Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 21
September 26, 2016
Why Glamour Jobs Don’t Pay the Bills
When I was a kid, I wanted to be an actress or singer. Someone famous. Actually, I really wanted to grow up and become exactly what this woman was in the late 70s/early 80s:
I didn't really "get" that acting and singing required, you know, talent. Ironically, I learned I had neither of those talents when I auditioned for my first musical in high school: Grease. I landed a role as one of the people who stand in the background and sing.
Throughout high school, I learned I was my drama teacher's choice for human background scenery. That's okay...unless you're a megastar, actors and singers make very little money.
In college, I chose broadcast journalism as my major. I started out working at the radio station. One night while working at my part-time job at the movie theater, the morning DJ I'd been listening to for most of my adolescence was there for an event.
I told him what my major was. His advice. "Major in something else. Radio DJs don't make any money."
I don't think I quite grasped what he was saying. I switched to TV journalism. I even did an internship. I spent countless hours at my college TV station. Senior year, I started investigating the average starting salary for a TV reporter.
Back then it was $12,000-$15,000...and you had to move to a "small market." My classmates graduated and moved across the country. Today starting salaries are in the mid-20s, with the overall average for TV reporters of all experience levels in the high $30,000s.
After college, I accepted a job in PR. For six years I did that job, topping out at $23,000...in 1999. Then I was offered a huge pay raise to go into I.T. HUGE.
I tried to leave, since taking computers apart was not my thing. I learned to do that, I'd have to take a ten percent pay cut. I stayed...and stayed...and stayed. Techie jobs paid better than anything else where I worked. When I started writing freelance, I learned something else. If you can write about tech and finance, you can make more money than writing about most other topics.
Supply vs. demand. If you can get someone to take a TV reporter's job for $23,000 a year in Nowheresville, Iowa, why pay $30,000? Or $40,000? People are lining up to stand in front of a camera in a corn field somewhere for little to no pay, after all.
Plus, if you ask a classroom full of kids what they want to be when they grow up, how many say, "I want to be a software developer" or "I want to manage a company's network security infrastructure?"
I'm guessing none.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn't really "get" that acting and singing required, you know, talent. Ironically, I learned I had neither of those talents when I auditioned for my first musical in high school: Grease. I landed a role as one of the people who stand in the background and sing.
Throughout high school, I learned I was my drama teacher's choice for human background scenery. That's okay...unless you're a megastar, actors and singers make very little money.
In college, I chose broadcast journalism as my major. I started out working at the radio station. One night while working at my part-time job at the movie theater, the morning DJ I'd been listening to for most of my adolescence was there for an event.
I told him what my major was. His advice. "Major in something else. Radio DJs don't make any money."
I don't think I quite grasped what he was saying. I switched to TV journalism. I even did an internship. I spent countless hours at my college TV station. Senior year, I started investigating the average starting salary for a TV reporter.
Back then it was $12,000-$15,000...and you had to move to a "small market." My classmates graduated and moved across the country. Today starting salaries are in the mid-20s, with the overall average for TV reporters of all experience levels in the high $30,000s.
After college, I accepted a job in PR. For six years I did that job, topping out at $23,000...in 1999. Then I was offered a huge pay raise to go into I.T. HUGE.
I tried to leave, since taking computers apart was not my thing. I learned to do that, I'd have to take a ten percent pay cut. I stayed...and stayed...and stayed. Techie jobs paid better than anything else where I worked. When I started writing freelance, I learned something else. If you can write about tech and finance, you can make more money than writing about most other topics.
Supply vs. demand. If you can get someone to take a TV reporter's job for $23,000 a year in Nowheresville, Iowa, why pay $30,000? Or $40,000? People are lining up to stand in front of a camera in a corn field somewhere for little to no pay, after all.
Plus, if you ask a classroom full of kids what they want to be when they grow up, how many say, "I want to be a software developer" or "I want to manage a company's network security infrastructure?"
I'm guessing none.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
September 20, 2016
All About Sundials: Guest Post by Sandra Cox
Every time I get to help Sandra Cox with a book release, I get excited. It means I have another fun book of hers to read!!! Her books always fall directly in my area of interest. From the first line of her blurb, I knew I'd love Sundial. Today, Sandra Cox is guest posting here...be sure to scroll down after her post to read all about her latest release! Get it quickly--it's on sale for $.99 from September 19-25!!!
----------------------------------------------------------
All About Sundials
by Sandra Cox
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Stephanie. It’s always fun visiting with you and your followers.
Today, I’d like to chat about sundials.
What exactly is a sundial?
To quote Merriam Webster a sundial is: ‘a device that is used to show the time of day by the position of the sun and that consists of a plate with markings like a clock and an object with a straight edge that casts a shadow onto the plate.’
At one point in our history, even though decorative, sundials were the only way to measure time. These days they make lovely garden accessories. I have one, though unfortunately it’s a replica, not the real deal.
When people think of reading a sundial, they think in terms of hours, what time of day it is. In Sundial this instrument doesn’t measure in hours but infinite time.
When Sarah Miles, the protagonist, finds an ancient sundial in a fortune teller’s garden and reaches out to examine it, her world falls off its axis.
So be warned. The next time you see a sundial in a garden, think twice before touching it.
Blurb:
As Sarah Miles drives down Eighteenth Street a stranger materializes in front of her car. She throws on her brakes, braces for impact and...drives straight through him. For a brief moment, his voice echoes in her head, "Saura." Then he's gone. Later that day, she discovers the SUNDIAL and her incredible journey through time begins.
Excerpt:
“Let go, dammit.”
She let go and fell, landing on her rump in the soggy marsh grass.
He looked down at her as he gathered his reins. “Next time, throw your leg all the way over and don’t kick the poor beast to death. I wish I could say it’s been a pleasure. What I can say, with certainty, is it’s been damn peculiar.” He tightened his knees. The stallion reared, making her scoot backwards on her bottom.
He gave her an elegant half-bow. “Ma’am.”
Heat flashed behind her eyes. “You always were an arrogant bastard.” Nerves pricked her skin. How would I know that?
“And you were always an imp of Satan,” he shot back. The words were no sooner out than a look of bewilderment settled over his handsome features.
For one frozen moment his gaze met hers. Time fell away. Recognition leaped between them.
Her heart jumped and her breath quickened.
He made a violent motion with his hand, rejection stamped on his face. He wheeled his horse and raced away.
Bio:
Sandra writes YA Fantasy, Romance, and Metaphysical Nonfiction. She lives in sunny North Carolina with her husband, a brood of critters and an occasional foster cat. The last animal member of the family, a kitten, came hurtling out of the woods in southern Illinois to land at her feet. He made the trek back to North Carolina and wasted no time settling into the household.
Although shopping is high on the list, her greatest pleasure is sitting on her porch, listening to the birds, sipping coffee or a latte and enjoying a good book. She's a vegetarian and a Muay Thai enthusiast.
Links:
Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads
----------------------------------------------------------
All About Sundials
by Sandra Cox
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Stephanie. It’s always fun visiting with you and your followers.
Today, I’d like to chat about sundials.
What exactly is a sundial?
To quote Merriam Webster a sundial is: ‘a device that is used to show the time of day by the position of the sun and that consists of a plate with markings like a clock and an object with a straight edge that casts a shadow onto the plate.’
At one point in our history, even though decorative, sundials were the only way to measure time. These days they make lovely garden accessories. I have one, though unfortunately it’s a replica, not the real deal.
When people think of reading a sundial, they think in terms of hours, what time of day it is. In Sundial this instrument doesn’t measure in hours but infinite time.
When Sarah Miles, the protagonist, finds an ancient sundial in a fortune teller’s garden and reaches out to examine it, her world falls off its axis.
So be warned. The next time you see a sundial in a garden, think twice before touching it.
Blurb:
As Sarah Miles drives down Eighteenth Street a stranger materializes in front of her car. She throws on her brakes, braces for impact and...drives straight through him. For a brief moment, his voice echoes in her head, "Saura." Then he's gone. Later that day, she discovers the SUNDIAL and her incredible journey through time begins.
Excerpt:
“Let go, dammit.”
She let go and fell, landing on her rump in the soggy marsh grass.
He looked down at her as he gathered his reins. “Next time, throw your leg all the way over and don’t kick the poor beast to death. I wish I could say it’s been a pleasure. What I can say, with certainty, is it’s been damn peculiar.” He tightened his knees. The stallion reared, making her scoot backwards on her bottom.
He gave her an elegant half-bow. “Ma’am.”
Heat flashed behind her eyes. “You always were an arrogant bastard.” Nerves pricked her skin. How would I know that?
“And you were always an imp of Satan,” he shot back. The words were no sooner out than a look of bewilderment settled over his handsome features.
For one frozen moment his gaze met hers. Time fell away. Recognition leaped between them.
Her heart jumped and her breath quickened.
He made a violent motion with his hand, rejection stamped on his face. He wheeled his horse and raced away.
Bio:
Sandra writes YA Fantasy, Romance, and Metaphysical Nonfiction. She lives in sunny North Carolina with her husband, a brood of critters and an occasional foster cat. The last animal member of the family, a kitten, came hurtling out of the woods in southern Illinois to land at her feet. He made the trek back to North Carolina and wasted no time settling into the household.Although shopping is high on the list, her greatest pleasure is sitting on her porch, listening to the birds, sipping coffee or a latte and enjoying a good book. She's a vegetarian and a Muay Thai enthusiast.
Links:
Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads
September 19, 2016
Introducing Truth or Dare by Barbara Dee
Today is my:
I'm celebrating by participating in a super-exciting blog tour for an author I truly admire. Barbara Dee was writing for Aladdin M!x when I wrote my first book for them--I remember reading her books every day before going to my day job and hoping someday I could have as many books out as she does. And now, we share a publisher!
I just finished reading her latest book, Truth or Dare, and you'll get my review later this month--but now it's time to tell you about it so you can order it!
Blurb:
A few white lies during a simple game of truth or dare spin out of control and make life very complicated for Lia in this brand-new novel from Barbara Dee.
When Lia returns after a summer with her eccentric aunt, it feels like everything has changed within her group of five friends. Everyone just seems more…dramatic. And after playing a game of Truth or Dare, Lia discovers how those divides are growing wider, and tells a few white lies about what really happened over the summer in order to “keep up.” But is “keeping up” with her BFFs really worth it?
Praise:
"Dee has a keen ear for middle school worries. Her characters talk and act like young adolescents…This is a good book to give to middle schoolers, especially young women on the verge of puberty. They will recognize themselves and their friends and may decide that when it comes to forging friendships, honesty works better than fanciful tales."—School Library Journal
"Although the characters are archetypal, they’re well enough rounded to add excruciating reality and believably illustrate one of the many forms of bullying. Lia’s problems ring fully true, and her eventually learned life lessons are timeless. Entertaining bibliotherapy but also a useful road map to resolution of the age-old problem of severe cattiness."—Kirkus
"Dee captures the anxious intensity of a middle school friend group with crystal clarity and warm sympathy…The book offers plenty of understanding, with some extra wisdom for girls worried about facing the harbingers of adolescence."—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Bio:
Barbara Dee is the author of The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys, Trauma Queen, This Is Me From Now On, Solving Zoe (Bank Street Best Children’s Books), and Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Her next book, Star-Crossed, will be published by Aladdin/S&S Spring 2017. Barbara is one of the founders and directors of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her family, two naughty cats, and a rescue hound dog named Ripley. Barbara blogs at FromtheMixedUpFiles.com. Read more about Barbara at BarbaraDeeBooks.com.
Links:Website| Amazon| Twitter | Goodreads
I'm celebrating by participating in a super-exciting blog tour for an author I truly admire. Barbara Dee was writing for Aladdin M!x when I wrote my first book for them--I remember reading her books every day before going to my day job and hoping someday I could have as many books out as she does. And now, we share a publisher!
I just finished reading her latest book, Truth or Dare, and you'll get my review later this month--but now it's time to tell you about it so you can order it!
Blurb:
A few white lies during a simple game of truth or dare spin out of control and make life very complicated for Lia in this brand-new novel from Barbara Dee.
When Lia returns after a summer with her eccentric aunt, it feels like everything has changed within her group of five friends. Everyone just seems more…dramatic. And after playing a game of Truth or Dare, Lia discovers how those divides are growing wider, and tells a few white lies about what really happened over the summer in order to “keep up.” But is “keeping up” with her BFFs really worth it?
Praise:
"Dee has a keen ear for middle school worries. Her characters talk and act like young adolescents…This is a good book to give to middle schoolers, especially young women on the verge of puberty. They will recognize themselves and their friends and may decide that when it comes to forging friendships, honesty works better than fanciful tales."—School Library Journal
"Although the characters are archetypal, they’re well enough rounded to add excruciating reality and believably illustrate one of the many forms of bullying. Lia’s problems ring fully true, and her eventually learned life lessons are timeless. Entertaining bibliotherapy but also a useful road map to resolution of the age-old problem of severe cattiness."—Kirkus
"Dee captures the anxious intensity of a middle school friend group with crystal clarity and warm sympathy…The book offers plenty of understanding, with some extra wisdom for girls worried about facing the harbingers of adolescence."—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Bio:
Barbara Dee is the author of The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys, Trauma Queen, This Is Me From Now On, Solving Zoe (Bank Street Best Children’s Books), and Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Her next book, Star-Crossed, will be published by Aladdin/S&S Spring 2017. Barbara is one of the founders and directors of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her family, two naughty cats, and a rescue hound dog named Ripley. Barbara blogs at FromtheMixedUpFiles.com. Read more about Barbara at BarbaraDeeBooks.com.Links:Website| Amazon| Twitter | Goodreads
September 16, 2016
A Big Thank You
From early August to early September, my friends joined together to help me celebrate the release of my new Piper Morgan series. They hosted my blog, tweeted about it, and added their own special touch to each guest post.
They may not remember it, but by helping me, they were all entered into my giveaway. One lucky helper gets free autographed books. I entered them into a random name picker and PATRICIA LYNNE is the winner!
I also held a Rafflecopter throughout the giveaway that had more than 800 entries. Which is mucho exciting!!! Here are the Rafflecopter winners.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Of course, as always, I'm the true winner because now I have a list of great bloggers whose books I get to read and tell you all about over the coming months. I can't wait.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of my great helpers, listed in alphabetical order by blog name/first name below! Please visit all their blogs--especially if you're an author looking for a supportive community of friends!
Alex Cavanaugh
Beth Ellyn Summer
Beverly Stowe McClure
Cathrina Constantine
Denise
Elizabeth Seckman
Jacqui Murray
Jamie Ghione
Karen Walker
Kelly Hashway
Leandra Wallace
Liz A.
Lori MacLaughlin
March of Time Books
Mason Canyon
Medeia Sharif
Meradeth Houston
Military Wife and Pug Life
Murees Dupé
Patricia Lynne
Pensive Pens
Quanie Miller
Ro
Sandra Cox
Susan Brody
Tamara Narayan
Valerie Capps
Yvonne Ventresca
They may not remember it, but by helping me, they were all entered into my giveaway. One lucky helper gets free autographed books. I entered them into a random name picker and PATRICIA LYNNE is the winner!
I also held a Rafflecopter throughout the giveaway that had more than 800 entries. Which is mucho exciting!!! Here are the Rafflecopter winners.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Of course, as always, I'm the true winner because now I have a list of great bloggers whose books I get to read and tell you all about over the coming months. I can't wait.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of my great helpers, listed in alphabetical order by blog name/first name below! Please visit all their blogs--especially if you're an author looking for a supportive community of friends!
Alex Cavanaugh
Beth Ellyn Summer
Beverly Stowe McClure
Cathrina Constantine
Denise
Elizabeth Seckman
Jacqui Murray
Jamie Ghione
Karen Walker
Kelly Hashway
Leandra Wallace
Liz A.
Lori MacLaughlin
March of Time Books
Mason Canyon
Medeia Sharif
Meradeth Houston
Military Wife and Pug Life
Murees Dupé
Patricia Lynne
Pensive Pens
Quanie Miller
Ro
Sandra Cox
Susan Brody
Tamara Narayan
Valerie Capps
Yvonne Ventresca
September 14, 2016
Introducing After Loving You by Ashelyn Drake
One of my favorite bloggers has a book coming out. On October 3, After Loving You debuts. Kelly Hashway, writing as Ashelyn Drake, is the author, so you know it'll be a good one.
Ready to see the cover? Here it is! Scroll down to read more about the book.
Blurb:
When Mia Thompson and Jared Grande break up before college, they think that's the end for them.
But two years later, Mia is stalking Jared's Facebook page and he's contacting her every chance he gets. Even though they're both seeing other people, they can't seem to say good-bye to the past they shared.
One way or another, they'll have to figure out how to love again. Is it time to get back together or time to move on?
Bio:
Kelly Hashway fully admits to being one of the most accident-prone people on the planet, but that didn’t stop her from jumping out of an airplane at ten thousand feet one Halloween. Maybe it was growing up reading R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books that instilled a love of all things scary and a desire to live in a world filled with supernatural creatures, but she spends her days writing speculative fiction. Kelly’s also a sucker for first love, which is why she writes romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she’s not writing, Kelly works as an editor, and also as Mom, which she believes is a job title that deserves to be capitalized.
Links:
Website| Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads
Ready to see the cover? Here it is! Scroll down to read more about the book.
Blurb:
When Mia Thompson and Jared Grande break up before college, they think that's the end for them.
But two years later, Mia is stalking Jared's Facebook page and he's contacting her every chance he gets. Even though they're both seeing other people, they can't seem to say good-bye to the past they shared.
One way or another, they'll have to figure out how to love again. Is it time to get back together or time to move on?
Bio:
Kelly Hashway fully admits to being one of the most accident-prone people on the planet, but that didn’t stop her from jumping out of an airplane at ten thousand feet one Halloween. Maybe it was growing up reading R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books that instilled a love of all things scary and a desire to live in a world filled with supernatural creatures, but she spends her days writing speculative fiction. Kelly’s also a sucker for first love, which is why she writes romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she’s not writing, Kelly works as an editor, and also as Mom, which she believes is a job title that deserves to be capitalized.Links:
Website| Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads
September 12, 2016
Best Books of August
It's once again time to tell you about the best books I read this month. Sorry this one's a little late--my blog tour ran later than I expected. Here are my favorite August reads.
The first book this month comes from a familiar name to those who have followed me for a while. Cindy Callaghan is a rock star in the middle-grade fiction world. She even has her own Amazon Prime TV series based on one of her books. Her latest book is part of a series that has characters lost in various exciting parts of the world. They've been to Rome, Ireland, Paris, and London...but this location is my favorite of all:
Lost in Hollywood is the perfect demonstration of how this author uses plot devices in her books to cleverly take readers through the local sights. A 13-year-old girl named Ginger travels with her family and her BFF to Hollywood to help out her ailing aunt, only to find herself playing detective. When she learns that her memory-challenged aunt has hidden a large amount of money somewhere in Hollywood, Ginger, her BFF, and her aunt's caregiver's niece go on a hunt. The author takes us along for the ride and by the end of it, we feel like we've spent some serious time in Hollywood!
Next up is Jo Whittemore's latest book. I always read Jo's Aladdin M!x books, so I was excited she had a new book out--this one with HarperCollins.
Brooke's Not-So-Perfect Plan is the first in a super-fun series about four friends who write an advice column for their middle school paper. That premise alone drew me in! The first book tells the story of Brooke, who is extremely relatable no matter how old you are. Why? Because she's crazy-busy all the time. She's taken on way too much between her sports, hanging out with her friends, and writing this advice column. This is a fun and diverse novel about friendship and the pressures of being an overachieving middle school student.
The third book I read in August was actually a three-parter from blogger Valerie Capps. These short stories will draw you in, keeping you reading until the end. Best of all--they're only $.99 each!
Encounter on a Deserted Highway is the kind of spooky story that will stay with you long after you've finished it. The ending seriously gave me chills. A man and his daughter stop to pick up a stranger on a long stretch of road...and it's a decision that changes their lives forever. In Incident at the Diner, a little girl and her father enter a diner filled with a few locals who have a prejudice against them. The sweet little girl seems oblivious to their prejudices, but the tension soon builds and you know there's more to that little girl than meets the eye. In Lucy Get Your Gun, a young girl finds her life in upheaval after her father dies. A strange man shows up, saying he's been sent by child services to take some of the children, since she can't handle them on her own. Lucy and her brother have to "get their guns" to scare the man off, but the story has a very strong anti-gun message in the end! (Not to mention a surprise twist or two along the way.)
Next up is a book with a mesmerizing cover. Tamara Narayan is a blogger I met in recent months and I'm so glad I did. This book is another must-read to add to your list.
As you probably guessed, Heart Stopper and Other Stories is a book of short stories. If, like me, you loved Stephen King's earlier short story collections, you'll love this book. Each story has that eerie feeling, combined with amazing writing that has you turning each page. My favorite is Detour, with an ending that kept the story on my mind long after I finished it, but I also loved the surprise ending of One Step Away. Be careful reading this book late at night, when you're home alone!
Lori L. MacLaughlin is another new friend of mine. She has a new book out, but I wanted to read the first in the series before I read the latest:
If you're a fan of fantasy and adventure,
What are you reading now?
The first book this month comes from a familiar name to those who have followed me for a while. Cindy Callaghan is a rock star in the middle-grade fiction world. She even has her own Amazon Prime TV series based on one of her books. Her latest book is part of a series that has characters lost in various exciting parts of the world. They've been to Rome, Ireland, Paris, and London...but this location is my favorite of all:
Lost in Hollywood is the perfect demonstration of how this author uses plot devices in her books to cleverly take readers through the local sights. A 13-year-old girl named Ginger travels with her family and her BFF to Hollywood to help out her ailing aunt, only to find herself playing detective. When she learns that her memory-challenged aunt has hidden a large amount of money somewhere in Hollywood, Ginger, her BFF, and her aunt's caregiver's niece go on a hunt. The author takes us along for the ride and by the end of it, we feel like we've spent some serious time in Hollywood!
Next up is Jo Whittemore's latest book. I always read Jo's Aladdin M!x books, so I was excited she had a new book out--this one with HarperCollins.
Brooke's Not-So-Perfect Plan is the first in a super-fun series about four friends who write an advice column for their middle school paper. That premise alone drew me in! The first book tells the story of Brooke, who is extremely relatable no matter how old you are. Why? Because she's crazy-busy all the time. She's taken on way too much between her sports, hanging out with her friends, and writing this advice column. This is a fun and diverse novel about friendship and the pressures of being an overachieving middle school student.
The third book I read in August was actually a three-parter from blogger Valerie Capps. These short stories will draw you in, keeping you reading until the end. Best of all--they're only $.99 each!
Encounter on a Deserted Highway is the kind of spooky story that will stay with you long after you've finished it. The ending seriously gave me chills. A man and his daughter stop to pick up a stranger on a long stretch of road...and it's a decision that changes their lives forever. In Incident at the Diner, a little girl and her father enter a diner filled with a few locals who have a prejudice against them. The sweet little girl seems oblivious to their prejudices, but the tension soon builds and you know there's more to that little girl than meets the eye. In Lucy Get Your Gun, a young girl finds her life in upheaval after her father dies. A strange man shows up, saying he's been sent by child services to take some of the children, since she can't handle them on her own. Lucy and her brother have to "get their guns" to scare the man off, but the story has a very strong anti-gun message in the end! (Not to mention a surprise twist or two along the way.)
Next up is a book with a mesmerizing cover. Tamara Narayan is a blogger I met in recent months and I'm so glad I did. This book is another must-read to add to your list.
As you probably guessed, Heart Stopper and Other Stories is a book of short stories. If, like me, you loved Stephen King's earlier short story collections, you'll love this book. Each story has that eerie feeling, combined with amazing writing that has you turning each page. My favorite is Detour, with an ending that kept the story on my mind long after I finished it, but I also loved the surprise ending of One Step Away. Be careful reading this book late at night, when you're home alone!
Lori L. MacLaughlin is another new friend of mine. She has a new book out, but I wanted to read the first in the series before I read the latest:
If you're a fan of fantasy and adventure,
What are you reading now?
September 10, 2016
Why I Still Have a Special Place in My Heart for Romance Novelists
It's the final day of my blog tour and I'm celebrating with a special friend. Today's blog tour host has been my friend and supporter for years now, so I'm SO excited to hang out on her blog today. Be sure to enter my giveaway to win a gift pack that includes a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of both books (below).
I started my career as an aspiring romance novelist, so I still have a special place in my heart for romance authors. Click here to read my post on Elizabeth Seckman's blog.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Comments Off--commenting at host's blog)
I started my career as an aspiring romance novelist, so I still have a special place in my heart for romance authors. Click here to read my post on Elizabeth Seckman's blog.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Comments Off--commenting at host's blog)
September 9, 2016
Why Every Writer Needs a Pet
Tomorrow is the final day of my blog tour, so be sure to enter my giveaway. I'll have an official thank-you blog to all my "team" next Friday. (Spoiler alert: they're all in a drawing to win signed copies of Piper #1 and #2!)
I've been reading Sandra Cox's blog for a while and it's one of my favorites. She's always there to cheer you up! To celebrate her love of animals, I wrote a pet-themed post. Click here to learn why every writer needs a pet.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Comments Off--commenting at host's blog)
I've been reading Sandra Cox's blog for a while and it's one of my favorites. She's always there to cheer you up! To celebrate her love of animals, I wrote a pet-themed post. Click here to learn why every writer needs a pet.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Comments Off--commenting at host's blog)
September 8, 2016
What I Wish I'd Known When I First Started Writing
We're winding down the Piper Morgan mega-blog tour of 2016! Be sure to enter my giveaway to win a gift pack that includes a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of both books (below).
Yvonne Ventresca is a new author friend...and if you've read my blog a while, you know I'm excited about that because it means I get to read the awesome books she writes! Click here to read the advice I'd give my younger writer-self.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Comments Off--commenting at host's blog)
Yvonne Ventresca is a new author friend...and if you've read my blog a while, you know I'm excited about that because it means I get to read the awesome books she writes! Click here to read the advice I'd give my younger writer-self.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Comments Off--commenting at host's blog)
September 7, 2016
IWSG: Finding the Time to Write
It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means hundreds of us will be posting about our insecurities. And this month, I'm a co-host, along with C. Lee McKenzie, Rachel Pattison, Elizabeth Seckman, Lori L MacLaughlin, and Elsie Amata! So thank you to all the visitors stopping by today.
Each month we have a question. This month's question is:
How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
This is a tough one, since my day is busy because I write! My daily goal is 2,000 words for my freelance writing clients, so most days are like this:
It's important that I work my own writing into all the writing I do for others, though. That includes personal blogging, which technically is part of the crazy world that is this:
I use my Gmail account to manage everything. When a new assignment comes in, I star it, which puts it in my "starred" folder in Gmail:
My latest email from my agent or editor is also in that starred folder. Throughout the day, I just go down the list, doing assignments, un-starring anything I finish. Every time I come around to that agent/editor email, that means I have to write one to two pages on my current manuscript (depending whether I'm on deadline or not.)
I've always felt that if you write a little bit on your manuscript every day, no matter what else is going on in your life, you'll stay "in" your story. Over time, those pages add up to this:
We also have an important announcement this month. The IWSG is holding an anthology contest!!!
Last year’s contest was science fiction – parallel world/alternate history, and the result was Parallels: Felix Was Here. This year, we have a new theme and invite all members to submit.
Eligibility: Any member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is encouraged to enter – blogging or Facebook member. The story must be previously unpublished. Entry is free.
Word count: 5000-6000
Genre: Fantasy
Theme: Hero Lost. It could be about a hero turned villain, a villain's redemption, a hero's lack of confidence, a hero's lack of smarts, etc. It can be about any kind of hero including superheroes, mythological heroes, unexpected or unlikely heroes, or a whole new kind of hero. This theme has plenty of scope and we’re open to pretty much anything along these lines. No erotica, R-rated language, or graphic violence.
Deadline: November 1st 2016
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted, previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details and if you are part of the Blogging or Facebook IWSG group.
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges.
Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.
We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word!
Our amazing judges this year:
Elizabeth S. Craig
Richard Harland
Laura Maisano
Russell C. Connor
Dawn Frederick
Michelle L. Johnson
Ion Newcombe
Lynn Tincher
How do you find time to write in your busy day?
Each month we have a question. This month's question is:
How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
This is a tough one, since my day is busy because I write! My daily goal is 2,000 words for my freelance writing clients, so most days are like this:
It's important that I work my own writing into all the writing I do for others, though. That includes personal blogging, which technically is part of the crazy world that is this:
I use my Gmail account to manage everything. When a new assignment comes in, I star it, which puts it in my "starred" folder in Gmail:
My latest email from my agent or editor is also in that starred folder. Throughout the day, I just go down the list, doing assignments, un-starring anything I finish. Every time I come around to that agent/editor email, that means I have to write one to two pages on my current manuscript (depending whether I'm on deadline or not.)
I've always felt that if you write a little bit on your manuscript every day, no matter what else is going on in your life, you'll stay "in" your story. Over time, those pages add up to this:
We also have an important announcement this month. The IWSG is holding an anthology contest!!!
Last year’s contest was science fiction – parallel world/alternate history, and the result was Parallels: Felix Was Here. This year, we have a new theme and invite all members to submit.
Eligibility: Any member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is encouraged to enter – blogging or Facebook member. The story must be previously unpublished. Entry is free.
Word count: 5000-6000
Genre: Fantasy
Theme: Hero Lost. It could be about a hero turned villain, a villain's redemption, a hero's lack of confidence, a hero's lack of smarts, etc. It can be about any kind of hero including superheroes, mythological heroes, unexpected or unlikely heroes, or a whole new kind of hero. This theme has plenty of scope and we’re open to pretty much anything along these lines. No erotica, R-rated language, or graphic violence.
Deadline: November 1st 2016
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted, previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details and if you are part of the Blogging or Facebook IWSG group.
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges.
Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.
We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word!
Our amazing judges this year:
Elizabeth S. Craig
Richard Harland
Laura Maisano
Russell C. Connor
Dawn Frederick
Michelle L. Johnson
Ion Newcombe
Lynn Tincher
How do you find time to write in your busy day?
