Katie Hines- Walking on Water

Critique Groups - A Writer's Best Friend

2012-01-24T18:16:00.000-05:00

Some writers will say they don't use a critique group; others wouldn't consider their manuscript polished without the input from one. There are both online critique groups and face-to-face groups. Whether you use a critique group or not is up to you, but there are ways to get the most out of your critique group.

First, a critique group should be comprised of fellow writers who share common goals, and it works best if they're writing in the same genre. For example, if you write children's picture books, and another person writes memoirs, it fits best if you join a group that writes picture books and let the other find a memoir group. Look at it this way: if you have a forest green couch, and your partner buys a bright orange floral couch, there won't be a good fit in the living room!

Second, a critique group should be comprised of a small group of people, usually no more than five or six, who are committed to each other and helping each other polish their manuscript. Most online groups work that one writer submits a piece to the rest of the group and expects a critique back by the end of the week. Face-to-face groups can work the same way as well, with the piece to be critiqued sent via email a week prior to the next group meeting. Obviously, in either of these situations, it wouldn't work well to have more than five or six people because of the long time between critiques.

Third, when you join a critique group, you have the right to expect honesty in the critique from your fellow group members. Honesty, however, does not equal brutality. Just as there is always writing in the submission that needs addressing, there are good points in that person's writing as well. The good critiquer will point out not only errors, but also the places where the writer did a great job. Brutal honesty has no place in a critique, as it can damage and discourage fellow writers.

Fourth, as a group grows and changes together, relationships develop between the writers, and these relationships can foster a sense of comradeship and security. I have been in groups where the writers have bared their souls to each other in their writing, and did so knowing they wouldn't be slammed. The development of these relationships can extend beyond the critique group, and are an important part of networking with others.

Critique groups can help polish a manuscript and further the career of any writer, often times resulting in relationships that will carry through the rest of the writers lives. Whether or not you join such a group is your decision, but membership in a good critique can be a writer's best friend.

How to Get Your Work Into an Anthology

2011-04-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

Here's a great article by Karina Fabian that will help those of us who are interested in getting their work published in an anthology.

I’ve been on both sides of the anthology fence—having had stories published in several anthologies from Firestorm of Dragons to The Zombie Cookbook—as well as having edited three anthologies, the latest of which is Infinite Space, Infinite God II. (www.isigsf.com). I enjoy anthologies for a number of reasons—I like having my stories in a book, I like reading anthologies myself, and they are a lot of fun. However, they are a competitive market, just like all writing markets these days. Here are some things I’ve learned from being on both sides of the fence that can help you get in.

#1 Network: Join some writers groups that are tied to your genre or interest. Most of the anthologies I’ve been in, I’ve heard about from Yahoo groups or The Writers Chat Room. It’s also been an aid, since the editors are usually members of the groups, too. Duotrope.com and ralan.com also list calls for submissions, so check them out regularly.

#2 Read the Guidelines. You’d think this would be obvious, but it isn’t. I see editors complain about it, and as an editor, I’ve tossed out stories after the first paragraph because the writer sent me a fantasy for an SF anthology. Sorry, guidelines are there for a reason.

#3 Understand the SPIRIT of the anthology. Anthologies are not like magazines, that can take a wide range of stories. They usually have a specific theme or purpose. If you do not address that theme or style, it does not matter how good your story is. A bad fit is a bad fit. Here’s a good example for ISIG II: We stated that our intention in the anthology is to show the positive portrayal of the Catholic faith and science, and of them interacting in concert. Naturally, non-Catholic Christian stories didn’t fit. But even worse was the story that started out painting priests as evil and the Church as uncaring. Now, I’m not going to argue anyone’s personal beliefs here, but how in the world is that the POSITIVE?

#4 Be ready to accept some editorial direction. Editors are interested in making the stories the best they can be. Editors of anthologies need to think not only of the story but how the story fits the whole. That may mean some changes—in length, in prose, in style. Obviously, you don’t want to change your entire story into something unrecognizable, but do consider accepting direction—or losing your chance at the anthology. In ISIG II, for example, we wanted the portrayal of the Catholic Church to adhere to Catholic teachings and beliefs, and had to ask for some changes in order to do that. We were blessed with professional authors who were glad to do it.

#5 Regardless of how you’re paid for the anthology help promote it. Unlike a magazine, anthologies do not have a set audience. Like books, they need promoting. You’d think that an anthology would have a whole team behind it, but in reality, usually only the editors and one or two interested authors are doing the grunt work. It doesn’t to take much—mention it on Facebook, post the summary and link on your website, send out a press release, and ask folks to review it. Work with your editor. I can tell you from both sides of the editing fence, it’s much appreciated.

Anthologies are a lot of fun—and they are a lot of work. It’s a great opportunity for promoting yourself, reaching other audiences, and hooking your star to other great writers. Take advantage of the opportunities they present.

Karina's work on Kindle is available for these special prices for the dates specified: Infinite Space, Infinite God: $.99 April 9-13; $2.99 April 14-23. Infinite Space, Infinite God II: $2.99 now through April 23. Better hop on these deals. You'll be glad that you did!

What's Up, Holmes, says Dr. Watson

2011-04-14T22:40:00.008-04:00

There’s No Holmes like Holmes

I read my first Sherlock Holmes story in my junior year of high school. I hated high school, was longing to be rid of it, and I was going through all the books in the house simply looking for something interesting to read that would take me away for a little while. I’d read all of my mother’s Agatha Christies, so she suggested reading The Hound of the Baskervilles. And….in a fashion uncharacteristic of most teenagers, I did.

In the opening pages, Holmes asks his friend Dr. Watson to analyze a walking stick left behind in their rooms by someone who had visited while they were out. Watson makes some observations about the stick, guessing about the owner. Holmes then takes the stick and shows Watson how he was completely wrong in all of his deductions.

I loved this character already!

But it only got more interesting when that visitor returned and told the Holmes and Watson about the legend of the hound of Hell who haunted the Baskerville family, and how the late Sir Charles Baskerville was found dead with footprints of a giant hound beside the body. I couldn’t put the book down and was utterly frustrated when Holmes “vanished” partway through the book, leaving Watson to investigate the situation in Dartmoore, only to appear suddenly later having been spying on the whole situation from afar.

Now – I relate a bit of the play-by-play on my first reading of Sherlock Holmes to make a point. Teenagers and sometimes pre-teens (if they have a decent vocabulary or the tenacity to look up words in the dictionary) can read the original tales written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Teenage boys were, after all, his intended audience, and most of his readers at the turn of the last century were young people.

And yet there are new young-adult series starring the Sherlock Holmes character. I’ll mention specifically the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer as well as the Young Sherlock Holmes books by Andrew Lane. While both of these series have received critical acclaim, and I don’t fault the authors for writing Holmes books (I mean…I just have to look in the mirror), I just have to wonder, why not simply offer kids the original Holmes stories first? I have freshmen in my high school classes who have read and enjoyed Holmes, and I’d say from age 14 years up, they can usually manage.

For first-time readers, I recommend short stories first. The tales I usually suggest are: “The Red Headed League,” followed by “The Blue Carbuncle” (especially around Christmas time), “The Speckled Band,” “Silver Blaze,” “The Greek Interpreter,” and “The Dancing Men.” After these, “The Final Problem,” and “The Empty House” can be read as a set. One could then progress to other stories and the novels, of which The Hound of the Baskervilles is the best.

Even better….all of these stories can be tried without plunking down money. They can be found online right here complete with the original illustrations! That way, if a young reader likes all the original tales, they can invest in a great hard copy and then move on to the stories written by other people who simply loved the character enough to keep telling stories about him, like, say….me.

Summary of Ann's latest release, Murder in the Vatican: A sudden death in the Vatican. An international incident over stolen artifacts. A priest’s wrongful imprisonment for murder. In this collection of three as yet untold tales, hinted at in the original Holmes stories, the voices of Dr. John H. Watson and the legendary Pope Leo XIII reveal how the great Sherlock Holmes brought these grim ecclesial cases to startling and poignant conclusions.

And here's some more information about Ann! Born and raised in Waterford, Michigan, Ann Margaret Lewis attended Michigan State University, where she received her Bachelor's degree in English Literature. She began her writing career writing tie-in children’s books and short stories for DC Comics. Most recently she published a second edition of her book, Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species, for Random House.

Her latest book is Murder in the Vatican:The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes published by Wessex Press. She is also co-writing a historical novel entitled Roman which tells the true story of a priest in 1840s southern Indiana who was accused of assaulting a woman in a confessional.

Ann has many interests from music to art history, to theology and all forms of literature. She is the President of the Catholic Writers Guild, an international organization for Catholic Writers and the coordinator of the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE. Ann lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband Joseph Lewis and their son, Raymond.

Watch her You Tube video here. You can purchase her book through Amazon or directly from her publisher. To learn more about Ann and her writing, visit her website.

Writing Books for Children and Young Adults that Will Sell

2011-02-17T05:18:00.004-05:00

I'm pleased that Jacqueline Seewald has come to share some of her expertise with us today. Jacqueline is a multi-award winning author who writes for adults as well as teens and children. She has taught creative, expository and technical writing at the university level as well as high school English. Ten of her books of fiction have been published. Her short stories as well as poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies. Her adult mystery novel, THE INFERNO COLLECTION, was published by Five Star/Gale in hardcover in 2007 and Wheeler large print in 2008. Another novel, THE DROWNING POOL, was published in 2009. The third mystery in the Kim Reynolds series, THE TRUTH SLEUTH, will be published in May 2011. A young adult novel, STACY’S SONG, was published by L&L Dreamspell in November 2010.

Even before J. K. Rowling's tremendous success with her Harry Potter series, publishers were searching for fantasy and horror fiction for children and teenagers that they hoped would top the bestseller list. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it does not insure success as a writer. Not every juvenile book needs to feature werewolves, vampires, witches or goblins.

Books set in the "real" world still have appeal for teens and children. Young readers are not necessarily trying to read books that provide a total escape from reality. Even fantasy books need to be believable, provide an element of reality through character development to which readers can relate.

One of the most important things in writing a successful young adult novel or children’s book is to develop a unique voice. That does not mean that you must write from a first person point of view. However, teen readers often respond well to a first person narrative.

It is important to create a central character that young readers can both sympathize and identify with. Whether writing realistic or fantasy fiction, if the reader can't care about or relate to the main character, than he or she won't believe or accept what follows.

Teens as well as younger children enjoy an element of mystery. Every good work of fiction should have a plot that keeps the reader turning the pages, wanting to discover what is going to happen next. It's important to set up some sort of a question that can't be easily or immediately answered, a secret of the human heart that must be delved into.

A word of warning: If you are going to write about teens, you must know about them. Do some research. Besides raising two teenagers, I taught English and later Library Science. I taught at all levels: the university, high school, middle school and elementary. But most of my years were in the high school. I am accustomed to the way teenagers think, talk and behave. If you are not a teen yourself, talk to teenagers, read their magazines, watch their favorite TV programs, observe how they behave at malls, amusement parks, movie theaters etc.

Dig deep into your own psyche. How did you feel as a teenager? My latest YA novel, STACY’S SONG, published by L&L Dreamspell in both trade paperback and e-book formats, is the story of a girl who has serious identity issues. Most of us have gone through similar problems as adolescents.

Get input from your own children. Have them read your writing and critique it. Consider collaborating with your children on the writing of your fiction. I wrote WHERE IS ROBERT?, a middle grades/YA novel with help from both of my sons who were teenagers at the time. Both boys contributed to the scenes of high school wrestling, since they both engaged in the sport. I couldn't have written the book without them.

Make it dramatic. Dramatize your story. Don't show, tell. I'm certain you've heard that advice before! How to do this? Create meaningful, realistic dialog for your characters. Each character should be an individual, talking a certain distinct way to reflect a personal point of view, a unique way of thinking. Good dialog leads to action and conflict between people with different viewpoints and goals.

Settings need to be vividly described so that they seem real. In fact, there's nothing wrong with using real places for background setting. My three published YA’s are all set in Central New Jersey, an area very much like the one in which I lived and have worked.

For my children’s picture book A Devil in the Pines, I created a faction story. I used the real setting of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and the legend of the Jersey Devil combined with the fictional story of a little boy who learns how to deal with fear. Afton Publishing has kept this book in print from its publication in 1999 to the present because it is a timeless story and therefore continues to sell well.

My advice, don't write for the market; write the story you need to write. We are all writers. We all have within us a unique, important, wonderful story to share. Get in touch with your inner self. Start putting your ideas on paper. Begin with an outline, then a rough draft with key characters and scenes. When you develop your book, look for depth. Although books for teens and children are usually shorter than those for adults, it doesn't mean they require less creative thought. Respect your readers; give them quality.

My Road to Publication by Debra Shiveley Welch

2011-01-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

I'm pleased to have Debra Shiveley Welch guest blogging today about her road to publication with Cedar Woman. Debra...

Cedar Woman is finally out after two years of intensive research, and a lot of fun in the writing. Launching a book is like raising a child in many ways: you have great hopes, are very proud, and worry about how it will survive out there in the big, wide world.

Paramount in my creating Cedar Woman was the wish to, not only write a book that my readers will enjoy reading again and again, but the desire to represent The People, the Lakota Sioux, with all respect, and with absolute truth to the best of my ability. I also wanted to show that their customs, beliefs and desires are universal in many ways, and deserve the respect any people deserve. To be able to write about these things intelligently, and with honor, I had to immerse myself into their culture as much as possible.

My sister, Julie Spotted Eagle Horse Martineau, was invaluable in the process of researching and understanding The People as far as their culture, beliefs and ceremonies were concerned. She spent endless hours on the phone with me and wrote many emails explaining everything from, what it is like to be struck by lightning, to how to build a sweat lodge.

With Julie’s help, I also learned a lot of the Lakota language. I’ve always loved listening to and learning new languages, and speak some Spanish and read a little French. Now I was learning yet another, word-by-word, and enjoying the flavor of the words of the Lakota Plains Native American, or NdN as The People prefer.

I had personally been through an Hunkapi, or Making of Relatives Ceremony, a Naming Ceremony, Sweat Lodge and Wopila or Thank You ceremony, and could draw from those experiences, but living in Central Ohio as I do, I needed to get to know my heroine, Lena Cedar Woman as well as I knew myself.

To get started, I set up character sheets. To make them come alive to my readers, my characters had to be living, breathing people to me.

On each sheet I wrote the character's name, appearance (hair, eye color, height, build), when and where they were born and when key things happened to them. Also included were likes, dislikes, any hobbies, quirks, basic personality, etc. They were ongoing reference sheets. That is, when something key happened to them, I added what it was, and when, and any other information I would need to be able to refer back to it.

I based my characters on people I knew or knew of. For instance, Michael Young Bear was based, physically, on Christopher Reeve, and Lena Cedar Woman on my cousin Vicki. I described Vicki to a tee when describing Lena, except for her anomaly, which I can’t divulge here. :-)

Logan was based on my sister Julie’s son Logan and my son Chris, rolled in to one, and Sonny Glass was based on the wonderful actor, whom I’ve had a crush on most of my life, Clint Walker.

Locations were taken from places I’d been. For instance, Lena’s condo is the condo I lived in before I married. Her house in Westerville is my house. Restaurants and apartments are all from buildings that I am familiar with from my childhood until now.

Then came the outline. It wasn’t carved in stone, but it gave me a road map. I also inserted dates on the outline because it can be so easy to get lost and mess up your dates, ages, etc.

Once the book began to take shape, I got a writing partner – a woman who was willing to invest a lot of time with me discussing the project: the characters, for instance, what they would wear, how they felt, how they would react to something or someone: like gossip, without consequences. Since I help her with her projects, this makes for a very comfortable relationship since we know each other’s writing styles intimately.

Research begun, characters created and documented, a few hours on the phone with my writing partner, outline written, I began to write. (I write sequentially as a general rule.)

As I finished each chapter, my partner read it, looking for typos, punctuation, spelling, grammatical errors, and as the story progressed, continuity. Did I forget to check one of my references pages and mess up a date? Did I decide to change the age of a character in chapter four and forget to go back and change it in chapters one - three? That sort of thing.

I remember the first time I read Barbara Taylor Bradford's Hold The Dream, the sequel to A Woman of Substance - one of my favorite books. I was a little disappointed when I read, "being identical twins," when referring to Paula's babies. Either this was a major brain burp, or at one point in writing the book, Ms. Bradford had the children as both boys or both girls. Somewhere she apparently changed her mind, making one a boy and one a girl, and forgot to change the identical twin reference. It taught me a valuable lesson and it is one of the reasons I have a writing partner. Had I been Ms. Bradford's, the mistake would have been caught. Okay, well one can dream, can't they!

Once the book was completed, I again edited, and then I edited, and then I....edited. When that was completed, I found three volunteers to read the book. Their reward being that they don't have to buy the book to enter the raffle and win prizes which is coming up in March.

One looks simply for punctuation, one for spelling and grammar and one for continuity and ambiguity. (I know what I was saying, does the reader?)

Before I began writing, and then half way through the book, I traveled to powwows, where Native Americans of different tribes gather to celebrate their culture, dance and beliefs, with my sister, Julie Spotted Eagle Horse, or Spot as her friends call her. Stepping into the arena to dance was very intimidating. I don’t like being the center of attention, yet there I was, dancing unfamiliar steps, while at the same time, trying to show deep respect. It was a good time, and I learned a lot. I made many new friends with whom I remain in touch, experienced new foods, admired endless adorable babies, and witnessed the devotion the dancers have, not only for the style of dance they have chosen, such as hoop, jingle and traditional, for instance, but their regalia as well, which includes patterns and beading handed down for generations.

When finished, I was proud of my creation. I truly believe that I wrote something which is good and true, respectful and admiring. It is truly a good representation of a people whom I admire with all of my heart.

Still, the heart of Cedar Woman is about Lena Cedar Woman, her trials and sorrows, her triumphs and joys, and her ability to stand up to tragedy, move forward, and change the lives and fortunes of the people she loves.

It is, at heart, a romance: Cedar Woman’s love for her parents, her mentor, her career and her half-side – her true love. I believe that I have instilled some sweetness, along with the strength that Cedar Woman possesses, and I know that I have proven that Mitakuye Oyasin: We Are All Related.

Cheryl Malandrinos on "Sometimes Change is Good"

2011-01-17T14:59:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, Change is Good by Cheryl Malandrinos

I didn’t start out my career planning to write for children. Not that I didn’t think I would enter that market at some point; God knows the children He has blessed me with give me plenty of inspiration. I just wasn’t interested in writing for young people when I left Corporate America in 2004 to pursue my dream.

Reading mostly non-fiction for years, I decided to enter the Breaking into Print program offered by Long Ridge Writers Group and focus on article writing. I graduated in December 2005 and began writing time management and organization articles for monthly online magazines. Time management and organization always came easy to me, so it was a natural fit.

I also picked up a women’s fiction manuscript that I had been working on for the last decade with my sister and committed to finishing it. It felt great to type, “The End”. Then the project stalled during the editing process, my sister moved out of state, and we couldn’t seem to hook up and get the edits finished.

So, I moved on.

November 2006 arrived and I was ready to try my hand at National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for the first time. I had an idea that stewed in my brain for a few years and I was going to make it a reality. Preliminary research done, I steamed ahead on November 1^st. Made it through seven chapters, but couldn’t quite move forward without additional research. This wasn’t the kind of book a pantser could pull off easily.

NaNoWriMo came and went, but I still thought my idea was good: a shepherd who leaves home to seek out the apostles after the Resurrection of Jesus to find out if He was the Savior he had met on the night of the Messiah’s birth.

I started talking to my pastor about the story and he said, “This is a kid’s book?” I told him it wasn’t, but my mind just wouldn’t let my pastor’s words go. Why couldn’t this book be about the night that Obed meets Jesus? That doesn’t mean I couldn’t write my original idea later.

And so, Little Shepherd was born. It tells the story of five-year old Obed, who is in the hills outside Bethlehem when the angel appears. He wants to see the newborn King, but is afraid to leave his flock unattended. Some wise words from his father, meeting the Holy Family, and what he sees upon his return to the fields, leads Obed to know it is a night of miracles.

I’m currently at work on a middle grade historical and came up with 30 new picture book ideas during Picture Book Idea Month in November. I am also putting the finishing touches on a first chapter reader that a publisher has expressed an interest in.

I might not have intended to write for children when I started out, but I sure am enjoying it. While I haven’t abandoned the ideas roaming around my mind for an older audience, I think I’ll stay here awhile and see what develops.

Sometimes, change is good.

LITTLE SHEPARD excerpt:

Off in the distance, a wolf howled. Obed moved closer to his flock, scanning the hills for any sign of a pack that might race in and steal his sheep. His family depended upon the sheep for food and their wool for clothing. No sheep would be lost under his watch.

He shivered inside his cloak. While the days were getting warmer, the nights still chilled him. He walked over to the large fire blazing inside the pit. He rubbed his hands together and held them up to the fire to warm them.

Above him, the sky twinkled with millions of stars. Obed couldn’t remember a night so clear.

Suddenly, a bright light filled the sky.

Obed trembled. “Father, what is happening?”

His father dropped to the ground, his right hand blocking his eyes from the intense light.

Obed pulled the edges of his cloak closer to his face as he squinted up at the mysterious form hovering overhead. He shivered, but this time it was not because of the cold.

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor for Writer2Writer, her articles focus on increasing productivity through time management and organization. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.

Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.

You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com or the Little Shepherd blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/.

Guest post by Lorrie Unites-Struiff

2011-01-03T20:55:00.001-05:00

Hi Katie, Thank you so much for the invitation to your blog.

Well, it’s a New Year folks. I wish all of you a good one.

I imagine everyone is recuperating from the holidays, thinking about the resolutions made.

I didn’t make any. Did you?

Where do you live?

Here, in Pittsburgh, PA, the weather is at its worst in January, February and well into March. I dislike cold weather and all the white stuff that falls from the sky. I’d love to fly south for the winter. Does anyone want to donate to my “Get thee to a warm place fund?”

I don’t like to drive on our hilly roads, breathe in the icy air, shovel and salt the walks and driveway. So, how do I try to get through each freezing day?

I get the “have to do’s” over with first. Then I put on my warm sweat pants and shirt, curl up in my favorite tilt-back chair, have a hot pot of tea on my little table, wrap myself in an afghan, and either work on my story with my computer on my lap, or read a good book. Now, that is enjoyment on these cold winter days. I’m all snuggly and warm.

Yes, yes, yes, I know some people like winter, I’m just one of those that don’t, so don’t smack me, please.

When I sink into a good book, I am lost within the pages, escaping the blustering wind outside and yes, looking at that white stuff. An adventure, a mystery, a paranormal, a romance or maybe a space trip into the realms of a far off universe sweeps me out of my misery. I’m with the characters, and I live their adventures and forget about the frost on my windows.

Or, I write new adventures, getting lost in my characters, and wondering how the heck I’m going to get them out of the trouble I have put them into. I make the setting a warm climate-- it helps.

I like to take odd characters, mix them together and see how they will react to each other. What fun. When I’m lost in my writing, I lose track of time, and can ignore the salt trucks rumbling up my street. And when I write “up” I do mean “up.”

So, are you a winter lover or hater?

And, of course I mean people that live in snowy, cold season places.

Let me offer you an escape with “Gypsy Crystal” and a shorter escape with “Wild Blackberries.”

GYPSY CRYSTAL

By Lorrie Unites-Struiff

Everyone has secrets.

Homicide Detective Rita Moldova has a secret, a crystal amulet from her Roma bloodline that shows her the last image a victim had seen before they died. Now, a ritual killer is terrorizing her town and the crystal’s magic has suddenly stopped.

FBI agent, Matt Boulet, is sent to lead the task force and gives the group strange orders. Worse, Rita senses he is holding back a deep dark secret about the killer.

When she confronts her seer mother’s advice, she learns another secret about their clan that she finds impossible to swallow.

Rita swims through a whirlpool of confusion as the investigation continues. Can Rita deny the lore of the ancients? Can she deny her growing feelings for Matt Boulet?

Gypsy Crystal is available in PRINT and Multiple E-book formats at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Crystal-Lorrie-Unites-Struiff/dp/1770650415/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

A short story and a roller coaster ride of thrills and chills.

Morgan is researching on an Indian reservation in Prescott, Arizona, for her new paranormal novel. She doesn’t believe in the paranormal, but writes it for the trend and the nice royalties. That is until her soon to be divorced husband tries to kill her, and she survives by her wits and a little “strange” help.

Buy site

http://www.bookstogonow.com/page27.html

Please check out my website for all my releases and read the reviews.

http://struiff.wordpress.com/

Origin of the Christmas Tree

2010-12-20T14:42:00.002-05:00

Popular legend says Martin Luther began the Christmas tree tradition. The story tells us that around 1500, on Christmas Eve, he was walking through snow-covered woods and saw a beautiful group of small evergreens. The snow-dusted branches shone in the moonlight. Impressed by its beauty and light, he hurried home where he set up a small fir and decorated it with candles, lit in honor of Christ's birth.

Although some Christians claim the symbols of the Christmas tree originated with their faith, history tells us these symbols may actually have the origins in the belief of ancient peoples. Norse, Romans, Egyptians--all believed the sun was a god and that winter came every year because their god sickened and weakened. Thus, they celebrated the winter solstice because from that day forward, the sun god would begin to get well. The use of evergreens in their celebrations reminded them of the new life to be found in the coming days.

Martin Luther aside, the earliest written record of an evergreen Christmas tree was in the 1500s in Germany. It was then that during November's feast of Yule celebration, Yule trees were first planted in pots and brought into German homes.

It wasn't until the 11th century European religious plays (called "mystery plays") came came into being that trees became more popularly accepted. Performed outdoors and in churches, the most popular mystery play was the "Paradise Play" which told the story of Adam and Eve. The only prop was the "Paradise tree" which was typically a fir, adorned with apples. During the play, Eve would take the apple, eat of it and pass it to Adam.

In the 15th century, "immoral" behavior crept into these plays and they were forbidden by the Church. However, by that time, people had already begun the tradition of putting their own Paradise trees in their homes on December 24, the beast day of Adam and Eve. The tree was decorated with apples as the fruit of sin, and with homemade wafers, representing the fruit of life. In later years, these direct symbolic connections to the Christian faith became diluted as decorations expanded to include candy and sweets.

By the mid-1600s, the use and decoration of Christmas trees had spread throughout Europe, with decorations to include paper roses, apples, communion wafers, gold, foil, sweets, and dolls. It is at this time that the use of candles is first mentioned.

The Christmas tree, in the form of the "Paradise Tree," came to America as Germans immigrated to western Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Puritans banned Christmas itself in New England and in 1851, a Cleveland minister almost lost his job for allowing a tree in his church.

In the mid-1800s, the Christmas tree arrived with style in England as the English queen, Victoria, visited relatives in Germany, where she fell in love with Prince Albert, whom she married. Returning to England, Prince Albert continued the Christmas tree tradition and decorated it with fine, German hand-blown glass ornaments. Impressed English citizens began putting them up in their homes as well.

In the early 20th century, ornaments included ore than apples as nuts, cookies, popcorn, and berries became popular. With electricity came lights, and Christmas trees began appearing in town squares.

It was in 1851 that a farmer named Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds piled with trees into New York City, selling them in two days. And so the Christmas tree market was born. By 1900, one in five Americans had a tree, and during the depression when nurseries were unable to sell evergreens for landscaping, they cut and sold them as Christmas trees.

Despite the various stories that abound regarding the origin of the Christmas tree, its evolution can be traced from ancient times and today it remains as one of the most popular and pervasive holiday traditions in the world.

Fantasy & Ebook Author, R. L. Copple

2010-12-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

I’m pleased to welcome young adult fantasy author, R. L. Copple, to my blog today. R. L. Copple's interest in speculative fiction started at an early age, after reading "Runaway Robot" by Lester Del Ray. Many others followed by Asimov, Bradbury, Heinlein, Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, among others. He has written for religious purposes but started writing speculative fiction in 2005. “Infinite Realities” marks his first book, a fantasy novella. His second book, first full length novel, “Transforming Realities” hit the shelves March 2009. He has been published in several magazines.

R. L., I love fantasy and I love the young adult audience. Can you please give us a brief synopsis of “Transforming Realities?”

R. L.: Sure. When Sisko refuses the demon Beltrid's request to use his miracle-producing ring for selfish purposes, Sisko's world is turned upside down. Trapping Sisko's wife, Gabrielle, inside the "Crystal of Virtues," Beltrid sends Sisko and his two teenage children, Nathan and Kaylee, on a journey to find seven virtues that will free her. Simple? Not when a demon is involved. The trip takes several twists and turns leading to a showdown at the steam house where it all started. They discover that the reality of the ring transcends healing sicknesses—they discover a transforming reality.

Katie: I see you have read many of the same fantasy/science fiction authors I have. Why do you write fantasy, and more particularly, young adult fantasy?

R. L.: Fantasy makes the impossible, possible. The ultimate "what if" scenario can be laid out and find out how it would affect people. While a fantasy world will have its own internal rules, the author is free to construct that in any way he or she wants. That opens the doors of an unlimited and interesting source of story ideas. The interesting spark is how some reality not currently available will affect people, relationships, and lives, whether individuals or a society.

I tend toward young adult, maybe on the upper end of young adult, because I find my writing style is more in line with that age group. I like some action, a little romance, but always something interesting happening. I would say that much of my young adult writing is also enjoyed by adults. I think that is because I don't write it to sound like I'm focusing on, as one editor said it, "teen aghast," but on issues that affect all of us. Because as adults, we never really stop learning and growing. If we do, we're dead. To me, the young adult period of life is the perfect storm for fantasy. Someone seeking to discover their place in the world, and unusual events that push them to learn more about themselves and others.

Katie: Many fantasies deal with world creation. How much of that did you do in “Transforming Realities” and how easy/difficult did you find it?

R. L.: Honestly, it evolved over a period of time writing the stories and books. The first story in "Infinite Realities" was a short story, "Steamy Realities," that I wrote for a contest using the theme "hot," thus the reason for the steam house. Then I wrote another story in that world for another contest with the theme "hope" ("Unknown Realities"). The story expanded my world to another location. Then the other stories in that book brought in wizards and dragons.

When I sat down to create "Transforming Realities" the world grew significantly. That's when I drew the map you see in "Transforming Realities" that shows where all these places are in relation to each other, and even some yet to discover locations for future novels. How the world works, both in the magic and the types of creatures one would find in that world, sprang naturally from the story as I wrote it.

Katie: Many people think that just because you write fantasy, you don’t have to do any research. How much, if any, research did you do for this book?

R. L.: Being in an alternate world, you don't have the constraints of our history to make sure you're getting things right. But, the thing about fantasy is that while you always have elements that are created from my mind, you want there to be some fairly normal things that people identify as "real." The reader has to be able to relate to the characters and story. The more fantasy elements introduced, the more foreign and distant the world will feel to them.

Fantasy stories should be only a small percent fantasy. Some are more so than others. But if you have too much fantasy in there, the world is going to be hard for the reader to relate to. And I've read some fantasies like that. Which means, you'll have to do research at times as to what is reasonable to avoid accidentally introducing a new fantasy element into the world, or cause someone to no longer suspend disbelief and get pulled out of the story.

Compared to a historical novel, the amount of research I did would seem small. But one does need to do research to keep the real aspects real, so that the fantasy aspects can be all that more interesting. The fantasy is highlighted by what is "normal" in the reader's world.

Katie: Do you write one book at a time, or do you have several in the mixer, so to speak?

R. L.: I write one at a time, but I usually have several that I'm editing. Currently, of those yet to be published, I have six novels at various stages, and I am writing my eighth novel during November. I'm expecting to have three of them come out next year.

Katie: Have you considered writing outside of the fantasy genre? Why or why not?

R. L.: I've written a couple of mainstream short stories, and two of the books I've written are classified as space opera. I've also written several space opera short stories. I've even dabbled in a couple of horror pieces, and comedy pieces. But as far as novels go, they've all been in the space opera or fantasy genres.

I think the reason why is those types of stories excite me. I like the unusual. If I can find a plot and/or characters that excite me in other forms of fiction, I would write them. And I have written at least two mainstream short stories. But in both cases, I had a burning idea I had to write, and that was the format that would tell those stories.

Katie: You have published this book in both ebook format and paperback through Double-Edged Publishing, Inc. What are the pros and cons of publishing in both formats?

R. L.: I'm not one who believes that ebook sales will lessen paperback sales. And even if it did, the point is you've sold a book. Whether it is an ebook or paperback isn't significant. And if I had the price of my ebooks up a little higher, I would make more money off of them than the paperbacks. But frequently if someone buys the ebook because it is cheaper or more convenient, if they like the book, they may want to own a hard copy or want to give them as gifts. So chances are the ebooks will promote sales of the hard copies.

In bookstore terms, what ebooks give you is more virtual shelf space, and there is a segment of the audience out there that prefers an ebook over a hard copy. That segment is growing every year. It doesn't make any business sense to not meet that demand.

The only con I can think of is if you or your publisher put out an inferior quality ebook. If it isn't formatted well, is hard to read, it could give a negative impression of the novel and its author. But other than that, it is a win-win in my mind to have it in as many formats as people are using.

Katie: You say that you did the ebook format yourself. Is your book available through Amazon using the Kindle, or through other ebook venues?

R. L.: Both "Infinite Realities" and "Transforming Realities" ebooks are available in PDF, Ereader (pdb), Stanza (epub), and Sony (mobi/prc) formats at my own bookstore, http://store.rlcopple.com and on Amazon in the Kindle format. You can also find "Infinite Realities" at B&N as well as several other outlets via Smashwords. I plan on getting "Transforming Realities" out in those places as well, but the versions at my store will work for most any ereader being used today, including Kindle.

Katie: What special challenges did you have in creating your book in the ebook format?

R. L.: I was able to use free software to create it all, but some of it required a learning curve. The mobi/prc format was fairly simple. Getting into epub with Calibre was a little more difficult, until I figured out what coding to remove from my html source file. Getting it in Ereader format (pdb) had the most learning curve, as you have to learn the codes it uses to identify italics, bold, chapter headings, etc., then do search/replace in the document to put them in the right places. First time I had to do it several times before I got it right. Now I can usually create a pdb ebook in one to three hours, depending on the complexity.

PDFs are the easiest, in that I simply use the export function in Open Office Writer, which adds bookmarks for the chapters automatically. But I do something more with those because I have a pet peeve about reading PDFs on my computer. Almost everyone takes their book file and exports it into PDF. But on the computer screen, it doesn't read like a book.

I recently downloaded some ebooks, from an author you would know if I mentioned his name, about writing. Most of them are PDFs and horror of horrors, it is in two-column format! That means on my screen I have to scroll to the bottom of each page, then scroll back up to read the second column. It is annoying as all get out.

What I do is make the page size small, like around 4" x 5", and increase the text size to around 16 or 18 points. Then I tell Open Office Writer to export with the two page format as the default view upon opening the document. What you get on most computer screens is two pages with readable text in book-style format. All the reader has to do after reading those two pages is hit "Page-down" and it "turns the page." No scrolling required and the text is big enough to read.

Katie: What three pieces of advice would you give to an author wanting to publish both in ebook format and paperback?

R. L.: In paperback, most authors know their options: traditional publishers, an indie press, become your own publisher using Lightning Source, or self-publish using a company like Create Space or Lulu. Ignore all vanity presses.

If you use a traditional publisher and many indie publishers, they will probably want the rights to create the ebooks themselves. In my case, the publisher I used didn't want to mess with them and left me the rights to create my own, which I did.

If you're in my situation, or self-publish, I would start with creating epubs. That has become the default standard format to use, and nearly every non-propitiatory reading device can read them. Do a search on "calibre" to find the free software, or search on "create epub" to find other programs that will handle more of the process for you, usually for a fee.

Next, you'll want to get on Kindle and PubIt to have it in the biggest on-line retailers: Amazon and Barnes & Noble respectively.

In all three of these formats, what you'll want to start with is a clean html source file, and all chapter headings in either "Heading 1" or "Heading 2" to be automatically picked up. The easiest way to do that is to create an html using Open Office Writer, which produces a little cleaner html than Word does. But you'll need to edit the file and delete out of the style section anywhere it says: "page-break: always".

Just follow the programs or the instructions on their sites, allow some time for trial and error the first time around, but one can have professional quality ebooks produced this way.

Katie: Thanks for being my guest on my blog today. You can find out more about R. L. Copple and his works at http://www.rlcopple.com, http://blog.rlcopple.com, http://store.rlcopple.com.

Meet YA author, Lindsay Below

2010-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

I’m pleased to welcome young adult author of “Head Over Hand-Bought Heels,” Lindsay Below. Lindsay lives in Iqualuit, Canada, whether she writes young adult and middle grade fiction. Under L. K. Below, she publishes adult romance and speculative fiction.

Katie: Can you please share with us a short synopsis of “Head Over Hand-Bought Heels?”

Lindsay: When Katie meets Courtney, everything starts to change… When I marched into Vivian’s Boutique for my first shift, I didn’t expect to walk into a screaming match — or to make three new fiercely loyal friends just for comforting Courtney after her breakup. But I did, and now they’re set on coaxing me out of my temple of nerdery and onto their fashion-forward roller coaster of social interaction. And now, after all the time we’ve been spending together, I think I might be falling for Courtney...

Katie: This is a young adult book, which will be published in ebook format in December by Etopia Press. What inspired you to write this young adult novel?

Lindsay: I woke up one morning from a dream, in which Katie and the gang were vividly imprinted on my mind. This was a few days before my first National Novel Month. Since it was so close, I decided to give my characters free reign. I’m definitely glad I did because they led me on one crazy journey of friendship and self-discovery.

Katie: You write under a couple of different names. Why did you choose to do so?

Lindsay: Let me start by saying that I love to read. Pretty much anything. That love for stories eventually bled over into my writing. Because I write for both adults and young adults, I felt that I needed to keep those separate by writing under different names.

Katie: Do you find it difficult to write in different genres?

Lindsay: Not at all. I find it more liberating to do so. If something seems drawn-out or stiff, I can easily switch to something so completely different that it helps to unclog my writing mojo.

Katie: How many writing projects to you have going at a time, and how do you juggle them so you get to work on them all?

Lindsay: I have too many. My main problem is that I get so many ideas, all the time. If I’m not at least a quarter of the way through a novel,

Katie: You have said this is an ebook coming out in a few days. Why did you choose to write an ebook as opposed to trying for a traditional publisher in print form?

Lindsay: A lot of people say that ebooks are the future, and I both agree and disagree with that statement. There is definitely something to be said for being able to shop for them at home, any time, and receive them instantly. The new e-readers coming out just keep getting better and better. While I do love the feel of a paper book in my hands, I can zip through a novel quickly in ebook form. It’s a cost-efficient way to read great books, in my opinion.

Katie: How many books do you have out in ebook format, and would you consider publishing this way again?

Lindsay: This will be my debut novel, but I have several others under contract with epublishers. I especially love epublishing because of the freedom it offers. With print, a lot of my shorter works might have been passed up. But with ebooks, I can publish short stories, novellas, or even full-length novels like “Head Over Hand-Bought Heels”.

Katie: What three things appeal to you about writing an ebook and why?

Lindsay: Writing an ebook isn’t essentially any different than writing for print, with a fewe exceptions. First, epublishers are more willing to take a chance on manuscripts that are just a little different from those currently peppering the market. Seeing as I love to experiment, that versatility is definitely an asset.

Second, as I mentioned before, the length. I can publish shorter works, which gives me an outlet for shorter stories which might normally have sat gathering dust.

And finally, third, these shorter stories are even cheaper than longer works. While I love to get caught up in a new novel, short stories offer a taste of the way I write. More people can afford to buy a short work, and hopefully will like me enough to invest in some of my longer pieces too (or at least hang around my blog for a bit). I know I’ve found a couple great authors that way.

Katie: What two pieces of advice would you give to another author interested in publishing an ebook?

Lindsay: 1) Research your market. You need to know a) if an epublisher publishes in your genre, b) if your story will fit with the others they’ve published, and c) if choosing them is a good idea for your career. Check out sites like www.pred-ed.com or email authors currently or previously signed with that publishing company to ask. (Though this is not specific to epublishing).

2) Don’t become discouraged. Sometimes, a manuscript can receive more rejections than it has pages! But even if it isn’t right for one company, it might be perfect for another. Find the person who gets just as excited about your book as you do. For “Head Over Hand-Bought Heels” both the publisher, Annie Melton, and my editor, Tere Michaels, were over the roof about my book. Yes, it wasn’t for some other people. But the way they exalted every word did wonders for my ego. Trust me when I say that you want to find that person!

Katie: Thanks for being my guest today, Lindsay. Find out more about Lindsay and her work at her website, www.lbelow.net, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LBelowtheauthor, and order her book through Etopia Press at www.etopiapress.com.

2010-11-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

I’m pleased to have author, Barbara Forte Abate, as the guest on my blog today. After graduating from high school, she married young and promptly launched into the joys of family life. While home and kids kept her busy, Barbara never considered abandoning her dreams of writing. Stealing moments throughout the days, she composed her stories on yellow legal pads while babies napped and supper simmered. Her debut novel, "The Secret of Lies," was released on June 30, 2010.

Katie: Can you please share a brief synopsis of your book?

Barbara: The crux of my story takes place in 1957, the last summer Stevie and her sister Eleanor will spend at their aunt and uncle’s ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season that had unfolded with abundant promise, it spirals horribly out of control--torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon a family’s soul. It is only now, a decade later, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled.

Katie: What motivated you to write this book?

Barbara: I started writing this story twenty years ago, but even now, all these years later, I clearly recall how it came about. I was in the midst of finishing up some mundane household task, when the proverbial “lightning bolt” arrived from nowhere to plant the seed of an idea in my mind. It was originally just the idea of someone walking away from everything familiar--the how and why coming later. That’s all I had when I started writing: that single concept of a person so tormented they believed that the only way of surviving the unhappiness of their life was to get up and leave it. I had no plan for where I was going with it and certainly no ending, but even so, the story felt very important and I just jumped into what would become the ride of my life.

Katie: What is your writing day like?

Barbara: I am a woman of self-imposed tight schedules, and am very possessive of my limited writing time. So I try and take care of all my routine drudge stuff in the morning so that I can plant myself at my desk in the afternoons. I find it difficult to sit for long uninterrupted hours of writing and sometimes it’s the brief distractions that clear the smoke of thinking too hard, and allows me to reboot and start the cogs turning once again. I know I’m more or less done for the day when I hear my teenage son come in from school and begin rifling through the kitchen cabinets.

Katie: This is an adult, mainstream literary fiction. Do you plan on writing any more books in this genre?

Barbara: Mainstream fiction truly does feel like my niche. I’ve written four other novels (all currently unpublished), and without consciously aiming, they’ve all landed in this genre. Mainstream literary is also what I generally read, so maybe it has something to do with what I put in my head comes out in my pen! (You know – you are what you eat!)

Katie: Do you belong to a critique group? Why or why not?

Barbara: No, I’ve never gone that route. I was very naïve and insecure when I first started writing with the intent of producing a novel. In my mind, admitting to anyone that I was writing was not unlike the pauper claiming to be a prince, and so I wrote in secret--for years never sharing with even a single soul the existence of my hidden yellow tablets. Critique groups looked to me like a place for “real” writers, not amateur scribblers. And now, although my heart’s desire is a secret no longer, after so many years of quietly writing in solitary, I’m remarkably comfortable with trusting my own inner voice through the early drafts. Later, once I’ve edited myself through several rewrites, I present my pages to my very wise and experienced agent and await the verdict.

Katie: Your book is self-published. Did you originally choose that route, or did you try to traditionally publish at first? Why or why not?

Barbara: Oh yeah, I was in hot pursuit of the holy grail of traditional publishing from the moment I first typed THE END on the final page of my manuscript, and I didn’t let go until I eventually settled on the decision to self-publish. For ten years I submitted to the ends of the earth and back before signing with my agent who was and is truly an answer to a prayer (or several thousand).

I was fully convinced that once I’d completed several rewrites and she at last deemed the manuscript ready to submit, it was only a matter of time before I’d be popping the cork on a bottle of champagne. Fast forward a few more years and let me just say that I have a very inspired collection of rejection letters--many so flowery and encouraging they might’ve been acceptance letters, except they weren’t. Deciding to self-publish was never something I’d considered until now--the concept more or less dropping on my head.

I have lived my writing life with a mantra of hopeful perseverance, and self- publishing all at once presented itself as the next timely and logical step. While I’d put bushel baskets of faith and effort into securing an invitation to the traditional publishing party, it still wasn’t coming , so I finally decided it was simply time to put on my prettiest party dress, slip in the back door and join the celebration.

Katie: Did you hire someone to help edit your book? Why or why not?

Barbara: No I didn’t. After so many years of editing and perfecting my pages, coupled with having an agent who was previously an editor at a couple of major publishing houses, I didn’t feel it was something I needed. Nevertheless, I did learn a very valuable lesson. While my agent has a seasoned eye for weaknesses in character and plot, she didn’t take on the task of line editing after the first few drafts. Thinking about it now, having another set of eyes look over the galley proofs would’ve been of great benefit to the polishing process, likely picking up all the small stuff that you yourself simply breeze over for having read the words a bajillion times already. Taking up well-read friends’ offer to do this kind of proof reading for you can really be the thing that puts the glossy bow on your package, as well as potentially saving you from the absolute horror of later seeing those infuriating boo-boos you somehow missed in print once your book is published.

Katie: What three pieces of advice would you give an author who wants to self-publish their book?

Barbara: Research your publishing options thoroughly! Don’t jump into anything you’re not absolutely comfortable with or certain of.

Your marketing plan should be front and center. Long before you have that shiny new book in your hands you need to be thinking and planning how you intend to get yourself out there and sell it. Unless of course you happen to be Stephen King or J.K Rowling, in which case you may bypass this step.

Don’t become so swept up in the thrill of publication that you skimp on the fine-tuning. Don’t rush the process by assuming you’ve done a thorough enough job that you needn’t comb your galley proofs like your eight grade English teacher. Have another look – and find those misspelling, grammatical hiccups, and anything else that might’ve slipped past on earlier edits. It’s your baby, make it shine!

Katie: Thanks, Barbara, for being a guest on my blog today. You can learn more about Barbara and her books at http://www.barbaraforteabate.com, see her book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCPx-tKeW0&feature=channel and at www.goodreads.com.

"Haunted Vows" paranormal romance author, Lynn Hones

2010-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

I’m pleased to have paranormal romance author, Lynn Hones, on my blog today. Lynn is the author of “Haunted Vows.” She is a busy wife and mother, who, when laid off from the banking industry left the world of cubicles for the world of creativity and writing. She enjoys putting down on the page the worlds she creates in her head, and hopes others enjoy reading them. And no matter what her kids say, the bank didn't "fire" her!

Welcome, Lynn. Can you share with us a little what “Haunted Vows” is all about?

Lynn: Sure. “Haunted Vows” is an ebook about a New York socialite and a down-on-his-luck farmer who work together to save a 150-year-old antebellum mansion in Virginia. The wrecking ball is waiting to tear down the walls of the house, while the house is trying to tear down the walls built around their own hearts.

Katie: You say this is a paranormal romance. What is the paranormal aspect of this book?

Lynn: The New York socialite, Jaylyn Withers, and the farmer, Eli Jacobs, have strange things happen as they are fixing up the mansion. Mists and voices seem to be attempting to communicate with them. In the end, we find out an astounding secret. A secret that binds these two strangers together forever.

Katie: What led you to write not just a romance, but a paranormal romance?

Lynn: My first book, Those Who Wait, is a paranormal romance and I enjoyed writing it so much, and it received such wonderful reviews, that I wrote another one. I love ghost stories and movies. My favorite being, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

Katie: Would you consider writing more in this genre?

Lynn: Absolutely. The possibilities are endless when dealing with otherworldly manifestations.

Katie: I see your book is targeting younger adults, but also older adults. When you began to write your book, did you “automatically” target this age group?

Lynn: I wrote the book with every age in mind, I guess. The protagonist, Jaylyn, is thirty-five, so she is not too old for the younger generation, and not too young for the older. lol

Katie: Your ebook is published with Devine Destinies. Why did you choose to publish an ebook? Do you plan on writing more ebooks?

Lynn: I heard that ebooks were really taking off. More and more people are purchasing Kindles. Devine Destinies seemed to be a wonderful publisher and they have been proven to be so and much, much more.

Katie: What ebook reader formats did you use with your book? Was that successful for you?

Lynn: My books can be downloaded onto any of the eReaders out now.

Katie: Do you have to do all the marketing yourself? How has that worked for you?

Lynn: Devine Destinies does some marketing, but in the end it is up to the authors to make sure that their books are seen. It’s extremely time-consuming and with a family it’s not always easy to find the time. Plus, my first love is writing, not marketing…but it all works out in the end.

Katie: What has your success been, sales-wise, with your ebooks?

Lynn: Sales could always be better, but I’m not complaining.

Katie: What marketing tips would you give to authors of ebooks?

Lynn: I’m not really sure. I’m the one who needs the tips. lol I guess the best way is to join some Yahoogroups and blog on other authors sites, such as this, and everyday, even if it’s one tiny thing, promo one of your books.

Katie: Thanks, Lynn, for being a guest on my blog today. Learn more about Lynn and her ebooks at www.lynnhones.com, www.devinedestinies.com, and www.authorsden.com.

"The Ketchup Bottle & the Takeover" author Maggie Grinnell

2010-11-16T07:00:00.003-05:00

It’s great to have Maggie Grinnell, author of “The Ketchup Bottle and the Takeover,” on my blog today. Maggie has been writing since 1992. She writes poetry, short stories and articles. She is also a book reviewer/staff member for Poetic Monthly, and a member of SCBWI.

Katie: What a great sounding name for a book! It’s got me intrigued already. Can you please give a brief synopsis?

Maggie: Sure. Tommy Tomato, a ketchup bottle with an ego, moves into the refrigerator with plans to take it over. When he goes missing, everyone in the fridge forgets his ego and searched for him because they want him back.

Katie: Is this your debut children’s book? What was your motivation behind writing this book?

Maggie: This is my debut book. My motivation for this book and idea was seeing the biggest ketchup bottle I had ever seen in a fridge. I then wondered if this ketchup bottle had an ego and what would happen if he tried to take over a fridge.

Katie: How did you happen upon writing for the earlier reader group?

Maggie: I use to write suspense stories. Then one day, I wrote a poem about my inner child and I thought about writing a story about childhood and there it grew.

Katie: What did you learn, as you wrote, about writing for the early reader group?

Maggie: I learned that just because the reader group is younger, it doesn’t mean that they are any less educated. These kids are smarter today then I was at that age. Writing for children isn’t any easier than writing for adults.

Katie: I wouldn’t think so, but did you have to do any research for this book?

Maggie: Laughing. No I didn’t have to do any research for this book. All I had to do was look inside a refrigerator.

Katie: What about the early reader group as a whole makes it interesting for you to write for that age group?

Maggie: I have always felt like a kid at heart. I sometimes even feel that I haven’t quite grown up yet. I am always looking for that next adventure, that next story which I feel that the early reader does too.

Katie: Do you think you will continue to write for this age group? Why or why not?

Maggie: I feel as if I will continue to write for this age group. Because I feel that I can relate to always wanting to go on an adventure and see what is out there, to have my mind constantly being engaged.

Katie: Why did you decide to self-publish this book?

Maggie: The publisher is part of a magazine that I write for monthly online. I submitted my story to this publisher. Even though it is self-published, I feel it is still a great story. I don’t know if I will take this path again but I will write another children’s story.

Katie: What are the three most important things you learned about self-publishing?

Maggie: First is to be patient. Not everything goes as planned so waiting is the real test. Second, to keep the confidence that this is your idea and no one can take that away from you. Third, just because the book is self published, it is your story to tell no matter what.

Katie: Thanks, Maggie, for being a guest on my blog today! Learn more about Maggie and her books through checking out these links: www.writer65.com, http://agpressma.books.officelive.com/MaggieGrinnell.aspx and can be ordered through Amazon.

Crypto-Capers Author Renee Hand

2010-11-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to have children’s author, Renee Hand, with me today. She writes because it is a passion in her heart. She homeschools and likes to create books that educate and inspire. She has written a series of chapter books (ages 9-12) known as “The Crypto-Capers Series.” Her latest is “The Chest of Mystery.” These books encourage children to read by incorporating several topics of interest, and the reader also solves cryptograms and puzzles to solve the case.

Renee is an award-winning author, receiving awards such as a Best Book Award, a National Literary Awards, a Preferred Choice award, and a Seal of Excellence Award in Storytelling for her children’s series and adult books.

Katie: Can you share a brief synopsis of the series?

Renee: In my Crypto-Capers series the reader helps solve the case by solving cryptograms and puzzles, so the reader is actually a part of the story, which makes this series interactive and so much fun to do for children. There are 4-5 cryptograms and word scrambles in each book that the reader needs to solve. On my website I give examples of the kinds of cryptograms I use and how to solve them. They may look intimidating at first, but they’re really quite easy. All of my books are history and science based as well, so the reader is always learning something educational throughout each book. The puzzles also become more challenging as the series progresses, more that the reader gets to do. These books are really a great tool to educate and interest readers.

Katie: Can you share a brief synopsis of “The Chest of Mystery?”

Renee: In The Chest of Mystery the team will travel across the globe to Pisa, Italy where they will have to fight for their freedom, or be captured by the enemy as they search for two unique pieces that will open a treasure room. Their fate drops in the hands of one boy, Emmanuel Watson, whose history is tied to the chest. When so close to accomplishing their goal, obstacles arise, and the scent of betrayal is in the air. The Chest of Mystery is the other half of book 3, The Legend of the Golden Monkey.

Katie: Did your role as a homeschooling mom, and your background in science influence you a lot in writing the Crypto-Capers series? How?

Renee: Of course! I love finding great ways to educate my children. They are big readers and love reading mysteries and animal books, but they also love to learn about the world. I incorporated many topics to cover lots of areas of interest throughout all of my books. My Zoology degree comes into play in my new Joe-Joe Nut series more so than in my Crypto-Capers series. In Joe-Joe I write about animal detectives and animal tracks. Children love it!

Katie: I love it that you have made your books interactive. How did you come up with the ideas for cryptograms and puzzles?

Renee: I love reading mysteries. I always have, but I also love solving cryptograms. I do so almost every night. I thought it would be a great way to get children into reading by incorporating the two things that I enjoy doing by having the reader solve puzzles while being a part of an intriguing story.

Katie: What two pieces of advice would you give to an author who wants to traditionally publish their books?

Renee: Keep trying and don’t give up. Finding a publisher for your work is a frustrating and stressful process. I was fortunate to find my publisher but it is my hard work and dedication that keeps them. I think it helps writers to build up their résumé. I didn’t start in childrens books; I started by writing romance novels. A totally different animal, I know, but it got my foot in the door. My hard work did the rest. Now, I have 7 books published, have won awards. I write freelance here and there and write book reviews for some major publishers. I have worked hard on my writing style and creating the voice I want my readers to become familiar with. Am I perfect? Absolutely not! But I have seen improvement in my own writing since my very first book. I constantly work on my writing by being involved with other things and putting my work out there for the world to see. I have gotten more opportunities now than ever before, but it all started with that first book being published about 5 years ago. Do you have to have a traditional publisher to be successful? No! I know some people who have had great success by being self published or by having e-books. The success of a book rests on the author’s shoulders no matter which way you go, and the amount of effort put in to promote it and get the word out there for it. I am thankful for the opportunities and the people who have believed in me during my journey as a writer over the years. I have learned a lot since that first book.

Kate: Anything more you would like to add?

Renee: Yes. Check out my website at www.reneeahand.com to learn more about all of my books. My Joe-Joe Nut series is perfect for children in 2^nd grade and up. The books in my Crypto-Capers series need to be read in order, as the cryptograms and puzzles become more challenging, and the reader needs to have that foundation built from book 1. I also recommend the reader writes all cryptograms and cipher keys on a piece of paper to solve all puzzles, that way it saves the books so they can be reused or passed down to other siblings. My books are also available through Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and other bookstores big and small. Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I appreciate the opportunity.

Katie: Thanks for being a guest on my blog today. You can learn more about Renee and her books at http://thecryptocapersseries.blogspot.com

Scifi/Fantasy author, Rosalie Skinner

2010-11-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

I’m pleased to have “series” author, Rosalie Skinner, on my blog today. Rosalie’s love of the ocean, nature, history and horses has enabled her to give her books an authentic air. She is the author of a series of eight books called “The Chronicles of Caleath.” Book one, Exiled: Autumn’s Peril will be released in September, 2011.

Rosalie, tells us a little bit about your first book.

Rosalie: Caleath is a star traveler, a surveyor of planets and champion of virtual reality games, who is abducted and stranded on a planet where magic happens and science and technology is regarded as alien. He has a plan to escape using a survey beacon he knows landed on the southern continent. Things get complicated when a wizard saves his life and in return Caleath promises not to kill another of his rangers, alas, they are the assassins. They are programmed by the same man who abducted him, and they determined to kill him. To stay alive he must stay ahead of them. He takes a hostage who turns out to be a woman who makes his life even more complicated. Book One Exiled Autumn's Peril, chronicles the journey to find the beacon and Caleath's one chance of escape.

Katie: I want to read this book, and I’m an adult. You say your book has been read and enjoyed by young adults and adults alike. When you were writing the book, did you write with that slant, or were you pleasantly surprised at the varying age group of readers?

Rosalie: I was very surprised. One of my proof readers is a young girl who was still in school. She was one reason I kept writing. When I self-published the first book I found the few copies I had were read and loved by my friends, their fathers and even grandmothers, so I had stumbled on a story that appealed to most ages.

Katie: You created your own world for this sci-fi/fantasy book. What special challenges did you face in world creation?

Rosalie: Creating the world was fun. Although a fantasy world I wanted readers to be able to visualize and empathize with the terrain, so I based the world on familiar settings.

Katie: Why did you decide to write in this genre?

Rosalie: I have always loved reading science fiction and fantasy and wanted to use ideas from both areas of interest. The story evolved before I thought about genres.

Katie: What sort of research did you have to do for this book?

Rosalie: When writing Fantasy I believe the reader needs to imagine or understand why things happen and think they are almost possible. Research is vital to achieving this. Of course the magic is pure fantasy, but everything else is based on laws of physics, facts of nature and new developments in science. Research pays off when your ‘fiction’ foreshadows ‘fact’. For example; I came across an article that said before Man travels to Mars, we will need to develop three different types of nanobots to combat the radiation astronauts would be subject to in their nine month trip. I had already written nanobots into my story, so it was great to hear that in reality they worked on the same principal.

Katie: This book is first coming out in ebook format through MuseItUp Publishing. What made you chose that form of publication?

Rosalie: Ebooks are becoming more popular and a successful way of publishing. With Kindle and e readers at affordable prices, this market is growing daily. Print books will always have a place on the bookshelf, but for readers to access books easily ebooks are the next big thing.

Katie: You say that the first four books in this series have already been self-published twice. What difference is there in the process between ebook publication and self-publishing?

Rosalie: The relief of being with a publisher who knows what they are doing is overwhelming. To have the Chronicles of Caleath released as a series of ebooks with Museitup Publishing is a dream come true.

My self-publishing experience has been educational to say the least. The first publisher went out of business within weeks of my 800 page book being printed. Luckily I had ordered a few copies and was able to get reader feedback. My readers then sponsored my next printing adventure and although there were pitfalls and disappointment, again the story was available. It was published in two shorter books. None of the books were edited professionally, covers were a nightmare and they were not readily available. Firstly, because the company went out of business. The second attempt failed because printed books cost so much to transport here in Australia. Although things are improving now, the high cost of postage and not being able to restock shelves made the whole process painfully unsuccessful. The good thing is that the books I did purchase and pay to get here, have given readers a taste for the series. They sold out of the local bookshops, and the library needed additional copies for their readers, all my copies were snapped up and I struggle to keep hold of my last copy. Even as they were printed I already wanted to re write/ edit them and re design the cover, but that all costs more. Mistakes stay.

Katie: What words of advice would you give to an author who is trying to decide between self-publishing and e-book publishing?

Rosalie: Today’s market is changing rapidly. The availability of e-books globally has changed the playing field. My leaning is toward the e-book market. Create a following for your story. Print versions can always follow.

Thanks for having me as your guest today Katie. It has been a pleasure. If anyone has further questions, please ask. I will endeavor to answer them.

By the way, Katie, I love the premise of your book and the cover art is stunning. It is on my shopping list as a perfect Christmas gift.

Katie: Thanks for being my guest today. You can learn more about Rosalie Skinner on her blog Ramblings from Lady Rosalie at www.rosalieskinner.blogspot.com ,

at her website www.dragonmuse.webs.com,

or on Facebook page, facebook.com/ladyrosalieskinner

She also welcomes new members to the Facebook group, A Gathering of Fantasy Readers and Writers.

Warrior Women trilogy author, Janie Franz

2010-11-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

I’m pleased to host trilogy author, Janie Franz, to my blog today. Janie Franz is a successful freelance journalist with a degree in anthropology, and has recently turned to novel writing. Her debut book, The Bowdancer, launched the Bowdancer Saga, published by Breathless Press. The third book, Warrior Women, will be released November 5. The rest of the series will be published by Muse It Up Publishing, along with another series and three other books, next year as ebooks and print.

Katie: I see that Warrior Women is the third in your Bowdancer trilogy. Can you briefly synopsize the two previous books?

Janie: The Bowdancer launched The Bowdancer Saga, a series of books about the life of Jan-nell a village healer and spiritual leader. The Bowdancer begins the story in her village on the horse plains where she despairs of every finding the child who she will train to take her place. A handsome rogue enters her village seeking healing for one of his men and fate intervenes. The Wayfarer’s Road finds Jan-nell traveling with her precocious young daughter, plying her skills as healer and midwife. Here she meets dashing bard Khrin who offers her and her child belonging.

Katie: And share a brief synopsis of Warrior Women?

Janie: Sure. Jan-nell the bowdancer, now pregnant with her second child, and her daughter, Mira-nell, trek up a mountain where bards’ tales have said a village of warrior women exists. Jan-nell makes this trip in winter—and in her condition—in order to find a place for Mira-nell where the child’s precocious abilities will be accepted. The women on the mountain, though, are not fighters or even man-haters. They have chosen to live apart from the world in a village of only women, led by a sisterhood of hunters. Chandro, a beautiful trackfinder, rescues Jan-nell and her daughter, offering them a home and the promise of love.

Katie: When you started out, did you intend to write a trilogy, or is it “what happened?”

Janie: It just happened, Katie. I had an idea of writing another book and sketched out the first scene of The Wayfarer’s Road but I wasn’t exactly where it would lead me. Then a chance line of dialogue in that book sparked Warrior Women. I have since written another companion trilogy called The Lost Song Trilogy that continues Jan-nell’s story. It will be published by Muse It Up Publishing, and I’m working on another three books that will start at the same scene but will present not only more of Jan-nell’s story but that of her two children.

Katie: What kind of research did you do for Warrior Women?

Janie: All of the books, including The Lost Song Trilogy, required a lot of research on herbs used in cooking and healing. I also had to have some questions answered about midwifery. Each of the books has its own research challenges. The Lost Song Trilogy had extensive research about various cultures in the world, their music, their instruments, their spiritual practices. And then I made sure to blur and alter and, hopefully, surprise readers out of their own stereotypes.

Katie: These days, authors have a diverse choice of publication methods. Which did you choose and why?

Janie: I went with a royalty paying traditional publisher of ebooks at first. I have five books under contract with four more pending with Muse It Up Publishing as ebooks to print.

Katie: Would you continue to use this method of publication in the future?

Janie: I’ve been thrilled with the enormous support and marketing machine that Muse It Up has and will offer them all of my future books. Lea Schizas is an incredibly innovative and up-front businesswoman. It’s a privilege to have my work with her publishing house.

Katie: Please share what the major three things you learned about this method of publication.

Janie: Number one, a small, royalty-paying press often can give authors more attention and help with marketing than the big houses. Two, you still have to work hard to market yourself, but a good publisher like Muse It Up can partner with you and share the burden. That kind of publisher also has a larger marketing reach available to its authors. And three, I have learned to Muse It Up, in particular, treats it’s authors as if we are on a board of directors because Lea often runs business decisions by us before acting on them.

Katie: What stories do you have on the back burner?

Janie:Next year Muse It Up Publishing will be publishing a new contemporary romance thrillers trilogy called Ruins. The first book Ruins: Discovery will be published in April 2011 with Ruins: Artifacts coming out in August 2011 and Ruins: Legacy later. In addition, Sugar Magnolia, a contemporary romance about the music industry, will be out in July 2011. I also have a short horror book, The Neighbor, that will be released in October 2011, and The Premier, a Hollywood romance, will be released in November 2011. As I said, I’m working on three more Bowdancer books and am working on the new occult mysteries series and a romantic time warp novel.

Katie: You can find out more of Janie’s work at http://thebowdancersaga.wordpress.com, http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/forthcoming/warrior-women-bowdancer-book-3.html and http://janiefranz.fourfour.com/home.

Paranormal/Fantasy Comedy Author, Krista D. Ball

2010-11-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

I’m pleased to host author Krista Ball on my blog today. Krista has written an 11,000 word novelette entitled, Harvest Moon. She has published several short stories in a variety of markets, and is a co-editor of 4 Karma RPG books. Her favorite topic is turning stereotypes on their head, as in this story.

Katie: Can you tell us more about Harvest Moon?

Krista: This story follows Dancing Cat, a Canadian First Nations young woman, who angers an ancestor and is turned into a man as her punishment. While in exile, she rediscovers both friendship and love and finds an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed.

Katie: You certainly have a lot of publishing credits to your name. How did you get started in your writing career?

Krista: I just sat my butt down in front of the computer and started working. It's hard to get published when you don't write. Once I figured that part out, the rest was pretty easy!

Katie: How long did it take to establish a reputation and following?

Krista: I'm still working on that J

Katie: In Harvest Moon, how do you go about turning “stereotypes on their head?”

Krista: A couple of ways. First, there is that entire "damsel in distress" trope. I decided to make the damsel undergo a gender change. Then, I changed the sexual orientation of the avenging man. It makes things a lot more interesting.

Katie: What was your motivation for writing Harvest Moon?

Krista: I was working at an inner-city agency at the time. Jim Thunder, who later passed away, would tell traditional Cree stories. I decided to write my own, with a gender bending twist.

Katie: This novelette has magic in it. Have you always written with some fantasy elements, or does your writing cross a variety of genres?

Krista: I generally write speculative fiction, yes. I enjoy science fiction and fantasy, so I tend to write more in those genres.

Katie: Do you anticipate ever writing full-length novels? Why or why not?

Krista: I have a completed high fantasy novel that is currently being reviewed by a publishing house. I am editing a science fiction novel and should be done in a couple of months.

Katie: You say that your stories are self-published in an e-format only. How did you decide to publish your stories in this fashion? Are all your stories published in e-format?

Krista: Only one of my stories are self-published, The Amazing Transformation of Wicca Dog. All others are published in anthologies, magazines, or as ebooks. I choose to self-publish Wicca Dog because it's a light-hearted story that doesn't really fit into the traditional spec fiction markets for were-animal stories.

Katie: What advice would you give to someone who is considering self-publishing in the e-format?

Krista: Well, I only have a little experience doing it. If you are considering it, I recommend reading self-publishing blogs and books. Talking with other authors would be helpful, especially if you are looking at long pieces.

Katie: For an author who wants to break into the market with short stories, articles and/or novelettes, what advice would you give them?

Krista: Like anything, know your market. Don't waste your time submitting to markets who aren't interested in your kind of topics (i.e. men's magazines aren't generally interested in articles on the PMS medications). Read lots, so that you know what's out there. That way, you can take fresh approaches to your work.

Katie: Thanks, Krista, for being a guest on my blog today. You can find out more about Krista and order her book at (Buy link) http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19781, her blog: www.kristadball.com/blog, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kristadb1

Ghost Dog of Roanoake Island's author C.K. Volnek

2010-11-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I’m pleased to welcome children’s author C.K. Volnek to my blog today. She says, “Everyone has a story. Happy, sad, good, bad, all rolled up in the simple truth of who we are. We may think we are nothing special, but in fact we are everything to someone. I grew up in Nebraska, enjoying life in small town USA; riding horses in summer and sledding the ginormous hills in winter. I am married to my best friend and together we have three children. I am proud to announce my first two novels, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island and The Secret of the Stones, will be released in 2011.”

Katie: Please tell us a little bit about your book, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

C.K. Sure, Katie. Thanks for allowing me to join you today. Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island is a modern day ghost story with a twist.

Twelve-year-old Jack Dahlgren has discovered an incredible secret outside his new home on Roanoke Island…a secret that could ultimately unlock the age-old mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. The mystery of how, in 1587, 117 colonists disappeared without a trace. But the secret Jack has found is terrifying. A horrible evil creature is haunting Roanoke Island and it’s up to Jack to stop it.

Shrouded in Native American folklore, Jack must piece together the clues surrounding the missing colonists and how this evil came to be. With the help of newfound friend, Manny, an Indian Shaman, and an elusive Giant Mastiff, Jack accepts his task to uncover the secrets of the horrible evil and find a way to destroy it, before it destroys him.

Katie: Is this your debut novel? What is the motivation behind writing this novel and future novels?

C.K. This is my first contracted novel, Katie. And I’m pleased to have two more following close behind it. All three are Middle Grade novels.

I love writing for this age group. Kids are so open and ready for adventure…if you can keep their attention. I understand this dilemma first hand. My middle son didn’t like to read; too many other distractions to pull him other directions. So, my muse decided to make it my mission by motivating me with fun adventures that tweens will enjoy reading, and if they learn something along the way, then that’s just icing on the cake.

Katie: What made you choose to write about this historical time frame?

C.K.: My story takes place in modern day; however the reader does get to relive the history of the early colonists as my characters experience what life was like during 1587. It was, and still is, an incredulous mystery. Just how does Jack Dahlgren get to experience the past? I can’t give away too many secrets, but if my readers like ghost stories and Native American folklore, they’ll enjoy Jack’s adventure.

I have to smile when I think of how the story came to be. After coming across an article about the Lost Colony, my muse went on the warpath. The mystery enthralled her and she asked question after question. How? Why? Where did they go? I couldn’t answer her. She wouldn’t rest until she came up with her own answers. And so the seed for Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island began to grow. This is my version of what happened to the mission colonists of Roanoke Island.

Katie: Do you think you will write more fiction based on historical facts?

C.K. I haven’t written a story based in the past yet, but much of my writing is based on the past. I’ve been told ‘you have to know where you came from in order to get where you’re going.’ I do believe there is a lot of truth in that statement. And I love to take history and make it alive. It isn’t the dull and boring subject many kids think it is. History is full of real people, real adventures, real heroes.

Katie: What kind of research did you do before writing this book?

C.K. I did a lot of research about Roanoke Island and the Lost Colony as I was writing Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island. I researched the island, historical facts of the early colonists, Sir Richard Grenville and the Algonquian Village of Aquascogok. I even found a list of the colonists’ names and used actual names to create my Colonist characters. With these historical facts, my readers will discover that history is alive with wonderful adventures.

Katie: What’s your favorite part of this book?

C.K. The story is rather suspenseful and very action-packed. But I think my favorite part is in the end, when Jack makes everything right. Jack has taken on a great responsibility and in doing so, learned a lot about himself, his family and the power of forgiveness.

Katie: I see that this is an e-book, to be published with MuseItUp Publishing, with another two in the wings. What made you decide to go the e-book route?

C.K. My books will first be introduced as e-books through MuseItUp, but the traditional print version will follow. But e-books are making a big impression though in readers today and I believe we will see this even in middle grade books. My local librarian said that almost half of all books sold are now sold as e-books and I’ve even heard of a school that did away with text books and gave every student an e-reader. I think it is going to start spreading quite rapidly. But, I do admit, I’m glad to have the traditional print version available as well.

Katie: What three things have you learned about publishing an e-book?

C.K. I’m still in the process of learning all the ins and outs of publishing. I’m working hard at marketing my name and making people aware of my upcoming books. Technology is amazing and sometimes I feel like I’m barely keeping abreast of the waves. There’s web pages to create, blogs, facebook, myspace, twitter, youtube, as well as joining groups like Jacket Flap and Good Reads. It’s been a fun adventure, but I have to watch myself and make sure I leave time to write.

Katie: What is one piece of advice that you would give to an author who is considering publishing their book in the e-format?

C.K. My advice isn’t so much for the format of the book because I see most publishers offering both versions. My advice is for the author seeking a publisher. When an Author is looking for a publisher, they need to choose wisely. There are many good publishers out there, but there are some that aren’t so good. I have contracted my three books with MuseItUp Publishing because I respect and trust them. That is an element that is important to me. I have known Lea Schizas for several years, working with her before she and her team opened the publishing doors of MuseItUp Publishing. It gives me comfort to have my books find a home with someone I know and trust.

Katie: Thanks, C.K., for being a guest on my blog today. You can learn more about her on her website, www.ckvolnek.com, her blog, httP://www.ckvolnek.com/blog.html. She can also be contacted at ckvolnek@yahoo.com.

Shhhh...Corpse Whisperer

2010-10-20T07:00:00.002-04:00

I'm pleased to have Chris Redding, author of "Corpse Whisperer" share about character names on my blog today. Let's see what she has to say:

Thank you Katie for having me on your blog.

I’ve very conscious of my character’s names. Especially now because I’ve read a critique partner’s manuscript without names in it. Just Hero, Heroine, etc. A little unnerving.

But I love naming characters. It’s like naming children. And I did name my children as my husband will tell anyone who will listen.

Jennifer was the name of the heroine in the first book I wrote. She had to have an Irish last name because she has red hair. I used O’Grady and her real father was a cop in Philadelphia. My father had many uncles who were cops there and if you get stopped by an Officer Redding in the City of Brotherly Love, I am probably related to them. But it won’t get you out of a ticket.

She isn’t my favorite heroine, but it’s the first book I published so it will always have a special place in my heart. Her hero was Sean. That’s a strong name. He was a strong, silent type so it fit. His last name, Guadette, is my mother-in-law’s maiden name. It’s French.

When my kids were younger I was involved in a Mom’s club. I used some of the kid’s names in my books. I asked the parents first, of course, and the character didn’t resemble whose name I used.

I have a manuscript called Blonde Demoltion. The heroine is Mallory Sage. This is the daughter of a good friend of mine. We’ve known each other since her Mallory and my son #2 were probably two years old. They are twelve now. The character Mallory’s hero is Trey. I have no Earthly memory of why I picked that name. But he’s McCrane, a good Irishmen. See a trend here?

Incendiary’s heroine is Chelsea. Remember On Golden Pond. Jane Fonda played a Chelsea and I really liked that name. I’ve kept it all these years and finally used it. James is her last name. I think that was one of those flipping through a phone book moments. Her hero is Jake, another strong name. Campbell is his last name. Uh, Irish?

Stone Feeney is a minor character who is a hero in another book. Stone. Probably Stone Phillips. I thought he was cute on television.

The best story I have is for a book that hasn’t been published yet. One of my favorites that I’ve written. Along Comes Pauly is a romantic comedy. The Pauly in the title is Paulo Gabagool Vincenzo. He’s Italian and from New Jersey where the story is set. Paulo is the name of a friend of mine’s, son. Paulo’s best friend in the book: Carmela Loschiavo. I needed a very Jersey Italian name for a character and once again I borrowed one from a friend’s child. He still bugs me about when the book will be published. (As if I have control over that.)

I don’t like when I don’t know how the name is pronounced. Aileen or Niall for instance. (Irish huh?). They don’t look like how they are pronounced. Neither does Sean, but for some reason that doesn’t bother me.

What do you think about character names? Have you ever read a book where you hated the character’s name?

One lucky commenter will receive this lovely Lia Sophia necklace. I will choose that commenter randomly, so be sure and leave a comment!

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. When she isn’t writing she works per diem for her local hospital. Her next book Incendiary will be out this year. It’s about a firefighter trying to prove he didn’t commit arson. Corpse Whisperer is available on Kindle now.

Thanks again Katie for having me.

Football and Writing

2010-10-17T19:08:00.003-04:00

It's football season, and I for one am really glad. I like football. I have teams that I root for, and teams I'd just as soon shoot...well, maybe not really. Still...

Okay, so what's the scoop here? Why I am using football and writing in the same sentence? 'Cause they're so similar! Really. To be a professional athlete, whether it's football or another sport, requires dedication, time and hard work. It also means you do a lot of preliminary stuff before you get to journey's end: the regular season game, or the story or nonfiction piece you're working on.

Football players work out...hard. They lift weights, they spend time in the gym strengthening the muscles they need for the task at hand. They run wind sprints, they practice receiving the ball, kicking and working on footwork with the tires.

So do writers work out...just as hard. We read about the right way to use plot, point of view, conflict, and so forth. And we practice what we read. We let our writer friends help us see what we're doing right and what needs work.

And, hopefully, the end result for both the professional athlete and the writer, is a slam dunk score, i.e. finished, polished novel.

What about you? What are the preparations and practices do you utilize to create and polish your piece of writing? I look forward to hearing about it.

Children's Author, Connie Arnold

2010-10-13T14:07:00.005-04:00

I have the distinct pleasure of presenting children’s author, Connie Arnold, to my blog today. Connie is the author of “Animal Sound Mix-Up,” a children’s picture book that is traditionally published, and is available in print and ebook versions.

Here are two blurbs from book reviews:

“Venture along in this fun rhyme as you discover what the world would be like if animal sounds got mixed up. You have to admit, it would be quite interesting to hear a roar from a mouse and a squeak from an elephant." --Lori Calabrese.

“The beautiful illustrations by Kit Grady are sure to delight that young animal lover in your life, while the book overall is a great resource to teach preschoolers about animal sounds and to encourage a discussion about what makes each of us unique.” --Lori Calabrese

"Unlike many rhyming picture books, the rhythm and meter flow naturally and the message that God made animals the way they really are is a positive one." Janet Ann Collins at http://onwordsblog.blogspot.com
"Get ready for giggles and belly laughs as you enjoy the absurdity of animals uttering the wrong sounds. Don’t be surprised if kids ask to read this one again and again." Beth Bence Reinke at http://blogs.bethbencereinke.com/bethsbooksbasket

Katie: Connie, share a little bit about yourself.

Connie: In talking about myself, I always start with the fact that I’m a wife, mother and grandmother, since those, to me, are my most important roles in life. I have two children with great spouses and three delightful little grandsons. My husband, Tom, and I live in North Carolina. He has recently retired, and we travel frequently to be with our loved ones. Animal Sound Mix-up is my first children’s book, but I have written three books of inspirational poetry. I’m glad to be able to share the talent God has given me with others through uplifting, encouraging and inspiring poetry. People can read some of my poems on my website blog at http://www.conniearnold.webs.com and some poems and other fun stuff for children at http://www.childrenbooks.webs.com

Katie: How long have you been writing for children?

Connie: I’ve only been writing for children the last three years or so.

Katie: What inspired you to write this picture book?

Connie: My little grandsons inspired my writing of this book through reading to them and helping them learn. It’s such fun to watch and listen to a young child making animal sounds!

Katie: Can you share what your early struggles were in writing this book?

Connie: Making the rhythms flow smoothly and the rhymes work naturally without sounding forced were the main struggle. But it was not too hard and such fun to write!

Katie: Do you plan on writing any more picture books?

Connie: Oh, yes, in fact I already have a manuscript that I’m in the process of signing a contract for with another publisher and two more manuscripts yet to be contracted. I continue to jot down poems and ideas and hope there will be more picture books yet to come!

Katie: Did you have an agent for this book, or did you query directly to your publisher, Guardian Angel Publishing?

Connie: No, I didn’t have an agent but submitted directly to Guardian Angel Publishing and received an acceptance fairly quickly. It has been a great experience!

Katie: What sort of marketing have you done for this book? Was your publisher able to help with any of the marketing efforts?

Connie: I have a new website devoted to children with news about Animal Sound Mix-up, poems, fun stuff, and links to other children’s books and fun sites. Also I’ve begun a new blog at http://childrensauthorconniearnold.blogspot.com for sharing things of interest about children. I Twitter about the book and have a page for it on Facebook. Check out http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Animal-Sound-Mix-up/120911087960967 for her page. This week I’m meeting with people at the Children’s Museum here, a preschool director, and the manager of a church bookstore for events and to sell books. I have already contacted the main library, and they are arranging for me to do a reading and program for children and to sign and sell books.

Guardian Angel Publishing had some events in St. Louis recently at the Children’s Illustrated Art Museum and a Border’s bookstore. There is also a blog at http://guardianangelfamily.blogspot.com to share about GAP books and authors and illustrators. A new and exciting way of sharing GAP books has just been announced in a press release from GAP President and CEO Lynda Burch about Be There Bedtime Stories, where people can read books to children and have the video on the pages of the book to send to the children. You can see more about it at http://www.betherebedtimestories.com

Katie: Considering what you have gone through to get your book published, what was the most difficult part of the publishing process?

Connie: Finding the right publisher for what you have written seems to be the most difficult part. I have done extensive research on different publishers over the last few years, and trying to find the one that is the best match is a challenge. In addition, the fact that publishers usually receive such a massive amount of submissions makes the need for your manuscript to really stand out extremely important.

Katie: What advice would you give to other authors who want to break into the picture book market?

Connie: Have your manuscript read by others and get feedback, talk to those who have published picture books about their experience and recommendations, be persistent and keep writing!

Katie: Follow Connie tomorrow as she continues her blog tour with SFC Families Matter http://familiesmatter2us.blogspot.com

Order Links: Guardian Angel Publishing http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/mix-up.htm

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Sound-Mix-up-Connie-Arnold/dp/161633083X/ref=sr_1_18?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1282863499&sr=1-18

Barnes & Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Animal-Sound-Mix-Up/Connie-Arnold/e/9781616330835/?itm=3&USRI=connie+arnold

Steph Burkhart's The Giving Meadow

2010-10-08T09:17:00.003-04:00

I'm pleased to have Steph Burkhart guest blog today. Learn more about her and her children's book, "The Giving Meadow."

I just want to thank Katie for having me today on my blog tour for my children's book.

Just a little about me: I was born in Manchester, NH but live in Castaic, California with my husband, Brent, and two sons, Andrew and Joseph. I have fond memories of Manchester, but have made California my home. I earned a BS in political science from California Baptist University in 1995.

I have been writing since I was 5, first making homemade comic books. Now, I work on creating short stories and novels. I spent 11 years in the US Army and over 7 years in Germany. Writing is a passion that still challenges me. The Giving Meadow is my first children's book and my first book with 4RV Publishing.

THE BLURB:

The Giving Meadow is about a caterpillar who hatches from his egg in the middle of a meadow. As he travels through the meadow, he meets new friends who learn the value of sharing.

THE INSPIRATION

I go to Blessed Kateri Catholic Church (in Santa Clarita, CA) and I'm involved in our Sunday Preschool program. We call it Little Church. The program works with 3, 4, and 5-year-olds. I help to teach the 3's along with 3 other talented ladies, Shirley Chang, Maureen Dunahoo, and Mary Tesselaar. Every year I help to write the Easter play for the children. In 2009, "The Giving Meadow" was our Easter play.

After I wrote it, I showed Vivian at 4RV. She's also a moderator at Writing.com and I wanted her feedback on the story. She offered it a contract! I was tickled pink. It was a nice, unexpected surprise. I can't thank Vivian (Gilbert Zabel, publisher, 4RV Publishing) for believing in the story and wanting to bring it to life.

"The Giving Meadow" is wonderfully illustrated by Stephen Macquignon. Stephen primarily works in the medium of pen and ink and color digitally. He has had the privilege to work with Director Michael Sporn of Michael Sporn Animation Inc. He is also a monthly contributor for Stories for Children's magazine.

Stephen's children's books with 4RV Publishing include Angeline Jellybean by Crystalee Calderwood and Colors by Dana Warren.

5 Stars, Regina Andrew, author of Destiny's Designs: In the beautifully-illustrated children's book "The Giving Meadow", author Stephanie Burkhart presents her readers with a charming fable about kindness and sharing.

5 Stars, Beth Reinke, author of "In My Bath"

Toddlers and preschoolers will love to snuggle up before nap or at bedtime to hear this soothing story read to them. The adorable, brightly-colored illustrations will charm readers of all ages.

GOODIE TIME: Leave a post here on the blog. I'll pick two lucky winners to receive an autographed postcard of the cover. Winners will be drawn out of a hat, and I'll return on 26 AUG to announce them.

BUY LINKS: 4RV Publishing: http://4rvpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html

AMAZON:

http://www.amazon.com/Giving-Meadow-Stephanie-Burkhart/dp/0982588690/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279556653&sr=1-1

BARNES & NOBLE:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Giving-Meadow/Stephanie-Burkhart/e/9780982588697/?itm=1&USRI=The+giving+Meadow

STEPHANIE ON THE WEB:

BLOG: http://sgcardin.blogspot.com

WEBSITE: http://sgcardin.tripod.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1357922219

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

Have You Had it With Marketing?

2010-09-24T19:04:00.003-04:00

What?! That shouldn't even be, you say, a question most published authors would say, especially those represented by small, traditional publishing houses, where most if not all marketing efforts are done by the authors themselves.

Well, a few months ago I would have said the same thing. I was in the throes of heavy marketing, doing all I knew to do: book signings, library visits, a heavy online presence including Facebook, Twitter, my blog, guest blogging, book reviews, etc.

It wasn't getting the job done! At least as far as sales were concerned.

After several months of frustrated marketing attempts, I crashed and burned. I'd had it with marketing and promotional work! I took off the months of July and August, and barely registered a presence at my groups during that time and even into September.

But all those emails from the different Yahoo groups kept coming through my inbox, and I had to spend time reading and clearing those. Finally, I got to the point where I quickly scanned them, and deleted most of them without reading them.

I--finally--realized what the problem was: I'd lost my joy with writing and writing associated projects. More to the point, I was burned out.

"Oh, this isn't me," you may say. And I say, "good for you!" But perchance it is you, what's the next step?

Become less obsessed, and take it easy.

That sounds simple, and perhaps wrong. I mean, how are your books going to sell if you don't promote them, right? Right.

But, if you're burned out, like I was, you simply have to take a break, lean back, breathe deeply, and learn to enjoy once again the simple act of writing, of being less intense, and doing what you know to do, and quit stressing about the rest.

I mean, really, once you've done all you know to do, and can reasonably do, why should you obsess about what you can't do, which markets you have or haven't already found, and so forth?

So, what was my prescription? Lighten up. Make it a goal to be less intense. Unless you're superwoman or superman (and we know some of you are, right?), you're going to flounder under the stress and pressure of marketing. Rediscover the joy of writing and writing related activities, and realize the world isn't going to fall in if you aren't stressing about marketing and promoting your book.

Spotlighting Martha Swirzinski

2010-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm glad to welcome author Martha Swirzinski, M.A. today as she talks about her Movement and More children’s series of books.

Question: Tell me about the title of the series and what that means to readers?

Answer: The title Movement and More suggests that within the pages of our books I offer not just fantastic rhymes and great pictures but moving, interacting, thinking and socializing. Our books engage the whole child, all of the domains of child development.

Question: You mention “our” books. Who is the other author?

Answer: I co-wrote these with Dr. Anita Tieman, a psychologist, who has spent many years working with children. She brings her expertise into the social and emotional aspect of these books.

Question: You have three books. Leap…Laugh…Plop, Guess…Giggle…Wiggle and Kick… Catch…Buzzz. Can you tell me a bit about them?

Answer: These three books offer the ultimate mind/body connection. When children move both their bodies and minds are strengthened. Using entertaining rhymes and charming pictures, these fun and creative books offer multiple ways for your child to move. They also provide mind stimulating activities on each page. Each book brings the joy of movement together with the joy of reading. The pages of these books are filled with laughter, learning, movement and more.
More specifically: Leap…Laugh…Plop works on all of the locomotor skills
Guess…Giggle…Wiggle… has the children doing creative movement
Kick…Catch…Buzzzz.. addresses the manipulative skills

Question: Will there be any more in the series?

Answer: Yes, as a matter of fact we are working on the fourth now, which will be specifically on the non locomotor skills.

Question: How did you come up with this idea for a series of books?

Answer: I teach in a preschool and have my Master’s degree in Kinesiology, so I’ve been involved with children and movement for over 15 years now. I wanted to come up with a way that parents, and teachers could incorporate the specific movement skills necessary for motor and brain development in an easy and fun way. Doing an activity isn’t always easy. Sometimes space, equipment or time may not be available. However, reading a book is fun, easy and doesn’t require much planning.

Question: Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

Answer: Our website is WWW.WholeChildPublishing.com

2010-08-31T20:27:00.002-04:00

I'd like to welcome author Marsha A. Moore as the guest blogger on my blog today. Here you go:

It’s great to be here today. Thanks for inviting me, Katie.

I’d like to share some information about my upcoming book, Tears on a Tranquil Lake, which will be released next February 1^st from MuseItHotPublishing http://museithotpublishing.com/. The book was based upon my initial impressions of living in Florida. I helped my mother get settled the year before I moved my own household here. Staying with her, those months were filled with much exploration, reacting to exotic tropical wonders, and lots of daydreaming. Especially here in Tampa, with the yearly Gasparilla festival focused on the legend of the famed pirate Jose Gaspar, I indulged in learning the local legends. My book is about a love triangle between a mermaid, a merman, and a pirate captain – certainly a Floridian fantasy.

Now, I’m going to turn it over to a good fellow named Black Sam, the first mate on the pirate ship, The Black Hawk. He’ll be reporting in on tall tales told in Tears on a Tranquil Lake.

Marsha

****************************************************************************

It be a grand day to tell ye about a book I be featured in, called Tears on a Tranquil Lake. Tis written by a great lass and fine storyteller, Marsha A. Moore.

I be called Black Sam, in the honored rank o’ first mate on the privateer vessel, The Black Hawk, under the command of Captain Raphael. The Hawk sails under colors o’ the Jolly Rodger and our own hawk on a red field.

The Captain be sweet on a new mermaid we pulled aboard the other night, saving her from the chill o’ cool winter surface waters. Just turned, she be so green, not knowing even to go deep into the water below to protect herself. But fer all the trouble, she be a lovely lass named Ciel, with long golden hair, shapely woman curves, some right pretty blue scales and flipper, if ye have a likin’ for her fish tail. I be thinkin’ Captain likes all her parts, the way he be hanging after her. He looked the fool a tryin’ to get her to join us for a trip down to the pirate waters o’Tortuga.

Ciel and me got to be right good mates, helpin’ me tease Dogbone, our head galley cook. Was hard to keep her aboard though – always wantin’ to swim off with dolphins! *guffaws* Pardon me, remembering her leap-froggin’ with them always brings me a hearty laugh. The trouble that lass could find, even a run in with some evil voodoo!

But her worst trouble be with that merman, Meris, who turned her into a mermaid. Seemed he thought he owned the lass. She believed him too, and put her square in the midst of a struggle tween Captain and him. Poor lass, her head all spun crazy like with the two o’ them wooing her day in, day out. If it weren’t fer me position to serve Captain, I might o’ thown me beret in the ring too. Just so-te-speak, since me cap’s always on, to cover me bald spot. Instead, I tried me best to help the pretty mermaid decide. Took her forever and about wrenched the hearts out o’ those two men. An I won’t be tellin’ ye who the lass picked!

Ye’ll just have to save yer doubloons to get yerself a copy of this tall tale when it be released February 1^st in the year 2011 from MuseItHot Publishing. If ye scalliwags be hankering fer more hints, drag yer bones over to the storyteller’s site at http://www.marshaamoore.com.

Something I Don't Usually Do

2010-08-24T07:25:00.003-04:00

I just finished rereading 9 of the 12 or so books by Terry Brooks having to do with Shannara fantasy series. I did something I don't usually do - not only did I read for content, but I read with a mind to see what he did right with both the hero's journey and characterization. I have to admit I am a huge fantasy fan, so this was right up my alley.

Now maybe you do better at that than I do and already read to learn about your genre. But I usually get so swept up in the storyline that I forget all about reading to learn.

In the "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" series (of 3 books), I followed his characters. The books were actually quite rife with them, and doggone if every single one of the main characters had a flaw to overcome, even many of the more minor ones.

I had three choices: I could just be impressed, or I could allow it to change my writing, or I could say what nice books they were, and leave it at that.

Fortunately, I am only about 40 pages into a new middle grade urban fantasy, and stopped at that point because I knew my characters were rather flat, and needed a fresh infusion of life and variety. I sure don't think I can do as much with my characters as this author did, but I plan on making fledgling attempts for more vibrant, richer characters.

What about you? Are there ways you know of to create vibrant, flawed characters who overcome much by the end of the story?

My Blog's Worst Enemy

2010-08-13T14:27:00.002-04:00

Yep, that says it in a nutshell. You see, yesterday I accidentally submitted to Blogger that my blog was spam. What I thought I was doing was listing my blog as one that was receiving spam. Oy!

I was then frantic to undo what I had done. But, apparently I'm okay, because my blog is still here, and I am able to post. Of course, then I wonder--has it just not come through yet?--or perhaps it went through but because there were no more reports, my blog is fine.

Wow, what a way to sabotage myself. But you know, we do that with our writing, too. We think we're being clever, but in actuality we are shooting ourselves in the foot. You know, that extra bit of description that leaves your reader's yawning, too much dialog (yes, that can happen) that leaves your reader wondering what is in the head of your protagonist, and so forth.

When I was in Chautauqua last summer, my mentor wanted me to write a bit more on my story, starting it at a different page. So, I did. Then I reread what I had written, and decided I needed to add a couple of things. I should have left it with my original instincts. Everything I had added, he pointed out and said it didn't ring true, or didn't need to be there.

So I'm learning to trust my instincts, and not be my own worst enemy. What about you?