tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615065830083940052024-03-13T04:21:53.759-07:00A Nest of WordsI use twig-words to build my nest. Inside it I place my plot, characters, theme and voice, being careful not to crush their fragile shells. I nurture them until they have hatched and sprouted strong wings.* The fledglings fly from the nest - a small flock ready to make its way in the wide world.
*Ugly Fact: weaklings may be ejected from the nest.
-Rhiann Wynn-NoletAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-60902913366088868272013-02-27T12:43:00.002-08:002014-03-29T07:21:26.050-07:00This is Only a TestIf you've landed here looking for my blog, I've moved. You can find me <b><a href="http://rhiannwynnnoletblog.wordpress.com/">at my new Nest of Words</a></b><br />
<br />
I'm really just using this post to try out Linky List codes to see if they're Blogger compatible.<br />
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361808781758_1819" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<!-- start LinkyTools script --></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361808781758_1801" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<p><b>Powered by Linky Tools</b></p><p><a href="<a data-mce-href="http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=185776&type=basic" href="http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=185776&type=basic" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361808781758_1800" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=185776&type=basic</a>">Click here</a> to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...</p></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361808781758_1799" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<!-- end LinkyTools script --></div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<b>Powered by Linky Tools</b><br />
<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=185776&type=basic">Click here</a> to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...<br />
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-2013034030406704012012-12-25T19:01:00.000-08:002014-03-29T07:22:55.130-07:00Thursday's Children 12/27/12 New Year, New Nest<br />
Alright, so this is that awkward moment when you arrive at a friend's house for a visit and discover that nobody's home. And they won't be coming back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPtzXQ-cA0mtgAf4HfKoMGWw7M63wcF0ZyCKVDpLCpAzCXQACufUR6l2oYRZ-aX5e5LjXEEiV1yqBDnCE1imymdMnZJdqTzYVN_7ucQQXL56_uEroM5OcUYt_HT9kpb4cRH2DwmuY1Q2N/s1600/door.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPtzXQ-cA0mtgAf4HfKoMGWw7M63wcF0ZyCKVDpLCpAzCXQACufUR6l2oYRZ-aX5e5LjXEEiV1yqBDnCE1imymdMnZJdqTzYVN_7ucQQXL56_uEroM5OcUYt_HT9kpb4cRH2DwmuY1Q2N/s320/door.bmp" height="320" width="187" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><b>I hope you will click on the link below and come visit me at...</b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rhiannwynnnoletblog.wordpress.com/">New Blog</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
My actual Thursday's Children Post is there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowcTrThrrEHJt8lyyvp4kwBMFuW2fGdHjwV8Z1vnOU8r-qvq_mvS-463V3zo19MGmZmcd5A90EJ9Q2lgyARPkeTN3brf0Bc8y8bBAzAnFvxN2HPzwhrMAeUvdiCTvgznceFjhOiJuXdhD/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowcTrThrrEHJt8lyyvp4kwBMFuW2fGdHjwV8Z1vnOU8r-qvq_mvS-463V3zo19MGmZmcd5A90EJ9Q2lgyARPkeTN3brf0Bc8y8bBAzAnFvxN2HPzwhrMAeUvdiCTvgznceFjhOiJuXdhD/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" eea="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
"Everyone" has told me that WordPress is better for writers than Blogger. We'll see.<br />
If you were following me before, I hope you'll follow me again. And of course, if you weren't following me, please consider doing so. I have some VERY exciting news to share in a week or two.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG2VEXKZZcKUsSO35VleOdg0mkU0fytHUsk5MRaPd03E_lk5atoEPCG6zs9TgGUqqY_BsG-R9OMrI0qnXHDqbx_83dAMhbTIVZuKg2k4C7x1tl3rpw3TrhF1-TCCqHIKsCckJbQ4Wlbbq/s1600/TopSecret.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG2VEXKZZcKUsSO35VleOdg0mkU0fytHUsk5MRaPd03E_lk5atoEPCG6zs9TgGUqqY_BsG-R9OMrI0qnXHDqbx_83dAMhbTIVZuKg2k4C7x1tl3rpw3TrhF1-TCCqHIKsCckJbQ4Wlbbq/s200/TopSecret.bmp" height="200" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My new blog is being difficult about Linky Tools so while I figure all that out with Kristina's techy help you can grab the linky code below and jump onto the Thursday's Children Blog Hop here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356610749224_2629">
<!-- start LinkyTools script --></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356610749224_2632">
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=177539" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356610749224_2631" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356610757_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=177539</span></a>" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356610749224_2633">
<!-- end LinkyTools script --></div>
<div>
</div>
<strong><em><span style="color: magenta;">And join the blog hop below...</span></em></strong><br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=177539" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-90728819665908642752012-12-19T16:59:00.001-08:002012-12-26T19:38:33.433-08:00Thursday's Children 12/21/12<h2>
<span style="color: magenta;">CPs & Betas</span></h2>
<h4>
...in the words of Woody from <i>Toy Story <span style="font-weight: normal;">"If you don't have one-get one."</span></i></h4>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKClXOIhDvGUfdirGaoAs1VJRiRpcnaROcCs7giHqsti1242mekT6dpF31UKpiZHOsB7TacwpzdrM-cs7i7RI1BTsF0-X0hfUqzppTamliObEhP1a_aMMSV48GhFNTj5gWmiA1YtsK-1ii/s1600/buzz&woody.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKClXOIhDvGUfdirGaoAs1VJRiRpcnaROcCs7giHqsti1242mekT6dpF31UKpiZHOsB7TacwpzdrM-cs7i7RI1BTsF0-X0hfUqzppTamliObEhP1a_aMMSV48GhFNTj5gWmiA1YtsK-1ii/s320/buzz&woody.bmp" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Ideally, get more than one.</b></i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just like agents, editors, and your eventual "audience", no two CPs/betas will have exactly the same reaction to your work. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
CPs and Betas help you be the best writer you can be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
How do they do this?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: blue;">1.</span> <span style="color: blue;">Honesty- </span></b>Seriously, who doesn't LOVE to be told their book is fabulous, unputdownable, etc., but that's what your family and friends are for. To make your book as good as possible, you have to know what needs tweaking, or even a major overhaul. Objective readers and other writers can provide feedback that is worth their weight in gold.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFoOaaVjxso8p4aoCz59cRQ3GXMm19aIyn_HeEVFG64TAV2ZCDV2bBCE_A1QqRIMc_KhRjj-1txqag-A5e2YzYLg_E1W_uCkAQc76E2MkH6o849qg0nx808z0AL7tfw3oD6yDhVhUjYZA/s1600/goldscale.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFoOaaVjxso8p4aoCz59cRQ3GXMm19aIyn_HeEVFG64TAV2ZCDV2bBCE_A1QqRIMc_KhRjj-1txqag-A5e2YzYLg_E1W_uCkAQc76E2MkH6o849qg0nx808z0AL7tfw3oD6yDhVhUjYZA/s200/goldscale.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>2. Thoughtful Suggestions- </b></span>As valuable as it is to know what isn't working, sometimes you have no idea how to fix it. This is where a CP's suggestions come in. Even if you don't take the suggestion literally, it can lead to a brainstorm of your very own.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCJoSO_TsJMc4Bp-nK-4txifuA-QxiVrVPmkkYzHt4ssqOHBJjOP9ShkL7fpFCyl1W1DxNtupnqvlKthoVpZHdA6Yb3_GwfTIeJcZNmdHGMSn-gwOZf5L6PdqiOH9BeY7h5ZnLTPk3q7F/s1600/brainstorm.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCJoSO_TsJMc4Bp-nK-4txifuA-QxiVrVPmkkYzHt4ssqOHBJjOP9ShkL7fpFCyl1W1DxNtupnqvlKthoVpZHdA6Yb3_GwfTIeJcZNmdHGMSn-gwOZf5L6PdqiOH9BeY7h5ZnLTPk3q7F/s200/brainstorm.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>3. Positive comments-</b></span> Just as you must know what fell flat, you also should know what made your CP cry, in a good way, of course, or laugh, also in a good way, or say "wow", or keep on reading despite the long list of other things she should be doing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>4. </b></span><b style="color: blue;">Attention to detail (</b><span style="color: blue;"><b>For CPs, not betas)-</b> </span>This means actually paying close attention to what she's reading. For instance, I won a first chapter critique during a contest this fall. The person doing the crit complained that she didn't know by the end of the chapter whether the MC was "nine or nineteen". </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yet, on page 2 I'd very specifically written, "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Worse than the day sixteen years ago when my mother died. I was a baby at the time and don’t remember it." </i>Boom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjjZJ3SY_SX0PIiYQtzfpBiTVYZHYem-_jzmFB8iH9tHH3zar8DeGXeesFZNcScZfSJIHsXdxTQfE9ofwW1XZ6AYLyhOvkHMEZVLQa94khU8g8qaR1fT45iwkAydKm7nTAaDbPAfBs0vR/s1600/pen.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjjZJ3SY_SX0PIiYQtzfpBiTVYZHYem-_jzmFB8iH9tHH3zar8DeGXeesFZNcScZfSJIHsXdxTQfE9ofwW1XZ6AYLyhOvkHMEZVLQa94khU8g8qaR1fT45iwkAydKm7nTAaDbPAfBs0vR/s200/pen.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>5. Sharing the joys and tears- </b></span>of both writing and trying to become agented/published, or whatever your writing goal happens to be. Writing is, for the most part, a solitary pursuit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQfJ-h5x9xbUl3F4t0WlI-7OockuhGfcJzAdkVUYGrpSii4LR-_jHf8COc7RnSDrKXcY1tGpex5rvucC0RhyFShN4FEoKRhUrMueIhGeQVsMh8MaaZXSOCEcWgvGzEhNAOW5MlA30ILwg/s1600/prairiedog.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQfJ-h5x9xbUl3F4t0WlI-7OockuhGfcJzAdkVUYGrpSii4LR-_jHf8COc7RnSDrKXcY1tGpex5rvucC0RhyFShN4FEoKRhUrMueIhGeQVsMh8MaaZXSOCEcWgvGzEhNAOW5MlA30ILwg/s320/prairiedog.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Generally we're not able to do the prairie dog thing, pop up from our cubicle and fist-bump, or hand each other a tissue. So we do that via email, Facebook, Twitter... Cheering for contest wins, requests from agents, etc. And consoling each other when we don't even come close to winning the contest, or the agent rejects said request.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b>In some cases I've only read my CP's work, or they've only read mine, or we've just started an exchange...</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: magenta;">But they are all people who </span><b><span style="color: red;">inspire </span></b><span style="color: magenta;">me to keep writing, to keep working at getting better, and whose own work and indomitable spirits </span><b><span style="color: red;">inspire </span></b><span style="color: magenta;">me. </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: magenta;">Thank you!</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: magenta;">I wish you, and all of Thursday's Children, the very best of holidays and a successful writing year ahead. </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: magenta;"><b>We're All In This Together. Alright, the acting might not have been brilliant, but there were some damn catchy tunes in this movie.</b></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">
<i><b><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gbrbUfYSt0E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></b></i></div>
<div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: blue;">My CPs/Betas</span></b></i></div>
<div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://jadziabrandli.blogspot.com/">Jadzia Brandli</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://cejourney.blogspot.com/">Colene Murphy</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://confessionsofastorygirl.com/">Jenny Stanaland</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.heavenstome.com/">Betsy Kelleher</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/">Teresa Yea</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://kate-michael.com/">Kate Michael</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://beyondthehourglassbridge.blogspot.com.au/">Katherine Amabel</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://chrisallenriley.blogspot.com/">Christine Allen-Riley</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/">Kristina Perez</a> whose critique partnership also led to Thursday's Children</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: red;">And here's Mr. Bean to remind you to focus on the important things this holiday season. Children, chocolate, and getting a good night's sleep.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XhaSA4uSuMw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/media/2012/10/Tubthumping-I-Get-Knocked-Down-Lyrics.mp3">Here's Our Theme Song</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's the Linky List Code for your blog</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355917195656_3087">
<!-- start LinkyTools script --></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355917195656_3086">
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=176981" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355917195656_3088" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1355917802_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=176981</span></a>" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355917195656_3034">
<!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355917195656_3034">
<b>And here's the Linky List! Come join us! Tell me what you look for in a CP/Beta.</b></div>
<!– start LinkyTools script –>
<script src=”http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=177437” type=”text/javascript”></script>
<!– end LinkyTools script –>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-4940571157647563752012-12-12T14:09:00.000-08:002012-12-12T14:09:04.398-08:00Thursday's Children 12/13/12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVXYDj2hKTxuFJHRz2NuTgm5ydVYxgoy-eISFHX5EI5cYVWZkUbdQ-aBD33QFvBf5_oe8AXpG0mrE0IuxGheCKx2idcUvHRTDPiaiE6UWYn5GOmgYqHCMO_4JTvpHhrUsUvmjnxZlLguG/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVXYDj2hKTxuFJHRz2NuTgm5ydVYxgoy-eISFHX5EI5cYVWZkUbdQ-aBD33QFvBf5_oe8AXpG0mrE0IuxGheCKx2idcUvHRTDPiaiE6UWYn5GOmgYqHCMO_4JTvpHhrUsUvmjnxZlLguG/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
This week's <span style="color: magenta;">Inspiration</span> came from eavesdropping on Twitter.<br />
Two Writer-Tweeps were talking, and one of them mentioned the TV Show <i>WipeOut</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-7UsYmtFUXIqvrfEme6XR6H_ycklBZh-f2JvB0rP2Sxu5vzraEZk3Fiogh-PR2orzIIQ_gbkdVpbb4MsLUQb4s0vEMcA9BpJun9_F1BwI6OIajimbW-sSUr1qyW9YowaNIooJ-Q8Joyx/s1600/bulb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-7UsYmtFUXIqvrfEme6XR6H_ycklBZh-f2JvB0rP2Sxu5vzraEZk3Fiogh-PR2orzIIQ_gbkdVpbb4MsLUQb4s0vEMcA9BpJun9_F1BwI6OIajimbW-sSUr1qyW9YowaNIooJ-Q8Joyx/s200/bulb.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #674ea7;">WipeOut -</i><span style="color: #674ea7;"> a metaphor for a writer's journey to publication.</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="color: magenta;">Round One</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
You've finished your manuscript, your betas and CPs have had at it, you've polished and tweaked and can't think of anything to do to it that would make it better - you're ready to enter the competition. </div>
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>First Challenge: Querying, or The Big Balls.</b></i></span><br />
<br />
There are at least 3 parts to a successful query:<br />
Researching Agents, Writing a Kickass Query, Having an Opening Bit that Rocks<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<i>Along the way something often goes wrong...</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySnna7Z2r4DJeXXCbGTBZzpdyoyuQu8s0LAnng-DfK2wW6OXueWmlhWyFzP6JlFgwI4ObSsPoUiRd18Q0anlt31RKhzW1bFlzckhBKDTpNrHE2o2S8k5RDUeI7Xh6jg2hLDv-XoF-ZZ2K/s1600/BB2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySnna7Z2r4DJeXXCbGTBZzpdyoyuQu8s0LAnng-DfK2wW6OXueWmlhWyFzP6JlFgwI4ObSsPoUiRd18Q0anlt31RKhzW1bFlzckhBKDTpNrHE2o2S8k5RDUeI7Xh6jg2hLDv-XoF-ZZ2K/s1600/BB2.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>And your doomed query languishes in the <b>slushpile.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>I've heard that 95-99% of Queries Never Escape the Slushpile</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But IF you take your time, and study how others have effectively navigated </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Big Balls, well, then maybe <b><i>this </i></b>will happen.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7R8ePU3nl18?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>You've Beaten the Big Balls, aka Received a Request for a Full or Partial!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is <span style="color: red;">ENORMOUSLY </span>validating.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Keep those requests. <b>Read them often</b>. Even if ultimately this is what happens.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9llnUPOhnn_B1ANLZM54RrNLJfn9uTKLvw8mK1GkX7YsAZpeZzamf9cCoOg54QbBsDHTiZYHnd4IXwyRUwzgK4Cb4JTauhbOYiYTZpl2kn71WRXZfT1KvQEWqTDDxD0Op9sChk7U8rQi/s1600/punch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9llnUPOhnn_B1ANLZM54RrNLJfn9uTKLvw8mK1GkX7YsAZpeZzamf9cCoOg54QbBsDHTiZYHnd4IXwyRUwzgK4Cb4JTauhbOYiYTZpl2kn71WRXZfT1KvQEWqTDDxD0Op9sChk7U8rQi/s1600/punch.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It feels just like that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Reading something like the letter </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>I received from an agent a couple of years ago regarding my first book</b>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From my archived "File of Pain" as one of my CPs calls it...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Dear Rhiann, </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Thanks for letting me look at your partial manuscript. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355099517137_2158">
<i>I love your voice. It's subtle and very
natural. But I'm afraid the plot felt slow. The idea driving this story, which
you laid out in the letter, is terrific. I found myself wishing this world were
developed more right from the start in a more page-turning fashion. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>With this in mind, it's with regrets that I'm going to pass. Sorry this
didn't work out but I wish you the best of luck finding the right agent for this
project. Thanks again for thinking of me.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Clearly my MS didn't live up to the query letter. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>Words of Friendly Advice:</u> When a letter from an agent starts off with a compliment and quickly segues into a "but", go get yourself a drink. And some chocolate. </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Maybe even a shoulder to cry on.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's another rejection for the same book. The "pass" was so vague that I asked for some clarification. Here's what she wrote.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Dear <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1355100351_0">Rhiann</span>,<br /><br />We
appreciate and respect that as a new writer, critical feedback is<br />key to
honing your craft. We actually found your writing and pacing to<br />be quite
engaging. Rather, it was the character development and use of<br />what have
unfortunately become over-mined and archetypal aspects of<br />this genre that kept us from being fully won over. I hope this is helpful.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Alright, so this agent thought the pacing was fine, but didn't like the characters. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><b>I'm still working on revising that manuscript.</b> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
IF you survive the query and the request, and maybe even a revise and resubmit, THEN you will have</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">AN OFFER OF REPRESENTATION! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><u>Round 2!</u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've heard that Round 2 is a lot like Round 1, only now you have a team-mate. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You and your agent are strategizing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He or she is contacting editors. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You might be working on a synopsis for a sequel, or your social media platform, or a WIP. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Or your wardrobe, in case Oprah wants you for her Book of the Month Club. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Again, things can go wrong... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I saw an agent tweet that she estimated 60-90% of agented authors get a deal. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Which means 10-40% won't. I prefer not to think about that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But it probably feels something like this.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdDwHe9jheR1PPleIVpo_EKPmMZz6aUZ9DMGWoMshDTGNnjYMiuVVzECsLOw4QSUAutaD8skzN6AdiwhbBEa0Z7bH7moDoGF_sNtb0ywY4ekqFigdHEBQLzMb_hTto4mkA05Giezi9mp_/s1600/teamfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdDwHe9jheR1PPleIVpo_EKPmMZz6aUZ9DMGWoMshDTGNnjYMiuVVzECsLOw4QSUAutaD8skzN6AdiwhbBEa0Z7bH7moDoGF_sNtb0ywY4ekqFigdHEBQLzMb_hTto4mkA05Giezi9mp_/s1600/teamfall.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: magenta;">But let's say you get a Book Deal- Go, You!!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As you can see, everything is all fancy and dramatic now. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><u><span style="color: magenta;">Round 3</span></u> </b>- The Big Leagues.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
THE LAUNCHING OF YOUR BOOK</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jUo-mCFsb5I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Think of the obstacles as Publicity/Marketing, Reviews, Competing Books, Foreign Rights, Film/TV etc.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At the end you might feel like this...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkCIYwC3vqtYwBPKNLAD6a1jOylGxmEQwEwH8wn37OIKEORnsdhSgySk-zI4c2aC7E7SiRJ-xC12JVsNmaox7w8KpWCn_mj44lK0YnIrRct5hhZzd6ZA4UEDumkf7Jt6gdrBxJPTYwr7F/s1600/winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkCIYwC3vqtYwBPKNLAD6a1jOylGxmEQwEwH8wn37OIKEORnsdhSgySk-zI4c2aC7E7SiRJ-xC12JVsNmaox7w8KpWCn_mj44lK0YnIrRct5hhZzd6ZA4UEDumkf7Jt6gdrBxJPTYwr7F/s1600/winning.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;">Except of course, you'll be holding your book.</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Here's the code for your blog.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355280192700_3174">
<!-- start LinkyTools script
--></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355280192700_3173">
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=176114" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1355280192_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=176114</span></a>"
type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355280192700_3007">
<!-- end LinkyTools script
--></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355280192700_3007">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355280192700_3007">
<b><span style="color: blue;">And here's the Linky List. Join and tell us what inspires you and your writing!</span></b></div>
</div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=176114" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-53374183827707270972012-12-05T11:01:00.000-08:002012-12-05T11:01:07.983-08:00Thursday's Children 12/6/12<h2>
<b>Agents Are People Too</b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCKkeEszSuWdoeMiMGQuJ_TQQxP51GzvPieiSz440AxKsODybwzT4ybQ_yiu7fzsJw_4TAFq30jR3YodVWH05lhAJkxVPMQhcXGcxhxREWWJU10UTOqm-pEJ5Ad1w85wCRbuVIziyrK1N/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCKkeEszSuWdoeMiMGQuJ_TQQxP51GzvPieiSz440AxKsODybwzT4ybQ_yiu7fzsJw_4TAFq30jR3YodVWH05lhAJkxVPMQhcXGcxhxREWWJU10UTOqm-pEJ5Ad1w85wCRbuVIziyrK1N/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
As you may recall, last week I shared a bit about a phone call I had with an Agent-Person. </div>
<div>
<i>Things didn't go exactly as I expected.</i></div>
<div>
Having unintentionally misled her about my <i><b><span style="color: magenta;">inspiration </span></b></i>for TENDRIL gave me this kind of feeling...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvnAubKYpRePsnqVZoheO3Xr78OiKGpZI8CBj8gkS4RSXL49r79ZUAxYxwh6pHd_k9DSXm1C2pfMdi0CQYuKKLGvxDUZD1JbdGk4zlYvU4SPHCHhJp5mVj9HqzZhnPJQUIAu6imQzun1A/s1600/worriedpug.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvnAubKYpRePsnqVZoheO3Xr78OiKGpZI8CBj8gkS4RSXL49r79ZUAxYxwh6pHd_k9DSXm1C2pfMdi0CQYuKKLGvxDUZD1JbdGk4zlYvU4SPHCHhJp5mVj9HqzZhnPJQUIAu6imQzun1A/s1600/worriedpug.bmp" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
So, I emailed her and told her that I'd actually been <b><span style="color: magenta;">inspired </span></b>by my love of old cemeteries. </div>
<div>
Here's a photo of Hope Cemetery in the town next to mine. I walk here a lot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwldzcSoSgnjtugP107LWGiAss3PbSsA151lYVK1CI0Kj4pCke2krctG35L8qGu4sqLtqq9VYD3Rd8duv2vU8TUKvRd5uishT8cQVyfKOMQy7oj9Um3RbrpDIkJdpfF3ZT3ySKP1ixapd/s1600/Hope.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwldzcSoSgnjtugP107LWGiAss3PbSsA151lYVK1CI0Kj4pCke2krctG35L8qGu4sqLtqq9VYD3Rd8duv2vU8TUKvRd5uishT8cQVyfKOMQy7oj9Um3RbrpDIkJdpfF3ZT3ySKP1ixapd/s320/Hope.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: purple;"><b>Well, guess what? </b></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She adores old graveyards, lives near a fairly famous one, AND one of the things that initially appealed to her most about my book was the whole cemetery aspect. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She even promised to take me to that well-known graveyard if I'm ever visiting. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I would LOVE that. Here's a photo of it below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cku_8pTdRSarhquDomwnD6qX8j5m9p-E8xybHql39wkJPj0r3YXzsHxiokikwchDWkjpBQGzVT_pr3D_JvtW0UqdMd0RCDf3Xs0_dNlcNSG-B_vWqq6fcFF41uGLok75HGzqx_0TsRnp/s1600/highg.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cku_8pTdRSarhquDomwnD6qX8j5m9p-E8xybHql39wkJPj0r3YXzsHxiokikwchDWkjpBQGzVT_pr3D_JvtW0UqdMd0RCDf3Xs0_dNlcNSG-B_vWqq6fcFF41uGLok75HGzqx_0TsRnp/s1600/highg.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Now because my week wouldn't be complete without an awkward moment, here's my second story.</b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Agent-Person #2 had asked for a full a couple of weeks earlier. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After Agent-Person #1 and I had our chat, I thought perhaps it was time to "nudge" a little.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's always a good idea to have as many options as possible, just in case things don't go according to plan. <i>My experience is certainly that they RARELY go according to plan.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I dashed off an email saying that while I didn't have an offer, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I definitely had an indication of strong interest... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and when might TENDRIL reach the top of Agent-Person #2's To-Be-Read Pile? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Then about an hour later, while I was doing this on Twitter...</i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nQFjrY0eSmeC3iR6HUBNdIXDeXIA6erwNhyv-B6POCSJ_iEiH4-glKKpKA4oNqG9cNquK1z0XtIDjx_cFY6UkpqppWPsnkKYTAiY0ZJ1vpRT1eoJTsFLAOdmnJIgnNBvJtSdNFYmjL6l/s1600/cat.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nQFjrY0eSmeC3iR6HUBNdIXDeXIA6erwNhyv-B6POCSJ_iEiH4-glKKpKA4oNqG9cNquK1z0XtIDjx_cFY6UkpqppWPsnkKYTAiY0ZJ1vpRT1eoJTsFLAOdmnJIgnNBvJtSdNFYmjL6l/s1600/cat.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I saw that Agent-Person #2's child was having surgery.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Which led to this kind of feeling.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvINO7qlkcgNQ50A4D7gxUgar5N4hPqHCsw-fRwcODDAegCn5uv_loJbd3YzeSwokqSbEc3hODylnEOPi7Mir2a1YISbVrdOVp1hd6x9gz554AkH1_QztmeCAw5GlLSVwjd0rLgpblSJVB/s1600/UhOhBaby.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvINO7qlkcgNQ50A4D7gxUgar5N4hPqHCsw-fRwcODDAegCn5uv_loJbd3YzeSwokqSbEc3hODylnEOPi7Mir2a1YISbVrdOVp1hd6x9gz554AkH1_QztmeCAw5GlLSVwjd0rLgpblSJVB/s1600/UhOhBaby.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until I discovered I'd gotten an auto-response. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Her query email was turned off because she's closed to queries until next year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(That email was the one I'd used because it was the only one I could find). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So then, I was like...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oiysUh9t2D3pZS5S1U2bfKrelGnpgM3kmWAKpY40jqOqkA7jltjVivbCSnPoNnsYoCh47QR_eBclQMYAqPuWNhJmELKbMcKDn3ETinuWpBClRXDo-r8Aj8VLWtgmhunpJRdR0bk47FUf/s1600/relievedface.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oiysUh9t2D3pZS5S1U2bfKrelGnpgM3kmWAKpY40jqOqkA7jltjVivbCSnPoNnsYoCh47QR_eBclQMYAqPuWNhJmELKbMcKDn3ETinuWpBClRXDo-r8Aj8VLWtgmhunpJRdR0bk47FUf/s1600/relievedface.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A couple of hours later she emailed me (because she had read my email after all). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She asked how long she had. I emailed back to let her know-while at the same time apologizing for my crappy timing, and sending wishes for her child's speedy recovery. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She wrote back and told me not to worry,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
if she hadn't wanted to look at email, she wouldn't have.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Remember that agents get <i><span style="color: magenta;">inspired </span></i>too, and having shared <span style="color: magenta;"><i>inspirations </i></span>might even be what brings you and your eventual agent together. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Oh, and remembert that they are real people with their own problems. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>A<i>nd of course-remember to join the Thursday's Children Blog Hop! </i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Here's the code for you blog </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script --></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1354729339197_1945">
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=175134" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1354729339197_2006" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1354729355_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=175134</span></a>"
type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script --></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>And here's the Linky List...</b></div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=175134" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->
<br />
<br />
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-52634635700525310332012-11-28T19:53:00.003-08:002012-11-29T03:56:18.152-08:00Thursday's Children 11/28/12<br />
<h3>
<b>Perils of Querying</b></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UvqEi4t-25AoUK6FzKERj9f4WNUhmc1k1wLk695H-wpZQt3ueoYPO5nPepT0YSULlMWRHDwhHV_oabBoWSpjcC256i9JTw0JLKvaEsyRZUi87O5Jnps9QbYp0TLr5VxBTRLB5-l8oNMY/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UvqEi4t-25AoUK6FzKERj9f4WNUhmc1k1wLk695H-wpZQt3ueoYPO5nPepT0YSULlMWRHDwhHV_oabBoWSpjcC256i9JTw0JLKvaEsyRZUi87O5Jnps9QbYp0TLr5VxBTRLB5-l8oNMY/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As some of you know, I've been querying TENDRIL. I was trying to approach the whole process cautiously and scientifically. By that I mean entering pitch contests to get feedback and help on my query, querying in batches, testing the waters with various incarnations of my query letter, and not blanketing AgentLand all at once with a desperate cry for representation. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Rather unexpectedly I got a request from an agent for a phone call.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can't go into details, and this isn't a THE CALL post. Though, I would LOVE to be doing one of those...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<i>This is more about a deer in the headlights experience.</i></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QTNpEcErooM_A3Ql2JGT5HjH5crqw21KmJKyBPCUyHy3vF4V1RU_bFynv_Rwz-c2vFDaoqgvc23m7FUjnt7EVC3-kMmyUHB1vUMRu-dNoHDvpKm_WbItBaifFWTuKQMdOnCYHMJB0IFA/s1600/deer.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QTNpEcErooM_A3Ql2JGT5HjH5crqw21KmJKyBPCUyHy3vF4V1RU_bFynv_Rwz-c2vFDaoqgvc23m7FUjnt7EVC3-kMmyUHB1vUMRu-dNoHDvpKm_WbItBaifFWTuKQMdOnCYHMJB0IFA/s320/deer.bmp" width="222" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Based on her email, I thought we would be discussing her suggested revisions-and we did. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hoped she would tell me what she liked about TENDRIL-and she did.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was worried that I would have technical difficulties using Skype-which I didn't.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was worried that I would involuntarily start imitating her accent, because I sometimes do that when I'm talking to someone whose accent isn't like mine-but I didn't, THANK GOD.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Unfortunately I was not prepared for her to ask me why I queried her specifically.</b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I mean, I had reasons, but I didn't explain them eloquently. AT ALL. It was more like...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>"Um, well, I saw you on Twitter. And then I went to your site. And your bio said stuff that seemed as though TENDRIL would be right up your alley..." </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See what I mean? Sounds more like a lame Match.com convo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Perhaps even more tragically, I was not expecting her to ask me how I came to write the story</b>, what INSPIRED me (here's the tie in to Thursday's Children) to write it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I, who have been spending nearly a dozen Thursdays rambling about inspiration, drew a complete and utter blank. <b>Damn pathetic.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What I came up with was something along these lines...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>"Uh, er, I have always liked fairy tales, and I liked the movie Tangled a lot, but of course because I wanted to write for a YA audience, and not copy anyone else's work, I had to make it different. So, uh, I..." </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I'll spare you the rest. It was lame. <b><i>And not even true</i>. </b>Because what really inspired TENDRIL was my love of old cemeteries. That's what got me started. Thinking about a girl who discovered she could communicate with the lost souls in a graveyard. I didn't even realize I was writing a retelling until I was a good halfway through the first draft.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hopefully you've gotten a laugh at my expense, and if an agent wants to discuss revisions with you, bear in mind that he/she might also want to discuss INSPIRATION and other matters. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thankfully for me she was still expressing interest by the end of our chat.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If it all ends up going nowhere, at least I'll be ready next time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i><b>Here's the Linky List!</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=173989" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->
And here's the code for your blog...
<br />
<br />
<div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script --></div>
<div>
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=173989" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1354159262_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=173989</span></a>"
type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1354143557535_8321">
<!-- end LinkyTools script
--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-36019187818258096242012-11-21T11:18:00.002-08:002012-11-21T11:19:43.838-08:00Thanksgiving & Thursday's Children Double Up Blog Hop<h2>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmN4JU1epsxq0Q5y6AqHdc7uYLjV9at4pzIWfx3CSlLTeithqFAwIKMb8c2DN0kiPGet0bFJ2VIWz1j-g2q9PxEaHr3noqHoMfOrPVeFijTVRDRtzyUz-6AOCZF58RpkkpCFEIfIV7TmH/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" /> <b> +</b> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePi2IaX9S6RsEUNLHohP-S7MChQ2LwxGW3YH_MpfD7jWTFsaxPtZ0neWDBfcQnxbDJeNccLyNMnRMeWJYpaAB9s8btndDHbQJxn50QdvntPlombzSwIoDoLOVerG_oDd5xOBElIVNyTwk/s200/TgivingBloghop.bmp" /></h2>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: purple;">Yes, combining Inspiration and Gratitude makes perfect sense.</span></i></b></h3>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
I am devoting this post to Writer-Mentors. </h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
The Givers. </h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
The ones throwing contests and clinics, holding out a hand to those traveling behind them. </h4>
<h4>
<i>Even though they are also writing, editing, revising, parenting, "spousing", teaching, and a million other things.</i></h4>
<br />
After writing three books I finally decided to work on my "Social Media Platform". Twitter, Facebook, and blogging connected me to other writers. Through them, I learned about the world of <b>Contests and Clinics and Blog Hops</b>. <i>Oh, my.</i><br />
<br />
I entered <b>GUTGAA</b>. Boy, did that make my head spin! Although I didn't make it to the agent round, I learned a lot and met some fabulous people. And I won a critique.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a aria-label="only have one class. And it’s in the afternoon." href="http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoKi1FaxQoVsA42.JzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dgutgaa%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D54&w=180&h=180&imgurl=i105.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm216%2Fdeanabarnhart%2Fbutton02-1.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjuliathewritergirl.wordpress.com%2Fpage%2F2%2F&size=40.3+KB&name=only+have+one+class.+And+it%E2%80%99s+in+the+afternoon.&p=gutgaa&oid=c61577d3e7d8a1edb12b16dcadf0410d&fr2=piv-web&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=only%2Bhave%2Bone%2Bclass.%2BAnd%2Bit%25E2%2580%2599s%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bafternoon.&b=31&ni=48&no=54&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11fhdphhr&sigb=130v9d1fh&sigi=11tbslmmm&.crumb=61hcl5aO/eZ" id="yui_3_5_1_15_1353455025195_510" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" height="158" id="yui_3_5_1_15_1353455025195_509" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4808272502194716&pid=15.1" style="height: 158px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 158px;" width="158" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I still have NO idea how <b><a href="http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Deana Barnhart</span></a> </b>pulled off something that HUGE and COMPLICATED with such patience and grace. Clearly she's an organizational genius. Not to mention, a saint.<br />
<br />
I entered a couple of Flash Fiction contests on the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/writerunboxed/"><span style="color: magenta;">Writer Unboxed Facebook group</span></a></b><br />
and on <a href="http://www.suzannepalmieri.com/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Suzanne Palmieri</span>'s blog.</b></a><br />
<br />
Then there was Hook, Line and Sinker. I didn't make it past the first round there. But it was still fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n453/EllieBags/HLS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hook,Line,&Sinker" border="0" src="http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n453/EllieBags/HLS2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Dee Romito</b> at <b><a href="http://www.writesforapples.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Writes For Apples</span></a> </b>not only knows about all the contests that are going on, she's involved in most of them, not only H,L&S, but also... Agent Trick or Treat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n453/EllieBags/I%20Write%20for%20Apples/TrickorTreatbutton-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trick or Treat with and Agent" border="0" src="http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n453/EllieBags/I%20Write%20for%20Apples/TrickorTreatbutton-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://kimberlypchase.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Kimberly Chase</span></b></a> and <a href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Brenda Drake</span></b></a> (more on her later) were also part of Trick or Treat. Because of their spirit of generosity, the original twelve slots became THIRTEEN. And I squeaked in and got a request for a partial because of it. Yay!<br />
<br />
Somewhere in there was this one. Thank you <a href="http://thiswritersworldplotbunnies.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Jamie Corrigan</span></a> !<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoh0Q8grk1ecmIhxKb89BSzBdgQCFdK6tRx6iiRd5VuFZSunASIPOsJnLQXclL8uQ1q8RzIxpUpsd5b0SO82_HZkJT9g-fe-Hv0vQsXN6V5Wb8aCifTWaS_l5wVrQlec9RapSFVCvht8V/s1600/Spooktacular.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoh0Q8grk1ecmIhxKb89BSzBdgQCFdK6tRx6iiRd5VuFZSunASIPOsJnLQXclL8uQ1q8RzIxpUpsd5b0SO82_HZkJT9g-fe-Hv0vQsXN6V5Wb8aCifTWaS_l5wVrQlec9RapSFVCvht8V/s320/Spooktacular.bmp" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://sharonbayliss.blogspot.com/">Sharon Bayliss</a></span></b> hooked me up with <a href="http://curiosityquills.com/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">The Curiosity Quills</span></b></a> Haunted Writing Clinic & Contest,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqORnV0JuwcrvN4OKbNLH2fwCX9x3PkLyrvxnNnyPoMg5tWG4X2Bb8zhXTr1NKRGFIWlO1-vvDFjT4EN87MEOVVIKwfnlJccoocj0KWkYQFgEke7_UvMhjPgHyAxkE9177dlMdDGwP0C-/s1600/HauntedWriting.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqORnV0JuwcrvN4OKbNLH2fwCX9x3PkLyrvxnNnyPoMg5tWG4X2Bb8zhXTr1NKRGFIWlO1-vvDFjT4EN87MEOVVIKwfnlJccoocj0KWkYQFgEke7_UvMhjPgHyAxkE9177dlMdDGwP0C-/s1600/HauntedWriting.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
where I was mentored by the kind and insightful <a href="http://jameswymore.wordpress.com/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">James Wymore</span></b></a>. His help led to a request for a partial!<br />
<br />
Through that contest and Sharon's <b>Title Contest,</b> where TENDRIL was one of the winners, I connected with <b><a href="http://jessarussowrites.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Jessa Russo</span></a></b>.<br />
<br />
There's also this going on at Talynn Lynn's <a href="http://inkinthebook.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Ink in the Book</span></a> blog.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Registration extended through Thanksgiving" height="179" id="Image5_img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHhC7bowmgh9LTJZx4jdrKMmbHub5wENTH9fiyx_wCf2AGcjHp4yxTTtH8JSt_17vW0ztyvv1Sa9-Gd76jj8en84G2Bkrl25toOE2T1NKMcL0w10cdIWSrTHD6jqHkK5SRKcaQZuXz1k/s320/operationagentinkbadge.jpg" style="visibility: visible;" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.heatherwebb.net/blog/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Heather Webb</span></b></a>'s Pitch Like a Rock Star Contest came next, as I recall.<br />
Heather's kindness resulted in three runner-up 5-page critique prizes. <i>Yup, I got me one of those.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx96ifGWJ2BXKp9V-fRN65ov17qzGunsD8X7Hiu47M5PURA072AU_bl2-HkUWV3l-irFxpML5-1kUS1O9oexx7kOA1UNnqZHfg2IcI-Q0e1It6COIfIn-cKpP6BTwtzU-C0-Yc-tCYLex/s1600/HWebbContest.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx96ifGWJ2BXKp9V-fRN65ov17qzGunsD8X7Hiu47M5PURA072AU_bl2-HkUWV3l-irFxpML5-1kUS1O9oexx7kOA1UNnqZHfg2IcI-Q0e1It6COIfIn-cKpP6BTwtzU-C0-Yc-tCYLex/s200/HWebbContest.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I also did a couple of contests hosted by groups of YA writers<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPC7Y_OLUNVPd2JRdVeOW4RyuMOY50wRJo1xUSLUvvYlCHlBfEJjNAxd7n8MJY_WIyzZalgxpV5RqgtMGn2XX3wyvFWQbiBkA8a1rTdA23w2JaxLtQA86uA1KAy30M4Yatl_BQZW3sgZt/s1600/YAtopiaComp.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPC7Y_OLUNVPd2JRdVeOW4RyuMOY50wRJo1xUSLUvvYlCHlBfEJjNAxd7n8MJY_WIyzZalgxpV5RqgtMGn2XX3wyvFWQbiBkA8a1rTdA23w2JaxLtQA86uA1KAy30M4Yatl_BQZW3sgZt/s320/YAtopiaComp.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
from the people at <b><a href="http://www.yatopia.blogspot.com/">YAtopia</a></b><br />
<br />
and another one from <b><a href="http://oasisforya.blogspot.com/">Oasis for YA</a> </b>which got me a crit of TENDRIL's first 250 words<br />
<br />
<b><i>And here are two more contests I'm looking forward to-</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>PitchWars</b> -<span style="color: magenta;"> <a href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Brenda Drake</span></a> </span>strikes again! And brings a whole posse of helpful writers, editors, and agency interns along with her. Thirty-one awesome volunteers to be exact. Check her blog to see who they are.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0ioXCaEwWs8Gs35hiCYdXqQ8Dkrtq96kvHNHia0UGq0o5vzIxUcXcJ6hCSMpgBtAZWhrTQu5E0xSjsm3KPDc28R3egMvX2Ut_SZL5tBQsBfeYGhEMoANBOovLsKd6wA1w9d_6qE8Hfvr/s1600/Pitch+Wars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0ioXCaEwWs8Gs35hiCYdXqQ8Dkrtq96kvHNHia0UGq0o5vzIxUcXcJ6hCSMpgBtAZWhrTQu5E0xSjsm3KPDc28R3egMvX2Ut_SZL5tBQsBfeYGhEMoANBOovLsKd6wA1w9d_6qE8Hfvr/s200/Pitch+Wars.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And yeah, The Thanksgiving Blog Hop was Brenda's idea too. Clearly the woman NEVER sleeps. I call her Bionic Brenda. She doesn't know that though.<br />
<br />
Also coming up is #PitchMas <a href="http://feakysnucker.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Feaky Snucker</b></span></a> 's Brainchild. I don't know what Feaky's real name is. I think she might be in some kind of Librarian Protection Program.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/faithisabellasmom/rsz_pitchfest_button_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Holiday PitchFest 2012" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/faithisabellasmom/rsz_pitchfest_button_1.png" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>The best parts of all these contests?</b><i> (aside from the occasional ms request)</i><br />
New friendships, mentoring, helpful feedback.<br />
If I'm ever in a position to extend the same kind of helping hand to fledgling writers, believe me, I will.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">THANK YOU WRITER-GIVERS! </span></b></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">You are MY inspiration!</span></b></h3>
<br />
<b><i>If you'd like to join Thursday's Children this week here's the Linky List</i></b><br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171981" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->
<br />
And if you'd like to grab the code, here it is<br />
<br />
<div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script --></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1353456848441_1780">
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171981" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1353456848441_1779" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1353456872_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171981</span></a>"
type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div>
<!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />
<br />
And here's our Theme Song!<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-4449054379359535182012-11-14T08:25:00.003-08:002012-11-14T08:25:16.192-08:00Double Duty Thursday's Children & Thanksgiving #3 Blog Hops<b>What do Thursday's Children and Thanksgiving have in common?</b><br />
They both happen on Thursdays, of course,<br />
And they both have themes of family (one a family of writer-friends, one the more traditional view of family),<br />
but also...this week they have a Love-Child Blog Post.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmN4JU1epsxq0Q5y6AqHdc7uYLjV9at4pzIWfx3CSlLTeithqFAwIKMb8c2DN0kiPGet0bFJ2VIWz1j-g2q9PxEaHr3noqHoMfOrPVeFijTVRDRtzyUz-6AOCZF58RpkkpCFEIfIV7TmH/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmN4JU1epsxq0Q5y6AqHdc7uYLjV9at4pzIWfx3CSlLTeithqFAwIKMb8c2DN0kiPGet0bFJ2VIWz1j-g2q9PxEaHr3noqHoMfOrPVeFijTVRDRtzyUz-6AOCZF58RpkkpCFEIfIV7TmH/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
+<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePi2IaX9S6RsEUNLHohP-S7MChQ2LwxGW3YH_MpfD7jWTFsaxPtZ0neWDBfcQnxbDJeNccLyNMnRMeWJYpaAB9s8btndDHbQJxn50QdvntPlombzSwIoDoLOVerG_oDd5xOBElIVNyTwk/s1600/TgivingBloghop.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePi2IaX9S6RsEUNLHohP-S7MChQ2LwxGW3YH_MpfD7jWTFsaxPtZ0neWDBfcQnxbDJeNccLyNMnRMeWJYpaAB9s8btndDHbQJxn50QdvntPlombzSwIoDoLOVerG_oDd5xOBElIVNyTwk/s200/TgivingBloghop.bmp" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
= <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdssv6SfkjejHYAy30lP4wy6_6IUnecIRIHcebfYXsmiQdSo-YOzDramB6NUJjE2If745UjQm6RlzX9cPC0CMgTpjxIu69LMsyaJETfWDelGnauvcrIvuRYXn2yreIuiyqTqc-ZFz3pnLA/s1600/louisa.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdssv6SfkjejHYAy30lP4wy6_6IUnecIRIHcebfYXsmiQdSo-YOzDramB6NUJjE2If745UjQm6RlzX9cPC0CMgTpjxIu69LMsyaJETfWDelGnauvcrIvuRYXn2yreIuiyqTqc-ZFz3pnLA/s200/louisa.bmp" width="136" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>I know, I know, Louisa May Alcott and "love-child" are really awkward together</i>.</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But I am both inspired by and thankful for Louisa, who wrote about family (see there's a connection).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Why is she inspirational?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Well, of course she was a strong, creative spirit who didn't let 19th century conventions, poverty,<br />
or a wing-nut father (who preached "the sweetness of self-denial") slow her down. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
She was a feminist and an abolitionist, in addition to being a hard-working, prolific and successful author.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>She hobnobbed with rock-stars.</b></i><br />
Well, the 19th century New England equivalent anyway - Thoreau, Hawthorne, Emerson.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But mostly because <b>Little Women was the first "YA" book I read that made me cry</b>.<br />
And cry. And cry. I simply COULD NOT BELIEVE Beth <i>died</i>.<br />
I knew her. I loved her. <i>How could she be dead?</i><br />
<b>This is a book I will not reread as an adult. </b><br />
I'm afraid it would be uncomfortable.<br />
There's a pretty good chance I'd find <i>Little Women</i> maudlin, and I might laugh at my fragile child-self for having loved it so much. And then all the magic would be gone. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShIWhKZp7xj-o1RBVB0xAuYpvBScDaA6WZcvBs5IqmhnTvHLiEOcfXALUH3ghZ-rD3ETGE-Qae8oPM3dvjrJF4cXO2ODrj4z28VToSIybm4h2UYhVZD_Y4OcC5uaA7gsEgqYLxyYcr4wG/s1600/LittleW.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShIWhKZp7xj-o1RBVB0xAuYpvBScDaA6WZcvBs5IqmhnTvHLiEOcfXALUH3ghZ-rD3ETGE-Qae8oPM3dvjrJF4cXO2ODrj4z28VToSIybm4h2UYhVZD_Y4OcC5uaA7gsEgqYLxyYcr4wG/s320/LittleW.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I still have the book of course. That's it above. It is <i>OLD. </i>The cloth binding is all frayed and the pages are yellowed. This book had seen some hard times long before I ever held it in my hands. God knows how many girls had sobbed over it.<br />
<i><b>All those tears, sighs, and whispers make it smell wonderful.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Although I admired Jo, she intimidated me the way field hockey girls did (no offense to any field hockey players who might be reading this). Amy was the character who was most like me. Modeled after Louisa's real sister May, she was the youngest in the family, she was artistic, and okay, yes, she was a bit spoiled. Interesting for me personally, Louisa took in May's daughter after May died of childbed fever. Her name was Lulu (also my daughter's name). I didn't know that until I did some research for this post.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The town in Massachusetts where I grew up is not far from Concord, where the Alcotts lived. Here is a photo of Orchard House. It was built in 1690.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>My favorite part was the graffiti. Yes! May/Amy drew on the woodwork.</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Such a minx!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Those very real drawings made me feel connected to both the story and its author almost as much as crying buckets over Beth. They held so much more immediacy for me than the carefully cosseted artifacts in the rest of the house.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sfry7wdHxV4axTfI2-qnDj2Yu5Zjm0hwmJIH0aQ7CLOEqEOCHxZNyhb0_-2Vw3aHxCP1dg5aCRCTSVz1ZbTbD76kaxS5sC5B2mUki0_Y2obipgJf_itInRKK1UO_FwkuHn81NyNnwB1x/s1600/OrchardHouse.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sfry7wdHxV4axTfI2-qnDj2Yu5Zjm0hwmJIH0aQ7CLOEqEOCHxZNyhb0_-2Vw3aHxCP1dg5aCRCTSVz1ZbTbD76kaxS5sC5B2mUki0_Y2obipgJf_itInRKK1UO_FwkuHn81NyNnwB1x/s1600/OrchardHouse.bmp" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Orchard House has its own <a href="http://alcottorchardhouse.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> if you're curious to learn more about it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>When I was twelve I had my first fangirl crush on an author.</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I read everything Louisa wrote, and when I'd read all her books, I read them all over again. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But none of them touched me like Little Women. I can't even remember how many times I read it.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Thank you for making me cry Louisa, and showing me the awesome power of literature. </i></b><br />
<b><i>And when one of my CPs said my book made her cry no less than three times-I was thrilled (even if she cries easily). </i></b><br />
<b><i>It's the litmus test for me.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And yes, one of these days I will write something about current authors who inspire me. Promise.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>If you'd like to join our weekly Thursday's Children Blog Hop, grab a spot on the Linky List.</i></div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171979" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>And here's the code to use in your own post.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1352903558732_1727">
<!-- start LinkyTools script
--></div>
<div>
<script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171979" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1352903568_2">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171979</span></a>"
type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<div>
<!-- end LinkyTools script --></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>And here's our Theme Song too!</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-91667830982863125502012-11-12T06:28:00.001-08:002012-11-12T08:25:16.766-08:00Thanksgiving Blog Hop #2<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>In case you missed it, Brenda Drake is hosting a wonderful Blog Hop. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click on the link below the turkey to join.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mFdeDtW9hN0s0tbFGQG8D8r8JUNFYF3AM2ASWeJEwC3alLEV8mxQOjX1DNyzxB9QjRCQS-YGk5B0O1enEApZncRC7X-Z1HFvB6uL-8Y3_m9VVUKplHlUZzDg61n54Eo-edV8vd8N6mJ2/s1600/TgivingBloghop.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mFdeDtW9hN0s0tbFGQG8D8r8JUNFYF3AM2ASWeJEwC3alLEV8mxQOjX1DNyzxB9QjRCQS-YGk5B0O1enEApZncRC7X-Z1HFvB6uL-8Y3_m9VVUKplHlUZzDg61n54Eo-edV8vd8N6mJ2/s200/TgivingBloghop.bmp" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/">Click Here!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Today's post is about my best friend, who also happens to be my husband.</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We met in art school, two of four students who actually showed up to Art History class in a blizzard. Apparently he spent the hour writing a note to his friend in New Hampshire about the cute girl in his class. *blushing*</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here I am at the time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDyqKvtELBiJcUUrP1Sv_UuTAMr1GUJBZQ74yAChEX8Yk001Yhpv2RPA9bsZ85z8jQd4l852lhvdZ8zRXcYGNHZN6g5M7lCk2VmmkAOO8ziHP0KIhQgNebXxehiQFHAU_X4p-UzFDenXc/s1600/me.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDyqKvtELBiJcUUrP1Sv_UuTAMr1GUJBZQ74yAChEX8Yk001Yhpv2RPA9bsZ85z8jQd4l852lhvdZ8zRXcYGNHZN6g5M7lCk2VmmkAOO8ziHP0KIhQgNebXxehiQFHAU_X4p-UzFDenXc/s320/me.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
He was really preppy, I think he might even have been wearing a bow tie. I politely ignored him. Unfortunately I don't have a "Before" picture of him. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But below you can see the result of my, um, influence. His family was none too pleased.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
These are photos of our passport photos, taken just before we went to the U.K. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, it is a bit of a twist on the <i>Pygmalion and Galatea</i> story...because I did eventually fall in love with him.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_YniH43vwFQfOtJgIRa0xD8CrKPL2ZKr7obktHSc9vaTpP4LJocOSqXRPF7mt0fPol4XV36oKKS6xKcBVeGav3wYnlgyi-KJY_9eTnqKWV9lDLITFPu_yN-If620Z0e0nho0kzn92BCD/s1600/R1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_YniH43vwFQfOtJgIRa0xD8CrKPL2ZKr7obktHSc9vaTpP4LJocOSqXRPF7mt0fPol4XV36oKKS6xKcBVeGav3wYnlgyi-KJY_9eTnqKWV9lDLITFPu_yN-If620Z0e0nho0kzn92BCD/s320/R1.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In those days my creativity was channeled through hair gel and painting. He always cheered me on in art school, and told me my realistic portraits were great, even if everyone else was doing angry abstracts and conceptual work. And after some rough class critiques he cheered me up (I cheered him up too, of course). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We got married and had a decorative painting business together for a couple of years - murals, faux finishes, that sort of thing. Our company was called <i>Nymph & Satyr Designs</i>. We never got sick of each other, even spending EVERY waking moment together.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>But, I really want to talk about my husband and writing.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My very first attempt at a novel remains unfinished, but he read what I'd written and said I should keep writing, that I was good at it. He still thinks I should finish that book. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's called THE ISLANDS OF PENOBSCOT BAY. Look for it on bookstore shelves in 2030 or so.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>He was the first person to read all three of my finished books.</b> He read the first one at least three times, because I changed it repeatedly based on agent feedback. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>He helps keep me sane</b> during the roller-coaster ride of querying, rejections, requests, more rejections, R&Rs, and so on. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>He keeps telling me "it will happen-don't give up"</b> and I like to think he's right. We're even making a BIG move, in part so that I can keep writing and not have to go back to work full-time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
I'll always remember the moment he came into the kitchen, hugged me, quoted a line from my most recent book TENDRIL, and said <b>"No matter what, keep writing. You are too damn good not to make it."</b><br />
That made me cry.<br />
<i><b>Hopefully one of these days his faith in me will be rewarded. </b></i><br />
<br />
p.s. In case you're wondering, neither of us has a mohawk now.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-37250706385041519632012-11-10T14:15:00.000-08:002012-11-10T14:18:21.583-08:00Thanksgiving Blog Hop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>The Incomparable <a href="http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/">Brenda Drake</a> is hosting a...</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrONVGIYN2MPOrUvzNCxPzJDwAJ3qTFJnr3A0dH3uMAK8R1Z1SWpfDaPoh9PE27S1TP4KcF2BpZfHNyRP_eC4bCrVX96DdZYewwhaKMvXDoWk3kIWCLhj5w1EMHqM1wQL_hT4SbquJvGxk/s1600/TgivingBloghop.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrONVGIYN2MPOrUvzNCxPzJDwAJ3qTFJnr3A0dH3uMAK8R1Z1SWpfDaPoh9PE27S1TP4KcF2BpZfHNyRP_eC4bCrVX96DdZYewwhaKMvXDoWk3kIWCLhj5w1EMHqM1wQL_hT4SbquJvGxk/s200/TgivingBloghop.bmp" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Bloggers will be posting about whatever makes them thankful.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
1. I am thankful for Brenda Drake, whose spirit of generosity towards unpublished/unagented writers is LEGENDARY.<br />
<br />
2.<b> I am grateful for being laid off exactly four years ago.</b><br />
At the time it was traumatizing. As I sat in a mandatory seminar for the "dehired" I saw duplicates of my own shell-shocked face. Diligent, conscientious Lisa Simpson-type workers who'd always gotten good reviews, often put work before family and self, agonized over taking a sick day, got to work early and stayed late without pay, etc. All for what?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vig7IJgt_KIbBK_rE5uDAME9jh79-K023e3DWz9GhQDHW0D9hGJfFgrqdONn5eVV9PMsw9ebGU522HSOY7j33VY_yd-efzWGE2tMJoj8HVY66b61c5G2lsT0XNFaSKX7HXvD6XfnBgs5/s1600/laidoff.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vig7IJgt_KIbBK_rE5uDAME9jh79-K023e3DWz9GhQDHW0D9hGJfFgrqdONn5eVV9PMsw9ebGU522HSOY7j33VY_yd-efzWGE2tMJoj8HVY66b61c5G2lsT0XNFaSKX7HXvD6XfnBgs5/s320/laidoff.bmp" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Being part of a "down-sizing" pushed me off the hamster wheel. </b><br />
Made me think about what I'd done in my life so far and what I wanted to do with whatever is left of it. Thanks to unemployment benefits I had some time to breathe, and to try something different. Something I'd always wanted to do. Write a novel. I've now written three. Maybe some day one or more will even be published.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hCCvTW4h9dzMlJ2Bzx7Waby3N6jfarxfSKjmArbUXxunCCSHMW9bdB77BHT4axjSQ1y04W1QddZbIHqvMOu2e-wmpIS60kozotBXD5nftoSB_LkVOZW7OFrD53p3urY1QbNtsiMqGH8I/s1600/hamsterwheel.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hCCvTW4h9dzMlJ2Bzx7Waby3N6jfarxfSKjmArbUXxunCCSHMW9bdB77BHT4axjSQ1y04W1QddZbIHqvMOu2e-wmpIS60kozotBXD5nftoSB_LkVOZW7OFrD53p3urY1QbNtsiMqGH8I/s1600/hamsterwheel.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3. <b>I am grateful that I finally know what I want to do when I grow up</b>.<br />
No matter what job titles I hold in the future, they won't define me the way they have in the past. I'm a writer now. First. Always. No matter what. And no, I don't use a vintage typewriter, but it's cool looking, isn't it?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bNRBfvQNfOeKHqaiOkH-V1bAKxONfTcWvFU8WWqQzd7qGDDqbnl4ND37lPtK0bbKrKMh6vxFt4cC4gFyJuJ-ROhniAWYORoMp25-ExdlnP20JrFLYjo-c6KeaexFEt2qKkmD15IuJaCh/s1600/typerwriter.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bNRBfvQNfOeKHqaiOkH-V1bAKxONfTcWvFU8WWqQzd7qGDDqbnl4ND37lPtK0bbKrKMh6vxFt4cC4gFyJuJ-ROhniAWYORoMp25-ExdlnP20JrFLYjo-c6KeaexFEt2qKkmD15IuJaCh/s320/typerwriter.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-24352689169724415342012-11-07T15:01:00.001-08:002012-11-07T17:13:39.555-08:00Thursday's Children 11/8/12 Mary Norton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4hDL-y6F4q44h5tFr87lKx3a9IedzpGL3Kli3lquVheLrhXmeaCUGBFHlxQodqtfdeQF4RDIL84eHF4wQ9rnDYqFUkpngQHp34OHtdSdWODEmmHDZcp_Gz_-0y726EPJbb6c1C4NnOQO/s1600/ThursBadge.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4hDL-y6F4q44h5tFr87lKx3a9IedzpGL3Kli3lquVheLrhXmeaCUGBFHlxQodqtfdeQF4RDIL84eHF4wQ9rnDYqFUkpngQHp34OHtdSdWODEmmHDZcp_Gz_-0y726EPJbb6c1C4NnOQO/s200/ThursBadge.bmp" width="199" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i><i>Guess I'm in a bit of a nostalgic mood this week. Or maybe trick or treating reminded me of childhood days...</i><br />
<i>I've already blogged about <a href="http://rhiannwynnnolet.blogspot.com/search/label/George%20S.%20MacDonald"><b>George S. MacDonald</b></a> who was one of my favorite childhood authors.</i><br />
<i><b>Mary Norton </b>(1903-1992) was another.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0E_Q0xlgfkjhjf-3ZzmHn2BZ2azPPBU_1b5-amOg_IxiZBy7Dpqu7a_1vDskisGItKPnCAqg2rKIEOc4pf_QjCdhHAQwOvyRRQZuMKazXublcseff2uhptyyX97Tuj85OgOh1QZD-ckH/s1600/MaryNorton.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0E_Q0xlgfkjhjf-3ZzmHn2BZ2azPPBU_1b5-amOg_IxiZBy7Dpqu7a_1vDskisGItKPnCAqg2rKIEOc4pf_QjCdhHAQwOvyRRQZuMKazXublcseff2uhptyyX97Tuj85OgOh1QZD-ckH/s1600/MaryNorton.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
She wrote <b>THE BORROWERS</b> series in the 1950s and 60s.<br />
I had long been obsessed with the idea of wee folk (pixies, brownies, faeries, and so on).<br />
<b>But Mary's characters were different. </b><br />
They were much more like us-with names ALMOST like ours. Take the Clock family for example: Homily. Pod. Arriety. <i><b>Mary was brilliant.</b></i><br />
They had no wings or magical powers. In fact, Borrowers were terrified of us, "human beans". Being "seen" by one of us was an event that could, and did, have catastrophic consequences.<br />
They lived with us-only we didn't know it.<i> <b>Again, brilliant. </b></i><br />
They "borrowed" food, and other things too. Paper clips to use as grappling hooks, wooden spools to sit on, cigar boxes for beds. Arriety had to do her lessons with an ENORMOUS pencil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwVQLJc5B8IkIMF7xeb_JxJ-uUms6uPSXqA4WDBgv2jzidIrerWWmVfv_vg_P-RwTVOpHfIMc-kc38PcFVlejah-bUagvjKNQ49nbP291WlO9W19pgEvyLBVXQzoEycJEUFLheG3hrM0-/s1600/TheBorrowers.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwVQLJc5B8IkIMF7xeb_JxJ-uUms6uPSXqA4WDBgv2jzidIrerWWmVfv_vg_P-RwTVOpHfIMc-kc38PcFVlejah-bUagvjKNQ49nbP291WlO9W19pgEvyLBVXQzoEycJEUFLheG3hrM0-/s320/TheBorrowers.bmp" width="237" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
For years I left items I thought might be useful beside a small hole in the hallway floor of our house.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Miniature marshmallows, safety pins, bits of yarn. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They were always gone in the morning (thanks, Mom!).</i></div>
<br />
<b><i>THE BORROWERS had everything a wonderful (children's) book should have-</i></b><br />
Great characters who are funny, lovable, interesting, scary<br />
Enough danger and adventure to make "that's all for tonight" the worst words in the world<br />
Series potential-although I have to say none of the books was as good as the first<br />
A world the reader wants to be part of - and here the parallel world, in miniature, is such a great hook<br />
<br />
<i><b>It had great illustrations too, which were like doodles, and rewarded careful scrutiny. </b></i><br />
This is Pod paying a visit to Aunt Sophy, also known as "Her". She had a penchant for Madeira which made her believe Pod was a hallucination. When she was all liquored up, Pod could "borrow" whatever he liked, and not even worry about being "seen". Love the chamber pot under the bed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5G2nh1Ynd07GZYSdUtn6GrVjuosiqW2lJZbuwaR1m0ZPzI0ZKLSn-Ll3fl08WfINbtwuyrlf54vrRIy-h-jug1hna7N-2THfYXiT9vnVREMDFJIxw6GPBi0Hk_ib3IO3q_IDQJvx7uNW/s1600/Pod&AuntSophy.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5G2nh1Ynd07GZYSdUtn6GrVjuosiqW2lJZbuwaR1m0ZPzI0ZKLSn-Ll3fl08WfINbtwuyrlf54vrRIy-h-jug1hna7N-2THfYXiT9vnVREMDFJIxw6GPBi0Hk_ib3IO3q_IDQJvx7uNW/s400/Pod&AuntSophy.bmp" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><i>THE BORROWERS was also responsible for my first bad boy crush. </i></b><br />
Spiller was the type of Borrower who lived outside, which was akin to living on the wrong side of the tracks. He was wild, and made his own rules.<br />
He and Arriety had a bit of an adversarial relationship-but I think she liked the way he challenged her and persuaded her try new adventures.<br />
Below is Robert Sheehan, who played Spiller in the movie version. If I'd been fourteen year old Arriety I would have totally gone for him.<br />
<i>Note to Self: Inspired by Bad Boys. Future Thursday's Children post.</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUONrkxO0CNZoHTa6GSGAws5O5i8xMqG22a9tBhH-nKKVtdHObWtH9X116oFh08kAXiVAG8ajjs76Owg88usNXbUEB-LJqlPxkMtHLa5nMc0ntePZeGSFtWPklBpwPEjDCDv5M4JJ3iCe/s1600/RobertSheehanSpiller.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUONrkxO0CNZoHTa6GSGAws5O5i8xMqG22a9tBhH-nKKVtdHObWtH9X116oFh08kAXiVAG8ajjs76Owg88usNXbUEB-LJqlPxkMtHLa5nMc0ntePZeGSFtWPklBpwPEjDCDv5M4JJ3iCe/s320/RobertSheehanSpiller.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And speaking of the movie version-the one with John Goodman.<br />
<b>Though unlike the book in significant ways. I enjoyed it anyway, but as its own thing.</b><br />
It did provide a line that I'm quite fond of, (it was Pod's originally, his response to Arriety's plea to go "borrowing" with him).<br />
Said with an English accent, <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">à</span> la Jim Broadbent, "No. No. <i>And again. NO.</i>"<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Here's our Theme Song...</b><br />
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Here's the code to the Linky to put on your own post.</b><br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171061" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1352337148_0">http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171061</span></a>"
type="text/javascript" ></script><!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And Here's the Linky List! What inspires your writing?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=171061" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-57890535381913524132012-11-04T12:39:00.004-08:002012-11-04T12:39:59.464-08:00Sunshine Blog Award<strong>What better way to start November than with a Blog Award?</strong><br />
<br />
This one was given to me by my friend <a href="http://deanpacefrech.blogspot.com/"><strong>Dean Pace-French</strong></a><br />
If memory serves, we met during the GUTGAA craziness. <br />
Or was it WriteOnCon? It's all kind of a blur...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoywnL1ElUXKtiWgWxvALug6lrs7MCtWr87azlsBF68Zb25SBGDOQYTsUftqGtNpur-x1YvWEO59TLy4AjJukGoB1ZsiwiWuqjZbtt868OpvnEeadk4bmPyS9pluOAe5uUeGdXZYezMaQL/s1600/sunshine+award.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoywnL1ElUXKtiWgWxvALug6lrs7MCtWr87azlsBF68Zb25SBGDOQYTsUftqGtNpur-x1YvWEO59TLy4AjJukGoB1ZsiwiWuqjZbtt868OpvnEeadk4bmPyS9pluOAe5uUeGdXZYezMaQL/s1600/sunshine+award.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll be answering 8 questions, then passing the Sunshine Award on to ten, make that eleven, more writer-bloggers.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. What is your Favorite Christmas/Festive movie?</strong><br />
<em> A Christmas Carol</em>. The George C. Scott version. I loved him as Rochester in <em>Jane Eyre</em> too.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. What is your Favorite Flower?</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>I can't pick just one. Peony (so showy, with so little effort) and Wisteria (poetry by Nature).<br />
<br />
<strong>3. What is your Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage?</strong><br />
Coffee. Hot or Cold. Any time of day. Any time of year. Yeah, I have a little problem.<br />
<br />
<strong>4. What is your Passion?</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>Writing. Of course.<br />
<br />
<strong>5. What is your Favorite Time of Year?</strong><br />
Autumn. Best weather. Best holidays. Best food.<br />
<br />
<strong>6. What is your Favorite Time of Day?</strong><br />
Morning. After the doggies have their walk, and I sit down to write, revise, and alright, I confess, SOMETIMES even let myself be distracted by Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.<br />
<br />
<strong>7. What is your Favorite Physical Activity?</strong><br />
Walking. On the beach. In the Woods. Wherever there's something beautiful to look at.<br />
<br />
<strong>8. What is your Favorite Vacation Spot?</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>Paris. The most magical city I've visited, at least so far.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<strong><em>And my Nominees are...oops, let me get my reading glasses.</em></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPBoqvfW5N6TOm-2EPkWXQBcR2ZcHEoQ5rhom_RrBJayBbrD_g_eLQu_TXkx2myafNqoyxH4HEzOrRh9mMAIiyKp3h12ISb9UxtQnRojZlsncfX4KgXlSwVk6h9MvFj6Cb99tYwjijpmc/s1600/specs.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPBoqvfW5N6TOm-2EPkWXQBcR2ZcHEoQ5rhom_RrBJayBbrD_g_eLQu_TXkx2myafNqoyxH4HEzOrRh9mMAIiyKp3h12ISb9UxtQnRojZlsncfX4KgXlSwVk6h9MvFj6Cb99tYwjijpmc/s200/specs.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>There, that's MUCH better.</em></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<strong><em>*If you're doing NaNoWriMo or have some other "big thing" in the works, please feel free to pick up your award at your convenience. </em></strong></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<strong><em>But let me know when you've got your post up, so I can check out your answers.</em></strong></div>
<br />
1. <a href="http://sjp-title.blogspot.com/"><strong>SJP</strong></a><br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.johnkrissilas.com/"><strong>John Krissilas</strong></a><br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://chrisallenriley.blogspot.com/"><strong>Chris Allen-Riley</strong></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1163897771"></span><span id="goog_1163897772"></span><br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://jayerobinbrown.blogspot.com/"><strong>Jaye Robin Brown</strong></a><br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://patesden.livejournal.com/"><strong>Pat Esden</strong></a><br />
<br />
6. <a href="http://akfotinoshoyer.blogspot.com/"><strong>A K Fotinos-Hoyer</strong></a><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
7. <a href="http://kiperoo.wordpress.com/"><strong>Kip Wilson Rechea</strong></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
8.<strong> </strong><a href="http://emcastellan.com/"><strong>E M Castellan</strong></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
9. <a href="http://www.lenaroy.com/"><strong>Lena Roy</strong></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
10. <a href="http://blog.juliealindsey.com/"><strong>Julie Anne Lindsey</strong></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
11. <a href="http://poppywritesabook.files.wordpress.com/"><strong>Poppy</strong></a> My bonus recipient, for being my latest Tweep </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
How about a nice round of applause for those brilliant bloggers!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEwV-IQhAFS6gie6740oe1QE_W9kCFN9UXeGodzEwzQvC_wtqgu3WEA3foLNRlDPEjgbhqdxr4KefeAljKLNMQlBrw8Z0XPuTEQUO0Y26b5op8llZOnSUX8WVgpz2-Gqhm4vYlnXHWIN6/s1600/audience.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEwV-IQhAFS6gie6740oe1QE_W9kCFN9UXeGodzEwzQvC_wtqgu3WEA3foLNRlDPEjgbhqdxr4KefeAljKLNMQlBrw8Z0XPuTEQUO0Y26b5op8llZOnSUX8WVgpz2-Gqhm4vYlnXHWIN6/s320/audience.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-4636864339897796182012-10-31T18:41:00.002-07:002012-10-31T19:01:31.634-07:00Thursday's Children 11/1/12Sandy provided the spark for this week's post.<br />
<strong>Weather</strong>. <br />
I like to make it work for me in a story. <br />
Which sometimes means making it work against my protagonists.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Fair weather might be the pleasant backdrop of a scene. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Maybe it reflects the serene inner landscape of your MC...</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuF38BXr19zHYt5H3fQtGLBZ2VpRSSslC4hPmRLzCRhcx9Pt2UA2SoTRblYXHT5B8mXwRt-zigBi02t6vWhy9uX0oLqFhVhDm9tCJHlpPs-tilkFElu4jOB2JL_Jia9Tgct-eqAeUxDG5/s1600/Monadnock.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuF38BXr19zHYt5H3fQtGLBZ2VpRSSslC4hPmRLzCRhcx9Pt2UA2SoTRblYXHT5B8mXwRt-zigBi02t6vWhy9uX0oLqFhVhDm9tCJHlpPs-tilkFElu4jOB2JL_Jia9Tgct-eqAeUxDG5/s320/Monadnock.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, photo taken in August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Or the calm waters your MC is enjoying--before or after the storm.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TRaQ7H1kxdWEmQQrve_KU9ORRt1Ct2RZmqm_-WXxpPFEzkhJp30ImQnX1v7MkTNqUjCddZCnLdYx6R2jXoSMooFmMGEaEyTmPSPMGFFipHSSiftzyVMFJvxEGpqR6yb4HwOj7eZwVivS/s1600/RC2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TRaQ7H1kxdWEmQQrve_KU9ORRt1Ct2RZmqm_-WXxpPFEzkhJp30ImQnX1v7MkTNqUjCddZCnLdYx6R2jXoSMooFmMGEaEyTmPSPMGFFipHSSiftzyVMFJvxEGpqR6yb4HwOj7eZwVivS/s320/RC2.bmp" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel Carson Refuge Wells, Maine August</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am extremely fond of fog. It can be peaceful and soothing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynjTrY4AVta13hCUgNnsYElqR6Fu4KqyyFjE-h5NWxCdHHLawuIeYBqAyFQ6g79MHg7n5Dbi8eD8T-rcOmDHZ8o0-xKpLsDItZElZ99qrbPVKaaopCRSlAYmgA6RoAoNYf83cbx5ugOh3/s1600/sailboatinfog.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynjTrY4AVta13hCUgNnsYElqR6Fu4KqyyFjE-h5NWxCdHHLawuIeYBqAyFQ6g79MHg7n5Dbi8eD8T-rcOmDHZ8o0-xKpLsDItZElZ99qrbPVKaaopCRSlAYmgA6RoAoNYf83cbx5ugOh3/s320/sailboatinfog.bmp" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailboat, Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport ME October<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>It can also be eerie and disorienting. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Familiar landmarks disappear. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>You think you are alone, then suddenly someone appears right in front of you. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Sounds are sometimes muffled. Sometimes clearer.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b-Nh0DSe7pJxifpjW6V-MKjnKptV_ZtIDoYmCcDUdwZQUOpCJnY1XstixnlPZiiEADjTVlTEW44Gytp3sh8FNe1JARt974YbCIVrQ7xKcfCgl6Uexhy5S20xhm4AcQRBy50jFs3FY9Jf/s1600/PreSandy.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b-Nh0DSe7pJxifpjW6V-MKjnKptV_ZtIDoYmCcDUdwZQUOpCJnY1XstixnlPZiiEADjTVlTEW44Gytp3sh8FNe1JARt974YbCIVrQ7xKcfCgl6Uexhy5S20xhm4AcQRBy50jFs3FY9Jf/s320/PreSandy.bmp" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goose Rocks Beach Kennebunkport Maine The day before Sandy's arrival</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>Weather can be a living nightmare, an antagonist in your story. </strong><br />
In UNQUIET SOULS the main characters have to contend with supernaturally gifted villains and their Scottish deerhound familiars, during a blizzard slash ice storm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6Cb45E6CwAvMF1xHsfq1sBSNQm8HFMscApAbmfRGruXAk67QGhH5GAekJtgdZyVqdlnpURo9OJpgO0TtP9GFzIqQjAvbNwGXLPrRsGxjFa8vmCJ4cg55_3wnzmef_Dg7UxFI6i0iPmZR/s1600/blizzard.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6Cb45E6CwAvMF1xHsfq1sBSNQm8HFMscApAbmfRGruXAk67QGhH5GAekJtgdZyVqdlnpURo9OJpgO0TtP9GFzIqQjAvbNwGXLPrRsGxjFa8vmCJ4cg55_3wnzmef_Dg7UxFI6i0iPmZR/s320/blizzard.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SOnJ8h6wK4PmOvjByANMNEFQUs5yZolEzKr39gGoKCQkGrjpoV8o_YnskRlHyJoXj8KL8i_dadvk1u8mzWuN-0r6psfEFzxDvp6UcYIIR3RMqdNyUS6JGQkrXZbCwPliKR8jP9zh-DWX/s1600/ice+storm.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SOnJ8h6wK4PmOvjByANMNEFQUs5yZolEzKr39gGoKCQkGrjpoV8o_YnskRlHyJoXj8KL8i_dadvk1u8mzWuN-0r6psfEFzxDvp6UcYIIR3RMqdNyUS6JGQkrXZbCwPliKR8jP9zh-DWX/s320/ice+storm.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<strong>Weather can be a catalyst, forcing your characters to take action. </strong><br />
In TENDRIL, a hurricane creates opportunity for the bad guy, and forces the somewhat reluctant good guy to act courageously.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfC_i5VzCOG1U-5Q0YFON2Y-1SNB8aB0liCgeW_9tm901D6h2mExjj-n6tzv9xBw06iJtwgGwRN4BDVG4NCkF4nGJ_t0MuOoFyIZXoKmNUT76bCTIcXfoQ_Bl5G-GZ7X3BsqmZapiizYo/s1600/Portlandlight.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfC_i5VzCOG1U-5Q0YFON2Y-1SNB8aB0liCgeW_9tm901D6h2mExjj-n6tzv9xBw06iJtwgGwRN4BDVG4NCkF4nGJ_t0MuOoFyIZXoKmNUT76bCTIcXfoQ_Bl5G-GZ7X3BsqmZapiizYo/s320/Portlandlight.bmp" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland Head Light Maine October 31, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><em>How have you made weather work for you in your stories?</em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em>This is a bloghop-we're trying a new linky tool. I think you'll be able to add yourself to the list here. If not, go to <a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/">Kristina Perez</a> 's blog.</em></strong><br />
<script src="http://www.simply-linked.com/listwidget.aspx?l=9882874c-be06-446f-9c64-3a7a9ef20b7c" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
Here's the Thursday's Children theme song.<br />
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-31904171087830328982012-10-24T14:42:00.002-07:002012-10-24T14:42:58.005-07:00Thursday's Children 10/25/12 Stone WallsBefore I got sidetracked by Halloween and horseback riding analogies, I had been posting about how houses inspire and inform my writing. <br />
The same thing is true of the larger environment. <br />
<em>Here's the first in a series about settings.</em><br />
<br />
Maine, and New England generally, are in my blood. Our connection goes back to the seventeenth century when some of my ancestors settled in what would eventually become Salem. They probably should have stayed in England - their decision proved quite disastorous in 1692. <br />
<br />
<em>The landscapes I grew up with and love are bordered by forests, the Atlantic, and a superimposed grid of stone walls. Sometimes these fences are odes to OCD perfectionism, other times they are barely recognizable as purposeful structures, and look more like some giant left a trail of stones, much as Hansel and Gretel left breadcrumbs.</em><br />
<em>It's especially easy to spot <em>these relics of early farming life </em>in autumn and winter, when the foliage is gone. Many times Nature has taken over the fields they once bordered, and turned open land back into woods.</em><br />
<br />
Sometimes an artifact even more dramatic appears, like a foundation or this - a naturally deposited slab of granite that during the early eighteenth century formed the rear wall of a dwelling. The rock is called Tyler's Back. The Tyler family ran a mill along what is now called Tyler Brook. It's about two miles from my house. Not far from here a woman was killed by the former landowners, Abenakis.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDHQzq4Gi-qEL-anH61Kd_w0C25rFSiV8sUVH1PQi2AEP3We3pw1o7pAMWTAUnNQMeqUIm-TIv0ph570i42Uiaq7h_qQRbhjdjKBjfIvAd9eHLEnD3NPJ3sK2vkY2wtUemQMC7-pTrdTe/s1600/tylersback.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDHQzq4Gi-qEL-anH61Kd_w0C25rFSiV8sUVH1PQi2AEP3We3pw1o7pAMWTAUnNQMeqUIm-TIv0ph570i42Uiaq7h_qQRbhjdjKBjfIvAd9eHLEnD3NPJ3sK2vkY2wtUemQMC7-pTrdTe/s320/tylersback.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Stone walls are often the only remaining evidence of early settlers. The cycle of freeze and melt in this latitude pushes up a new crop of boulders every spring. Finding building materials was <em>never</em> an issue.<br />
<br />
In 1939 a mining engineer used USDA historical data to estimate that there were 240,000 miles of stone walls in New England. <strong>That's almost ten times around the equator, or all the way to the moon. </strong><br />
That's<em> IF</em> the walls were in a straight line. But of course they aren't. They were built to mark property lines and to corral livestock.<br />
<br />
According to one estimate, the labor involved would have built the Pyramids of Egypt one hundred times over. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>The formula is simple in dry masonry: one stone over two, two stones over one. </strong></em></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The effort required however, is back-breaking. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you ever lifted fifty pound hunks of granite for hours at a time?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-Pb0VSWOL8e9pWn898SN4urd0VjkWbD0mnvRYNdwddag5XN5ybsrSCs-1YVyuRpYVOGxmmN8AdGH7H8EOVjT1zLc8Rj2V14EpypSjdjcJoVkQM6x5Zdl9eSaiCrD2YGgsIIeBuMgsFPk/s1600/stonewall.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-Pb0VSWOL8e9pWn898SN4urd0VjkWbD0mnvRYNdwddag5XN5ybsrSCs-1YVyuRpYVOGxmmN8AdGH7H8EOVjT1zLc8Rj2V14EpypSjdjcJoVkQM6x5Zdl9eSaiCrD2YGgsIIeBuMgsFPk/s320/stonewall.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sbsPYnyviRHCcCGTfB7Y3L95kZqoiMIl1AixdQBQ-9C0M4l-u5mwSZgYH2NjnmGFR09zvxez8bULbgLeIZl9DnqJSAYf3clz1kUCijkC7_G6K1duMUvlNCe3DvCpV8gbX7mEaY5wB72J/s1600/GRBStonewall.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sbsPYnyviRHCcCGTfB7Y3L95kZqoiMIl1AixdQBQ-9C0M4l-u5mwSZgYH2NjnmGFR09zvxez8bULbgLeIZl9DnqJSAYf3clz1kUCijkC7_G6K1duMUvlNCe3DvCpV8gbX7mEaY5wB72J/s320/GRBStonewall.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little over a mile from my house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Writing and building a stone wall aren't dissimilar. <br />
You select your parameters (plot, setting, characters) and you decide where you want this wall to begin and end. What you want to keep in. And what you want to keep out.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Then you begin the hard work of building...one stone over two, two stones over one,</em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>only in this case words are your rocks. </em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>When you're done you've built something that defines and contains a world of its own. </em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>If you've built it with care and skill, it may be admired long after you're gone, </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>even long after anyone who actually knew you is gone.</em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tell us what inspires your writing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=169026" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-77590763337512900502012-10-22T06:54:00.002-07:002012-10-22T06:54:12.552-07:00Writer Therapy BloghopSo, I'm at my keyboard, diligently getting all the "business" taken care of (emails, tweets, Facebook, etc.) and then it's time to write.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's time to write.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>I've got nothing.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>It's time for...</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja48Db0MLG20Az96leJCinhz2AyJRpz-tyCEIayAPKA0pToI2ZdmTfFpnjue9ENOecH-v9WXcBHeaFO50v6L31i4f_NNFvupvSiAA3pHou5nWCzE2T7clelzjw_-8uupeQhfdI6Kg9ShPL/s1600/WT.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja48Db0MLG20Az96leJCinhz2AyJRpz-tyCEIayAPKA0pToI2ZdmTfFpnjue9ENOecH-v9WXcBHeaFO50v6L31i4f_NNFvupvSiAA3pHou5nWCzE2T7clelzjw_-8uupeQhfdI6Kg9ShPL/s200/WT.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
Usually, when I'm writing a book I try to end in the middle of something-the idea being that I will pick up where I left off during the next writing session. <br />
Minimize the chance of the blank page winning the stare down the following day. <br />
I've found it to be a good strategy. <br />
But sometimes at the end of the scene I just cannot think of what to write next.<br />
The temptation is to check email, Twitter, FB, Pinterest, and so on. <br />
But let's face it, fun distractions almost never inspire that next scene.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>For me, this is what works...taking a walk.</strong></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gJl9jMfJG_XGfN21mY29tb5sLjQADMfxhWEPMuKZLWo301JdPL2jDSRb5FCVf3brgI4rdLOt6-8YQDd_6YRVjZ1oOFfgTFo1m_CpzeoO_cGiaX2pxBH5Wi3P4mEj4UkHGbNgSQW0cePD/s1600/RachelC2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gJl9jMfJG_XGfN21mY29tb5sLjQADMfxhWEPMuKZLWo301JdPL2jDSRb5FCVf3brgI4rdLOt6-8YQDd_6YRVjZ1oOFfgTFo1m_CpzeoO_cGiaX2pxBH5Wi3P4mEj4UkHGbNgSQW0cePD/s320/RachelC2.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<em>I love walking in the woods in the autumn.</em> <em>Unfortunately hunters ruin my fun by making me fear for my life, but there are some places where they're not allowed.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlchek5lLFDLXvB8MsSQmDQUJtqL0Tl4mKSTX9E0e6ERJh_KxV2WWmAkK147uPctO9UIaWkyWZhZA8gLZKUgc5Y0MvjiZeRfrH0czcHSTVDClyW_HLG14LEb7jY3rkGWbBGqZ6m4tZapJe/s1600/hopec.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlchek5lLFDLXvB8MsSQmDQUJtqL0Tl4mKSTX9E0e6ERJh_KxV2WWmAkK147uPctO9UIaWkyWZhZA8gLZKUgc5Y0MvjiZeRfrH0czcHSTVDClyW_HLG14LEb7jY3rkGWbBGqZ6m4tZapJe/s320/hopec.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<em>I love walking in old cemeteries. This one is called Hope Cemetery. </em><br />
<em>All those markers tell me that whatever I'm worried about probably won't matter a hundred years from now.</em><br />
<em>And one my novels was actually inspired by a graveyard. Win-Win.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
But my very favorite place to walk is the beach. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The sounds are soothing, the air is revitalizing. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
More often than not, a mile or so later I have at least a seedling of an idea. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes more. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>It must have something to do with the rhythm of walking.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I like the beach best when it is deserted. <br />
In the winter I'm often the only one on it (aside from my dogs). <br />
<em>It's damn cold. But worth it.</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BmjL6-xOf3oa4IflIlOrpWM3BJvbxRGoO2Kzon7FK4PyOBv_DcbplznGJWztP1CVAFHsb0FM0GptP_UbgrWDHTXl-PLpR-3FvYLzljUdHvpFHh92atZTlzupzRK8r889sFzYOe7VGMEA/s1600/GRBOct.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BmjL6-xOf3oa4IflIlOrpWM3BJvbxRGoO2Kzon7FK4PyOBv_DcbplznGJWztP1CVAFHsb0FM0GptP_UbgrWDHTXl-PLpR-3FvYLzljUdHvpFHh92atZTlzupzRK8r889sFzYOe7VGMEA/s320/GRBOct.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speaking of dogs...here are two of mine. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They're always up for a walk, and they don't write books.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes that makes their company therapeutic. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They are experts at living in the moment.<br />
Here's my video "Dogs in Fog" (yes, Suessish, I know).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyApDsrspkHigXGgsx4cJ89xPXMTqK1SpXrAohaqTJaNtXlT7j9aebyodp8eD0m0cFKFuUBmOnlezGxOYXVrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-9669850099837599892012-10-17T16:05:00.000-07:002012-10-18T10:38:11.635-07:00Thursday's Children 10/18/12 Get Back on the HorseTaking a leaf out of my friend <a href="http://kristinaperez.com/"><strong>Kristina Perez's</strong></a> inspriation "book", I decided to share my <em>sports</em> <em>and writing</em> analogy this week. <br />
<br />
<strong>When I was a teenager I had a horse. His name was Kerry. Technically he was a pony (by one quarter of an inch) and his pony blood was definitely evident - ponies are known for being smarter than horses, and for having more highly developed senses of humor. </strong><br />
<strong><em>With Kerry this took various forms:</em></strong><br />
<br />
1. Being the stable Houdini (one time he not only got himself out of the stall, but also his pony girlfriend Strawberry, one of them took the barn phone off the hook, they had a snack out of the grain bin, and then at 2 in the morning began galloping around the driveway).<br />
2. Ambushing unsuspecting stablehands by digging a monstrous hole in the floor of his stall and then covering it with hay, so that they fell in.<br />
3. Going under, over, and through pasture fences. Or standing in the middle of the pond, so he could only be caught if you were willing to get very wet.<br />
4. And most importantly, teaching me first, to get back on after a fall, and two, how not to get thrown in the first place. He specialized in bucking.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Here's a picture of us together, at a dressage show. A looong time ago.</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_CYdFSrNVIVI86h5xv2zcnFpp3khe0bssogK3YwHPb2p61BzsaGUP5H2gUOZIXNscqfNgz2pzYepirPr_rDLHFO5S-wAJk8YA4Ofduh8HreUUyYd_s7HDt2nV6wnecYmnluisFaI805t/s1600/kerry.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_CYdFSrNVIVI86h5xv2zcnFpp3khe0bssogK3YwHPb2p61BzsaGUP5H2gUOZIXNscqfNgz2pzYepirPr_rDLHFO5S-wAJk8YA4Ofduh8HreUUyYd_s7HDt2nV6wnecYmnluisFaI805t/s320/kerry.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>For your amusement here are some videos of riders getting tossed at horse shows. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>BTDT. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Apparently I once did a cartwheel in the air when Kerry stopped short at a jump and I kept going. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>I landed on the other side, on my feet, still holding the reins. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Unfortunately my mother didn't have a video camera.</em></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Unintentional Flying Dismounts</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcrSY43yBfE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
</div>
<br />
<strong>So, about falling...</strong><br />
The very first time is nothing less than SHOCKING. One minute you're in the saddle, seemingly in control of the situation, and then something happens (a buck, a rear, a startle, a stumble, a sudden stop). Momentum, gravity, and your not so trusty steed, are no longer your friends. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
BLAM! </div>
Frequently the breath gets knocked out of you. Sometimes you get really hurt. If you're lucky neither you, nor your horse, sustain any serious injuries.<br />
Falling or being thrown is scary, sometimes painful and bruising, both to your body and your ego. <br />
<em><strong>Kind of like sending out queries or manuscripts and having them rejected.</strong></em><br />
With riding, assuming both you and your horse are okay, the thing you must do is, of course, <em>get</em> <em>back on the horse</em>. That's also scary. You have to dust yourself off, check your tack, mount up, and not let your horse sense your nerves. <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Above all, you must not give up. </em></strong><br />
<em><strong>Not if you love it.</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Not if you want to get better at it. </strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Good enough that some day the same situation will arise, and you won't get thrown.</strong></em><br />
<em><br /></em>I have two daughters. They both wanted to ride. <br />
The older one got thrown her fifth time on a horse. She refused to get back on. But you know what? She didn't love riding. She loves cheering. She's a flyer, which takes skill and courage and trusting her stunt group. She's fallen many times, and gotten hurt. She gets back up. <em>Because she loves it. </em><br />
My younger daughter has fallen only once, at a trot. I was jogging right beside her and actually caught her as she slid off. I've told her that if she keeps riding, she <em>will</em> fall. <em>All</em> riders do. If she loves riding, she'll get back on.<br />
<strong><em>If you love writing, keep doing it. No matter how many rejections you get. Someday you'll make it.</em></strong><br />
<br />
Here's the Thursday's Children theme song.<br />
<br />
<embed border="0" flashvars="mycolor=f2b3de&mycolor2=47e6e6&mycolor3=d5c4e6&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false" height="117" name="mixpod" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="TL" src="http://assets.mixpod.com/swf/mp3/notebook.swf?myid=89660064&path=2012/10/16" style="height: 117px; visibility: visible; width: 240px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="240" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<br />
<strong>Share what inspires you...</strong><br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=167977" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-19250179361960812962012-10-14T06:22:00.000-07:002012-10-14T06:22:34.868-07:00And I Humbly Accept...The Liebster Award!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDOzS3CO41CdpjMeputiJws8roa3aKVKsRrK7d-DM8A9_Gw39-Va0sWIstUPUQodljQOPUSHDRGfc75o7pDEU4kLkVbmJQDbuai0H-nYeTQGL-cbdILpkbh_7e1EedvxarBHnfQvrkWOP/s1600/LBlog.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDOzS3CO41CdpjMeputiJws8roa3aKVKsRrK7d-DM8A9_Gw39-Va0sWIstUPUQodljQOPUSHDRGfc75o7pDEU4kLkVbmJQDbuai0H-nYeTQGL-cbdILpkbh_7e1EedvxarBHnfQvrkWOP/s1600/LBlog.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
Given to me by the lovely Tamara over at <a href="http://onemagicbeanbuyer.blogspot.com/">One Magic Bean Buyer</a> Thanks!<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Rules:</u></strong><br />
-Answer the presenter's 11 questions<br />
-Choose 11 lucky recipients<br />
-Formulate 11 questions for them to answer<br />
-Plaster the award on your blog<br />
<br />
<strong>Here were Tamara's questions for me:</strong><br />
<br />
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. What is your favorite month of the year? </span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times;">Soooo easy. October! My birthday, Halloween (also my anniversary), beautiful foliage, energizing weather, no more bugs, I could go on...</span></span></div>
<div>
<span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. What's the number one most played song on your iPod?</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span>Radiohead Lotus Flower (I just cannot listen to that song enough, and I'm not even sure why)</span></div>
<div>
<span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfOa1a8hYP8">My Favorite Earworm</a></span></div>
<div>
<span><br /></span><i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Name three writers you admire and tell us why. </span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span>Jeanette Winterson (inventive and passionate) </span></div>
<div>
<span>Daphne du Maurier (suspense genius) </span></div>
<div>
<span>Tracy Chevalier (dreamy prose w/fascinating historical settings)</span></div>
<div>
<span><br /> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you want to be? </span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuEkvLZJNQaplEToIRT9qp2OJq9bE-8E7Rsaf0JeexQ2nb23WkT9ILWiAjWrRts3G3TTUUbJ1KaHt_UNy88fT0ntbysQpQKlCDplyHtCt1D75gFpfZx2-ZwEz3QzJvYm7jMJ6mliEDtN2/s1600/BDbeach1211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuEkvLZJNQaplEToIRT9qp2OJq9bE-8E7Rsaf0JeexQ2nb23WkT9ILWiAjWrRts3G3TTUUbJ1KaHt_UNy88fT0ntbysQpQKlCDplyHtCt1D75gFpfZx2-ZwEz3QzJvYm7jMJ6mliEDtN2/s200/BDbeach1211.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times;">I WAS going to say one of my own spoiled rotten doggies. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times;">But then I thought a Phoenix would be even better - reinvent yourself whenever those gray feathers start showing up...</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdtl4mR2hoVtOoIHJV2ZEztFQMac57vLQWiCww7ism-bF5Vq-r3mjMsdcKgNj1ktZmYUSNMm4RYPex8ubhxAiPmEHWMDYZ32x_3990V_ZylFxHTKaHtNeX87W0OjotLFW6MseFNdTqAHh/s1600/phoenix.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdtl4mR2hoVtOoIHJV2ZEztFQMac57vLQWiCww7ism-bF5Vq-r3mjMsdcKgNj1ktZmYUSNMm4RYPex8ubhxAiPmEHWMDYZ32x_3990V_ZylFxHTKaHtNeX87W0OjotLFW6MseFNdTqAHh/s200/phoenix.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<i><span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. What is one of your favorite quotes? </span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span>Those three words<br />Are said too much<br />But not enough</span></div>
<div>
<span>(Gary Lightbody lyrics)<br />Everyone knows what the 3 words are, even though he didn't actually say them. Brilliant.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></span> </div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>6. What chore do you hate doing? </em></span></span></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What chore DON'T I hate doing... </span></span></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Weed-whacking. Hot and buggy, makes my arm hurt after a while, and I always end up with several nasty nicks out of my shins from flying debris. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another reason to love October-no weed whacking.</span></span></div>
<div>
<i><span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">7. If you could throw any kind of party (money is no object) what would it be? And for whom?</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times;">Ha! A book release party for me, of course! Ideally sometime in October, and in costume. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span><span style="font-family: Times;">For anyone who wants to come, especially if they want to buy my book. I'd like it to be in a massive old barn, at night, with great food and music.</span></span></div>
<div>
<i><span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">8. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would you stay?</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span>25. It was a great year :)</span></div>
<div>
<span></span> </div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">9. If you could have any talent in the whole world, which one would you choose?</span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span>That's a tough one because there are so many possible answers. </span></div>
<div>
<span>I think I'd like to be able to sing like Adele. </span></div>
<div>
<span>Excorcise my own demons. Travel the World. Entertain people. </span></div>
<div>
<span>Make heaps of money doing something I love to do.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBzd3t3RfSi8xMDIlW77UqO8ckdQbnrWljidtPjFWwZgOcAyn2f_Aipxa6A0oknAurAn_stMeY1-a0CQ1cVvNjzf7eRlLLtrpCs3wHKmqo83UmHH9scnrhDqDAgLYR9A8fUb74bLCE74w/s1600/adele.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBzd3t3RfSi8xMDIlW77UqO8ckdQbnrWljidtPjFWwZgOcAyn2f_Aipxa6A0oknAurAn_stMeY1-a0CQ1cVvNjzf7eRlLLtrpCs3wHKmqo83UmHH9scnrhDqDAgLYR9A8fUb74bLCE74w/s200/adele.bmp" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></i> </div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">10. Which superpower would you pick if they were up for grabs? </span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span>Reincarnation. One life is NOT enough.</span></div>
<div>
<span></span> </div>
<div>
<i><span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">11. If you had to change your first name, what name would you want? </span></span></i></div>
Katherine - mostly because I like all the nicknames (except Kitty, that's just silly).<br />
<br />
<strong>This prestigious and higly coveted award can only be given to those whose blogs have fewer than 200 followers - but not for long, eh?</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em><u>Here are the next Lucky Eleven-</u></em></strong><br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://chrisallenriley.blogspot.com/">Chris Allen-Riley</a><br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://throughthegateway.blogspot.co.uk/">E L Adams From the Writer's Nest</a><br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://maravalderran.blogspot.com/">The Writerly Exploits of Mara Valderran</a><br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://shortcuttoshrums.blogspot.com/">Brianna Shrum A Shortcut to Shrums</a><br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://cscullywriter.files.wordpress.com/">Catherine Scully </a><br />
<br />
6. <a href="http://kristinaperez.com/">Kristina Perez</a><br />
<br />
7. <a href="http://yolandarenee.blogspot.com/">Yolanda Renee Defending the Pen</a><br />
<br />
8. <a href="http://heatherriffle.wordpress.com/">Heather Riffle</a><br />
<br />
9. <a href="http://robbiemacniven.wordpress.com/">Robbie MacNiven</a><br />
<br />
10. <a href="http://sjp-title.blogspot.com/">SJP's Title by Jaq</a><br />
<br />
11. <a href="http://thardrandia.blogspot.com/">Aldrea Alien-Thardrandian Thoughts</a><br />
<br />
<strong><em>And here are the 11 Questions </em></strong><br />
<br />
1. If you were to choose a Nom de Plume, what would it be?<br />
<br />
2. What is your favorite flower?<br />
<br />
3. If you had to live prior to 1900, what century would you choose, and why?<br />
<br />
4. What is your motto?<br />
<br />
5. Lake or ocean, and why?<br />
<br />
6. Tell us three things about a favorite character you've created.<br />
<br />
7. You're in a car and this song comes on the radio - you can't change the station fast enough.<br />
<br />
8. Which author influences you most as a writer, and in what way?<br />
<br />
9. When you get writer's block, doing this helps. (If you never get writer's block I'm blowing raspberries at you).<br />
<br />
10. What movie scared you (and maybe scarred you)?<br />
<br />
11. What's your favorite Halloween candy?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-49737408044660732762012-10-10T16:17:00.001-07:002012-10-10T16:17:45.883-07:00Thursday's Children 10/11/12 Thoughts on Halloween<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm taking a break from my Dwelling Places Series because...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Christmas is nice enough, but personally I MUCH prefer Halloween. No presents, no pressure, and the holiday meal is...CANDY. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's part of my <strong>Halloween Stuff Collection</strong> </div>
The skull was purchased in London and is extremely realistic looking. It raised a few eyebrows going through Gatwick Security. <br />
The other head is a sculpture I did at the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston. <br />
His name was Charlie. <br />
At this time of year I get to revel in all things Gothic. And nobody thinks it's all that strange.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxVlbP8VHNJO-g0MyHO8BDSrC4gXOk3Io0RqDpDCBrrrZ4bdXYvuMsQtKeNG_uFTkp5hk3X9KfAAwv4ZHZo_kvCR-UFGQccxmsruPH9RZeHV6M_beaiN7dC5R0qk_JFqaCsUZaroR3OnB/s1600/HalloweenStuff1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxVlbP8VHNJO-g0MyHO8BDSrC4gXOk3Io0RqDpDCBrrrZ4bdXYvuMsQtKeNG_uFTkp5hk3X9KfAAwv4ZHZo_kvCR-UFGQccxmsruPH9RZeHV6M_beaiN7dC5R0qk_JFqaCsUZaroR3OnB/s320/HalloweenStuff1.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>On Halloween, adults are allowed to be children again, or something even scarier.</strong></em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ycOOhdXiNljDzmOJ2w5pFywWdw5vquI973xYvKIaVJmMw2YABL7r3GNIdOEJ_qP_7uBheodmure2-zAxCf0oRlu47072cP96ugB9FCnbgEszfPPOytNmnjBmb7NJVH5p4wtMuK22jZbR/s1600/LB&MdeS.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ycOOhdXiNljDzmOJ2w5pFywWdw5vquI973xYvKIaVJmMw2YABL7r3GNIdOEJ_qP_7uBheodmure2-zAxCf0oRlu47072cP96ugB9FCnbgEszfPPOytNmnjBmb7NJVH5p4wtMuK22jZbR/s320/LB&MdeS.bmp" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Here I am as <strong>Lucrezia Borgia</strong>, you can't see it in this photo of a photo but I had a lovely little cut crystal ampoule in my hand with a mysterious white powder. (Alright, alright, it was baby powder).<br />
I made the dress from a tablecloth. <br />
My "date" was the illustrious <strong>Marquis de Sade</strong>. <br />
We were returning from the dead, hence the zombie-esque makeup. <strong>ScaryMatchdotcom</strong>. <br />
<em>Actually, we ended up getting married. On Halloween. The bride wore black.</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
Initially this post was simply an ode to Halloween. It didn't really fit the <em>Inspiration Theme</em>. <br />
But then I realized something. <br />
The dressing up and pretending to be scary/scared is all about the fun of being someone else for a night. Writing gives me that same thrill. <br />
<em><strong>I explore different worlds, live different lives, and at the end come home, safe and sound. </strong></em><br />
<em><strong>This is what drives, or inspires, me to write.</strong></em><br />
Whew, that worked out quite well after all.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>What inspires you to write?</strong></em><br />
<br />
<em>This week I started off the <strong>Halloween Inspiration Relay</strong>-</em><br />
<em>I am passing the torch (or Jack O'Lantern) to the lovely <a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/"><strong>Kristina Perez</strong></a> and she will blog about Halloween next week. There are plenty of pumpkins to go around, so feel free to stick with the Halloween Inspiration theme if you want-but if Halloween isn't your thing, that's okay too.</em><br />
<br />
And because Halloween provides a good enough excuse for a gratuitous cute doggie pic...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIb8AwuJAS049XIzNz5TO4qnPci3VxPGbOWd1U9gbtIGZ3ehxghrxAnzye1yeJ0kuky2O443MHACRveDdCc6IavKkTEtP6OWYH0zVoI7SF6twn3G4PiL-5s1swQiArBT-Cz9SOjXXKzfp/s1600/DaisyMulan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIb8AwuJAS049XIzNz5TO4qnPci3VxPGbOWd1U9gbtIGZ3ehxghrxAnzye1yeJ0kuky2O443MHACRveDdCc6IavKkTEtP6OWYH0zVoI7SF6twn3G4PiL-5s1swQiArBT-Cz9SOjXXKzfp/s320/DaisyMulan.png" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy-Mulan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think she's managed to look fairly dignified. Or maybe she's plotting revenge. Can't be sure.<br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=166994" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-27788581701944763732012-10-03T16:54:00.001-07:002012-10-03T16:54:30.889-07:00Thursday's Children 10/4/12 Haunted by HousesLast week I blogged about how knowing where a character lives can help both reader and writer gain understanding of that character's psyche. Or how outer world can reflect or influence inner world. In most of my stories I have the character in mind BEFORE I figure out where they reside.<br />
<br />
But sometimes it's the house itself that sets off the spark. At this time of year I am especially susceptible to dwellings with a certain...<em>vibe</em> (read that word as Vincent Price might, if he wasn't dead, or maybe as if he was dead, but had decided to <em>visit</em>). <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Here are some of those places. They haunt my imagination, begging for their own story.</em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The home below belongs to one of my best friends from college. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's a fascinating house with an interesting history and even its own name...<br />
Rhododendron Hall.<br />
Has a nice Gothic ring to it, don't you think?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know it's really hard to see the actual house in this atmospheric photo, but it's very cool, trust me.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv1XqUeVS5AiLIO8Y0_MThEvmRwzxhV_HV29BD1JbXybo-679HgUe4PPXNVy15Vp9163KuHrppOrP6H5QaclA8Rm5PBMfHOtZ7zVnRpR6YW4hJxdawVa5yMA8lqZ6377C7CGv_DwI9wKE/s1600/RhododendronHall.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv1XqUeVS5AiLIO8Y0_MThEvmRwzxhV_HV29BD1JbXybo-679HgUe4PPXNVy15Vp9163KuHrppOrP6H5QaclA8Rm5PBMfHOtZ7zVnRpR6YW4hJxdawVa5yMA8lqZ6377C7CGv_DwI9wKE/s320/RhododendronHall.bmp" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Craig Comeau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
You might live right in the middle of a swarming hive of stories without even realizing it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Are there any haunted houses in your town? </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Or houses with intriguing backstories? </em></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This ode to weathered shingles is in my town. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It actually got resided this summer and looks hideously new and raw, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but the salt air will fix that quickly enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rumor has it that this house appeared in the opening of the "Dark Shadows" tv show,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
recently reinvented by two of my creative heroes, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Clinging to the granite cliffs the way it does, I would imagine that on stormy nights the crashing waves must make the whole place tremble. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4liHA4JIkMVUp3iHg7L-ODP7g0TQ0ENH4_0yPIttauC_uQz1LRGU8VVL7hBbwZBnyJCX1nzqapTHCjkctPMJQzUFHxyAkplxEPV5u9tenrq9uJ7poiTIZikW5KxOEma73sLQaLPiIlxCh/s1600/drkshadows.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4liHA4JIkMVUp3iHg7L-ODP7g0TQ0ENH4_0yPIttauC_uQz1LRGU8VVL7hBbwZBnyJCX1nzqapTHCjkctPMJQzUFHxyAkplxEPV5u9tenrq9uJ7poiTIZikW5KxOEma73sLQaLPiIlxCh/s320/drkshadows.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Below is the Captain Nathaniel Lord Mansion built in 1812, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from money made in his ship-building business. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He died before he ever got to live here. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord family lived here until 1927. It is now an inn. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Somewhere in the middle it was also an old ladies' retirement home. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is also in my town and apparently a ghost is a permanent resident. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She wears a nightgown and is sometimes seen in The Lincoln Bedroom. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was known as The Wisteria Room </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
until someone pointed out that wisteria means "remembrance of the dead". </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She's also been known to climb the stairs to the eight-sided cupola. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some think she is Mrs. Captain Lord. Apparently she gave a honeymooning couple quite a fright. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>I could write a story about them. Or about her.</em></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcWHhgS3GXQww-D3hcnccqhNQ3ljuoZZwIKqSAMK_c5ILXJGLyvCKjp10DzoIRShjZew_mbonZMuXAWjl049CSAu2pX3Oyw86zMiL_IwET208dDJkVGEPQ_5T9iWQIah7sde8H1xJxaoR/s1600/captlord.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcWHhgS3GXQww-D3hcnccqhNQ3ljuoZZwIKqSAMK_c5ILXJGLyvCKjp10DzoIRShjZew_mbonZMuXAWjl049CSAu2pX3Oyw86zMiL_IwET208dDJkVGEPQ_5T9iWQIah7sde8H1xJxaoR/s320/captlord.bmp" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Lord Mansion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then there are dwellings that suggest inhabitants who might, or might not, be fully human. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They might be squatty, hairy, and not very nice. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Especially if the sun went down while you lost your way in the corn maze nearby. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgZaXWrqmUTBQLWRKFp68ZxIgart_JWbTprKKZuZvVPkOlUGyLhbfS7Gkzs1PrURsBTEWmhUd3N726cigk7R7w7BMOAIVjifwXDVPg0yLq0CTJrWEu_04QLnWvRYoIE8VpVM8wYmlOzMR/s1600/HuskWigwam.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgZaXWrqmUTBQLWRKFp68ZxIgart_JWbTprKKZuZvVPkOlUGyLhbfS7Gkzs1PrURsBTEWmhUd3N726cigk7R7w7BMOAIVjifwXDVPg0yLq0CTJrWEu_04QLnWvRYoIE8VpVM8wYmlOzMR/s320/HuskWigwam.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husk Wigwam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Though it is teepee shaped it's covered in cornhusks. I took this photo at a PYO apple orchard. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>This week I hope you'll join our Thursday's Children bloghop. </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Here is our Beautiful Badge (well done Kristina!) Just grab the jpeg and apply to your own post. Or if you want the html code, see the post just before this one.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/archives/category/thursdays-children" title="Thursday's Children"><img alt="Thursday's Children" src="http://www.kristinaperez.com/media/2012/10/thursdayschildren-badge.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<strong>Here is the Linky List...</strong><br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=165902" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-84325077327707411212012-10-03T04:48:00.000-07:002012-10-03T04:48:45.981-07:00Thursday's Children Badge!And now without further ado...<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/archives/category/thursdays-children" title="Thursday's Children"><img alt="Thursday's Children" src="http://www.kristinaperez.com/media/2012/10/thursdayschildren-badge.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Isn't it lovely? Kristina Perez did a wonderful job.</div>
<div align="center">
And here is the code if you'd like to add the button to your blog.</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<span class="yiv864444596Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983742" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983738" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="yiv864444596Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983742" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983738">
<span class="yiv864444596Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983742" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983738">
<span class="yiv864444596Apple-style-span" id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983742" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><div align="center"><a href="<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/archives/category/thursdays-children" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1349260693_0">http://www.kristinaperez.com/archives/category/thursdays-children</span></a>" title="Thursday's Children"><img src="<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/media/2012/10/thursdayschildren-badge.jpg" id="yui_3_2_0_1_13492606927983741" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1349260693_1">http://www.kristinaperez.com/media/2012/10/thursdayschildren-badge.jpg</span></a>" alt="Thursday's Children" style="border:none;" /></a></div></span></div>
</span></span></div>
</span></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-19582806939522897612012-09-26T17:58:00.000-07:002012-09-27T07:55:34.504-07:00Thursday's Children 9/27/12 Part I Where Do Your Characters Dwell?<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>"We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us</em>."</span><br />
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">WINSTON CHURCHILL,<i> Sir Winston Churchill: A Self-Portrait</i></span></div>
<br />
How much thought do you give to the places your characters live? <br />
By that I don't mean geographic location (that'll be another blog post), but the actual house itself. <br />
<br />
<strong>Home</strong>. There's a loaded word if ever there was one. It might summon feelings of comfort, embarrassment, even terror. A house invariably affects the lives of its inhabitants. How a home looks, sounds, and even smells, all help to convey its signficance within a story.<br />
<br />
A house can be as much a character in the story as any of the human ones. <br />
Houses have personalities. <br />
And sometimes secrets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>The George Jacobs Senior House (see below) was an inspiration for my book </em><br />
<em>UNQUIET SOULS</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Do you think a home can absorb the essence of those who have lived there?</em><br />
<em>Can walls, ceilings, and floors retain memories of their own? </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>If so, could a psychically sensitive person experience past events or personalities if she were to touch one of the structural beams that had once belonged to it? </em><br />
<em>I used this idea as an inciting event.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Jacobs house collapsed during the 1930s.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I8tmesWfPXi9cLcZXU8ZOy6j4PCkfo9sN-audx1MlSMcxrZ94h5T6_aige3s3XwcB15uWamjxjuMAXAFOQNCCPqtac5aDiSF8IPuP53587gut4P8I-5zkIilZAmYX7dUMqv4omL79WUr/s1600/Jacobshouse.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I8tmesWfPXi9cLcZXU8ZOy6j4PCkfo9sN-audx1MlSMcxrZ94h5T6_aige3s3XwcB15uWamjxjuMAXAFOQNCCPqtac5aDiSF8IPuP53587gut4P8I-5zkIilZAmYX7dUMqv4omL79WUr/s320/Jacobshouse.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geo. Jacobs Senior's House c. 1891</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>This farmhouse helped me flesh out a minor but still important character. </em><br />
<em>Ezekiel Hovey,local historian and elderly bachelor, who lives with his white cat Mary.</em><br />
<em> </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Don't you think this house might smell like boiled cabbage and litter box?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfhkWECnOxuWqBpbHgnuySB9r4mYhtqocC9eZnkOF5_-uOdgWNF7nFuGYpFAs0gk1IxdPE3Y6Wymr4AigV9VhiIx9enftNTRYGxT7KqG132Mb0HrZ4CxWpRBJMSY2vn-2iXUrrkC7Av7p/s1600/farmhouse.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfhkWECnOxuWqBpbHgnuySB9r4mYhtqocC9eZnkOF5_-uOdgWNF7nFuGYpFAs0gk1IxdPE3Y6Wymr4AigV9VhiIx9enftNTRYGxT7KqG132Mb0HrZ4CxWpRBJMSY2vn-2iXUrrkC7Av7p/s320/farmhouse.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7i32Yt3AKFGhhmjRB_w3kOx6HZ9nNrCB0yOmMEthYqZ0Kkccc3VBKWA6JQjjWbl5r8zvXdCSyo0cl2PITbQA1_-JOU_8e2YzMn0r5u4E7i2nqfG1nvuGTJ2foCTcQ2VTQuONJ5dnyUie/s1600/mobhome2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7i32Yt3AKFGhhmjRB_w3kOx6HZ9nNrCB0yOmMEthYqZ0Kkccc3VBKWA6JQjjWbl5r8zvXdCSyo0cl2PITbQA1_-JOU_8e2YzMn0r5u4E7i2nqfG1nvuGTJ2foCTcQ2VTQuONJ5dnyUie/s320/mobhome2.bmp" width="320" /></a><em>In my YA Contemporary FOOLISH, Sparrow (the MC) lives in a mobile home adorned with hippy graffiti and crammed to the ceiling with her mother's unfinished art projects - it's only a few crocheted afghans shy of being featured on "Hoarders". </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
But notice the flowers. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMzTfzpgnyOEE0vOTm94yLPRBX_v-BBsC7CTLJetG81lhSxyA3qYVqlYBO39m-Au9QvSQFMsEMW7U1L2ErU9UNeuvEOljNTZV9m_FIJSrN2YWRKr5e1ucX_AqPPTpWkLieoCgxqmIsFdC/s1600/hippymobile.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMzTfzpgnyOEE0vOTm94yLPRBX_v-BBsC7CTLJetG81lhSxyA3qYVqlYBO39m-Au9QvSQFMsEMW7U1L2ErU9UNeuvEOljNTZV9m_FIJSrN2YWRKr5e1ucX_AqPPTpWkLieoCgxqmIsFdC/s200/hippymobile.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>So picture this van, as a mobile home, but only half-painted (because her mother never completes anything she starts). </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>Of course it's on the wrong side of town, underscoring Sparrow's "have-not" status. </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>No wonder she can't wait to get the hell out of there.</em> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But in her next residence she plants a garden, to make her new house feel like home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Many of us have ambivalence about the places we've called home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Here's where I envisioned Opal MacBride, (the MC in my book TENDRIL) living with her grandmother, Pearl. </em><br />
<em>A cottage tucked into a cleft between forested hills, by a quiet lake in New Hampshire where trees and steeples frame the sky. </em><br />
<em>The walls inside are painted marigold yellow, delphinium blue, and geranium red.</em><br />
<br />
A very "female" sort of place if you like symbolism, which I do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QxZ2bYQSTF124uVih5iSmuPiSGQZSAe5zC97YB5eJ-jbXPOuBknR6rgIGBkZiN76Z3XKZhFq-zorDru7IAznxt5YaAuVU7yE4NjhF_fjPoW44nJTJ5LmsEaeT2cOZtyv0ieNoljFHi8q/s1600/hiddenidyll.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QxZ2bYQSTF124uVih5iSmuPiSGQZSAe5zC97YB5eJ-jbXPOuBknR6rgIGBkZiN76Z3XKZhFq-zorDru7IAznxt5YaAuVU7yE4NjhF_fjPoW44nJTJ5LmsEaeT2cOZtyv0ieNoljFHi8q/s320/hiddenidyll.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<em>But after Pearl dies, Opal must live with her Uncle Ned, a lighthouse keeper. </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>The perpetual fog smells like ocean creatures. When the swells are big Opal hears the hiss and roar of a sea monster, but when the waves are calm Opal imagines she hears mermaids whispering. The walls, floors, and furniture are white, like Opal (who has albinism). </em><br />
<em>Her uncle has an unhealthy obsession with her.</em></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Constant movement, craggy cliffs, and of course, the lighthouse itself, you can't get much more "masculine" than that. It is here that Opal must reclaim her sexuality.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTj_u3rJKUrBhVRydJWTWaYzbC55KNzv5LVBOqYgL7Z7kWed_Hh7HybpLU1ToV628IN1wKS_td4KhjgOVP_uYulkfmkMOqsdKox65BEFYow3dirjqMdXfr_0fOBe_T3DqW1OLRyyAIlWn/s1600/Nubble.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTj_u3rJKUrBhVRydJWTWaYzbC55KNzv5LVBOqYgL7Z7kWed_Hh7HybpLU1ToV628IN1wKS_td4KhjgOVP_uYulkfmkMOqsdKox65BEFYow3dirjqMdXfr_0fOBe_T3DqW1OLRyyAIlWn/s320/Nubble.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Kari Jo Spear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong>Where do your characters dwell, and what does that say about them? </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Does knowing what a character's house looks like, smells like, sounds like help your reader understand him or her? </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Does knowing where your characters live help <em>you</em> understand them better?</strong><br />
<br />
For Thursday's Children this week <a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/"><strong>Kristina Perez</strong></a> blogged about <strong><em>Falling With Grace</em></strong>, and as a former competitive figure skater I bet she knows a thing or two about that. Her post goes up on Thursday.<br />
<br />
Here's the Linky List so anybody else who wants to share their Thursday inspirations can be part of an ongoing Bloghop.<br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=164719" type="text/javascript" ></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-16648518255502378872012-09-21T17:36:00.000-07:002012-09-23T08:44:30.696-07:00The Follow-Swap Blog HopI'm going to quote my friend Katherine here because I couldn't say it better myself...<br />
<br />
<em>"What we need to ensure is that no one lands on our blogs without being entertained – informed – mystified – whatever, about our content. And in light of that, I’ve got an idea."</em><br />
<br />
Her <strong>Blog Hop and Linky List</strong> will allow us to gain new followers and KEEP them interested by showing them the best our blogs have to offer. Go read more about it at the link below! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://beyondthehourglassbridge.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/penguins-and-blog-followers-study.html"><strong>The Hourglass Bridge</strong></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the Widget. Grab the Code at the link above. Do it. Do it now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmEdVRGVtB45Yb0DKfih5RBMKWKW_1zllIBsKdIaWGzKA3JIQgWEyeCE4ot_rb2P7fOw2T7XperTcU6aH8RKkqm6gr4mL4qGqyO8A_V1iBFJLCJkDP54nrxwHfSsOhoEI8WGPHbtMAUjO/s1600/KAsBlogHop.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmEdVRGVtB45Yb0DKfih5RBMKWKW_1zllIBsKdIaWGzKA3JIQgWEyeCE4ot_rb2P7fOw2T7XperTcU6aH8RKkqm6gr4mL4qGqyO8A_V1iBFJLCJkDP54nrxwHfSsOhoEI8WGPHbtMAUjO/s1600/KAsBlogHop.bmp" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Here's the Linky List </div>
<br />
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=164095" type="text/javascript" ></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-32243415806855278832012-09-20T12:11:00.004-07:002012-09-21T07:58:54.142-07:00Thursday's Children 9/20/12 - Cornstalks & Coptic Bombshells<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Welcome to our weekly inspiration-sharing post</em> <strong>Thursday's Children</strong>. </div>
<br />
Writing, being published, it's all part of the journey, and most of us have far to go. Hopefully keeping each other company and sharing our inspirations will make the trip more fun, if not any shorter. <br />
<br />
We hope next week you'll join <strong>Thursday's Children</strong> with your own inspirational post.<br />
<br />
<em>Generally I have to chain my muse to something - an image, an idea, a song - before she'll start actually working on my behalf.</em></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em><br /></em></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>My muse doesn't know quite what to make of this week's "somethings". Can't say I really blame her...</em></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em><br /></em></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrLdmqBFQK9wgybo0XolyHUP1BAui9Q4oFOyanjC42Kst12BSJp7w8j6lPQZBqCdTlhx6TAP4IM-Fe_yAlv1rQPm7GjqBHhqVtu1jvZNLJIBGukc9itqb_GE0Vx-OQokRHwZS1JXBhvxn/s1600/CornstalkCloseup.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrLdmqBFQK9wgybo0XolyHUP1BAui9Q4oFOyanjC42Kst12BSJp7w8j6lPQZBqCdTlhx6TAP4IM-Fe_yAlv1rQPm7GjqBHhqVtu1jvZNLJIBGukc9itqb_GE0Vx-OQokRHwZS1JXBhvxn/s320/CornstalkCloseup.bmp" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornstalks - Up Close and Personal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
What's with the cornstalks? Well, cornstalk mazes are creepy - I've already written one into my book UNQUIET SOULS. <br />
And I'm not the only one inspired by corn - there's that other "Maine-ah" (that would be "Mainer" for those of you who don't live here) Stephen King. He knows a few things about cornfields too.</div>
<br />
<br />
I took these photos while we were at an orchard picking apples. The one on the left inspires me to paint (but I have no time for that). The one below inspires me to write a story about cornstalks that come to life after dark. I can tell you right now they'll be up to no good.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmvJ9U6sW6RxoySctnarJ2JfOBugs5catCCn2DkRAF4O1FcN1YzTg2mt6vtCWEY6HnzbXoD16UZkuGEWClcd4r0IxQVdHVWbQ0vLXNfXQOdPv6vJ0dCorBn53kvZQvR-qE_6QwdLTIdrn/s1600/Cornstalks.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<img border="0" hea="true" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmvJ9U6sW6RxoySctnarJ2JfOBugs5catCCn2DkRAF4O1FcN1YzTg2mt6vtCWEY6HnzbXoD16UZkuGEWClcd4r0IxQVdHVWbQ0vLXNfXQOdPv6vJ0dCorBn53kvZQvR-qE_6QwdLTIdrn/s320/Cornstalks.bmp" width="320" /></div>
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>Qoute of the Week -</strong><em> "The world is not really crawling with crooked papyrologists" </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>- Roger Bagnall, regarding the possibility of a Mrs. Jesus Christ.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><br /> </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
A business card-sized bit of papyrus from the second century might </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
turn Christianity on its ear. </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've used an heirloom diary in one of my books, but now I'm thinking </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
smaller, older, secret code or defunt language...</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Somebody will definitely be writing a book about the scrap below, just not me - <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kristina, how about you?</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc11iha3f8WCebqQEoU1Lv4pTWSiKybqT-RsYcHkRSLbNM-ZaEVN5XUx488qG4YqBC-Ftx_281hvUO1t1-1i1dpirpxMuostgK6lkFDU_R7aIFaPYMtT4gcWGtAcOcVAoeqz2Hzfnox8U/s1600/Scrap.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc11iha3f8WCebqQEoU1Lv4pTWSiKybqT-RsYcHkRSLbNM-ZaEVN5XUx488qG4YqBC-Ftx_281hvUO1t1-1i1dpirpxMuostgK6lkFDU_R7aIFaPYMtT4gcWGtAcOcVAoeqz2Hzfnox8U/s320/Scrap.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And speaking of my partner in crime, here's a link to her blog. <br />
This week's post is titled <em>Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kristinaperez.com/">Kristina Perez</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-76988461545181812772012-09-19T09:31:00.001-07:002012-09-19T09:31:12.246-07:00Who's In?<div style="text-align: center;">
My friend, brilliant writer and Crit Partner Extraordinaire Kristina Perez has come up with the awesome idea of <strong>Inspirational Thursday Bloghops</strong>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We'll each come up with our own posts, then travel around to admire everyone else's :-)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sorry for the short notice - if you can't make it this week, we hope you'll join us next week!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>As you can see my dogs can hardly wait to see what inspires your writing...</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1S48BldnjH53fIALydUj_ZQ-uBQI77xEmQmBuWyGr-sDlaHBAq9zl95M-xK-quzMLQJ4WadMxl3ChVLSBNMy_o3mWytuCiXaATtb2PsyzsQ3wCLx5WGGAGn2dRudZAMnD8e624zv3Bj2/s1600/Dogs.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1S48BldnjH53fIALydUj_ZQ-uBQI77xEmQmBuWyGr-sDlaHBAq9zl95M-xK-quzMLQJ4WadMxl3ChVLSBNMy_o3mWytuCiXaATtb2PsyzsQ3wCLx5WGGAGn2dRudZAMnD8e624zv3Bj2/s320/Dogs.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861506583008394005.post-60465957551745067462012-09-18T18:03:00.000-07:002012-09-18T18:03:27.424-07:00Distractions<em>Feeling fidgety and unproductive? Please say yes, so I don't have to add "guilty" to my list. </em><br />
<br />
I saw this link on the Writer Unboxed Facebook Group and couldn't resist the temptation. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://iwl.me/">I Write Like</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For TENDRIL the result was James Joyce</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For UNQUIET SOULS the result was J. K. Rowling</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For FOOLISH (my YA Contemporary Romance) the result was Cory Doctorow</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>If only!</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Paste a few paragraphs of your novel, blog, or other writing into The Analyzer and share your results in Comments.</strong></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128802549435853330noreply@blogger.com4