Thursday, June 1, 2023
Dear O'Abby: How should I address an agent in my query?
Monday, May 29, 2023
Week #22 – A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Welcome to 2023! On Mondays this year, let’s discuss and have fun with books. No I’m not writing book reviews. But this website is for writers, and writers like books right? So let’s have FUN with books!
Week #22 – A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Kinsey Millhone, 32, former cop turned private detective in Santa Teresa California [fictional Santa Barbara], investigates the death of prominent divorce lawyer Laurence Fife. His murder eight years earlier was blamed on his wife, Nikki. Upon her release from prison, Nikki hires Kinsey to find the real murderer.
Author Sue Grafton wrote 25 books in the alphabet series, finishing with Y is for Yesterday. She had plans to write Z is for Zero but passed away before beginning that book.Kinsey Millhone biography
https://www.suegrafton.com/kinsey-millhone.php
How Sue Grafton helped transform the mystery genre
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/02/575068781/a-is-for-appreciation-how-sue-grafton-helped-transform-the-mystery-genre
A conversation with Sue Grafton
https://www.writerswrite.com/journal/sue-grafton-10991
The series may be adapted for television
https://lithub.com/sue-graftons-alphabet-series-will-be-a-tv-show-despite-her-familys-blood-oath-not-to-adapt-it/
https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63437869/
I've read A is for Alibi and probably ten more. They started getting a little too suspenseful for me [I'm a wimp lol]. Have you read any of Sue Grafton's books? Tell us in the comments!
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Dear O'Abby: What should I look for in an agent?
Monday, May 22, 2023
Week #21 – The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Welcome to 2023! On Mondays this year, let’s discuss and have fun with books. No I’m not writing book reviews. But this website is for writers, and writers like books right? So let’s have FUN with books!
Week #21 – The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
The Hobbit, also called There and Back Again, was published in 1937. It was nominated for the Carnegie Medal, and awarded a prize for best juvenile fiction from the New York Herald Tribune. It is one of the best-selling books of all time with over 100 million copies sold.
Bilbo Baggins, a homebody hobbit from Middle Earth, is “volunteered” by the wizard Gandalf to join thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim the dwarves' home and treasure from the dragon Smaug.
Prequel to Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit is more of a children’s book. The Lord of the Rings is for teens. All of the movies are more for teens.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit
Plot summary [SPOILERS]
https://www.supersummary.com/the-hobbit/summary/
Why read The Hobbit?
https://shepherd.com/book/the-hobbit
Middle Earth Blog
https://middle-earth.xenite.org/how-many-hobbit-books-are-there/
The Hobbit movie from 2012
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/
The Lord of the Rings from 2001
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/
How to watch The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings movies in order
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g38898611/lord-of-the-rings-hobbit-movies-in-order/
Have you read any of these books and/or seen the movies? Let us know in the comments!
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Dear O'Abby: What happens if my agency drops me?
Monday, May 15, 2023
Week #20 – The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Welcome to 2023! On Mondays this year, let’s discuss and have fun with books. No I’m not writing book reviews. But this website is for writers, and writers like books right? So let’s have FUN with books!
Week #20 – The Road by Cormac McCarthy
https://www.cormacmccarthy.com/works/the-road/
This book won the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 2007.
https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/cormac-mccarthy
It was made into a film in 2009
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_(2009_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/
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Apocalypse Peaks, Antarctica |
Greatest apocalypse novels
https://lithub.com/the-50-greatest-apocalypse-novels/
https://theportalist.com/apocalypse-books
https://crimereads.com/the-10-most-captivating-apocalypse-novels/
Greatest apocalypse movies
https://www.buzzfeed.com/williambarrios/the-best-end-of-the-world-films
https://gamerant.com/best-post-apocalyptic-movies-ranked/#bird-box-2018
https://movieweb.com/best-apocalyptic-movies/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls052725603/
I like my entertainment more upbeat and positive. Do you read post-apocalypse books or watch those types of movies? Tell us in the comments!
Friday, May 12, 2023
Query Friday: Champagne Rejections
Champagne rejections.
You may have heard the term floating around and wondered what they were, or even received a few yourself.
A champagne rejections is when you receive a rejection that is full of praise for your work, but isn't an offer. The fact that someone took the time to give you feedback, had positive things to say, or ended the rejection with "I'm sure another agent will feel differently" or "If this doesn't find an agent I'd love to see your next project" is definitely something to celebrate.
But for some of us the close, but not close enough is harder to take. It's hard not to know what you have missed when all the comments are glowing.
If you can take this as a sign of progress. You have work worthy of fighting for. Now you just have to find the right champion.
Happy writing!
~B
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Dear O'Abby: Can a journalist/novelist write for film and TV while the WGA is on strike?
Monday, May 8, 2023
Week #19 – The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Welcome to 2023! On Mondays this year, let’s discuss and have fun with books. No I’m not writing book reviews. But this website is for writers, and writers like books right? So let’s have FUN with books!
Week #19 – The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Michael “Mickey” Haller is a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles County who doesn't have a formal office but works out of a Lincoln Town Car.
Most of his clients are drug dealers and gangsters, but he takes on the case against a wealthy Los Angeles realtor, Louis Roulet, accused of assault and attempted murder.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lincoln_Lawyer
The book was made into a movie in 2011
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189340/
The Lincoln Lawyer series was made into a TV series in 2022
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13833978/
A Lincoln Town Car is a full size luxury car. I found several sites dedicated to helping you turn your car into a mobile office
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3674772/how-to-turn-your-car-into-ultimate-mobile-office.html
https://www.thrillist.com/cars/transform-your-car-into-a-formidable-mobile-office
https://www.autoweek.com/gear/g38568693/turn-your-car-or-truck-into-a-mobile-office-with-these-essentials/
https://mashable.com/article/how-to-work-from-car
I drive a 10yo Kia Rio.
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2013 Kia Rio |
It's not the the smallest street-legal vehicle in the US.
![]() |
Microcar |
But it's small just the same. I love this car because it has been reliable over the past 190,000 miles, gets 35+ mpg, and it's small enough that I can park it almost anywhere, even when I drive to crowded downtown Los Angeles.
I don’t think I could ever use it as a mobile office!
What about you? What kind of car do you drive? Do you use it as an office? Tell us in the comments!
Monday, May 1, 2023
#AtoZChallenge 2023 #Reflections of the Operation Awesome Team


Reflections of the Operation Awesome Team
J: Another year in the books. I really loved this theme. It was great to show off these authors. I wish some giveaways had gotten more entries, but I think the new Twitter algorithm is messing with the normal shares. (Thanks, Mr. Musk.) But honestly, it was just really great to promote all this talent. And it was fun to visit some other bloggers, who hopefully will see all that our magnificent site has to offer to writers in every stage (and readers as well).
The Debut Author spotlight will soon return. Please, if you know someone publishing a book for the first time this year, have them reach out to me. @JLenniDorner on Twitter
Kate: It's been a blast this year! So much fun to be able to showcase some of my writing besties and their work as well as meeting some new authors I didn't know so well before. And what a bunch of creative bloggers there are out there! I had such a great time going around and visiting other A to Zers and seeing what they were doing.
Dena: Lots of fun this year! It was fun seeing the themes of other AtoZ bloggers. And I loved showcasing some excellent authors here at OA and I hope YOU, our blog readers, found some awesome new authors and books to read. Let us know in the comments!
Suzanna: The theme this year is one of my favorites. I absolutely love reading and interviewing writers for their perspectives. It's amazing to read what inspires people to write stories. So many wonderful ideas to read and write! I've definitely increased my To Read list this month. Did you have a favorite interview this month?
Brandy: I really loved the theme this year! It has been a long time goal of mine to connect more with the writing community and interviewing these talented authors was such a fun way to accomplish that! I look forward to reading their work. In addition visiting other blogs was also super fun and a great way to discover more talent both in and out of the field of writing!

Giveaways that are active this week yet:
(Facebook Log In might not work due to a Rafflecopter error.)
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fa90ac762 S is for Victoria Strauss ~ Signed copies of Passion Blue and Color Song!
Sunday, April 30, 2023
#AtoZChallenge Z is for Sarah Zama #freebook


Sarah Zama:
1- Where do you get ideas for your stories?
Oh my goodness, I always dread this question!
Ideas can come from anything, really. Even a conversation I overheard on the bus (public transportation is fantastic for finding ideas!). Then I manipulate it until it becomes mine, by which I mean it expresses themes that are close to my heart and is set in a place I love.
But really, anything can be the first sparkle: a conversation I hear, an article I read, a story I read, a song I listen to, TV commercials. Anything.
2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?
I'm a dieselpunk author. This means that I write speculative stories set in what we call the diesel-era, which goes from the late 1910s to the very early 1950s.
My favourite decade, though, is the 1920s. All my stories are now set in the 1920s.
I say 'now' because I've always written fantasy stories that, for a long time, were classic, more or less epic, fantasy stories set in a world that resembled the European Middle Ages but with magic.
Yet I've always been into history (my favourite subject since when I was in elementary school), and so I soon started to prefer fantasy stories that were set in a more historical environment rather than total invention.
How did I come to write historical fantasy set in the 1920s?
In addition to my love of history, I got into mythology very early on. First, Roman and Greek mythologies, and then different mythologies across the world.
Also, I was imprinted by 1930s black-and-white mystery movies, so to speak. It was entirely my grandma's fault. When I was a kid in the 1970s, it was still very common to see these old movies on tv. My grandma was very much into them. I ended up watching them with her, and soon, I started to love them too. I blame this for my love of the era and for Art Deco!
It was probably all fated to come together in the end.
3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)
I love writing crowded scenes with many people taking action simultaneously. It's like choreographing a dance. I love it.
My favourite part that I wrote in a story that was fun but also challenging is in a book that, unfortunately, isn't published yet. It's a fight scene set in a speakeasy where some 10 characters are involved, of which 8 are major characters, and 2 are POV characters.
To me, these kinds of scenes are fun to write because I want to know what everyone is doing and try to keep track of it for the reader. It usually results in interesting timeline manipulation and character introspection. It's like a puzzle where everything has to click into place. I enjoy that.
4- Would you please, in 160 characters (not words) or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Don't fall in love with your first draft. Hopefully, nothing will remain of it in the final work! Have fun writing it and explore freely. The messier, the better!
5- What got you interested in the 1920s time period? How do you do research for this period?
Oops! I think I've already answered the first question.
As for how how research that time: mostly on books and primary sources.
I may do swift research online to get a feeling for what I'm researching - be that the Weimar Kabaret or the Chicago mob. But once I get a feel for it, I start looking for books on the subject.
The web is really good for finding quick pieces of information that show a direction, but f we keep at it, we'll keep coming up with the same information over and over again. This is because search engines will only show us what we're looking for and because nobody gives away detailed information on anything for free.
A book, however, is a different beast. It will give you comprehensive information on a subject, even (and this is very important) about things you never thought of. And because they are structured in a way to give you a global understanding of the subject, not a quick answer to a question.
Once this passage is done, we can go back to the internet and search for very, very specific pieces of information that we have learned about in the books. And sometimes, we're lucky enough to find something.
I'm also lucky enough to study a time when different media already existed. You can't imagine how many silent movies I watched! But also I read novels written in the 1920s, and I love magazines from the era.
It's a slow process, but I think that it builds a stronger awareness of the subject.
6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?
Sharing my stories is definitely what I love the most. Seeing how readers care for my characters the same way I do.
But I'm a self-published author, which means that everything is on me, including promotion. I don't hate promotion. I think it can be fun. But it's its own job. And keeping track of all the changes in the field (both on the different platforms and the best practices), which sometimes feels like happening daily, is something I'd very gladly leave to someone else.
7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?
As I've mentioned, I've self-published so far because that's the most autonomous way to go.
Would I like to try something else? Yes!
I'd like to be published traditionally, of course, but to be honest, I love even more the idea of being a hybrid author. There are projects that are better suited to be self-published and others that are better suited for a more traditional publication. I'd love to be able to choose what route to go for every single project.
Not there yet. But I hope that one day...
8- You mentioned that you don't hate promotion when lots of authors do. How's that?
Because I can choose to take promotion as another story. I can choose to promote my book with integrity without feeling salesy and sleazy. Some people - even some authors - do act salesy and sleazy, but that's snot the only way to go.
When we take promotion as a story, and we tell that story as we do all our others, it becomes a lot more comfortable and even fun!
9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?
I believe stories I the power of healing. Have you ever read a story that, in some way, healed you?
10- If they have a specific story, they want to promote a question regarding that. Ex. Which book would you suggest readers start with?
I'd suggest Sea Phantom, which is a short story set in 1921 Milan.
All my 1920s stories are set in the same universe, so Sea Phantom, though short, has the magic, the themes and the kind of characters that you'll find in all my stories. And what's best, you can download it free here - https://sarahzama.theoldshelter.com/a-short-story-set-in-the-1920s/
This is also a story very close to my heart because, a the moment, it's the only one set in my own country, Italy. I actually initially thought about setting it in my own town, Verona, but then I thought a more international setting, like Milan, would have served the story better. Still, you never know. One day...

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge 2023
a-to-zchallenge.com
Saturday, April 29, 2023
#AtoZChallenge Y is for Allyson Lindt #giveaway


Established Author Name: Allyson Lindt
1- You are incredibly prolific as an author with five or six new releases per year at least. How do you do it?
2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?
3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)
4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Finish the book. Nothing else happens if you don’t finish the book.
5- What interests do you have outside of writing?
Reading (duh ;). Discovering feel-good TV shows and binge-watching again and again. Sewing. I used to make cosplays professionally. And my most recent hobby is resin casting.
6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?
I love that I get to keep telling stories, and that people are reading them. Relating to them. Opposite side of that coin, it’s impossible to ignore that there’s an expectation from what I write. I still write mostly what I want, but there’s always a whisper of “there are guidelines you know…” Though I don’t hate that so much as it makes me a little sad.
7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?
8- What question are you dying to answer?
9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?
10- Which of your books would you suggest readers start with? Or since I know you always have something new coming out, what should readers look out for? Or both...

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge 2023
a-to-zchallenge.com
Friday, April 28, 2023
#AtoZChallenge X is for Sherry Ellis' setting in Xi'an #giveaway


Established Author Name: Sherry Ellis
1- What inspired you to use Xi'an, China for a book setting, and what do you love most about that place?
You’ve probably heard the expression, “You can’t dig a hole to China.” In my book, Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China I wanted to challenge this notion and imagine what would happen if you could. Xi’an, China is the home of the Terracotta Warriors, the army the first Emperor of China built to protect his tomb. Imagine being a kid, digging a hole, and ending up where life-like stone warriors are all lined up with their weapons. Wow! Plus, I think the history associated with Xi’an is fascinating.
2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?
I write children’s books. Mostly because I love sharing stories with them. Having kids sit on your lap or gather around while you share a picture book or chapter book is the best. And if it’s a story you wrote, that’s icing on the cake. The Bubba and Squirt books I’ve written have an educational side to them, too, which appeals to the teacher in me. Bottom line is I love working with kids.
3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging?
I had a blast coming up with all the crazy things the elephant does in my book, Don’t Feed the Elephant. He makes cotton candy wigs, hurls hamburgers like frisbees, and jumps rope with spaghetti noodles. Can you imagine such a crazy pachyderm? The most difficult was creating the rhymes for my book, Ten Zany Birds. Rhyming properly isn’t easy!
4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Read your manuscript out loud. This lets you see if you have good rhythm and flow.
5- Great Poetry Reading Day is observed on April 28, 2023. What is a great poem to share with children?
"Life Doesn't Frighten Me" by Maya Angelou. It’s a great poem to help kids be brave if something scary comes along.
6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?
I love when people who read my books say that they enjoy them. Hate is a strong word, so I’ll say I don’t like that it’s so challenging to sell a significant number of books. It’s a lot of work for little pay (for most of us). I guess the reason we do it is because we love to write stories.
7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?
Hybrid. There are benefits to both. Traditional publishing means you have a publisher paying the cost of producing the book and handling some of the marketing. The trade-off is that you don’t get as much in royalties. Self-publishing gives you more control and more cash per book sold. Since it’s harder to market by yourself, I lean more toward traditional publishing whenever possible.
8- What question are you dying to answer?
How long did it take you to write Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China?
Ten years!
9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
10- What's coming up for Bubba and Squirt?
Later this year, a new Bubba and Squirt story will be released: Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones. This one will be set in Paris, France. If you want to start at the beginning of the series, read Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China.
GIVEAWAY
Sherry will give a copy of the anthology, Voyagers, in which a short Bubba and Squirt story is published. It also features many other Dancing Lemur Press authors, and will mail it anywhere.

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge 2023
a-to-zchallenge.com
Thursday, April 27, 2023
#AtoZChallenge - W is for K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland
K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. She is the award-winning and internationally-published author of Outlining Your Novel, Structuring Your Novel, Creating Character Arcs, and Writing Your Story’s Theme. She writes historical and speculative fiction and mentors authors on her award-winning website Helping Writers Become Authors.
1- What made you decide you wanted to be an author?
I have told myself stories for as long as I can remember. At a certain point, when I was about twelve, I decided one of the stories I’d come up with was so great I wanted to write it down to make sure I would never forget it. At that point, I discovered I enjoyed the act of writing as much as I did the act of storytelling.
2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?
I write both historical and fantasy stories—and many mashups in between. My last story was a gaslamp fantasy, about a superhero in 1820 London.
3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)
Dialogue is always my favorite. If both characters have the snark going on, that’s always super fun. There was a lot of that in my gaslamp book Wayfarer. The main character sorted of adpted a nine-year-old little girl pickpocket who never let him get away with anything. She was always a blast to write.
For me, antagonists have always been challenging. I get bored if the protagonist isn’t onscreen—so usually I try to avoid antagonist POVs.
4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
When including a plot twist, make sure its development is so entertaining readers will want to read it again, with even MORE enthusiasm, AFTER they know the twist.
5- Do you work on more than one book at a time? Why or why not?
Short answer is no. I will occasionally write and edit two different books simultaneously. I will also sometimes write a fiction book and a non-fiction book at the same time. But I have my hands plenty full with just one novel at a time.
6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?
I think the best is feeling like what you’re sharing matters to other people—that you’re offering something that is impacting their lives for the better, even if it’s just distracting them from a crummy day.
Hardest part is definitely negative reviews. I don’t read them anymore if I can help it.
7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?
I have one traditionally published book, from many moons ago, and all of my international translations have been traditionally published, if you want to count them. But primarily, I am an independent publisher.
8- What question are you dying to answer for our blog (about your writing, life, or even a fun fact)? What's the question and then answer.
Haha. Honestly, that question just makes me want to smile mysteriously. :p
9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?
How do you think your earliest memory might symbolize the themes of your life so far?
10- For our blog readers who haven't read anything by you, which of your books would you suggest they start with?
If you’re interested in writing advice, I recommend my book Creating Character Arcs. (If you’re going to read them all, then I’d say start with Outlining Your Novel and read the rest in the order they were published, since they lead one into the other. But if you’re only going to read one, Creating Character Arcs is the most comprehensive.)
K.M.Weiland is raffling off a $20 Amazon gift card for one lucky Operation Awesome blog reader. To enter:

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge 2023
a-to-zchallenge.com
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
#AtoZChallenge - V is for Kari Veenstra #giveaway

Kari Veenstra
Kari grew up climbing trees and shooting arrows in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific. After graduating high school, she stuffed her belongings into one small suitcase and traveled to America for college where she developed her passion for writing. A journalism internship in Washington, D.C. led to a successful copywriting career until Kari switched to writing fiction so she could spend more time with her kids. Her debut novel The Rescuer was published Feb, 2020.
1- What made you decide you wanted to be an author?
I started writing stories as a teenager when I ran out of books of my own to read in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. I decided I wanted to be an author when I realized the stories that I write fill a current gap in the industry--young YA with male protagonists, high stakes action, and zero-to-limited romance.
2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?
I write Young Adult science fiction and fantasy. Much of my writing also has a dystopian bend. I'm drawn to the genre because of the high degree of creativity afforded. I love creating exciting new worlds with a variety of world-specific challenges, then filling them with universal problems and truths.
3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)
One of the funnest scenes to write in The Rescuer (YA SF) was an action scene featuring a hair-raising intrusion into a flight academy through a high-tech mechanical obstacle course. Visualizing this scene and describing all the moving pieces took a lot of work, but I really enjoyed exploring this element of the world. One of the most challenging scenes to write (also featured in The Rescuer) was a heart-felt moment where my main character, Prok Zandin, is forced to confront the ghosts of his past and the grief he still carries over the death of his mother for which he feels responsible.
4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
I used to keep my writing close to my chest, afraid to share it with anyone, afraid it was terrible. Only when I got brave enough to show it to others, did I start going places. #WriteTip - Be bold.
5- Do you work on more than one book at a time? Why or why not?
I get ideas for more than one book at a time, but I file them away because I can only draft one story at a time. I like to think that I pour my heart and soul into that given story, making it hard to divide my creativity and concentration between multiple pieces.
6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?
I love the fact that I AM a published author. It's such a feeling of pride and accomplishment to have created something from start to finish that a publisher acquired and put out for readers. Having readers read and love my work is a joy like no other. The thing I hate the most about being a published author is fans asking when my next book is coming out, haha! I am SO grateful for their support, but the guilt can get overwhelming when my answer is consistently "I'm not sure, but hopefully soon." It's a lot of pressure.
7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?
My debut novel was published traditionally by a small press in 2020. Even though that publisher is no longer operating and I own all the rights to my books, I would still love to be published traditionally. One of my dreams is to get an agent and a publishing deal at a stable house. There's nothing wrong with the other options, but this is the path that personally appeals to me. I see it as a bit of a challenge to write something that gets the attention of the "gatekeepers."
8- What question are you dying to answer?
* Question: Who is your favorite character in your novels?
* Answer: Isn't that like asking a parent to pick a favorite child? If I am forced to choose, I would have to say that Mavrick Denly, the arrogant, pretentious bully heavily featured in the Krador Kronicles would be my favorite. I like how he's morally gray, yet still operates under some sort of *code* that only he understands. He's brutal and mean, but somehow still ends up fighting for the right side of things. He has some deep secrets and I can't wait to write more of his story and reveal them to my readers.
9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?
What book have you read recently (or not-so recently) that really stuck with you by challenging or changing your worldview?
10- For our blog readers who haven't read anything by you, which of your books would you suggest they start with?
I currently have one novel, The Rescuer - Book 1 of the Krador Kronicles. It features a plucky underdog in a dystopian underwater world who risks his one shot at a better future to find and rescue a missing friend. It's not available for sale through traditional methods, but readers who are interested in it can purchase it via Paypal on my website, or message me for a signed author copy. The Rescuer – Story with Kari Veenstra
Kari would love to do a giveaway - A signed copy of her debut novel The Rescuer! Winner's choice of paperback or hardcover.

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge 2023
a-to-zchallenge.com
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
#AtoZChallenge U is for Juliana Brandt


Established Author Name: Juliana Brandt
The road to publication was very long for me! I wrote ten books before my first one, The Wolf of Cape Fen, was published. That journey very tiring and stressful, but through it all, I always loved writing. I was always very compelled to write books and to learn more about storytelling as an art. I also made incredible friends and built a solid community. It was very helpful to be surrounded by people who loved the same thing I did!
2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?
3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)
Oh gosh, each of my books were a lot of fun to write. The Wolf of Cape Fen has a lot of fairytale vibes though that I adored including. My third book, Monsters in the Mist, has more serious themes than my other stories. I discuss in that book the ways people love us - from people who love us kindly to people who 'love' us cruelly. Those themes were very important to me to include, but I had to be very careful while including them.
4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?
Make mistakes and take risks in your writing. The exploration process is very important to finding the heart of your story. Writing the wrong thing is just as important as writing the right thing!
5- What interests do you have outside of writing?
Anything outdoors. I find a lot of inspiration in being in the outside world. Most days can find me taking a walk outside. Summers are spent hiking while winters are spent snowshoeing. I also thoroughly enjoy playing the piano.
6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?
I hate that I never seem to have enough time to write! But I love that I'm able to talk about my writing more freely with people. Before being published, I did a terrible job of talking honestly about my writing--it was so hard for me to talk about it! Now though, I'm able to discuss my stories more comfortably with people.
7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?
I'm traditionally published. All routes of publishing are wonderful, and I'm so glad society is much more accepting of the varities of publishing and the places we can find books. It means that a wider array of books are accessible to people. I personally went with traditional publishing, because my day job as a teacher means I don't have the time to dedicate to all of the work that goes in hand with self-published books! I hope to explore this option more in the future though.
8- What question are you dying to answer?
"Why do you enjoy writing books that include magic?"
9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?
Do you prefer reading standalone books or series? If you have a favorite, please include the recommendation!
10- Which of your books would you recommend readers start with?
Each of my books are standalone. If you're interested in fairytale vibes, start with The Wolf of Cape Fen. If you're on the hunt for spookiness and thrilling adventure, turn to Monsters in the Mist. If you're looking for a magical family story set in the mountains, go grab A Wilder Magic!