Cathrina Constantine's Blog, page 29

Self-Help 101 by L.G.Keltner #ya #holiday #humor

Title: Self-Help 101 or: How to Survive a Bombardment With Minimal InjuryAuthor: L.G. KeltnerGenre: YA/holiday/humorLength: 25,000 wordsCover Art: L.G. Keltner and Jamon WalkerRelease Date: June 28, 2016








Book 2 in the Self-Help 101 series

Dani Finklemeier has self-published her guide to taking over the world, but she still isn’t rich.  Now she’s eighteen, still babysitting for money, and looking forward to starting college in the fall.
Of course, she has to survive a 4th of July outing with her family first.  That’s a challenging prospect considering she has to be in close proximity with a group of cousins known as The Fallible Four.  As if that weren’t enough, she also has to deal with the fallout of her parents learning more about her relationship with her boyfriend Seth than she ever wanted them to know.


The good news is that, if she survives this holiday, she’ll have plenty of material for another self-help book.


Self-Help 101 or: How to Write Humor That Isn’t Totally Cringeworthy
Writing something funny is challenging.  Some people write humor well.  Others put in a ton of effort and still fail miserably.  And no matter what, if you write something intended to be humorous, there will be people who don’t find it funny.  A person’s sense of humor is a highly individual thing, shaped by personality and life experience.
In setting out to write the Self-Help 101 books, I didn’t know if I could make them funny.  I still don’t know to what degree I’ve been successful in doing that.  Some people have said they made for an enjoyable reading experience, which is encouraging.
Still, I can feign being an expert if I must, so I’m here to offer you some tips on writing humor.
1.)  Be cautious about over-used gags.  You know the ones I’m talking about.  The crotch injuries, fart jokes, etc.  This isn’t to say you can’t use them.  I have.  If you do use them, though, try to do something different with it.  Instead of relying on the incident alone, try making the focus of the humor about another character’s response to the incident.
2.)  Look at the absurdities of real life.  Life is far more strange and inexplicable than many of us realize.  Ask yourself why people do the things that they do.  Highlighting these oddities can be funny when done well.
3.)  Use the right voice.  A humorous voice can make anything comical.  There’s no easy way to explain how to do this, and I’m afraid I can’t help you much.  Try reading and analyzing books that you think are funny.  How did the author make you laugh?  That can help you far more than anything I have to say.
I’m sure there’s a lot more to learn, but those are my tips.  I honestly think Dani is better at being funny than I am, and I created her.  How weird is that?


Bio:
L.G. Keltner spends most of her time trying to write while also cleaning up after her crazy but wonderful kids and hanging out with her husband.  Her favorite genre of all time is science fiction, and she’s been trying to write novels since the age of six.  Needless to say, those earliest attempts weren’t all that good. 
Her non-writing hobbies include astronomy and playing Trivial Pursuit.
You can typically find L.G. lurking around her blog, on Twitter, or on her Facebook page.

Purchase Links:
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AmazonBarnes & NobleKoboiBooksSmashwords
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Add it on Goodreads.

#THETHINGTHATTURNEDME #CTST

**HAPPY RELEASE DAY**The Thing That Turned MeAnthology
Join in the FACEBOOK party tonight at 8:00 pm EST. Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/223934157952856/




Many great author's have contributed and I'm honored to be among them and part of this awesome anthology!!!

Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog 
It's been a hot, hot, hot, beautiful week. Still on my 1k goal a day. Some days are better than others, but I'm plugging along.

We haven't been watering the grass which has turned to straw, but my gardens are getting plenty of H2O, and doing well.

We have a nice weekend planned with friends and family. 

I hope you all have a good one!

#IWSG INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Alex's co-hosts are Tamara Narayan,Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders!

This has been a fairly good month. I'm over the halfway point on my WIP, a young adult spooker. I have a long, long way to go. Especially when I don't know from day to day what's going to happen next. **Pantser** 



Some Monthly Inspiration:





This month's question is: 
What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

I used to write plays as a kid and act them out. Hahaa...Nothings left of them. I did write a couple of short stories and submitted them to magazines, but they never got published. I think they're in a manilla envelope around here somewhere. *collecting dust* 

Have a fabulous month of August. Next time we meet it'll be closer to Autumn!!!! 

Prah Constantine Baryeh Reviews - Hitched #romance

It's been a hot, hot summer and to add more steam our team read and reviewed HitchedbyKendall Ryan

Marry the girl I’ve had a crush on my whole life? Check. 

Inherit a hundred-billion-dollar company? Check. 

Produce an heir… Wait, what? 

I have ninety days to knock up my brand-new fake wife. There’s only one problem—she hates my guts. 

And in the fine print of the contract? The requirement that we produce an heir. 

She can’t stand to be in the same room with me. Says she’ll never be in my bed. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I’m not about to start now. 

Mark my words—I’ll have her begging for me, and it won’t take ninety days. 

A hot and hilarious romp not to miss! 

Say "I DO" to your next book boyfriend husband. (He totally wants to put a bun in her oven.) 

On the heels of her smash hit and New York Times bestselling SCREWED series, Kendall Ryan brings you HITCHED, a romantic comedy that delivers heart and heat. A NYC playboy turned business mogul has ninety days to win over the woman he's always desired in order to save his father's company. One tiny problem: She hates his guts.
Cathrina's Review:
Our team Pre-Ordered Hitched by Kendall Ryan before thoroughly investigating it. (my fault) We discovered it's a Re-Release and a trilogy.  
Hitched is well written and an easy, fast read. When I started the book I liked the premise, but wasn't enamored with the main characters. Both affluent and rich. Noah Tate sounded like a narcissist and had to prove his masculinity to Olivia in a restaurant by exposing his fire hose anatomy. There's more of his playboy antidotes that didn't endear me. Maybe I was in a mood at the time I was reading...
However, as I read on there was another side to Noah and Olivia that I liked. Which only goes to prove I need to keep reading and not make snap judgements. 
To me, it was predictable, and I liked it. What threw me for a loop was the cliffhanger. Since at the time I hadn't realized it was book 1 in a trilogy, I was like-- Oh...
I can only wonder how Kendall Ryan can pull this story to fill 3 books... 
Head on over to read Nana Prah's review and Empi Baryeh's review.

#CTST and Sign of the Green Dragon by C.Lee McKenzie

I can't believe this is July 29th!
Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog 
If August turns out to be as beautiful as July, this will be the best summer (weather wise) we've experienced in many years!!

Some of my gardens, a hanging plant from my daughter. I'm enjoying my time writing outside within eye sight of my blooming gardens. And ~ I felt a sense of exhilaration when I passed the halfway point of my WIP. 

Now I have a Huge Surprise> C. Lee McKenzie'sSign of the Green DragonComing: August 3rd.Available for Pre-Order


Blurb: A crumbling map from 1859, found clutched in the bony grip of the long dead, sends three young boys on a dangerous adventure where an unsolved murder, a modern crime, some lost ancestors and ancient Chinese dragons reveal the true meaning of treasure.


Author bio: I love to write for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is my third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were my first two. I’m proud to be a hybrid author with three Indie books out along with four traditionally published young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets. It’s fun to know both sides of this writing business. 
When I’m not writing I’m thinking about it or scratching my head over how all of this started. 
Media Links:
Website: http://cleemckenziebooks.comGoodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzieFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/signofgreendragon/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleemckenzie/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cleemckenzie/movie-cast-for-sign-of-the-green-dragon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleemckenzie
Buy Links: The Green Dragon is available for Pre-Order: http://www.amazon.com/Sign-Green-Dragon-Lee-McKenzie/dp/1532721250?ie=UTF8&keywords=Sign%20of%20the%20Green%20Dragon&qid=1462557358&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=8-1


https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/619550

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sign-of-the-green-dragon-c-lee-mckenzie/1123482000?ean=2940152896886 

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/sign-of-the-green-dragon

#CTST Celebrate the Small Things

Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog 
It's early Thursday morning as I'm writing this post. I'm sitting on the patio enjoying the fresh air and listening to the birds singing in the woods. The deer will be coming by soon and Murphy will rush the fence barking like a maniac. I love mornings, especially ones like this!
I took a morning pic.
I'm celebrating a new publishing contract with Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly!!! My book is a YA/Coming of Age with historical elements. It takes place in 1969. I don't have a release date as of yet.

I have another YA/Fantasy which has been professionally edited and is ready for the query trenches. I've already received a full request. 

I'm puttering along with my new WIP, and crawling over the 30k mark. 


**Have a wonderful weekend**

#CTST Celebrate the Small Things

Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog 
Sorry I missed last weeks post. 
It's sweltering in Buffalo, along with the rest of the country. On the positive side, it's better than a blizzard.  That's Murphy standing on top of 3 feet of snow in the middle of the street after the November storm in 2014.
I've been striving to walk 1-2 miles a day. Sounds easy, but...
I hit 26K on my WIP. Still pushing for 1k a day, but life just seems to get in the way.
We'll be gathering with friends on Saturday evening, which is always a good time.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend!

#IWSG

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts this month are Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott! 

                              This Happened on July 1.


I'm honored and thrilled to have received these awards, and to be among many talented writer's and author's.

It definitely helps to boost my self-esteem when it comes to writing. 

Everyone will not like my writing or my books, and that's expected and that's okay. As I've posted numerous times, I can't understand why people will go out of their way to write nasty or condescending reviews. 


This month the IWSG has posed a question:

What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

The best is when a perfect stranger messaged me on my FB authors page to exclaim how much she loved reading one of my books. The cherry on top is calling me one of her favorite authors! 

 Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have a great July!

Prah, Constantine, Baryeh Review A Breath of Fresh Air #romance #novella

This month the team picked a short novella: A Breath of Fresh Air by Kalyssa Powell



An African American Romance Story by Kalyssa Powell!  

Air Robertson was fine with dreaming of the perfect guy, the perfect romance, and the perfect life. But after she meets her dream guy, her own sense of doubt tries to sabotage her growing feelings for this wonderful man. How can someone as handsome and charming as Corey Travis still be single? Air wants to believe that it is fate, but she can’t be sure. 

All the while, strange things have been happening around Air’s apartment. From her front door getting vandalized to her cell receiving strange text messages, Air has no idea what to make of these occurrences. Are they merely harmless pranks? Or is there something more going on? 

Amidst awkward beginnings, dealing with the past, and falling in love, Air learns that there is no such thing as the perfect guy. But she also learns that when it comes to true love, no one needs a perfect guy to be happy. 

Cathrina's Review: 

While A Breath of Fresh Air is considered a novella, it's very short, a mere 40 pages. For this reason I understand how quickly the author had to get her main characters together after a brief meeting at the grocery store.

Ms. Powell tries her best to squish as much as possible into these pages, but I felt it was rushed. It could've been expanded with more feeling and storyline. 

All in all it's a cute quick read. 

Hop on over to read the reviews of Nana Prah and Empi Baryeh.

Cover Reveal for Mind The Reckoning by Jenn Nixon #SciFi #Romance #Series & #CTST

Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog 
This Weekend in the USA we'll be Celebrating The 4th of July Let your colors show



Now a little treat. The Cover Reveal for My Author Friend,Jenn NixonMind the Reckoning

BlurbBaldwin Bates has only wanted one thing since joining MIND, to take care of his friends and keep them all safe. While the MIND team is busy dealing with an emergence of psychic and alien activity, Bates takes his first solo assignment searching for a woman who claims to see the future, only to botch it up and let her get away.  
After helping to destroy an alien device called the Transcender, Lexa Quinn wakes from a two-week coma a very different person than she was before. While her abilities grow stronger, her feelings for Bates begin to interfere with the MIND team's mission putting everyone at risk. Secrets from her past threaten the present and future, forcing Lexa to decide who she is and where she belongs.
When a powerful, ancient enemy lays claim to the Earth and brings his judgment upon the population, Bates, Lexa, and the entire MIND team must do whatever it takes to save the human race before the reckoning is complete.
#SciFi #Romance #Series
Release Date: October 2016
Need to catch up? Books 1 & 2 are only $2.99!MIND: The Beginning (Bk1) amzn.com/B017M3IJM8MIND: The Emergence (Bk2) amzn.com/B01E056ANQ
BIO: Jenn often adds a thriller and suspense element to anything she writes be it Romance, Science Fiction, or Fantasy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, observing pop culture, playing with her two dogs, and working on various charitable projects in her home state of New Jersey.
facebook.com/JennNixonAuthortwitter.com/JennNixonjennnixon.com