Friends Along the Writing Trail and a Giveaway

As some of you know Mark and I just returned from a backpacking trip. Tiring but incredibly awesome and what really struck me were the things that reminded me of my writing journey. And of that the most striking was a moment when we met a couple from Paris. They are avid hikers. They have a home in the Alps that they vacation at so they can hike. They love it.

But.

We met them standing on the side of the trail wondering if they should go on. They really, really wanted to but they were afraid. You see this was their first day hike in The Rockies, Banff in particular.  

Way out of their hiking comfort zone because of all the signs and warnings about bears. They got more and more nervous as they went along. We talked to them for a bit, explained that this was a well travelled trail and that a bear will most likely go the other way if they hear you coming and the chances are pretty slim they would encounter one. Not to say they wouldn't. For example about 700 meters up the trail head we started on {different from the one this couple used} they was bear...poo. A few days old. Small bear, most likely a black bear. There was a posting about it. Here is my face. Bear Poo!!

Course I am fooling around, wasn't really scared, lol.

Anyway the point of this story? The couple asked if they could walk with us. We said of course! As we walked along we passed others coming down the trail. Their confidence restored they eventually felt comfortable moving along on their own. We were a little slower, okay ALOT slower with our packs on. They thanked us. Said they never would have gone on if not for us.

I've got family, friends, fellow writers and so many others I've met along my writing trail who've helped me push on when I was out  of me comfort zone and afraid of carrying on. So here is my thank you to all of them and all of you who commented on my previous post about adding another weekly post to the blog. Something that comes from me and is me and goes beyond a "meme".  This is ME (I swear this is the last me I will use) being me


So on to the giveaway.

Have you a special writer friend who has helped you push through when fear has taken over or is at least knocking on the door? 

Care to share? 

AND if you tell me who it is/was, I will get you each a writing craft book of your choice. This giveaway will last until September 15. Sept 16 I will pick the winners!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Mira's Diary Lost in Paris by Marissa Moss/Giveaway

The time this summer is flying by. So fast, I almost wish I could step back in time to do this summer again.  It has been a good one.  Including the backpacking trip I just came from. LOVED it. And now watch this remarkable segway into talking about time slip fantasy for this Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

But before that a quick shout out to Jill at OWL.  She won last week's pick your middle grade give away.  Her pick was The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver. I'll be getting this one too, that's for sure!

Another book I suggest you watch for is Mira's Diary: Lost in Paris by Marissa Moss.

I received the ARC from Rain Coast Books and started reading it the same week.  The book is not out until October, usually I wait but really wanted to tell you about this one. What a trip it took me on.  All the way to Paris and not just present day, either.  Oh no.  I was hopping all over time in this one and I really enjoyed myself.  Maybe not such a fun ride for the main character whose parents neglected to let her know that she is a fine traveler and can travel from era to era tweaking bits of history here and there as needed.

From the publisher:

Mira is shocked when she receives a postcard from her missing mother – from Paris! Her father decides it’s time for a trip to France to search for her. While visiting Notre Dame, Mira touches a gargoyle and is whirled into the past. There she meets the famous painter Degas and catches a brief, shocking glimpse of her mother. Mira begins to suspect that her mom didn’t run out on them but is a prisoner of the past. Can one family on an incredible worldwide adventure stop a plot in time?

Well written and oh boy, well researched. The book drips with historical Paris from Degas's time on. Famous figures walked off the pages. And I was right with the mc as she tried to find her mother and save a man from a horrible injustice. And again-the history, the facts and details did not, for me, slow it down. Once I get my book club up and running this one is going to be on the list. And on a final note-_great_ cover design.

If you'd like to read this one, I mean this very copy, let me know in the comments and I will enter your name in a draw. Giveaway will end next Monday.

Enjoy your day and head over to MMGM Mom, Shannon Messenger for some more fun!

Adding Content to the Blog: Story Games, Passion for Story, Power of Story

Greetings all and big waves to fellow writers I saw here and there at WriteOnCon.

I swear each year gets better and better. Not bad considering it is already made of awesome. Came away inspired to just keep at it, keep writing, keep revising, keep learning. And that inspiration came from authors, editors, agents, attendees. It truly has the feel of an in person conference-just imagine your home filled with 2000 plus (or more) people at any one point.

One of the most insightful bits of advice I came away with was from  Pam van Hylckama who is a debut author, literary agent and also developed BookALicious.Org. 

That advice was to add one more post per week, not because one is not enough, but the one I am doing is a blog meme.

The post I do each Monday is a blog meme, Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. And y'all know I LOVE doing that---love sharing the love of MG. But. The thought from Pam was that I could also do one post a week that has content. That is. Something that comes from, gulp, me! 

Now...here's the thing. 

You could throw me in front of an audience of hundreds.  Kids, teachers, librarians and ask me to talk, share a story and I am so. there. It's odd to say that, because I am a very shy person. Awkward introvert. And yet--I can do that. Adore doing that. Look forward to the day it is my books I'm doing that with!

But.

For some reason sharing content to add to our blogging conversations that is worthwhile and worth reading makes me all kinds-a-nervous! Even if is just being myself. Hah. Maybe it is because I've never truly grown up. I don't have an inner 5, 10, 12 year old. I AM a mash up of 5, 10 and 12, so don't trust what may come tumbling out of my head.

So. 

Content. 

Thinking I'd like to start something that focuses on Story

-games I've played when doing residencies, the power story has to make a change, sharing moments where I have seen those changes and heard about them from teachers

-the passion we all have for story and sharing it with kids. Tips/suggestions for doing school visits and I am thinking _before_ your book is out, too. No need to wait-get out there and share your love of writing, reading and anything else related to literacy? 

Turn Wednesdays into a playground for sharing the power of story and why we do what we do and I do what I do-or something like that.

Lots to think about.

I'm heading off to the mountains for a backpacking trip, back on Sunday. I can think on this more when I am up there. 

Would love to hear your thoughts. In the meantime thanks for reading--gads that felt like a whole lotta yakkity yak from me. Your. Turn! Please :) ?

Marvelous MIddle Grade Monday Giveaway-Your Pick of a Middle Grade You're Dying to Read

Happy MMGM Monday, everyone!

Today is just a plain old giveaway. Leave a comment telling me what MG you are dying to read and I will get it for you if your name is picked. You have until midnight tonight (MST). Cheers!

I am guest posting on MMGM Mom Shannon Messenger's blog today.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday and the middle grade e-books of Anthony R. Williams

Before I get to the books I am talking about today, I need to let you all know who won SEEING CINDERELLA! Totally forgot to do that last Monday. The winner was:

Michelle Mason

Congrats to Michele!

The book is on the way.

And the winner of ISLAND DANGER is:

Jennifer Rumberger - Children's Author

Congrats, Jennifer! Will pass this along to Margo who will send you a copy in the format of your choice.

Finally, on to... 

Some time ago author Anthony R. Williams contacted me about reading his book CULT OF THE FLY. The flap copy of the book caught my interest and the fact that I read a mention similarity to R.L. Stine or Stephen King for the young and reluctant reader set, I was doubly interested.

CULT OF THE FLY did not disappoint. Loved it. Even the really gruesome bits that were so well described I was actually reading with my face scrunched up and eyes partially close. The action was fast paced and the author was not afraid to make things for the kid characters get worse and worse...and worse.

Now, this book was free on Amazon as were his two other books, EYES WITHIN IN THE CEMETERY and SARCOPHAGUS. I didn't get the next two because they were free, I got them because I liked CULT OF THE FLY and wanted to read more from this author. He succeeded again with writing faced paced, scary stories that could easily grab the reluctant reader or any reader who loves the scary--and not a little scary but the kind that goes SCREAM in the night.

All three of these books are well, well worth trying out. Mr. Williams has some serious writer chops and has great skill with suck-you-into-the- scene vocabulary rich descriptions that don't affect the pacing of the book in a way that could lose the reader, especially a reluctant one. Not only that, the characters are real kids thrown into fantastic-ly creepy situations that come with hold your breath climaxes. Of course, if you check out his site you'll see the writing history he has serves him well.


Following are brief descriptions of each book as provided by the author.

Cult of the Fly - The last place Jessica wanted to be stuck during Spring Break was in a hotel in the middle of the desert with her family. What she didn't anticipate was stumbling upon dark secrets undiscovered for decades. When all hell breaks loose Jessica must face her fears and the terrors concealed deep underground by the Cult of the Fly.

Sarcophagus - When Jeremy moved into his new house he left his friends, school, and old life behind. With nobody but his eccentric neighbor Adrian to play with, Jeremy unearths something buried within the woods that was meant to remain undiscovered. The fate of the world is in Jeremy and Adrian's hands when they must stop the dormant evil they unwittingly unleash from within the Sarcophagus.

Eyes Within the Cemetery - If moving wasn't already bad enough, Marcus' new house doesn't have a backyard, it has a graveyard. He didn't want to believe ghosts, ghouls, and zombies lived back there. Marcus didn't want to think the cemetery was haunted. But when he spots two glowing Eyes Within the Cemetery he won't have a choice but to confront an unspeakable evil living right outside his bedroom.


That's it from me! Hope you are all having a Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Be sure to head back to Shannon Messenger {our fairy MMGM mother!} to see even more MMGM goings on.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Interview and Giveaway with Margo Sorenson

 

It's my great pleasure to welcome Margo Sorenson to my blog.   Here is a little bit about her from her website:


Margo Sorenson is the author of twenty-eight books for young readers. A National Milken Educator and Minnesota Book Award finalist in YA fiction, Margo’s latest middle grade mystery/adventure is Island Danger, (MuseItUp Publishing, June 2012) set in Hawaii, complete with surfing and explosives.


Her book, ISLAND DANGER is a middle grade/tween mystery set in Hawaii featuring an utterly believable 14 year old boy named Todd. He's on a mission to prove to he is old enough to take care of himself and not always leaping before he looks. The thing with Todd is that he does leap before he looks when trying to prove himself. Sometimes he is understanding of others and sympathetic, even willing to stand up to his Uncle who has nothing good to say about native Hawaiians. In the same thoughts, though, he too judges others and assumes the worst based on who they are. In other words, he really is confused and trying to figure himself out while showing everyone he is a grown-up. I remember those days. This book is a great contemporary read with lots of suspense, some mystery and dangerous situations that keep the story moving along. Although it is considered a boy book, this is one I could easily recommend/booktalk for girls, especially ones who like mystery and adventure. And let me tell you--you feel like you are in Hawaii. The author knows her setting and people inside out and backwards. More from the publisher:


When fourteen-year-old soccer star Todd arrives in Hawaii, he hears that radical, militant Hawaiian activists have hidden weapons in a nearby ravine to use for their rebellion against the U.S. government to gain Hawaiian independence.  Even though he’s warned that people are raising marijuana or “pakalolo” in the ravine, guarding their crops with rifles, pit bulls, and explosives, Todd plans to scout the ravine and find the weapons, hoping he can finally earn his family’s respect and find some adventure to offset his boring summer.  What will Todd discover in the ravine that could force him to rethink everything he’s believed?






Margo and I got talking back and forth on Sunday and she kindly agreed to answer a few questions for me. As some of you know I am always interested in how writers balance everything they do and that is where I started with the questions.


We love talking finding that balance in your writing career. How do you find yours? How has it changed now that your book is out and you are out there promoting it?


How do I find a balance between my writing life and my “real life”?  Hmmmm, well, once we take into consideration that I’m probably a bit unbalanced to begin with, the answer is that it ebbs and flows.  If I have an editorial letter that I need to be working on, my schedule goes into overdrive, and I’m at the computer revising early, say, around 6:30 AM.  I work all day, taking a few breaks.  If I’ve got a work-in-progress, depending on whether I’m “on fire” at a particular juncture of the plot, I can’t keep my hands off the keyboard.  But, on the other hand, if I’m at a “sticking point,” and am worrying over a characterization interaction or a plot flaw, then I get up and take a long break.  Over the years, I’ve found that letting ideas simmer on the “back burner,” so to speak, is often the best way to get clear of the ‘gators in the writing swamp.  Now, that was a mixed metaphor! 



 Right now, I’m fortunate that my children are grown, my dear husband is very understanding, and I’m retired, so I do have much more latitude in my daily life than when I was raising my family, teaching middle and high school, and trying to write a little at the same time.  Needless to say, the family always came first, even though sometimes I’d sit at soccer games, thinking about a story idea, but I’ve never regretted putting family first.  Nowadays, when I have a book coming out, I start six months in advance with a to-do list, and then as the day draws closer, I go into action again.  I’ll spend possibly one to two hours a day doing just publicity.  I still keep an eye out for publicity opportunities for my other books, as well, especially since they’re still in print, and follow up on those. When the grandbabies call, though, I’m front and center for them!  


 What is a piece of advice you have for writers who may have hard time switching back and forth between the writing, the reading, the social media-ing and that crazy thing called life?


As I said, the “back burner” analogy has stood me in good stead over the years.  A theory that I learned in a  course in psychology of the unconscious that I took at Berserkley has proven to be most helpful: that our unconscious minds do a lot of work when we’re not “paying full attention,” and I use those times to enjoy family and friends and let the writing things sort themselves out.  I know other writers do the same.  The social media conundrum is interesting, especially to this dinosaur, and I love this quote I just read:  “Facebook is where you lie to your friends and Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers.”  Ha!  Earlier, I mentioned that family comes first, and I’m into “regret minimization:” not doing things I’ll regret later, and doing things that I won’t regret I didn’t do!  Does that make sense?  First things first, and you’ll never regret.  Or, not often, anyway.


Would you care to share a snapshot of your day?


Honestly, every day is different when you’re retired, but I’m a morning person, so I’m up early and doing some writing task – or pleasure: either working on a new idea, or doing some promotion (besides ISLAND DANGER, I have another middle grade ebook mystery  TIME OF HONOR, coming out in October), or revising some of my many (blush!) works in progress.  When we travel, I always have a notebook with me, along with pencils and a small pencil sharpener.  I know, pencil sharpeners are hard to find these days!  I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and thoughts, and the notebook is key.  Otherwise, I may play golf or read a book for a few hours, watch a baseball game (go, Angels!), cook an Italian dinner for my dear husband, and enjoy the day.  Still, that back burner is cookin’ away!


Thank you so much, Deb, for hosting me on your wonderful blog!


Thank you for being here and taking some last minute questions from me. It's been great getting to know and your writing more. I'll be waiting and watching for TIME OF HONOR. In the meantime happy writing...and using that back burner!


Next week, Margo will be over on Middle Grade Mafioso...yep, our favourite Don will be back in town!


Further links: 


Author's Website, includes interviews, new books, information for teachers.


Author talking about writing ISLAND DANGER.


Guest post on Writing for Boys!


If you'd like to win a copy of ISLAND DANGER just leave a comment and next Monday I will draw a winner and send you the book in format preference.


MORE! GUEST POSTING today:


 I am guest posting on Shannon Messenger's website again. Talking it up for The Rock of Ivanore, oh yes I am! Please head over there to check it out and enter the giveaway!

Also, there is still time to enter the giveaway for SEEING CINDERELLA.

More MMGM love:

Shannon Whitney Messenger (a.k.a. Fearless Leader)-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe
Jennifer Rumberger-Children's Author
Joanne Fritz-My Brain on Books
Danika Dinsmore-The Accidental Novelist 
Shannon O'Donnell-Book Dreaming
Natalie Aguirre-Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero-Somewhere in the Middle
Ally Beecher- Kid Lit Frenzy
Barbara Watson-Novel and Nouveau
Anita Laydon Miller-her middle grade blog
Michael G-G-Middle Grade Mafioso
Jessica Lei-her blog  
Pam Torres-So I'm Fifty
Akoss-Nye Louwon – My Spirit | a search for the writer in me
Gabrielle Prendergast-Angelhorn
Gina Carey
T.L. Conway

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Giveaway: SEEING CINDERELLA by Jenny Lundquist

A wee while back I read this interview on Literary Rambles with Jenny Lundquist, athour of SEEING CINDRELLA. I also won the giveaway and the wonderful Natalie Aguirre sent me SEEING CINDERELLA. On the inside was a note from Natalie saying she hoped I enjoyed the book. Well, I did. Alot. In fact, I loved enough to say it is one of my favourite MG reads of '12. Clever, funny and so bang on the universal trials and tribulations of that first year in middle school it even brought me back to my own time in grade six. Take that and mix in some magical glasses you have a wonderful blend of contemporary fiction and fantasy. Not only that, the author is one a heck of a good writer. She blends characterization, plot, setting and theme in a way that makes me want to reread it so I can better my own writing. Yep. Kinda loved it.  This is for sure one I would recommend to fans of Wendy Mass and Lauren Myracle, the Winnie Years.  To wrap up here is the description from IndieBound.Org:

Sixth grade is not going well for Calliope Meadow Anderson. Callie’s hair is frizzy, her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, and to top things off, she has to get glasses. And her new specs aren’t even cute, trendy glasses—more like hideously large and geeky. But Callie soon discovers that her glasses have a special, magical perk: When she wears them, she can read people’s thoughts. Crazy glasses aside, Callie has more drama to face when she’s cast as the lead in the school play—and instead opts to be an understudy, giving the role of Cinderella to Ellen. Can Callie’s magic glasses help her see her way to leading lady, or is she destined to stay in the background forever?


That's it from me. 


WAIT. That is not it. You know I have to do a giveaway right? Must pay it forward and share the love of this book. All you need to do is leave a comment with a way for me to contact you. You have until midnight, next Monday. Good luck!


Happy MMGM all! And, as always, check out some of the following blogs for more middle grade love.


Shannon Whitney Messenger (a.k.a. Fearless Leader)-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe
Jennifer Rumberger-Children's Author
Joanne Fritz-My Brain on Books
Danika Dinsmore-The Accidental Novelist 
Shannon O'Donnell-Book Dreaming
Natalie Aguirre-Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero-Somewhere in the Middle
Ally Beecher- Kid Lit Frenzy
Barbara Watson-Novel and Nouveau
Anita Laydon Miller-her middle grade blog
Michael G-G-Middle Grade Mafioso
Jessica Lei-her blog  
Pam Torres-So I'm Fifty
Akoss-Nye Louwon – My Spirit | a search for the writer in me
Gabrielle Prendergast-Angelhorn
Gina Carey
T.L. Conway
Julie DeGuia-Writer-In-Training