WEP April Challenge - Freedom Morning

 

It's time for Write... Edit... Publish's (WEP) April challenge! WEP is an incredible writing community that supports and encourages writers. Every other month, they do a bloghop writing challenge. For April, the prompt is Freedom Morning by Claude Clark, and the prize will be a 10,000 word critique from me.

If you'd like to participate in the challenge, CLICK HERE and signup. Let the image and topic inspire you and post the piece on your blog/site. All genres are welcome, and please be sure your entry is no longer than one thousand words. Also read the other entries and comment.

I can't wait to read what you all come up with this month!

Good luck to everyone.

How To Date a Nerd Blog Hop

How could I resist this blog hop?
I think the bigger question would be how can I pick only one thing when everything about me is nerdy?!

The amazing Cassie Mae is hosting this blog hop celebrating the release of her newest contemporary romance, HOW TO DATE A NERD. Click HERE to add the book to Goodreads.

The rules are simple.
You must answer the question: what is the nerdiest thing about you?

Some lucky nerd will win a prize too!
Cassie is giving away a nerd swag bag!
SQUEEEEE!

Okay, okay, Hmmmm.... the nerdiest thing about me.
My closet full of geeky t-shirts? Nah, that's cool.
The comic books under my bed, in my dresser, and in several of my closets? Nope, it's quality reading material.
My love of cheesy Syfy Channel movies? That's just goofy.

Ah ha! Here we go.
My closet full of boardgames is organized by size and genre, and they are the items I dust most often in the house even though they are stored in a closet.

Please visit the other participants in this nerdtastic blog hop and find out their nerdy secrets!

The Big Reveal Bloghop

A big thank you to the wonderful hosts of The Big Reveal Bloghop, Mina Lobo and David Macaulay. What a great opportunity to reveal my theme for the 2013 A to Z Challenge. I also love to peek at other bloggers' themes and see what's coming for next month. This is a bloghop, so please visit the other participants.

Last year's challenge was a fantastic one. I received such a huge response about my story, I self-published it under the title FEARLESS. It's free to download if you haven't read it yet.

I've also gotten a lot of requests to do a sequel. As much fun as it was to write about Abby, Demetrius, and Tawa, I will not be writing any more stories about them at this time.

BUT the world of the Fearless (warriors who battle monsters spawned by children's imaginations) is awesome. There are many Fearless in the world who have their own stories.

This year for the challenge, I will be writing about another warrior. Her name is Danielle, and she's a little wilder than sweet Abby. Her guide Fenn is a straight laced fellow who doesn't tolerate any funny business. Except, being an inanimate object, he can't stop Danielle from doing what she wants. There are children that need to be saved, monsters galore, and a gorgeous single dad.

Last year, I posted the entire story. While readers loved it, I had one complaint: the posts were too long. One thing I greatly appreciated about some of the posts I read last year was that they were short. I could get through several blogs when the posts were 200 words or less. There were blogs that had longer posts that I thoroughly enjoyed, but there were also several clever and entertaining short posts.

I started writing Danielle's story. I meant for it to be shorter than FEARLESS, but it's not going to be. So I had to sit back and make a decision. Do I post the entire story and have posts near 1000 words long, or should I try something different with it?

I'm going to take a chance and go for shorter posts. I'll be posting snippets of 200 to 300 words from the story. I'll be giving you the tale from beginning to end, but just bits. I'm nervous about this decision. I don't want to let anyone down after last year's challenge, but I hope everyone will still love to read it. It will be a challenge in itself to pick out the right snippets to keep readers interested and give the full feeling of the story.

Good luck to everyone participating in this year's A to Z Challenge. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

You have less than one day left to enter The Harbinger blog tour giveaway for your chance to win the first four ebooks of the 13th Floor series!

The Oracle & The Vampire cover reveal, W4WS, and Top Ten Movie Blogfest

Title: 1305 & 1306 - The Oracle and The Vampire

(The 13th Floor series, #5)

Genre: paranormal romance

Release date: May 13th, 2013

Blurb:

Having fallen for her gorgeous neighbor might not be so bad if Harriet McKay wasn't in her hideous banshee form every time Kiral saw her. Such is her curse. True, he's a vampire struggling with a drug addiction, but he's a good soul. Yet no one could love a cursed witch, especially one not even her cats respect.

After having a vision of Kiral's death, Harriet makes it her mission to save him. Never before has she attempted to change fate, but so strong is her love.

How can Harriet convince Kiral to see past her vile appearance and return her love? If only she can force him to listen to reason coming from a raving crone, perhaps she can save him from the demons hunting him and from himself.

I hear you shouting. Don't worry. Yes, two tenants in this book. But aren't there only six apartments on the 13th floor? There are. BUT there's a mysterious seventh tenant! You may have noticed her around in the other books. She'll be revealed with her cover on May 18th.

Don't forget to enter the HUGE giveaway for The Harbinger blog tour. You could win the first four ebooks in the 13th Floor series!

Welcome to the March 2013 W4WS event! I'm honored to co-host this event with three talented writers, Mary Pax, C.M. Brown, and Stephen Tremp.  The mission of this group is simple: we have a spotlighted author(s) that we strive to help bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people, increase the sales of their book(s), drive new traffic to their blogs and increase followers, and create verbal and viral buzz.

We've made this simple and fast. It's as easy as a tweet or a RT, and sharing a status on Facebook. Go to the writer's blog and copy a tweet or RT from the posts with the tag #W4WS. The W4WS Facebook page will have all the updates and links for you.

To join the W4WS event, click here for the linky list. It will only take a minute of your time, and you'll have talented writers take a step closer to their dreams. 

This month, we're spotlighting two amazing writers. 

Kyra Lennon at Write Here, Write Now writes incredible romance stories with captivating characters. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Angela Brown writes everything from steampunk to fantasy to contemporary. Her novel Neverlove takes the reader on a dark and twisted journey. You can find her on Twitter, and she's a fellow member of Untethered Realms.

Alex J. Cavanaugh has brought us another fun and simple blogfest. Just list your top ten favorite movies. Woot! This is a blogfest, so please visit the other participants and see what's on their lists.

It's so difficult to name just ten movies. I love different movies at different times for different reasons. Hmm, I'm going to narrow it down for myself. I'm going to name my top ten science-fiction movies. It's a countdown, so we'll start with number ten.

10) Galaxy Quest.
9) The Terminator and The Running Man. Heck, I'm adding Predator too.
8) Blade Runner.
7) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe.
6) Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan.
5) The original Star Wars trilogy.
4) Starship Troopers.
3) Serenity.
2) The Fifth Element.

AND

1) Alien.  

Imaginary Friend Bloghop

Annalisa Crawford is celebrating her one year anniversary of Cat and The Dreamer with the Imaginary Friend Bloghop. Acting as her co-host is Kyra Lennon. Such a clever and fun bloghop! If you've read Cat and The Dreamer you'll know that Julia, the main character, has a big imagination, and she has an imaginary enemy.

Annalisa and Kyra want to know about your imaginary friend. What were they called? How old were you? Were they naughty or nice? If you didn't have one, were there ever times when you could really have used one? Did you ever set fire to your mum's favourite rug and have to take the blame yourself? Annalisa is generously offering a £10/$10 Amazon gift voucher for my favourite post, and Kyra is offering a three chapter critique for hers. Awesome!

Unfortunately, I never had an imaginary friend growing up. I really wanted one. I still would like one! Have you ever seen the movie Drop Dead Fred? I loved that movie. Not that I wanted an imaginary friend to do bad stuff and get me in trouble, but to have someone to have adventures with and do silly things together. Someone to comfort me in the bad times, tell my secrets to, and help me not feel so lonely. Even though I had a brother and there were lots of children in the neighborhood I played with, I still felt lonely as a child. I was just too logical even as a kid. I could pretend to have an invisible friend, but I never really believed I did.

I do wonder if my son will have an imaginary friend. He's an only child and there are no children for him to play with in the neighborhood. We can't afford to get a dog right now, but I'd like to get him a pet some day. He loves school and playing with other kids, and sometimes I wonder if he's lonely. If he does have an imaginary friend, I wish them a lot of fun and adventures, but my darling boy, don't think I'll believe you when you say it was your imaginary friend that threw the ball through the window or made mud pies in the living room!

Blindsided Christmas Photo Bloghop

Kyra Lennon wants to see our Christmas photos. All dressed-up or acting silly. It must be a new photo or taken over the last few years. No childhood pictures. Just post your picture between November 26th and December 7th. There's prizes! Click on the badge for details and the linky list to visit other participants. It's going to be so much fun!

Okay, you're not going to see me in these pictures. I don't remember the last time I wore anything festive. Sorry. My son is much, much more photogenic anyway!

Christmas 2010 in Santa pajamas

  Christmas 2011 in a Christmas sweater

and sharing a treat with a friend 

 December 2011 wearing jingle bells

I'm Thankful For My Readers Bloghop

This fantastic bloghop is hosted by two lovely ladies, Vikki and Tara Tyler. This is a thank you to your readers. Readers can be critique partners, beta readers, blog readers, etc. We can never thank our readers enough.

Here’s the rules:

1. Sign up on the Linky List on the hosts' sites.
2. Post thanks to your readers on your blog between Monday, November 5 and Wednesday, November 7 by 1700 UK/1200 noon EST US time.
3. And if you don’t have a CP and you would like to find one, go ahead and post a ‘personals’ ad. 
4. Be CREATIVE. Write a letter, a piece of flash fiction, a haiku, a poem, or a vlog. It can take whatever form you like. We’d like it if you kept it under 300 words but won’t be counting. 
5. Naming your reader(s) is up to you and feel free to link to them. 
6. Hop around and comment on other people’s!

Vikki and Tara will each pick a winner, and jointly choose another overall winner, to be announced on Thursday November 8 on our blogs. They win:

• Vikki’s Winner: A Reader’s Report style full MS Critique, chosen for Most Heartfelt Post
• Tara’s Winner: A Banner for their blog (or other graphic), chosen for Most Creative Post
• Overall Winner: Both of the above prizes, for Best Overall Post!

Lastly - for anyone on twitter, Vikki thought it would be fun if during the same period we tweeted thanks using the hashtag #thankstomyreaders for additional fun. She is vixatthemovies there.

I am thankful for so many wonderful and supportive people. I never feel like I can properly express my gratitude. I can say thank you a thousand times, and it never seems like enough for what all of you have done for me. You've cheered me up when I was down and encouraged me to get past the rough spots. You've danced with me when I was happy and stood with me when I attempted to be strong. I am humbled by your generosity and compassion.

I don't think I can be as eloquent as other people. So I offer up some quotes that have touched me, and I hope you feel the warmth of the message that I pass on too.

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." ~ G.K. Chesterton

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." ~ Oscar Wilde

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy 

“No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” ~ Author Unknown 

"Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart."  ~ Henry Clay 

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie 

Thank you so very much.

If I Let You Go "Letting Go" Bloghop

Today Kyra Lennon's newest contemporary romance novella, If I Let You Go is now available! Woo-hoo! Congratulations, Kyra! I've already had a chance to read it and it's fantastic. You can read my review here.

In celebration of her release, Kyra is hosting a "Letting Go" bloghop. Everyone must share a story about a time they had to let go of someone or something. It can be something that you experienced, or if you don't wish to share something so personal, you can write a piece of flash fiction with "letting go" as the theme. Please no more than 500 words. Kyra and an independent judge - her mum! - will read all the entries. The winner will get a $10 Amazon gift card.

I've had to let go a lot in my life. I've lost my father and Granddad. I've had two broken engagements. But I'm going to write about something different.

Never in my life did I expect to fall in love with an American. I was born and raised in Canada, and I love my country. I wanted to travel the world, but I always thought I'd live my life in Canada. I've been lucky enough to travel coast to coast and see almost all the provinces. Beautiful.

When my husband and I decided the best course of action (due to several factors) was for me to move down to Indiana, I was excited to start a new life with my man and see new places. Yet the moment we crossed over the border with my meager belongings, it hit. And hard.

I was leaving Canada. I was going to have to give up my citizenship. The country I was in love with would be mine no longer. I was use to being away from family and friends, but not my country. I thought it such a silly thing to get upset about, but it ripped out my heart. I didn't want to let go.

The ache diminished over the years, because I'm the happiest I've ever been living with my husband. We bought a cozy little house and had a gorgeous child. It doesn't matter where we live as long as we're together. I still miss Canada. We don't get enough chances to visit as often as I'd like. I don't think I'll ever let go completely. I still harbor the dream that one day, my husband and I will retire to Canada.

One wonderful thing that helped me was a new law was passed about citizenship. I no longer how to give up my Canadian citizenship to become an American. You can bet I'm tickled pink about this! My son is already a dual citizen. I made sure to do it when he was born. So much easier that way. Now I can be one too.

In FEARLESS news, today is the first day of my new blog tour. Please click on over to The Ebook Reviewersand say hi!

Dust It Off Bloghop - Day 3

Welcome to the third day of the Dust It Off Bloghop hosted by two talented women, Cortney Pearson and Theresa Paolo. This bloghop encourages you to take a shelved manuscript, dust it off, and rediscover some of the treasures forgotten inside. Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?



There are three parts to this bloghop:
Day 1 (May 3rd) - Post a 1-2 sentence pitch.
Day 2 (May 5th) - Post a 300-350 word excerpt.
Day 3 (today) - Post what you learned from this manuscript.


I picked my sci-fi dystopian romance called Toe-suckers. The title is horrible, but it's not what you--  Okay. It's totally what you think. The aliens have reproductive organs that resemble human toes and feet. "Toe-sucker" is a great insult when used by people who hate the aliens.

What I learned from this manuscript:
1) I learned I liked to write science-fiction. It was my first novel with aliens, and though the aliens aren't the primary characters, it was a lot of fun to create a race of beings.
2) I used adverbs too much. I know what a mistake that is now, but I was too in love with using the "-ly" words.
3) I slipped out of my protagonist's POV too often. It made for some confusing parts. I was also writing from Zegg's POV, and I rarely write novels from the male POV. Zegg was a gutter rat and a thief. He wasn't an alpha male. I think I did an okay job with him, but I learned I best stick with a female protagonist.
4) I wrote too many long paragraphs of description. I use to write thick descriptions like you'd see in big fantasy books. The scenes that worked best in Toe-suckers were the faster paced ones, the ones with less description. I've really cut down on my descriptions over the years. I know better how to show rather than tell. I also have more faith in the intelligence and imagination of my readers. They don't need every little thing described.
5) This manuscript taught me how much I love being a pantser. I have no idea where I was going with this story. I only had an idea of toe-sucking aliens. It led to an unusual, quirky, and dark story with which I had tons of fun.

Dust It Off Bloghop - Day 2

Welcome to the second day of the Dust It Off Bloghop hosted by two amazing women, Cortney Pearson and Theresa Paolo. This bloghop encourages you to take a shelved manuscript, dust it off, and rediscover some of the treasures forgotten inside. Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?

There are three parts to this bloghop:
Day 1 (May 3rd) - Post a 1-2 sentence pitch.
Day 2 (today) - Post a 300-350 word excerpt.
Day 3 (May 7th) - Post what you learned from this manuscript.

I decided to go with my sci-fi dystopian romance called Toe-suckers. The title is horrible, but I repeat, it's not what you think!

Here's my excerpt:

“You're a pet.” He spat the word out like a bug that had accidentally flew into his mouth. “You have no hair. Most everywhere would be too cold for you.”

She ran a hand across her bare head and glanced upwards at his thick locks. There was no envy in the gaze, but once again, just curiosity. “Perhaps you are right. I don't think I would enjoy the cold all that much either. I don’t even like cold baths no matter how hot the day. Yet I would still like to see snow. You could, though.”

He couldn’t understand why she was rattling on to him. Finally released from the spell that his prize had cast on him, he gave his head a little shake. It was stupid to be standing around talking to a pet. Without another word, he turned to make an escape.

“What’s your name?” She called after him with a whisper. “My name is Molli.”

A name given by those disgusting toe-suckers! No self-respecting human would ever have such a silly name. Zegg picked up his speed and headed out of the room just as Rake was leaning in to take a look. He was holding his hooked nose as not to have to breathe in the stench and scowling in Molli’s direction.

Zegg zoomed past him and ducked out through the window. His friend hurried to catch up with him. “What did you think you were doing in there? Talking to a pet? You must have sucked some toes or something!”

“I did not!” Zegg snapped back, eager to get away from the still quiet house. “She talked to me. I didn’t talk to her.”

“Don’t tell me you’re becoming one of those fuzzy hearted slops who feel sorry for those bloody pets.” Rake growled, yanking at his own unevenly cut hair in frustration.

“I don’t feel sorry for them.” Zegg hugged his newly acquired artifact to him.

Dust It Off Bloghop - Day 1

Welcome to the first day of the Dust It Off Bloghop hosted by two wonderful women, Cortney Pearson and Theresa Paolo. This bloghop encourages you to take a shelved manuscript, dust it off, and rediscover some of the treasures forgotten inside. Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?

There are three parts to this bloghop:
Day 1 (today) - Post a 1-2 sentence pitch.
Day 2 (May 5th) - Post a 300-350 word excerpt.
Day 3 (May 7th) - Post what you learned from this manuscript.

To make this bloghop even sweeter, there are prizes for each day. Yay!

I have quite a few shelved manuscripts. Ten of them, actually. Hey, I consider them practice! I'm going to go with my 2005 NaNoWriMo winning novel, Toe-suckers. Yes, the title is horrible, and it's not what you're thinking at all. It's a sci-fi dystopian romance. It might have potential if it weren't so... weird? It's not main stream, and it would take all the charm away from it if I tried to make it so. Yet I adore my odd little child.

Here's my pitch:
Earth has been bought by economically savvy aliens, and humans are forced to either work themselves to death or become designer pets. Zegg steals human artifacts from right under the aliens' toes, but his world collapses when one of their pets steals his heart.