Catherine Astolfo's Blog, page 11
August 17, 2013
Route Recalculation
My GPS is called Halle. Partly because I want Halle Berry to play Anne in the movie version of "Sweet Karoline" and partly because she sounds a bit like Hal from "2001: A Space Odessy".
Her favorite words seem to be, "Route recalculation", which got me to thinking about the similarity between driving with a GPS - and life.
I know, it's probably this weird writer mind that causes such odd explosions of thought. But doesn't life force us into lots of route recalculations?
Just like the new "one way" signs or the construction barriers or the police investigations cause detours in our travel, certain realities make us change our life plans.
For instance, I wanted to be a reporter. Unfortunately, my parents listened to my high school counselor who said, "She's too smart for college." Seriously, he did. Thus my parents talked me into waiting until after Grade 13 to make a decision.
Route recalculation.
The next thing I knew, I was married and had kids. Mortgage to pay. A job as a reporter didn't seem to pay enough. I opted for security over creativity and became a teacher. In the early seventies, it seemed the thing for a married woman to do. However, I could do my writing part-time: summers, weekends, other holidays. I published a number of short stories and made outlines for the novels that would surely follow.
Sometimes, though, marriages do not work out. Single parenthood takes a bit more time and energy than one would imagine.
You got it: Route recalculation.
Years later, several short stories and poems in small magazines, I find retirement. A time of renewal and determination to finish those novels. Although submissions wend their way up the publication chain, they don't get far enough. I get very close, a horseshoe that skids up to the ringer but doesn't embrace it. Route recalculation.
Self-publishing was not a horrendous experience. I sold quite a few books and gained a passel of fans. But I never reached anywhere near a global audience. Then suddenly, Imajin Books came along. I sent the acquisitions editor a copy of each of my books. She sent a contract.
Oh, glorious route recalculation.
With Sweet Karoline, I feel as though I have hit my stride. As she gallops along, I hope she brings her sister Emily with her. And next comes Rosie. Whatever route recalculations are out there in my future, I'm ready to follow the unbeaten path. Gassed up and ready, so to speak.
Go to my website and see all the books there. Karoline and Emily, that is. Rosie's not finished yet!
If you can fill in this blank (it's a sentence on the website), email me with the answer and I will gift you your choice of one of the ebooks.
Get ...... on the Emily Taylor Mysteries!
MY WEBSITE
Talk to you later! I'm off to hear some lovely words at the Scene of the Crime festival on Wolfe Island.
Her favorite words seem to be, "Route recalculation", which got me to thinking about the similarity between driving with a GPS - and life.
I know, it's probably this weird writer mind that causes such odd explosions of thought. But doesn't life force us into lots of route recalculations?
Just like the new "one way" signs or the construction barriers or the police investigations cause detours in our travel, certain realities make us change our life plans.
For instance, I wanted to be a reporter. Unfortunately, my parents listened to my high school counselor who said, "She's too smart for college." Seriously, he did. Thus my parents talked me into waiting until after Grade 13 to make a decision.
Route recalculation.The next thing I knew, I was married and had kids. Mortgage to pay. A job as a reporter didn't seem to pay enough. I opted for security over creativity and became a teacher. In the early seventies, it seemed the thing for a married woman to do. However, I could do my writing part-time: summers, weekends, other holidays. I published a number of short stories and made outlines for the novels that would surely follow.
Sometimes, though, marriages do not work out. Single parenthood takes a bit more time and energy than one would imagine.
You got it: Route recalculation.
Years later, several short stories and poems in small magazines, I find retirement. A time of renewal and determination to finish those novels. Although submissions wend their way up the publication chain, they don't get far enough. I get very close, a horseshoe that skids up to the ringer but doesn't embrace it. Route recalculation.
Self-publishing was not a horrendous experience. I sold quite a few books and gained a passel of fans. But I never reached anywhere near a global audience. Then suddenly, Imajin Books came along. I sent the acquisitions editor a copy of each of my books. She sent a contract.
Oh, glorious route recalculation.
With Sweet Karoline, I feel as though I have hit my stride. As she gallops along, I hope she brings her sister Emily with her. And next comes Rosie. Whatever route recalculations are out there in my future, I'm ready to follow the unbeaten path. Gassed up and ready, so to speak.
Go to my website and see all the books there. Karoline and Emily, that is. Rosie's not finished yet!
If you can fill in this blank (it's a sentence on the website), email me with the answer and I will gift you your choice of one of the ebooks.
Get ...... on the Emily Taylor Mysteries!
MY WEBSITE
Talk to you later! I'm off to hear some lovely words at the Scene of the Crime festival on Wolfe Island.
August 14, 2013
Consider Yourself Well In! Guest Peter Clenott
"Consider yourself well in, consider yourself part of the family"
I haven't really met Peter in person, but he's one of our Imajin-nation, so he has to be great. Here are some things I have learned about him. He has three wonderful kids (even though they're teens LOL). He writes mainly in the YA genre in their honor. In August 2013, DEVOLUTION will be published by Imajin Books. He's also one of those people whom I admire for their social services and non-profit work. Sounds like he's politically involved, too, so look out Massachusetts!
Now, to the best part - Peter's new book, Devolution.
DEVOLUTION features sixteen-year-old Chiku Flynn. Chiku was born in the Congo rainforest to two anthropologists studying the native chimpanzees. For the first eleven years of her life, Chiku is more chimp than child. She nests with the chimpanzees, grooms them and has no qualms about sticking a leaf tool in the soil and slurping up the ants and termites she uncovers. When she is eleven, her mother is killed, and Chiku is sent back to the United States to grow into a maladjusted teenager medicated for anxiety, depression, mood disorder, hyperactivity, you name it. When her father disappears, Chiku must return to the Congo to discover her true heroic self. In Swahili, Chiku means ‘chatterbox’ but the chimpanzees of the Maiku National park, with whom she can communicate using sign language, know her simply as Talk Talk
An Excerpt for my followers - FREE!
Perched on a branch in a tree at the top of Chimp Hill, the highest point on the island, Scallion studied the night sky. In times past, the moon, the stars, all of the bright objects set in the darkness above, would have held no meaning for him or for his fellow chimpanzees. With good reason their curiosity was focused on the earth and upon the rain forest in which they lived, how it fed them and nurtured them. This had been true since the beginning of time, since the first chimpanzee found a home here. Only the arrival of the girl and her parents had changed that, changed everything, in fact.
Scallion didn’t feel the wind breathing through his brown fur, didn’t feel its soft tickling. Sometimes the moon shone a brilliant red or even purple, colors reflecting off the water of the Mamba River, which flowed around Chimp Hill and created his island home. On those nights the young chimpanzee reflected upon days buried deeply but firmly in his memory when he and the human female played tag and leaped through the trees, wraaing and hooting and pretending they were of the same kind.
Tonight the mouth-shaped moon seemed to be frowning. The girl had explained to him, using her hands in a language her father was teaching them, that they all lived on a great big ball. Using the thumb and middle finger of her left hand she would pinch her right wrist and explain to them that their world made a circle every day so that light was a part of the morning and darkness an expected feature of night.
"The moon," she signed, touching her forehead with two fingers in the shape of the crescent, "is a ball of rock that floats in the air so far away birds can never reach it. Chimpanzees can never get there either, but our kind can."
Buy Devolution HERE It's still only 99¢ for its debut price, so get it on your ereader now and read it to your kids!
I haven't really met Peter in person, but he's one of our Imajin-nation, so he has to be great. Here are some things I have learned about him. He has three wonderful kids (even though they're teens LOL). He writes mainly in the YA genre in their honor. In August 2013, DEVOLUTION will be published by Imajin Books. He's also one of those people whom I admire for their social services and non-profit work. Sounds like he's politically involved, too, so look out Massachusetts!
Now, to the best part - Peter's new book, Devolution.
DEVOLUTION features sixteen-year-old Chiku Flynn. Chiku was born in the Congo rainforest to two anthropologists studying the native chimpanzees. For the first eleven years of her life, Chiku is more chimp than child. She nests with the chimpanzees, grooms them and has no qualms about sticking a leaf tool in the soil and slurping up the ants and termites she uncovers. When she is eleven, her mother is killed, and Chiku is sent back to the United States to grow into a maladjusted teenager medicated for anxiety, depression, mood disorder, hyperactivity, you name it. When her father disappears, Chiku must return to the Congo to discover her true heroic self. In Swahili, Chiku means ‘chatterbox’ but the chimpanzees of the Maiku National park, with whom she can communicate using sign language, know her simply as Talk Talk
An Excerpt for my followers - FREE!
Perched on a branch in a tree at the top of Chimp Hill, the highest point on the island, Scallion studied the night sky. In times past, the moon, the stars, all of the bright objects set in the darkness above, would have held no meaning for him or for his fellow chimpanzees. With good reason their curiosity was focused on the earth and upon the rain forest in which they lived, how it fed them and nurtured them. This had been true since the beginning of time, since the first chimpanzee found a home here. Only the arrival of the girl and her parents had changed that, changed everything, in fact.
Scallion didn’t feel the wind breathing through his brown fur, didn’t feel its soft tickling. Sometimes the moon shone a brilliant red or even purple, colors reflecting off the water of the Mamba River, which flowed around Chimp Hill and created his island home. On those nights the young chimpanzee reflected upon days buried deeply but firmly in his memory when he and the human female played tag and leaped through the trees, wraaing and hooting and pretending they were of the same kind.
Tonight the mouth-shaped moon seemed to be frowning. The girl had explained to him, using her hands in a language her father was teaching them, that they all lived on a great big ball. Using the thumb and middle finger of her left hand she would pinch her right wrist and explain to them that their world made a circle every day so that light was a part of the morning and darkness an expected feature of night.
"The moon," she signed, touching her forehead with two fingers in the shape of the crescent, "is a ball of rock that floats in the air so far away birds can never reach it. Chimpanzees can never get there either, but our kind can."
Buy Devolution HERE It's still only 99¢ for its debut price, so get it on your ereader now and read it to your kids!
August 10, 2013
Partay, Karamu, Fiesta!
Partay, Karamu, Fiesta...on Twitter??!!
Sure, why not?
A virtual party is fabulous.
Make up, jewellery, ties, shiny shoes - forget 'em!
You don't have to get dressed up. Or dressed at all for that matter.
You don't have to worry about a hostess/host gift. In fact, the hostess will be giving YOU a gift or two!
You don't have to schmooze unless you want to. You can talk a lot - or not.
You know the old adage, "It’s all fun and games, until someone calls the cops"? Well, you don't have to worry about that, since the only noise will be the sound of your fingers typing and your out-loud laughing.
You don't even have to worry about a hangover, since the drinks are all virtual.
Come on over today, to the Imajin Books and Authors Twitter Party. You'll meet some new authors, "hear" some new voices, and you could become a new winner.
Join us by searching for #ImajinAuthors on Twitter. Leave us a question or comment by including #ImajinAuthors in your tweets. The party begins each of the two days at 2:00 PM EDT and goes until 8:00 PM EDT. Our talented authors will drop by when they can during the two days, so you never know who you’re going to meet. Follow us at ImajinBooks on Twitter.
Sure, why not?
A virtual party is fabulous.
Make up, jewellery, ties, shiny shoes - forget 'em!
You don't have to get dressed up. Or dressed at all for that matter.
You don't have to worry about a hostess/host gift. In fact, the hostess will be giving YOU a gift or two!
You don't have to schmooze unless you want to. You can talk a lot - or not.
You know the old adage, "It’s all fun and games, until someone calls the cops"? Well, you don't have to worry about that, since the only noise will be the sound of your fingers typing and your out-loud laughing.You don't even have to worry about a hangover, since the drinks are all virtual.
Come on over today, to the Imajin Books and Authors Twitter Party. You'll meet some new authors, "hear" some new voices, and you could become a new winner.
Join us by searching for #ImajinAuthors on Twitter. Leave us a question or comment by including #ImajinAuthors in your tweets. The party begins each of the two days at 2:00 PM EDT and goes until 8:00 PM EDT. Our talented authors will drop by when they can during the two days, so you never know who you’re going to meet. Follow us at ImajinBooks on Twitter.
August 3, 2013
Great Openings
What do you think makes a great opening for a book? For instance, was that a great blog beginning, a question for you to contemplate? Does that compel you to read on, or annoy you and make you stop?
When I searched “best opening lines in literature”, a string of traditional novels leapt out. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” An amazing opening that goes on forever —a full paragraph, in fact—breaking all the rules of repetition and succinct attention grabbing.
But is that rambling opening wonderful only because we know what comes after it? We are familiar now with the rich, complicated, character-driven, historical masterpiece behind that run-on sentence (either from the book or the movie). When A Tale of Two Cities was first released, I wonder if the opening served to pique the readers’ interest. Perhaps people thought the rambling was a bit much. Is the beautiful language in the opening responsible for the novel’s subsequent popularity? Or maybe we’ve paid attention to the beginning after the study of the incredible book.
Or, after looking at Charlie's picture, I'm wondering if the hair did it. Maybe I should get a different hair style?
Maybe this is a chicken and egg kind of debate. Maybe it doesn’t really matter.For me, though, it’s interesting because of how my fifth novel developed. I got the opening sentence first. Although it went through a few permutations, it was a great line and I knew it.
“I met Ethan on the day that I killed Karoline.”
Such an admission, such a taunt, deserves follow-up, I think. It might not be filled with wisdom or historical significance, but it’s certainly a huge statement about what’s happening in the narrator’s life. My next challenge was to make Anne, the main protagonist, likeable. Once she admitted to being a murderer, where could I go from there? Is she a Dexter? Or is she suffering from guilt because of her best friend’s suicide and therefore feels responsible?
Those are all the questions I hoped that first sentence would imply, lead to, or open up. Tell me if you think I nailed it - or not.Oh, and don't forget, we've got a party going on at my publisher's place, with tons of giveaways. Come on over and set a spell.
Buy Sweet Karoline HERE.
Join the Summer Sizzle Party here.
July 31, 2013
Summer Sizzles
From my wonderful publisher, Imajin Books, comes a terrific sale and lots of fun along with a whole bunch of terrific prizes.Great things come in threes this August!
1. 'Share the Imajin Books Buzz' contest- share our events on Twitter and Facebook, and share your pics of our books on your ereaders or you holding one, and receive entries into a draw for a KINDLE FIRE HD with wi-fi! Open to US, Canada and UK residents. Other prizes include three $20 Amazon or Kobo Books gift cards (winner’s choice). Void where prohibited. Draw will take place the first week of September. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form on our home page from August 1-31.
2. Imajin Books eBook Sale – www.imajinbooks.com– all ebooks will be priced at $0.99 or $1.99 from August 15-31st.
3. Twitter Party - for two days, August 9/10, we'll be holding a Twitter Party online and giving away prizes (ebooks and gift cards from Amazon and Kobo.) Join us by searching for #ImajinAuthors. Leave us a question or comment by including #ImajinAuthors in your tweet. The party begins each day at 2:00 PM EST and goes until 8:00 PM EST. Our authors will drop by when they can. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/imajinbooks
July 20, 2013
Wow, this is FUN.
Aside from holding that lovely book baby in my hands, seeing her hop here there and everywhere is the most fun. Joanna D'Angelo does such a great job of taking your baby by the hand and leading her into marvelous places. (If you are an author, visit The Revolving Book. You'll be astonished by the prices.)
Here's where you can find me today: a few spots in the U.S. and one in England! I have that teleporting perfected.
Facebook:Love-Romance-Novels
The Revolving Book
The Pop Culture Divas
I'm on Morgen Bailey's author spotlight today!
Come on over to merry old England and comment in your best British accent.
Not to mention Darlene's Book Nook. Whew! What a whirlwind.
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July 19, 2013
In my mind, I'm goin' to Hollywood...
Today I'm in a whole bunch of places at once. It's a whirlwind, I tell ya!
I'm in Los Angeles, one of my favorite spots, with Douglas Wickard, who is a wonderful friend and author. He asked me such GREAT questions. You'll be able to tell immediately that he's a fabulous writer.
Douglas Wickard: Walker's Blog
I LOVE L.A. - in my mind, I go to Hollywood a lot. My son and his wife live there, you see.
This is a picture of me with my son and daughter when Kristen and I were visiting James and Meredith. We're on Venice Beach! Meredith took the picture.
Later this same day, I was able to have wine and conversation with Douglas, whom I'd only met online previously.
I'm off to lots of other places, too, thanks to Mayra Calvani's services as an author promotions expert!
Interview on Open salon
Interview on American Chronicle
Spotlight on Book Blogs
Mommy Bloggers
The Book Marketing Network
She Writes
I hope you can drop by and make a comment on one or two of them. Thanks for being on the ride with me. Please let me know if you like my book, too. I love feedback.
Sweet Karoline
July 18, 2013
Canadians Aren't So Nice and Other Serious Topics
Virtual blog and book touring is perhaps not as fun as being there, but at least you as a reader don't have to invest a lot of money in following me around. Which I know you would, but I'm happy you don't have to.
When you have a moment to yourself at work, or want to duck in out of the heat, point your iPad or tablet or smart phone to one of these articles. Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter contest so you can win something for your trouble.
Canadians Aren't So Nice is the title of the blog I wrote for my friend Jill Edmondson, author of the Sasha Jackson Mysteries. She's kindly hosting me today at Jill's place. If you have some time, drop in and say hi. Argue my premise if you dare!
Guest Post at Straight from the Author's Mouth: This is a group of Ladies Who Blog. They invite authors to give our esteemed opinion on anything about the writing process. I chose review writing, one of my favorite peeves.
Interview on Goodreads: On this venerable site where you can find hundreds of authors and books, Mayra Calvani asks me five questions, including, "What does on in the mind of a mystery writer?" I mean, she asked!
Interview on Blogger News: These questions centered on Sweet Karoline, my inspirations and motivations behind writing it and so on. Really tested my brain, I must say.
Sweet Karoline hit #40 on the Canadian Amazon Bestseller list on its first day. Still at the introductory price of 99¢ US!
July 16, 2013
Book Touring
Having a new release is such a roller coaster ride! So many things going on. My google alert is pinging constantly. I am tweeting until I've turned into Big Bird. Sweet Karoline leapt onto the top 100 Bestsellers (Kindle Paid) on Amazon.ca and I turned into a mush ball. For sure, some of that is residue from my Mom's recent passing, especially since I dedicated this book to her. Some of it is simply the down slope of the roller coaster: an old broad like me gets a little overtired.
I am all over the place this week. From Guelph, ON, to Seattle, Washington and so on. No wonder I'm overtired LOL.
Some of my amazing followers, friends and fans have asked what they can do. Pick one of these blogs or interviews, read, and comment. That's all. Oh, and tell your friends to order Sweet Karoline (the ebook) while it's still at the introductory price of 99¢ US.
Don't forget the rafflecopter contest, too. I really would like to give away those books and that Amazon gift certificate.
First up, today, with Alison Bruce and Nighthawk in Guelph.
I was honored to be called a "Master Story Teller" at the Kindle Review
I was interviewed at Blog Critics.
And in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
You can read a chapter of Sweet Karoline on As the Pages Turn
I have a guest post on Guest post on The Writer's Life
There's another interview on The Examiner
You can even enjoy an interview with Anne Williams, the main character of Sweet Karoline! on Beyond the Books
A whole bunch of thanks and hugs from me to you.
Cathy
I am all over the place this week. From Guelph, ON, to Seattle, Washington and so on. No wonder I'm overtired LOL.
Some of my amazing followers, friends and fans have asked what they can do. Pick one of these blogs or interviews, read, and comment. That's all. Oh, and tell your friends to order Sweet Karoline (the ebook) while it's still at the introductory price of 99¢ US.
Don't forget the rafflecopter contest, too. I really would like to give away those books and that Amazon gift certificate.
First up, today, with Alison Bruce and Nighthawk in Guelph.
I was honored to be called a "Master Story Teller" at the Kindle Review
I was interviewed at Blog Critics.
And in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
You can read a chapter of Sweet Karoline on As the Pages Turn
I have a guest post on Guest post on The Writer's Life
There's another interview on The Examiner
You can even enjoy an interview with Anne Williams, the main character of Sweet Karoline! on Beyond the Books
A whole bunch of thanks and hugs from me to you.
Cathy
July 15, 2013
Good Times!
Sweet Karoline, good times never seemed so good, so good, so good! Isn't it nice of Neil Diamond to stop by and serenade? And change the C to K?
As of late last night (in southern Ontario anyway), Sweet Karoline hit #40 on Amazon.ca. What a thrill!
(Before I forget, you can click on the book cover and go to Amazon and download it for a mere 99¢ US. Intro price so hurry.)
This week I am on a virtual book tour. It's soooo exciting. Almost as good as being there. Come with me!
Oh, and don't forget the Rafflecopter Contest. Lots of great prizes.
You can stop by the Author Island Party on Facebook today or tomorrow, too: Cyber Party.
Here's my hectic tour schedule for today. Please drop in.
Tomorrow, I'm off to other exotic lands!!
See why I LOVE being an author? Thanks to my publisher, Imajin Books, I get to travel all over the world and take Sweet Karoline with me.
July 15:
Joyce Strand in California
The Dark Phantom
The Story Behind the Book
See you tomorrow - and thanks, always. I never take you for granted.
