Chrys Fey's Blog, page 54

Author Interview with Isla Grey / Asylum Harbor

Today I am welcoming a fellow The Wild Rose Press author, Isla Grey. She is discussing her contemporary romance, Asylum Harbor, and sharing the book trailer for our entertainment.And today is her release day! Yay!!! :D

Hi, Isla! Can you please tell us about your book?
Asylum Harbor tells the story of Devon Brown who packs up and leaves her home to become the new bartender of the Salty Dog on Shell Island.  She’s not looking for trouble or romance, but she finds it in abundance when she finds herself falling for the brash and brooding harbor master, Kerr.
Kerr is looking for anything but romance but can’t help but take an interest in the island’s new, no nonsense bartender.  But when a simple flirtation starts to turn serious, the two find that there are serious obstacles in the way of their “happily ever after”.  When the situation turns dangerous, Devon realizes that even the still waters of Asylum Harbor are no refuge during a storm.
Genre:  Contemporary Romance Publisher:  The Wild Rose PressRelease Date:  September 16, 2015
Books Links:The Wild Rose Press / Amazon/ All Romance EbooksBarnes & Noble / Bookstrand  / Kobo
1. What inspired you to write Asylum Harbor?
Asylum Harbor came about while I was on a family trip to the beach.  We took a quick day trip to Shell Island.  Yes, this place actually exists but no one lives there!  During low tide, people visit to find seashells and sand dollars.  The Salty Dog itself is based on a couple of nearby restaurants.  Both are family restaurants and one really does have a stage—sans the silver pole in the middle.
2. I would love to take a trip to Shell Island. Is Asylum Harbor part of a series?
Asylum Harbor is the first in the Salty Dog Series.  I’m currently working on the follow-up to the story and plan on a third after that one is finished.
3. How did you pick the title for your book?
Believe it or not, the title of the book was the hardest part.  I had called it several things while I was writing it and had even come up with the titles for the second and third book.  So, I finally went back through some nautical terms and there it was –Asylum Harbor.  The titles for books two and three stay along the nautical theme.
4. Using a nautical theme is a great idea! What would we find in your heroine’s purse if we went snooping?
Devon is a very basic, low maintenance person.  You’d find your usual wallet, her Jeep keys and lip gloss.  You’d also probably find a hair clip because she likes to keep her hair tied back.
5.Are any of your characters based on real people?
The only character that is somewhat based on a real person is Danny, Kerr’s younger brother.  There was a young man that I knew who was in a horrific accident and had to struggle and work to get his life back to normal.  That’s as far as the resemblance goes however.

6. What are a few things we would find in or on your desk?
Oh my goodness!  My desk is cluttered with pens, post-its, candy wrappers and an assortment of paper clips so I don’t get to use it much.  Even the chair is usually occupied by Daryl, one of our cats, for his afternoon nap.  But some of my favorite things is a picture of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle hanging on the wall above my desk that was drawn by my daughter.  I also have an antique green glass that I use as a pen holder that has been a mainstay on my desk.
7. I like to put art made by my nephews near my desk. :) Is there a teacher (or teachers) you would like to personally thank for his/her influence? 
There was a principal, Mr. Habel, who’s either in his late 80’s or 90’s now who told me XXX years ago to never give up on my writing.  I still haven’t forgotten that.  It has really inspired me to keep going.  I also had two wonderful teachers who aren’t with us anymore—Mrs. Morrison and Mrs. Brown.  You didn’t get out of their class without learning something and both believed in reading.
8. Share three random facts about you.
- I’m a mom to a seven-year-old daughter who has never ending energy.- I’m addicted to Penny Dreadful, Botched and the Walking Dead.- Two of my cats are named Loki and Daryl—after Loki in the Thor movies and Daryl from the Walking Dead. (We had a Merle but sadly he’s not with us any longer.)
9. My sister-in-laws cat is named Loki! Do you listen to music while you write?
I’m completely obsessed with music.  I especially love ‘80’s country and rock and have it playing most of the day except when I’m writing.  For some reason, I have to have it quiet when I’m writing or I end up losing my train of thought.  When I’m editing though, I can turn the music back on.
10. Tell us about your writing process.
When I’m working on a story, the first draft is handwritten.  I keep a journal with me at all times—even when I’m going out to the store—you never know when the opportunity to write is going to present itself.  Everything else—edits and rewrites—are done on the computer.  

BIO:
Isla Grey is from Central Virginia and still lives in the same small town she grew up in. She developed a love of writing at an early age and over the years has tried her hand at penning poetry (some good, some not so good), screenwriting, newspaper articles and historical stories. She’s “old school” when it comes to writing and is a hoarder of more pens, post-it notes and writing journals than she’ll ever need. Isla likes to write different types of stories from romance to mystery and anything in between and loves a “happy for now but there could be some bad things coming” feel. When Isla’s not writing, she spends her time being called “Mom, Mama, Mommy” (well, you get the picture) by her daughter who is forever active, even in her sleep. She considers herself an unofficial “cat whisperer” and is a pet human to a plethora of cats that have taken up residence at her home over the years. Isla also enjoys reading a good biography or ghost story, traveling even though “there’s no place like home”, good music played loud and walking.
Isla loves movies and is the movie mistakes editor at Bellaonline.com where she talks about…well…movies.  Her novella, “A Voice in the Dark”, is available now and her book, “Asylum Harbor”, will be released September 16th, 2015 through Wild Rose Press.
Author Links:Website:  http://www.islagrey.com/Blog:  http://www.islagrey.com/islas-inklingsFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIslaGreyTwitter:  https://twitter.com/IslaGrey1Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/islagreyAmazon:  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00MMTEYEK

Thank you for chatting with my, Isla!
Please leave a comment for Isla. Thanks! J

Book Release Party

Release day parties are wonderfully fun and the great thing is that each one is different from the next. You can do whatever you want, follow your own set of rules. I have not done my own release day party yet, but I have been an author guest for one (Terri Rochenski’s Party for Love’s Revenge.)
You can do a party anywhere, but I’m going to share tips on how to do a Facebook party.
1.Set a date.
Usually this will be the actual release of your book or the first Monday or Friday after it.
2.Decide on a time frame.
A release party can last one hour, four hours, or twelve hours. It’s up to you!

TIP #1:No matter how long your party is, make sure it’s updated with new posts regularly to keep guests entertained and to get them to participate. You don’t want to have a twelve-hour party with nothing happening.

3.Decide if you want author guests (or co-hosts) to come in and help out.
You can do the party all by yourself, you can invite a ton of authors to pop in and post whenever they feel like it, or you can specifically ask authors if they would like to participate and assign them an hour (or two, depends on you and the author) to promote their own work and do giveaways.

TIP #2:The authors will need a personal Facebook profile in order to post to the event. They can’t do it through their fan page, which can create a problem if they have a pen name. I had to create a person profile under my pen name in order to participate in Terri’s party.

This is one of the prizes I offered Terri's fans. I made them both,
and the party was in January so the snowflake and colors were perfect for winter.***
4.Set up a schedule.
If you’re going to have author guests come in throughout the day and keep your party goers interested, you should create a schedule so you know when each author will have his or her time to have fun.
5.Create the event.
You can do this on Facebook. On the left hand side, under your name and profile picture, click on “Events” then click “+Create.” You can give it a catchy title or keep it simple. Write a small description in the “Details” area. You can include the guest schedule. Fill in the sections for “Where,” “When,” and set the “Privacy.” Finally, add the cover art for your release or a banner.
6.Announce your event.
Announce your event on your Facebook page, Twitter, blog, website, Google +, and any loops or groups you’re part of.
7.Invite people.
Notify the author guests and send them a link so they can join the party and invite their family and friends.

TIP #3:Don’t forget to ask the people who join to invite everyone they know. With luck, you could have 200+ people “going” to your Facebook party.

8.Prepare.
Figure out what you want to do during your party. Will you do everything for the duration or have co-host? If you have co-hosts, be ready to host the first and last hours of your party, and to introduce each guest before it’s their hour to take over.
9.Posts and giveaways.
Know what you’ll post and at what time.
When I co-hosted for Terri, I did two ebook giveaways, a small jewelry giveaway, and a grand prize giveaway. In-between these I posted questions for the party-goers to answer. I had one hour, so I was posting about every five minutes and keeping up with comments. At the end of my hour, I announced the winners of the smaller giveaways and reminded everyone the grand prize giveaway would end the next day. To win the grand prize, they had to “like” my Facebook page. So I kept track of the likes I got.
This was the grand prize. A gorgeous crystal bowl and a matching fashionable scarf.*** 

TIP #4:A giveaway can be anything: book swag, signed print books, ebooks, jewelry, home décor, gift cards, or something related to one of your books. 

TIP #5:Try not to giveaway the book the party is for. You want people to buy it, not to enter a giveaway and hope they win it. 

TIP #6:Someone can be eligible for a giveaway by posting a comment to the giveaway post or by doing something more such as liking your Facebook page, following your blog or Twitter, etc. 

TIP #7:You can do your own giveaways at the beginning and end of your party and also let your co-hostsdo giveaways. That way many of your party goers have a chance to win. 

TIP #8:After you randomly select a winner, check to see if someone else announced them as a winner for another prize. I noticed quite a few people for Terri’s party were the winners for several different giveaways, even mine. If you check first, you can do another drawing to get a new person who hasn’t won anything.

10.HAVE FUN!
Don’t stress about this! If you have guest authors, they will take off a lot of the pressure. Enjoy your time in the spotlight!
I was just one co-host out of many but I loved it! I got a lot of great feedback and guests even said they loved me. :D
11.Clean up time.
When the party is over, thank everyone for coming and especially thank your guest authors. You can do something special to thank them such as entering them in a giveaway for your book or send them all a mobi copy of it.
Also, you’ll want to announce the winners of your giveaways and notify him/her. You can tag them in a comment, send a private message or an email. Then get the information you need to send them their prize. 

FYI: You don't need a lot of readers to do this. If you have authors as co-hosts, their readers will come to your party. Also, don't expect to sell a ton of books. This is for people to have fun and spread the news about your book. Many will be there for the prize, but you will generate interest and possibly a few sales.

SHARE:Your tips for hosting a Facebook release party.

QUESTIONS:Have you ever hosted or co-hosted a release party? What was your experience? Have you ever joined a release party as a guest?

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Reader Interview with Jennifer Ricketts aka Donnie Darko Girl

Jennifer Ricketts aka Donnie Darko Girl is my reader/reviewer interviewee today! She’s a “voracious reader,” writes for the Inquisitr, and she’s a member of Indie Visible. Welcome, Jennifer! 


1. A) What genre do you read the most? And what would you like to see less of in that genre?
I read the most from the horror genre. There tends to be clichés in horror, such as characters investigating “strange noises” by themselves. I hate it when no one believes the main character, who’s trying to warn others there’s a Jason or a Michael Myers-type character roaming around slicing and dicing. But I also think that’s human nature--to deny, deny, deny when something horrific is happening.
Chrys: If someone told me Michael Myers was killing people in my town. I’d believe them! (I'm a Michael fan.)

B) What would you like to see more of?
I’d love to see more YA horror novels that are scary. Back when I was in junior high, Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine were really popular, both writing horror stories for YA. I don’t really see that much anymore when I visit the YA section, and I read a LOT of YA. I start feeling nostalgic, lol.   
2. What kinds of book covers attract you?
Colorful, professional-looking book covers are totally my thing. I tend to like a lot of UK covers over the US editions. For example, I think the UK cover for Under the Never Sky is prettier than the US version.
If there’s a model on the cover, it’s always annoying if the person doesn’t look real. Like at all. I’m a terrible artist--you won’t catch me trying to sketch for a living--but there are some covers I’ve seen and can’t help but think I could have done a better job. I really hate saying that, too. I’ve seen some covers where you can’t read the title of the book or the author’s name because of poor font and/or color choices.
Which cover do you like better? VOTE!!!
3. Poor font or color choice is bad! Do you like sequels or prefer standalone novels?
Depending on the story and how it’s told, I like both sequels and standalones. There have been a few instances where I thought a sequel was unnecessary, but I ended up reading it anyway. Sometimes at the end of a standalone, I feel lost knowing there isn’t another book with those same characters coming.
4. What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was Stepping Stones by Kacey Vanderkarr, which is a YA contemporary with a splash of the paranormal. It was full of emotion! The main character, Onna, loses her brother in a tragic accident right after finding out their parents are getting divorced. Onna’s mom dips out, and her dad turns to alcohol. Everything seems hopeless for poor Onna except for her friend, Hunter, and the cute guy at school, Everett. There’s something more to Everett than meets the eye--he isn’t the typical bad boy, not at all. I cried my eyes out several times reading this book, but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat! 

5. Stepping Stones sounds like a really good, emotional book. What would you like to know about the authors you enjoy reading?I enjoy reading interviews with my favorite authors. I love to find out what movies and TV shows they’re obsessing over, what books they like to read, and what music they listen to. If they’re into horror, it’s always fun to find out what kind of things scare them and where their ideas come from. I love it when an author I like belong to the same fandoms I do!

Favorites Section:
1. Favorite author? Christopher Pike 2. Favorite fictional character? Donnie Darko! 3. Favorite Children’s book? Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss4. Favorite reading spot? My bed5. Favorite reading snack? Popcorn
Hyper Round:
1. Ebooks or print books? Print2. Movie Adaptations: Yay or Nay? Nay3. Do you have a library card? Definitely 



Bio:
Tattooed wife and stay-at-home mama. Book blogger at Donnie Darko Girl for almost 4 years. Writer for the Inquisitr. NaNoWriMo 2014 Winner. Dyes hair wild colors. Whovian and Fannibal for life! Fan of the 60's & the 90's. Currently writing first novel. 
Links:Blog - Donnie Darko Girl / Bloglovin' / TwitterAuthor Profile on the Inquisitr / Facebook


Thank you for spending some time with me, Jennifer! 
Please leave Jennifer a comment! :)

QUESTION: Which cover for Under the Never Sky do you like the best? UK or US?

Writing About: Monster Truck Driving + September Question of the Month

Please note that I am not a monster truck driver. Nor have I ever been in a monster truck or been to a monster truck show. That’s the beauty of research. With enough research, you can make anything realistic and convincing. 

Donovan Goldwyn, the hero in Hurricane Crimes is a monster truck driver and I had the opportunity to let him do his thing in Seismic Crimes, which I am still waiting to hear back from my publisher about. FINGERS CROSSED EVERYONE!
I am only going to address three main things about monster truck driving if you want to write about it:
1. The Truck
If you ever write about a monster truck, it would be smart to briefly mention the things that make it a MONSTER truck.
Image from WikipediaMonster trucks have massive tires, which are usually Terra tires, and about 4-link suspension to allow four feet of clearance when the truck moves over mounds and other obstacles. The supercharged engines (575 cubic inches) live off methanol oil. The driver is usually positioned in the middle of the cab for full visibility behind a sheet of Lexan to protect the driver from flying debris. However, it’s not unheard of for a truck to have two seats. Every truck is equipped with at least three kill switches for safety precautions. There are also safety harnesses as well as head and neck restraints, and drivers wear fire suits and helmets. Monster trucks are used for competitions and entertainment.

TIP: Don’t forget to mention the design and colors of the truck. People get really creative. You can even give the truck a name.

2. Arena
Arenas for monster truck driving are compiled completely of dirt, sometimes even mud in some areas. Small mounds, large ramps of dirt, and even cars are added to arenas for trucks to jump over or crush with their giant tires. If there’s a race, you can bet on seeing lanes, obstacles, and a finish line.

TIP: If your MC goes to a monster truck show, have him/her be in awe of the trucks and what is going on: the roar of the crowd, the packed stands, etc.

Image from Wikipedia3. Stunts
Monster trucks can do quite a lot of stunts. This is called freestyle. Some stunts/tricks are wheelies, jumps, and slap wheelies/wheel stands. Donovan does a wheel stand for Beth in Seismic Crimes. It was a fun moment to write.
These stunts are judged by timing, speed, aggression, height/length/verticality of jumps, and “saves.” If there’s a tie, it is often broken by a “cheer-off” or a secret “tie-breaking judge.”

TIP: Image you're the driver or at the show. Show their excitement with their body language and the things they say and do.

The main thing to remember is to have fun with this!

QUESTIONS: Have you ever been to a monster truck show? What was it like? If you could, would you try driving a monster truck?

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To join this monthly blog hop visit Michael G D'Agostino's blog.

QUESTION: What's the best job you've ever had?
MY ANSWER: Okay, so if I’m being honest I haven’t had many jobs in my life and that’s due to the spine surgery I had when I was fifteen. I’ve never revealed this before but I am disabled. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I struggle to do some normal things like sitting and standing as long as others.
When I was a teen, I sold Florida Today newspaper subscriptions door-to-door. I was pretty good because no one could say no to the sweet little girl on their doorstep. I was also an Avon lady. But neither of those are the best jobs I’ve ever had. My best job is being a writer, although I hardly get paid for that. It’s my passion though and that’s what makes it the best. :) 
That's all for now! I'm taking a break this Wednesday so I'll be back on Friday with a new reader interview!

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Author Interview with Diedre Knight

Today I have the ever-kind and fun Diedre Knight for an author interview. She's one of my avid blog readers and always stops by whenever I have a guest. Now it's her turn! She's telling us about her children's book SAWDUST and her writing process. Let's give her a heart Write with Fey welcome!

Hi, Diedre! Can you tell us about SAWDUST?
Blurb:
Big time changes brew on a sixties-era breeze for small-town marble champ, Benjy whose only concern is winning and fishing until the day he meets a new girl in town and loses all his marbles. Benjy’s quest to win his marbles back is complicated by the crazy antics of his bear-sized dog, especially when there seems to be a thief among them and everyone is a suspect, while Benjy tries to deal with his feelings about a charismatic cowboy who just might steal his mother’s heart. 
Genre: Children’s fictionRelease date: June 2015
BOOK LINK:Amazon

1. What inspired you to write SAWDUST?
A co-worker happened to have and adore the same kind of dog who’d terrorized an entire neighborhood when I was a kid. It was fun and somewhat therapeutic to write about a massive, lovabledog J
2. I love massive, lovable dogs! How did you pick the title? 
Actually, the setting came first this time. I love digging for vintage bottles and snooping around old western mining camps and towns to get a sense of the people who once lived there. As I stood inside a dusty old one-room wooden schoolhouse…I knew I’d write with that in mind someday.
3. What book(s) would you compare with SAWDUST?
Just about anything by Judy Blume or Jerry Spinelli; “Jake & Lily”, or Kate DiCamillo’s “Because of Winn-Dixie”.
4. Are any of the characters based on real people? 
Yes, in “Sawdust” many of them are—including Wilson!
5. What are a few things we would find in or on your desk?
Oh, the usual stacks of paperwork (grin), two spiral notebooks (one for work, one for writing), a rainbow-haired wishnick, and a day-planner. The bottom drawers on both sides typically contain treasures such as crayons, peanut M&Ms and a Ziplock bag full of dog cookies.
6. Dog cookies...perfect for SAWDUST. Has something unusual ever influenced your writing?
Oh absolutely! Those kinds of things manage to weave their way into many of my stories for YA and older.
7. How old were you when you read the first book that had you hooked?
Nine, maybe ten. It was “The Velvet Room” and I was so enthralled, so engulfedI knew I not only wanted to keep reading; I wanted to write that effectively, too.
8. Your advice to new writers?
If it’s in your heart to write, then by all means do so!
9. Perfect advice! Describe your writing process:
As a consummate list-maker, the process generally looks something like this:
Idea:  Man/boy (?) mistakes snake rattles for Bird-of-Paradise seed pods and plants them in his yard.
A). A massive magic tree then grows, orange blossoms, snake-like branches stretch and sway with velvet-textured catnip leaves that rattle in the wind…
            A. 1) Cats and Owls come from miles around
B). Magic tree doesn’t seem to care for owls            B.1) Owls make cats disappear
            B.2) Tree makes owls disappear
C.) Determined cat will not give up, he must have some catnip
10. I love your example. Share three random facts about yourself:
I lived on a ranch near the Arizona/Mexico border with 2 horses, 21 cattle, 5 dogs, 3 cats and a peacock.
I don’t mind chili for breakfast sometimes.
I am left-handed, though not with a baseball bat or scissors.


Bio:
A southern Arizona native, diedre Knightshares her world with her longtime hub-friend and two ponies (chocolate labs) she calls “the girls”. She enjoys camping in the woods and reading mysteries and thrillers. Her passion is crafting tapestries of youthful yarns depicting life’s complexities for and about kids and the young at heart.

Her work has appeared in Stories for Children’s magazine, Society of Southwestern Authors, AMW’s Mystery Mania and she is the author of “Beanie’s Backyard” and “Sawdust."

Author Link: Blog

Please leave Diedre a comment! :)

Asking For Help + Teacher Love / IWSG

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a safe place for insecure writers.Sign up here: Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group
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Incase you haven't noticed the announcement at the top of my blog, or anywhere else, I made my two most popular blog posts into downloadable PDFs:

The Ultimate Editing List

Blogging 101
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I’m insecure about my unpublished series starring Avrianna Heavenborn from Ghost of Death. So many reviewers say they want to read more of her, but I haven’t even had anyone look at book one! To get over this anxiety, I’m going to go one baby step at a time.
But I need YOUR help.
Is there anyone out there who would like to read the first 3 chapters of my book (25 pages)? I’m looking for a critique of the opening, grammar check, and an overall honest but gentle opinion.
DETAILS: This book is a commercial thriller with a splash of the supernatural. There’s criminals and assassins as well as angels and gods. And if you like forbidden love...I’ve got you covered!
I’m just asking for a few people to look at the first 3 chapters. And then I’ll work from there if anyone is interested in reading a bit more.
Any takers? 
Email me at ChrysFey@yahoo.com or leave your email.
UPDATE: Wow! I am shocked at the response I've received, and so soon too. I really thought I'd get 3 offers, tops. I have more than enough beta readers now. Thank you all so much! BUT I'm working on a short-short story about Avrianna that I'll need betas for, so I can write your name down for that.

THANKS!

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In January, I hunted down addresses for my old teachers who encouraged me to be a writer. My letter detailed specific things I remembered from their class. I also thanked them for everything they did for me, and all of their students past, present, and future. I included a "thank you" card as well as my business card and a Hurricane Crimes postcard to show them their hard work and dedication helped me to become a published author.
Image from Flickr.
Out of the six letters I mailed out, I got two replies. I was hoping to hear back from all of them but these two replies really made my day. It was great knowing how my letters touched them.
Highlights from the letter I got back from my 6th grade teacher:

You have no idea how delighted and flattered I was to receive your letter. I remember you very well. I always enjoyed having you in my class.

Thank you very much for sharing all of this with me. I appreciate your comments. Teachers love hearing from students, particularly ones like you!

So if you’re feeling a bit down about your writing career, lift up someone else by thanking them for what they did for you.

QUESTIONS: Have you ever tried to contact a teacher to thank him/her? 
Anyone want to beta read the first 3 chapters on my book?
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How to Create a Press Kit

A press kit, aka a media kit, is a package of promotional information about a person or company. A press kit is given to the media to aid with interviews, product (book) releases, and news conferences.
Every author should create a press kit to make it easier for people to get all the information about you and your published work in one place. Plus, you can give your press kits to bloggers when you’re setting up your blog tour. 
You can see mine HERE.

What to put in your press kit:
1. Bio and Head Shot
2. Web links (including social media)
3. List of Published Work
4. Agent/Publisher Information (including website and address)
5. Sample Interview Questions (optional)
6. Cover Art for Published Work
7. Book Blurbs
8. Book Information (Genre, Release Date, etc.)
9. Book Buy Links
10. Contact Information
Once you have everything configured in a document, save it to email to bloggers and anyone else who needs it. You can then add a page to your blog and/or website with all the same information for people who may be searching for it. Doing this is always a good idea. You can also create a downloadable press kit and add the link to your blog/website. I used Google Docs. But there are other websites that you can use.

TIP: Don’t forget to update your press kit whenever you publish a new book.

See: Author Photo Tips
See: Blurbs, Excerpts, Taglines and Loglines OH MY!
See: How to Write an Author Bio
See: How to Set Up a Blog Tour 



QUESTION: Do you have a press kit?

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Blogger Interview with Sherry Ellis from Mama Diaries

With the start of a new school year, I thought it was the perfect time to interview Sherry Ellis. Her blog is called Mama Diaries and all of her posts feature cute stories about her kids. Sometimes her pets even get in on the shenanigans. 

Let’s chat with her! :)

1. Hi, Sherry! Can you tell us about your blog Mama Diaries?
Mama Diaries began in 2010. It’s pretty much a daily account of the goofy things that happen in my life as a mom. It started as a way to capture all the memories of my children’s childhood, so that I could share it with them when they’re older. I also thought it might be nice for readers of my books to get to know a little about me on a personal level. I never thought I’d get to meet so many awesome writers and bloggers by doing it!
2. I truly enjoy your funny and often heartwarming posts. Do your kids know you share the funny things they say and do on your blog? If so, have they ever asked you not to share something?
Yes, they do. And yes, there have been many times they’ve asked me not to share things. On quite a few occasions, after something funny happens, one of the kids will follow with, “You’d better not blog about that!” I respect their wishes. You probably notice there are not a lot of posts about my teenaged daughter. That’s the reason.

3. All teenaged girls like their privacy. What was your very first blog post?
My very first blog post was on March 2, 2010. It was aptly named, “The Beginning.” You can find it here:  http://sherryellis.blogspot.com/2010/03/beginning.html
5. For those who may not read your posts, can you tell us a little about your kids? And your dog, Schultz, who often makes an appearance?
I have two kids – an eleven-year old son (Bubba), and a fourteen-year-old daughter. They are both great kids – very smart and creative. Bubba, who is the main subject of my posts, has an amazing imagination. His way of seeing the world is quite entertaining. Then there’s the dog – Schultz. He’s our hundred pound German Shepherd. When he was a puppy, there were more stories about him, because he was always in trouble. Now, not so much. But every now and then he’ll do something crazy that I have to share. (He never objects to my posts!)
6. What are the top 5 most-viewed posts on your blog?
Online Marketing Symposium
Guest Author, Virginia Wright
No Rest for the Mama
Lost Youth
Sunshine Award and Guest Blog Post
7. What do you love most about parenting?
A parent-child bond is really special. I’ve been able to watch my children grow and experience life. I’ve seen their personalities and interests unfold. I’ve been there through their ups and downs. That bond that we share is what I like best.
8. Share your number one tip to bloggers just starting out.
Get involved with the blogging community. Find bloggers and start commenting on their blogs. Pretty soon you’ll be building relationships, and you’ll have some terrific new friends.

Hyper Round:
1. Favorite time to post blogs? 1:00 PM2. Blogger or Wordpress? Blogger3. Do you host guests? Yes4. Where are you when you’re blogging? At my home computer



BIO:
Sherry Ellis is a freelance writer and award-winning children’s author.  Her books include Ten Zany Birds, That Mama is a Grouch, and That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN!       Sherry is also a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola, and piano. She has appeared as a soloist in Germany and was a semi-finalist in the 2004 International Viola Competition in Paris, France.
Sherry lives with her husband and two children in Atlanta, Georgia.
You can learn more about Sherry Ellis on her website, www.sherryellis.org.

LINKS:Twitter / Facebook / Website / Amazon / Blog

Thank you for answering my questions, Sherry! I’d love to have you back as a guest any time!
Please leave a comment for Sherry! :)

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

My first ever author newsletter went out yesterday! YAY!!! I was thrilled about the number of people who signed up and the response I got, including how many people opened it.

THANK YOU! 
Next month's newsletter is going to be EVEN BETTER! ;)
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I love to do nature projects with my nephews. A while ago we made pine cone bird feeders. It was really fun and easy. And it’s perfect for the summer when birds are everywhere.
Need:Pine Cones Peanut butterBird seedPaper platesPlastic knivesStringScissors


Instructions:
1. Go for a walk or hunt through the woods with your kids/grandkids for pine cones, but be careful because some pine cones can be sharp!
2. Cut about 4-5 inches of string. Tie it to the top spike on the pine cones. Keep the two ends untied for hanging.
3. Scoop out some peanut butter into a bowl.
4. Give the kids a plastic knife, place a paper plate in front of them, and have them spread peanut butter over the pine cones. My youngest nephew had fun putting peanut butter deep into the cones.

TIP: Closed pine cones are easier to smear peanut butter over.

My youngest nephew was very focused.
5. Once all the pine cones are coated, pour an inch or so of bird seed in a paper plate and have the kids roll their pine cones over it until all the peanut butter is hidden by seeds.

TIP: Give them a spoon to help them get seeds into all the nooks and cranies.

6. Bring the kids outside and have the pick out branches they want to hand their pine cone bird feeders from. If the branches are low enough, they can tie them on themselves or you might have to tie them on.
My oldest nephew liked finding spots for them to hang.
7. Sit back, be quiet, and watch for birds.
After my nephews and I put all the pine cones up, a Red Cardinal was already inspecting one.

TIP: If you sit long enough and get a lot of bird visitors, you can have the kids look them up in a bird book or online (Google birds native to your area, find a website with a lot of pictures, and have the kids point out the birds they saw.)

The next day, our pinecone birdfeeders were picked clean. One word…squirrels.
Those dudes are sneaky and clever! If you have a lot of squirrels in your area, they may devour the goodies before the birds can. I’m not sure how you can keep them away from these pine cone bird feeders, but they have to eat too, don’t they?  We saw one Red Cardinal creeping up.
QUESTION: Have you ever done this project with your kids, or when you were a kid? I remember doing it in kindergarten or first grade.

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Writing About: A Plane Ride

Sometimes our characters need to go somewhere farther than work and the grocery store. Sometimes they need to go out of state. You could skip the plane ride, but I’m one of those writers who believe in writing everything to make the story realistic. You don’t have to, though. You can start a chapter with your character(s) in the airport after their flight, or you can write out everything but skip the flight. It’s up to you, so take a look at my 4 steps below and pick which phases you want to write about.
1. Airport
People: If you’ve ever been in an airport, you know how chaotic it can be. People traveling for business hurry past with their suitcase in one hand and a briefcase in the other. Families traveling for a vacation crowd together, loud and loaded down with luggage. Tourists, whom we get a lot of in the Orlando International Airport, clutter in packs and often speak a foreign language. Then there are the watchful security guards and pilots walking by in their crisp uniforms.
Image from WikimediaSize: Airports are normally huge and you often have to go from one section/floor to another to get to your gate. I once got lost trying to find my luggage! So make sure to mention the size and even let your frazzled character get lost, too.
Waiting: And then there’s the waiting, which is what everyone does in the airport. Show your characters impatience and what he/she does to consume the time.
2. Take Off
The take off is actually the most exciting part of a plane ride (unless, of course, it crashes). The plane moves onto the runway with a gentle gliding motion. When it picks up speed, the plane will bump and rattle you around, and when it lifts up, you’ll get pushed back into your seat. After a few minutes, the plane levels out. You can describe the shrinking roads, cars, and houses as the plane rises, and the look of the clouds from the window.
Image from Wikipedia

TIP #1: If you want to write about a plane crash, read reports, books, and watch as many movies/documentaries as you can to understand what would happen. 

TIP #2: Consider whether or not your character is afraid of flying. If so, show his/her fear by having him/her clench the armrests, take Valium, pray and/or jump at every little thing.

3. Flight
What does your character do during the flight? Sleep, read, or watch a movie? You don’t have to detail every minute of the flight, but mentioning what your character does is a nice touch. You can also describe the turbulence that bounces your characters and their belongings.
Image from Wikimedia
4. Landing
Usually the landing is smooth but it can also be bumpy. After the landing, follow your character through the airport. Once he/she is outside, you can begin the rest of your story and the purpose for the trip.


QUESTIONS: Are you afraid of flying? Have you ever traveled by plane? Where did you go?
I’ve only been to Michigan, but I traveled there by myself from Florida when I was seventeen and it was my first time ever on a plane. I’m usually afraid of heights, but I did good!

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