Kathy Cyr's Blog: Kathy Cyr- Author, page 106

Thursday Three

Good Morning! It's Thursday Three. 3 writing prompts to get those creative juices flowing.
Have a wonderful day and may it be good to you and yours.

There’s an old man sitting in a rickety wooden chair, fishing through a hole in the ice on a frozen lake. A loud cracking sound reverberates across the lake’s surface, and he feels the ice shift beneath him. He scurries, but the hole expands too quickly, and he goes into the icy water. What happens next?
writingforward.com

When his or her commanding officer is found dead, one young soldier goes AWOL and launches a personal investigation to find out who did it.
writingforward.com

While shopping in a department store during the holidays, a child is separated from his or her parents and discovers a portal to a winter wonderland.
writingforward.com

My first...

So excited. Received my very first customer review today and it was five stars! Can't believe it and am so appreciative.

From Amazon UK:
"Awesome read from a new author. Easy, engaging style that will delight young readers and leave them wanting more. "

‪#‎maxhamby‬ ‪#‎writer‬ ‪#‎author‬ ‪#‎book‬ ‪#‎selfpub‬ ‪#‎ebook‬

Wednesday Wisdom

Good Morning!

Wednesday Wisdom for #writers & #readers.

For #writers:

You can't build a plot out of jokes. You need tragic relief. And you need to let people know that when a lot of frightened people are running around with edged weaponry, there are deaths. Stupid deaths, usually. I'm not writing 'The A-Team' - if there's a fight going on, people will get hurt. Not letting this happen would be a betrayal.
Terry Pratchett

If a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one ninth of it being above water.
Ernest Hemingway

For #readers:

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man’s mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

To sit alone in the lamplight with a book spread out before you, and hold intimate converse with men of unseen generations — such is a pleasure beyond compare. ~Kenko Yoshida

Have a wonderful day, my friends. May it be good to you and yours. :)

Updated Cover & Book Blurb/Description

Updated the print and ebook cover for book 1, Max Hamby and the Blood Diamond, as well as, the book blurb/description. I loved the original, but I think the new one gives readers a better idea of what the story is about.

Traveling Tuesday

Good morning,it's Traveling Tuesday!

Today we're going to Lower Brockhampton and Launsdorf, Austria.

In case you need to do a bit of research on the area, a little info & reviews on Lower Brockhampton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brockhampton_Estate
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g7160309-d502911-Reviews-Brockhampton_Estate-Bringsty_Herefordshire_England.html


It's mid-afternoon. Where is your character?
Looks like your character is getting ready to bake? What is it? Why?

The owner of this cozy photo is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/berkelaar/16752084401 Launsdorf. Austria

A few research links, just in case you need them:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g3347597-Launsdorf_Carinthia_Austrian_Alps-Vacations.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hochosterwitz_Castle
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g3347597-d1081392-Reviews-Hochosterwitz_Castle_Burg_Hochosterwitz-Launsdorf_Carinthia_Austrian_Alps.html
http://www.burg-hochosterwitz.com/en/


Your character has to get into Hocosterwitz Castle after dark. Why?
Perhaps there's something in the castle that he or she needs? Or your character might have to get inside, but must make his or her way down into that hilltop?
The owner of this beautiful photo is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gabriellabottka/6952974309/




#writer #author #book #selfpub #writingprompt

Monday Mentionables

Good Morning!

I hope your weekend was a good one. It's Monday Mentionables time: links worth mentioning.
There's 3 links that are super helpful and worth keeping an eye on.

Lindsey Buroker's blog.
I find her blog informative and straight forward.
http://www.lindsayburoker.com/category/tips-and-tricks/

James Scott Bell's blog - Kill Zone
This is a blog I refer to every so often. Very good stuff her and worth bookmarking.
http://killzoneblog.com/

Guido Henkel's tutorial on formatting your ebook.
For those you having trouble cleaning up your manuscript, this tut just might be the thing to help you through.
I had tried for months to get my manuscript under control and when I came across Guido, it was a relief.
http://guidohenkel.com/2010/12/take-pride-in-your-ebook-formatting/

That's it for today, my friends. If you have links worth mentioning, let me know and I'll add them to the Monday Mentionables list.

Was Sunday Singles

Good morning, my friends.

Today was going to be the first of our Sunday Singles - single title middle grade books.
For now, I'll be holding off as my to do list and book 2 needs attention.
I'll be revealing the brand new cover for book 1 soon.

I hope your weekend has been a great and today is filled with fun, productivity and laughter.
Don't forget, tomorrow is Monday Mentionables, links for writers and readers.

K. :)

#writers #readers #author #books #selfpub #middlegrade #fantasy #MG #bookseries

Saturday Series

Today is the first day of our Saturday Series.
This where I list off a a fantastic book series.

I'll list the author and book links for now, since I've never done a review before. In time, hopefully, the Saturday Series will get more in depth for you.

Here's the first book series I fell in love with, kept me on the edge of my seat and has me crossing my fingers that there will be more.

The Five Kingdoms Series by Toby Neighbors.
Wizard Rising is the first book in the series and it was also the very first self-pubbed book I bought.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but far away lands, wizards and magic ALWAYS pull me in.

There are seven books in the series, the main character is Zollin and seriously? Each book kept getting better and better. I, honestly, didn't want it to end. Will there be more? I hope so. This is one of the sets I cherish.

Toby Neighbors website: http://www.tobyneighbors.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TobyNeighborsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TobyNeighbors

Start with book 1 and drop in on the adventures of Zollin.

In the Realm of the Five Kingdoms, magic is strictly controlled by a small group of powerful wizards who call themselves the Torr. Throughout the realm, magic lies dormant, sleeping, almost forgotten until Zollin discovers that he is a wizard. While he revels in his new powers and the realization that his life has purpose, malevolent wizards from the Torr, led by the scheming Branock, tirelessly seek him out. When at last they discover Zollin, a confrontation will ensue that will change the five kingdoms forever. Zollin is forced to flee his home and, with a small group of friends, find a way to survive until he can learn to use his powers to protect the people he cares about. Wizard Rising is a coming of age story that dives headfirst into a realm where magic is about to reawaken. So buckle up and hang on; the action comes fast and you won’t be able to put it down.

Friday Fun

Feeling a little punchy after a long week? I've got 10 weird ways to reduce stress.
Need a laugh? I've picked out some memes just for you. Perhaps a good joke or wash away the week's frustration and grime with a special soap for writers? Check it out.

We all face stressful situations from time to time, and it is important to accept the fact that stress can never be completely eliminated. However, there are several simple, and rather interesting, ways to prevent stress before it gets out of hand.

http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1025541/10-weird-ways-to-reduce-stress

http://goodmenproject.com/health/the-good-life-7-strange-things-that-can-help-us-relieve-stress/


I discovered these funny memes a while ago and knew they were perfect for you. #Writer memes.
#Readers, I didn't forget about you. Now, let's get your week off to a good start with some jokes about #writing


A writer comes home to a burned down house. His sobbing and slightly-singed wife is standing outside.
"What happened, honey?" the man asks.
"Oh, John, it was terrible," she weeps. "I was cooking, the phone rang. It was your agent. Because I was on the phone, I didn't notice the stove was on fire. It went up in second. Everything is gone. I nearly didn't make it out of the house. Poor Fluffy is.."
"Wait, wait. Back up a minute,"The man says. "My agent called?"


How many writers does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer:  Ten.
1st draft.  Hero changes light bulb.
2nd draft.  Villain changes light bulb.
3rd draft.  Hero stops villain from changing light bulb.  Villain falls to death.
4th draft.  Lose the light bulb.
5th draft.  Light bulb back in.  Fluorescent instead of tungsten.
6th draft.  Villain breaks bulb, uses it to kill hero's mentor.
7th draft.  Fluorescent not working.  Back to tungsten.
8th draft.  Hero forces villain to eat light bulb.
9th draft.  Hero laments loss of light bulb.  Doesn't change it.
10th draft.  Hero changes light bulb.


And finally, wash away the week's worth of frustration with this interesting soap:

Soap for Writer's Block from the Whiskey River Soap Company

http://whiskeyriversoap.com/collections/soap/products/soap-for-writers-block

Lube the mind.

Or the body. Wait, what? Lather the body. Not lube. Freudian slip. So the wordsmith’s well has run dry? Try this specially-crafted Writer’s Block soap. If this soap doesn’t help you churn out regurgitated ideas and probably a vampire, I’ll eat my hat. It’s a fedora, by the way. Cool vampires wear fedoras now. Put that in your crack pipe and smoke it. Or in your book. Either way, you’re gonna need this soap ASAP. Your ideas are terrible.

Thursday Three

Good morning! It's Thursday Three!

3 Writing prompts for #writers. Sorry #readers, catch tomorrow's blog post, Friday Fun.
Alright #writers and #authors here are 3 prompts to get those writing juices flowing.

1. Your character meets someone on an online dating site. Your character writes an e-mail to the person, describing him/herself. Write the e-mail. This e-mail contains two lies. What are they? Why did the character tell them? Also: your character has a very mistaken idea of the impression he/she makes on other people. What impression does your character think he/she makes? What impression does he/she really make? Figure all this stuff out. If you want,fill out a character profile. The character arranges an in-person meeting with the person he/she has met online. What happens at the meeting? Write the story.
thanks to cwn for the prompt

2. The wind howled through the window. The girl sat huddling her knees waiting for the storm to be over.
thanks to cwh for the prompt

3. The detective kicked his shoe against the desk. He was tired of being one step behind the killer. Enough was enough.
thanks to cwh for the prompt