*
Whew! That was a super fun Middle Grade party. I want to give my sincere thanks to Sherry for hosting with me and an extra heartfelt thanks to all those who took the time to stop by.
Your time and conversation is sincerely appreciated.
So, the winners of the four books (after names were pulled from a pink cereal bowl) are:
StoryQueen: Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Michelle: Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
LazyWriter: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Sarah: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
I've linked each of their fantastic blogs for your viewing treasure and pleasure.
Congrats to the winners. Please e mail me at tesshilmo(at)comcast(dot)net with your preferred mailing address and I will get those books out in the mail pronto!
Questions: Wasn't that a fun walk down memory lane? Did it make you want to pick up a middle grade novel from your youth and pass it on to a child in your life? or re-read it yourself? or write your own?
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Come On Over For A Middle Grade Par-Tay!!!
*
Welcome, friends!
Today we are hosting a not-to-be-missed Middle Grade Par-Tay.
Who is we?
Excellent question.
We is me and Sherry from Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big? (how cool is that blog name?)
Why are we celebrating all things Middle Grade today?
Well, aside from it being the coolest genre ev-ah, we hope to teach a little bit.
Middle Grade fiction is novel length work for children ages 8-13. Think: Island of the Blue Dolphins or Harry Potter or Fablehaven or City of Ember or Stargirl or Because of Winn Dixie or The Tale of Despereaux or The Giver .....
that's Middle Grade.
So, Sherry and I interviewed each other and you can enter to win one of FOUR super novels by commenting on both of our blogs today.
We are giving away
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Newbery Award)
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deobrah Wiles (National Book Award)
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (a must read for every teen age girl!)
and,
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
All super reads that you are sure to enjoy.
Here's my interview w/ Sherry. When you're done here pop over to her blog see what I'm up to on the MG front.
Party on!
Welcome to the party, Sherry. Tell us, what were some of your favorite books when you were a kid?
As a kid reading was and still is my greatest escape. I was/am an only child so books were always my best friends. I love middle grade books and must admit there is something enchanting about that age. One book I really loved was A Wrinkle in Time. I love all of the books in this series by Madeleine L’Engle. A wrinkle in Time starts off with the classic cliché “It was a dark and stormy night” sheer brilliance. I also really love Dicey’s Song from the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voigt. I guess you could say I am big fan of Newbery Honor winners. Some others include Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies…I was in advanced English and literature all throughout junior high and high school so my list is vast and far. Oh, and I love collections of short stories about ghost and horror.
Why do you write middle grade fiction?
I write middle grade because…it is the age that I never want to forget. It is time when the world seems so big and unconquered but yet, at the same time middle grade children feel they can do it all. It is a time of self discovery a perfect balance of innocence and young adulthood. I remember when I was at the age of 13, I said, as most do “Parents just don’t know how hard it is to be a kid.” And so often I think us, as adults forget…I promised myself that I would never forget what it was like to be a kid. I write middle grade to remember those time and maybe somehow through my novels I can help a child smile, laugh or understand that it is ok, things will get better.
Can you give us a brief summary of your middle grade novel?
Ahh, I have to laugh at this because I am a bit sporadic and have many WIPs, “No, I do not have commitment issues, I am just hyper. He he” Here is a summary of one of my fav. WIPs
Letters to Grandma “This is my most personal novel.”
Letters to Grandma takes place on the dirt roads of Texas, set in a time of the late seventies. Rock and roll and love power spread like wildflowers. Emily has been living on a farm just outside of the city limits with her grandmother. At a very young age Emily’s mother didn’t want her and grandma has been raising her ever since but two days before her thirteenth birthday tragedy strikes a little too close to home Emily’s world turns upside down. Not only is she ripped from her childhood home but now she has to move to the city to live with her alcoholic mother. Everything is different, new school, new home, and no more dirt roads. In an effort to deal Emily starts writing letters to grandma taking us on a journey through her changing life.
Thanks, Sherry! Hey party pals, remember to comment on both blogs to be entered in the drawing for one of the four middle grade novels we will be giving away. comments accepted through Tues night. Winners announced Wed am.
Welcome, friends!
Today we are hosting a not-to-be-missed Middle Grade Par-Tay.
Who is we?
Excellent question.
We is me and Sherry from Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big? (how cool is that blog name?)
Why are we celebrating all things Middle Grade today?
Well, aside from it being the coolest genre ev-ah, we hope to teach a little bit.
Middle Grade fiction is novel length work for children ages 8-13. Think: Island of the Blue Dolphins or Harry Potter or Fablehaven or City of Ember or Stargirl or Because of Winn Dixie or The Tale of Despereaux or The Giver .....
that's Middle Grade.
So, Sherry and I interviewed each other and you can enter to win one of FOUR super novels by commenting on both of our blogs today.
We are giving away
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Newbery Award)
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deobrah Wiles (National Book Award)
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (a must read for every teen age girl!)
and,
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
All super reads that you are sure to enjoy.
Here's my interview w/ Sherry. When you're done here pop over to her blog see what I'm up to on the MG front.
Party on!
Welcome to the party, Sherry. Tell us, what were some of your favorite books when you were a kid?
As a kid reading was and still is my greatest escape. I was/am an only child so books were always my best friends. I love middle grade books and must admit there is something enchanting about that age. One book I really loved was A Wrinkle in Time. I love all of the books in this series by Madeleine L’Engle. A wrinkle in Time starts off with the classic cliché “It was a dark and stormy night” sheer brilliance. I also really love Dicey’s Song from the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voigt. I guess you could say I am big fan of Newbery Honor winners. Some others include Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies…I was in advanced English and literature all throughout junior high and high school so my list is vast and far. Oh, and I love collections of short stories about ghost and horror.
Why do you write middle grade fiction?
I write middle grade because…it is the age that I never want to forget. It is time when the world seems so big and unconquered but yet, at the same time middle grade children feel they can do it all. It is a time of self discovery a perfect balance of innocence and young adulthood. I remember when I was at the age of 13, I said, as most do “Parents just don’t know how hard it is to be a kid.” And so often I think us, as adults forget…I promised myself that I would never forget what it was like to be a kid. I write middle grade to remember those time and maybe somehow through my novels I can help a child smile, laugh or understand that it is ok, things will get better.
Can you give us a brief summary of your middle grade novel?
Ahh, I have to laugh at this because I am a bit sporadic and have many WIPs, “No, I do not have commitment issues, I am just hyper. He he” Here is a summary of one of my fav. WIPs
Letters to Grandma “This is my most personal novel.”
Letters to Grandma takes place on the dirt roads of Texas, set in a time of the late seventies. Rock and roll and love power spread like wildflowers. Emily has been living on a farm just outside of the city limits with her grandmother. At a very young age Emily’s mother didn’t want her and grandma has been raising her ever since but two days before her thirteenth birthday tragedy strikes a little too close to home Emily’s world turns upside down. Not only is she ripped from her childhood home but now she has to move to the city to live with her alcoholic mother. Everything is different, new school, new home, and no more dirt roads. In an effort to deal Emily starts writing letters to grandma taking us on a journey through her changing life.
Thanks, Sherry! Hey party pals, remember to comment on both blogs to be entered in the drawing for one of the four middle grade novels we will be giving away. comments accepted through Tues night. Winners announced Wed am.
And, tell us, have you read any middle grade novels? Which are your favorites? What do you love most about those books? Which of you fun friends actually write middle grade? What are you working on?
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Are You Hungry, Too?
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Recent events have me considering the concept of hunger.
It's something I've mused on in the past, even written about. Here is the start of a novel I never finished about two siblings who are hungry, but deal with it differently:
Gabe is always hungry. Nothing ever seems to fill him up. There is not enough soup, not enough toys and not enough love. Mama says, “Boy, someone could walk right up to you and hand over a hundred dollars and you’d whine for one more.”
Mama can’t say that about me, though. I am happy with whatever I get. Maybe it's because I'm three whole years older than Gabe. Maybe it's because I have learned that there's no more coming and you'd better enjoy what's sitting on your plate. I guess age can do that. Teach you how to be filled up on half a bowl of soup, or half of Mama’s love.
I quit writing this novel because it began to feel too personal, too close.
Not the mother part, mine was very loving.
And not really the soup part, we weren't rich, but weren't poor, either.
But, something about living hungry struck a chord with me.
Longing for more, always wanting.
And, lately, that thing has been the publication of my work. Sure, I've had articles and music published. That was nice. But, like Gabe, it wasn't enough. I want more. I want an actual career as an author.
I'm willing to work, to push, to fight my own insecurities and laziness.
I'm willing to listen, and try and learn.
I'm hungry.
Are you?
*
Recent events have me considering the concept of hunger.
It's something I've mused on in the past, even written about. Here is the start of a novel I never finished about two siblings who are hungry, but deal with it differently:
Gabe is always hungry. Nothing ever seems to fill him up. There is not enough soup, not enough toys and not enough love. Mama says, “Boy, someone could walk right up to you and hand over a hundred dollars and you’d whine for one more.”
Mama can’t say that about me, though. I am happy with whatever I get. Maybe it's because I'm three whole years older than Gabe. Maybe it's because I have learned that there's no more coming and you'd better enjoy what's sitting on your plate. I guess age can do that. Teach you how to be filled up on half a bowl of soup, or half of Mama’s love.
I quit writing this novel because it began to feel too personal, too close.
Not the mother part, mine was very loving.
And not really the soup part, we weren't rich, but weren't poor, either.
But, something about living hungry struck a chord with me.
Longing for more, always wanting.
And, lately, that thing has been the publication of my work. Sure, I've had articles and music published. That was nice. But, like Gabe, it wasn't enough. I want more. I want an actual career as an author.
I'm willing to work, to push, to fight my own insecurities and laziness.
I'm willing to listen, and try and learn.
I'm hungry.
Are you?
*
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Crud
*
Crud.
That was my exact thought when my agent told me that the editor who had read my novel and requested revisions - then liked the revisions - then sent it on to someone else in their group to read
was passing on the novel.
Crud.
Is the novel stronger after those the revisions and will thus fare better in the next submission round? yes
Am I ultimately glad that they are passing if they aren't uber excited about the project (I mean, we do deserve and want that, right?) ? yes
When I think about it, is a free full novel critique from an editor at a major publishing house a wonderful gift? absolutely
Still,
crud.
oh, and my second thought?
this road to publication is so blasted long!
*
Crud.
That was my exact thought when my agent told me that the editor who had read my novel and requested revisions - then liked the revisions - then sent it on to someone else in their group to read
was passing on the novel.
Crud.
Is the novel stronger after those the revisions and will thus fare better in the next submission round? yes
Am I ultimately glad that they are passing if they aren't uber excited about the project (I mean, we do deserve and want that, right?) ? yes
When I think about it, is a free full novel critique from an editor at a major publishing house a wonderful gift? absolutely
Still,
crud.
oh, and my second thought?
this road to publication is so blasted long!
*
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Friday Funny & Punctuation
Maybe you are asking yourself,
How can punctuation be the subject of our Friday Funny?
Excellent question.
First of all, I have to confess that I suck rocks when it comes to punctuation. I try, honestly I do. I've read Strunk and White's. I have a BA in Communications (lots of writing in those classes).
Still suck.
In fact, my super-cool-agent-dude recently sent me my manuscript back with the note somewhere along the lines of, "I took the time to copy edit this for you. Please work off this copy from now on."
Thanks, Steven! And what is the proof of his coolness? He didn't say things like learn how to use an apostrophe, why don't you? or Man, why'd I sign a writer with such lousy skills? Nope. He could have said either of those, but he didn't. And that's a pretty cool thing.
Anyway - on with the funny!!
Punctuation Parable -- why it matters.
version #1:
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior.You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy - will you let me be yours?
Gloria
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria
So, I have recommitted to being better at punctuation. Because, apparently, it does matter.
Have a great weekend all!
How can punctuation be the subject of our Friday Funny?
Excellent question.
First of all, I have to confess that I suck rocks when it comes to punctuation. I try, honestly I do. I've read Strunk and White's. I have a BA in Communications (lots of writing in those classes).
Still suck.
In fact, my super-cool-agent-dude recently sent me my manuscript back with the note somewhere along the lines of, "I took the time to copy edit this for you. Please work off this copy from now on."
Thanks, Steven! And what is the proof of his coolness? He didn't say things like learn how to use an apostrophe, why don't you? or Man, why'd I sign a writer with such lousy skills? Nope. He could have said either of those, but he didn't. And that's a pretty cool thing.
Anyway - on with the funny!!
Punctuation Parable -- why it matters.
version #1:
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior.You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy - will you let me be yours?
Gloria
version #2
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria
So, I have recommitted to being better at punctuation. Because, apparently, it does matter.
Have a great weekend all!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
What Do You See?
As writers, we have an eye for beauty
contrast
life in it's varied and precious forms
We have a gift of finding the extraordinary wonder in very ordinary situations.
That is why so many of us are also photographers, artists, composers or poets
We love to take the ordinary cup of coffee and build a beautiful story or image around it.
Truly, it is our gift.
Today I would like to ask: do we allow ourselves to use that same gift within the confines of our own lives?
Do we look at our homes, jobs, messy kitchen counters and see the extraordinary beauty in what we have been blessed with or do we just see the ordinary and mundane?
Shouldn't we allow ourselves to see the same wonder and beauty that we find in the outside world in our own lives first and foremost?
To recognize the amazing potential for story, craft and art in our immediate surroundings - even if they seem tedious and inconsequential and routine?
Just wondering...
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BBAW Week Interview - Amber Stults
Happy Tuesday, all!
This week is Book Blogger Appreciation Week. You can go to this website and vote for some really great blogs. As part of the festivities, I signed up for an interview swap and was assigned the fantastic Amber Stults. Amber is a writer, but also a book reviewer (whis is so intriguing to me!)
Welcome, Amber! I had such fun poking around your blog. Tell me, what started you blogging about books?
Initially I thought it would be a good way to provide content for my blog in between my posts about writing. As it turns out, it’s a good way for me to better remember the books I read.
Is it true that some of your book reviews have been published? Can you share a little bit of that process with us?
Yes, it’s true! I’m assigned a book to review or given a choice between a few titles. Then I read the book, write the review and send it to the editor. At that point it can be published or come back to me with revision requests. Usually the revisions are small ones to make things clearer to the reader.
How do you choose which books to review on your blog? Or which authors to interview?
For nearly a year I reviewed every book I read. I read faster than I can write a review though and it takes the focus off my writing. Now I review about half of what I read. I still write partial reviews for the other half to keep in reserve for when I’m on vacation or sick.
The author interviews are fun to do – you never know what kind of answer you'll get to a question. I interview authors that are on blog tours.
Now, I understand you are also a writer. What do you like to write?
I like writing drabbles (flash fiction exactly 100 words in length) and novels the best. Some are fantasy and others are more realistic. It doesn't seem like I've found my niche like you.
Oh, multi talented, then :)
Many of my blogging friends are also writers and we love learning about process. Can you share your favorite part of the writing process with us? How about the most difficult?
My favorite part is when I reread something I wrote with no recollection of writing it and I can't believe the words came from me. That usually happens when I'm writing in the zone.
The most difficult part for me is the revising. If it's been in a drawer for months I usually hate the piece and can't believe I wrote so poorly. It took me a long time to allow myself to write bad first drafts that are good for recycling or starting a fire. I find it's easier for me to revise if I set something aside for a few weeks. It still holds my interest and I can tweak it a little bit at a time. Unfortunately, it's a slow process.
Thanks so much for doing this swap with me, Amber. It's been fun getting to know you.
My favorite part is when I reread something I wrote with no recollection of writing it and I can't believe the words came from me. That usually happens when I'm writing in the zone.
The most difficult part for me is the revising. If it's been in a drawer for months I usually hate the piece and can't believe I wrote so poorly. It took me a long time to allow myself to write bad first drafts that are good for recycling or starting a fire. I find it's easier for me to revise if I set something aside for a few weeks. It still holds my interest and I can tweak it a little bit at a time. Unfortunately, it's a slow process.
Thanks so much for doing this swap with me, Amber. It's been fun getting to know you.
Thanks for letting me visit with you, Tess. It's been a lot of fun!
*
If you want, you can pop over to Amber's site to see her interview of me.
HAPPY BOOK BLOGGER APPRECIATION WEEK! And, even though my blogging buddies (incl me) aren't up for the awards, I want to say how much I sincerely appreciate each one of you. How much I enjoy your comments and conversation. How fantastic your blogs are. Thanks for being a friend. You teach, inspire and help me every day.
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
I'm a Wiener!
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That's what my daughter says whenever she gets something, "I'm a wiener!"
*
gotta love teenage humor
But, today we do have two fabulous winners.
Here's my littlest one drawing the names:
And the wieners ..er ... I mean winners are:
Novice Writer Anonymous and PJ Hoover. You have both won a Post It Pen featured in the Free Stuff Friday post last week. E mail me at tesshilmo(at)comcast(dot)net with your address (NWA - you do not have to divulge your name...and I accept PO boxes ;) )
AND: this week is Blogger Appreciation Week!!! You can click here to vote for some really great bloggers. Tomorrow I will be doing an interview swap with Amber Stults who runs a fantastic book review blog and has even had some of her reviews published! I hope you tune in for it. Congrats to both PJ and NWA!
That's what my daughter says whenever she gets something, "I'm a wiener!"
*
gotta love teenage humor
But, today we do have two fabulous winners.
Here's my littlest one drawing the names:
And the wieners ..er ... I mean winners are:
Novice Writer Anonymous and PJ Hoover. You have both won a Post It Pen featured in the Free Stuff Friday post last week. E mail me at tesshilmo(at)comcast(dot)net with your address (NWA - you do not have to divulge your name...and I accept PO boxes ;) )
AND: this week is Blogger Appreciation Week!!! You can click here to vote for some really great bloggers. Tomorrow I will be doing an interview swap with Amber Stults who runs a fantastic book review blog and has even had some of her reviews published! I hope you tune in for it. Congrats to both PJ and NWA!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Free Stuff Friday & Mantras
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Welcome to another fabulous Free Stuff Friday!
I've been absolutely dying to give away this fantastic writerly tool.
It's a post it pen! You can make notes on your manuscript and flag the pages at the same time! Isn't that fabulous?
I got them free from my hubby's work so they have a drug company name on the side...but who cares, right? I have two to give away and here's how we'll play:
A while ago, I wrote this post that talked about how I got my new mantra.
It is:
You are good
You can be awesome
I think you will
I can't tell you how many times since that first day these words have lifted my spirits.
So, to enter our fun contest, leave a comment telling me what your mantra is. What do you say to yourself when you hit a wall or feel a little discouraged? How do you keep that fire going?
I've been absolutely dying to give away this fantastic writerly tool.
It's a post it pen! You can make notes on your manuscript and flag the pages at the same time! Isn't that fabulous?
I got them free from my hubby's work so they have a drug company name on the side...but who cares, right? I have two to give away and here's how we'll play:
A while ago, I wrote this post that talked about how I got my new mantra.
It is:
You are good
You can be awesome
I think you will
I can't tell you how many times since that first day these words have lifted my spirits.
So, to enter our fun contest, leave a comment telling me what your mantra is. What do you say to yourself when you hit a wall or feel a little discouraged? How do you keep that fire going?
My absolute favorite part about blogging is the encouragement we offer one another. It is priceless. Let's lift and encourage today. Let's remind each other that we are not alone in our goals and dreams. Let's feel awesome.
Contest will run through Sunday night when I will randomly pull two names from some kind of hat or tupperware bowl or whatever I can find in my messy kitchen.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Personal Moment
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Today I'll share a bit of myself...
Recently, I was interviewed on Robyn's blog. It was great fun.
After the interview I got some responses asking me
Didn't you jump and squeal and do a beautiful happy dance once you secured your agent?
The truth is, I reacted quite differently than I expected to.
Before I was agented, I would have guessed I'd have that dancing reaction, adding in a celebratory steak dinner and trip to ColdStone (mud pie mojo, please)
But when the time came, I felt quite differently.
I felt, well, grateful.
And humble.
With a sudden and clear understanding of the work ahead of me.
There is no right or wrong here. I'm just sharing my own reaction and how it surprised me somewhat.
Questions: Have you ever felt this way? Does it make any sense to you or am I just a wet blanket missing the got-an-agent-party-boat? How do you expect to respond (or how did you respond) to these types of events in our lives?
*
Today I'll share a bit of myself...
Recently, I was interviewed on Robyn's blog. It was great fun.
After the interview I got some responses asking me
Didn't you jump and squeal and do a beautiful happy dance once you secured your agent?
The truth is, I reacted quite differently than I expected to.
Before I was agented, I would have guessed I'd have that dancing reaction, adding in a celebratory steak dinner and trip to ColdStone (mud pie mojo, please)
But when the time came, I felt quite differently.
I felt, well, grateful.
And humble.
With a sudden and clear understanding of the work ahead of me.
Celebrating too wildly seemed premature somehow. Like taking all the pictures when you're at the 75% mark of Everest.
No, when I reached that pre-summit summit, I looked down below me, thankful for making it to this beautiful place. Then I looked up at the final push to the actual summit, quietly nodded, and put my foot right back on the path.
There is no right or wrong here. I'm just sharing my own reaction and how it surprised me somewhat.
Questions: Have you ever felt this way? Does it make any sense to you or am I just a wet blanket missing the got-an-agent-party-boat? How do you expect to respond (or how did you respond) to these types of events in our lives?
*
Friday, September 4, 2009
I Had Never Even CONSIDERED This!
*
Come with me on a journey...
I'm sitting in my office, end of a long day, kids tucked in
I click on statcounter - just for fun
click on keyword search (this usually gives me a laugh or two - people will search the silliest things)
notice my character names all being searched from the same ISP address
Why would someone be googling my character names?
I click on the little magnifying glass and see they are being googled from the same address in NYC
Do you know what this means?!
My novel, With A Name Like Love is on submission - someone in NYC is researching my character names
my character names!!!
Have you ever considered this?
I mean, googling your character names to make sure there isn't a conflict of interest somewhere? that your MC's name isn't the same as the mayor of Chicago or a convicted axe murderer or an adult film star?
Did you have a clue that, when your novel is being considered by a publishing house, they might do this?
Do you have your character names in any of your posts so you would know if an editor ever did this (that's the only reason it showed up on my statcounter -- good old WIP Wednesdays where I put in snippits w/ the character names)?
Tell me did you have a clue about this? Will you google your character names from now on? Would it change what you decided to name them? I'm telling you, I learn something new every single day of this writing journey. Amazing.
*
Come with me on a journey...
I'm sitting in my office, end of a long day, kids tucked in
I click on statcounter - just for fun
click on keyword search (this usually gives me a laugh or two - people will search the silliest things)
notice my character names all being searched from the same ISP address
Why would someone be googling my character names?
I click on the little magnifying glass and see they are being googled from the same address in NYC
Do you know what this means?!
My novel, With A Name Like Love is on submission - someone in NYC is researching my character names
my character names!!!
Have you ever considered this?
I mean, googling your character names to make sure there isn't a conflict of interest somewhere? that your MC's name isn't the same as the mayor of Chicago or a convicted axe murderer or an adult film star?
Did you have a clue that, when your novel is being considered by a publishing house, they might do this?
Do you have your character names in any of your posts so you would know if an editor ever did this (that's the only reason it showed up on my statcounter -- good old WIP Wednesdays where I put in snippits w/ the character names)?
Tell me did you have a clue about this? Will you google your character names from now on? Would it change what you decided to name them? I'm telling you, I learn something new every single day of this writing journey. Amazing.
*
Thursday, September 3, 2009
An Oops and A Giggle
caption: He's very disciplined about his writing. Three hours of staring at a blank screen every morning and five in the afternoon.
Oops. I must apologize. I had plans for a Friday give away of a super-cool-writerly-must-have-item but the Labor Day weekend has put a snag in the retrieval plans.
It's all good. We've had a few give aways as of late, so I'm hoping a giggle will do.
This weekend will find me going to a baseball game w/ friends, watching football and emptying out the basement because we are finally going to start finishing it off.
Tell me, what are your plans?
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
My Very First and A Give Away
Lucky me, I've been interviewed on Robyn Campbell's blog, Putting Pen to Paper
And, as part of the fun, I'm giving away this adorable NoJo Jungle Babies stuffed frog and a $10 Amazon gift certificate.
In my novel, With A Name Like Love, one of the main characters collects frogs (real live ones), so that's the reason for the cutie pie frog give away.
My very first blog interview....hooray!!
Pop over, check it out and enter to win over there!
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