Joys of Spring

Birds claim their triumph

Printer hums, instilling joy

I begin once more

Yep, it's spring, and I've finished the editorial rewrite for the next Hollows book, titled A PERFECT BLOOD.  Windows are all open, and I can feel the rain in the coming wind, so it should be an interesting day as I finish printing this sucker out and ship it to NY.  Some authors remember the day when they first hold their first book in their hand as the day they say they made it.  What sticks in my mind is the first time I EVER mailed off a manuscript and I knew someone was actually waiting for it–after years of "thank you, but it is not what we are looking for at this time."  It still feels good.

So . . . It's a new week, and a new contest!  I'm still accepting photos for demon damaged buildings and protesters until noon today.  I am seriously floored by the response that came in this weekend.  I can't wait to show you tomorrow!  I have some fabulous, fabulous shots from some tremendously creative people, and I am thrilled down to my toes.

We are almost to the end of the contests, but I've got a few more photos needed to finish out the newspaper articles in the HOLLOWS INSIDER.  This week, I'm looking for shots of concerts and Fountain Square.  I'll accept photos until May 30th.

Photo Seven: Something for you guys who live in, or have visited, Cincinnati!  It's the dead of winter, and the banshees are starving.  A pair went to Fountain Square for the New Year festival and trashed the place, soaking in the fear as the fires burned and people fled.  What I'm looking for is a shot of the fountain taken the morning after, and the caption will say "Little remains to show last night's damage thanks to work crews."  This is going to be difficult because it's supposed to be winter, and I'm sure they've got their spring flowers in now, but perhaps a closeup of the fountain or taking it in a way to avoid the spring trees might work.  And as always, I'll accept pictures that you have taken in the past.  (I know I have one of me freezing my butt off in front of the fountain in winter.  ha!)

Picture Eight:  Dig out your photo albums, this one is going to be tricky as well.  It's late October, and Takata is putting on a benefit concert to help the homeless.  The caption will read: Concert goers enjoy the music while helping the homeless."  I will consider wide shots of a concert showing lots of people as well as close ups of someone wildly screaming out lyrics.  (I'm wondering if a picture of a football crowd (or any crowd for that matter) might work, too with a little photo shopping?)

Enjoy!  Have fun!  And keep it safe!  Rules and how to enter are at the website.  Winners of the contests will receive a signed copy of the upcoming THE HOLLOWS INSIDER, where their photo will be used.  They will also receive a frame-worthy, signed photo of the upcoming Hollows graphic novel BLOOD WORK.   Winners are already starting to make their picks, but you can see them all here.