Kate Willis's Blog, page 60
March 30, 2020
Oceane McAllister Interview (+Book Spotlight)
March 27, 2020
I Didn’t Write “The End”
My story has been BARRELLING towards the end these last few writing days. I’ve known it was coming for a couple chapters now, but it’s still a bit unbelievable.
I think this draft is done.
I wrote a line that was meant to be the end of the chapter, and it made me tear up and screamed end-of-the-book-goodness to me.
I had plans for an epilogue (and still may write it hence the “I think”), but guys, it’s a novel.
Planned two and half years ago, begun to be drafted last October, and here we are. 
DONE.
March 25, 2020
Book Review: Five Star Spy
“Friends don’t let friends fail their mission…
Brent Peterson is back in town after chasing operatives of the group known as The 10,000– and he’s much worse for wear.
Emily is delighted to see him, but she’s worried: Agent Nighthawk never fails at a mission, but if she doesn’t help him he just might fail this one and let a mysterious 10,000 criminal slip through his fingers.
Not to mention worsen the barely-healed gunshot wound in his shoulder…” (from Goodreads)
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
New HQ? Check. Callbacks to the previous books and short story? Check. If it’s even possible, higher stakes? Also, check. Basically the perfect beginning to season two. 
March 23, 2020
The Return of My Favorite Series
Once upon a time, summer last year, The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott happened. Six novellas published over four months like a perfectly binge-able TV show.
Like some of my favorite shows, these books are perfectly clean and HILARIOUS while having interesting, edge-of-your-seat storylines and really fantastic characters. 
March 20, 2020
Excerpt Time!
I just broke 42k words on my novel this week! I’m so excited to be so near to the end. It feels a little scary that there’s less than one-tenth of the first draft left to write, but if I forget something, there’s always second drafts, right? XD
Also, the message of the novel is one I could have never planned for this time we’re in right now. I plotted it over two years ago and began writing it last October, so I think its definitely a God thing that I’m currently writing scenes about trusting Him for protection and provision.
March 18, 2020
Book Review: A Name Unknown
“Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family’s history, their very name?
Peter Holstein, given his family’s German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.
But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors’ scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he’s more than his name?” (from )
I’d seen the hype surrounding this book when it first released, but after a little research I decided it was likely not my cup of chai tea.
Fast forward to last Christmas when Mikayla, a.k.a. one of my best friends, sent me this book and the next. Our reading tastes line up super often, so I decided it was time to give it a second look. I think I actually asked her a few questions about the book before starting it, I was so nervous. XD
Guys, the CHARACTERS. Sorry to shout, but they were so well written. My life situation is more similar to Rosemary’s and my beliefs are in line with Peter’s, so it was sooo interesting how the author made me feel for and completely understand both of them. And I ate up the writing style. The story was slow but in a good way.
March 16, 2020
This Page Left Intentionally Blank
Have you ever been reading a stack of official papers and found a sheet that just says “This page left intentionally blank”? They tell us this because we expect each paper to hold something important, and if not, there must have been a mistake.
Tonight, I’m telling you beforehand. This post is going to be (mostly) blank.
There is so much being said and typed right now. A little too much, at least for me. All-day, every day for at least the past week, I’ve been bombarded by people “shouting” advice and blame and shame and warning and new rules and encouragement and positives to focus on and more to think about.
It’s a lot. And while most of those things are good things to think about, sometimes we forget to take a break.
So, this space below is left intentionally blank. I’m leaving room for 400 words, an approximate average length of my posts. Apparently that takes the average reader just under a minute and a half to read. (I’m so full of inexact, fun statistics tonight. XD)
Take a minute and a half. Don’t leave this page. Sit quietly and breathe a little. Pray about what’s on your mind. Chase an idea. Imagine another world. Use this blank space, and have a good week.
March 11, 2020
Book Review: The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle
“Something smells like trouble! Can five princess heroes and one Goat Avenger pool their talents to vanquish a monstrous stink?
The Princess in Black is in a very stinky situation. A foul cloud is plaguing the goat pasture, and it smells worse than a pile of dirty diapers or a trash can on a hot summer day. But every time the Princess in Black and her friend the Goat Avenger manage to get rid of the odor, they accidentally blow it to another kingdom! Other masked heroes and their trusty companions show up to help, but how do you battle a stench when your ninja moves fail? Fans with a nose for slapstick will be tickled to see the six stalwart friends join their wits to take on an impossibly beastly stink.” (from Goodreads)
My sisters and I love sharing this series, but I’d fallen behind on this one and ony just now got to read it. It was pretty adorable, and as always, I love the illustrations. (LeUyen Pham is fast becoming one of my favorite illustrators.
March 9, 2020
My Poor Characters
You guys, I’m getting a little concerned for my characters.
Their author just keeps piling things on them. O.o.
I just remembered that this is literally the beginning of the fourth quarter so the WORST is coming. O.o.
Who made me decide to write an end-of-the-world story? XD
Here is the best un-spoilery excerpt I could find. While things were still a little more happy in the story. XD
Marinne sat up slowly and smiled down at the sleeping baby beside her. The fire had burned low in the night, and the cold chill had broken her sleep more than a few times. She shivered and drew her coat tighter around her shoulders. The next season must be coming early.
The dog stood at attention and barked joyfully as the guard and the apprentice entered the clearing, each holding a fish. They were deep in conversation as the guard laid the fish out on a rock and began to clean them.
Marinne smiled to herself and tied the child on her, then drifted into the forest to collect more firewood. When she returned and set it beside the ashy fire, the guard looked up gratefully.
They gathered around the campfire, the four of them and the dog, and shared the fried fish as the morning light grew. Marinne wiped her fingers on the clean grass beside her, then took another bite. It was barely cooked with no breading or seasoning, but each bite felt like a feast as it chipped away at her hunger. Leif woke up and smiled up at her, prompting the others to tease him for one.
I broke 36,000 words yesterday evening! While I’m conflicted about what’s going to happen next, I also am really excited to get further on this story.
What have you been writing lately?
March 4, 2020
Book Review: Not Write Now
“You’ve read all the self-publishing pep talks.
Your book still isn’t published. Or finished.
So why not try a different approach?
Not Write Now isn’t like any book on writing you’ve read before. It won’t tell you to get your hiney in the chair and write. It will tell you to do the exact opposite.
Acclaimed fantasy author Kyle Robert Shultz launches a reverse-psychology attack on your creative blocks that will leave you more eager and determined to write than ever. And he’ll give you plenty of laughs along the way.
This may not be the creativity book you’ve been looking for, but it’s definitely the one you need.” (from Goodreads)
(Before we get started, I just want to say, I delayed my writing time yesterday to finish reading this book, so it was mildly successful at its stated goal. Though only *mildly* successful. XD )
If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you probably already know that I’m not a happy reader of non-fiction. I’m beginning to think I was reading (er, attempting to read) the wrong type of non-fiction, but that’s a story for another time.
This book happened to be on a topic I’m highly interested in, written in a painfully humorous, satirical style, and while it claimed not to be, it ended up being very helpful. I especially felt called out by the “advice” to “make writing not fun anymore”. I fall into that sometimes, and not even on purpose. XD I also loved the balanced view of “plotting” vs. “pantsing”, and deep in this messy draft of my own, I needed the reminder of just how special a first draft is.
Best quotes: “A finished draft, no matter how flawed, is a very dangerous thing.”
“Whatever it takes to prevent you having fun, do it. Deliberately use a writing method that doesn’t work for you. Force yourself to take the draft in a direction you’re not excited about just to make it more marketable. Write while being chased by a swarm of killer bees.”
I will definitely be sharing this book with others, and I’m excited to look up a few things on the list of “Resources to Avoid”.
