Krista Van Dolzer's Blog, page 26

Have I Really Been Blogging for Five Years?

Apparently, the answer is yes (and I have the archives to prove it). In some ways, it feels like it hasn't been that long, but in other ways, it does. Blogging was the thing for a new writer to do back in 2009, and now it's kind of...not. Also, Lady was a screaming infant back when I first started, and now she's in kindergarten. It's funny how time speeds up when we're not paying attention and slows down when we are.

Clicking back through these archives, it's interesting to see what's the same...

And the Winner of GRIM CRUSH Is...

Jenilyn Collings!
Congratulations, Jeni! Please e-mail me at kvandolzer(at)gmail(dot)com so we can figure out how to get your e-copy of GRIM CRUSH to you.

The Beta Reader Browse, 2014 Edition

It's been forever since I hosted one of these meet-and-greets, so consider this my catch-up post. I know there are several dedicated websites that help writers find new beta readers/critique partners, but since I found ALL of my critique partners on a blog, I can't help but think that the old-fashioned way might still be useful:)

If you're looking for a beta reader/critique partner, leave a comment on this post with the following information:

1. The genre of your manuscript
2. A few sentences ab...

From "An Agent's Inbox" Entry to Published Novel

When S.L. Bynum entered GRIM CRUSH in one of the very first rounds of "An Agent's Inbox," The Agent said that her writing was great but that the concept wasn't for her. Luckily, Crescent Moon Press thought the concept was for them. GRIM CRUSH debuted last month, and Ms. Bynum is here to fill us in on her path to publication. I'm also hosting a giveaway for a copy of the e-book, so don't miss those details at the bottom of the post!

The road to publication is filled with many bumps and obstacle...

Ms. Nyen's Winners

Without any ado, Ms. Nyen's winners:

#3 SNOW GLOBE
#5 100 KISSES#16 BEE STADIUM#21 IF I PROMISE YOU THE SUN#30 WHERE THERE IS DARK
Congratulations, winners! Ms. Nyen would like to see your first five chapters and a complete synopsis. Please e-mail me at kvandolzer(at)gmail(dot)com for instructions on how to submit your materials.
And for those of you who didn't win, you're welcome to query her directly via her submission guidelines once you've revised your entries. Though she won't be able t...

The Agent = Renee Nyen of kt literary

This month's agent, who certainly went the extra mile, was Renee Nyen of kt literary! She's an up-and-coming agent who's actively building her list, so if you'd like more information, you can find her in several places around the web:

My interview with Ms. Nyen
Ms. Nyen's Twitter feed

And here's a little more about her: "Several years in the editorial department at Random House’s Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leaving...

Ready, Set, Critique!

And we're off! Check out the entries, then leave some feedback in the comments if you feel so inclined. (ENTRANTS, PLEASE REMEMBER TO CRITIQUE AT LEAST THREE OTHER ENTRIES!) And I'm sure this goes without saying, but please keep your comments constructive (i.e., not rude or mean-spirited). If you want to think like The Agent, you might consider the question, "How much of the entry did you read, and if you didn't read it all, why did you stop?"

I'll announce The Agent's winners and prizes at th...

An Agent's Inbox #30

Dear Agent,
Cursed to perpetual darkness, the once-great city of Creperi teeters on the brink of ruin. Sixteen-teen-year old Jazzlyn may live among the damned, but what sets her apart also makes her a target.
Creperi’s exiles want what Jazzlyn has--immunity from the Star’s lethal rays--and they’ve figured out a way to get it. When the exiles take her boyfriend, Tristan, hostage, Jazzlyn will do anything to save him. Unfortunately, anything includes traveling to Lumen, the mountain metropolis ab...

An Agent's Inbox #29

Dear Agent,
Ever since her mama drove her car into the Mississippi, sixteen-year-old Bria Dauphine's made it her mission to leave behind her overbearing dad and get the hell out of New Orleans, before the city drives her mad like it did her mom. Since her daddy won’t pay for her to attend college outside the city, and leave her duties as heir to one of the oldest supernatural families behind, she decides to earn the money herself by becoming a paranormal investigator. For the world she lives i...

An Agent's Inbox #28

Dear Agent:

Seventeen-year-old pianist Grace Armstrong tells at least three lies every day. She tells herself the monsters she sees in reflections are just pictures under glass. She tells the molten-skinned beasts they don’t scare her anymore. And she tells herself that she wants nothing more than to be sane. But sanity means the monsters are real, and there’s no way to be okay with that.

When a boy replaces the monsters in her bedroom mirror, Grace decides nothing's crazier than falling for on...