Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy Holiday!! Enjoy the long weekend if you have one!
December 23, 2011
December 19, 2011
I'm on Amazon!!
New on Amazon: Wild &
Wicked and Chance of a
Storm from Tease Publishing LLC.
"I devoured every word and I don't know if I'll have
enough patience to wait for the next book written by Jenn Nixon" All Things
Books
"Chance of a Storm is has
romance, suspense, and mystery are rolled into a few short pages. Chance
of a Storm makes for a great bedtime read or something to read if you just need
a short break from daily life." Sizzling
Hot BooksDecember 15, 2011
Q&A Thursday with Kimberly Dana
Enjoy & Comment!
What is the worst thing you’ve
written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?
The worst thing I ever wrote had to be a love letter begging
a high school boyfriend not to break up with me. I stayed up all night stating my case - told
him how awesome we were and it was meant to be.
The upshot? He must not have felt
the magic because it was over the next day.
Not that I can blame him – I’m sure the letter smacked of crazed
adolescent desperation. But hey – when
you speak from the heart, you can’t go wrong, right? My hindsight lesson: practice your craft on
the exes - LOL!
Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go
professional?
Around eight or nine years old, I started writing
plays. A week before a family reunion,
I’d crank out a script on my parents’ old Smith Corona and cast my brother and younger
cousins in roles. On “opening night” we’d
charge admission by passing around one of my mom’s Mason canning jars. So I guess you could say that was my first
paying gig as well. Fast forward many years
later – in grad school, one of my papers won a prestigious award, and around
that same time I was published by the National Council of Teachers of
English. It was probably in the late
90’s that I knew I wanted to write professionally.
Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?
I write children’s books, middle grade, and young
adult. I also dabble in poetry although
I’m not very good at it. Shel
Silverstein’s my idol when it comes to verse.
I did recently write a book in verse about creepy creatures. Here’s my poem on Zombies:
Brains for breakfast – brains for lunch
Brains for dinner – brains for brunch
Flesh with fries is what they crave
When they burst out from their grave
The walking dead’s alive and well
Most come from a voodoo spell.
Do you read other author’s books when you're writing? If so, do you read the same genre or
something different?
Oh my goodness – yes!
I’m like the fourteen-year-old who never grew up. I love Rachel Cohn, Francesca Lia Block, Sara
Shepard. I dig graphic novels like
Jennifer Holm’s Baby Mouse and Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. My students will often suggest books to me so
I get a lot of recommendations from them as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve
never read the Twilight series or Harry Potter.
Shameful, I know.
What is the most difficult part of the entire wiring process
for you? Queries, pitches, editing, etc.
Definitely revision.
To take out a line or a scene or even a character that I have fallen in
love with is a real drag. I might think
a line is funny or clever but if three people are telling me it doesn’t work, I
have to go with that. Majority rules…
If you could have the same type of career as any author
currently publishing who would it be and why?
Judy Blume – she’s my idol.
Loved her growing up – love her now.
And if I had to guess, I’ll bet Margaret Simon of Are You There God is one
buxom agnostic hottie today!
Author Bio: An award winning author and teacher, Kimberly
Dana enjoys teaching writing to middle school students who give her much
inspiration and insight into the world of tweendom. She is published by the
National Council of Teachers of English and the recipient of several writing
honors from Writers Digest and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. Other
affiliations include the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
and EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition, where she serves as a
judge for the annual eBook competition. Kimberly's most recent books include her
YA thriller, Cheerage Fearage (Wild Child Publishing, 2012) and the delightful
picture book, Pretty Dolls (Tate Publishing, 2011). A lover of photography and
experimental cooking, Kimberly lives in Los Angeles
and Nashville
Pretty eyes and pretty hair. We’re the best dolls
anywhere.
If you were a pretty doll, you’d be up here standing tall.
It’s a pretty doll’s world. Just ask beautiful
Emily-Nicole, Lilly-Kate, and Chloë-Anne who perch on the tippy top bookcase
shelf in little Tasha’s bedroom. Yet it’s Gracie, the purple-eyed,
one-armed, spiky haired doll who’s won the snuggly arms and heart of
Tasha. Only Emily-Nicole will have none of it. Little does Tasha
know that when the lights go out in her room, the doll wars begin…
Social Media and Web Links
December 9, 2011
Never Give Up, Never Surrender...
The mantra of Galaxy Quest is Never Give Up, Never Surrender.
If you haven't seen the movie, you should, it's HILARIOUS!
The cast is amazing, including Tim Allen (Arh Ar Arh), Sigorney Weaver(Aliens), Tony Shalhoub (Monk) and believe it or not Alan Rickman (in my 3rd fave character roll of his!) and not to mention very young Sam Rockwell and Justin Long. It's a spoof on Sci-Fi shows & movies. So, go watch it. Then tell me what you think.
Anyway, I've said this mantra over and over many times since the movie came out in 1999. And guess what? It WORKS!
You should never give up on a dream.
My dream, long ago, was to be the next Debbie Gibson. As I got older and realized it wasn't going to happen for me, I found a new dream. Acting! Problem is, I can't act. Okay, so then in early 2001 I rediscovered my love for writing. Granted, I've been writing in one form or another since I was in elementary school: poems, stories, and even a Unicorn Video Game! I didn't take any of it seriously until I finished my first shore story from beginning to end. Then I wrote a novel. Then another. I was hooked.
The first novel-which I don't talk about much-was decent, for the time, but overall, horrendous. I didn't know JACK SQUAT. So, I remedied that, joined writers groups, did my homework on queries, agents, publishers, etc, and learned, learned, learned as much as possible.
Novels 2-3 probably will never see the light of day.
Novels 4 & 5 are Tiva's. I originally found a publisher in 2005 but the company went under. Now, it's back in the revision & query stage after 50+ rejections.
Novel 6 is Lucky's Charm. I'm not lying to you when I say I have a spreadsheet of over 100+ rejections. After getting feedback from many agents, publishers, and writer friends, I revised it while writing other works. After the revision, I went back and submitted once more. Worked out well because I found a home for Lucky at Wild Child Publishing.
Novel 7 turned out to be 3 separate novellas, two of which are out now from Tease Publishing.
Novel 8 was a dud, a NaNo project I never finished.
Novel 7 is MIND:The Beginning. When I was through with this novel, I thought I had a gem and was VERY excited to start querying. I submitted it to the bigger publisher thinking I had it in the bag! Not quite. More rejections. So I went back, revised a bit, found smaller publishers that I liked and submitted again. Within a few weeks of the second submission round, I had another contract, this one from Crescent Moon Press!
Here it is TEN YEARS later. I have three novellas out now (one on the way), and two novels coming out next year (each with sequels in the works). I have a nice following on Twitter and Facebook. I've been through the editing process with different editors, each time learning more which ultimately helps me write better. While I'm starting out small, as many authors do, I'm building a platform for my writing but more importantly growing as a writer.
Some people say it's easier to get published today than it was ten years ago. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not, it all depends on what your goals are and how you want to go about fulfilling them. I never started writing to be the next NY Times Best Selling Author (Though I'll take it one day!), it was just a dream of mine that I needed and wanted to see through to fruition. I may not make millions of dollars writing, but I'm writing and I'm getting paid for it!
I never gave up.
I almost said "I SURRENDER" a bunch of times over the years, but never did.
Don't psych yourself out by making unrealistic goals, but do everything in your power to improve what you need to so you have the best chance of achieving them!
Don't give up your dreams.
December 8, 2011
Q&A Thursday with Shannon Eckrich!
Today's Interview is with Author Shannon Eckrich!
Enjoy & Comment!
Hi Jenn! Thanks for having me on your blog today. It’s super
awesome to be here.
What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or
know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?
The worst thing I’ve written had to be the rough draft to
Other Side of Forever, which actually had a totally different title when I
first started out. I knew absolutely nothing about writing a novel, character
development, or story structure. It was a complete disaster. No wonder my query
letters kept getting rejected. J
It wasn’t until I joined a few writing websites, and hooked
up with some really great writers, that I realized just how much the original
manuscript sucked. After that, I researched everything I could about writing a
novel, read other peoples work, and just kept chugging along until my novel was
the best it could be.
I think the biggest lesson I learned from my experience is
to never give up. Keep writing, keep smiling and, eventually, everything will
work out.
Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go
professional?
I actually started writing to escape the reality of everyday
life. Let’s face it, stuff happens, and writing became my outlet. Writing took
all the negativity spinning around in my head and turned it into something positive—amazing
characters and a world I could control. I couldn’t imagine not writing now.
It’s a part of who I am.
It wasn’t until I had finished the third draft of Other Side
of Forever that I decided to take it a step further. Of course, I had no idea how
difficult it was to break into the publishing world at the time. But if I had
to, I would definitely do it all over again. It’s been quite an experience.
Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do
you like the best?
Yes. While I was waiting to hear back from my editor at
Crescent Moon Press, I wrote a short story called After the Rain, which I
consider more spiritual than paranormal, and targets a more mature audience due
to the subject matter.
I’ve always been a paranormal freak, so I would have to say
I enjoy writing that genre the most.
Do you read other
author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or
something different?
Yes, I constantly read. I basically read anything that pulls
me in at the beginning. The book doesn’t have to necessarily be paranormal, but
it has to have a great hook with characters I can relate to, and a wonderful
voice.
What is the most difficult part of the entire writing
process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.
Queries are my nemesis. I absolutely hate trying to sum up
an entire novel in a paragraph or two. But it is definitely something a serious
writer has to learn to do if they want to break into the publishing world.
If you could have the same type of career as any author
currently publishing who would it be and why?
Wow, that’s a hard
question. There’s so many wonderfully talented authors out there. But, I guess
I would have to say Stephen King, because I grew up reading his books and
watching his movies. He truly scared the crap out of me, which is why I
consider him my idol. J It’s so hard to believe that he struggled in the
beginning, especially with where he is today.
Coming soon from
Crescent Moon Press
What if your life finally
seemed to make sense? But, what if—in an instant—everything is taken away? How
far would you go to get your life back?
Seventeen-year-old Allie Anderson's telekinetic powers are
anything but useful—she can't bring her father back, can't stop her mother's
downward spiral into alcohol, and can't keep her from falling in love with
Ethan Bradley. Loving Ethan is easy, but it comes with a hefty price: Ethan is
prohibited by his people from interacting with mortals—because he isn't mortal himself.
When Allie and Ethan's love is discovered, there's someone who will do anything to keep them apart. If Allie can't learn to control her powers and fight to save Ethan, this dark entity will make every attempt to stop her beating heart. And if that happens, not even the energy of an immortal
can bring her back.
prohibited by his people from interacting with mortals—because he isn't mortal himself.
When Allie and Ethan's love is discovered, there's someone who will do anything to keep them apart. If Allie can't learn to control her powers and fight to save Ethan, this dark entity will make every attempt to stop her beating heart. And if that happens, not even the energy of an immortal
can bring her back.
~After the Rain~
Available now at
amazon.com and other ebook retailers
Janie Chanson leaves, Adam—her seven-year-old son—with her
sister while she runs to the store. When she returns, her house is fully
engulfed in flames, and her son is trapped inside. Powerless to save him, Janie
can only watch as firefighters attempt to rescue him.
Along with reading and writing,
She also likes spending time at the beach, volunteering at the Odessa Fire Company, and just hanging out with her family.
You can visit
December 3, 2011
December 1, 2011
Q&A Thursday with Renee Sherkness
Today's Interview is with Author Renee Sherkness!
Enjoy & Comment!
Why did you start
writing and when did you decide to go professional?
I’ve always enjoyed writing since I was small: poems,
letters, stories, but never thought to pursue it as a career.. Too
impractical.. Instead I studied Biology and later Education and became an
educator and later yoga instructor. It
was only after I remarried10 years ago and relocated to the country when I grew
into my truer self so to speak and felt inspired enough to begin writing
children stories professionally. Having found the right editor: Donna Ericson
and great layout designer: Heather Paye my books come to fruition.
Our world today seems to be facing enormous challenges to
keep our environment and “us” healthy.
Knowing my grandchildren will be the ones maneuvering through more of
these challenges in the future it seemed the right time to “plant the seeds”
and nurture healthy awareness in our young to help create a healthier world and
a healthier us. Through my story books from my Nurturing Nature Collection: connecting “with care” to our world, I feel I have accomplished this.
My first book is: Stories
That Come Alive Through Yoga. A fun, entertaining, instructional book
where children and adults experience yoga with stories.
My
book out in the fall of 2011 is: The
Day Mother Nature Decided To Paint Her House. A whimsical story of
Mother Nature and the creation of autumn.
Coming in the spring 2012: Winston The Whale And The Blanket Of Darkness
It tells the tale of Winston, a humpback whale and the
perils he must face because of the pollution contaminating his home.
All stories are from the Nurturing Nature Collection: connecting “with care” to our world. These books are a collection of fun,
educational and entertaining stories that teach ways to create a healthier “us”
and a healthier” world”.
All stories include a summary filled with educational
information on the stories topic as well as a glossary and educational
resources and web sites to educate and help our environment.
Do you read other
author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or
something different?
I read constantly and surprisingly or not am a fan of
mysteries and suspense... Give me a James Patterson book any day!!
What is the most
difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches,
editing..etc.
I have found the most difficult part on this writing journey
has been the marketing of my books. I seem to be faced with, as many other
unknown writers, the daunting task of getting my books out there and spreading
the word of my books to as many people as I can and do so while trying to stay
true to myself and my books.
AUTHOR’S BIO
Renee Sherkness attended Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
and Science where she majored in Biology.
She earned her degree, Summa Cum Laude and her Academic Excellence Award
for achievement in Early Childhood Education from Montgomery County Community
College.
Renee went on to work in various schools with children as a
teacher and administrator for over 18 years. She later became certified as a
Yoga instructor for children.
Her passion for teaching, her deep love of nature and her
respect for the environment are interests that are combined in her children’s
stories. While her stories are educational and informative, they are written in
a kid friendly manner meant to entertain children as well as awaken a child’s
interest in nature and an awareness of the connection we all share with our
environment.
Renee, wife, mother and now Grandmother, lives in
Royersford, Pennsylvania with her husband, Joe and two dogs, Kiki and Maggie.
Here she continues to enjoy writing children’s stories and continues to teach
Yoga to children.
Social media &
Web links
Website
for complete "Nurturing Nature" Collection and programs to extend
your reading experience: http://reneesherkness.web.com/
Visit
Home Education Magazine(HEM) and
everythingmom.com for information on Nurturing Nature Collection of books
See Stories That
Come Alive Through Yoga reviews at:www.yogawithjohn.com and
David Romanelli on www.LivinTheMoment.com
Purchase
books in print and e book on Amazon.com, Barnes and
Noble, Borders.com, and apple I pad. Visit web site for more information: http://reneesherkness.webs.com/
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