Kate Willis's Blog, page 113
October 11, 2016
Book Review: Ella Enchanted
“At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the “gift” of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: ‘Instead of making me docile, Lucinda’s curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally.’ When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two tre...
October 10, 2016
Brainstorming in the Treehouse
Today, way up in the treehouse at a tiny picnic table,I got to spend one of my first brainstorming sessionswith my younger sisters for their NaNoWriMo projects.
I listened to their ideas, gave my advice on a few gingerbread people’s names, and then it was time to talk about story plot.
I skipped the whole fancy three-act-four-plot-point-inciting-event-and-climax explanation since they’ll probably be writing shorter stories (and I’m no good at explaining it), and cut to the chase.
Every story...
October 7, 2016
NaNoWri…No, Not This Year
I’m convinced that NaNoWriMo is one of the best ideas ever. Coordinating thousands of insane authors to write their brains out for the whole month together? Yeah, pretty awesome.
October 6, 2016
Plate Update: Fantasy, Fortune Cookies, and 84 Emails
This autumn (HAPPY AUTUMN, by the way!!!), I’m pretty sure my “plate” has become a Thanksgiving platter.Here’s an update on what I’ve been doing. This past month, I…
Beta-read:
Part of an early draft for an amaaaazing fantasy story. I can’t wait to finish it.
October 5, 2016
Book Review: Fitting In
“Newly married, Elizabeth Leffler moves with her husband to his farm in the foothills of the western mountains. Eager to be a part of the town and community, she is disappointed by the cool welcome she receives. In her eagerness to fit in and find a place for herself, Elizabeth does the unthinkable.”(from Goodreads)
I loved this sweet short story by Rebekah Morris about the power of one person standing up for what is right! Elizabeth’s enthusiasm and passion were spreading to me even as I rea...
October 4, 2016
Franky A. Brown Interview
Franky A. Brown started writing her Jane Austen retellings in May 2015. She started with Pride and Butterflies, then None But You. Now she’s published Emma’s Match a retelling of Emma by Jane Austen. In Franky’s retelling, Emma is a designer who’s business is struggling, but she’s never failed at anything and she doesn’t plan to fail here either. Can she walk the line between friendship and love or will she lose the only man she has ever loved?
About the Book
Emma Wallace has a plan up her s...
October 3, 2016
The Wonder
C.S. Lewis explained the inspiration for his Chronicles of Narnia by saying, “It all began with a picture of a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy woodland. This picture had been in my mind since I was about sixteen. Then one day, when I was about forty, I said to myself: ‘Let’s try to make a story about it.'” (from“It All Began with a Picture”)
And several delightful stories were born.
Just like Mr. Lewis, I’m often not sure where my inspiration comes from.Here’s how I explai...October 1, 2016
The End
Wow, it has been so greatpartying with you all! I loved hearing what your favorite books were, helping you find new things to read, and even getting few recommendationsmyself.
September 30, 2016
Top 5 Favorite Picture Books
I love picture books. Especially ones that hold the attention of both the child I am reading to and me. They can be such a cozy way to spend time with a child, and the conversations that often arise are definitely keepers.
Audrey Bunny by Angie Smith
I LOVE this story! It’s not your typical read-this-picture-book-aloud-then-groan-when-the-little-kids-ask-for-it-again-for-the-eightieth-time. The illustrations make you want to get lost in them for hours and the story is so sweet! Definitely so...
Top 5 Favorite Books for Middle Graders
One of the best things about being a long time bookworm is getting to recommend books to those who have just started their career/addiction/hobby.
