VBT’s November Anniversary Tour Schedule

Well, it’s a YEAR! That’s right, we have been cross-promoting and helping one another for a year now.

To celebrate this accomplishment, we will have a SUPER-DUPER Anniversary Tour!

The number before the host’s name is the day in November that he/she will post in the tour.

1 Dianne Sagan is hosting Heidi Thomas
2 Harry Gilleland is hosting Karen Cioffi
3 Karen Cioffi is hosting Martha Swirzinki
4 Kathy Stemke is hosting Brigitte Thompson
5 Nancy Famolari is hosting Deborah Weed
6 Margaret Fieland is hosting Elysabeth Eldering
7 Crystalee Calderwood is hosting Harry Gilleland
8 Katie Hines is hosting Heather Paye
9 Helena Harper is hosting Steve Tremp
10 Liana Metal is hosting Crystalee Calderwood
11 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is hosting Marvin Wilson
12 Gayle Trent is hosting Dianne Sagan
13 Mayra Calvani is hosting Carolyn Howard-Johnson
14 Marvin Wilson is hosting Gayle Trent
15 Linda Asato is hosting Mayra Calvani
16 Heather Paye is hosting Katie Hines
17 Steve Tremp is hosting Helena Harper
18 Elysabeth Eldering is hosting Linda Asato
19 Darcia Helle is hosting Liana Metal
20 Deborah Weed is hosting Nancy Famolari
21 Brigitte Thompson is hosting Margaret Fieland
22 Martha Swirzinki is hosting Darcia Helle
23 Heidi Thomas is hosting Kathy Stemke

Each day there will be prizes offered. All you have to do is leave a comment on the host’s site on the day he/she is posting for their guest and you may be a WINNER!

The Winner will have a choice of ONE of 2 or 3 books of our members or other related gifts, OR a one day guest spot on THIS site!

Prizes being given away EVERY Day from November 1st through November 23rd!

OH! Wait a minute! That’s not all! We are still having our Mystery Site Giveaway and the SUPER-DUPER PRIZE is a $25 (US) GIFT CARD to either Amazon, Target, or an American Express Gift Card. I’ll know for sure by the end of this month.

Winners will be notified the day after each posting. The Mystery Site Winner will be notified Sunday, November 29th.

Come celebrate with us and have the chance of being one of the WINNERS of a great gift in the process.

Welcome to Heidi M. Thomas to start Celebrating the VBT-Writers on the Move Anniversary Month

Welcome to the first day of a month long celebration for the one year anniversary of VBT – Writers on the Move. We are a cross promoting group of writers.

I’m really excited to have Heidi M. Thomas with me today. She is from Montana, the Big Sky Country but now lives in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Raised on a rach in isolated eastern Montana, Heidi Thomas had a love of reading and writing since she was a little girl.

Heidi, tell us a little about yourself.

A tidbit of family history, that her grandmother rode steers in rodeos during the 1920s, spurred Heidi to write a novel based on that grandmother’s life.
Cowgirl Dreams is the first in a series about strong, independent Montana Women.
Heidi is a member of Women Writing the West, Skagit Valley Writers League, Skagit Women in Business, and the Northwest Independent Editors Guild. She is an avid reader of all kinds of books, enjoys hiking the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, edits, and teaches memoir and fiction writing classes.

Married to Dave Thomas (not of Wendy’s fame), Heidi has no children, but as the “human” for two finicky felines, describes herself primarily as a “cat herder.”
www.heidimthomas.com

You have a great book that I know I’m anxious to read. Tell us about Cowgirl Dreams.

Defying family and social pressure, Nettie Brady bucks 1920s convention with her dream of becoming a rodeo star. That means competing with men, and cowgirls who ride the rodeo circuit are considered “loose women.” Addicted to the thrill of pitting her strength and wits against a half-ton steer in a rodeo, Nettie exchanges skirts for pants, rides with her brothers on their Montana ranch, and competes in neighborhood rodeos. 

Broken bones, killer influenza, flash floods, and family hardship team up to keep Nettie from her dreams. Then she meets a young neighbor cowboy who rides broncs and raises rodeo stock. Will this be Nettie’s ticket to freedom and happiness? Will her rodeo dreams come true?

Based on the life of the author’s grandmother, a real Montana cowgirl.
Cowgirl Dreams is available from the publisher, Treble Heart Books, Amazon.com or the author website. It is suitable for both adult and young adult readers.

Do you think we could share some of what people are saying about Cowgirl Dreams?

Here are some of the reviews I’ve received.

Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna rated it: 5 of 5 stars

It is a wonderful YA (Young Adult) book! For the duration of the story you are completely immersed into the world of growing up in Montana in 1920s. Hard work on a family ranch, dreams that defy conventional wisdom, hard choices and, finally, success. Try becoming a rodeo star, when rodeo circuit is a man’s world and you are a teenage girl!
I appreciated author’s meticulous research. All the details of everyday life on a ranch, food, clothes, and people’s mindsets were so interesting…more It is a wonderful YA (Young Adult) book! For the duration of the story you are completely immersed into the world of growing up in Montana in 1920s. Hard work on a family ranch, dreams that defy conventional wisdom, hard choices and, finally, success. Try becoming a rodeo star, when rodeo circuit is a man’s world and you are a teenage girl!
I appreciated author’s meticulous research. All the details of everyday life on a ranch, food, clothes, and people’s mindsets were so interesting, true and well placed throughout the story; I could not help but admire it!
If you are a fan of “Little Women”, “Secret Garden”, “Little House on the Prairie” and “Ann of Green Gables”, take a note of this author, she is the one for you.
I would say the book is a great coming of age story with a lesson in history, lots of adventures, a touch of romance and a great lesson in perseverance. I am buying this one for my daughter.
***

From a male reader:

Heidi Thomas’s Cowgirl Dreams provided me with a delightfully engrossing pleasure: a “good read.” An added bonus was a bit of history detailing the hardships and delights of rural life in early twentieth century Montana and the expectations for women of the time. I approached the tale with a mixture of mild trepidation and hesitant curiosity, the twin themes not being typical fodder for my pleasure reading, and finished with the great satisfaction found in experiencing a well-told story. Nettie Brady’s adventure richly details a pair of transitions: a child growing into young adulthood and a women tackling roles previously claimed by the men of her times. This is a book for all ages, and I look forward to the possibility of reading further installments of Nettie’s life and times.

Peter Olson
***

Some girls claim they were born as horses and only later grew up to be western women. Heidi Thomas gives us one of those passionate, persistent young women in Nettie Brady, and she s based this sparkling and enduring character on her own grandmother s story. Cowgirl Dreams is a heart-warming read for all ages and lets us all know why Ms. Thomas is not only a fine editor of other author s books but shines as a skilled and compassionate writer herself. Jane Kirkpatrick, Award Winning author of A Sweetness to the Soul (Wrangler Award, 1995) and A Tendering in the Storm, winner of a WILLA Literary Award, 2008.	

***
Heidi has truly captured the heart of the early days of Montana. She brings to life Nettie and her dreams for the rodeo despite the opposition of a woman in an exclusive man’s arena. As I read this authors first novel it was a sweet reminder of the Jan Karon Mitford series. I look forward to reading the sequel in what appears to be a Montana series in the making!
Stephanie Hooper

These are wonderful. I’m sure that you will capture your readers and they will be fans for life, Heidi. Thank you so much for being with me. I know we all look forward to getting to know you and your writing better. How can people purchase your book?

Thank you for having me, Dianne.

Cowgirl Dreams is available at:

http://www.heidimthomas.com

Treble Heart Books

Amazon.com

Lessons Learned from Ghostwriting

I’m sure there are many lessons that people learn when ghostwriting a book. These are a few of the things that I’ve learned in my own experiences.

Active listening during an entire interview or conversation. You can take notes while you talk or record the conversation if the client knows you’re using a recorder, but if you don’t have a recorder or don’t use it for phone calls you could miss some important details.

Most people love to talk about themselves and what they are interested in. A few questions may be all they need to give you the information you need.

If you are not clear on something, then repeat what you think they said and ask if that is right. You can also ask them to clear up some confusion over a topic or fact.

Ghostwriting can help you find your own voice by learning to write with someone else’s voice.

These are just a few. If you do some ghostwriting and have other things you’ve learned from the experience I’d love for you to leave a comment. Have a great day!

Virtual Book Tours

Anyone who visits the blog regularly knows that once a month I have another author for my guest. We get to learn about them and at least one of the books they have written. I started a year ago to participate with a group that formed after attending the Museonline Writers Conference 2008. This free conference is one of the best conferences you could ever attend. It lasts a week and Lea Shivas and those who work with her to make this conference a success offer workshops and discussions with awesome, knowledgable presenters.

One of the workshops I participated in last year was concerned with promotions online. A few of us exchanged emails about starting a group that could do virtual book tours together on a rotation. The result was the VBT – Writers on the Move group.

Virtual book tours are a growing promotional tool and a great way to help other writers get the word out. It’s fun and can help bring people you might not otherwise get as random visitors to your blog.  You can put on your calendar that the 1st and 3rd of each month you’ll find another guest author here.

Everybody’s talking about… Family Relationships

Today I’m participating in a mass blogging! WOW! Women On Writing has gathered a group of blogging buddies to write about family relationships. Why family relationships? We’re celebrating the release of Therese Walsh’s debut novel today. The Last Will of Moira Leahy, (Random House, October 13, 2009) is about a mysterious journey that helps a woman learn more about herself and her twin, whom she lost when they were teenagers. Visit The Muffin (http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/blog.html) to read what Therese has to say about family relationships and view the list of all my blogging buddies. And make sure you visit Therese’s website (http://www.theresewalsh.com) to find out more about the author.”

Goodie Giveaways: Besides link-love, we have several goodies to give away (gift certificates, t-shirts, tote bags, books, subscriptions). We will hold random drawings for all bloggers who participate by putting all of your names in a hat. Good luck!  Go to , The Muffin

Blending Families

I have a blended family, like many other women. It has its challenges, but we have had some great times with all of the kids. When my husband Greg and I got married eleven years ago, he had three adult children from a previous marriage and I had three children – two teenagers nearing 18 and a 12 year old daughter. My two oldest left home before the wedding so that left my 12 year-old in a home with two parents. She wasn’t particularly happy about the changes at first. I had been a single mother for almost 10 years. She had always thought it would be just the two of us during her high school years. It was rough that first year or so, but we came out on the other side as a close knit family unit. Our daughter became more “ours” than just mine.

The peak of great times involving all six of our children was at a family wedding. Everyone came from around the country and we spent three days together. It was the first time we had all been in one place at the same time. We really enjoyed the time and watching our adult children interact as siblings.

I know that everyone hears the worst stories about blended families. Ours has been spiced with trials, tragedies, and heart wrenching times, but the good times have been like climbing to the top of the mountain and seeing the whole view. I wanted those of you with blended families who are in the trenches trying to build a family that there are good things that happen.

Now for my guest:

About the author, Therese Walsh:

Therese is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, a blog for writers about the craft and business of genre fiction. Before turning to fiction, she was a researcher and writer for Prevention magazine, and then a freelance writer. She’s had hundreds of articles on nutrition and fitness published in consumer magazines and online.

She has a master’s degree in psychology.

Aside from writing, Therese’s favorite things include music, art, crab legs, Whose Line is it Anyway?, dark chocolate, photography, unique movies and novels, people watching, strong Irish tea, and spending time with her husband, two kids and their bouncy Jack Russell.

Therese’s website: http://theresewalsh.com
Therese’s blog: http://theresewalsh.com/blog.html
Writer Unboxed: http://www.writerunboxed.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ThereseWalsh
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/therese.walsh

About the book:

The Last Will of Moira Leahy

By Therese Walsh

A LOST SHADOW
Moira Leahy struggled growing up in her prodigious twin’s shadow; Maeve was always more talented, more daring, more fun. In the autumn of the girls’ sixteenth year, a secret love tempted Moira, allowing her to have her own taste of adventure, but it also damaged the intimate, intuitive relationship she’d always shared with her sister. Though Moira’s adolescent struggles came to a tragic end nearly a decade ago, her brief flirtation with independence will haunt her sister for years to come.

A LONE WOMAN
When Maeve Leahy lost her twin, she left home and buried her fun-loving spirit to become a workaholic professor of languages at a small college in upstate New York. She lives a solitary life now, controlling what she can and ignoring the rest–the recurring nightmares, hallucinations about a child with red hair, the unquiet sounds in her mind, her reflection in the mirror. It doesn’t help that her mother avoids her, her best friend questions her sanity, and her not-quite boyfriend has left the country. But at least her life is ordered. Exactly how she wants it.

A SHARED PAST
Until one night at an auction when Maeve wins a keris, a Javanese dagger that reminds her of her lost youth, and happier days playing pirates with Moira in their father’s boat. Days later, a book on weaponry is nailed to her office door, followed by anonymous notes, including one that invites her to Rome to learn more about the blade and its legendary properties. Opening her heart and mind to possibility, Maeve accepts the invitation, and with it, a window into her past. Ultimately she will revisit the tragic November night that shaped her and Moira’s destinies, and learn that nothing can be taken at face value, as one sister emerges whole and the other’s score is finally settled.

Note: To read reviews about The Last Will of Moira Leahy, please visit Therese’s website: http://theresewalsh.com/News_Reviews/news_reviews.html

Why be a Ghostwriter?

Sometimes people ask me why I would want to ghostwrite when I could spend the time writing under my own name or pen names.

For me, the answer is that ghostwriting provides a good income if you establish a good reputation with publishers, book packagers, and clients/authors. I’ve also become a better writer. After all, the more you write, the better you get if you are truly working on your craft and pushing yourself to always get better at it.

If you are a person that doesn’t like anonymity and it’s important that you are the one in the lime light, then ghostwriting isn’t for you. When the book does well, I’m still very excited about it, but my author is the one who is taking the bow. That is what I get paid for – to remain a ghost, in the background.

One of the books on leadership that I ghosted became an amazon best seller in Canada. I have a copy of it on the shelf with other books I’ve written and am very proud to have it there. However, it is important to remember that without the author’s ideas and message, I wouldn’t have written the book. The collaboration is a great experience, especially when you and the author really click together.

Ghostwriting has given me the opportunity to write about many different topics – nonfiction. I’ve written about overcoming fears, becoming more than you are, getting the best and most out of life, leadership in business, real estate, teaching children how to manage money, and finding your purpose.

Most ghostwriters get paid a flat fee for their work and then go on to the next project. Sometimes a ghostwriter is recognized. One of my clients recognized me in the acknowledgements of his book. Occassionally, a ghostwriter gets a small percentage of the profits/royalties on books sold.

Sunday and What Happened to Fall?

I admit that my efforts for every day blogging for a month now has a couple of missed posts. However, I am going to keep going. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I usually spend the moring involved with choir, Sunday school, and services and than have a quiet afternoon with family or friends. Sometimes, I read or take a nap. By evening, I start putting things together for the week.

This weekend we went from a few days of Fall weather, most of the leaves haven’t even turned yet – Winter arrived yesterday with a major cold front and we had our first freeze. Wow!

Tomorrow … more about ghostwriting.

Successful Ghostwriting

The initial interview helps getting to know your client/author as well as what they want to cover in the project.  I begin by finding out about the client’s background and interests. How did they get to where they are? Visit with them regularly during the project.

Clarify the type of book they want to write and what the subject will cover. As a ghostwriter, part of your job is to help direct your client in narrowing a subject that is too broad. For example, relationships has many subtopics. Education has many aspects. It is best to focus in on one aspect or only a few related subtopics. People don’t realize it, but their first instinct is to cover everything in one book. It becomes a never ending book. Encourage your client to write more than one book about the topic.

Work through the basics of what they want to say in the book. Their personal stories help enrich the content and help the reader to associate with the writer and the subject matter. What people does the client admire? Do they have favorite quotes? Who is their market? Are they clear on what the overall message is?

Compile some questions that you want to ask your client about their book and put together specifics that help clarify what the book includes. Then, put together an outline. Submit the outline to your client and then collaborate until you get the outline that your client is satisfyed with.

Next, it’s time to begin writing. As in other writing, allow yourself to write the first draft imperfectly. No first draft is ready for publication. It is where we start.

Most of all, enjoy working and collaborating with your client. Give them your best and they will return for your services time and time again. They will also refer other people to you.

For additional information about becoming a ghostwriter, read my article at Writing for Dollars.

More on Ghostwriting

Okay, for anyone who is keeping track, yes, I missed yesterday. However, I’m back today. A good friend passed away and I just didn’t make it to the computer yesterday. I’m really trying to do well with the posting daily challenge. I won’t let one day missed stop me. Now, lets look at ghostwriting.

The biggest challenge in being a ghostwriter is to always write in the author’s voice. Your client is the author. When doing a ghostwriting workshop, I include how to capture that person’s voice.

Some tips are:

Listen to the way they speak.

Ask yourself if there are certain terms or words they use a lot.

Watch for common phrases.

Listen to how they structure their sentences – spoken or written.

Talk with them in person and through emails enough to capture how they say things and how they feel about the subject matter.

Get them to tell you personal stories that will fit in with the theme or subject matter of the book. They will help you maintain their voice, as well as put more of them personally in the book.

Use a recorder if you can. If you’re working with them from half way around the world, talk often on the phone. There may be a video of them speaking that they can send you or one online.

Ask them for notes or any drafts they may have of the book. Those are helpful for sentence structure.

Then, start writing and do the polishing so that your author’s message flows.

Those are the tips for today. Tomorrow I’ll address how to get to know your client through interviews.

On Being a Ghostwriter

I went to a party about a year ago and when a woman asked me what I do, I told her I was a freelance ghostwriter, author, and speaker. She nodded and then asked “Do you like scary stories?”

I had to explain to her that a ghostwriter doesn’t write stories about ghosts or necessarily scary stories. Anyone else who may be a little confused, let me clarify that ghostwriters are hired to work with a person who has a good idea, a message, or information that they want to write into a book. They either don’t have time to do it themselves or can’t write. So, ghostwriters like myself collaborate with them and assist them in writing their book.

In cases with high profile clients, a ghostwriter has to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Sometimes, the ghostwriter’s name is given with the author’s name. For example, Don Piper with Cecile Murphy (90 Minutes in Heaven). Most of us work annonymously and are paid a flat fee for our work. Then, we move on to another project. It can be a very lucrative career.

Hope you’ll come back tomorrow to find out more about this life as a ghostwriter.

New online magazine articles

As an aftermath of the Museonline Writer’s Conference earlier this month, I’m now a member of goodreads.com.,  Shelfari.com, and publishing the first of a series of articles on ghostwriting for Free Fall magazine for writers, and a series of articles on Overcoming Abusive Relationships for Spoken Like A Queen magazine. I hope you’ll book mark these ezines. I’ll let everyone know when the issues are posted.

I’m making progress in the revision of my novel Escape and plan to have the manuscript to the publisher by early November. My Christian fiction novella Rebekah Redeemed manuscript goes to another publisher before the end of November. I also have some anthology stories I’m working on to submit before the end of the year.

Of course, ghostwriting continues. I have projects in various stages for clients in the United States and Canada. I’m enjoying working with them.

I’m also looking at a possible Legacy project by the first of 2009. It’s hectic and I love it.

NaNoWriMo and other things

I’m signed up for NaNoWriMo this year. With everything else I’m working on it may be interesting to try and make some progress on that as well. For those of you who are readers and not writers, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. It takes place each November. People sign up from all over the world and write the first draft of a 50,000 word novel. That comes out to about 1700 words per day if you write every day. It’s a great way to get one done and ready for editing and revisions to submit to a publisher or agent.

I’m also in a group of 29+ writers who are organizing a virtual book tour on our blogs to begin November 15th. These are fun to follow you learn about new writers and new books and we help each other promote everyone’s books. Cool huh? I think so.

I’m 50% finished with the rewrite of my novel Escape, and plan to get it to my publisher by the end of this month.

Election Day

Just when everyone thought election day would never come – it’s here.

Things are coming together for our Virtual Book Tour this month.

I am a hisotry buff and always reflect back on our history. Not that I want to get too political on a writer and reader blog, but this truly is an election for the ages. We’ve broken past barriers with women as major players in the presidential election. We’ve finally crossed racial lines and as of now, it looks like we’re looking at our first black President. I hope to draw on this in my writing.

Rebekah Redeemed

I’m focusing on the manuscript for Rebekah Redeemed for the rest of the week. As the first book in a series of novella’s about little known women in the New Testament, it sets the stage for a young woman to be not only redeemed by a kinsman, but redeemed by the Savior.

If you love to read books like this, then I can recommend Francine Rivers. Her novella’s about the five women God chose who are listed in Jesus’ lineage, first chapter of Matthew. Each of these women were faced with social and spiritual challenges. These books will keep you going until Rebekah Redeemed becomes available.

Good reading!

Reading and Writing

I’m just finishing reading James Patterson’s book The Jester. It is a historical fiction novel about a man who joins the Crusades to gain his family’s freedom. Nothing turns out the way he thought it would and when he returns home things are not how he left them. He becomes a jester so he has access to places a commoner or peasant would ordinarily never obtain. As usuall, Patterson has many twists and turns in the plot.

I sent the manuscript for my Christian fiction novella to the publisher last night. Now back to the revisions on my novel Escape and ghostwriting projects.

Book Contract in the Mail

I’m doing a happy dance today! The publisher who I sent my Christian fiction novella, Rebekah Redeemed, sent me an email today saying that he really like the book and is sending a contract. It will be on the shelves Spring 2009. I almost have whiplash it’s coming together so quickly.

This is the first book of a series called Touched by the Saviour.

Speaking of book contracts

I’m still working on my novel revision for another publisher. Then, we will be looking at a contract agreement for my suspense novel, Escape.

Also, if you want to know what I like to read, go to shelfari.com or goodreads.com

My first guest for our Virtual Book Tour

I want to introduce you to John F. Murray. You’ll be learning more about him and his book for the next several days. He has a great new book out Smart Tennis: How to Play and Win the Mental Game.

                                                          

Tennis Europe Feature

Front Page of the Boca Raton

News

BioFile by Scoop Malinowski

Detroit Free Press Profile

Sports Illustrated Feature

 

Sports psychology is a great source of inspiration, and I love helping people

improve, whether in a clinical situation calling for psychotherapy, stress

management or better life adjustment, or a performance situation where the

goal is to compete better and win more in business or sports. As far as

sports, I was lucky to grow up in South Florida in the early 70s, and my passion

intensified listening to Don Shula’s wisdom as legendary coach of the Miami

Dolphins. My dream at age 10 was to bat 4th for the Yankees and quarterback

the Miami Dolphins to a Super Bowl win. Dreams have become reality as I’ve

coached and played tennis worldwide, worked with many pro athletes and teams

as a sport performance psychologist, helped NFL quarterbacks overcome

slumps, coached tennis at major tournaments like the Australian Open, trained

athletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and developed a unique

system for including mental performance in the scoring of a football game – the

Mental Performance Index or MPI – that has almost perfectly estimated the

relative performance of teams in the past 6 Super Bowls. I’m absolutely

convinced that solid mental training is a necessary and huge key to success, and

an often-overlooked advantage. If you just want to cope better with life, a family

situation or a relationship, psychology can help too, and the performance

psychology focus is an extremely positive approach and quest for more success

that many enjoy.

 

Smart Tennis: How to Play and Win the Mental Game.

More about John F. Murray, PhD. and his new book

I recommend  Dr. John F. Murray’s new book:

 

Smart Tennis: How to Play and Win the Mental Game

 

(Smart Sport Series)

Media: Paperback Book, 272 pages

Publisher: Jossey-Bass (March 03, 1999)

Edition: 1

ISBN-10: 0787943800

ISBN-13: 9780787943806

Dimensions: 4.96 x 6.77 x 0.87 inches

Shipping Weight: 0.53 lbs

Available at major bookstores and online at Amazon.com and other stores.

 

Book Description

“The game with yourself is often tougher than the battle against any opponent.

Smart Tennis shows you how to win the inner match while having fun along the

way.”

–Lindsay Davenport, world’s #1 ranked player for 1998

 

Become a More Competent-and Confident-Tennis Player – Smart Tennis is the

secret weapon that tucks right into your tennis bag. Apply these proven

principles of sport psychology to your game and gain a winning advantage both

on and off the courts.

“Smart Tennis is a must for players at all levels-from beginners to Wimbledon

champions! An outstanding book for understanding and improving your mental

game.”

–Vic Braden, tennis telecaster and researcher

 

“If you ever want to use the title of this book to describe how you played your last

match, then Smart Tennis is for you.”

–David Higdon, senior writer, Tennis Magazine

 

“This is an excellent book of psychological skills that can be immediately applied

on the tennis court.”–E. Paul Roetert, Ph.D., Administration of Sports

Science, United States Tennis Association

 

 

 

 

My Guest Deborah Ramos

Welcome to my guest author, Deborah Ramos

Deborah Ramos enjoying a sunny day in Seattle

 

 

 

 

Thank you for being with me this week Deborah. You are a talented writer that offers good reading for children of all ages. Tell me a little about yourself.

 

I’m a mother, grandmother, teacher and animal lover – including a pet snake. I’ve always loved words and combinations of words.

 

What is your favorite word combination?

 

I love collective nouns. I think the most interesting one is an Escargatoire of Snails. I imagine a little snail party crawling in circles on a plate. I love a Pandemonium of Parrots; can’t you just hear them squawking in the trees? What an image that conjures up.

 

What got you started in writing about collective nouns?

 

I was writing a story about Africa, and in my research, I found a website that listed animals in alphabetical order, along with their group name. It sparked an interest, and I dug deeper. Group names can bring to mind such interesting images, such as a prickling of porcupines; you can almost FEEL those, pokey, prickly quills.

 

Do you have a lot of pets at home?

 

I’ve always had pets growing up. And I have quite a collection now. I have two cats, two noisy parakeets, a variety of tropical fish, and a ball python named Mercury. Mercury sheds his skin and donates it to my art projects.

 

 

Thanks for coming today, Deborah. I look forward to chatting with you on Wednesday about your works in progress and your upcoming release in 2009.

 

Thanks for having me.

More fun with Deborah Ramos

Deborah Ramos has a great imagination and finds inspiration many places. She doesn’t seem to suffer from the dreaded writer’s block. Just where do all those ideas come from?

 

I find inspiration in the usual places… my pets, my kids, my granddaughter, my students, nature, places I’ve been, places I want to visit.  Most of my stories begin with a true event, and then my imagination takes it from there.

 

Writers are usually readers as well. Have you always loved to read?

 

When I was growing up, Little Lulu comic books were my favorite stories. On rainy days, or when I was home sick from school, I’d get comfy under my blankets, and read my Little Lulu comics. The Secret Garden was my favorite book. My fifth grade teacher read it out loud to the class. She gave characters accents and read with such expression, that it left a lasting impression on me. As a teenager, I didn’t read much. I found the classics boring, but Edgar Allen Poe fascinated me. 

 

What are your current works in progress?

 

I have works in progress I need to finish and stories I need to polish up. I have new ideas that need to be put on paper before I forget. I’m also working on two poetry chapbooks.

 

 

One more question. Since you love collective nouns, using them, how would you describe your readers?

 

How about a Brigade of Bookworms.

 

Thank you so much for being with me this week Deborah. I look forward to hearing more from you. I’ll be checking in with your blog and website to see what’s new. I invite everyone to keep your eyes open for an upcoming book in 2009.

 

Thank you for having me, Dianne. You can find out more at me websites:

www.aarmoryofaardvarks.com

www.stormymoon.wordpress.com

Signed Book Contract

Well, the book contract for Rebekah Redeemed is signed and in the mail!! I can hardly wait for the release after the first of the year. I’m working away on my marketing plan fine points – planning to put it in the Virtual Book Tour and network, network, network.

I had a great Thanksgiving last week with most of our family and have been working away on my other writing projects and ghostwriting. Never a dull moment.

Christmas is Coming

This is my favorite time of year. I love the music, concerts, The Nutcracker, baking and sharing with our neighbors, and celebrating our Savior’s birth. I was in a pageant, 300-400 people involved performing, for a couple of years and it really made Christmas a wonderful experience. The pageant was free to anyone who wanted to come. On the night of the final dress rehearsal, we used to invite the homeless to come and watch so they didn’t have to have tickets. Tickets were free for the regular performances (six in all) but were distributed through the church and we were able to share it with the homeless that night for who ever was around and came.

It gave me an amazing feeling to know that we gave the pageant and the Christmas message of love and hope to those who wanted to come. Even though the pageant is no longer performed, now I need to try to share that same feeling with everyone around me and those in our community. I invite everyone to do something special for someone else anonymously just like others have done for me in the past and have probably done for you.

It’s only about two and a half weeks to Christmas. I wish you all a joyous season and the love of Christ in your lives.

Happy writing and reading to you all.

Reading and Writing

As a reader, I’m always looking for a new author and love to find a series where I can really follow characters. When I finish a series, it’s like leaving a friend behind and I miss them.

As a writer, I’m challenged to create characters that will do the same for my readers. I try to analyze characters from my favorite books and become aware of plotting as I read, but the best books just pull me in and I forget to analyze as I go. If anyone else has that challenge, then I think a good solution is for us to be a reader first and then go back through the book and figure out what it is that captivates us, keeps us turning pages, and fall in love with a character. I challenge other writers to do that with their next book and come back and let me know what you think.

Welcome to Shelagh Watkins

 

Thank you for reading this blog entry! This is the thirteenth post on the Forever Friends blog tour. If you are following the tour, you will find this post a little different to the previous twelve blog posts. If this is your first visit, welcome to the tour. Today’s post is a slight diversion from the rest of the tour because Dianne is the only blog host on the tour who is not a contributor to the anthology, Forever Friends. Dianne has asked some questions that are different from the previous questions asked by contributors to the book. 

Before I answer Dianne’s questions, I would like to give Dianne’s regular blog readers a chance to learn more about the anthology. The first review of Forever Friends was written by Linda Waterson for Apex Reviews:

“Love is only temporary…but friends are forever.” Kelly Wheeler

This quote, which opens the moving new anthology Forever Friends, is a perfect summation of the contents to which readers will be treated inside. Edited by Shelagh Watkins, administrator of PublishedAuthors.org, Forever Friends offers a poignant, profound – and oftentimes amusing – look into the various layers of friendship, as well as those who explore them. Featuring poems, short stories, and commentary from authors all over the globe, the anthology serves as a stark reminder that, though we may differ in our cultural approaches to relationships, the emotions with which we experience them are quite universal.

Compiled in various sections, ranging from “Family Friends” to “Lost Friends” to “False Friends” to “Spiritual Friends,” the literary offerings contained therein just as equally travel the full spectrum of friendship, covering all imaginable ground in-between. There is reminiscing over childhood heroes, protectors of the four-legged ilk, and gracious musings over friends who were – quite literally – lifesavers. There are also poems that wish for the spreading of global goodwill, as well as verses rendered in homage to friends that are gone, but not forgotten. For added contextual flavor, preceding each section is an insightful blurb helping to foster within the reader a greater understanding of what that particular facet of friendship is really all about. Consider, for example, this literary jewel that precedes the “False Friends” section:

“False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade.” Christian Nestell Bovee

Among its numerous virtues, perhaps the most salient aspect of Forever Friends is its ability to communicate universal truths about life, love, and the frailties of the human heart in such a realistic way that the reader does not have to have experienced the specific episodes recounted within its pages; the passion and inspired delivery of each contributing author provides the reader with the benefit of a vicarious ride through the depths of their seasoned souls. Such an ability does not come easily, and it speaks volumes of Editor Shelagh Watkins’ innate sense of discernment to have selected such an eclectic mix of talented authors with the skill to pull it off.

An engaging and appealing read, Forever Friends will surely move the hearts and minds of readers of all ages, guaranteeing that you’ll see the world around you – and even yourself – in a different light by the turning of the final page.
Official Apex Reviews Rating:

The review motivated me to write the posts for the blog tour with the added reassurance that I was right to say what a wonderful book this is and that anyone who bought the book would not be disappointed!

Now to Dianne’s questions!

What kind of writing do you do?

My first novel, The Power of Persuasion, is a work of literary fiction. I wrote the novel ten years ago but it remained unpublished until this year. I set up Mandinam Press in January to publish the novel, which is currently on the list for Wales Book of the Year. Mandinam Press also published the anthology, Forever Friends in October this year. I write poems and short stories, some of which have been published in anthologies and my first children’s book, Mr. Planemaker’s Flying Machine, was published in 2005. The novel is currently being considered for serialization by local radio but it is in the early stages of development.

What are your favorite genre to read?

I am very fond of classical literature, Jane Austen in particular but I read quite a range of books. I prefer fiction to non-fiction but I enjoy the occasional biography and books about science, space and discovery. One of my neighbours in Scotland asked me on numerous occasions to read books, which she had received as gifts or recommendations, before she did. She said that she knew I would read the books to the very end … and I always did!

If you could recommend one book to take on a desert island, what would it be?
It would have to be Forever Friends!

When you not writing or reading, what do you like to do?

I like computing, I have a diploma in Information Technology from the University of Glasgow. I enjoy using the computer to design things as well as using it as a writing tool. I like to paint and draw but I don’t seem to find much time these days for either … and then there’s the garden! Did I mention golf? Oh, I don’t have time to play golf these days … 

I would like to thank Dianne for inviting me to her blog and giving me the opportunity to talk about Forever Friends, which is available now from all major online stores,

including amazon.com: Forever Friends

and barnesandnoble.com: Forever Friends

Thanks again for reading this and best wishes for the holiday season!

Shelagh Watkins

Please follow the tour to learn more about the book.

Blog Tour

December 1 Chelle Cordero
December 2 Zada Connaway
December 3 Mary Muhammad
December 4 Helen Wisocki
December 5 Pam Robertson
December 6 Dick Stodghill
December 7 Philip Spires
December 8 Milena Gomez
December 9 L. Sue Durkin
December 10 A. Ahad
December 11 Malcolm R. Campbell
December 12 Lynn C. Johnston
December 13 Dianne Sagan
December 14 Donald James Parker
December 15 Karina Kantas
December 16 Grace Bridges
December 17 Tiziana Rinaldi Castro
December 18 Yvonne Oots
December 19 Dana Rettig

Welcome to my blog, Joyce Anthony

I’m glad to have you with me this week. Tell us a little about yourself, Joyce.

I live in Pennsylvania with my teenaged son and what she calls a mini-zoo. I’m a freelance writer and editor.

When you’re not writing or editing, what do you do? 

I’m a homeschooling mother, photographer, genealogist, animal advocate and psychologist.  I also answer questions as an “expert” on bipolar disorder at AllExperts.com. Along with that I’m currently working on two additional blogs–one for bipolar disorder and one for Asperger’s Syndrome.

Can you give us a taste of what your writing career is doing now that we’re looking at a new year in a few weeks?

I’m the author of Storm, a spiritual fantasy and two books to be released in 2009:  Spirit of the Stallion and Shattered Rainbow. She answers questions as an “expert” on bipolar disorder at AllExperts.com and is currently working on two additional blogs–one for bipolar disorder and one for Asperger’s Syndrome.

I hear that you have a book trailer for your book Storm. Are going to get to preview it this week?

Oh, yes. I’m looking forward to posting it here on your blog on Wednesday.

Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but that certainly wets my appetitie for see Joyce’s trailer on Wednesday and learning more about Storm. Thanks for being with me today, Joyce.
Blurb:

Who he is and why he’s here is a mystery even to Storm-a mystery that can only be answered within the whirling rainbow. His search puts him in touch with many of society’s forgotten people; he changes their lives and heals their souls. When he finds the answer to his identity, the world is changed forever.  You’ll aske yourself:  Is it only a fantasy–or is it real?

Christmas books

I’ve noticed more Christmas themed books in fiction over the past couple of years. Debbie Macomber and Janet Evanovich are two authors in particular I’ve read. What fun to write a book in part of a series that focuses on the Christmas season. I hope to join that group of authors who write with my favorite season in mind in 2009 along with my other books.

I’d love to hear from any of you about what books you’re reading this Christmas season.

Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

New Year Expectations

Hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous Christmas. I’m looking forward to the New Year 2009 with a new book coming out, Rebekah Redeemed, and other book deals in the near future.

I continue to ghostwrite and look forward to beginning projects with a new Legacy line of ghostwritten books open to clients. It isn’t your usual family scrapbook or memoir, it is a way to leave behind what you’d really like to pass on to your family and friends – what you’ve learned, your favorite experience, then and now, the things you love, business and personal, spiritual and temporal. Each one is a negotiated price for the ghostwritten book. You can find out more at my website Dianne Sagan – Writer.

I wish all you writers and readers a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Come back on January 2nd and meet another great writer. The Virtual Book Tour guests continue.

Happy New Year – 2009

Hi everyone,

Hope everyone has had a great holiday season and that 2009 will be a great year for all of you readers and writers alike.

Tomorrow I’ll have a new author guest. Come back and see who and what great reading you can include in your list of things to read for 2009.

Also, later this month, watch for release information for my Christian fiction novella, Rebekah Redeemed.

New Year’s Goals

In a discussion about New Year’s resolutions, I challenged people in one of my online groups to post goals for 2009.

1. Publish my novel by the end of the year, working title “Escape.”

2. Gain expert status on at least one article bank site.

3. Sell 20,000 copies of Rebekah Redeemed this year.

4. Continue ghostwriting and write at least two Legacy projects.

5. Expand speaking career for writer’s groups and presenter at writing conferences to at least five this year.

6. Write and publishe novella, “The Fisherman’s Life”

Welcome to my guest, Elysabeth Elderling

I’m happy to have author and world traveler, Elysabeth Elderling, visiting this week.

Thanks for having me.

How did you get interested in geography and traveling?

I was raised in a military family so we moved around. I think it was a great experience to be able to see different countries in the world.

Has it helped you in your writing?

Yes, I’ve put my experiences to work in the Junior Geography Detective Squad’s 50-state mystery trivia series.

I enjoy geography, too. Can you tell us more about this trivia series?

The series made its debut in summer 2008 with State of Wilderness. The Junior Geography Detective Squad will continue to put their mystery-solving talents to work in each state, challenging young readers on their knowledge of the nation’s geography and interesting facts about each state.

State of Wilderness, book 1 in the

Junior Geography Detective Squad, 50-state, mystery,

trivia series:

Title: State of Wilderness,

book 1 of 50 in the Junior Geography Detective Squad,

50-state, mystery, trivia series.

Author: Elysabeth Eldering

Illustrator: Aidana WillowRaven

Category: Middle grade readers

ISBN 10: 0-979751357

ISBN 13: 978-0979751356

Pub Date: July 2008

Price: $10.99

Pages: 100

Type: Paperback, perfect binding.

Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC

Language: English

Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces

Web site: http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com

I look forward to chatting with you again on Monday and can’t wait to hear more about your writing projects and books.

Thanks for having me, Dianne.

State of Wilderness by Elysabeth Eldering

I hope you will enjoy this great book review for Elysabeth Eldering’s great book. I just love geography, myself. This is a good book for my grandson or if you have kids or are a teacher.

BOOK REVIEW

STORIES FOR CHILDREN MAGAZINE

BOOK: State of Wilderness

AUTHOR: Elysabeth Eldering

ILLUSTRATOR: Aidana WillowRaven

PUBLISHER: 4RV Publishing LLC (2008)

ISBN-13: 978-0-9797513-5-6

ISBN-10: 0-9797513-5-7

READING LEVEL: Grades 5-6

RATING: 5 stars

REVIEWED BY: Wayne Walker

Geography was one of my favorite subjects in school. Even at home as a child, on a rainy day I could spend hours of delight with an atlas or a set of encyclopedias in which I could read about different places. I still enjoy learning about various countries, states, and other localities on earth. The study of geography can be dreary and boring when reduced to rote memorization of nations, capitals, and such information. However, it can also be fun, as this first book in the “Junior Geography Detective Squad 50 States Mystery Trivia Series” shows. This novel presentation of geographical facts about the United States is a fascinating way to reinforce geographical awareness, something that studies show is sorely lacking in our children’s education.

Matt Patterson is almost thirteen and likes to hang out with his friend Guy Lombard. They enjoy not only skateboarding and video games but also geography. Matt’s eleven year old sister Mary Beth also joins Matt and Guy. Matt’s mother has given him a new hand-held geography game that has both a screen and a voice. It gives a set of clues, going from obscure to more well-known, about one of the fifty states. As Matt, Guy, and Mary Beth ponder the clues and try to guess the state, the reader moves along with them and can try his own hand at determining which state is being described. As the “Junior Geography Detective Squad” passes through the fifty states of the series, there are also “bonus clues” about one of the five territories which are part of the United States.

People like me who enjoy geography and trivia buffs in general will really like this book. However, it should especially appeal to middle school aged students whose lives revolve around video games. Take a break from the computer or pod for a few minutes and read a book that will be both fun and educational. It is well written and the drawings by Aidana WillowRaven help the reader visualize what the “Junior Geography Detective Squad” is seeing. When I received my copy and began to look over it, I found it so interesting that I finished it in one sitting. I guessed the state by Clue #4, but if you cannot guess it by Clue #25, you need to brush up on your U. S. geography! And if you want to know what those clues are, you will need to get the book. I look forward to further volumes in the series.

Related website: http://4rvpublishingllc.com

http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com –

sign up for newsletter to be informed of the series and events going on around the different states

Rebekah Redeemed Release

Beginning January 16, 2009 you can purchase your copy of Rebekah Redeemed at AWOC.Com Publishing or on Amazon.com.

Can Rebekah forgive those who have abused and neglected her? Is there anyone who can redeem her from servitude? Can she be cleansed and change her life? Who is this Nazarene?

Check it out!!

For your reading pleasure you can now get your own copy of Rebekah Redeemed at the publisher awoc.com or on amazon.com.

My first book signing is Saturday, January 17th, 2009 in Denton, Texas, at The Hydrant Cafe, 208 W. Oak (just a block off the square). Everyone is invited if you’re in the area.

I have several people reading and reviewing the book for me as I write this and those reviews will be posted here, as well as amazon and other websites.

Book signings in Amarillo and the area will be sceduled soon. I’ll keep everyone informed about when and where.

What’s in this for the reader? A novella that is a quick read and keeps you going throughout the story. It is a story of overcoming your past and redemption that is there for all of us if we want it.  Get a copy and see what happens to Rebekah.

You’re Invited!!!

Book signing and Reading by the Author

Rebekah Redeemed

Dianne G. Sagan

When:  Saturday, Jan 17, 2009

1:00pm – 3:00pm

Where: The Hydrant Cafe

208 W. Oak

(one block off the square)

Denton, Texas

Ransom Nobel – Guest Author

I want to welcome Ransom Noble to my blog as a guest author. What a smart lady you are Ransom. I don’t know about other women (especially Baby Boomers, which I am) but I love to see women succeed in life and Ransom is one of those great women.

Tell us a little about yourself, Ransom.

I love reading and writing. I can’t remember when it began, but I’ve always loved the written word from both positions. . I know I started making up stories around 1 year old, because we got a TV around that time. Mom would catch me watching it (when it was off) and asked me what I was doing. Apparently I told her it was more fun to watch when it was off because I was making up my own shows. I also enjoy movies and playing games with my husband and our friends.

Is it true that you are an engineer?

Yes, I earned an engineering degree at University of Iowa in Iowa City.

I think that’s great. So much for the old adage that women aren’t good in sciences and engineering. You are a great example to other writers and women. Tell me about your books.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology: Ruins Metropolis, by Hadley Rille books
Upcoming: The Art of Science, YA novel by 4RV Publishing, LLC.

I’ll be watching for your upcoming book. How do you find time to write?

When I got out of college, I took a couple correspondence courses because I wanted to learn more and give myself an excuse to write, but work often made me too tired to do it on my own. Still, I finished my first novel while working as well as several short stories and some unfinished novels. Now I write full-time, as well as being a stay at home soon to be mom.

Congratulations, Ransom. Can you tell us where to find more information about you?

You can find me at www.ransomnoble.wordpress.com

Thank you for coming over to my blog today.

I’d like to invite everyone back tomorrow for more insight into Ransom and her writing.
Thanks for being here, Ransom.

Thanks for having me, Dianne.

What a Week it has been!

My first book signing for Rebekah Redeemed went well. We learned a lot and had a great time. Not a big crowd, but several people came on a very busy day for many. I sold more books than some do at a first signing and was very happy.

My daughter made a fabulous book trailer that I’ll be loading soon for everyone to see. We have a couple of things to tweak, but it made me cry when she showed it to me. She really captured the essence of the story. Can’t wait to share it with everyone.

Rebekah Redeemed can be purchased from awoc.com directly from the publisher, from amazon.com or at Barnes & Nobel. I have a couple of reviews up on amazon. Hope you’ll stop by and see them and order a book.

My next novella is a story about Simon Peter’s wife and what it must have been like to be married to him. What affect would Jesus  calling  her husband as an apostle have on her? What was her life like before and after?

I’m also planning a story about the woman at the well and what happened to her after she met Jesus.

What do we know about John and James mother? We know she asked Jesus to elevate her sons, but what else do we know? what was her life like? Her husband Zebedee and her sons were fishermen. How did her life change?

Another story idea I had is about a fictitious Egyptian woman who helps Mary and Joseph when they flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath. What was it like for Mary raising her little boy, Jesus, for the years they lived in Egypt and how did they affect the people close to them? I love the ‘what if’ questions. That question keeps me full of new ideas.

I’m interested in your thoughts about these subjects. Feel free to leave comments on these and other women of the Bible we don’t know much about.

Have a great weekend everyone! Good writing. Good reading.

Please help me welcome Margaret Fieland, guest writer

I want to welcome Margaret Fieland to my blog this week. Her friends call her Peggy.

She is a native New Yorker who has lived around art and culture her whole life, not only because she lived in one of the greatest cities for art, music, writers, theater, and museums, but because of the influences in her life.

I guess you’ve always loved music?

My father was a musician and I’ve enjoyed playing the flute and piccolo for years.

That’s great. I played the flute myself through school, but have always admired talented people like you who are accomplished players. Tell us about what you’re currently doing.

I moved from New York and live in the suburbs of Boston, MA. I write poetry, articles, and stories. Some of them have appeared in journals and anthologies, including Main Channel Voices, Echolocation, and Twisted Tongue. I’m currently working on a book.

Do you write full-time?

No, I really enjoy the time I spend writing, but I’m a computer software engineer.

I’m so glad to have you this week. I look forward to sharing more about you and your writing tomorrow – Tuesday, February 3.

Thanks, Dianne. I’ll bring a sample from my book “The Ugly Little Boy”.

You can learn more about this talented lady at her website http://www.margaretfieland.com

Writing Conferences

This past weekend I attended an American Christian Writers Conference in Dallas, Texas. It was the best conference I think I’ve been to, to-date. The presenters were Chip MacGregor, Dennis Hensley, and Frank Ball. Each one of them had something of value for every writer in the room no matter if you were a beginner or a multi-published author. It was amazing.

I would recommend any ACW conference to writers who are Christian or secular to go to one of these in your area. It is focused on Christain writers and that market, which is growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years. I learned about the trends in the Christian market and attended an all day fiction writing workshop on the Friday with Dennis Hensley.

I write both nonfiction and fiction so it was a tough decision to decide, but Dennis gave us tips for making our fiction better and our characters more believable. I’ll be sharing some of the gems I picked up at the conference with my writing followers this next week. I hope you’ll come back.

Tips From the ACW conference

For many people, this week is Spring Break and they are off camping or to the beach or visiting family and friends. I on the other hand am focusing on ghostwriting, always reading a good book – Twelve Ordinary Men – and filing away my conference notes after reviewing them. I promised some tips and here they are:

1. Be healthy when you write. Use an ergonomic keyboard. It is the one where the keys are split down the middle and you can type in a much more natural position. It can keep you from getting carpal tunnel or other repetitive motion injuries. In addition, take a break at least for five minutes every hour away from the keyboard. Get a chair that helps you avoid back pain. There are ergonomic chairs available. Set your keyboard at a height that your elbows are at a 90% angle if at all possible. That puts less pressure on your neck and shoulders as well as your wrists and arms. Your screen needs to be set on a level so that you don’t have to hunch over or stretch to see clearly. You should be able to look straight ahead.

2. Treat your writing like a business. If you treat it like you do an office job downtown, then other people will too. Set work hours and don’t let people take up your time because they think you aren’t doing anything because you’re at home. If you don’t respect your time, then no one else will either. Sometimes the hardest part is getting your family to understand you are working.

3. Join writers organizations and attend conferences because you will meet other writers. You can learn from each other. Writing is a solitary endeavor and it helps to talk with other writers. Network with other writers. Join a critique group that can help you hone your writing skills.

4. Write what you know and what interests you. Write everyday and enjoy yourself.  If you don’t know what to write, then keep a notebook or computer file that is just for free-writing. Free-writing is taking a minimum of 10 minutes to write anything that crosses your mind. You can even write disconnected thoughts to start. It gets your brain working and gets you unstuck.

5. Most of all submit your writing. If you never submit anything, then you’ll never get published. Submit. Submit. Submit.

Have a great week and enjoy yourself!

Blizzards and Daffodils

In West Texas we had a blizzard last Friday and today the snow is long gone and my daffodils are getting ready to bloom. Ah, Spring!

Hope Spring brings to mind new books and stories to write or read. When the weather warms up, my favorite thing to do is take a book out on the swing in my back yard under a huge Mulberry tree.

You can now order Rebekah Redeemed directly from a link in the right hand column of this page.

I’m finishing up a final draft on a ghostwriting project this week. Then, focus turns to my next book. One in the works – first draft in progress. Another waiting to hear from the publisher. Two others in research.

I brought a lot of new books home with me from the Christian Book Expo in Dallas a week ago. What an awesome and fun experience. Now that I”ve rearranged my book shelves to accomodate them I need to decide which one to read first. I have autographed books from Max Lucado, Jerry Jenkins, Jennifer Rothschild, Elizabeth George and others.

Happy reading and writing!

Come back Wednesday for another guest author  – Carolyn Howard Johnson.

Welcome my guest – Carolyn Howard Johnson

I’m very excited to have Carolyn with me this week as a part of the virtual book tour.

For a taste of what Carolyn writes, check out this list of her books. The are awesome resources for any and all level of writers.

For: The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t
ISBN: 193299310X       Star Publish    Awards: Winner USA Book News, Irwin Award  $17.95 but discounted at:: http://www.amazon.com/Frugal-Book-Promoter-What-Publisher/dp/193299310X/

For only a few cents a day The Frugal Book Promoter assures your book the best possible start in life. Full of nitty – gritty how – tos for getting nearly-free publicity, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, an instructor for UCLA’s Writers’ Program, shares her professional experience as well as practical tips gleaned from the successes of her own book campaigns. She tells authors how to do what their publishers can’t or won’t and why authors can often do their own promotion better than a PR professional.

A recommendation from BarnesandNobel.com: Feather Schwartz Foster, an author, September 9, 2004,  

Packed With Wonderful Information!  For anyone who has written a book of any kind – this is a must-have, and must-keep guide! Every chapter is filled with insights and how-tos and a whole bunch of where to finds!
———

For: The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
ISBN: 9780978515874.  Red Engine Press.  Awards: Winner USA Book News, Reader Views Literary Award, New Generation Marketing Award   $18.95        To Order:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/ 

There are gremlins out there determined to keep your work from being published, your book from being promoted. They — resolved to embarrass you before the gatekeepers who can turn the key of success for you — lurk in your subconscious and the depths of your computer programs. Whether you are a new or experienced author, The Frugal Editor will help you present whistle-clean copy (whether it’s a one-page cover letter or your entire manuscript) to those who have the power to say “Yea” or “Nay.”

—-
For: The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less
ISBN: B000YG6O5U      Publisher, Amazon  $0.49 (or 49c!)  To Order:   www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp  

The perfect learning experience for those who want to learn to wow an editor in no time flat and only 49 cents out-of-pocket!

Thanks for coming Carolyn. I hope everyone will come back on Friday to learn some more about you and your books.

Why you need to get Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s “Frugal” books

I want to welcome Carolyn back today, as well as our visitors. I hope you all will become followers so you can learn about other authors and great books to read. You never know who you might see featured on my blog.

Carolyn has made a difference for writers everywhere – all steps of the writing career. Her savy information is invaluable. Here are some people whose endorsements make you want to run out and buy all of Carolyn’s books if you don’t already have them.

“Fruga” is a Herculean accomplishment! There’s something here for everybody, and it’s essential for new authors. – Rolf Gompertz, former publicist for NBC, author and speaker.

” . . . about 12 months ago, I began to read about do-it-yourself book publicity. One of the best books I came across was The Frugal Book Promoter: How to do what your publisher won’t by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. If you’re looking for ‘nitty-gritty how-tos for getting nearly free publicity,’ this is the book for you. ” – Tim Bete, Director, Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, Dayton University

My success with promotion is all because of what I call the “Carolyn Factor.” What’s the “Carolyn Factor”, you ask? Well, whenever I have doubts about doing/writing/promoting/putting myself out there – I think about what you would say to me. You would show me how to do it and then, to borrow from Nike . . . you would say, “Just do it” . . . and then I do. – Leora G. Krygier, author.

It’s been great to have Carolyn Howard-Johnson with me this week.

Speaking at Inspirational Writers Alive

If anyone is in the area, then come on over to the monthly meeting of Inspirational Writers Alive. They meet on the second Thursday every month at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 4801 S. Austin, Amarillo, TX. The meeting starts at 7:oopm. It always includes time for reading and critiques for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry as well.

I’ll be the program speaker – Finding Balance: Time Management for the Productive Writer. Then, afterwards, I’ll be doing a book signing for my novella Rebekah Redeemed.

My Guest – Virginia S. Grenier – What a Talented Author and Editor

I am so delighted to have Virginia visiting my blog this week. She is a talented children’s author and the founder and editor-in-chief of Stories For Children Magazine (ezine). Her awards include: was voted one of the Top Ten Editors in the Preditors and Editors Reader Poll 2007 & 2008. Her works include the Best of Stories for Children Magazine Volume 1 anthology and over 30 short stories, articles, and crafts for children along with newsletter articles for writers. She also won second place for her article, “Yes, Virginia, There IS a Santa Claus” in the Preditors and Editors Reader Poll 2007 for Best Nonfiction of 2007 and won 7^th place for her article, “Dinosaurs Tracks in My Backyard” in the Preditors and Editors Reader Poll 2008 for Best Nonfiction of 2008.

Wow! That is great, Virginia. How can people contact you.

I can be reached at: VSGrenier@storiesforchildrenmagazine.org and invite people to visit my website, too, at Children and Teen Author http://vsgrenier.com.

Virginia you are involved in Musing our Children. Can you tell us what this is and a little about it?

 

Musing Our Children is about sharing what we care about in the way of ideas and values with children. After all, one idea can change the world if everyone chooses to stand behind it. One idea can make our world a better place and enhance the lives of children everywhere! The goals of Musing Our Children: to reach around the globe visiting schools and to offer free handouts and information to everyone who would like to be involved in helping children and parents understand the value of reading and writing.

Each year during Reading and Writing Appreciation Week, Writers and Illustrators will be setting appointments to read and/or talk to students about what it means to be a writer or illustrator from the elementary to high school levels. This year it will be May 4^th – 8^th, 2009.

Thanks for being with me today, and I look forward to visiting with you again next Monday, May 4^th.

More with Virginia S. Grenier

Virginia, glad to have you back with us today. I want to share your book with everyone.

 

      What great fun! I’ll bet that some of your readers are parents who enjoyed magazines specially for children with great stories like yours. It is a part of childhood that every child should enjoy.

Virginia shares a review of her book that will have everyone putting it on their list of books to get for their children or grandchildren. Even if you missed previous issues of the magazine, you’ll get the best in this book.

Best of Stories for Children volume 1 Review by Penny Ehrenkranz

The Best of Stories for Children Magazine, Volume 1, is a tribute to the quality of stories found on a monthly basis. Within these pages, readers will find a combination of thirty-two stories, poems, articles, and crafts by leading children’s authors.

The book is divided into two sections with stories culled from the past year’s issues. There are sixteen pieces taken from the spring and summer issues and an additional sixteen from the fall and winter. There is something from everyone from the early reader rebus, “Hungry Helper,” by Lisa Lowe Stauffer (artwork provided by Steve Cartwright) which starts off the book to informative non-fiction articles for older readers such as, “Magnificent Totem Poles,” by Randi Lynn Mrvos and “Sticks and Stones Won’t Break My Bones,” by Nidhi Kamra a story about calcium. Also included are colorfully illustrated poems such as “Topsy
Turvy Tour,” by Donna J. Shepard (illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier), and “Sail Away,” by Carol Crowley (artwork provided by Candace J. Hardy).

Holiday themes are touched on with stories about Halloween, “The Pumpkin Festival Mystery,” by, Mary LaFleur Langdon (illustrated by Steve Cartwright), Eid Al-Adha, “Anisah Celebrates EID AL-ADHA,” by Gayle Jacobson-Huset, (with Arabic language help from Dara Becker and illustrated by Candace J. Hardy), and Christmas, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!” by V.S. Grenier.

In Volume 1, you will find recipes for cornbread, chicken salad, “magic” reindeer food, and fun to make Christmas tree treats which are easily made from items such as Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (miniatures) Rolos and Hershey’s Kisses. Also included are directions for making non-toxic finger paint.

According to VS Grenier, founder and Editor-in-Chief, Best of Stories for Children Magazine, Volume 1, “titles picked for the anthology are based off new visits to the site page, so they are picked by the readers. We don’t look at repeat visits only the first time visits, and the page only logs it as a first visit if the reader is on the page for more then 2 minutes.” This guarantees the stories you will find are the ones most read by children and their parents.

You can purchase your copy at http://www.lulu.com/content/4892856for $26.95 as a paperback or download for $5.00.

Virginia, I wish you the best of luck with your magazine and your books. I’ll be getting one for my own grandchildren.

Book Signing at Mardel Christian & Educational Supply

It has been a demanding and crazy three weeks with my Dad’s stroke and short decline, funeral, and breaking my foot — however — the book signing is still on for this coming Saturday, May 23rd at Mardel in the Western Crossings shopping center at I-40 and Western, Amarillo, Texas. It is from 11am – 2pm. I hope you’ll be able to come. I’d greatly appreciate if you could also pass this on to any friends who might be interested.

Rebekah Redeemed book signing

Dianne G. Sagan

Mardel Christian & Education Supply

Western Crossings (I-40 & Western)

Saturday, May 23, 2009

11am – 2pm

It Doesn’t Get Any Better than This!

Just wanted to share my latest news! First, I met with a group of women that wrote a flash fiction book with me. I joined their fun and Janda Raker, one of our group, thought it would be a great idea to make our 100-word stories into a book and submit it to a publisher. Yesterday, we hit pay dirt with Joan and Steve Neubauer of WordWright.biz, Inc. publishing company in Alpine, Texas. They are going to publish one with an option of a second. Don’t know the title yet but we will be signing the contract with them in about a week or so. We are sooooo excited! It will be released just before Thanksgiving so we will hit the holiday season sales.

Second, Joan and Steve are the ones that I pitched my novel, Escape – working title. They were interested last year and I did a major rewrite for them cutting the book from approx. 95,000 words to 51,000 words. We discussed the changes and they offered me a book contract to publish it! Score! I would have gotten up and danced if I didn’t have a broken foot. I’ll be signing that contract in the next week or so, too. We are shooting for a release before Thanksgiving with this book as well.

My husband and I enjoyed Asti last night to celebrate. I’m not sure this is really sinking in yet. That means three books released in 2009!

Third, my novella, Rebekah Redeemed is now in all the Hastings stores in Amarillo as well as signed copies at the Mardel Christian & Education store in Amarillo at Western Crossings shopping center.

Busy Couple of Months

If you’re a regular follower of my blog, then you know I haven’t been here much for the past couple of months. Without getting into too much detail, I lost my Dad two months ago and have been helping my Mom a lot. We have six adult children and some of them are affected by the down turns in the recent economy over the past year or so and we are expecting a new grand child in September. I’m healing from a broken foot and wrenched back – finally doing much better and getting back to writing and blogging.

I hope you all are having a great summer. Let me know how you’re spending your time.

Talk with you soon!

Off to the Mountains of New Mexico

I’ll be leaving later this week for a Christian Women’s Retreat at El Porvenir, New Mexico. I love the Sangre de Cristo mountains. I’ve camped in them and visited there most of my life. In many ways, it’s like going home. We live about 4 hours from the mountains in the middle of the Texas Panhandle. I’ll be speaking in a workshop about overcoming our pasts so that we can live more joyfully.

There is a lot going on in our world these days and we often get caught up in economic problems, concerns about our environment and if we will be able to pay our bills and take care of our families. We dwell on past mistakes and carry around the baggage from those times in our “backpacks.” It’s like carrying rocks around. They weigh you down and don’t give you any benefits. I love to work with people and speak with them about ways to overcome those things in our past that only weigh us down and don’t benefit us.

Welcome to Chynna T. Laird

Squeezing Writing In Around Life:

My Writing Life While Raising Four Children

by Chynna Laird

One of the questions I get asked most often is, “Where on earth do you find the time for writing with four young children?” Believe me, there are days I wonder the very same thing. But I’ve come to realize that writing isn’t just something I love to do, it’s something I need to do. It helps keep me in touch with that part of myself that isn’t “Mama,” and that’s very important—for all of us. Allow me to explain.

I’m actually a late bloomer as far as getting into writing professionally. It’s not that I never had the time to write I was simply too nervous having my work out there for everyone to read. I mean, who the heck would have been interested in what I had to say? But as time went on, my courage increased with each story or article I’d let the world see until I’d made it almost a full-time gig. Then my Jaimie was born and writing had to stop temporarily.

I knew very early on that my miracle girl struggled with something. None of us knew what it was and she tried telling us in her own ways but we didn’t understand. After two years, we finally got someone—a fantastic OT named, Donna—to listen to our pleas. After a few hours with Jaimie she told us Jaimie had Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Now I’m the sort of person who can deal with anything as long as I have the information. I read every book available at that time, read articles, did online research and absorbed myself completely in understanding this mystery “SPD.”

You see there is much debate on whether SPD is a “real” disorder despite the fact that thousands of families are afflicted by it and tons of research backs it up. That made me angry. I lived with Jaimie each and every day watching how the tiniest things in her environment bothered her and caused her pain—things the rest of us take for granted—and yet it’s still considered “invisible.” That’s when I started writing again.

My passion to help my daughter by helping others understand her became my writing goal. Plus writing for me is therapeutic—it helps me re-focus on what’s important, calms me down when I’m not able to turn my mind off and gets rid of any of residue from the day’s stressors. Most importantly, it makes me feel like I’m doing something proactive in helping Jaimie since I can’t change the world so it doesn’t hurt her, cause her confusion or distress. I can, however, help that world accept her for who she is and see things through her eyes. And now you know how squeezing that writing time in is so important to everyone in my house.

            Hey! You can do it too. Really. I used to get frustrated when I wasn’t able to sit for a writing session for a specified amount of time until I realized I still could. I just needed to write around my life. I took my little Neo keyboard with me to Jaimie’s therapy sessions, typing madly in the waiting room. I stole bits of time during nap or snack times or when the kids were preoccupied with their one half-an hour show I let them watch. Then I stayed up later after they all (finally) fall asleep. When you give yourself those snippets of time throughout the day, it’s like having an expresso. It gives you extra brain energy until the next snippet you’re allowed to have. (Of course, if you’re writing a novel, you may want to wait until you get those larger blocks of time otherwise it will take forever!)

            The most important thing to do is be easy on yourself. Don’t get frustrated if you have a day where the kids need you more than usual and won’t let you escape for a little while—it happens to me all the time. I just remind myself that for every nonproductive day, I get a couple of really productive ones in where I get tons of time to make up the difference.

I look at it this way: God gave me this amazing gift. I may not be the best writer in the world but darn it, I’m right up there with some of the most passionate! My writing has taken on a very specific purpose now, which helps me make that time for writing each and every day—even if it’s just for a few minutes. When I think, “I just don’t have the time today!” I simply look down on Jaimie’s earnest little face and think about how brave she was just getting out of bed that morning to face what her environment had in store for her. And that gives me strength to forge ahead.

Keep writing, Mamas! It matters and it’s so important.

Meet Karen Cioffi

I am so glad to have Karen Cioffi as my guest today. She is a wonderful and dedicated lady. She is on of the two women in charge of our Virtual Book Tours – Writers on the Move each month. She shares the duties of keep all of us organized with Kathy Stemke. 

Karen Cioffi is a former accountant. Having to leave the accounting profession due to MS, she turned author and freelance writer.  Having to leave the accounting profession due to MS, she turned author and freelance writer.  She is the co-author of Day’s End Lullaby, a children bedtime picture book. Karen wrote the poem and music to the story over 30 years ago for her firstborn who didn’t like sleeping. 

 As a hardworking writer, Karen is on the team of DKV Writing 4 U which provides writing services, and she is the creator and manager of the Yahoo group Writers on the Move. This is a marketing group of authors who use a number of promotional strategies and tools to cross-promote. She is also the co- moderator of a children’s writing critique group. Along with this Karen is a member of SCBWI, Children’s Writing Coaching Club, The Muse Conference Board, Linkedin, JacketFlap, AuthorsDen, and Goodreads. And, she recently joined BookPleasures as a reviewer. 

Karen has a number of articles published through Ezinearticles.com and is currently revising a middle grade fantasy chapter book and working on a picture book along with writing articles for children’s magazines. Living in New York City all her life, Karen looks forward to one day moving to another state. She is married and has two grown daughters and two very young grandsons.  She spends much of each day writing, learning her craft, researching and reading, managing her groups, and following up on things.

Karen’s co-author, Robyn Feltman holds a master’s degree in Children’s Literature and Administration/Supervision. She is a fourth grade elementary public school teacher and is an initiator of environmental and humanitarian projects in her school; one of these projects is the Oambassador Program. Robyn continues to move forward in her academic career and recently completed her Superintendent certificate. She lives in New York City and has the cutest black cocker-spaniel, Luna. The authors have a number of projects in progress and ideas for many more. You can learn more about these authors at:

http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com
http://dkvwriting4u.com
http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com
http://www.childrensbooksbykarenandrobyn.com

More about Karen Cioffi’s book

                                                                                                                     

 

Bedtime is the most precious time between a loved one and a child.  Day’s End Lullaby will soothe any precious little one to sleep after a long day of play.  I look forward to sharing this book with my daughter every night and waiting for Mr. Sandman to kiss her thoughts to dreams.

Veronica DePaolo
Assistant Principal, The Abigail Adams School
Jamaica, New York

This book is an appealing addition to any collection of bedtime stories for preschoolers.  Colorful and attractive illustrations pair beautifully with the rhyming text.  Day’s End Lullaby provides the reassuring tone young children will love as part of their bedtime routine.

Kathleen Cavanagh
Librarian, Old South School
Ozone Park, New York

Here is order information for this great children’s book. It is on my list to get for our new grand daughter who is due in September.

Thanks for visiting this week with me, Karen.

Reading and Writing

Fall isn’t in the air yet, but schools are starting up soon. Teachers are going back to work in a few days and children are getting registered for the new school year 2009 – 2010. The stores have isle after isle filled with school supplies, backpacks, and other necessities. For those young people leaving for college, there are options for dorm decor in every shade of the rainbow and more stuff than you can probably fit into half of a dorm room.

When I was growing up, we always participated in the Summer Reading program at the public library. I did it with my children when they were growing up also. Many people get so busy with family, vacations, and sports during the summer that they put books aside until the school year begins again. I invite readers and writers to pick up a good book and read. It may not be below 100 degrees where you live yet, but cooler days are coming. There are a lot of wonderful books out there – newly delivered to your local book store or oldies but goodies. In a challenging economy, try visiting your local library. You can get books, audio books, and movies with your card at no cost. Enjoy! I hope that when you pick up a book you’ll include in your pile one of mine. Keep an eye out for news about my novel that will be released Fall 2009.

My Guest Author This Month is Crystalee Calderwood

I am delighted to have Crystalee Calderwood as my guest. She is another great, energized, busy, talented writer that I hope you’ll put on your list of favorites.

Crystalee, have you always wanted to be a writer? When did you get started?

I’ve been writing for almost as long as I can remember and reading for even longer. I remember writing some of my first short stories in first grade. I didn’t always want to be a writer; my career aspirations as a kid changed every five minutes. I didn’t really start thinking of writing as a feasible career until I was in grad school and started writing for children.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

That is a really hard question. I love almost everything about writing, from the moment when I come up with a cool concept, to making it come alive on the page, to revisiting it like visiting an old friend, for revisions. But my all time favorite thing about writing has to be that I know I’m creating worlds and characters that will someday come alive for the children who read my work.

What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

To me, the most challenging parts have to do with publishing: finding markets, sending out manuscripts, and then once your book is published, marketing and promoting it.
Who is your favorite author?

Another very hard question, since I rarely hate any authors and love different authors for different reasons. I rarely ever read adult novels, but I love picture book writers like Mo Willems, Karen Katz and Katherine Ayres (who I owe so much to). In YA novels, Lois Lowry, Jane Yolen and Sharon Flake come to mind.
What’s new that you’re working on right now?

I’m finishing up my very first full-length YA novel! (Hopefully, it will be finished by time your readers see this interview.) It is a modern YA novel set in Pittsburgh about a 17-year-old named Chelsea Anderson who must fulfill a volunteer requirement at school. She finds herself in the Hill District, a predominantly black area of Pittsburgh, tutoring kids at an after school program. The novel is about coming-of-age and breaking out of your comfort zone as much as it is about race. It is also based on some true events in my life, although my breaking out occurred when I was 24, not 17.
What are your goals for the rest of 2009?

Finish this YA novel! I also hope to revise the novel in verse I wrote for my thesis in grad school. And, of course, I’m still trying to get more things published: poetry, short stories, but especially picture books.

To find out more about Crystal and purchase her awesome book use these links:

The link to my blog is http://crystaleecalderwood.blogspot.com

You can buy my book Angeline Jellybean from Amazon.com or http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Store-Books.html

Welcome back, Crystalee

You are such a fun guest. I love having you with me. You are such a fun and talented writer. We’re learning more about your book and about your relationship with jellybeans today. Let’s get started.

1. Did you have a vice like jellybeans as a child? If so what was it?

Oh, I think I still have that vice! haha. Chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate. If it contains chocolate I will eat it!

2.    If you could be any color jellybean, what color would you be?

Red! No, I like the red ones too much. I don’t want to be eaten. Black. Yeah, those nasty black ones. No one eats those, right?

3.    Do you like the different flavored jellybeans, like jelly belly or the harry potter ones?

I am in love with Jelly Belly jellybeans! No others compare.

4.    What is your food guilty pleasure?

Chocolate or cheese, definitely.

5.    If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I would say chocolate except I think that would make me sick. So I’m going with cheese. A nice variety of hard and soft cheeses.

6.    If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?

Why, can you get me a headline on the front page? “Local woman completes MFA, debuts first children’s book in same week.” On second thought, that’s not exciting enough.

7.    If Hollywood were to make a movie of your life, what actress/actresses would you want to play you?

Julianne Moore. I’ve been told twice now that I look like her. *shrugs*

8.    If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Sara Adkins, What is with the Hard Questions? or It All Happened Because of Pittsburgh

9.    Do you remember your favorite children’s book when you were a child?

I had many. I read everything I could get my hands on. But for most of my life I read nothing but the Baby-sitter’s Club books by Ann M. Martin.

10.    Do you like to be read to aloud? Do you think different things can be gained from reading to yourself and being read to?

Yes, definitely. Listening to someone read a picture book aloud is a multi-sensory experience. Characters can really come to life when a reader adds the right inflection to his or her voice. A good storytime involves the children as much as possible, gets them thinking or moving or discussing. Of course, there is always a place and time for curling up in a chair with a good book too.

Thank you for interviewing me. It’s been fun.

Book Synopsis

Angeline wants to eat nothing but jellybeans.  Year round, from Easter to Christmas, she asks for her favorite treat.  But a strange event teaches Angeline that there's such thing as too much of a good thing!
With colorful, delightful illustrations by Stephen Macquignon, Angeline is sure to win over hearts of young picky eaters everywhere.

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com  Search by title or author
http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Store-Books.html 

Contact the author:
crystaleecalderwood@gmail.com
http://crystaleecalderwood.blogspot.com
http://crystaleecalderwood.bravehost.com

November Book Releases

Things are moving along at the publisher for my novel and the flash fiction anthology to be released in November just before Thanksgiving. We’re working on the covers and have a surprise known author who is multipublished and a sought after speaker at writer’s conferences for the novel foreword. I’ll keep you all informed with the progress.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with flash fiction, it is a complete story that is written in 1,500 words or less. In the anthology (five writers with 20 stories each) our stories are 100 words. It is great fun! It’s also a great way to get past writer’s block.

I’ll be presenting a workshop on flash fiction with fellow author Barbara Mary Gendusa-Yokum for the Panhandle Professional Writers on September 26, 2009 during the afternoon session.

Fall is Definitely in the Air

The temperatures at night are around 60 degrees in the Panhandle of Texas and we’ve been in the low to mid-80’s during the day. Football season and school are in full swing. No leaves turning for awhile yet, but it looks like it will be a busy time between now and the end of the year.

“Rebekah Redeemed”, my book released earlier this year may not be hitting the top ten yet, but those who read it are touched by it and I’m happy with the great book reviews on amazon.com or barnes&nobel.com. I’m working on the next book in the series “The Fisherman’s Wife” and hope to have it out in 2010. I’m also scheduling book signings, speaking engagements to both writing groups and women’s groups. I’ll put the dates on the blog as they get nearer.

Things are moving along for the flash fiction anthology and my novel for release later in the Fall 2009. It’s been a very exciting year and looks like next year will be even better. I also expect to pick up some more ghostwriting projects over the Fall and Winter season.

As we all move inside when the weather gets cold, I hope you all will be reading books like I plan to. Cold nights snuggled up with a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate and a good book are one of my ideas of contentment. I invite readers to leave a comment on what books they are reading or have on their list of ‘to read’ books.

Blog Tour and Squirrel Hunt

This is the week to visit around and see if you can win a $15 gift certificate to amazon.com. All you have to do is visit the listed blogs and search for the squirrel. Collect 10 and you can win! Report where you found the squirrels to Teresa Slack at the following link. (There are 15 out there so it shouldn’t  be too hard to be a winner.)

“Teresa Slack” <teresa@teresaslack.com>

The following links are sites of the tour for the week. Enjoy the tour and the squirrel hunt.

Sandi Rog: http://www.sandirog.blogspot.com

http://www.thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com

Mid Stutsman   http://www.midsnovelidea.blogspot.com

http://www.midspointofview.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Bussey  http://www.ebussey.blogspot.com

http://www.wisdomwalk.wordpress.com

James Tate  http://www.Daneymoco.blogspot.com

Dianne Sagan  http://www.diannesagan.wordpress.com

Kat Crawford  http://www.lionheartedkat.com

http://www.sftlm.blogspot.com

Kelly Klepfer  http://kellyklepfer.blogspot.com

Marion Marchetto  http://www.marionmarchetto.com

Lisa Lickel  http://www.livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com

http://www.lisalickel.com/cgi-bin/blog

Tamera Kraft  http://www.wordsharpeners.wordpress.com

Penny McGinnis  http://www.encouragementjourney.blogspot.com

http://www.pennyspicks.blogspot.com

Molly Dawn Edwards http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com

Carla Gade     http://www.carlaspathways.wordpress.com

Sally Hanan  http://www.sallyhanan.wordpress.com

Elizabeth Byler Younts  http://www.byelizabeth.blogspot.com

Chawna Schroeder  http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com

Teresa Slack  http://www.youcanwriteanovel.blogspot.com

Karin Beery http://www.therehastobeabeginning.blogspot.com

Vicki Moss http://www.livingwaterfiction.com

Welcome this week my guest Harry Gilleland

I have such a good time with my guests each month and this month I want you to meet Harry Gilleland.

Harry  is a southerner by birth and by inclination. Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, he now resides in Shreveport, Louisiana with his wonderful wife, Linda. Harry, who retired after a career as a Professor of Microbiology at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, now devotes himself full-time to his writing. He is a writer of both poetry and prose. He has published a fantasy novella, Bob the Dragon Slayer, and a contemporary romance novel, White Lightning Road. He has now authored three books of poetry.

Poetic Musings of an Old, Fat Man is the third published collection of poetry written by poet Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. This new collection of 81 storoems and poems will engage its readers by making them think about life and leaving them pondering their emotions and beliefs. It will also bring smiles and maybe a tear or two. Contained within this collection are forty-seven rhyming poems and “storoems”, a format coined by Gilleland. A storoem is a hybrid between a story and a poem, i.e. a story told with poetic techniques. The collection also contains twenty-eight free-verse poems, four acrostic poems, and two limericks. These writings are poetry for the thinking person, be he/she someone who is a poetry lover or someone who normally does not read poetry. This poetry is easily readable and accessible to all — poetry for the poet and the common man alike. A wide variety of subjects are addressed, including everyday life events, observations of nature, tales of fantasy, expressions of love, and much more. This wonderful collection will surprise and delight all readers.

I hope you all will come back and visit on October 3rd. harry is a versatile writer able to write both prose and poetry and has developed this great cross between the two.

What a fun guest you are to have with me. Thanks for coming Harry.

You can contact Harry and learn more about him at hgilleland@gmail.com

Poetry by our guest Harry Gilleland

I’m very excited to share an example of Harry Gilleland’s poetry. Enjoy!

SAMPLE POETRY from PMOOFM

Rhyming Storoem:

Let Her Be A Weed

A husband and wife stood together

looking out at their fenced backyard. “Our

daughter picked one rose after another…

one day she’ll be a delicate flower.”

So spoke her father. The wife then said,

“I hope she is more weed than flower,

since flowers are frail and too soon dead.

They need constant care, lacking power.

“But a weed…weeds are tough and sturdy.

They meet all life’s challenges head-on.

Sidewalk cracks for weeds offer worthy

places to grow, as well as a mown lawn.

“First to burst forth in Spring, last to die

before Winter, persistent year ‘round,

weeds thrive when flowers won’t even try.

Weeds have the strongest will-to-live found.

“I want her to be self-sufficient,

able to deal with life on her own.”

The father agreed, “A competent

woman our daughter must be when grown.

“Let her be less flower and more weed,

tough and strong-willed — but still with brightly-

colored, pretty blossoms — to succeed

in life, with her roots grounded tightly.”

Free Verse Poem:

My Yesterdays

My yesterdays

stretch out behind me

in a winding path that

disappears over the horizon

beyond my memory.

Some yesterdays were

red-letter days of triumph

and personal joy, days of

some momentous occasion

in my life. Others were black

days of pain and suffering.

Most were merely plain,

unremarkable days

of no particular note.

All have melded together

forming the memories

marking the passage

of my existence on Earth.

I treasure all my yesterdays

since each day was a brick

that contributed to building

the mosaic of my life.

My yesterdays carried me

up the long hill to today,

where I stand looking wistfully

back at them, my yesterdays…

knowing now my yesterdays

outnumber my tomorrows.

I’ve learned I should endeavor

to make each today become

a shining, glorious yesterday,

for my yesterdays are

how my life was spent.

I admire poets. I can write fiction and nonfiction, but poetry is something I’ve never been able to do very well. I enjoy reading it and am glad that people like you, Harry, can write it for the rest of us.

The following links will give our readers and friends a place to purchase this great collection and your other work. Thank you for being my guest.

Lulu Publishing

Amazon.com

Barnes & Nobel

Giveaway and Goodies! – Second Wind Publishing

Date: October 07, 2009 01:14AM
Venue: this is a blog event and blogs are forever, so stop by when you can.
Location: The United States
Description:
We are the ones celebrating our new releases, but you are the ones who get the gifts!

They are giving away ebook samplers to everyone. They are also giving away an ebook edition of a new release to three lucky commenters.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

September 30 to October 7: Stop by to get your treats:
http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/2009/…

October 1: Characters You Love to Hate by Mickey Hoffman, author of School of Lies. http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com
Can you spot a liar? Take Mickey’s quiz and find out! http://mickeyhoffman.com/quiz/saved/Scho…

October 2: With Gratitude by Deborah J Ledford. Deborah talks about what makes Second Wind Publishing so special. http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com

Hope to see at our celebration of new releases!

NaBloPoMo

Are you confused? No, I didn’t have my fingers on the wrong keys when I typed the title for this post. Let me translate, just in case you don’t know. It was new to me, too. It is National Blog Posting Month. The group’s challenge is for participants to blog every day for the month of October. As most of you know, I usually post a new blog or have a guest about once a week. This month I invite you to come back every day and see what’s new and just what it is that a ghostwriter does. Hope you’ll come as often as possible. If you want more information about participating in the challenge go to NaBloPoMo . Let me know if you sign up and I”ll come and visit.

First, I invite you to come and enjoy the poetry of Harry Gilleland tomorrow. His poems are a combination of poetry and stories. I love it! What fun.

Second, I’m wearing my ghostwriting hat and working on a project for an international client right now. I’ve written books as a ghostwriter and am now involved in a workbook. I wrote a script in collaboration with my client this summer. A new experience and I learned a ton.

The most important thing besides writing skills is developing and maintaining a good working relationship with your client/author. Remember that you’re not the author, your client is. Like in any relationship there is give and take on both sides. However, a ghostwriter has to remember that the final decision on content and message belongs to the client. Enjoy the process of writing with your client and focus on their needs.

Don’t forget … come back tomorrow and see what’s next.

Watch for the Spirit of Christmas Catalog

I know that some people may already have their Christmas or holiday shopping completed. I’m not one of those. When my children were small, I used to collect small gifts from the starting in August and accumulate them until it was time to wrap and put them under our Christmas tree. However, as they have gotten older (now all adults) I don’t do that any more.

I am excited to tell you about the Spirit of Christmas Catalog that is coming out to help all of you do some shopping from home. There will be books, videos, and music. There may also be other gift items. I’m excited to be included in it myself and at the same time anxious to see all the things that everyone else is submitting. My books Rebekah Redeemed will be included, as well as my novel that is coming out just in time for the holidays, Shelter from the Storm.

When I think about Christmas catalogs, I remember as a child being so excited when they would come in the mail. My brother and I would pour over them. It was all part of the excitement of the season. I’ll be getting the url for you as soon as it comes out. I know it’s early, but I can’t resist. Merry Christmas!

 

October is Awareness Month

October is probably best recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When I went to the market today there were pink balloon, pink reusable shopping bags, pint flowers, and even a chance to win a pink scooter. With gas prices bouncing up and down, a scooter might not be a bad alternative to a car. We see people with pink ribbons and many companies put out special packaging with pink or pink ribbons during October. It is a very worthy cause. I am totally in favor of and support efforts to end all types of cancer.

However, it is also awareness month for some other causes as well. It is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a problem in our society and world wide that persists. If we all worked together, then it could be stopped. I’m a survivor of domestic violence. We need to help each other and not ignore when we hear something or see someone abusing another person. No one deserves to be treated that way. The National Hotline is 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 1.800.787.3224 (TTY)
Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7

Others are:  Niemann-Picks Disease Awareness (a disease that affect metabolism and that are caused by genetic mutations) find out more at Niemann-Picks

Head Start Awareness Month – find out more at Help Children

Energy Awareness Month – learn about it Energy

Disability Awareness Month

You can find all the other things that October is at What Health?

Just wanted to take this opportunity to share with you all the things I know I wasn’t aware of besides Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness.