
“What wonderful thing didn’t start out scary?”
Writing can be TERRIFYING. We face fears, we slog through trauma and life experiences, but writing is meant to be FELT, not just read. If it doesn’t hurt sometimes, you’re not doing it right. Make a list of things outside your comfort zone. Pick one. Write.
Remember when I did this? THINGS I WANT TO WRITE ONE DAY.
And I’ve tackled some of those. Short stories? Check. Male lead? Check. Third person? Check. Make a list. Make it happen.
7. Don’t ever expect to be perfect. (Or think that you are.)
We learn from the moment we are born until the day we die. You will never be perfect and that’s okay. I suppose I could change the title of this to Be Humble.
1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
It’s okay to be proud of your work. It’s not okay to be conceited.
8. Help Others.
Teach what you know to everyone around you. Teach those that ask for help. Offer help to those that don’t. (REMEMBER: OFFER!) Unsolicited critique will be met with anger, almost ALWAYS. Offer help. Accept help in return.
Tomorrow starts the Sucker Literary Blog Tour. I hope all of you will come along for the ride!
All the best,
Kacey
June 17, 2013
VAMPIRES, OH MY!
Once again, I’m featuring my good friend RLL. Today, to complete Witches and Insanity, we have Vampires (oh my!)
FICTION FACTORY. Welcome to my mini-self-publishing imprint for short stories running around 30,000 words. These stories are not collected or bundled with other tales. If you buy WITCHES, you won’t suffer disappointment in later life by finding WITCHES reheated for a collection called TALES TO IMPRESS PALAEONTOLOGISTS. Be thankful for that small mercy.
VAMPIRES.
Crashing parties used to amuse Vance. He hurled himself into a world of no commitments. When the synthetic blonde offered more of the same, guided by brusque phone texts, he didn’t see the harm in another meaningless fling.
“Rule 1. If I text and you are busy, that’s fine. The rule runs in both directions. No pestering.”
He was okay with that.
“Rule 2. We never attend social functions. I don’t do weddings, though I will crash parties.”
Suited him, just fine.
“Rule 3. No gifts.”
Saved money.
“Five rules. Rule 4. If we see each other with strangers, no questions. No introductions to family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, serial killers…”
Vance had no problem with the fifth rule. He thought his problems began next day.
There, in red lipstick, she’d left a mirror message.
WIPE THIS OFF. STICK TO THE RULES. SEE YOURSELF OUT.
The bar? Reasonable. Didn’t try too hard to be trendy. He knew no one here – not on a Wednesday night. Vance watered at the venue on the odd weekend. Open the door on a world without strings. In.
Scene. The jet minx in front of him shook hailstones from her bobbed coiffure. Melting pellets bounced off his heavy coat. By contrast, she appeared to be wearing a black plastic bag for no protection from the night.
He eyed her tight black jeans. Painted on. Sheathed legs stopped at bare ankles and shiny stab-me black shoes. Hang about…
37,000 words, plus notes.
The Prologue:
This prologue is best-read while listening to Pretty in Pink, by the Psychedelic Furs.
VAMPIRES.
“What the fuck’s this?”
“That’s self-evident.”
“Oh yeh? Do me a favour, love. Next time you declare something self-bleeding-evident, make sure you know it’s self-bleeding-evident to me.”
“This is an invitation to a masked ball.”
“Very similar to a dropped ball. Sounds a bit hairy.”
“We have been cordially invited…”
“Invited as cordial.”
“To. A. Masked.”
“What?”
“You were being flippant.”
“I parked on yellow lines once. What a crime.”
“Don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. I was lying about parking.”
“Are you finished?”
“No.”
“Please do go on.”
“When’s this masked ball?”
“Are you still being flippant? You CAN read the time on the invitation.”
“I wasn’t being flippant a moment ago. Am being now, though.”
“FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF…”
“Don’t do the eff-thing. I hate that.”
“You swear all the time.”
“Not word after word, love. Fuck fuck fuck. I don’t do that. Apart from just then.”
“Neither do I. I use the word off as a stress-reliever. Are we going to this fucking party or not?”
“Were you invited?”
“YES. HERE’S. THE. INVITATION.”
“I’ll consider going.”
“You are going. I’m bored. Bored bored bored. Existence is boring. I want to party. You haven’t been to a party since…”
“The last time. What was the last party you were at? Oh, I remember. The Nazi Party.”
“Don’t judge. That was 1933. I look stylish in black boots and a peaked cap.”
“Seen Adolf lately?”
“He’s back with Eva.”
“Yawn. Heard it all before. Quiet night in with the Hitlers.”
“They are now the Goldstein family.”
“Learning Yiddish, is he? Blending in?”
“He’s clean-shaven. And he stopped wearing brown shirts. Hebrew. He’s learning Hebrew.”
“Yawn again. What do they get up to, of an evening?”
“Stuff. You know. Things.”
“Wall-to-wall history shows. He foams at the mouth every time someone mentions Churchill or Stalin. Come midnight, Eva blacks up and does her minstrel cabaret act. His heart’s not in the playbill.”
“She sings all the wrong songs. Won’t listen to advice.”
“Then it’s some half-arsed bloodsucking from the bags in the fridge. She spends her time on the world’s largest jazz cigarette.”
“That alleviates the tension.”
“He stays up until dawn writing letters to the party faithful and trying out new speeches in front of the laptop. Computer wallpaper? Freeze-frame shot of a rally. Massive crowd. Look closer and you’ll see it’s a photo of the London Marathon. All the colours of the rainbow represented, but someone’s cropped the rabbinical contingent from the happy event.”
“Bormann’s a Microsoft engineer. He dabbles in desktop publishing. Admin’s more his thing.”
“You can say that of a lot of Adolf’s friends. I thought Bormann was declared dead in 1973.”
“Marty still had friends in government then. Called in a Bundes-favour or two.”
“Night in with the Hitlers, eh. Timeline? Five minutes until cock-crow. Adolf suddenly remembers he’s a vampire and reluctantly returns to the bunker. Am I wrong?”
“Your sweep of the details is broad. Though that sweep is, lamentably, correct.”
“Are the Hitlers going? To this ball…”
“Don’t know. Should I call and ask? Oh, what if they haven’t been invited? Does it matter, either way?”
“Depends. Wouldn’t be the first party Hitler crashed. Does it matter to me, you mean?”
“You may imagine from my impending silence that I am mentally repeating FUCK OFF in a loud angry manner. Inside my head.”
“Well that saved a bother of repeating it outside your head, next mine. What was the question?”
“Which side were you on, back then?”
“When?”
“World War Two.”
“Was there a second one? Bloody hell.”
“Are you being flippant? Before you answer, you should know that I am being flippant in asking.”
“I can’t remember. Things were quiet at first. Then there was a load of bombing. I’d wander the war-torn streets at night, picking up tasty nibbles. Could have been anywhere.”
“Were the nibbles speaking German?”
“I didn’t give them time to speak, love. You don’t talk to the food.”
“That’s nonsense. I always do.”
“You are the chatty type.”
“So from 1939 through to 1945, you managed to survive in some war-torn landscape. Without ever having a conversation.”
“Don’t remember. What’s there to talk over? Someone bombed my house. You’ve had a rough day, mate. And the night’s about to get rougher. Fang you very much.”
“Crap. You were in London in 1941.”
“Maybe. It’s all a blur.”
“You still have that accent. Go by landmarks. Transport. Music of the time.”
“Nothing. Accent. Yeh. Where did you dig up that American accent, exactly?”
“Concentrate. Fashion. Slang. News items. THE LANGUAGE.”
“Oh.”
“Yes. Finally. The language. Goes with the accent, I’m guessing.”
“I remember wandering choice sewers. Built to last.”
“Victorian engineering.”
“Yeh. London, then. Going by the sewers. Had to be.”
“Well, I strolled in Berlin. For a time.”
“Where did you go, after?”
“I lived in Moscow. That must have been 1942. Mix-up. Commie phase.”
“Looked stylish waving a red flag, did we?”
“If we meet Hitler at this ball, and he starts waxing lyrical about his vampire superspy deep in Soviet territory…”
“Stroll on. Seriously?”
“The story may surface. Let’s ensure it surfaces as I’d prefer to tell the tale.”
“Are we going?”
“Yes.”
“Right. Dress inappropriately. Then you’ll match me.”
Here’s the link:
Neon Gods Brought Down by Swords. FREE TODAY AND TOMORROW.
Visit RLL in all the following locations:
@RLL_author.
Signpost blog, RLL AUTHOR.
Blog, REPORT FROM A FUGITIVE. (THOUGHTS ON PUBLISHING BY AN AUTHOR ON THE RUN.) See the HALLOWE’EN INAUGURATION page for a free story – The Chalice in the Snow. Also available – TWICE AROUND THE LIGHTHOUSE. A complete Doctor Who novel, released as fan fiction on my blog.
Author of…
Neon Gods Brought Down by Swords.
INCOMPLETE UNCOLLECTED SHORT WORKS.
And in the FICTION FACTORY line…
All the best,
Kacey
June 11, 2013
WITCHES AND INSANITY
Today I am presenting some works by my good friend RLL. You may remember him from such posts as: AN INTERESTING TURN OF EVENTS and MEGATRON BEARS GIFTS.
Want to stalk him? He’s Scottish, so that makes him totally STALKABLE. CLICK HERE to live out your every stalking desire.
And if you hurry, you can get one of his books FREE on Amazon today.
RLL and I struck up an unlikely friendship when he decided to bludgeon me with a baseball bat. Sounds harsh, I know, but the best of friendships come out of beatings. sometimes we all need to hear things we don’t like.
First, we have WITCHES.
FICTION FACTORY. Welcome to my mini-self-publishing imprint for short stories running around 30,000 words. These stories are not collected or bundled with other tales. If you buy WITCHES, you won’t suffer disappointment in later life by finding WITCHES reheated for a collection called TALES TO IMPRESS PALAEONTOLOGISTS. Be thankful for that small mercy.
WITCHES.
Selena Salem spins tales o’ witchcraft, and worse. Mystified strangers are invited to her kitchen table to hear uncanny stories. Fanning the blood-spattered cards, Selena casts her storytelling spell into the rainy Scottish night.
Tonight’s tale is one of war between greedy clans. The clan o’ the Hand hires the man in the scarlet cap to do the clan’s bidding. His task? Destroy the clan o’ the Eye and the clan o’ the Tongue. No easy feat for mortal man. A difficult job for a warlock.
Enter Rory: bandit-killer and lover of married women. The Laird o’ Tongue sends Rory to redress the balance of power by hiring witches. Rory stands on the brink of destruction at the cottage of Selena – prentice witch. Selena’s uncle may be too tired for the fight to come. All the while, the clan o’ the Eye keeps watch. Who will triumph, in this devilish tale of magic gone awry in the service of mortal men?
35,000 words, plus notes.
RLL is such a curmudgeon nice guy that he’s also included the prologue for your perusal.
The witch Selena Salem, named for the moon-goddess and a place in New England, leaned across the kitchen table with the bloodied Tarocchi rectangles fanned. She was always in a Hallowe’en frame of mind. The apostrophe in Hallowe’en has faded in some quarters. In Scotland the apostrophe must be fixed in the word. That is a point of law.
“Ach, are ye no’ in the muid fur a wee readin’…”
Her visitor wondered whether he might be in the mood for a reading. He looked over at the sink, glanced across at the microwave, and finally took in the blood-spattered cards thrust before him. Selena Salem was in the mood to offer a reading. Or something more.
“Nae fortunes tae be dished oot here, mind. Ah’ll read ye frae the past, eh. The past is aye mair interestin’ than the future. Wan informs the ither.”
“Is it the future informs the past, Selena?”
All she could do by way of reply was cackle. When in doubt, play to the cliché. She shuffled the deck without looking. Her brand of magic was locked deep in the cards, and she knew the order in which they were fated to fall.
Her phone beeped.
“Ach, that’s my new app. Witchfinder. Locates like-minded lunatics. A moment. Oh. Her. We’ll bring back the Witchcraft Act for her. Whaur were we? Hmm. Witchfinder. Aye. Here’s a tale o’ witches, then.”
Next we have INSANITY. (I think he won’t kill me if I say that I LOVE THIS BLURB.) Really. Read it. It’s amazing.
“Get out of hand, and we cut the air. Try to entangle your neck in the cord, and we cut the air. Attempt to smash the glass – impossibility – and we cut the air. Try to force the hatch open – impossibility – and we cut the air. You’ll be knocked out and removed for evaluation once in a little while. Try not to lie your way out of therapy. This is for your own good and the safety of others. If you vomit, we’ll flush you out and suck the debris away. So that’s no avenue for an escape-attempt. Thumbs are twitching. Slide her in, Burt. Don’t want her beating you up. That would be an embarrassment.”
Dark hair wafted in the underwater equivalent of a breeze. The current. Caused by? Machines keeping the water fresh, he supposed. She twirled and moved, sleeping, nearer the glass. Dark hair swept back from her face. He kept expecting her eyes to pop open, but those stayed shut.
“They begged her to stop digging. The aliens. Her shift-mates were murdering the baby aliens, and a whole species was at risk.”
“She ever show an interest in ecology before that?”
“No. The workforce doesn’t have to be dolphin-friendly up here.”
Left floating in the psych-tank, her life is over. Declared violently insane, she can do little but widen her eyes in response to her surroundings. She wants out. Escaping from the tank is the start of an impossible journey. Do it. Emerge from the tank.
All you need do then is escape from the asylum. Reach the train. Take that to the main hub. A journey of an hour. Transfer, undetected, to the train through the accommodation blocks. Head for the space shuttle landing area. Another train journey of an hour. Hang around for the monthly shuttle. Board.
Travel from moon to planet. Three days. Remain undetected in all that time.
Piece of cake. Except for that tricky part about killing Doctor Bell and everyone on Doctor Bell’s side.
46,000 words, plus notes.
Interested? Find RLL lurking in all the places listed below.
Signpost blog, RLL AUTHOR. Link – http://rllauthor.blogspot.com/
Blog, REPORT FROM A FUGITIVE. (THOUGHTS ON PUBLISHING BY AN AUTHOR ON THE RUN.) Link – http://rll-reportfromafugitive.blogspot.com See the HALLOWE’EN INAUGURATION page for a free story – The Chalice in the Snow.
@RLL_author.
Author of…
Neon Gods Brought Down by Swords. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neon-Gods-Brought-Swords-ebook/dp/B006L3NE94/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354528693&sr=1-1
INCOMPLETE UNCOLLECTED SHORT WORKS. http://www.amazon.co.uk/INCOMPLETE-UNCOLLECTED-SHORT-WORKS-ebook/dp/B0070TT30W/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354528693&sr=1-2
LYGHTNYNG STRYKES. http://www.amazon.co.uk/LYGHTNYNG-STRYKES-ebook/dp/B007H9VPRO/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354528693&sr=1-3
And in the FICTION FACTORY line…
THE MADONNA GAMBIT. http://www.amazon.co.uk/MADONNA-GAMBIT-FICTION-FACTORY-ebook/dp/B009Y6ZSM6/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354528693&sr=1-5
All for Amazon Kindle.
Also available…
TWICE AROUND THE LIGHTHOUSE. A complete Doctor Who novel, released as fan fiction on my blog. http://rll-reportfromafugitive.blogspot.co.uk/p/doctor-who-fan-fiction-twice-around.html
All the best,
Kacey
May 24, 2013
WHIRLWIND
Good morning everyone! I’m stuck at home with the plague, so I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on this amazing week. It’s truly been a rush and a ton of fun.
Monday was the cover reveal for Antithesis. There aren’t words for how exciting this is, to see my book with a cover, to know that in a couple months I’ll be able to hold it in my hands. Wow. WOW. People have been so nice, too. My friends on Facebook have been working overtime promoting Antithesis, and I love them for that. It’s great to have a support group and I really appreciate everything they’ve done for me.
On Tuesday, my short story, First Shift went live on the Inkspell website. This is a FREE READ, and it’s still up, so if you want to get it CLICK HERE.
First Shift is the catalyst for Antithesis, and the reason Liam finds himself in Gavyn’s bedroom over two years later. It was really interesting for me to write the before, sad, too. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Wednesday and Thursday flew by in a flurry of posts and tweets and updates. I really don’t mean to annoy people on Facebook, but if I connect with one new person for every post, then it’s worth it. Writing is a thankless job, and just because the book is written doesn’t mean I get a break. Advertising could make or break Antithesis, so I want to give it every opportunity to get out there. So share it. Read it. Love it or hate it, it doesn’t really matter. Just read.
I’ve also become heavily involved with SUCKER LITERARY, which is a Lit Anthology that features emerging young adult authors. I feel really strongly about Sucker. There just isn’t a place for emerging YA. It seems like it’s either make or break, and there’s such a flooded market, that it’s hard to find solid advice. Sucker is incredible in this way, because they mentor writers. If they feel they can help you grow as a writer, they will mentor your story, regardless of whether they accept it for the anthology. Hannah Goodman, the editor and founder of Sucker, has a great vision and I’m honored to be on board. Look for an upcoming blog tour featuring the second volume of Sucker Literary. You can find Sucker on Amazon HERE. And on Goodreads HERE.
Give it a try, I think you’ll be surprised by the combination of grit and heart that makes Sucker Literary a great read.
In the next few months, my writing group, The Flint Area Writers, will be accepting submissions for a faerie anthology. I’m REALLY excited about this. We have a fantastic set of writers to build the crux of the anthology, and we’ll be accepting general submissions from the public as well. So if you’re a writer, get writing your faerie stories! The submission period runs from August 1 – September 30, and we’d love to read your story.
There’s a lot of awesome things coming in the future and I’m so grateful to be involved in all of them. If you have the time, take a second to like my Facebook AUTHOR PAGE and add Antithesis on GOODREADS.
After all, I wouldn’t be here without the support of this great community and all the writers that have encouraged me along the way. Now – to actually do the important thing: WRITE!
All the best,
Kacey
May 20, 2013
FIRST SHIFT
FIRST SHIFT is a companion short story for Antithesis. Get it FREE on the INKSPELL PUBLISHING website. (Along with 14 other short stories. You can’t beat FREE!)
The morning Liam’s existence changed, he had a father, a girlfriend, and the universe at his disposal. By nightfall, all that remained was confusion, and a burning desire for revenge.
May 19, 2013
ANTITHESIS COVER REVEAL
I am so excited to reveal MY cover for ANTITHESIS. This has been a long, LONG journey, and it’s still not over, but I feel so blessed to be here at all. While I have your attention, I want to thank some people that were so instrumental in the creation of ANTITHESIS. Missy – though technically you don’t “exist” anymore, I still know who you are, and I am so grateful for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve been a friend, mentor, and sounding board, and we’ve had a whole lot of fun along the way. Amanda – my sister, for reading my crap when it was still crap, and for answering when I called to tell you my book was accepted. Thanks. RLL – for your ten page emails and your adorable audios. (I know you hate that I just said adorable, but your accent really is pretty cute.) Thanks for being a curmudgeon. The ladies from my writing group, The Flint Area Writers – thank you, thank you, thank you. I have come SO far since I met you, and you guys, above all else, have taken me from there to here, from just “okay” to sometimes “fantastic”. Mart and Kelly – for everything. The Sunday dinners, the impromptu writing sessions, for letting me complain. You guys rock. The awesome team at Inkspell – Thank you. Shilpa, Melissa, all the writers, you guys are amazing. Especially Melissa, for encouraging me to submit in the first place and holding my hand when I needed it. And Jon – my husband. You are a brave, strong man for putting up with me. It has to be tough living with a writer. I give you props and love and more love. Thanks for believing in me, especially those times when I don’t believe in myself.
Now for the reveal!
ANTITHESIS by Kacey Vanderkarr
Available July 21, 2013 from Inkspell Publishing
My name is Gavyn.
Liam doesn’t care that I only have one arm. He actually likes my red hair and freckles. I might forgive him for kidnapping me.
My name is Gavyn.
I lost my Liam. I’ve lost them all. And now it’s my job to make sure they don’t show up again.
My name is Gavyn.
I had a life with Liam, but he couldn’t give me what I need. Then I killed his father. I don’t expect he’ll forgive me for that.
My name is Gavyn.
About the author:
Kacey Vanderkarr is a young adult author. She dabbles in fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, complete with faeries, alternate realities, and the occasional plasma gun. She’s known to be annoyingly optimistic and listen to music at the highest decibel. When she’s not writing, she coaches winterguard and works as a sonographer. Kacey lives in Michigan, with her husband, son, crazy cats, and two bearded dragons.
Twitter: @kacimari
Blog: www.kaceyvanderkarr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kacey-Vanderkarr-Young-Adult-Author/128956043852072
May 15, 2013
INTERVIEW WITH LIAM JAMISON
The cover reveal of Antithesis is just 4 days away! I know I promised you the following interview on Monday, but I had an encounter with muscle relaxers that left me in a zombie state. Today, however, is another story! Following you will find an interview with Liam Jamison just before his fated meeting with Gavyn.
Also – I have a free short story featuring Liam that will be available on Tuesday, May 21st on the Inkspell website. CLICK HERE for the link and bookmark the page. There’s 14 other short stories by other fabulous authors as well. Did I mention that they’re FREE?
Here’s Liam:
What is your most prized possession? My boots. I travel a lot, and it’s hard to keep anything that’s really mine, but my boots go everywhere with me.
What do you do to relax? Relax? I haven’t done that in a long time. I guess I like to read, or I used to, when I still had books.
What qualities do you look for in a significant other? Honesty and courage. I want someone who will do the right things for right reasons, and not be afraid of that decision. Also, it helps if they’re hot.
What person living or dead do you admire? Nikola Tesla. He was one crazy dude, but unbelievably smart. Did you know he believed his eyes changed from brown to gray because he used his brain so much? Have you seen my blue eyes? Yep. Check ‘em out. He also had OCD, but at the time people just thought he was insane.
Imagine yourself as a five-year-old. What did you want more than anything? A chemistry set. I mean, I already worked in the lab with my dad, but I really wanted something I could take back to my room and blow shit up. Needless to say, I didn’t get one. Dad said I required a controlled environment. Whatever that means…
What is your greatest weakness? Curiosity. It killed the cat, after all.
In another life, what occupation would you have? Two words for you. Rock. Star. Have you seen my hair?
You have seventeen dollars and a full tank of gas. Where do you go? Easy. The planetarium.
What is your motto? There is always another option. You know, when the door is locked, try the window. Not that anyone locks their doors. It’s amazing how trustworthy people are.
You have one wish, what is it? I wish I could find my home. And I don’t mean where I came from, I mean where I belong. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have family, someone to eat dinner with, someone to wake up to. Unfortunately, this home is far away in the future. I have a few loose ends to tie up first.
Only 67 days until the release of Antithesis! It’s so close I can taste the hot pink frosting!
All the best,
Kacey
May 6, 2013
INTERVIEW WITH GAVYN PERSHING
In honor of the upcoming May 20th cover release of Antithesis (published by INKSPELL), I’m interviewing my main characters, Gavyn and Liam. This week we have Gavyn, heroine of Antithesis. We caught up with Gavyn just before she met Liam and was swept away by his charm and, uh, well-tailored pants.
What is your most treasured possession? My car. It’s ugly and has a Metallica sticker on the bumper (so NOT my sticker), but the car is mine and it’s not a stick shift. Thanks, Mom.
What is your most marked characteristic? Probably my soullessness. If you make it past that, then my one-armedness.
What is it that you most dislike? Being underestimated. I have one arm. That’s not a disability.
Where would you like to live? Somewhere warm and sunny where it never snows. I mean, who actually likes snow? It’s cold and wet and causes car accidents. Plus, me trying to shovel snow is a JOKE.
What is your favorite memory? Probably the day I met Lena. It was on the first day of kindergarten and we were on the playground. She pointed to my arm and said, “Where’d your arm go?” I shrugged and she shrugged. Then she said, “Watch me do this flip!” We’ve been inseparable ever since.
Which talent would you most like to have? Okay, so it’s not so much a talent as a necessity, but I’d really love to be able to put my hair into a ponytail. It’s kind of this obnoxious, frizzy disaster, and it’s impossible to tame one-handed.
What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty. People are people, we make mistakes, and not everyone is going to like everyone all the time. But my friends are amazing. No matter how many times I embarrass them in public, they keep coming back for more.
Who are your heroes in real life? My mom. She works her ass off (can I say ass on here?). When she’s not taking care of me, she’s a nurse. She works more than anyone I know and never complains about it. Ever.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Patience. I mean, seriously, there is no other virtue that’s so ridiculous. Good things come to those who wait? I call bullshit. Good things come to those who act, not wait around like idiots. It’s like all those princesses waiting for the prince to come save them. Pure idiocy, people. They need to take karate or something, beat their way out of the palaces, and make a name for themselves.
How would you like to die? How would I like to die? Is this a trick question? Nobody wants to die. I guess if I got to choose, it’d have to be for something worthwhile, like saving the world.
What is your motto? Get rich or die trying. Haha, just kidding. Probably make the most out of every day and never give up.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Gah. Seriously.
On what occasions do you lie? I’m pretty much an open book, unless you ask about my stump. I might be a bit more cavalier about it than I actually am. I mean, I’m missing an arm, nobody’s going to see that as an advantage, no matter how many times I try to convince you it’s awesome.
Where are you on Saturday nights? With Lena and Drake, watching them play Call of Duty. Sometimes they try to make me play, but I can’t control the joystick, so I just stand around and they use me as a human shield, so I get shot a lot.
What do you find sexy? Intelligence. Bad boys. Guys who wear clothes that actually fit. It’s a unique, hard to come by combination.
Do you have a boyfriend? Ha! You’re kidding, right?
Describe yourself in three words. Ohh. This is a hard one. Let me think. Energetic. Compassionate. Hopeful.
Where do you see yourself in five years? College, definitely. I really want to be a child psychologist. There are so many kids out there that have been tormented by their parents and peers. I’d like to help them.
What is your favorite movie? Titanic. I can’t help it. I’m a sucker for a tragic love story and Leonardo DiCaprio is HOT.
Look for the interview with Liam next Monday! Do you have more questions for Gavyn? Leave them below and she’ll try to answer them.
Want more info on Antithesis? CLICK HERE!
Antithesis will be available from Inkspell Publishing, July 21, 2013.
All the best,
Kacey
April 26, 2013
COVER REVEAL COMING SOON!
All has been quiet on the home front for a while, and I apologize for that, but the radio silence ends today! I have exciting news to share with you and a call to arms, if you will.
*Drum roll*
The cover for my debut novel, Antithesis, will be revealed May 20th. I’m looking for bloggers to share this special day with me. If you are interested in helping out, please email me kacimari27 {at} gmail {dot} com. The more the merrier and I’m all about returning favors.
This has been a LONG time coming, but honestly, I can’t believe the big day will be here soon. July 21st is fast approaching and soon I will have Antithesis in my hot little hands, and more importantly, my readers will too!
A release party is in the works for July 27, and I’ll be sure to upload lots of photos from the event. Sometimes I have to pinch myself—is this really my life?
Stay tuned for more exciting news!
All the best,
Kacey
