Saturday, September 26, 2015
Write What You Know by Debra Kristi
When people ask me how I write like I do, the answer comes down to those four words you’ve probably heard before -“Write what you know.” And no, I don’t have any experience hearing animals talk to me, but I do have a vivid imagination. Writing what you know is one of those things that is often misunderstood, especially when a writer is first starting out. When you stop and think about it, if it were taken literally the bookshelves would be filled with biographies. There’d be noDracula or Frankenstein. I don’t know about you, but that’s not a world I particularly want to live in. Writing what you know is about those things we can all relate to. The emotion you felt when you experienced your first kiss, when you discovered your boyfriend was cheating on you, or when someone close to you died. It’s pure, raw emotion brought to the page and the characters. But writing what you know also goes beyond the emotions.How many of you have warmed your hand by a bonfire, felt the nip of the blaze? Writing what you know encompasses touch, too. The dew in the fog, the bite of ice, and the tingle of the sun warming your skin. It’s relationships between people―lovers, strangers, co-workers, and enemies. You don’t need to be an immortal or magical being to know how these things make you feel. Pull from your everyday life, add your fantastical twist, and Shazam, you have yourself a story written from experience. ~ I want to thank you for having me here and allowing me to take up a bit of your blog space. I had so much fun writing this book and I appreciate the opportunity to share. Thanks to the readers and fans, because you are the most important part of being a writer―seriously. May you all have a truly magical week.
Why ‘The Right’ Critique Partners Matter by Debra Kristi
It’s an honor to be here today, to talk to you a bit about my writing path, and about what I learned regarding my writing partners along the way. Writing is subjective. What you or I may think is the best story ever written, someone else may shrug at, or worse yet, mark as absolute rubbish. Every great author has their negative reviews. If you doubt what I’m saying, simply take a look. Dr. Suess, Stephen King, if an author has written enough to find an audience, they have gathered negative attention. That’s okay. Honestly, it really is. If you are writing from your heart, finding your voice, it’s not going to please everyone, and that means negative reviews will come. But how do you find that voice and bring it to a place where it’s ready to meet the world? You write. And you write, and write, and write. Obvious, right? Except, writing alone isn’t enough. As writers, we need to open ourselves up to the voices of constructive criticism. Through the sharing of work and feedback we become better writers and storytellers. We hear that all the time. Except, not all criticism is worth your time. It’s through experience we learn which voices to listen to and which to dismiss. Long ago, I was in a cozy little critique group. Wonderful people, but they wanted me to change and cut so many parts of my story that eventually my voice became jumbled and my confidence obliterated. My story no longer knew what it wanted to be. I couldn’t see the path through the rubble of words remaining. That story got filed away (for what felt like an eternity), waiting for my head to clear. Writing partners are a lifeline in your journey. The relationship not only has to be cohesive, it has to spark―encourage your muse and energize your soul. If it’s not, it’s probably not be the right one for you. Don’t be afraid to walk away from an unhealthy writing relationship. I did and it turned out to the best choice I could have made. As difficult as it may be in the moment, in the end it will make you a strong writer. How do you find the right critique partner for you? You might strike gold right out the gate or it might be an evolving process. I suggest making a list of what matters to you regarding your writing and then looking for those same traits in another. Start there and expand your list as you grow. No matter what you do, never forget that your words have value and how others critique them makes a difference.
~ A huge thank you for having me here today! It has been a pleasure, and all the support is truly awesome. Thank you to the readers and fans! You are the most important part of being a writer.
~ A huge thank you for having me here today! It has been a pleasure, and all the support is truly awesome. Thank you to the readers and fans! You are the most important part of being a writer.
Seven Things You Didn’t Know About Becoming: The Balance Bringer by Debra Kristi
This young adult fantasy started as one book and quickly turned into so much more as the story unfolded. The framework for a prequel revolving around Ryland and Kaia is already being sketched out. The sister relationship between Ana, Crystia, and Kaia was the driving force when I started writing the first book, although I didn’t fully realize it at the time. This story was bouncing around in my head for thirteen years before I decided to commit to putting pen to paper. It blossomed considerably during that time. The free-spirited sister of my protagonist captured the spirit of my real sister, bringing her to life in my story as the character Crystia. It may come as no surprise that I use music as inspiration. I currently have an incomplete soundtrack for the first two books consisting of 83 songs. That does not include character theme songs. Yep, I listened to a plethora of music while writing this particular story. I had the character Dohlan walking one path through the story, but he explained to me that it wasn’t going to be that simple. As a result, his character arc changed considerable. You’ll have to wait and see where that takes us.
~ Thanks for having me on the blog. I appreciate your time and effort in spreading the word. Big thank you to the reader, too. Readers are the reason we writers do all that we do.
~ Thanks for having me on the blog. I appreciate your time and effort in spreading the word. Big thank you to the reader, too. Readers are the reason we writers do all that we do.
Dear Mary: Lessons From the Mother of Jesus for the Modern Mom by Sarah Jakes
Dear Mary: Lessons From the Mother of Jesus for the Modern Mom by Sarah JakesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have to say that I liked the layout of this book it was set in a different style that was unique. The book had numerous uplifting and inspirational quotations layer through out Dear Mary. I personally found myself not truly enjoying the book because I myself am not a mother. However I also found myself planning to set this book aside for when I eventually become a mother as I felt it would be a good book for any mother. The book truly helps to prepare you for motherhood.
I was sent a copy of this book for free for only my honest review.
Full review with excerpt at:
http://misty103.hubpages.com/hub/Dear-Mary-Lessons-From-the-Mother-of-Jesus-for-the-Modern-Mom-by-Sarah-Jakes
View all my reviews
Jane Blond International Spy
Book Info-
Title-Jane Blond International Spy
By- Brianna Schatt & Stan Schatt
Genre- Middle Grade
Expected Publication Date- October 19th
Blurb-
Fourteen year old Jane thought getting through high school was difficult enough with her dad in prison and her mother dating. Throw in being bullied by the popular girl who has everything- it’s completely unbearable. But when terrorists kidnap a boy she cares about, she knows she is the only one who can save him. International Spy, Jane Blond, must prevent terrorists from blowing up her school during the President’s visit. She’ll need all of her courage along with the help of a teen with CIA secrets, a friend with Asperger’s and a parrot with an attitude.
Links-
Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jane-blond-international-spy-brianna-schatt/1122635951?ean=9781513703886
About the Authors-
Dr. Stan Schatt spent many years as a futurist responsible for forecasting future technology products and markets for Fortune 500 companies. He served as a Fulbright Professor and taught at Tokyo University, USC, and the University of Houston. He is the author of over thirty books ranging from science fiction and paranormal mysteries to young adult novels. Schatt is a technology expert who has been quoted in the New York Times, Fortune, and BusinessWeek as well as CNBC.
Links-
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Stan-Schatt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StanSchatt
Author Website: www.StanSchatt.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
True Born by L.E. Sterling
True Born
Release Date: 05/03/16
Entangled Teen
304 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Welcome to Dominion City.
After the great Plague descended, the world population was decimated...and their genetics damaged
beyond repair.
The Lasters wait hopelessly for their genes to self-destruct. The Splicers pay for expensive treatments that might prolong their life. The plague-resistant True Borns are as mysterious as they are feared...
And then there's Lucy Fox and her identical twin sister, Margot. After endless tests, no one wants to reveal what they are.
When Margot disappears, a desperate Lucy has no choice but to put her faith in the True Borns, led by the charismatic Nolan Storm and the beautiful but deadly Jared Price. As Lucy and the True Borns set out to rescue her sister, they stumble upon a vast conspiracy stretching from Dominion’s street preachers to shady Russian tycoons. But why target the Fox sisters?
As they say in Dominion, it’s in the blood.
About the Author
L.E. Sterling had an early obsession with sci-fi, fantasy and romance to which she remained faithful even through an M.A. in Creative Writing and a PhD in English Literature - where she completed a thesis on magical representation. She is the author of two previous novels, the cult hit Y/A novel The Originals (under pen name L.E. Vollick), dubbed “the Catcher in the Rye of a new generation” by one reviewer, and the urban fantasy Pluto’s Gate. Originally hailing from Parry Sound, Ontario, L.E. spent most of her summers roaming across Canada in a van with her father, a hippie musician, her brothers and an occasional stray mutt - inspiring her writing career. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Author Links:
Naked and Far from Home by J.P. Grider
BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:
Naked and Far from Home by J.P. Grider
Publication date: October 18th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Publication date: October 18th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Synopsis:
Tia Mercury was a freshman in high school and had her first serious crush – on a senior who wouldn’t touch her. At least not until she turned eighteen.Clinton Daniels was not your everyday teenage boy, and because his tougher-than-nails father wouldn’t let him forget it, Clinton became a loner. And learned to distrust everyone.
Until he met Tia.
She was sweet, she was funny, and she knew nothing about good music. It was the nineteen-eighties for goodness sake – time to turn off that AM radio crap. So, while Tia drooled over Clinton, he was busy making her mix-tapes.
She was falling in love. He was ignoring his heart.
See, Clinton had a secret. But sharing it could cost him their friendship, and he was not willing to risk losing the only person he ever loved.
Naked and Far From Home is a serious story that spans a decade. A tale about unconditional love and what two people are willing to look past to prove that love.
AUTHOR BIOS:
J.P. Grider is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She is the author of eight novels. Her young adult series The Honor Trilogy consists of A Touch of Honor, A Man of Honor, and A Heart of Honor, while her first two novels - Unplugged (A Portrait of a Rock Star) and Maybe This Life - are standalone adult contemporary novels. Her most recent release is the new adult romance Reaching Rose, which is the third in her Hunter Hill University series. All the books in the Hunter Hill University series are standalone books and can be read in any order. Currently, J.P. is working on two standalone novels that are not related to the Hunter Hill University series. They will be released in February, 2016.
You can follow J.P. on Facebook at J.P. Grider, Author, on Instagram and Twitter @JPGrider1, and on her blog at jpgrider.com
Author links:
You can follow J.P. on Facebook at J.P. Grider, Author, on Instagram and Twitter @JPGrider1, and on her blog at jpgrider.com
Author links:
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