Unlucky or Eccentric? Friday the 13th or Roald Dahl Day?

Don't be on this flight:

Friday 13th travellers take chance on flight 666 to HEL

Steer clear of this guy:

And most of all...

“Whipped cream isn't whipped cream at all if it hasn't been whipped with whips, just like poached eggs isn't poached eggs unless it's been stolen in the dead of the night.”
– Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Don't miss

Roald Dahl Day: 20 Wonderfully Funny Quotes From His Children's Books

or THE PRINTABLE ROALD DAHL FACT SHEET

And if you get a minute (or a few hours), watch the original movie version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

Prayer calls for Colorado (massive flash floods) and New Jersey (the boardwalk burned down). Remember them in your prayers if you will. 

Peace! Have the best possible weekend!

Editing Brain and Harry Potter Announcement

So the last few months, I've been doing my developmental edits for my book, The Emissary. Let's just say when you start using your fantasy cuss words in real life, you know you've been editing a lot.

I should finish up today or tomorrow (thank Brim), but even so, it's hard to get my darkforsaken mind off of it. I just keep telling myself that I only have to read it a few more times.

Ahem... Anyhow, that being said. Today is my blog post day, and I've still got editing brain. So I'll start off by asking our followers a question:

What are some ways you keep your editing fresh and your mind focused, when you've edited your manuscript ten million times already?

The second part of my post has to do with the buzz going on this morning. If you haven't seen the announcement yet, J.K.Rowling posted this on her facebook page:

Warner Bros. announced on 12th September 2013 that J.K. Rowling would be making her screenwriting debut with 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', the first in a new film series which is part of their expanded creative partnership with J.K. Rowling. The films will be inspired by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbook of the same name, and will feature the book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander.

“It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of 'Fantastic Beasts', realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.

As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros.

Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.

I particularly want to thank Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros. for his support in this project, which would not have happened without him. I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”

Our family has recently been re-watching the Harry Potter movies. So I'm pretty exited to see what she does with it.  How about you?

Using Your Words -- Remembering September 11th

Image courtesy of Tweetpages.com

I still remember a lot about when it happened. I remember how tired I was that morning. I remember doing laundry on pinkish-burgundy carpet (we hadn't yet replaced it, figuring it would be years before little fingers touting Playdough and markers would stay out of the room) while the girls ran around me in circles chasing each other, half-naked.

I remember staring at the screen and wondering what my father-in-law would have thought about it (he'd recently been killed in a car accident). 

I remember being grateful my girls were too young to understand, and talking on the phone to a friend as we watched everything play out over different TV stations. Half the time, we had no words. Still, it was a shock, and we were there for each other, in silence. 

I remember knowing the ache of sudden, unexpected loss I had just felt (was still feeling) was being felt by an entire nation.

I remember how horrible it felt to understand this.

Catastrophic events (like today's) stay imprinted on our minds--they never go away. Some people are affected in a more personal way than others, but there's still an ache, a loss of words, a sadness, an emptiness that, many times, is hard to put into words. 

But, the truth is, even though it doesn't seem possible to ever move on after something so horrific, eventually the words that disappeared are exactly what enable us to feel whole again, when we again find the strength to express them.

Writing. It's a wonderful, therapeutic form of expression. Writing gives weight to what we're thinking or feeling when we're having a hard time expressing it with our mouths. Now is as good a day as any to remind everyone that though you may be hurting or dealing with loss or missing someone or not even exactly sure how you feel, you can write. You can tell the paper what comes to you. You can get it out there and let the outpour of doubts and pain and sadness and even joy and remembrance be a way of releasing those things, and letting them go. (And, once you're done, you can share it with the world, those closest to you, or no one. You can keep it forever, or destroy it. It's entirely up to you.)

We here at Operation Awesome write that we stand by you. We encourage you to use your words as medicine. To all those affected by September 11th in any way, we send our love and support and, during times like these, when words often aren't quite enough, we simply open our arms. Hugs to you all.

Fall Excitement

What am I looking forward to this fall? Yes, I love the Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks (and the pumpkin glazed scones too) - but that's not it.  
 

 It could be that I'm counting down the days until we can go a week without it being 100 degrees every day (yes, I live in Arizona).
 

That's not it either.
 

This fall, I'm looking forward to this:

 

 

 

 

And this…

 

 

 

The return of my two favorite shows: Bones & Castle - both of which are on their last leg. 
 

Booth & Brennan are together now (and have a baby) and the story arcs are beginning to flounder. Castle jumped the shark a while back too, but I keep watching because, well, it's Nathan Fillion, and I would watch him recite the phonebook.

Even though these shows are not what they used to be, I continue to watch for one thing: the writing -  smart, witty and intriguing. All these things keep me coming back for more. When I'm writing dialogue or thinking about characterization, I constantly go back to Bones & Castle to see how it's done.
 

And building a mystery to be solved in an hour? Both shows  are still A+ in this regard.
 

So as the air begins to cool, and the leaves start to turn, I'll settle in and watch these two favorites. When they're off the air, I'm sure I'll look for replacements to help me write. But if I can't find anything good, I'll do what I always do, flip the channels and pray a rerun is on!

Removing the Rust (or...Deep Thoughts While Restoring the Purple Tandem)

“You could use it for a planter.”

That’s what my bike restoration guy, Dean, said when he unwrapped the parts of my purple tandem last Saturday.

I’ll admit it: the bike is in rough shape. A lot of rust. The wheels are pretty much useless. There’s a weird section of the frame covered in years old masking tape, like a limb stuck for decades in a cast. But I told Dean that no matter how bad it looked, I knew my bike could be restored. If he could help me with the mechanics to make it rideable, I would do all the work necessary to remove the rust and make it shine.

As I work in my garage, steel wool in one hand and rusty fender in the other, I can’t help but laugh about how much this purple tandem really is a metaphor for my writing. Luckily no one has ever told me that my writing could be used for a planter (or to line a bird cage), but there were times I’ve had critique partners or agents tell me a manuscript is in rough shape. Early on in my writing life, I let those words discourage me. So I tucked those manuscripts away and forgot about them. They grew rusty.

Now, when I open those old files, I can see past the rust. I know there’s a story in there wanting to shine, if I’m willing to put in the hard work. Revision is my steel wool.

(Purple tandem restoration status: My steel wool and I have de-rusted the handle bars, fenders, and pedals, along with other various doo-dads; need to work on seats, the frame, and figure out what do to about replacement wheels. Hoping to have it rideable for the October launch of my dear friend, author/illustrator Lindsay Ward’s newest picture book, PLEASE BRING BALLOONS…a nighttime adventure involving a carousel, a polar bear, balloons, and maybe a certain type of bike.)

Question for you: Do you have a rusty manuscript that you’d like to restore someday?

Finding Time to Read

I've read several blog posts recently on the importance of writers finding time to read. A couple of them had me shaking my head because the poster (the person with time to read) took it as a personal attack when someone else said they wished they had time to read as well. Apparently saying something like that is an insult to the poster's time management skills or saying they aren't busy or they're lazy or . . . something.

I guess the reason this frustrated me is because with my schedule and responsibilities (and I can't be the only person in this type of situation), there are a lot of times I really don't have time to read, and, when I do, it's usually a choice between reading, writing, or listening to my teenage daughters/son or my husband talk about their day or whatever is going on at the time. That last choice usually wins, but if I do choose reading, I often just fall asleep. The words are so soothing. ;) So I'm not really sure what the desire to have time to read has to do with another person.

Anyway, it got me thinking, and I guess I do find ways to read, though not the way I prefer it, which is to dig in and read cover to cover over a day or two. With my current schedule, I can usually finish one book over a few weeks by reading a scene or two at night before I go to sleep. Definitely not my preferred method, but it's something.

And the way I've gotten the most reading done has been from something I thought I would never be able to get into. Recently, I discovered my local library has started carrying audio books. I can download them to my phone and listen to them while I cook and clean, and, even better, I can download them to my work computer and listen to them while I'm doing data entry, processing/calculating time cards, working in Photoshop, or anything else that doesn't require my full and focused attention (Excel spreadsheets, I'm talking about you. ;))

I don't know the actual number, but, over the last few months, I've read at least fifteen books this way. It's definitely not the same as holding a book and seeing the words--I'm a very visual person--and the library doesn't have a huge selection of audio books, but I'm reading books I thought I wouldn't get to for months and some I thought I'd never get to. It's been really nice to have it as an option.

So, what about all of you? How do you find time to read?

Writing in a new place

Happy Friday, OAers! It is a glorious day in Beckyville, for I have Internet once more! Now granted, I still had Internet on my phone, and at work (I do not, I repeat, I do not condone Twittering at work... *wink*) but I am spoiled.

The reason I didn't have Internet for a while is because I moved! I am finally settled in my new apartment in my beloved New England, enjoying the cool night air by an open window and listening to what sounds like my upstairs neighbors bowling on the wooden floors. (No place is perfect, after all.)

But I'm finding, once again, that being in a new atmosphere does wonders for kickstarting your writing brain. I came up with many of my manuscript ideas on the cusp of starting something new in the non-fictional world: I powered through one manuscript while studying abroad in Japan, started another when I moved to a new city to start my first job, and accordingly, a couple weeks ago, I started up a shiny new WIP after coming here. Something about new scenery, new sounds and smells, and a new commute just lays the groundwork for a new world to be built in a different part of my brain.

Does a change of scenery mean a new WIP for you? Or are you more productive when you have a comfy writing routine?

Trumpets and Writing

Last night, I took my son down to the school to sign him up for band and instrument lessons. He chose to try the trumpet. He's soooo excited to get started :) He set up his music stand in his room, has his book open to the first lesson, and is all ready for when he can bring his instrument home and start practicing.

Now, I know that some of that excitement will fade when he realizes how hard it is to learn how to properly play an instrument. And when he has to practice every day, even though there will be days he doesn't feel like it. And I know it might hurt his feelings when he plays something he thinks sounds really good only to have his sister tell him how bad it sounds (though I hope she won't do that!)

But I also know that if he keeps up with it, puts in the time and effort, someday in the not too distant future he'll start to sound pretty good. And if he continues with it, putting in more time and effort, he might actually sound pretty dang good.

Now he might try the trumpet for a few months and decide he'd rather play something else. Maybe another instrument will come easier for him, or he might just enjoy it more. As long as he puts in the time and effort into whatever he finally decides to stick with, I know he'll be successful in the long run.

Can you see where I'm going with this? :D

It's a lot like writing. Starting that brand new project, or starting to write for the very first time, there's always the excitement. Maybe you have a great "writer station" all set up. A new file or pad of paper open and waiting for the words you will pour out. An outline or head full of ideas just waiting to be explored.

And then that excitement can fade when the enormity of the task sinks in. Writing is a skill, one that takes a lot of time and effort to hone. There will be set backs and harsh critiques and somewhere along the way, you might decide you'd rather write YA instead of adult, or romance instead of thrillers. And that's okay.

As long as you can find what you love, stick with it and put in the time and effort necessary to really hone your craft, someday you will find the success you seek. :)

All We Left Behind by Nancy Herman

Way back before I joined Operation Awesome as an operative, I hounded my critique partners to enter this new Mystery Agent Contest I'd heard about. And one of those entries was OA's first ever success story!

The book which Nancy Herman pitched her middle grade historical novel as:

Letters to Mary: A Donner Party Story

When 13-year-old Virginia Reed's powerful and arrogant father makes poor decisions that leave the Donner Party trapped in winter snows, she must find the courage to defy him in order to save the rest of her family.

is now titled All We Left Behind, and we have the honor of doing her cover reveal here on OA!

It is 1846, and thirteen-year-old Virginia Reed is pioneering two-thousand miles from Illinois to California with her parents, younger sister and brother, and the Donner family. She’s proud to ride ahead of the wagon train each day beside her beloved father, James.

But enthusiasm turns to alarm when her father and other party leaders make decisions that put the families dangerously behind schedule. Provisions dwindle. Hardships mount. Anger erupts. In a frantic effort to reach California before winter, the Donner Party takes an untried shortcut, with heartbreaking results.

Virginia painfully realizes the fallibility of the adults in her life and begins to rely on her own judgment. When the party becomes trapped in the Sierra by early snows, she must find the courage to defy her father in order to save the rest of her family.

Nancy also has a fabulous website, where she retraces the steps of Virginia and her family. She says, "Following Virginia’s physical journey helped me to understand the parallel emotional journey that ultimately transformed her from an obedient daughter to an independent young woman--determined to make her own decisions, whatever the consequences.”

Click on the cover above to go to the book's page on Goodreads (and add it to your Want to Read shelf!) and look for All We Left Behind to be released on October 30, 2013! Congratulations on the upcoming publication, Nancy, from all of us at Operation Awesome!

September 2013 Mystery Agent Contest!

CONTEST CLOSED! CHECK BACK NEXT MONTH FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY


It's PITCHING TIME! Are you ready to enter? Pitch your completed novel to our Mystery Agent. September's Mystery Agent has requested the following genres:

Adult

Young Adult

Middle Grade

 

• Fantasy (all types, incl folk & fairy tale re-tellings and magical realism)
• Adventure
• Historical Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Romance (YA only)
• Horror

(Dark comedy, original voices, and unique worlds a plus!)

This is a three-sentence pitch contest, with a maximum of 75 words. Winner gets a full manuscript request from the Mystery Agent. 

This contest is open to veterans and newbies alike - so long as you have a complete and query-ready manuscript on your hands within the genres of interest, our guest agent would love to hear from you.

Contest goes live 9 AM central time and remains open until all entry spots are filled. The first 50 entries we receive will go on to our MA. Remember, this is a three-sentence pitch. Cheating with grammar doesn't count.

The official contest rules:

1) Entries must be three-line pitches. Up to 75 words are allowed, but remember, it's only three sentences.

2) Entries must be for completed manuscripts. No unfinished drafts, please!

3) Entries must be left in the comments section of today's post (please don't email us your entries!). We'll close the contest once we've reached our limit.

4) You can only enter once today (only one project). If you participated or won previous MA contests, you can enter this one as well!

5) Please include NAME, CONTACT INFO (it's okay to use (at)  and (dot) to disguise it from bots, like operationawesome6 (at) gmail (dot) com), GENRE, and TITLE, followed by your three-line pitch.

6) The contest will close when we receive 50 entries.

7) The winner will receive a FULL manuscript request!

8) If the rules aren't followed, your entry will be disqualified.

Please format your comment like this:

Name: 

Email or twitter: 

Genre: 

Title: 

Pitch: 

GOOD LUCK!!

COVER REVEAL~ANGUS MACBAIN AND THE ISLAND OF SLEEPING KINGS

I am so excited to reveal the cover of my novel, Angus MacBain And The Island Of Sleeping Kings. Book one, will be released September 27, 2013, by Clean Teen Publishing.   

I would like to thank everyone here at Operation Awesome and everyone at Clean Teen Publishing for your tremendous support. Its been a wonderful journey to publication!  

Cover art by Lisa Amowitz

Angus MacBain is unaware that his ancestral roots hail from an ancient sect of Scottish kings. When his dying grandfather gives him a dragon pendant, thirteen-year-old Angus learns of a legacy that will take him across an ocean to the island of Iona and thrust him into a heritage he did not know he had. He soon discovers that his mother, whom he had believed dead, is really a seal fairy, in hiding from a dangerous enemy. To save her, Angus must undergo a perilous journey of destiny and power to battle an evil Dacian knight and those who serve him. With only his family shield and the advice of a wizened vampire hunter to protect him, Angus must navigate dangerous terrain and dark enemies, in a land where the past and the present mingle, and sleeping kings wake.

Lots of fun swag, contests and giveaways~~coming soon! 

Heads Up: Mystery Agent Contest Coming September 1st!

September has a Mystery Agent!!! And this is what our M.A. wants to see on Sunday (Sept. 1):

A 3-sentence pitch of your novel, maximum 75 words.

M.A. is looking for adult, young adult, and middle grade in the following genres:

• Fantasy (all types, incl folk & fairy tale re-tellings and magical realism)
• Adventure
• Historical Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Romance (YA only)
• Horror

(Dark comedy, original voices, and unique worlds a plus!)

If you've got a complete, polished novel that meets the above specifications, then ladies and gentlemen PREPARE YOUR PITCHES! The official contest post will be up the morning of September 1, 2013.

Since we've had some member changes recently, we've updated the blog schedule to include new members:

Click image to enlarge

You can also learn a little about our longtime and new members on the About Us page. 

As always, thank you for sharing your work and thoughts with us! We wouldn't be Operation Awesome without you.

Suki the Ninja Cat

Have a full day of editing, so today I'm sharing a clip of our new kitten, Suki and Pip our Puggle.

Word Count Clarity

When I first started writing full time it was simply for the love of writing.  I had trouble sleeping one night and an idea just popped into my head. The next day, I sat in front of a blank computer screen and started to type out what I thought was a brilliant tale.

The beautiful thing about the story was I didn't have any preconceived notions about what it took to write a good book. I was clueless about passive voice, POV, filter words etc. all I knew was I had a story in my head and I needed to get it on the page.

Once the story was finished, and what I thought was edited (haha!), I set about the process of learning about this small thing called querying. The day I typed that word into the Google search engine, my naïve little book writing world exploded. I didn’t know the first thing about genre. The book I'd written was YA (I knew that much) but was it fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi? Yep, remember how I said, "clueless."

As I went on to research other aspects of the query I came across an article on something called word count. Word count?  I thought you just told the agent the book was finished at XXX pages. Um, wrong again. Little did I know how incredibly important word count was to my category and genre. I clicked on the additional link from the article, and discovered a fountain of information I never knew existed. 

While these guidelines are not set in stone, there is a basic framework agents and publishers use when looking at word count for a manuscript. Here are just a few of the basics.* 

Realistic Middle Grade: 25K- 60K. Shoot for: 30K-45K

Fantasy Middle Grade: 35K-75K. Shoot for: 45K-65K

Realistic Young Adult: 35K-75K. Shoot for: 45K-70K

Fantasy Young Adult: 50K-150K. Shoot for: 65K-85K

Adult Books: 80K-100K. Shoot for: 80K-99K

Now many will argue that J.K. Rowling's, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, was way beyond the Middle Grade threshold of 75k. And while that is true, it was NOT her first novel, and she had a proven track record. Most advice I've read from both agents and publishers encourages you to try and follow these guidelines for your debut novel. Once you've sold a few books, and have a proven sales record, publishers are more willing to work with word count.

These guidelines are not meant to curb your story or imagination, but rather give you an idea of what an agent or publisher looks for in these categories. If you are way above, or way below, these word counts it's a red flag for an agent or publisher that you've not done your homework. And who wants to get turned away before you've even gotten a chance to share your story?

So go on and write a gorgeous manuscript. One that is full of adventure or romance. But be mindful of what will work in your category and genre. You want your story to stand out for all the right reasons, NOT the wrong ones.

 

*Word count info was pulled from this post from Literary Agent, Jennifer Laughran, and this post from Chuck Sambuchino at Writer's Digest.

Writing and a Bicycle Built for Two

Most people who know me, know that I’m obsessed with vintage purple Schwinn tandem bikes.

Purple tandem in the 1965 Schwinn catalog

Some of you know me and some of you don’t. For those that have heard me go on and on about the vintage purple Schwinn tandem, please indulge me.

On my little piece of Internet real estate, I tell a story about a purple Schwinn tandem that lived in the garage of my neighbor’s house but belonged to every kid on the street. We all knew there was magic in that violet paint, those white gripped handlebars, those funky shaped seats.

Talk to any kid who spent their childhood on Sixth Street circa 1980s and say the words “purple tandem,” then stand back and watch what happens. We are transformed. We are transported.

No one knows what became of the mean purple machine that cruised up and down Sixth Street and beyond. But I’ve always known that if I couldn’t track down the exact purple tandem from my childhood, I wanted one find one just like it. I think having that tandem is a way to stay connected to my little kid glory days and a way to pass the magic of that shared neighborhood experience to my own kiddos.

In recent years, the purple tandem has taken on new meaning for me. It has become a symbol of my writing. On my little piece of Internet real estate, I say that writing for kids is like riding a tandem bike…you can do it alone, but it’s more fun when you have someone to share the ride. After several years of working on my writing craft and learning about publishing, I realize that sharing the ride isn’t just fun, it’s absolutely necessary to succeed.

This summer, two really spectacular things have happened. I found the elusive 1964 purple Schwinn tandem on Ebay. And I won it!

When that happened, I knew without a doubt that the stars were aligning for something big.

And I was right.

Because, as of last week, I accepted an offer of representation from Danielle Smith of Foreword Literary. So, I have a new purple tandem and a new partner to share the publishing ride!

There were many times I almost gave up my search for the purple tandem, or settled for something less than what I wanted because it would be easier (let’s just say finding vintage blue or green Schwinn tandem bikes is much easier than finding a purple…almost as difficult as finding an agent!). But I stuck to my vision and didn’t stop looking. The same goes for my agent search.

Despite this exciting news, I have work ahead of me. My vintage purple Schwinn tandem needs quite a bit of restoration before it’s ready to ride. And, with Danielle’s help, my picture book manuscripts need some fine tuning. Both should be ready to roll soon!

What’s your symbol that embodies your writing and your writing journey?

All Work and No Play . . .

With school starting in one week (Hooray!), it seems all I do is work anymore, and when I finally get home, I don't have any brain cells left to deal with anything else. Which is why you're getting this super insightful post today about absolutely nothing. But I will leave you with this because it's awesome.

Enjoy!

Have a great rest of the weekend!

#keepgoing - on moving forward when you feel stalled

Happy Friday, Operation Awesome!

Some of you Twitteratis may have noticed a hashtag circulating through the writing community earlier this week - #keepgoing - in which writers tweeted about the ways in which they've moved forward, even when this time last year, it felt hopeless.

The reason I think the discussion was so important is that everyone needs that encouragement once in a while. I'm sure there are some rare specimens out there who haven't had a single hiccup in their road to publication, but for the rest of us, there's always something. Whether it's agent-hunting, the submission process, low sales, bad reviews, a tough editorial note, or even a smaller, harder to articulate problem, any number of these things can stop you in your tracks.

#keepgoing reminds us that no matter how it looks now, you never know how your career is going to change if you keep pushing on. But how do you do that when you feel stalled?

Here are a few things that work for me:

- Switch it up. Obsessing over the project that's making you anxious is like salting the papercut, especially when that project is at a point where it's beyond your control. But sometimes it's not a project that you're querying or on sub with, sometimes it's a WIP that's just completely blocked, to the point where you wonder if you can even write anymore. In those cases, sometimes you just need to stick with it and push through, but other times, a shiny new Word .doc can be the perfect palate cleanser. It depends on what works best for the project, and your own personal process.

- Talk it out with people who understand.  Writer friends are the best in times like these, because we get it. You don't have to stop and explain anything to them, and together you can untangle the mess that is your thought process. It's good, in this case, to recognize what you need - whether it's a cheerleader, a nice brutal critique, a plotting buddy, or just a good old-fashioned venting session. Or just someone who will distract you with a nice bottle of wine and some silly TV shows.

- ... and remember to talk to non-writing people as well. Because it's always important to have perspective. My friends and family are just proud of me for finishing a book at all, regardless of how my career goes, so it's good to have the reminder that that's pretty neat on its own!

- Remind yourself that in this business, no effort is wasted. The frustrating part, of course, is when you can't immediately tell where those efforts will pay off - but whether that project isn't as dead in the water as you think, or helped you improve more than you'll ever know, every word you write is helping you somehow.

That's what helps me personally, OAers. How about you?

Have a great weekend, and hang in there!

We Interrupt This Writing Session to Bring You.....CAKE!!!

All right, I must confess.....I'm am fairly burned out on all things writing related at the moment :-) I've been on a non-stop roller coaster since last year and while it has been an amazing ride, I'm very ready for a nice break. (I'm also aware this will last approximately a day and a half before I start itching to write something again, but with a book due tomorrow and another releasing next month, right now all I want is a nap lol)

Anyhow, I thought I'd share a few pics of something else I like to do. Decorating cakes :D I don't get to do this very often - my husband doesn't like cake (I know, he's totally weird) so I pretty much only make them twice a year for my kids' birthdays. But here are a few I've made.

My son's 6th birthday:

Son's 9th birthday

Son's 5th birthday 

Son's 8th birthday

Stepson's girlfriend's birthday :)

Kids' Spring Parties at school

 Daughter's 8th birthday (and the nail polish bottles in the background are marshmallow and tootsie rolls) :D

Daughter's friend's 10th birthday

And now, back into the writing cave I go :-) Tomorrow, I'll send this baby to my editor and then...I think I might make a celebratory cake :-D

Structuring Your Novel by K. M. Weiland

There are so many great writing books out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. I pick up a lot of the Writer's Digest's line of books at the library's used book sale and that's been a great way to find the ones that speak to me and my writing style without laying down a lot of cash (or getting stuck in a subscription). I've found some true gems that way.

And yet, I still find myself turning to some old favorites when I'm really stuck in my writing. One of those is Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Succes by K. M. Weiland, and she's got a new book coming out on story structure that I'm eager to check out. Here are the cover and blurb:

Is Structure the
Hidden Foundation of All Successful Stories? 

Why do some stories work and others don’t? The answer is structure. In this new guide from the author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will discover the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will help you to not only perfectly time your story’s major events, but will also provide you with an unerring standard to use in evaluating your novel’s pacing and progression.
Structuring Your Novel
will show you:

• How to determine the best methods for unleashing your unique and personal vision for your story.
• How to identify common structural weaknesses and flip them around into stunning strengths.
• How to eliminate saggy middles by discovering your “centerpiece.”
• Why you should NEVER include conflict on every page.
• How to discover the questions you don’t want readers asking about your plot—and then how to get them to ask the right questions.

Story structure has empowered countless bestselling and classic authors. Now it’s your turn!

Stop by her blog tour that's starting this week, and go check out the wealth of information on her website, Helping Writers Become Authors! And feel free to leave a comment below with your own favorite writing book. :)

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CRUISE!!

AMAROK AND TRIANGLES

What if Amarok and Triangles paired up? They could do some cool things!

Emma could take a cruise with Autumn through the Bermuda Triangle, and lots of crazy things could happen with all the alternate realities going on…

Autumn could take a cruise through Amarok’s territory, checking out the amazing glaciers and wildlife of Alaska while hanging out with Emma…

Or YOU could win a vacation of your choice and do whatever you like!

In celebration of the release of Triangles, Spencer Hill Press still has the Win A Cruise promotion going on, but it ends next month! The winner will be drawn in one month, so enter before then if you’d like the chance to win! 

http://www.site.spencerhillpress.com/Triangles_Sweepstakes.html

HURRY AND ENTER BEFORE THE CONTEST ENDS!!!

 Have a great weekend everyone!