The Writer's Voice Contest Entry ~

Hello lovely Blogger friends!! I've been randomly selected to participate in the Writer's Voice Contest! Soooo excited!! A huge shout out and THANK YOU to Cupid, Brenda Drake, Monica B.W., and Krista Van Dolzer for hosting! If you're interested to see how the contest works, click here.

The contest instructions ask that I share my query and first 250 words of my YA Contemporary Fantasy THE GLASS PRINCE, here on my blog. So, here it is ~ I hope you enjoy it!

Query:

Dear Writer's Voice Coaches of Awesomeness:

Clara Knight wants nothing more than to perfect her baking skills, enjoy her seventeenth birthday party with friends, and go to Prom with her super-popular boyfriend. But then Rion rolls into town, complete with golden-boy good looks and a sexy British accent. When he kisses her in front of her party guests, all social-hell breaks loose.


Clara flees to upstate New York, accepting her estranged Grandma’s invitation to spend the summer with her. Grandma did promise to unveil some secret family tradition, after all. What Clara actually learns is that she shares a curse with Rion, and that he is an immortal fairy-tale prince her family is bound to help. Too bad he seems more interested in kissing Clara than breaking curses.

When a family heirloom and moonlight whoosh her away to the prince’s hometown of Elysia, five-hundred years in the past, Clara finds a cryptic riddle – her first clue to breaking the curse. As she digs deeper into her family’s past, she realizes that Dad’s death, always thought to be an accident, might have actually been murder. And when she starts to suspect that Grandma is working against her, she realizes that working with the boy she loves to hate is her only chance for survival.

THE GLASS PRINCE is complete at 72,500 words and I’m happy to send sample pages, if you’d like to read them. I have a BA in English, am a member of SCBWI, the League of Utah Writer’s and the Pied Pipers online critique group. I also try to attend at least one writing conference every year. And, of course, I’m always reading. I truly appreciate your time and consideration. .

First 250:

Someone rang my doorbell as if he’d accidentally super-glued his finger to the button. My neck muscles tightened with every annoying ding. A small window of time existed between taking hot cinnamon buns out of the oven and cooling them off just enough for the perfect glazing. If this idiot made me miss my window, heads were gonna roll.


I whipped the door open with dramatic flair and glared. I found a random delivery guy standing there. My eyes softened as I took in his golden waves of hair. He wore sunglasses. A curious tiara-sporting apple emblem stood out on his shirt pocket and his entire outfit, really, was head-to-toe crap, but somehow he managed to pull it off. At least, my heart thought so. Its beat quickened as I noticed all that muscle definition rippling the fabric of his uniform. And his tan? Heck. Who needed Tylenol for a stiff neck? Bring me a cute boy and “Cured!” Did ‘cute’ even do this guy justice, though? The tension in my face melted like ice cream on an oven-warm brownie.

“Can,” I paused to clear my throat. “Sorry. Can I help you?”

The boy chuckled and smiled. Or did he smirk?

“I’m here to wish you a happy seventeenth birthday, Clara,” he said, in a cool accent that made my whole body tingle. He held a large silvery envelope, so shiny I could almost see my reflection in it. “And to give you this.”

My hand crept up to my hair.        


And that's it!  Thanks to all who stop by and best of luck to all of the Writer's Voice contest participants!! :)

the One Where I Equate Getting my Dog to Look up and Sit Still for a Picture...to Writing. :)

Hello my fellow bloggers and writing friends!! 

I know I've been in-blog-visible lately...all I can say is that I've missed you all terribly, *virtual hugs to all*, and hope you'll still stop by and say "hello" to an old bloggy friend? *fingers and toes crossed*

Besides, I had to get this post up that I promised you months ago!!! And I KNOW many of you can relate ~

This writing thing...why do we do it? It's sort of like getting your pet to sit still for picture, isn't it?

I can get him positioned one way, but just as I go in for the pic!! Head turn.

And then, of course, something fascinating, like a bird ruffling feathers in a nearby bush, distracts him...



Try three...another head turn just as I click!

And then after a few (dozen!!!) more tries...the dog's just done.

BUT!!!  With a little patience and persistence...as with all things...in the end, you might just get the money shot:

I love writing and I love my cute, little dog. Why? Because both of these things make me happy. And things that make me happy are totally worth my time and patience.

Happy writing, my friends!!!!  Hope you're all doing wonderfully and find something that makes you happy today!! :)



Blood Will Tell ~ by Meredith Mansfield!!

Hey bloggy friends!!  One of my amazing crit partners just put one of her novels up on Smashwords and Amazon.

If you're in the mood for a great contemporary dragon fantasy with a twist - you NEED to check this out!

Here're the links to finding BLOOD WILL TELL by Meredith Mansfield:

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/154196

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Will-Tell-Chimeria-ebook/dp/B007WGBNII/ref=sr_1_20?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349898063&sr=1-20&keywords=blood+will+tell

Thanks and I'm audi!!  (although, I will be back shortly with a fascinating comparison of dog pics and writing novels...stay tuned!!)

Happy Tuesday!

GUTGAA ~ round 1.... :)

Hey, everyone!!  Hope you're all having a FANTASTIC week!!  (so far, right?  It's only Monday....)

I'll make this short and sweet.  I'm asking favors, here. 

I made it into the 1st round judging of GUTGAA's Agent Pitch contest ~ woo hoo!!

TWO submission windows for 100 entries each and they BOTH filled up in under 1 minute!!  Crazy...  I feel pretty lucky to have been among the lucky few to get in.  And there are SOOO many amazing entries!

I really have to give props to Deana Barnhart, again - for organizing this and clearly, all the work she's putting into it.  KUDOS, Deana!!  (*and for those still interested in pitching - she's doing another contest in a few weeks to pitch to small press publishers - so visit her site soon!!)

Deana also has a group of people helping her out and many are hosting the 1st round of to-be-judged entries this week.  My entry happens to be posted on the awesome Falling for Fiction blog ~ #14.

So, yanno, if you find yourself having a little free time this week and want to hop on over there and take a look...I wouldn't mind so much.  :)

Best of luck to ALL the entrants!!  And hope y'all have a wonderful week!!  Thanks!

Dual Spires/Twin Peaks... :)

Ah, Netflix.  How I adore thee...

Ok - so, I've been watching Psych on Netflix...LOVE IT!!!  If I wasn't married and James Roday wasn't dating the adorable Maggie Lawson - I would SO be all over him!! (oh, and have to give love to Dule Hill, Timothy Omundson, and Corbin Bernsen, too!...but, I digress...)  If you aren't watching this show...WHY NOT???

source

But - that's not exactly what I'm writing about and I'll quit being pushy.  To each their own taste in television shows...(but, seriously.  Watch Psych today.  You won't regret it!)

I'm actually writing about their spoof episode "Dual Spires".  Now, I never watched Twin Peaks back in the day - so I totally didn't get it.  Of course, being me, I needed to be in on the joke.  So - ala Netflix - I just got done watching the entire series of Twin Peaks!! 

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And then rewatched Dual Spires - SO much funnier the second time!!  Ok - but, still not exactly what I'm writing about.

What I really want to know.....how many Twin Peaks fans out there?  Did you watch it with the same "WTF - face" that I did?  (my "F" in WTF actually stands for "frack", btw...) And if you could write one more episode to follow that blasted cliff-hanger!!!  What would it be??  Thoughts?

(How's everyone doing, by the way?  Good, good - I hope!)  Happy Writing/Reading/Living out there, my friends!

Checking in for GUTGAA!! :)

Long time, no...blog.  :)  How's everyone doing??  So, so good, I hope!  I know it's been a while since I've checked in ~ no excuses.  It just kind of worked out that way.  But, my friend Deana Barnhart has such a fabulous event going on for the next 6 weeks that I just HAD to join in! (and, I've missed you all terribly, of course!)

If you haven't heard of it already - you need to get involved with GUTGAA, stat!

Gearing up to get an Agent - if you don't have one, of course, is going on now.  For all of my writer friends out there still querying and wishing/hoping/praying to work with an agent-extraordinaire - you simply have to get involved in this event.  You can access the master sign-up link HERE.

And to kick-off, Deana has asked participants to post a little meet-and-greet info.  Here's mine:

Questions for the Meet and Greet

-Where do you write?

Wherever I happen to be when I just need to get the words down.  I'm working on making my new home office space my writing haven...we'll see. :)

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

Desk reference set - dictionary, grammar, thesaurus...

-Favorite time to write?

Every time I'm doing it - especially when I'm on a roll!

-Drink of choice while writing?

Boring - but, I try to drink a lot of water...

-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

When I'm in my writing zone - I can tune just about anything out, but it's nice to have my favorite music playing in the background.

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

A while back, we had a crazy wind storm where I live that knocked down hundreds and hundreds of trees.  A lot of tall, old trees were uprooted at one of our local cemeteries.  Don't ask me why, but my daughter and I went driving through it one day and took pictures.  Some of the tree roots had grown under headstones and uprooted the grave markers as well.  That's just what brought us to the cemetery.  While there, I told my daughter about a local ghost and we stopped by her grave to pay our respects.  The seeds of a story idea were planted and my current wip "The Graves", was born.

-What's your most valuable writing tip?

Try to hammer out your first draft before you go back and edit anything.  Getting the WHOLE story out is usually the most difficult thing (for me, anyhow) and also the greatest accomplishment for a writer.  Give yourself the full story to edit to death, first.

 

Deana also asked for a short bio - I guess I'm the girl who's been writing stories for as long as I've known how to write.  YA/MG contemporary fantasy are my stories of choice, lately.  When I'm not writing ~ I'm a working stiff (aren't we all?), mother to a gorgeous teen girl, Alex, to the only boy I could have (his name is Sam, he's small and furry, and his ears are his best feature), and wife to a guy who does a killer chicken impression.  In addition to writing, I LOVE to travel!!  I wish I could do it more.  I also love to bake, spend time with family, watch clever t.v. shows, and read great books.

 

And, that's it!  Hope to see you all on the GUTGAA train.  Thanks, much, to Deana for organizing such a great event, thanks to the participating agents, and also to Deana's buddies helping her out with the judging.  And to those participating in the agent pitches ~ best of luck!! :)

Mi Cassafire, Es su Cassafire ~ :)

Hello, my bloggy friends!!  Oh, how I've missed you ~ :)  And I figured, if there was any one day to stage a comeback - it just had to be the day of my bloggy friend, Alex J. Cavanaugh's launch party and release of his second novel, CASSAFIRE!

Here's some info you'll definitely want to know about Alex and his newest book:

CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

 CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

 The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

 To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy.…

 Available today!

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:
“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

I'm sure if you stroll around the blogosphere today, you will see CassaFire posted nearly EVERYWHERE!!  Don't worry - a bad case of Tgren mind control has not taken over our humble little on-line world.  It's simply that Alex ROCKS!!  He's one of the coolest ninja bloggers out there and a good guy to have in your corner.  So - check out his book, will ya???

 The goal of this massive blog party is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’'s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. See Alex'’s site for details: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/  Check out this awesome prize pack:

The blog tour runs until  March 9th - and if you'd like to follow more info/comments on the book via Twitter - the party hashtag is #CatchFire

So, my friends - do Alex a solid (good heavens, did I seriously just type that???) and check out the blog, the book, and everything else you can get your hands on.

And I'll be back to post more exciting QoP quips soon!  Heck - I might even join in that A-Z blogger challenge thingy...you know the one, right?

Ciao for now.  Happy writing/reading/living out there today!!

The QoP ~ Wishing you all a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!!

Hello, my awesome blogger friends! 

Yes ~ I'm still alive.  You know, in case your were wondering.  ;)  And I miss you ALL, of course!  I've just been trying to manage through some personal stuff.  Nothing to worry about - but, it needs my attention.  And since my time management skills kind of...suck (I'm thinking of a word that starts with "p"...)  ~ I'm sacrificing my blogging time for a little while.  No worries ~ I'll be back soon, and lurking around to see what's happening with my favorite people in the blogosphere.

But, I wanted to pop in today to wish you all a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!  And for my friends out there that may not celebrate Thanksgiving - I wish you ALL the BEST!

And I'm not leaving you totally empty handed!!!  I wouldn't think of it!!! So - here's an awesome recipe I'm making as an alternative to traditional pumpkin pie for my family's Thanksgiving Feast:

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake from all.recipes.com

Ingredients:


2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.

3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.



YUM - right????  :)

And what Holiday would be complete without a few jokes:

Sooo morbid - but, I just love this one!!!  (source)

(source)

~ Warm Holiday wishes to you all - from Donea Lee :)

Writerly Wednesday ~ The Fairy Tale Twist

I'll have to admit...I've been in a bit of a funk, lately.  (HI!  btw... :))  Maybe you've noticed?  This blogging thing is HARD sometimes!  The thing is ~ I wandered into this lovely blogging community and I've met some wonderful people and I don't want to lose contact with you.  So - I hope you'll forgive my "good-blogger" shortcomings and stop by to say "hello" from time to time.

BUT ~ on to the post!!  I admit it.  I watch FAR too much television.  I'm kind of a TV-junkie.  My poor dvr...  My husband is frequently exiled to the bedroom to watch his sports on the small screen, while I get the big TV in the living room ALL to myself!  (I know...mean...sorry sport-lovin' hubbies out there...)

A few new shows I'm trying out lately are twists on fairy tales.  These appeal to me, of course, because I happen to be writing a twisty fairy-tale based story.  Plus - who doesn't love a good fairy tale???  And I humbly maintain that watching copious amounts of TV is good research for writers.  I mean - a good show schools me on dialogue that works, humor, drama, character development, transitions from story to story - ALL sorts of stuff!  Here are the shows:

Once Upon a Time:



(source)

 and Grimm:

(source)

It's too early to decide which one I like better.  They both have their take on the Grimm fairy tales, but completely different approaches.  I do like the flashbacks to the fairy tales, themselves, in Once Upon a Time.  But - the cop angle of Grimm lends to more possible stories...I think.  Maybe.  :)  Plus, the reformed "Big Bad Wolf" in Grimm is pretty funny.  What I like the best, I think - is that they are taking stories that the whole world knows and putting a whole new twist on them.  Because - really...that's what writers do.

Have you seen these shows?  Have a favorite yet?  What's your favorite fairy-tale twist?  Please share!

And I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Haunted Blogfest ~ Reminiscing about Flo

Hello, my blogger friends!!  I'm back.  Sorry I missed you all last week.  But, I'm here in full force today to participate in Bish Denham's:

The challenge is to write a haunted story - preferably real - in 300 words or less.  I fear mine is more of a reminisce/short vignette - but, it's a fun memory from my teenage years.  I hope you enjoy!

(source)

Florence Louise Grange, or as she’s more famously known as, “Flo”, was the ghost of ghosts back in the day. The best way to get Flo to come out and play was to drive to the top of her cemetery lane at night and park the car with the headlights pointed down towards her headstone. A brave volunteer would walk down to her headstone, recite the words carved on it precisely, then turn and walk back up the lane without looking back. Flo would erupt from her grave as a glowing green ball and follow (or chase) you up the street. (*TIP: this is where a date comes in handy, because I had a good excuse to fling myself into his arms…)



She would hover and hang around for a while. And if you got lucky, she would even morph into her original form – a sad young girl in a long dress. I only ever saw her as a ball of light. But, she’d say “hello” often, as often as we went to see her.


As more and more people started to visit Flo, the cops started to patrol the cemetery in force. My friends and I had a way around that. Instead of driving in, we would park in the neighborhood across the street and walk into the cemetery. This was an even bigger rush, at least for us. Not only were we excited to visit Flo – but the added “cool” factor of dodging the cops just amped up our fun. We dived behind headstones a time or two, leaning into the shadows and away from trolling patrol-car searchlights.


But, Flo never seemed to mind. Headlights or not – if we held to the ritual, she’d appear. As a grown-up with my own teenager, I can’t say I’d recommend this date/hang-out activity to my daughter. I’m a parent, of course. That would just be…wrong. Of course, if my stories and reminisces of my youth spur her to seek out these haunts on her own? I hope she’ll tell my old friend Flo that I say “hello”.

 
I hope you'll all click on Bish's name above to visit the others participating in the blogfest.  And thanks, so much, for stopping by.  Happy Wednesday!!