Putting Pen To Paper

Perfect Picture Book Friday :-)

2012-01-27T03:36:00.002-05:00

Merry as a Cricket With Pocketful of Chocolate
written by Lynn Kelley (yes, our Lynn Kelley!), illustrated by Judy Jarrett
Fiction, Whippersnapper Books, 2000

Suitable For:
ages 5 and up

Theme/Topic:
Faith, friendship, and caring.

Opening:
It was that time of year again, time for St. Anne's parish carnival. Father Leong, the new associate pastor, arrived the day before the big event.
"What can I do to help?" he asked Mrs. Warner, the Director of Religious Education.
"Oh, Father," Mrs. Warner answered, "why don't you just mingle with the flock. The people want to get to know you."
"Hmmm," Father Leong mused, smiling and rubbing
his chin.

Synopsis:
Liddy Bennett discovers why Mr. Demski, the church grump, is so mean and grouchy; he's in mourning for his wife. At the church carnival, a clown and some friends help him find joy and happiness in the midst of his sadness.

Why I loved it:
This book teaches kids to look for reasons why people may seem unhappy on the inside. It teaches caring and true friendship. It also shows us that not everything is as it seems. There is a surprise twist at the end of Merry as a Cricket. The writing is fun and inspired, the illustrations are creative and playful.

There is a picture dictionary in the back of the book.

For more picture books visit Susanna Leonard Hill and click around to all the Perfect Picture Book Friday posts.

I won't be here Monday. I'll be writing my heart out. See you next Friday! Smooch!!!!!!!!!!

The Black Shard, by Victoria Simcox

2012-01-23T03:41:00.055-05:00

Late last summer I reviewed The Magic Warble, by Victoria Simcox and was thrilled with the storyline, the characters, the setting, and the plot. Ivy loved it too and could not wait for Victoria's sequel to come out. She asked me several times if Victoria had emailed me that the second book was out. Well. It. Finally. Happened.

The blurb:

The Black Shard, Victoria Simcox’s fast-paced, intricately woven sequel to The Magic Warble, takes Kristina Kingsly and her schoolmates back to Bernovem … and into a thrilling, often dangerous adventure.
Kristina’s stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it’s all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester’s cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it’s actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can’t refuse.
Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends … and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn’t get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the “Black Shard”, Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it’s in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

The Review:

When we opened the box the first thing we noticed on the cover is how much older Kristina is. And that's as it should be. She is fifteen now and back to her regular life. Kristina is headed off to horseback riding camp. Only one problem. Davina and Hester from The Magic Warble will also be there. Did I mention how mean they are? The three find themselves back in Bernovem and the quest begins. Prince Werrien (can anyone say romantic tension) is there and so are the dwarfs, fairies, and the gnomes. We are introduced to new characters too. Whew! This story is fast paced with super fantastic description, lovely characters, and unexpected surprises. The way she sets up the scenes amazes me. There is just enough back story so that anyone could join in, but I recommend that you read the first one. Why not start this beautiful fantasy story where it begins? And I feel I must say something about the plague. No! I won't. It's hard to write the review without giving away the plot. But I want you to visit this world as we did. Unaware of what might happen. Surprised with all of the twists and turns we take in this magical world. The world building is awesome. Awesome!!!!!!!! Did I say romantic tension? Very innocent. Very sweet.

Just to whet your appetite here is an excerpt from chapter one: The summer horse horse-camp experience was not turning out the way Kristina had hoped it would have. The fact that she went along with
Davina Pavey, the seventeen-year-old girl with the maturity level of a twelve-year-old, should have been a big enough red flag warning her not to go, but it wasn’t. In this case, the flag could have been the size of a barn
door, and it still wouldn’t have mattered, because Kristina’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsly, were the ones who made Kristina go in the first place.
They were tickled pink, to say the least, when their daughter was invited by Davina’s parents to go with Davina to the Tranquil Trails Horse Ranch, to participate in a week-long stay at a teen-girl riding camp. Unfortunately, the Kingslys just happened to overlook one minor detail; Davina and Kristina
could hardly stand each other.

And here is what Ivy had to say about The Black Shard:

It's AWESSSSOOOMMME! While reading series books, most of the time the second book is never as good as the first one. But Ms. Simcox! The Black Shard lived past my expectations. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! No wait. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesomely awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The surprises you had for us in the book were like picking up a rock and finding a diamond instead. I only have one question: When is book three coming out??????? You are the most awesome (published) :-)writer in the world. I love your world. Just think how lucky you are. You get to spend your days in that world. Every day! Thank you Ms. Simcox!

So there you have the expert opinion of an eighth grade girl who loves Victoria Simcox more with every book she writes. :-)

Wanna buy this lovely book? Just look at that cover! Isn't it inviting?

Amazon.com

My Book Orders

Thanks for reading. Special thanks to Victoria Simcox for making a certain fourteen-year-old girl very happy! xoxoxoxo

Perfect Picture Book Friday

2012-01-20T03:09:00.073-05:00

The Pea in Peanut Butter

written by Allyn M. Stotz, illustrated by Valerie Bouthyette

Fiction, FutureWord Publishing, May 2011 (coloring book edition pubbed Nov. 2011).

For ages 3-6

Theme/Topic:

Teaches good eating habits to picky eaters

Besides introducing the color of different foods, teachers can/should use the book to expose all of the great reasons to eat these nutritional foods.

Opening:

I love the super duper, gummy yummy,

sticky lickin', and belly rubbin' taste of

peanut butter.

If Mommy would let me I'd spread it on hotdogs,

fish sticks, chips and pancakes.

I'd eat it on bananas, grapes, apples, and frosted flakes. "Can I have more peanut butter, Mommy?"

Mommy shook her head. "No more peanut butter

until you learn to like other foods."

Synopsis:

Kailee loves peanut butter. A bedtime snack turns into a dance party with all of the foods in the kitchen pantry when they come to life. This story teaches young children 3 - 6 yrs. about the various healthy foods.

Why I loved it:
The illustrations pop right off the page, the story does too. Kailee is your typical little gal who knows what she wants to eat and that is peanut butter. :-)

Links To Resources:

The Pea in Peanut Butter Coloring Book Edition

For other picture book suggestions visit the brainchild of Picture Book Friday Susanna Leonard Hill
Visit all the blogs, will ya? Happy weekend. And don't forget to come back Monday for my review of Victoria Simcox's next MG novel, The Black Shard. *hint* You gotta buy this book! :-)

Mojo Update/Short Post Cuz I'm Writin'!

2012-01-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

This is me and my mojo. We found each other again. I love you, Mojo. *happy dance*

I want to thank you all for your mojo good wishes. You got me through a rough patch. Now that Mojo has returned, I have written and revised and even sang a song or two.

This is for you. All of you who live inside my computer. You are my friends. And I'z loves ya. Smooch! Squeezing you tight. :-)

Perfect Picture Book Friday

2012-01-13T09:37:00.001-05:00

I have joined the gang in Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Book Fridays and I am living the dream as I write and read picture books.

The picture book I have chosen might make you wonder how it was even accepted for publication. I mean the title:
I'd Really Like to Eat a Child

written by Sylviane Donnio, illustrated by Dorothee De Monfreid
Fiction, Random House, April 2007
This book was originally published in France. It is hilarious!

Theme/Topic:
Animal croc safety/ (Having trouble with this one.)
Opening:
Every morning, Mama Crocodile would bring tasty bananas
to little Achilles for his breakfast , and each time she said in
wonder, "What a big boy you are getting to be, my son! And
how handsome! And what beautiful teeth you have!"

Synopsis:
Little Achilles is tired of eating bananas for breakfast. Mama Crocodile was very worried until he tells her he wants to eat a child for breakfast. Mama tells him that children don't grow on banana trees, only bananas do.That's when Papa brings him a sausage as huge as a truck. But Achilles says, "No thanks Dad."
Achilles finally meets a child who is just right for eating. The story is a full circle book That's all I'll say. You have to read the book to find out if he really gobbles up the kid. This book is funny and kids love it. The illustrations are simple but wonderful and the sentences are short and snappy.

Links to resources:
I have not been able to find any. But there are a lot of animal safety games you could play with the kidlets to teach them about being kind to animals.

Need more picture books for the itty-bitty ones? Click the linky above and you'll find a fantastic list of them.

Friday the 13th? Yikes! :-) Have a great day. Smooch!

I'm baaaack!!!!!!! :-)

2012-01-09T08:29:00.002-05:00

I had a fantastic break and got lots done, but I seemed to have lost my mojo along the way. *sigh* It just up and left me. I think it packed all its bags too. So does that mean it isn't coming back? I have decided to bribe it with chocolate. And I signed up for Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 in 2012. That is, 12 picture books in the 12 months that we call a year. I am very excited about this. (Thank you Julie!) This might swing mojo back my way. I also signed up for 750words.com which is a wonderful site that mojo might like too. It's tough. Of the 1142 people who signed up, only 648 people still in. It is a great motivating tool for mojo. Now granted there are folks who already have 72 points, but my 31 points as of yesterday, puts a smile on my face. Want to see it?

Here I am. Oh Mojo, please come back!

I have also signed up for Perfect Picture Book Fridays. This is the brainchild of Susanna Leonard Hill. I think with all the prodding I'm doing my mojo should be back really, really, really soon. *buoyant* Plus, I have a boy middle grade novel that I am trying to work on. *would be floating if Mojo would hurry home*

Have you ever lost it?? Your mojo, I mean. Any words of advice?

The Ninja is Having a Giveaway!

2011-12-19T08:24:00.000-05:00

Head over to enter. it is awesome, I tell ya. And you know I only speak the truth. The Ninja is giving away stuff. You heard that right! Here's the linkage: Alex J. Cavanaugh And if you haven't joined the army, join up! :-)

I am going to take a break. (I will be lurking about, though) Homeschool has gotten the better of me this semester and I have lots of writing time to catch up on. Plus family stuff. Please have a beautiful Christmas everyone.
Remember the reason. Smooches!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought you'd like to see this post by the lovely Peggy Eddleman!

2011-12-13T15:54:00.000-05:00

You gotta read it. It is sweeeeeet! Click people!

Welcome Jenna Gustafson!!!!!!!!

2011-12-12T06:01:00.000-05:00

Please join me in welcoming Jenna. She is here to talk about her book, Saving Fort Smoky. It's lovely to have you here Jenna.

What is it like being a 15-year-old author?

Jump into your hot-tub time machine and fly back to your years of high school. Ah, yes. I’m sure you remember those days of hardwood desks, the smell of notebook paper, the wacky, weird, and wonderful teachers, the hours spent up to your eyeballs in homework every night. Don’t forget the sports (that’s not sweat, it’s your fat cells crying!), all the daily encounters with peers whom you’ve known since kindergarten. Maybe you even remember the books you read, your best friends, and your rivals.

In the midst of it all, you are managing to sell and promote your book, Saving Fort Smoky, throughout your community and the web.

That is what it is like being a 15-year-old author. No, I probably don’t spend as long as I should on it, and no, I’m not the next Christopher Paolini. However, this challenging experiment of mine has been exciting, and has taught me a lot about being an entrepreneur. Luckily, working hard has been burned into my brain by my parents. The work doesn’t bother me, and in fact, I enjoy it. Finding the work is the challenge.

Tell us about your book:

My book, Saving Fort Smoky, began as a seventh grade English assignment. We were to write children’s books, and our teacher showed us one a girl had gotten published. That sparked an idea, a challenge to myself.

“Well,” I thought. “If she can do it, I can do it better!”

I wrote my book quickly in three weeks, working on it night and day. My story was spun partly through a haze of Louis L'Amour westerns, and partly my wild imagination. The story just seemed to flow out of me. The story line is quite simple, really, but I think it is one that kids will enjoy. This is what the final product is about:

“After a devastating fire ravages the homes of Fort Smoky, it’s up to young Ben Clearwater and his sister and friends to help the residents and get to Fort Futureland to save the people before the harsh, cold winter sets in. To get there, they will have to trek through unknown mountains, relying on Running Wind’s compass and Big Jim’s maps of the land while struggling against the harsh forces of Mother Nature.

Fort Futureland is a place of new and interesting contraptions, like cars and computers, the four children have never seen, and they are captivated. But the children soon uncover a sinister plot to destroy their beloved Fort Smoky. Will they be able to stop the evil leaders of Fort Futureland? Will they ever make it home? Will they be heroes for Saving Fort Smoky?”

Though I look back on my writing now and see how it could be so much better, I think that saving Fort Smoky is a good start to my writing career.

What would you tell other kids who are trying to write?

Dear Other Kids of the Universe: My love for writing came through journaling. My journals are where my thoughts can flow freely and expressively, where it doesn’t matter what other people think or how they react. In writing, it is important to find that place. Dip your pen in the passion of your heart and write purely, wildly, in a way that only you can. Don’t worry about punctuation and grammar. A person’s writing is often not defined by their perfect English, but by the feeling of soul in the piece. Later you can refine it into a masterpiece. Once you are satisfied with your work and many people have had proof read it, rejoice, for your finished product should make you proud!

I highly encourage that you then look for places to publish your work. Be brave, be creative. Publish your work in the newspaper, Teen Ink or other magazines, enter contests, or even find a publisher like Tate Publishing and sell your work. This will not only make you a better writer, but you could earn some cash!

Lastly, never give up. Don’t let anyone tell you you aren’t good enough. All success takes is determination and a big heart.

Did any adults help you along the way?

Many! Sheryl Stansbury, the librarian at my middle school whom I was an aid for, helped me proof read my story, gave me heart, helped me dream big, and never deplentished my supply of good books.

Mrs. Knudson, my English teacher who was the the first to spark my inspiration. Her humor was always a highlight to my day.

My parents, especially my mom, who spent hours with a dictionary and forty or more pages of manuscript to edit.

Of course, the mighty staff at Tate Publishing who coached me and treated me like an adult through each production phase, which I appreciated.

Recently, Shannon O’Donnell, a blogger who graciously extended her hand and helped me explore the wonders of web marketing.

All of you, readers and bloggers, who are supporting me. Thank you.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like to do things in my spare time like reading sci-fi/adventure books, journaling, dancing (ballet, tap, jazz), drawing/illustrating, galloping across the countryside with my best friend and her horse, Dakota, running cross country, hiking, and creating challenges for myself.

1 thing I want people to understand about my book and I through this interview:

People, please realize that anything is possible through God and perseverance.

Also, QUIT DREAMING and make your dreams something real!

Go ahead, dive off the high board, ride with the top down, and write with a voice all your own. :)

Thank you for joining us Jenna. I can tell you will go far in this world. It is a privilege to cyber know you.

Peeps, please go buy the book. Support this lovely young author.

Amazon:

http ://www .amazon .com /Saving -Fort -Smoky -ebook /dp /B 004 E 3 X 6 HI /ref =sr _1_1?ie =UTF 8&qid =1

322933715&sr =8-1

Barnes and Noble:

http ://www .barnesandnoble .com /w /saving -fort -smoky -jenna -gustafson /1026426849?ean =9781616635329&itm =1&usri =saving +fort +smoky

Visit Jenna here:

Facebook:

https ://www .facebook .com /pages /Saving -Fort -Smoky /141041189285574

My website:

http ://savingfortsmoky .tateauthor .com /

Julie Hedlund's story and contest

2011-12-11T12:23:00.000-05:00

Please click over here and vote for Julie's story, A Troop is a Group of Monkeys. Her story is excellent and she can win the chance to be published. So let's all gather round and support this beautiful lady. Then enter her awesome contest right here and have a chance to win some mighty lovely prizes. The grand prize being mine. *ahem* Providing my name gets chosen. *snort*

Have an beautiful day, folks. :-)

This Is For You Em! :-)

2011-12-05T06:47:00.004-05:00

My pal Emily Ann Benedict, mystery writer extraordinaire, is giving away, yes, I said giving away a story she wrote called, The Father Christmas Confessions. This story is awesome! I don't want to give away any of Megan's story, you'll have to trust me. This is excellent! And it's free. Just because she is who she is! A super woman! So follow the link and get your copy today. Right now. This minute. The Father Christmas Confessions You'll be so glad you did. And while you're at it, buy Emily's book, Only Angels Are Bulletproof. Get it here: Amazon

Click here to visit Emily's place And here to visit her blog: Emily's blog

Ideas and More Ideas Actually, Fifty-Five of Those Suckers!

2011-12-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

PiBoIdMo sent my brain, sight, ears, tongue, touch, and of course my nose into a flurry of activity. Ideas popped up everywhere. Ideas from pictures, from fellow writers blog posts, from my kids, from my hubby, ideas from signs on the road, a sign in a yard, colors, textures, my horses and assorted farm buddies. Little pieces of paper in a basket. Little pieces of paper that will be become stories this coming year. I even have a couple non-fiction ideas. Now there were many more than fifty-five. But alas, these were not scribbled down fast enough and something took my mind off the thought and it vanished. *boohoo*

I have some exciting, fresh, promising, lovely, ideas that I plan on turning into exciting, fresh, promising, lovely picture books. How about you?

Did you see with all your senses in November? Did a certain food you tasted give you an idea? A smell? A picture? An unusual bug? Ideas are all around us. We as writers have to 'see' with our whole body, not just our eyes. Smell with our entire being, not just our noses. Btw, do you realize how crazy toes look? I was staring at my families toes and had a perfect idea for a funny picture book. It involves noses too. But it has a different take on the subject. I'm raring to go. As a matter of fact, now comes the organization. Which one do I tackle first?

So right now, I'm kicking back and resting. Then next week I start planning, structuring, seeing these books in my minds eye. I will scribble more notes about them. Hear the stories they want to give me. I have joined Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 in 2012. Go here.

If you haven't heard about this Cow Poke, I invite you to mount your bronc and take this ride with me. (Cowboy talk. Another idea.) I've been walking around the house talking like this for a week. People around here are getting a little tired of it too. I say it's research family! Sheesh!

Let the stories begin!

Fantastic Giveaway, Peeps!

2011-12-01T14:07:00.000-05:00

Click over to Stuff & Nonsense and check out the book giveaways. And do a little following while you're there. I personally know Anne. She is an awesome homeschooling mom. *waving*

Today Is The Day!

2011-11-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

*panic-stricken* Please visit my pal Stacy and read my post. And follow her if you don't already. She is awesome. Poor her. She said I could guest post. *hoping she doesn't lose any members to her blog*

Someone Was Actually Brave Enough To Have Me Write a Guest Post.

2011-11-29T06:20:00.002-05:00

What's up with that?? *wink*

It's over at Stacy Jensen's place tomorrow. And if you don't follow her, you will want to now. *begging for support* Here's the link: Stacy S Jensen (The courageous one) I heart y'all.

Cool Contest At Len's Place!

2011-11-28T21:59:00.000-05:00

Head over. Awesome Len. She really is, yanno? Lots of books to be given away. You know you want to win one. Did I mention the word free?? Head to Len's house .

Fantastic Giveaway

2011-11-22T09:38:00.001-05:00

I'm back to tell you about the giveaway over at In Time. Michael is a great person and a fantastic writer. Head over and throw your support his way! You'll be glad you did. (Geez, you can't get rid of me.) *waving*

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T06:39:00.007-05:00

I'm taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday. *munch munch* Be safe and have a wonderful time with your family and friends. *wipes crumbs from mouth* See you soon! Hugs and smooches all around. *waving*

Welcome Theresa

2011-11-17T06:38:00.005-05:00

Please welcome my pal and yours, the wonderfully (oops, naughty adverb there) talented author, Theresa Milstein. I am privileged to be on her Fangtales blog tour.

Thanks for interviewing me, Robyn.

Tell us about your story in Fangtales:

Fangtales is a YA vampire anthology that had the criteria to be as true as possible to the rules in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I had to do some research to see what that meant before writing my short story.

My short story is called “Allured”. Shalom is a new student who has been trying to snag the most popular boy in her high school. A couple of people in her new town have been murdered, one in a graveyard. She’s trying to convince this popular boy to visit the graveyard with her.

That’s all I can say…

How did you get the idea for it?

I got my idea with a sentence or two. That’s usually how it starts. I don’t know more than that. Often, I don’t know the ending until I get there. I just have this vague sense of where I’m going.

Here’s the edited version of the beginning, which is pretty similar to my rough draft:

“I twisted a golden curl in my usual alluring way. Guys loved it when I did that. I lowered my voice, so Reid had to lean in to hear me, his elbows propped on his knees.”

After I wrote those lines, I had to figure out what she wanted and why.

How did you feel when you got the email saying they accepted it?

This was my first accepted short story, so I was thrilled. I submitted the story last fall (just about a year ago). The decision was supposed to be decided in the winter, but got delayed until spring. After writing for five years, it felt good to be validated. I wish I’d tried to write short stories sooner because I’ve gotten three of my three short stories accepted into anthologies. If only I had that kind of success with my novels. (Note from Robyn: she will, she will!)

Tell us about your other publications.

After I submitted “Allured”, I heard about a call for stories to be included in an anthology to raise money for flood victims in Australia. The criteria: stories should be upbeat. In my story “Daisy”, Debbie plucks the petals off a daisy to decide whether or not to tell her boyfriend a secret. I was worried it wasn’t upbeat enough, but it was accepted. 100 Stories for Queensland was published in May.

The same editor who put together, 100 Stories for Queensland is the editor for Literary Mix Tapes. She invited me to submit a story for an upcoming anthology, Tiny Dancer. All of the stories are to be speculative fiction, inspired in some way by Elton John’s song “Tiny Dancer”. My piece is about being a futuristic society that upholds a twisted version of the 1950s idea of domesticity. Girls aren’t allowed to be traditionally educated and need to win beauty pageants in order to snag a good husband when they come of age.

All of my three short stories have a twist, which I hope the reader isn’t expecting.

Thank you Theresa for stopping by today. You know I heart you, girlfriend. People please. Go buy it! Smooch!

Linkage peeps:

Theresa's place:

http://theresamilstein.blogspot.com/

Goodreads review

Fangtales (go buy it):

Review on Amazon

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fangtales-berni-stevens/1105876583?ean=9780956036360&itm=1&usri=fangtales

http://www.amazon.com/Fangtales-Berni-Stevens/dp/0956036368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317157075&sr=8-1

100 Stories for Queensland (go buy it too, if you haven't all ready and I know you have. Right??):

http://www.amazon.com/100-Stories-Queensland-Jodi-Cleghorn/dp/0987112627/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317157096&sr=1-1

http://100storiesforqueensland.org/?page_id=22

Yay Theresa!!!!!!!!! We love you soooooooo much!

Be Here Tomorrow For a Little Chat With Theresa Milstein!

2011-11-16T07:32:00.012-05:00

Don't forget tomorrow is my interview with YA author Theresa Milstein. You gotta stop by and read about her short story "Allured" featured in the YA anthology, FangTales.
She's so cool! Uh-huh!

My Interview with Jessica Bell On Her Blog Tour!

2011-11-14T06:21:00.078-05:00

Please join me in giving Jessica Bell a warm welcome. Jessica’s book String Bridge was available November first. I extend my hand (after reading the story and feeling her voice, my heart) thank you for coming to visit with us on your blog tour.

About Jessica:
Jessica Bell is a literary women's fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter who grew up in Melbourne, Australia, to two gothic rock musicians who had successful independent careers during the '80s and early '90s.

She spent much of her childhood travelling to and from Australia to Europe, experiencing two entirely different worlds, yet feeling equally at home in both environments. She currently lives in Athens, Greece and works as a freelance writer/editor for English Language Teaching publishers worldwide, such as HarperCollins, Pearson Education and Macmillan Education.

In addition to String Bridge, Jessica has published a book of poetry called Twisted Velvet Chains. A full list of poems and short stories published in various anthologies and literary magazines can be found under Published Works & Awards, on her website.

From September 2012 Jessica will be hosting the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca, home of Odysseus.

How long did it take you to complete String Bridge?

It’s a little embarrassing really. I started writing it six years ago and finished the final draft at the beginning of this year. It being the first ‘real’ novel I’d written (I wrote another one before this that I discarded. It was horrible), it went through seven rewrites. But I’m glad it did. It finally got the quality of writing and love it deserved after all that practice.

How do you carve out creative space in the midst of life?

With great difficulty. It’s probably one of the reasons I don’t believe in the “we must write every single day” mantra. To be honest, I can’t write every day anyway. I don’t even allocate specific hours. When I have time and feel inspired, I write. I think it’s perhaps because I write slowly and edit as I go. I can’t move on unless I’m satisfied with what I’ve written. It’s just my way. And it works for me. I’m now on to my third novel. Now it takes me about a year to finish that “first draft,” which is still a relatively long time, and then another year to revise, but my first drafts are more like the quality of a second draft when I’m finished with them. So I don’t mind being slow.

What was your favorite childhood book?

The Faraway Tree, by Enid Blyton.

Are there any books that you re-read?

There is only one that I’ve ever re-read. And I’ve re-read it four times. Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson.

Is there a book that changed your life?

That’s actually really hard to answer. I think every book I’ve read has changed my life, even if in the smallest way. I do know that the 2^nd time I read Housekeeping, it changed the way I approached writing. It made me want to be one of those writers whose prose is savored rather than rushed through to “find out what happens next.”

Where did the idea for Melody come from?

I got really sick and tired of the “glorified” image of women in popular fiction. Every book I read, the women were successful and gorgeous and just so … “fictional” :-) I wanted to write about a “real” woman.

Did you write the music for the soundtrack?

Yep. All except the song for the book trailer, Famous, my mother wrote that one.

Is there a word or phrase that you overuse in your writing?

Ha! I don’t know … is there? Did you spot any? I think I used “gritted teeth” a lot, no? Haha.

Guilty reading pleasure?

Marian Keyes, Jodi Picoult and anything related to Madonna. :)

Do you want to attend Jessica's writers retreat and workshop in Greece, people?! *wishing*

Buy String Bridge here:
eBook:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6

Paperback:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/String-Bridge-Jessica-Bell/dp/0984631747
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/String-Bridge-Jessica-Bell/dp/0984631747/

Visit Jessica:
Jessica's house
String Bridge (a novel)
Jessica's Place For Coffee and Tea
Retreat and Workshop
Connect With Jess on Facebook
Follow Jess On Twitter
Goodreads
String Bridge Book Trailer
String Bridge Merchandise

Jessica is also an accomplished poet. She is filled to the brim with talent, folks.
Thank you Jessica and I wish you much success with your writing, future novels, poetry and music.

String Bridge Chart Rush and My Review

2011-11-11T05:57:00.010-05:00

Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell's debut, STRING BRIDGE, hit
the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free! And please read my review of String Bridge at the end of this post. Also, my interview with Jessica will be here on Monday.

All you have to do is
purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and
then email the receipt to:

jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com

She will
then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost!

To purchase the paperback:

Amazon USA
Amazon UK

To purchase the eBook:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.

If you are
not familiar with String Bridge,
check out the book trailer:

Rave Reviews for String Bridge:

“Jessica Bell’s STRING BRIDGE strummed the fret of my
veins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page, yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with Bell’s narrative.” ~ Kathryn Magendie, author of Sweetie and Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal

“Poet and
musician Jessica Bell's debut novel String Bridge is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout, seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that allows the reader to identify with Melody's growing insecurity as her world begins to unravel … String Bridge is a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a hint of magic.” ~ Magdalena Ball, author of Repulsion Thrust and Sleep Before Evening

“Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer of great skill and depth. She doesn't pull back from the difficult
scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel. I look forward to reading her next novel, and next and next.” ~ Karen Jones
Gowen, author of Farm Girl, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds

Connect with Jessica:

String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell

Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/

Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell

Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com

Please TWEET and/or FACEBOOK this post using #StringBridge!

From the back cover:

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her own shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage -- and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits, and she realizes she's been seeking fulfillment in the wrong place.

My review:

String Bridge explodes with emotional conflicts to the very end. Melody’s story is an exercise in decision making, guilt, and in yearning.

Melody’s bipolar mother and her own self worth all threaten to send Melody off the deep, deep end. She believes that she is living a socially acceptable existence. But the strong desire to play her guitar is overwhelming at times. From panic attacks to believing there is a family curse, Melody must come to terms with what she really wants out of life and with her insecurity. Her husband Alex agrees that she should start playing her music again. This makes their marriage stronger until, you guessed it; Jessica throws a hammer into Melody’s happiness.

I loved Jessica's descriptions; they made me feel as if I was standing inside the book covers walking through it with all of the characters. Her voice is amazing. I found myself wishing and hoping that I could develop my voice as well as she has. The characters are flawed, but isn’t that what we want when we read a novel? They are real people with real problems, not some perfect smerfect types.

I do have to mention that this is a book for adults. It does contain swear words which I had to skip over. But her story, her music, her poetic voice are exceptional. The original metaphors made me want to start adding them to my own WIP.

Jessica is a powerful writer who intends on keeping her readers glued to their seats or bathtubs or wherever they do their reading.

On Monday please come back and enjoy an interview that I did with Jessica. You’ll be glad you did.

Welcome Project Mayhemmers! I Heart Middle Grade Historical. How'z About You?

2011-11-04T07:19:00.012-04:00

I'm not the only one. Head over to my writing pal, Michael Gettel-Gilmartin and check out all these fabulous middle grade novels. Click on over now. Read mine. Purty please.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day tomorrow. What is that, you ask?

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

What are YOUR favorite MG historicals? Do tell!

Smooch!

2011-10-28T21:10:00.000-04:00

Uh, er, yeah, I'm slack. As a matter of fact, I'm slack bad! Or bad slack! Whatever way we say it we know what it means. *sigh*

The Halloween Hop started early this morning. *double sigh*

What I wanna know is, what is your most favorite monster movie in the whole wide world?? And what is your most favorite costume in the same whole wide world. Do tell. Please.
My favorite monster movie has to be The Night of the Living Dead. I'm here to tell you that movie scared me so bad. Cool!

Now I write for children so my favorite costume? Tigger, of course. Who else?? He's not scary, but he's awesomely cool. Don'tcha think?

Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza= Halloween! Bwa ha ha ha ha

2011-10-28T08:26:00.001-04:00

Here are my picks. I mean. It is Halloween, yanno?

Er, what a pumpkin.

I just fell for this pic. He's so, well you know. *wink*

Go visit the other participants in Fun Friday.

Catherine Johnson

Stacy S. Jensen

Susanna Leonard Hill

Happy Halloween everybody. Please don't let the ghouls and goblins get ya. Eat candy! Mmmmm chocolate.

It's Time For Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza

2011-10-21T07:04:00.001-04:00

It's time for PUMPKINS/JACK O'LANTERNS.
Here are some more places to visit to see some fun photos:

Catherine One of the awesomely talented authors who started this fun fextravaganza.

Susanna The other half of this delicious design.

Stacy She's just cool. Let's face it!

Go visit their photos. Happy weekend. *waving*

Someone Is Having A Birthday Today

2011-10-20T07:56:00.000-04:00

Pop on over to my friend Lenny's house and wish him a super duper birthday today. He's twelve!!!!! So let him know just how precious he is. *waving*

Pay It Forward Blogfest

2011-10-14T10:00:00.001-04:00

What a super fantastic idea that my ol' pal MacNish (The Quintessential Questionable Query Experiment and Alex J Cavanaugh had. A Pay It Forward Blogfest. Cool, huh?

The three blogs that I have recently found that are completely made of awesome and I want you to visit and follow are:

Will Write For Cookies Peggy Eddleman just signed with an agent! Go check her blog out, follow her, and dump confetti on her head! :-)

Christina Lee YA author

Sher A Hart MG author

Okay! Go follow these and everyone else on the linky list (the links to which are at top of this post), which has over 200 peeps on it. So cool! Oh. And if you came from the linky list, click the follow button to your right. Will give chocolate for followers. *wink*

Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza: Migration

2011-10-14T07:49:00.000-04:00

I'z pooped! This migrating is for the birds!

Wanna join? Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza is the brain child of Catherine Johnson and Susanna Leonard Hill

Debut Author Spotlight

2011-10-10T07:30:00.039-04:00

Thanks to Christina Lee I joined the debut author spotlight. I am spotlighting Across The Universe, by Beth Revis and With A Name Like Love, by Tess Hilmo.

Drum roll, please!

The top three reasons why I loved Beth's debut novel are:

The characters. Elder and Amy are compelling and intriguing. Well written with a fast pace and short chapters, Beth never let her readers down.

The plot. A spacecraft leaving earth with cryogenically frozen passengers aboard is enough to send shivers up my spine and make me want to read the book (even though I critiqued it in its early stages).

Harley. He is my favorite character. I loved him when I first critiqued the story in 2008. And he never disappointed me. He is an awesomely done character with a sad ending. What's not to love? I cried at his end. He was an artist extraordinaire!

The top three reasons I loved Tess's debut novel are:

The plot. The idea of a traveling preacher and his family swinging into town for a three day revival is all I needed to know. Who wouldn't want to read Tess's charming middle grade novel?

Ollie and Jimmy and the entire book of well drawn characters. Tess is evidently a master of characterization. She made me feel like I had known these folks all my life.

The town. I can't soon forget this town called Binder. What an awesome mystery and an excellent job of writing.

Thanks to Beth Revis and Tess Hilmo for giving me terrific characters, and an exciting story line. I so enjoyed myself in your worlds.

Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza

2011-10-07T07:15:00.000-04:00

I decided to take part in the Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza. What fun. Who couldn't love that face? She picked out the best pumpkin there.

Welcome Phyllis Johnson (Could be titled: I'm going to get blogger!)

2011-09-30T09:06:00.003-04:00

If Phyllis looks familiar, you may have seen in her on television in bit roles on website advertising the has classroom ma

I want to welcome Phyllis Johnson here today. She is one half of the team who wrote the YA novel, inkBLOT. It’s great to have you, Phyllis.

Why did you decide to write inkBLOT?

One day I was taking an inkblot test online and the images and questions grew stranger and more twisted somehow. I started wondering what it would be like if the person receiving the information used it against me. It was the classic “what if” that gave birth to the book.

How long have you known Nancy Naigle? (Nancy is the other half of Johnson Naigle, this awesome writing team.)

I’ve known Nancy for six years. She's a great friend and an award winning writer. Her debut novel, Sweet Tea and Secrets is getting rave reviews and her next novel, due out soon is titled Out of Focus. Nancy and I met through our romance writing group and went to some writing retreats and conferences together. Our personalities and love for writing meshed and we decided over time that it would be fun to work together. I started working on inkBLOT and somewhere along the way got distracted by other writing projects. Nancy heard the synopsis of the story and kept asking about it. She didn’t want me to give up on it and decided she’d like to work on it with me. That’s when our co-authorship began. I’m really happy she fell in love with the characters like I did. We plan sequels to the book and have outlined them already.

How did you come up with such a fantastic idea for a YA novel?

Like I said earlier, it was the inkblot test that triggered the whole book. Different images on the test made me think of various crimes and how someone could carry them out.

I must tell you that the first line of the first chapter is one of the best first lines I’ve ever read. Pulled me in. Fast. How long did you work on that first line?

      Nancy has to take credit for the first line. I had removed the first chapter from the book so it could begin with real action. After all, suspense has to grab you from the beginning. It’s Nancy’s first line that hooks you. We sent the manuscript back and forth trying come up with the strongest hook.

     What character was the hardest to create?
   Chelsea may have been the hardest to create. She’s strong willed and competitive but we wanted her to show some compassion too. It was a balancing act. We found that we had to go back and soften her up a little to more easily win the readers' hearts.

    What would you tell a young person who wants to be a writer?    Being a writer is a labor of love. You do it because you feel something is missing when you go too long without writing. Some of my best advice is to join writing groups. Networking with others takes some of the solitude out of it and you learn a lot from others, such as publishing information and critiquing skills. Developing a thick skin to rejection is important and you should always believe in yourself. Never give up your dreams.

Which children's book authors are your favorites?

Jon Sciezka, Alice McLerran, E.B. White, Peggy Deitz Shea, Anne Frank (which explains my poetry book based on her diary, Being Frank with Anne- which I plan to re-release as a new edition in the near future)

Do you ever get writer's block?

When I get writer’s block, I look at artwork or photography and listen to music.
Anything creative jump starts my Muse. Swinging in a hammock with notebook and pen helps too.

If you could say anything to your readers, what would it be?

I hope you love Ronnie, Chelsea and Tiffany as much as we do.

And the next time you enter a lot of information over the internet about yourself... be careful. :.)~

Thank you for visiting with me, Phyllis and Nancy. I heart your novel.

You want to visit this awesome writing team and their most exciting novel? I knew you did. Check out the linkage. You'll be glad you did. Support these lovely ladies. Go buy this novel. It's awesome. *wishing I'd had the idea first*

        inkBlot
        Phyllis's place
Nancy's house

   I've never had so much trouble with the formatting and uploading as I've had this week.   *shakes fist at blogger*

Give a huge welcome to Tess Hilmo!

2011-09-28T08:28:00.003-04:00

I want to welcome my cool writerly blogging friend, Tess Hilmo. We were pals in our early blogging days. She’s one of my first followers. Bless her! And I have learned a lot from her in the past couple years. Her book, With a Name Like Love debuted on my birthday. Thanks for that Tess! HA!

            What made you decide to become a writer? I’ve always loved reading and literature but it wasn’t until I was put on 30 weeks bed rest with my second child that I started to write. I had so much time and was tired of the television so I turned to books and began writing stories. That child is now 12 years old!

            Will you ever or have you considered writing a sequel to With a Name Like Love? No, I think it would take away from the charm of this story.

            Was Ollie based on you or anyone from your life? A little bit of myself, I think. Ollie longs for a stable home. Growing up, I had a single mom who bought and sold real estate. We lived in ten different homes by the time I was 14! So, in that way, my wants aligned with Ollie’s. The name comes from a distant relative on my father’s side.

            How did you come up with the name Binder? Real town? Not a real town, but a real law firm! I was taking a break from writing and heard a TV commercial for a local law firm, “Binder and Binder.” The name stuck in my head and so I made it into a town.

            What kind of books do you enjoy reading the most? Anything middle grade!

            Who are your favorite characters from With a Name Like Love? Jimmy is by far my favorite character. He is in a terrible mess. His mother is in jail for killing his horribly abusive father and yet he never once questions her innocence or his own self worth. He believes in himself so deeply. That kid is amazing.

What are your tips for aspiring novelists? Believe!!! And, some advice I heard was that writing is not a race, it is a marathon and there is room for all of us at the finish line.

What are you working on right now? Divulge my secrets? Hmmmm….ok! I am working on another middle grade story. It is set in Wyoming, modern day and has a fun cowboy flare to it. It has been a blast to write!

Tess, I have loved having you here. I truly wish you great success and I am one of your biggest cheerleaders. Everyone go buy Tess’s book, With a name Like Love. It’s awesome. Just look at that cover! Wouldn't you pick this book up if you were browsing?Tess is having a humongous giveaway over at her place. Head over, ASAP! Tess's place and visit her awesome website too.

Buy this lovely book at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indie Bound

Ta Dum!

2011-09-26T07:26:00.002-04:00

The winners from the Who Started Your Dream blog circle are:

Blueeyedadri please contact moi (robyn at robyncampbell dot com)for your signed for you copy of Across The Universe, (Clap, clap, clap) I have tried unsuccessfully to contact her. If I do not hear from her by Sunday October 2, a new winner will be drawn.

J.A. Bennet please contact Ali Cross (ali at alicross dot com)for your signed copy of "Supernaturally" by Kiersten White. (Clap, clap, clap)

Mina Burrows please contact K.M. Walton please contact K.M. Walton (kmwalton1atverizondotnet)for your copy of "Crash Into Me" by Albert Borris. (Clap, clap, clap)

Joanne Fritz please contact Katharina Gerlach (katharina at katharinagerlach dot com) for your coupon of William L. Hahn’s heroic fantasy "Fencing Reputation". (Clap, clap, clap)

Small Town Shelly Brown please contact Katharina Gerlach (katharina at katharinagerlach dot com) for the eBook "The Witches of Greenwitch". (Clap, clap, clap)

Michael Di Gesu please contact Katharina Gerlach (katharina at katharinagerlach dot com) for your eBook-excerpt "Chasing the Grimm Reaper". (Clap, clap, clap)

Rusty Webb please contact Stephanie (lizziebennet45at yahoodotcom) for your 30 pg critique. (Clap, clap, clap)

Kim please contact Rachele Alpine (ralpine at aol(dot com) for your 25 pg critique. (Clap, clap, clap)

Tina Moss please contact M.G. Higgins (info at mghiggins dot com) for your 20 page critique. (Clap, clap, clap)

Alex J. Cavanaugh please contact Michele Helene (michelevhelene at gmail dot com) for your first 500 words
intensive critique. (Clap, clap, clap)

Congrads to all you peeps and this was a fun bloghop. I loved doing it. Thanks to everyone who shared their memories of Who Started Your Dream?

Super Fantastic Chocolate Contest!

2011-09-26T07:02:00.000-04:00

Head on over to Sher's place . Uh, you do like chocolate, right? Git on over. :-) Go on now.

My Top Three Excuses Are:

2011-09-21T17:11:00.000-04:00

1. I can't write today. No one has any clean clothes to wear.

2. My horses need riding. (I love this one.)

3. We need food in this house. I mean, how can I write if I don't have anything to eat?

Now I admit that number two is my most favorite excuse. But I have learned that when I am riding one of my horses, I'm thinking. About my stories. Things are coming together in my head, so in a way, I am writing.

But the other two are just, well, lamo! Trust me! I'd much rather write than wash clothes. But I think I make this excuse because I'm afraid. Afraid to write the beginning. Afraid of the middle. Afraid to reach The End.

I have declared every Monday through Friday for the rest of the year, No Excuses Can Be Heard, holiday. I'll let you know how it goes. This simply means that I write early morning after exercising and before homeschool. Something. Anything. If it's only 100 words, then so be it. At least I have something to show for it. And if there is anytime left after supper and family time then I write then too.

So tell me. What are your excuses?

And The Winner Is!

2011-09-20T07:50:00.001-04:00

September Mom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You just won the copy of Saving Redwind. Congrads and thanks to all who entered. :-)

And don't forget to stop by and comment on Who Started Your Dream ? Ya wanna win a prize, don'tcha?

Go Visit Michael!

2011-09-19T07:43:00.000-04:00

Head over to Michael's house and read about the fabulously gifted C. Alexander London. Did I say giveaway? That's right. But remember. Tell the Don that Robyn is in his corner. Bribes never hurt anyone, yanno? Robyn would love to win said author's book. Mention my name. Go, go, go! *smiling*

My Pal, Author Kris Yankee is here.

2011-09-16T09:39:00.001-04:00

Welcome Kris! It is so great to have you here discussing your middle grade novel, Saving Redwind. This book is a must buy, people!

I loved reading your book, Saving Redwind. I was pulled into Nick’s story and was sad to leave Nick’s world when I finished the book. (Yep, this book has a male main character.) I am doing a giveaway. I have an extra copy to give to a lucky reader. Just comment on this post and I’ll ask Random.org to pick a winner.

Thanks for your kind words, Robyn, and thank you for allowing me to take over your blog for the day! I’m so excited to be here and am looking forward to your ~~extremely hard~~ fun questions. So, here we go…

Why did you decide to write Saving Redwind?

My agent asked me to try a new genre. She signed me on a women’s fiction manuscript, but was unable to sell it. I had a story idea floating around in my head for years, which ended up being Saving Redwind. She wasn’t able to sell it and she instructed me to self-publish it.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

I think my favorite thing has to be spending time with my characters. I just love them, even the bad ones! I have a lot of fun while writing and hopefully the reader can sense that.

What's the worst part about writing?

The worst part is that I don’t get to write every day. I’m an editor for a small press and an editor/writer for a non-profit. I’m also a wife, a mom to two boys and two dogs, the team manager of my son’s hockey team, and all the other things that a “wife” and “mom” are supposed to be.

What would you tell a young person who wants to be a writer?

I would tell them not to wait. If they have any inclination about writing, go for it. I waited so long before really listening to my gut. I knew, deep down, that I wanted to write but I didn’t have the confidence. If you have a story to tell, don’t give up. Keep working on your craft, making it the best it can possibly be. Always have faith in what’s in your heart.

How did you think up such an imaginative title for your book?

I have to admit that Redwind is a version of Redwing – as in the Detroit Redwings. The story, of course, has nothing to do with the Wings. But the main character is a hockey player and the Wings are his favorite team.

If you could say anything to your readers, what would it be?

I’d like to thank them for taking a risk on me and my stories. I know that there are so many out there, and I’m always outstanding when I get an email or comment on my blog about how much someone loved/liked something I wrote.

Are you working on a new book now?

I’m working on a young adult story with a screenwriter. He’s completed the screenplay (it was his idea and he came to me to write the corresponding novel). It, of course, involves hockey. J

Why do you think it's so important that young people read?

Whether we’re driving, grocery shopping, or surfing the web, we’re reading every day. It is an essential aspect of our day-to-day life. But there’s so much more; there are stories, fiction and non-fiction, that help us all relate to the world, that help us realize we aren’t so different. Without stories, the world would be so boring.

What book are you reading at the moment?

I’m currently reading Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. I loved Shiver-such unforgettable characters.

How do you choose your themes and storylines?

All of my stories have some sort of hockey aspect to them. There are so many life lessons that are learned through team sports, and I wanted to bring those out in stories, especially for kids who don’t play team sports. My main characters are always boys, but I try to throw in at least one girl! Saving Redwind’s main character has a little sister. She’s not a big part of the story, but she serves a purpose.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a writer?

I’d tell them to hone their craft. Many people think it’s easy to write a story. For some, it is. But for most, it takes practice. Take classes, join critique groups and/or websites that deal with the craft of writing. Learn about point of view, scene and sequel, story question, character development. Write the best you can, and the edit it to make it even better. Also, have a tough skin. This is a very subjective field. One person may love your story and another may hate it.

Are you particularly attached to any characters?

I think I get attached to all of my characters. I often wonder what they’re doing after I’ve finished the story. I once asked my mentor, Bonnie Hearn Hill, if she ever felt that way. I was relieved when she said yes!

Thanks again, Robyn! It’s been fun. If your readers are interested in learning more about me or my books, please visit my website, www.krisyankee.com or my blog, http://adventuresthatscore.blogspot.com/.

Thank you Kris. Excellent answers. Please visit Kris everyone. She’s a wonderful author/pal who has taught me a thing or two in my own writing. :-)

Comment away for my extra copy, people.

And don't forget to comment on the Who Started Your Dream post. Prizes, prizes galore. Who Started Your Dream?

Who Started Your Dream?

2011-09-15T14:21:00.001-04:00

Who Started your Dream?

As you all know, I am in Rachael Harrie's 3rd Platform Building Campaign. What fun! Meeting bloggers all across the cyber universe and learning from them too. They're very smart, these bloggers.

One of these smart (genius really) bloggers, Cat Gerlach from our MG/YA group (The amazingly creative group 3) organized this really, really, made of chocolately awesome blog circle/hop. Okay! It really isn't made of chocolate, it just has a sweet, silky goodness like chocolate. ;-)

I'm supposed to tell you which book, which author started my dream. Dum dum de dum! (And my blogging pals who have known me a while all ready know the answer to this question.) Black Beauty! Written by the remarkable Anna Sewell. This was the first novel I read as a child. I didn't have horses then, but wanted a palomino appaloosa and a black quarter horse in the worst way! Anna introduced me to that wonderful world and I read her beautiful story five times, one right after the other. I used to pretend I was her, sitting at my desk (which was really the kitchen table), writing my book, Black Beauty. I learned all I could about her and then started reading Walter Farley's books too. If I hadn't checked Black Beauty out of the library that day, I probably wouldn't be typing this post right now. Did you know she never meant for it to be a novel? She wrote it for vets and horse owners. It was meant to be a how to book for them. If she could only know what it meant to me to read her beautiful words. To live in Black Beauty's world and ride him in my mind's eye. I still read this book from time to time. It takes me back to a world I love. And it gave me my love of writing stories. I owe her a lot. I figure I can repay the debt by writing my own lovely stories and creating a world that might someday give another little girl a love for this craft. Thank you for reading. xoxo

Now here are the secret prizes that are no longer a secret after today:

Michele Helene (500 words)
Cat Gerlach(coupon code for an epic fantasy novel eBook by William
L. Hahn)
K.M. Walton(YA novel)
Stephanie(30 pg critique)
Rachele Alpine(25 pg critique)
Bonnie Rae (YA book)
And me (a query crit and a signed just for you copy of Across The Universe)

Here's the deal:

Leave a comment here explaining the book that started your dream, or the book that you are reading right now, or just a comment on your flavor of chocolate. Yeah. That'll do!
Hop to the next two blogs on the list below and leave a comment there too. The more comments you leave, the more you increase your chance of winning one of those most excellent prizes listed above.
Every blog will tell you where to hop to next.
The very last day to comment is Thursday, September 22nd.
Winners will be selected through random.org

Okay! Hop to:

In Time The blog of Michael Di Gesu, for those of you who don't know.

A Wanderer In Paris Michele Helene's blog.

Hop away. And comment often! :-) Good luck.

Foot note: This was saved as a draft, not a scheduled post like I thought it was. Which is why it's late. Blogger's on my last nerve!

Psst...

2011-09-13T16:12:00.000-04:00

I wanted to tell you about the blog ring I'm in. It's the Who Started Your Dream blog hop. And did I mention there are prizes? Very cool prizes. It all starts on Thursday, September 15. Any commenter has the chance to win a prize, and that chance increases the more blogs she/he comments on. There are eleven blogs participating. September 22 is the deadline to comment. Our old friend Random.org will pick the winners. Did I mention prizes? Big, wonderful prizes. I'll link to two writers who are in the circle. They will also link back to me, and so on and so forth.

Tune in on Thursday to see who did it for me.

Thanks to Ali Cross for making the very awesome button. See it? >

WE WILL NEVER FORGET! HUG YOUR LOVED ONES TODAY! AND DO A FAVOR FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN NEVER REPAY YOU.

2011-09-11T07:00:00.004-04:00

Cool Contest But Hurry And Enter!

2011-09-10T00:08:00.000-04:00

Head over, contest ends tonight at midnight, California time. (I'm so slack these days!) Elizabeth Varadan's Fourth Wish

My interview

2011-09-05T16:51:00.000-04:00

I'm being interviewed today over at A Wanderer in Paris Stop by. I haven't had internet all day or I would have had this up this morning.

We have a winner!

2011-09-04T23:06:00.000-04:00

Lynn Kelley of LynNerd's Random Acts of Writing is the winner of The Magic Warble, by Victoria Simcox. Thanks to all who entered. Congrads Lynn. I know you will enjoy the book. :-)

The MAGIC WARBLE (Is that a cool cover or what?)

2011-08-29T08:05:00.002-04:00

The MAGIC WARBLE

by Victoria Simcox

Book Blurb:

Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen – all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz.

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Magic Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.

*Passes out the coffee and chocolate*
This book had us (that's me and my guest reviewer) captivated, as we found ourselves transported into a world that we never wanted to leave. You'll see her review after mine. :-)
We found this book totally enjoyable. And it has the magic warble. And Kristina's pet rat, Raymond. Nuff said! :-)
Except I must say more.
Kristina is an amazing character. She views herself the way many teens do. Unpopular. *thinking about my high school days.* *sigh* Many kids will identify. That's the wonderful thing about books. Especially this book.
Excellent world building! I was transported to Bernovem and walked with Kristina throughout the story. I was actually there with her! The illustrations are magnificent. Even one with a map of the world I was to travel through. Victoria has a flair for description. And she flavors her story with the right amount of action. The Magic Warble will definitely keep you riveted. Kristina is the chosen one and her journey leads her to some new friends. Really cool friends. Fairies, gnomes, and dwarfs.
These are the magical creatures who help her as she journeys to place the magic warble.Queen Sentiz is a super fantastic antagonist. EVIL, she is. Very evil. Mwa ha ha ha. I loved her character!
Throughout the story, Kristina stays the same. But one thing. She isn't perfect. She's normal. Just like the teens who will read the book. I don't think I should give anything away, so I'll just say that this is a wonderful book that I highly recommend. You have to read it! If you want to know more about Victoria Simcox (she homeschools) and her book and the books that are to come go here

Guest review by Ivy:

I loved Kristina and Werrien (he's the prince). Kristina is awesome (and my new friend) who saves a world and stays the same as she was before. She isn't some adult dressed in teen clothing. She's just like me. I was sad when the book was over, because I didn't want to leave this very cool world I was in. This is THE BEST BOOK EVER! If you loved The Chronicles of Narnia you will fall in love with The MAGIC WARBLE. And one of the best things about it were the short chapters. I love short chapters. The book held my interest all the way through and I could NOT put it down. There are drawings in it too. I can't wait for the next one. When I finished reading the book, I had to find out when the next book was going to be ready.She said she was 90% finished with it.

Giveaway
I will choose one random commenter to win an autographed copy of The MAGIC WARBLE (thanks, Victoria Simcox!).

Rules:

1. Be a follower of my blog and do one of these: follow Victoria Simcox at her blog (blog address above), like the Magic Warble on FB http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=577159739#%21/pages/The-Magic-Warble/118277634882514, or follow her on twitter http://twitter.com/VictoriaSimcox

2. Leave a comment on this post
3. Extra entries for spreading the word: FB, twitter, blog posts, sidebars. Let me know in the comments what you did. (one entry each)
Sorry, US only.

Good luck!

2011-08-24T15:25:00.000-04:00

The Magic Warble, By Victoria Simcox Review and Giveaway scheduled for Monday August 29th.

This book is made of awesome. Ivy read it in a few hours. There will be cyber chocolate and coffee too. Come one come all! :-)

Join Me??

2011-08-16T09:51:00.000-04:00

WriteOnCon started today. Are you coming with? WriteOnCon

I'z advertising

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

First up, thanks to all of you for sending your prayers and well wishes for Christopher and our family. MWAH!

Now for the advertisement. Head over to my pal Michael's Middle Grade Mafioso and read his awesome interview with very cool author Chris Rylander about his excellent debut, The Fourth Stall. Trust me, this book sounds like an absolutely funny read. And you know how I love funny. Michael is doing a giveaway if he has thirteen or more commenters. But I know when you comment you will tell Michael that Robyn must win. *hypnotic voice here*

So head over and while you're there follow him or the Don might come lookin' for ya. *wink*

Christopher

2011-08-12T15:31:00.000-04:00

Most of you know about my Christopher. Born with a rare brain disorder, he's a regular at Chapel Hill, one of North Carolina's teaching hospitals. Recently we found out that he may have to have surgery. Surgery for him is even more dangerous than for most people. I was scared. Needless to say, I requested prayer from all my writerly pals. <3 you Lenny Lee!

Anyway, we found out he will not have to have the surgery. The thing has disappeared from his body. YAY! The doctor was shocked. He couldn't find an explanation. But we could!

We are very thankful to my wonderful, fantastically, awesome pals for thinking of us and for praying for Christopher.

Miracles do happen. Thanks everyone. xo

Could This Happen To You?

2011-08-01T10:29:00.002-04:00

The internet has covered this horror story for several days. Go here to read about the scam, if you have been under a rock, in your writing cave or off the internet for a week or so.

Self-published YA author, Aaronni, was supposedly offered representation by Writers House Jodi Reamer. And with lightning speed the author was also offered a book deal with Razorbill and one with Harper Teen.

As I learned about the scam and read other posts dealing with this horror, I wondered if this could happen to me. I consider myself *experienced* in our world. I believe I would catch the obvious. And I know I would never announce the agent deal until after the contract was signed. A caution flag would be seen in my minds eye if an agent told me she got a seventy-five percent commission. More warnings would color my eyes if the agent told me she had gotten a book deal that fast. With an exorbitant advance offer, I believe I would become keenly aware that all was not as it appeared. Or would I?

I waited to write this post until I could have time to think about it. This author has been through enough. But I wondered...would thrill take over and could I possibly lose all sense of *experience*? Would elation color the red flags green? Could this happen to me?

The person that carried out this hoax should be ashamed of him/herself. And would another writer actually do this to one of their own? Their own kind??

I've learned a lot in this business and I still have lots to learn. But kindness, decency, caring for all life makes me feel sick at my stomach after reading about this hoax.

Can we learn from this? Dang right we can! Pay attention to the warning signs. Be diligent. We're in this for the long haul. Nothing this great ever happens that fast. You do not pick up an agent and a book deal in the same week.

Could this happen to me? Maybe. Could it happen to you?

I know I've been missing in action lately. Sorry. My Christopher is having a health issue. He needs your prayers. And so do I. <3

Welcome Wendy Marcus

2011-07-15T07:12:00.003-04:00

As you all know, I don't usually invite romance authors over here because I write for children. I have made an exception today for Romance author extraordinaire, Wendy Marcus. (Besides, I know some writerly Mama's that read this after their day of writing for children.) *wink*

Wendy's Harlequin Medical Romance, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH has hit the shelves and she is here to promote it. So without further adieu, here's Wendy.

Hi Robyn!

Thank you so much for hosting me at the 20^th stop of my blog tour to promote my Harlequin Medical Romance, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH. Whenever I’m scheduled to visit a blog, I always stop by beforehand to read through recent posts and get a feel for what the blog followers expect. Usually it sparks my imagination, and I can come up with something suitable and unique.

Yet try as I might, I have been unable to come up with a correlation between picture books/middle grade novels/YA novels and medical romance. Even though I’ve met people who admit to reading their mother’s/grandmother’s Harlequin Romance Novels as early as the age of 10 (yes I said 10!), it’s not the audience I write for, and having impressionable children myself, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with anyone under the age of 18 reading my book.

Because there’s sex in it.

Now I know sex can be found in YA books, I have read Judy Blume, after all. But I’d like to think it’s handled differently than it is in books targeted towards adults. Am I naïve? A prude? It must be the mother in me. Give me a minute to shove her in the closet.

There. Now that that’s done, I’d like to chat about the reason I’m here. My debut Harlequin Medical Romance, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH.

Here’s what it’s about:

Nurse Ali Forshay has found the perfect man for her. Dependable. Routine. Boring. Exactly what she wants to ensure a quiet, stable and anonymous life. Then his friend, Dr. Jared Padget, shows up and goodbye fairytale ending. The man’s a schmoozer. A womanizer. A whoo-a-woman-into-bed-using-any-means-necessary kind of man just like her father. And Ali wants nothing to do with him. But he’s so tempting. Thank goodness his temporary assignment at Madrin Memorial is over, and he’s heading out of town.
If only he hadn’t shown up at girls’ night out on the eve of his departure. If only he hadn’t taken her up on her drunken one-time offer. If only he hadn’t come back when he’d promised to stay away…

Here’s an excerpt (suitable for everyone):

Float nurse Allison Forshay glanced at the clock on the institutional white wall of the staff lounge in the Emergency Room, wishing she could accelerate time with the snap of her fingers. Then the eight hours and six minutes that remained of Dr. Jared Padget’s last shift would vanish in seconds.

Along with him.

Hallelujah!

The chorus of sopranos belting out a private concert in her head came to an abrupt halt when the door opened and chatter from the busy outside hallway overpowered her glee.

Ali cringed, keeping her eyes on the patient chart open on the round table in front of her, struggling to maintain focus on her documentation for little Molly Dawkins, her first patient of the night. The three-year-old, blond-haired, blue-eyed terror had tried to bite the triage nurse and kicked at Ali when she’d attempted to expose the girl’s infected big toe. Then Dr. Padget had arrived, complimented the pink polish on Molly’s tiny toenails, the delicate gold bracelets on her ankle and wrist, and the princess tattoo on her hand. In less than three minutes he’d charmed that little girl right out of her sandal, confirming Ali’s suspicion. Women of all ages were susceptible to the man’s charisma.

If there was a vaccine to protect against it, Ali would have opted for a double dose.

The subtle change in the air gave him away, some type of electrostatic attraction that caused the tiny hairs on her arms to rise and lean in his direction, her heart rate to accelerate, and her breath to hitch whenever he found her alone.

His blue scrub-covered legs and red rubber clogs entered her peripheral vision. He pulled out the chair beside her and sat down, brushing his arm against hers. No doubt on purpose, the rat.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Dr. Jared Padget said.

“You’re hardly worth the effort it would take to avoid you.” Although, in truth, she was.

“I’m leaving on Monday.”

Yes! Finally! His arrival three months ago had thrown her life into a state of flux. Now, his temporary assignment over, his departure meant she could finally settle back into a normal routine free from his constant badgering at work and ‘coincidental’ encounters on her days off. With a flippant wave of her hand she said, “Here. Gone. Alive. Dead. Makes no difference to me.”

“Come on, Ali Kitten.” He snatched her pen. “You know you’re going to miss me.”

“About as much as I’d miss a painful hemorrhoid,” she said, glaring at him from the corners of her eyes. “And you know I don’t like when you call me that.”

“Yeah,” he said with a playful twinkle in his peridot-green eyes and that sexy smile, complete with bilateral dimples that tormented her in her sleep. He leaned back in his chair and clasped his long fingers, and her pen, behind his head. “That’s what makes it so much fun.”

Ali grabbed at her pen, making sure to mess up his neatly styled dark hair. He raised his hand over his head and back out of reach, his expression daring her to come closer.

She didn’t.

He chucked the pen onto the table.

“I hear a bunch of you are going out Sunday night to celebrate my departure,” he said, making no mention of the fact he hadn’t been invited.

She shrugged, tamping down the other, less joyful reason for the night out. “It’s as good as any other excuse for the girls to get together. And it’s easier and less fuss than burning you in effigy.”

He moved forward, rested his elbows on the table and leaned in close. “Was that supposed to hurt my feelings, Kitten?” His voice, soft and deep, vibrated through her.

Four hours into a busy twelve-hour night shift, and he had the nerve to still smell fresh from the shower. A picture of him naked, water sluicing down his tall, firm body, slick with suds, forced its way into her mind. It took immense self-control not to pound her fists against her head to get rid of it.

“What’s going on in that pretty little head I wonder?” he teased, staring at her face as if trying to see behind what she hoped was a disinterested expression.

Heaven help her if he could. For months she’d fought this attraction. First she couldn’t act on it. Now she wouldn’t.

Distance was the only thing that worked so she gathered her charts and stood.

Jared rose to stand directly in front of her, so close she noticed a tiny freckle on the skin exposed by the V-neck of his scrub top, a miniscule droplet of chocolate she wanted to lick clean. He smelled so good, his scent an intoxicant that impaired rational thought.

She stared straight ahead, at his clavicle, wouldn’t meet his eyes for fear the way he affected her would show. “Please move.”

“I think you don’t want me to move, you like me right here.”

“Now you can read minds?” She took a step back. Distance. What she wanted was distance between them. Preferably a continent, but the opposite side of New York State, the site of his next temporary assignment, would have to do.

“Yes, I can.” He tilted his face in front of hers. “And you are thinking some very naughty thoughts, Nurse Forshay.”

“Only if you consider me beating you with the bell of my stethoscope naughty. Now get out of my way.” She pushed his arm. “I’ve got to get back to work, and so do you.”

He turned serious for a change. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”

“To forgive you I would have to care about you.” She looked up and locked eyes with him. “And I don’t. Not one bit.”

If you’d like to read more, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH is available for purchase here:

Amazon U.S.: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=wendy+s+marcus&sprefix=wendy+s+marcus

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flirting-Society-Doctor-Enough-Medical/dp/0263885925/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308233911&sr=1-1

Mills and Boon Aus: http://www.millsandboon.com.au/product.asp?productid=4371&dest=%2Fcategory%2Easp%3Fbookcategoryid%3D27%26page%3D1

Harlequin:

http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html;jsessionid=BEFF49E2742164D8EA00C25749CD2E1D?iid=23898&cid=264

To learn more about me please visit my website: http://WendySMarcus.com

Or visit me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Wendy-S-Marcus-Author-Page/184507031577429

Or Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/WendySMarcus

Or Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4823224.Wendy_S_Marcus

So did you ever sneak a female relative’s Harlequin Romances when you were a child? What did you make of them? Granted, they’ve changed quite a bit over the years. Any questions you have about Harlequin Medical Romance in particular, I’m happy to do my best to answer. One lucky commenter will win a copy of the 2in1 UK edition of my book which includes a full novel by Janice Lynn!

Thank you for being here, Wendy. You are a lovely lady. I wish you good luck with this fascinating book and exciting career you have going here.

Okay Wendy! I admit it! I read my older relatives Harlequin Romances when I was young. (Not my granny's. She didn't have them in her house.) My secret is out. How about you? :-) Comment people for your chance to win.

Please Welcome J.C. Martin

2011-07-05T07:06:00.011-04:00

Join me in welcoming fellow writer, J.C.Martin. She is here to talk about her inspiration for the anthology, Stories for Sendai.

J.C. thanks for being here. Talk on, my friend.

I’m really grateful for Robyn for allowing me to hijack her blog for the tour! Today’s post is about my inspiration for the anthology.

The last natural disaster that really struck close to home for me was the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, when an earthquake in the Indian Ocean spawned a massive tsunami that devastated the coasts of pretty much every country in southeast Asia. Having spent the first eighteen years of my life in Malaysia, and with family and friends still living there, the tsunami affected me on a deep, personal level. Although everyone I knew were fortunately spared, there were beaches I frequented as a child that were hit by the tidal waves, and I was overwhelmed by extent and reach of the tsunami, which affected places as far away as Maldives, Seychelles and Tanzania off the African coast!

When the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami struck, I was still a cash-strapped student living thousands of miles away in London. I felt powerless to help. Although I gave what I could for charity, I felt my efforts were as insignificant as a drop in the ocean.

When the magnitude 9.1 earthquake hit off the coasts of Japan on March 11^th, spawning a massive tsunami that swamped the Japanese coastline, the swathe of devastation was a haunting re-creation of the disaster in southeast Asia seven years ago.

Sure, this event didn’t hit as close to home as the last one, but it was close enough: shockwaves from Japan reached the eastern shores of Malaysia. This time though, I felt in a better position to help: I’ve just begun to pursue my writing career seriously, and I’m in the midst of building a modest online platform. So instead of trying to act as an individual, why not try and rally aid from my fellow bloggers worldwide?

With that in mind, and following in the wake of charity anthologies like Tales for Canterbury and 100 Stories for Queensland, Stories for Sendai was born. And with your help, we could really try and make a difference! By buying a copy of Stories for Sendai, you’ll not only be donating to a worthwhile cause (all proceeds from the anthology will be donated to Global Giving, a project which disburses funds to aid and rescue efforts on the ground that needs it most), you’ll also be getting a wonderfully designed book with 20 uplifting and inspirational stories about the strength of the human spirit!

Thanks J.C. hugs and more hugs for making a difference. My copy arrives on Thursday. I can't wait to sit down a spell and immerse myself in these uplifting stories.

Please join me in supporting this worthwhile cause. Linkage for buying your copy/copies follows. Thank you all for helping out. YEAH! :-)

Please Visit Tomorrow When My Pal J.C. Martin Visits

2011-07-04T09:53:00.000-04:00

It is the stories for Sendai blog tour. I really want you all to stop by and read what this amazing woman has to say. See you then. *smiling at you all*

Happy Fourth of July to All My American Pals and Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian pals and Happy Day to everyone else

2011-07-01T15:07:00.001-04:00

Eat lots! :-) <3

Save Your Local Bookstore Day

2011-06-25T15:12:00.002-04:00

Go buy books. Yeah! At your local indie. :-)

Getting to know your MC Blogfest!

2011-06-24T07:30:00.001-04:00

Welcome one and all.

This event is hosted by the lovely Elizabeth Mueller. I am supposed to ask my character three questions in order for me to get to know her better, courtesy of Jeannie Campbell. (You can try this at home and if you sign up for Jeannie's newsletter, you receive the Writer's Guide to Character Motivation for free!) How cool is that?

Question 1: What is your greatest fear, Anna?

Failure, Robyn. Even though I'm only thirteen, I'm a motivated teen girl. I know what I want to do with my life. I want to become a veterinarian. But I'm afraid I won't be able to for one reason or the other. Maybe I think I won't 'get' the math. I had to study a lot just to understand algebra 1. What will happen with advanced algebra and geometry? I am afraid I won't be able to stand up to the pressure. And that means I won't live my dream of helping animals. What's a kid to do? I don't believe that even Sylvan Learning Center can help my poor, dumb old brain understand math. Deep down, I feel it's a lose-lose situation. I'm smart in English, science and history though.

This is what Jeannie says about question 1:

While this is not the first question on my form (I ask for basic info like name and age first), it’s perhaps one of the most important. Our fears, which usually center around a limitation or a failure, perhaps a disappointment or frustration, hold the key to our biggest vulnerability. The same is true for characters.
Fear is fundamental—present in every living thing. It’s relatable to every reader simply in its existence in a character’s life, whether or not they can relate to the specific fear or not. We all have fears, and we all go to great lengths to minimize opportunities for that fear to manifest. This says a lot about a character.

Question 2: What is your biggest accomplishment?

Oh man, that's easy. Claire and I went on an endurance horseback ride and we were lost. For SEVENTY-TWO HOURS we hung on as we tried to find our way out of the Blue Ridge Mountains. And you know what? We made it out alive. Of course I know that Daddy, my brother Ian, and Claire's step-father Ted found us after I had passed out do to complications from my diabetes, but we took care of ourselves. We fished and ate all kinds of natural nature stuff. Our horses survived too. But right now our horses have been stolen and we're going to go and find them. Of course, that's another story, right Robyn?I think besides that, my biggest accomplishment was learning to ride horses. I love being with them They understand me so well and they never ask me if I've done my homework. Or what grade I made on my math exam.

This is what Jeannie says about question 2:

The answer might reveal a time when the character showed great courage in the face of danger or kept their integrity when faced with the opportunity to cheat. The joy that a character feels from their moment in the spotlight, so to speak, can follow them through their life and be a constant reminder of how good life used to be, or it can be held as a standard they seek to attain again and again.
It’s interesting to see how far back in a character’s life their greatest accomplishment occurred. How old were they? And what have they done since then? These questions really dig in deep at the core of the character, helping you get to know them.

Question 3: What is your biggest regret?

Have I lived long enough to have regrets? I guess I do have one. The fight that Claire and I had when we were lost. I got bossy and she resented it. I don't blame her one bit either. I wish I wasn't such a control freak. Is that on your list of questions Jeannie? I always have to control every situation. Maybe that's why I am so afraid of math. That's one thing I can't control. I can study and hope for the best, but that's about it. If I don't have a math brain then I'm in trouble. Controlling everything in my world and math. Hmmm. I think you've helped me figure something out about myself, Robyn You're a good writer girl.

This is what Jeannie says about question 3:

The answer to this question truly reveals a goldmine of information about someone. If a person feels shame or embarrassment over something they said or did, this connects to their self-image and values. If a person feels guilt over their actions or inaction's, this is connected to their moral code.
Sit your character down and force them to answer these questions. I suggest filling out my intake form in the voice of your character. I’ve been told by all my beta testers that my form helped them get to know their characters better than ever, so give it a try!

What Robyn says about questions 1-3:

I didn't know that Anna was awful in math . Now that I do know, I can write that into the story I'm working on now, which deals with the same characters.

Thanks for helping Anna, Jeannie. You rock!

THE WILD GRASS AND OTHER STORIES

2011-06-21T09:04:00.000-04:00

My most precious and awesome friend's book is finished. It is over at Amazon. Now you can get it on a Kindle (ugh), which you can't caress...too cold. Or a paperback version yay, which you can caress...smell the pages. You get the pic.

Davin Malasarn writes with passion and emotion. This book is filled with seventeen short stories. All of which made me wonder, made me connect with the characters. Davin's characters are real, they are enthralling, and seem to come alive inside the pages, so much so, it felt like I could reach out and touch them. I have read Red Man, Blue Man before and loved it, so I was thrilled to see it was included in this book. But there is much more. The Wild Grass is a heart wrenching tale of a woman's loss. As I read it, my heart cried for Kimchaa and I cried for the life she led, much different than I have ever known. And that is just it about Davin's writing. He pulled me into these worlds. Worlds I have only read about or seen covered in news stories. Worlds I now feel like I have lived in, if only for a little while.

Davin portrays human beings as we are. With all of our faults, jealousies, and complications. As I read Bohemian I thought about how vividly Davin sees human nature. He is without a doubt an observer of the human psyche, besides being a writer and a scientist.

Davin's writing is truly intense and truly honest. Please go buy the book, you'll be glad you did. Thanks for reading. :-)

And the winner is...

2011-06-17T13:15:00.000-04:00

Bish Denham! Bish email me your address and I'll send Ian's three books to you. (Better late than never.) Apologies, but I forgot about this. Twice. :-)

And the winner is...

2011-06-16T16:10:00.000-04:00

Karen Lange! According to random.org number six is the winning number. And Karen was number six. CONGRADS Karen! I'll let Jeannie know.

My Favorite Therapist and How She Helped Me + a Giveaway

2011-06-15T07:18:00.003-04:00

I'm talking about THE CHARACTER THERAPIST, Jeannie Campbell. I've always been partial to her last name too. Wonder why.

Jeannie has this GREAT new website that she will use to help our MC's with all their nagging problems. If you've never used her, followed her, or otherwise supported her, get going NOW! Well, after you read how she helped me with Miller. (My character in my YA mystery.)

My question had to do with my MC's behavior after his mother's untimely death. I wanted to know if I had written him right. In other words, I had him making very unusual, uncharacteristic decisions. He was always goal oriented up to this point. Now he was skipping school, etc. Jeannie was spot on and the very thorough advice she gave me led to a new and exciting plot for the book. Things happened that I never anticipated. The book took on a new life and I truly believe it was because of the direction Jeannie gave me in her answer while I was on her couch. She mentioned that his goal of becoming a physician for his mother is divided by his desire to find the mother’s killer. Both goals involve his mother and doing something for her, but he can only choose one. These are the type books that keep readers turning. What will he decide? Make sure to include plenty of pressure from the school system administrators and teachers, threatening to take away his valedictorian status, which will in turn prevent him from getting into a good college, which won’t help him get into a good med school….see the angst? This advice plus added stuff about his aunt turned my story around. And she can help you too.

Isn't she GORGEOUS???? Hmm, lovely smile, Jeannie. Yanno? I'm shopping for a smile. Yours would do quite nicely. Mwa ha ha ha

Jeannie's bio:

Jeannie the Therapist:
Jeannie Campbell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC # 45366) in the state of California. She is Head of Clinical Services for a large non-profit in Humboldt County, and enjoys working mainly with children and parents.
Jeannie graduated summa cum laude from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity with Specialization in Psychology and Counseling and magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a double major in psychology and journalism. She has worked in a crisis pregnancy center, psychiatric hospital, drug rehabilitative program, several non-profits and homeless shelters, a foster family agency, and in private practice.
Jeannie the Writer:
Jeannie has been writing ever since she received a diary for her fifth birthday. She began writing angst-ridden middle-grade novels in junior high, often commandeering the family computer for hours on end. After eight years of higher educational pursuits, she moved onto adult contemporary romance and romantic suspense, frequently using her day job as a therapist to generate lots of fodder for her night job as a writer.
Two of Jeannie’s “therapeutic romance” manuscripts have garnered the high praise of being finalists in the Genesis Contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), of which she is an active member. She writes a popular monthly column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine and has been featured in many other e-zines, newspapers, and blogs.

What is Character Therapy? From her website:
Character Therapy is what I do when I use my professional training and experience as a licensed clinician to evaluate and diagnose fictional characters.

How can you—a published or aspiring writer—benefit?
1) Write characters more realistically.
Using a search engine to find out information about a mental disorder yields a very different result than asking a therapist who has treated those same problems in real life. Instead of getting a bunch of stale facts, I can help you breathe life into your characters while taking into consideration your unique story world.

2) Plot more feasibly.
Plotting the external conflict around your character’s internal conflict is essential to create tension on every page. Understanding the character’s driving goals and motivation in relation to their emotional state will help you figure out what plot points need to occur to maximize the character’s arc to its fullest potential.

3) Avoid clichéd or incorrect depictions of mental disorders.
My passion is helping those not afflicted with mental disorders understand those who are. Since one in four adults have a mental disorder, the likelihood of one of your characters having one is pretty high. But you want every nuance to ring true about the character, not feel cardboard cutout or stereotyped. So pick my brain instead of yours to avoid pitfalls of re-writing later.
Have I piqued your curiosity? Think your characters might benefit from some couch time?

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT
the character therapist

And I had to show you this: Elizabeth Mueller did this. Is she talented or what?

Jeannie will give away a copy of her Writer's Guide to Creating Rich Back Stories. So do a comment and she'll do a giveaway. Jeannie is here if you have any questions. So?? :-) Ask away people. Ask away.

Tomorrow Jeannie Campbell Will Be Here

2011-06-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

Jeannie Campbell: The Character Therapist will be here tomorrow discussing her new website with you and she's gonna do a giveaway. You gotta come back for that. Which reminds me. YIKES! I forgot to announce the winner of my giveaway. I'll do that Friday. :-) See you here.

I've been tagged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-14T10:36:00.002-04:00

My pal Medeia Sharif (who has an awesome YA book coming out in July) and you NEED to buy it. It's called BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. Be looking for it. Anyway, she tagged me. Then my bud Trisha over at Word + Stuff (who is awesomely Australian and musical too), tagged me again. So here goes:

Do you think you're hot?

Meh. (I've been shopping for a new smile. One that doesn't make me look, well, meh.)

Upload a picture or wall paper you are using at the moment.

Do I havta??? (Ivy has been wallpapering my computer, just so you know.) *turns red*

The Song(s) you listened to recently?

Creedence Clearwater Revival. Oh yeah! (When Ivy's iPod isn't turned up to high volume with Taylor Swift and Bieber songs.) Not my thing. *shakes head* So NOT my thing! Not that there's anything wrong with them, it's just well...

What were you thinking as you were doing this?

Am I going to sound, er, yanno, DORKY, STUPID??

Do you have nicknames?

My dadai never called me Robyn in his life. He called me Peggy. (My sister named me. I think there was conflict there.) :-) Personally, I always wished they would have named me Victoria. It sounds sooo elegant. *sobs*

Tag eight Blogger friends.

Mwa ha ha ha ha (I'm soooo evil) *rubs hands together*

Tricia    (Got ya back.) Mwa ha ha ha
Karen
Shannon
Sharon
Diane
Michael
Mary
Anne

Who's listed as number one?

*scrolls back up* Tricia! She's one of my earliest writerly blogging pals. I love her. She is so cool. And she writes the loveliest haiku's. :-)

Say something about number 5.

All this scrolling is maddening, I tell you! (And then I gots to count too.) She has become so very dear to me. I love that woman! She is someone I can count on. She knows what I mean when I say that.

How did you get to know number 3?

Just a second...I have to count again. Okay, she's one of my bff's and she writes picture books like me. We're amigos. And we love to wear shades. But only cool shades. She rocks. Uh-huh.

How about number 4?

*Scrolling, counting* Oh that's my pal Sharon. I love her blog. She writes picture books. She's WAAAY cool. *Gotta get her off the motorcycle for once and get her on a horse*

Leave a message for number 6.

*thumps fingers* This scrolling is getting longer and longer. Dang, I forgot and had to scroll back up again.
Michael, how do you write that fabulous flash fiction so seemingly effortlessly? Whoa, that's a mouthful of adverbs. *slaps hands*

Leave a lovey-dovey message for number 2.

Okay, that's easy! She's the other amigo. She also wears cool shades. And her blog is awesome. I recently won her co-op booklet and it is utterly fabulous. In other words, SHE ROCKETH!

Do number 7 and number 8 have any similarities?

*Scrolls* Actually they do. They should meet. They are both very lovely and caring human beings. Okay! Enough of the sap. They are SOOO cool. And their kids love them and they care about the earth and...

Formatting courtesy of blogger. Grrr they know how to ruin my day!

That is all! :-)

Putting Pen To Paper has been spammed!

2011-06-12T09:30:00.001-04:00

Spammers! UGH! So what to do?? I may have to monitor comments for a time. By the by.(Blogger is makin' me mad too.)

A Freeby from YA Author Cory Doctorow

2011-06-10T12:05:00.000-04:00

Cory Doctorow spreads the love by giving away free eBooks. And here is why he says we should consider doing it too. It is worth your time to read and it's FREE. He thinks free is good. I agree with that. And he goes against the grain, so I'm having to rethink things, but there is a lot of good stuff that he has to say. :-)

The problem isn't Piracy. The problem is obscurity.

Deeper Understanding: The Dark Is Rising

2011-06-09T10:17:00.002-04:00

I've been a very bad girl. I haven't blogged in a week. *slaps hands* Next week I'll be back to my regular Mon. Fri. blogging schedule. Sorry.

Have you seen this? Deeper Understanding: The Dark Is Rising It is in response to the Wall St Journal article from Jennifer M. Brown (she wrote the poem not the article). On Saturday (if you haven't heard), the Wall Street Journal posted an opinion piece about YA literature.

The article's opening statement was from a mom of a thirteen-year-old who is NOT happy with the graphic covers she is seeing on YA books these days. She is judging a book by its (forgive me) cover. :-)
Covers are made to grab you. To pull a reader in to look through the pages. Many times they have nothing to do with the real story that lives between the covers.

I am going to send you over to read the article. WSJ Then pop over to read the response. I think you'll find all this very interesting. This was on twitter with the #YA saves hashtag too. So pop over and read some of those tweets. :-)

Happy Lenny Lee Day and Welcome to the Lenny Lee Fest. The best blogfest EVAH

2011-06-03T07:34:00.018-04:00

I am joining some other writers in spreading Lenny Lee sunshine. The following is a story I wrote for my friend Lenny Lee. I hope he enjoys it. He's the BEST! He's so COOL I want everyone to hop over to his blog right after this and check it out. Here's the link: Lenny's World

Super Lenny and Rocky (Lenny’s Rad, Rockin’ Raccoon)

Super Lenny stared at his sidekick waiting on an answer.

Rocky (Lenny’s Rad Rockin’ Raccoon) counted that Lenny had eaten five lemon tarts and topped them off with three Reese cups.

Lenny rolled his eyes. “I couldn’t have eaten that much.” He exhaled and fell back onto the kitchen floor. “What will happen if someone needs us?”

Rocky thrust out his hand to pull Super Lenny up.

“I am afraid you did eat that much. I counted.” He shoved his calculator into Super Lenny’s view. Rocky couldn’t count and he always held his calculator in case of an emergency. “If we get an urgent call, you’ll be okay. You are Super Lenny, after all.”

Super Lenny and Rocky were always on duty. At any moment they might have to go to the ends of the earth to bring sunshine into someone’s life. Super Lenny had the gift.

Super Lenny pulled the curtain back and looked through the window. The sun had disappeared behind the mountain.
“It’s getting late,” Rocky said. He put his hand over the knob and pulled the door closed.

Super Lenny watched as Rocky climbed his favorite tree. He wondered why Rocky insisted on sleeping in a tree. He would never understand that. He’d tried to do it one night. It made his back hurt, because he rolled over and fell to the ground. OUCH! Super Lenny rubbed his back as he recalled that night.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, turned the telephone ringer to high setting and headed off to bed. His nice soft bed.

A loud ringing in Super Lenny’s ears woke him up. It must be a call for sunshine, he thought. Super Lenny looked at the number as Rocky (Lenny’s Rad, Rockin’ Raccoon) raced in through the door. Rocky was so rad, he had a connection to the phone in his tree and man was he ever fast!

“Looks like it’s from North Carolina, someone named Robyn Campbell,” Super Lenny said. He pulled off his comfy jammies. (Super Lenny slept with his clothes under his jammies. He had to. It saved time. Rocky didn’t have these worries, since he didn’t wear clothes.)

Super Lenny and Rocky (Lenny’s Rad, Rockin’ Raccoon) hopped into the Lenny mobile. That kickin’, solar powered super car just happened to travel faster than the wind. Of course, he drove responsibly. Flying when there were other cars on the road.

“Set it for North Carolina,” Super Lenny said. He pulled down his shades, because the blast from the liftoff was too much for his eyes and they flew off through the wisp of clouds that appear so delicate when looking at them from the ground. But Super Lenny knew these clouds were strong and hardy. He was always stunned at their beauty.

Super Lenny and Rocky arrived at Robyn’s house five minutes later.

Super Lenny and Rocky (Lenny’s Rad, Rockin’ Raccoon) brought sunshine to Robyn. So much sunshine that it looked like daytime in the dead of night. They laughed together, talked about animals and rode horses. They ate strawberry shortcake and topped it off with apple pie and vanilla ice cream. She promised to keep in touch and made Super Lenny promise to blog as much as he could. They waved goodbye as Super Lenny and Rocky (Lenny’s Rad, Rockin’ Raccoon) flew off feeling good, because they created sunshine for their friend.

Thank you Lenny. For always bringing me sunshine and laughter. I love you tons and tons! (^_^) XOXOXOXO

Bridget Zinn

2011-05-26T08:55:00.000-04:00

Very sad news. YA author Bridget Zinn died in the hospital from pneumonia. Her debut book comes out in 2012. Please pray for her husband and family. :-(

My Interview, You Know You Wanna Read It

2011-05-25T09:20:00.000-04:00

Come join me today over at J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

And follow this gal, she has an excellent blog full of golden writerly stuff. 'Nuff said? :-)

Bailey said to...

2011-05-22T12:48:00.000-04:00

buy lotsa books at your LOCAL bookstore. This does NOT mean to order from Amazon. K? This is Bailey's post over at the cool place to hang: The Literary Lab

Er, I did the only thing I could do. Copied and pasted. *wink*

My agent, Weronika Janczuk, forwarded this email to me a week or so ago and I forgot to post about it here:

Hi everyone,

I’ve gotten sick of reading the bookstore obituaries in the publishing news, so I’m starting a viral campaign to get people, on one day, to go buy books from their local bookstore. Might not end up changing the tides, but it’s something small I can do and I’m getting a good response so far. Here are the details for you to pass on to your friends/family/fellow booklovers:

Who: You and all the book-lovers in your life
When: June 25th, the first Saturday of Summer!
Where: Your local bookstore (and if you don’t have one near you, Powell’s ships)
Why: Because bookstores are dropping like flies and we want them to stay alive

Thanks for passing this along to whomever you think would want to get on board.

Warmest,
Kelly

Kelly Sonnack
Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Prefer to read on your *!*%$ (I left out a blank, blank word from Bailey) Walmazart Kindle? Then buy a book for a book-lover you know!

Mark your calendars! DO IT!

So there you have it peeps. PLEASE, PLEASE SAVE YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE. And pop over to follow The Literary Lab writerly pals of mine if you don't all ready. They're awesomely cool. Uh-huh. :-)

2011-05-16T07:06:00.003-04:00

A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure.-Henry David Thoreau

Days Six and Seven of NaPiBoWriWee

2011-05-07T13:03:00.000-04:00

YAY. All the delectable chocolate you peeps sent to me must have done the trick. I have SEVEN picture book drafts. YAY. *toot* *toot*

This is the last day of NaPiBoWriWee. *sniff* Sorry to see it end, but now comes the shining. Yanno? The manuscript shining. Making these stories all sparkly and glittery. And I can't wait to get started. What fun that will be.

Thanks for all your support. I COULD NOT have done this without you.

And to all my NaPiBoWriWee peeps. If you've finished the challenge, *confetti* Celebrate. :-)

Uh, er, toot your horn. You deserve it.

NaPiBoWriWee Day Five

2011-05-06T09:52:00.000-04:00

I hope today goes as well as day five went. I wrote a story about one of our horses, Lady Shamrock. She is the real commander on the farm. All the animals DO her bidding. Even Charlie. It is funny to watch her in action. She doesn't talk in this book, but you definitely get her. She's a great horse character.

I now have FIVE not stinko picture book drafts. *bows* Now comes the revision. *sigh* Has ANYONE ever written a first draft that is ready for an agent or editor's eyes?

Two days left. Today and tomorrow. MORE CHOCOLATE PLEASE. (^_^)

NaPiBoWriWee Day Four

2011-05-05T09:24:00.001-04:00

Okay, I wrote a book about one of Ivy's barn cats. He has an attitude down at the barn. Like he's the head honcho and can't be bothered by his two sisters and brother. So I decided it was time to bring him down a notch. Er, in the book. :-) CHARLIE, the BLACK CAT is my little title. It was fun to write.

Writing picture books requires one to use as many different words as possible. Fun words. Action verbs. These days they like the word count under five-hundred words. Quacker is seven-hundred words, but he needed every one of those words to have his story told.

Every picture book has three things in common. Some kind of trouble, the child/animal must solve the trouble without an adult's assistance, and NO PREACHING. And. These stories must have a lasting quality. Today, tomorrow, and forever.

All writers have to remember who we are writing for. Besides ourselves. The children. For me at least.

So send more chocolate for today. And cake too. :-) Three days left. And I'll have seven not stinko first drafts. :-)

NaPiBoWriWee Day Three

2011-05-04T09:31:00.001-04:00

Day three went off without a hitch. I wrote a very promising first draft. It is rough, but I will work on this one after I work on the story about my Christopher. It has to do with a little boy named Humphrey. That name just came to me and I'm sticking with it. :-)

If you've ever been a child you can write a children's book. And I KNOW most of you reading this have been through childhood. ;-)

I believe that we all still have the little child living inside of us. So I call on that kid when I am writing a picture book. (Hubby says I sometimes act like a child. This is not the same meaning as calling on my inner child when I write.) Humph to hubby! *wink*

For writers to write they must also read. I read anything and everything. Right now I am reading a devotional called, He said She said. Yep, I read 'big people' books too.

A picture book I am about to start is Big Rabbit's Bad Mood. It is a a wonderful story about being in a BAD mood. Children everywhere can relate. (My inner child can connect.) It was written by Ramona Badescu. So let's go and create. :-)

Day Two of NaPiBoWriWee

2011-05-03T07:13:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was day two and I wrote another picture book first draft. The story idea for this came from the hubby on Sunday. He knew I was brainstorming and gave a really cute story idea. So when it is published, I will have to dedicate it to him. *wink*

It isn't easy writing a picture book. Young kids are a tough audience and a writer must write tight (showing) and choose strong, powerful verbs that holds their interest. Adjectives are great. But they have to be chosen carefully.

I love writing picture books. And I love writing funny picture books. All children love funny, they love to giggle.

So far I'm doing great. But tomorrow is another day. ;-)

Wish me luck. Anyone have chocolate?

NaPiBoWriWee and What Else I'm Up To

2011-05-02T09:16:00.002-04:00

I'm doing a picture book a day for seven days this first week of May. I wrote the first one yesterday. It was about my son Christopher. Most of you know he was born with a rare brain disorder called Sturge-Weber Syndrome. A port wine birthmark covers his body. Usually it is just on a part of the face and/or head, but Christopher has the more rare form of the disorder. A lot of health issues go along with it, which is why we visit Chapel Hill hospital a lot. Though these days the visits aren't every week. They are every month or two. YAY! He is my miracle and I have wanted to write this story for a long time. So yesterday was the day. It's just a first draft, but it will be the first one I ready for publication. The story centers around the fact that Christopher has ALWAYS wanted to be treated like a normal person by the world outside of his family. That has NEVER been the case. He has ALWAYS been treated differently. People stare. One lady confronted us in the grocery store one day and informed me that she had make-up to cover it up. So he's hoping this picture book will help others to see, he's the same inside as you and me. (I did a little rhyme there.) *wink*

Wish me luck today. This is tons of fun and it isn't just national anymore. Writers from England and Australia are coming along for the ride.

Plus, I'm beta reading a most wonderful middle grade story and I'm hoping to finish it this week.

What are you up to? :-) I hope you have a great week. I'll blog about National Picture Book Writing Week. And whatever else happens to come up. Then next week I'll go back to Monday and Friday blogging. XXXXXOOOOO

I almost forgot to say, CONGRADS to American military and C.I.A. operatives. It HAS been a LONG time coming.

A huge thank you to...

2011-05-01T06:26:00.004-04:00

Arlee Bird Tossing It Out

Jeffrey Beesler World of the Scribe

Alex J. Cavanaugh Alex J. Cavanaugh

Jen Daiker Unedited

Candace Ganger Candyland

Karen J Gowen Coming Down the Mountain

Talli Roland

Stephen Tremp Breakthrough Blogs

for the A to Z challenge. Everyone had a great time meeting new bloggers and I got through X pretty much unscathed. *wink*

And to Author Elizabeth Mueller for the lovely award for us all to proudly display.

*blows kisses* to the sponsors. (^_^)

And...Ta da...Z stands for...

2011-04-30T10:26:00.006-04:00

zany: Some writers are a little bit, well yanno, cuckoo, zany. *feels people staring* Uh, er, sometimes I've been a little craazzy. Uh-huh.

Zebra: Now I know you are wonderin' what this has to do with my theme of writing. I'm sure one time that a writer has ridden a zebra. *rubs hands together*

Zero: The amount of money prepubbed writers earn. *sobs* (Also zilch) *bawls*

Zest: The thing writers have for their lovely words.

Zing: Writers add this to their precious stories during revision # 543. *wonders why I couldn't have thought about it on revision #2.* *kicks chair*

Zits: Uh, some writers get these. Hmmm, I wonder if it's all the chocolate. Naaaaa

Zoo: What writers live in sometimes. *wink*

ZZZZZZ: "Robyn, wake-up."

"I had the wildest dream. I was traveling through the alphabet, from A to Z. Oh well, back to work." *wink*

I'll leave you with a couple more quotes.Thanks for reading and following to all my writerly friends. *throws kisses*

"Dear Mister Language Person: I am curious about the expression, "Part of this complete breakfast". The way it comes up is, my 5-year-old will be watching TV cartoon shows in the morning, and they'll show a commercial for a children's compressed breakfast compound such as "Froot Loops" or "Lucky Charms", and they always show it sitting on a table next to some actual food such as eggs, and the announcer always says: "Part of this complete breakfast". Don't that really mean, "Adjacent to this complete breakfast", or "On the same table as this complete breakfast"? And couldn't they make essentially the same claim if, instead of Froot Loops, they put a can of shaving cream there, or a dead bat? Answer: Yes." -Dave Barry, Tips for Writer's

"Start early and work hard. A writer's apprenticeship usually involves writing a million words (which are then discarded) before he's almost ready to begin. That takes a while." -David Eddings

"Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the most. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out the window." -William FaulknerIeWillsuchas eggs, and

Y stands for...

2011-04-29T09:43:00.001-04:00

yacht. All writerly folks want to have a yacht to relax in. *you feel it, don'tcha*

YAP. All writerly peeps yap a lot and listen in on others that yap. (Cuz that's a great way to learn dialogue.)

Year. Sometimes it takes a year for writers to write their lovely stories, sometimes longer.

Yearn. All writers yearn for the title, AUTHOR. *sob*

Yell. Writers have a thing called protagonists and antagonists that sometimes yell, shriek, shout, and howl. *I haz a thesaurus, uh-huh*

Yes. All writers yearn to hear YES! The agent loves ya, baby. *grin*

Young adult. Some writerly peeps write for this audience.

Younger. I write for this crowd. The younger than YA bunch. I do have a YA in my head. It swirls in there until I'm ready to write it. *that's how I'z outline*

Yucky. Form rejections taste like this.

Join me tomorrow for Z. I'z took the challenge and will leave you with a quote or two.

" Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to better than yourself." -William Faulkner

"Reading... a vacation for the mind...." -Dave Barry
oothejust to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. -Williaer

X stands for...

2011-04-28T07:42:00.006-04:00

Xcited: Writers are very xcited when they finish a first draft of their novel.

Xlerious: Writers become xlerious upon receiving a request for a full.

Xfection: Writers have an xfection toward agents and editors. They just love them with all the lovin' their little hearts can hold.

Xiety: Writers feel this when subbing to agents or editors. It manifests itself by the constant reloading of their email.

Xjection: Writers DO NOT like these. They come in many forms and they cause writers to smash their mailboxes. You there?

Xlissful: All writers become xlissful upon holding a copy of their book in their itty-bitty hands.

Xtraordinary: Writers and bloggers are xtraordinary folks. (you like this?) *wink*

Xzapolis: Most writers have all kinds of Xzapolis going on in their little corner of the world.*high five*

Only two more days left. I think I can say, that I definitely took the challenge and ran with it. *bows* *handed roses* (^_^)

W is for Where...

2011-04-27T10:32:00.000-04:00

oh where, does all my time go? Where does all your time go?

Wade. Writers wade in water while thinking about their lovely stories.

Waddle. Quacker my hero from one of my picture books waddles. Some of you wanted to see him, so here he is.

Waffles. Writers eat this yummy, tantalizing, syrupy, goodness before starting their early morning work.

Wages. What this writer hopes to earn from her books soon. Her sparkly words should do the trick and an agent she is sure to get. *bows*

Wag. Some writers have dogs that wag their tails lots and lots while they're working on their precious books.

Wagon train. Writers insert these into their books if they write western. Ye haw!!!!

Wahoo! Writers scream this when they snag an agent or a book deal. You will be able to hear my scream in South Africa. *practices scream*
.
Warm. Writers write about warm summer days, with a gentle breeze blowing, the birds are singing and they're by the pool with a tall glass of lemonade.

Warm-hearted. My blogging pals. *wink*

Wash. Writers must still wash clothes and dishes even though they are published writers. *boo-hoo*

V?????

2011-04-26T07:10:00.041-04:00

Okay, we're gettin' down to the last five letters in the alphabet and this writer just figured out why these letters are last. Because only W plays nice. At least there are words that pertain to writing beginning with W. See? It isn't even W's day, yet I just used two.

*sigh*

*double sigh*

*flashing light*

V is for violin. Writers write songs that are played on the violin. YEAH!

Vacation. Writers love these. It refreshes them. And they usually write lovely words when they are on one of these.

Valiant. Writers write stories with valiant heroes. *eyes sparkle*

Validated. How snagging an agent makes a writer feel.

Vanilla. Mmmm goodness. Some writers eat this in ice cream.

Veggies. What mama writers want their kidlets to eat.

Velvet. Writers love this. They dream about having wall to wall velvet. They swear it will help the words to flow. *glows*

Veranda. Writers dream of writing from one of these in Italy. *grins*

Verbs. All writers have to use these. They are a good thing unless they are overused and passive. Action verbs add sparkle to our writing.

Pats self on back after realizing how many V words she came up with.

Looks up and sees X coming like a freight train. *cringes*

Er, U is for

2011-04-25T06:24:00.001-04:00

Umpteen:

I have written umpteen drafts of SEVENTY-TWO HOURS. How'z about you? Do you get where I'm coming from?

Understand:

Writers must understand the writing process. If they don't understand the writing process, lo, lo, they are in for a surprise. :-)

Unashamed:

Writers must be unashamed of their writing, so they can show it to their crit partners and betas.

Unconditionally:

Writers must love their fellow bloggers unconditionally. (You like that?) *wink*

Ultra:

Bloggers are so ultra cool. *double wink*

USA:

Some writers live in the USA, some do not.

Whew. I made it through U. But the real test comes Thursday. Lee? Are we allowed to make up words??

2011-04-24T06:28:00.018-04:00

Happy Easter

T is for...

2011-04-23T07:04:00.027-04:00

TIME. Stands still for NO one. Not even writers. *sniff*

Talk. What the characters do in our lovely books.

Tall. How a writer stands when he/she snags an agent.

Tax. An unfair burden. UNFAIR I TELL YOU!

Tea. Some writers drink this. UGH. I gots to have coffee!

Tea cup. Some writers drink their tea from this with their little fingers stuck out.

Tears. What writers shed when they read a form rejection in the mail. (And before they smash their mailbox.)

Thank you. What I say to all my blogging pals. :-)

S is for...

2011-04-22T06:12:00.000-04:00

Sabotage.

This is what writers do to their mailboxes after receiving an ugggglllly form rejection. :-)

Sad. How writers feel after reading a form rejection and before sabotaging their mailboxes.

Schedule. Writers sometimes schedule time with their computers. *writes reminder to schedule time*

Self-editing.

The art of self-editing haz to be learned. Uh-huh. And a writer MUST turn off the inner editor while writing the first draft.

Self-editing makes writing better. More exciting. Eliminating all unnecessary words. And I always find a lot of those. Have I mentioned my love affair with the word was? *frowns*

Sparkly.

This is what writers who are in the KNOW do to their query/cover letters. Recipe: dump a huge amount of sparkly glue into the envelope. And won't that editor be surprised when she opens the envelope and out falls the sparkly glue all over her new outfit. She won't soon forget you, I'll tell you that much. My pal and your pal, Sharon M. had an added touch. She recommends a nice red lipstick kiss. She says, "that way they know you are a serious writer." I see Sharon knows where I'm coming from. *giddy*

R is for

2011-04-21T06:08:00.027-04:00

Robyn. She's a crazy writing maniac. "Nuff said?" (Pshaw to those kids at school who always asked me, "Hey Robyn. Where's Batman?") PSHAW, I say!

Rain. Writers write about this. Rain is a great thing to describe.

Ramble. Writers can tend to do this on and on? Say what??

React. What writers do everyday in one way or the other. (Of course, all living things do this too, but Iz had to make it go with writing. And I did. *high five*

Reality. Writers don't like to go there. It pulls them out of their writing and reading. *wink*

Really nice. What most writers are.

Rear. What writers put in chairs.

I'z on a roll here people. As you can see, R is not a hard letter for my writing theme.

Recook. What writers have to do to their stories sometimes. *grin*

Recount. What this writer does to word counts. That dang computer LIETH I tell you. I know I had 5000 words and the computer says I only wrote 500. It left a 0 out.

Q stands for....

2011-04-20T06:36:00.003-04:00

________________________________________________________________________________

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Bell in Robyn's brain rings.*relief*

Quacker the Duck. That's the name of one of my picture books. I even have a stuffed Quacker on my desk (I didn't kill a real duck and stuff it.)

Quality. The stuff writers write. :-) Uh, er, most writers.

Quantity. The dreaded word count. (Of course mine is always huge, what with all my lists that I add to it.) *grin*

Quench. What writing does to our entire beings.

Query. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Need I say more????

Quit. Something writers never do. :-) *booyah*

P is for...

2011-04-19T07:22:00.004-04:00

Poo!

Sorry, but that word is so funny. I just had to use it. And yes! It fits into my writing theme. Some writers muck poo out of their horses stalls. *wonders how these horses could go so much* Some writers (namely me) write poo on their first drafts.

Pack away. What writers do with manuscripts after they revise. Then they pull (another P word, did ya notice that?) the MS back out and revise fifty more times. Sometimes the MS stays packed away, because the writer is annoyed that he/she wrote such crud. *sigh*

Paper. Writers print their magnum opus out, and send it off into the world. Yes, some agents require this.

Paper clips. Uh yeah, writers use these by the ton.

Paragraph. If you write books, you gots to understand what this means.

Parade. Writers love these, because they dream that they are being honored in the parade. WHAT? Oh, I'm the only one who dreams that??? *blushes*

It's Time For The Letter O

2011-04-18T07:26:00.051-04:00

Opinions.

These come to writers in the form of crits. They can be awesome. They can be dreadful. When you receive these opinions, ponder the good ones, toss out the nasty, unkind remarks. I've had a few of those. One told me a way I could write my novel over again to make it work. Now folks, that one went the way of the delete button. There were some other things she said, but I have pushed them out of my memory. The good ones are constructive, gonna help you make your story better, crits.

Oath. This is a pledge you take. Lenny Lee has one. :-) It is a good thing to pledge to write everyday and to give crits that help, not hurt. (You also haz to take one when you stand before a judge.) *shiver*

Obnoxious. The people who give mean spirited opinions come under this category. *grumble*

Observation. Writers watch other folks all the time. They look at the way people hold their heads while talking and they watch their body language. Then they add it to their books. (They also enjoy listening in on folks conversations.) Purely for study, I assure you. *wink*

Obsolete. The typewriter. *exhales*

office. Where I write my best selling masterpieces. (Of course, even the first thing I ever wrote is a masterpiece.) I'z just waitin' on the right editor who understands my genius. :-)

Can anyone say, "YIPPEE?"

2011-04-17T18:59:00.001-04:00

Tremendously, gigantic giveaway over at Dear Editor.com. Edit of your MG,YA, or adult manuscript. THE ENTIRE MANUSCRIPT, PEOPLE! Go on! Git over there. Dear Editor.com :-)

N is for...

2011-04-16T08:49:00.006-04:00

Well this writer says it ONLY stands for NO when Ivy is asking for a panda hat. (What does she need with a panda hat?)

But unfortunately it is a writing word. A BAD, UGLY writing word. *sniff* It is usually attached to rejections. UGH. UGGGLLLLY! SO UGGGLLLLY. *shiver*

*sob*

I've been through the mailbox bashing. (Hammer meets mailbox)

Nada. Same thang. Bad, bad word. Naughty word. (Like how I used two N words there?) *it's your birthday*

Negative.

Fellow writers, readers, and bookish type peeps. Negativity brings you down. It registers in your brain and goes to your toes. Never (another N word) (I'z on fire) accept negative thoughts. If you think like that, you're bound to feel like that and then negative things will come your way.

A P word.

Poo. You thought I was going to say positive. Made you look. Bwa ha ha ha

M is for...

2011-04-15T07:37:00.003-04:00

Maniac. Some writers have been called this from time to time.

Mac. A computer writers use when they don't like PC's.

Mad Magazine. Ahahahahahaha Really funny writers contribute to this. (No, that is NOT how I became mad.) Humph.

Magic wands. Writers use these in their fabulous stories.

Mailbox. Writers love these when they hold royalty checks, loving letters from fans, idolizing letters from their editors. They DON'T like them when they hold rejection letters. (Huh? The dents in mine? Oh, those are from hail damage. I did NOT beat it with a hammer.) *hides hammer behind back* *grins shyly*

L is for...

2011-04-14T07:18:00.020-04:00

Laptop.

My MOST important writing tool. Without that this writer would be in trouble. Ya see, my L doesn't have internet service flowing into it. This means there is NO way I can Facebook, twitter, blog, or otherwise goof off, while I'm supposed to be writing. YAY me. *feeling pretty smart*

Libretto. Someone wrote this. It's an opera. They sing really high and hold their notes really long. They can break glass. *feeling like a genius*

Lists. Writers like these. They add to the daily word count. *wink*

Loopy. (This is definitely a word.) How I feel right now. :-)

K...

2011-04-13T07:04:00.010-04:00

Kansas, Kentucky, and Key Largo (my home town).

I hear the snickers. I'z pickin' up the gasps. But YES. I will turn them into writing words in the next sentence.

Writers live in Kansas, Kentucky, and Key Largo. *exhales*

Kidlets, kiddies, kids.

Some writers (me included) write books that are suited to these wee folks. (They are not Leprechauns.)

Kindhearted.

This describes all my writerly blogging pals. (^_^)

J...

2011-04-12T07:53:00.003-04:00

Jellybeans. Nothing to do with my writing theme, I'z just wanting some. You can only git 'em this time of year, yanno?

Brain's cramping up.

Desperate, she flips through the dictionary.

Jig? The jig is up? *sniff*

JOB! Writing is a great job to have.

*high fives self*

Walks away, munching on jellybeans, grinning.

I...

2011-04-11T08:10:00.037-04:00

I is for itsy. You know, itsy bitsy.

Don't know? Okay, I'll use it in a sentence.

I could eat an itsy piece of cake, but I choose to eat a colossal hunk instead. (YES, I do think of food all the time.)

Itsy has to do with writing, too.

The itsy bitsy spider was a favorite rhyme/song from my childhood and someone wrote it. (Didn't possibly see how I could make that work, did ya?)

Or how about this: Writers that write even itsy amounts every day, will finish a book in time.

I'm on a roll:

It takes longer to write a sentence containing itsy words, so it stands to reason if I'm writing a book with itsy words, it will be quite a while before I'm finished.

She bows.

H is for...

2011-04-09T08:29:00.006-04:00

~~Hat~~

Hear. That's the still small voice that says, "Robyn, you will be a million dollar author." *she leaves feeling quite satisfied with self* It's also that inner editor that DRIVES me CRAZY on first drafts.

Heart. Every single writer I know has to have heart. *Hmm, I'z gettin' good at this A to Z blogging*

~~Homey~~

~~Homie~~

~~Honey~~

Hope. Every single person that has ever considered writing books has had to be acquainted with hope.

Humpty Dumpty. Someone named Mother Goose wrote about him. He sat on a wall. And then, *bless him* he had a great fall. Tons of people tried to pick up the pieces and put him back together again, but alas, it wasn't to be. *sniff*

See you on Monday sponsored by the letter I. hehe Have a great rest of the weekend.

AWESOME Shannon. She Knows Who She Is

2011-04-08T13:06:00.000-04:00

POSSESSION!!!!!!!!!!!! The ARC. Yanno?? You want it, don't ya? Well not as bad as I want it. Right??

Shannon in all her awesome goodness is GIVING it away. Yeah! GIVING it away. Here's the link to her place: Book Dreaming

*Robyn secretly hopes they are all still hypnotized*