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I'm thrilled to welcome a multi-published children's author to the blog today, who tells me all about their journey to publication and plans for the future! Check it out...  “Jane of all trades” pretty well sums up who Barbara Renner is. Her college degree is in education, but she’s worked as a bookkeeper, retail store owner, banker, college instructor, high school teacher, and writer. She and her husband have lived in Phoenix, Arizona for over 40 years where they raised two children and explored the state camping as a family. After Barbara retired from teaching, she and her husband started going to Minnesota for the summers as “Sun Birds” to escape the summer heat. The career Barbara enjoyed the most was teaching. As part of her Masters in Education degree, she received a reading endorsement from Arizona State University. Now her passion is writing children’s picture books that are considered Informational Fiction. The teacher in her keeps trying to escape, and she loves to visit schools as a guest author.  Barbara has written eight picture books, four about Lonnie the Loon growing up, three about Quincy the Quail and his family, and one about Trumpeter Swans. The second Trumpeter Swan book will be published the summer of 2020. Barbara’s books are stories about kindness, friendship, and teamwork and include interesting facts about the wildlife. All the books have QR Codes so the reader can listen to the animal calls using a QR Code Reader App. The Interview... What kind of books do you enjoy writing? I love writing children’s picture books. My main characters so far have all been birds or waterfowl, and I really enjoy researching them so my stories make sense, and I include interesting facts about the wildlife. My books can be used in classrooms and libraries as teaching tools. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? As a little girl, I wrote silly little stories that my friends and I acted out. Then as an English teacher, I taught writing. When I was in business, I wrote newsletters and articles for business journals. It wasn’t until after I retired from teaching that I became serious about writing children’s picture books. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? I have been extremely lucky. I used a hybrid publisher for my Lonnie the Loon books and found a young illustrator just starting out. She did a wonderful job. The hybrid worked out well to get me going, and was not very expensive, but I have since broken away from them and self-publish on my own now. The illustrator for my Quincy the Quail books was a young college graduate. She was fabulous. I am most proud of my Trumpeter Swan books. The stories are shorter and peppier, and my illustrator is an author/illustrator who does award-winning work. What’s been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? Marketing my books - I wouldn’t say it’s the hardest, but it’s the most time consuming and challenging. The most enjoyable experience is having children and parents tell me they love my books. It’s also rewarding to have a group of children listening to me read my book, asking questions, and telling me they liked the story. It’s heartwarming to hear people say “there’s Quincy” when they see a quail running around. Would you go back and change anything? I wouldn’t have jumped in to writing and publishing a picture book so quickly - I was too anxious to experience immediate gratification. I should have done more research about the publishing industry.  Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? I have several manuscripts that I am querying in hopes of finding an agent to be traditionally published. For the past six years I’ve printed desk calendars for friends and family that contain pictures of my dog and words of wisdom that match his expressions. Since “Larry’s Words of Wisdom” has been such a big hit on social media, I am now working on a book by the same name. It will not only contain Larry’s photos and his words of wisdom, it will also include tidbits of information and trivia about dogs. A percentage of sales will go to the rescue organization where we got Larry. I’m hoping this book will be available by the end of the year. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new writers just starting out? Do your research. Study your craft. Take classes. Attend workshops. Read books in the genre you want to write. Join a critique group, or two. Have your manuscript edited. It takes a lot of study and dedication to write a book. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? – Ketchup, on everything. Night or Day? – Day, because I can play outside. I used to be a night owl, but not anymore. Inside or Outside? Outside, definitely. However, I’m somewhat of an introvert, so inside isn’t so bad. Dogs or Cats? - Dogs, of course. Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook, to keep up with friends and family. Twitter for fun. e-book or Paperback? - Paperback, I love holding books. Sun or Rain? - Sun, it’s where I gain my strength. Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard, so I can use the delete key. Comedy or Drama? - Comedy. Or, dark, humorous drama. Chips or Chocolate? - Chocolate, unfortunately.
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Oh yeah! I'm buzzing with today's guest! We chat books, writing, publishing, and other important stuff! Check it out...  Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK and studied German and French at university. She has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris, and has travelled widely. When not writing she loves family time, reading and baking. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women's magazines. In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014 her bestselling debut, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Ebook Award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2019 she was shortlisted for the RNA’s Romantic Comedy Award. In 2020 she won the RNA’s Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award with her novel Knowing You, from publisher Canelo.  Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you least expect... After a long and turbulent year, Sarah is dreaming of the five-star getaway her sister has booked them on. White sands, cocktails, massages, the Caribbean is calling to them. But the sisters turn up to tatty beaches, basic wooden shacks, a compost toilet and outdoor cold water showers. It turns out that at the last minute Amy decided a conservation project would be much more fun than a luxury resort. So now Sarah's battling mosquitos, trying to stomach fish soup and praying for a swift escape. Life on a desert island though isn't all doom and gloom. They're at one with nature, learning about each other and making new friends. And Sarah is distracted by the dishy, yet incredibly moody, island leader she's sure is hiding a secret. The Interview... Who are you and what do you write?
My name is Samantha Tonge and I write contemporary romance fiction and women’s fiction. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I always knew one day I would write. I was a voracious reader as a child and loved making up stories in my head, before going to sleep. I dabbled with a writing idea in my 20s but didn’t seriously attempt my first novel until my late 30s, in 2005 and joined an online writing forum that taught me so much. In 2013 I finally got my first deal and have had 13 books published since then. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? I wrote five novels before getting my first book published in 2013. Submitting and getting rejections was a disheartening process, so I started to write short stories for women’s fiction magazines at the same time – I sold almost 100 – and this really boosted my confidence. I’m grateful for the career I’ve had so far, with two novels reaching the Amazon Kindle Top Ten and I have also won two awards, which was very exciting, and had some books translated for sale abroad. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? It’s a rollercoaster career and the lows can be very low – bad reviews, poor sales. Equally the highs can be amazing. The hardest thing is continuing to believe in yourself when the going gets tough and if you depend on your writing income, like I do, this makes everything worse. The most enjoyable part is interaction with people who’ve read your books and loved them. This makes all the sweat and tears worthwhile. One of my books inspired a reader to follow her dream and move abroad. Another helped a reader seek treatment for a mental health problem. It means a great deal to feel, in some small way, I am making a difference. Would you go back and change anything? No. The years of rejection prepared me for any bad reviews I get and during that time my writing really improved. I went through a hard time in 2016 with my mental health, partly because my career had had some ups and downs – so if I’d change anything, it would be to go back and tell myself that my career doesn’t define me. However I’m very much a believer in everything happening for a reason, and the difficult times I’ve been through have brought me to the more contented place I’m at today. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? I don’t think that far ahead. My mental health has improved tenfold by living one day at a time. My agent and I might plan for the next year or two ahead, but that is as far as we go. Who knows what the future will hold – I’m excited to find out but I’m not going to set myself any expectations. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Believe in yourself AS A PERSON. Writing is a passion but it’s not who you are and if a book is rejected, it’s not a rejection of YOU or a statement about you as a person. It simply means you’ve got more to learn about your craft or that you haven’t found the right agent/editor yet. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? Mayo Night or Day? Day Inside or Outside? Ooh. That’s a hard one. Outside but not at night! Dogs or Cats? Cats all the way Twitter or Facebook? Twitter e-book or Paperback? Both! I go through phases Sun or Rain? Sun Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? I do love a pretty notebook and have far too many Comedy or Drama? Comedy. I’m addicted to Schitt’s Creek and Grace and Frankie on Netflix Chips or Chocolate? Chocolate I'm welcoming a professional organiser to the blog today to discuss their books and role, and as a bonus, they share some tips on finding time to write. Here we go...  My name is Lisa Giesler. I am a native of New Orleans, wife, mom, nana, coffee lover, organizing consultant, award winning author, and motivational speaker. I understand that clutter happens not only in our spaces, but in our head (thoughts and beliefs) that causes us to feel stuck in life. I am here to help you to achieve your goals and find your joy and purpose in life. Growing up I was called the white tornado in my household because I was always putting things away. Since middle school, I love creating checklist to balance homework and the other things that I had to do. My heart’s desire has always been to help people. I hold a Ministerial/ Theology certificate through Global University/Berean School of the Bible and completed a 2-year program through Emerging Leaders Institute. I spent many years working on staff at church with women, children, and their moms. I started my business, A Time and Place for Everything in 2008. My first book is called, my life is a mess organizing 101 because during a conversation with one of my first clients, she said to me, “My life is a mess”. Five years later I began writing my second book unclutter discovering strength and purpose in the chaos of life, that became that aha moment of there was more going on in people’s lives than just a messy space. About two years ag, when my dad passed, I begin to write my third book (stay tuned) brand new perspectives. This was a result of the conversations at my dad’s memorial service that I came to understand, that we don’t know everything and sometimes we need others input. Contact me to help you become uncluttered and find your joy purpose in life. I love being a speaker and using humor and serious moments to educate the audiences. When my talks are over, I enjoy the one on one conversations with the attendees. I am a member of NAPO (National Association for Productivity and Organizing) with a Life Transitions Certificate. I completed the Speaker’s Academy through the NSA (National Speaker’s Association). I am thrilled to have been featured on ABC Live Well Network, KHOU Great Day Houston, FOX Houston Saturday Morning, Stafford TV, KPRC Houston Life, KTBU Cantonese TV, Houston Chronicle, Fort Bend Focus Magazine, and other local periodicals. You can also find me volunteering for various community and non-profit events. Who are you and what do you write? I am a professional organizer, coach, consultant, and speaker. My first book My Life is a Mess is organizing tips. My second book Uncluttered is about how our external world is often a reflection of our internal world. Third book digs a little deeper in how sometimes we need brand new perspectives to become uncluttered in life. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? My first writing was fiction in 6th grade, my teacher made fun of me and said I am not a writer. My second writing, I had no guidance in how to print it and my family didn’t comprehend why someone would want to be a writer. My first publish book, I literally woke up at 4:00 in the morning filled with ideas and began writing. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? The journey has been at times very hard and at the same time exhilarating. Writing is only part of the process. Keep things in order, the edit, the proofing, and marketing. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? Hardest part is finding an editor with your voice and the most enjoyable is the finished product. Would you go back and change anything? I wouldn’t change a thing Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? I would like to be able to say that a publishing company picked up this third book, to write more books and to speak and train on the subject. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Just start writing. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? – Both depending on sandwich or potato fries Night or Day? - Day Inside or Outside? – Both depending on the weather Dogs or Cats? – Both depending on the mood, I don’t have pets Twitter or Facebook? – Both for different reasons e-book or Paperback? -- Paper Sun or Rain? – Sun by day and rain while I am asleep Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? – Pencil & Notebook Comedy or Drama? – Comedy and historical drama Chips or Chocolate? – Chocolate Tea or Coffee? – I am all the way coffee  Brand New Perspectives – is sometimes just what you need Have you thought to yourself “What if I were to look at events or people who have been in my life with a different perspective?” There have been times throughout my life where I felt like I knew people and understood things. I came to a place and through the course of varied conversations with others; I realized that I didn’t always know a person and their circumstances. I was the oldest of four children, the bossy one, and thought that I knew everything. I didn’t realize until many years later that certain conversations would give me brand-new perspectives. These new perspectives changed how I viewed my life and the lives of others. I have published two books. The first one was an award-winning book titled; my life is a mess: organizing 101. It is filled with basic organizing tips and relatable stories. My second book titled; uncluttered: discovering strength and purpose in the chaos of life is more about understanding how our external world may be a reflection of what’s going on inside of us. It was my story and relationship with my mom with stories based on client’s life experiences. As a professional organizer I know that the organizing process is not always over. We could get everything organized and everything situated, but sometimes we know there’s one closet or subject that we just want to leave alone. It’s kind of like a junk drawer, a place to put things away quickly. I knew everything wasn’t perfect in my life, but it seemed fine for the moment. My therapist said I am resilient. Just like in the organizing process you collect more stuff in that junk drawer of life and it gets full. At some point you don’t even know what’s in it and you think, “Probably should go ahead and deal with it”. I decided to listen and think about stories from friends and family members as they shared different perspectives of growing up. I began to realize that there were things that I didn’t know about others and their situations. Remember when you are a teenager and thought that you knew more than the out of touch adults in your life. As you get older you realize that you knew nothing. I had another moment where I thought, “Maybe I need little bit more organizing in my own life”. If I am honest, that overstuffed and closed junk drawer represented a place that I have now made peace with. Can you relate? Join me on this journey and in the conversation as I travel down another road of memories in life and share brand new revealed perspectives that I have gained. For the logical person it can be a collection of facts and case studies. For the creative person, it can be like a giant canvas where you paint. For me it is decluttering, organizing, and pretty containers. Using analogies and real-life stories, my goal is for you is to realize that it is okay to embrace different ideas and perspectives in helping you to balance and organize all of the areas of your life. Anticipated completion December 2020 I often hear people say, “I want to write a book, but it is hard finding the time to write”. If that is your dilemma then keep reading for 7 great tips on you can start and finish writing a book.
1. You must know if you are better creatively in the morning or the evening. Write during that time. I write better when I first wake up and sometime people write better at night. 2. Write a list of things that you need to do in the course of a day and week, make sure you include business, household, and errands you have to take care of. As a Professional Organizer, I have more tips to help you with if you’d like. 3. Set up your calendar and schedule time to write. I usually need an hour or two-hour block of time. This allows me to get into my creative zone for ideas, then begin to mind dump, and the writing begins to flow. 4. Choose an area for writing that inspires you. It could be a space in your home or at a coffee shop. 5. When you are finished writing for the day, give the piece a title and a note at the end. This helps you to remember where you were going and where you left off at. 6. In the beginning do not waste time trying to edit and make it perfect just write. I know it’s tempting, but it’s not a good use of your time in the beginning stages. 7. If you start feeling tired and have a mind block, take short breaks to clear your head. I like to go outside sometimes, drink a cup of coffee, eat snack, or even take a 15-minute power nap. Cheers and congratulations on getting your book started and completed! I'm pleased to welcome a successful YouTuber and all around wordsmith who works tirelessly to support authors. Check it out...   In a deadly circus competition, even hearts are on the line. Gwendolyn Grimm intended to seduce men and women across the galaxy while working as a ship tinkerer on the finest vessels in the Crescent Star System. Alas, terminal illness is a buzzkill. When a life-saving opportunity struts into her life dressed in a pinstripe suit, she is made an offer she can’t refuse: become a cyborg and work as a tinkerer for Cirque du Borge, the once renowned cyborg circus. The problem is, a new law has banned the creation of new cyborgs and becoming one means execution if caught. Thus, no one cares to see the wonders of man and machine anymore. Ticket sales continue to fall as the circus announces a competition to determine which acts will perform for the emperor on his home planet—an opportunity with the potential to save the circus from bankruptcy. But the competition has deadly consequences. Losing acts have their cyborg implants forcibly removed, and those who survive the extraction are banished from the circus. As the tinkerer, Gwendolyn is forced to perform the revolting task of removing the cyborg implants from the losing performers. When she falls for both the man running the competition and a woman competing in it, she must decide who to protect. But can she risk having to harvest the people she loves the most? Treasure Planet meets John Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire in this LGBTQ+ steampunk fairytale mashup. TRIGGER WARNINGS: This novel contains graphic violence, sexual content, inappropriate language, and references to eating disorders. Reader discretion is advised. The Interview... Who are you and what do you write? Heya! My name is Meg LaTorre. I'm a science fiction and fantasy author and a YouTuber. I'm the host of the YouTube channel, iWriterly, where I talk about writing and publishing books (both traditional and self-publishing). I formerly worked at a literary agency, so my traditional publishing videos are from that perspective. Currently, I write science fiction and fantasy, but I also have a fantasy romance in the works. I hope to write science fiction, fantasy, and romance throughout my career. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? Like many writers, I grew up wanting to write books. I think I wrote my first "book" when I was 11. It was hand-written and riddled with exclamation points. It wasn't until late high school/early college that I started taking writing more seriously and dabbled in full-fledged novels. I wrote and queried a few novels before eventually writing The Cyborg Tinkerer (my debut space opera/steampunk mashup that comes out fall 2020), which I decided to self-publish after interviewing countless indie authors on my YouTube channel. Although I had some agent interest in previous novels I'd queried, I decided I wanted to pursue a new project (TCT) and try my hand in the indie space. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? After having written and queried novels as well as having worked at a literary agency, I'd always thought I would publish my debut novel traditionally. But after I interviewed countless indie authors on my YouTube channel, my mind was opened to how business-savvy self-published authors are (or can be). It massively appealed to my entrepreneur side. But I also watched the traditional market and spoke to agent friends. During that time, I saw how steampunk often had a hard time finding a home. Between those factors (and many others), indie seemed like the perfect way to begin my book publishing career. (I made a whole YouTube video about why I chose to self-publish this novel.) However, I do have aspirations to be a hybrid author. All that to say, I'm really excited to publish The Cyborg Tinkerer under my own label (iWriterly). I have learned so much in the process! What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? The hardest part has probably been gaining objectivity to decide where a given book would perform best and line up with my author goals. This is going to be different for every author. I had to do a lot of soul-searching to decide where The Cyborg Tinkerer would best be able to find ideal readers while also making sure I'm hitting my authorly dreams and goals. Not to mention, there is SO MUCH to learn when it comes to self-publishing. But I'm so thankful for my indie author friends, who have generously shared their time with me and answered my (many) questions. As for most enjoyable, I've found that I really like running my own business. The ability to pivot and be really involved in the publishing process has been a blast. Would you go back and change anything? This is tough because I feel that most newbie writers need to make many mistakes before they get the hang of writing books. You can't really teach someone how they write a book. It's something that must be learned through experience (in my opinion). You can learn the principles and research a ton, but you won't know how you operate as a novel writer until you write the thing. So, I probably wouldn't change my early "mistakes." I might encourage newbie writer Meg to write and not worry about whether or not the book was "good enough" to be published. I would tell myself to enjoy playing around in my imagination and learn as much as I can. Publishing will come later. First, learn the craft and have fun. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? I hope to have both self- and traditionally-published books in 5 or 10 years' time and still be making YouTube videos at iWriterly. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Don't worry about whether a book is "good enough" to be published when you're first starting out. Focus on learning how you operate as an author. Do you like to write every day or a few time per week? Do you outline or are you a discovery writer? Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? What are your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to craft? How many drafts does it take to polish a book? How many critique partners and beta readers do you like to work with? First, learn how you operate as a writer. Figuring out how/where you want to publish will come later. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? - Both Night or Day? - Day Inside or Outside? - Both Dogs or Cats? - Cats Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter ebook or Paperback? - ebook Sun or Rain? - Sun Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard Comedy or Drama? - Anything with romance and a happy ending LOL Chips or Chocolate? - Chips! I'm a sucker for good chips I'm pleased to welcome a brilliant debut author and librarian to the blog today to talk about their journey to publication! Here we go...  Donna grew up in the UK in a house full of noisy siblings, fun parents, mad aunties and maggots (her dad is a fisherman). She'd often be found reading by torch light way after bed time and this love of reading has never left her. Donna is a children's author, a freelance writer and an assistant librarian in a prison. Donna loves writing for children and teenagers and thinks that a child's imagination is the best place in the world!  'Oh No, Bobo!' gently introduces the theme of consent to very young children. It is written by Donna David and is beautifully illustrated by Laura Watkins. Bobo can't sleep - he's just too uncomfortable! Bobo is sure one of his jungle friends will be able to help. He plucks a feather here and a tuft of hair there but only causes upset! Bobo is left despondent and still without a pillow. But when Elsie the elephant enthusiastically strokes Bobo and wraps him up in her trunk in an effort to play, Bobo gets very upset indeed. Will Bobo and Elsie both learn an important lesson about asking permission? QEB’s Storytime series introduces young children to the pleasures of reading and sharing stories. Featuring charming animal and human characters, the books explore important social and emotional themes like friendship, gratitude, perseverance, and overcoming fears. A Next Steps page at the back provides guidance for parents and teachers. The Interview... Who are you and what do you write?
I'm Donna David and I'm a children's author. I write for children of all ages: from newborn right up to 99 year olds who are still young at heart. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I've always written on and off but I started to take my writing seriously when my husband was posted to Afghanistan for eight months. With three young children tucked up in bed, I had long evenings to fill. So, I filled it by writing stories. Many were awful but some had a spark of potential. I took these sparks and starting playing with them to see where they might lead... How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? It took my about 18 months to sign with my wonderful agent, Becky Bagnell. I signed in the September and I genuinely thought I'd have my first deal by Christmas. How I laugh at myself now! 2.5 years later and I finally got my first offer for 'Oh No, Bobo!' It was such a relief! From offer to publication was about fourteen months, which in the world of picture books is no time at all. I feel so lucky to have been paired with Laura Watkins. She's done such a wonderful job with the illustrations. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? It's a total cliche but so very true - writing to be published is such a roller coaster! You get the biggest high from finishing a story that you completely love but then a devastating low when the rejections start rolling in. The highs for me have been signing with my agent, meeting so many other brilliant writers, signing contracts, finding out which illustrators I've been paired with and holding my books in my hands for the very first time. The lows have been many, many, MANY rejections. But, I always treat myself to a nice bit of chocolate with every rejection so that's got me through! Would you go back and change anything? I'd probably eat less chocolate. My dentist would be much happier. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? I would LOVE to be able to make a full time career out of writing. I'm inching closer every year but I still juggle a couple of part time jobs as well for now. Having said that, I adore working in a prison library so I'm not sure I'd be able to give that up anyway. I hope to take part in more festivals and school visits as these are a complete perk of the job! What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Be kind to yourself. Every single author I know has been rejected many, many times, so you have to make sure that you love what you're doing. Quite a bit of luck comes into play in the world of picture books - you often have to land on the right desk at the right time. Be patient, and whilst you're waiting for your bit of luck, read as widely as you can. I can't overestimate the importance of reading, reading, reading. It's the best way to develop your craft. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? - Oh, don't make me pick. Ketchup...no mayo...no, no ketchup. Definitely. Maybe. Night or Day? - Day but I do love a good night out! Dancing is the BEST! Inside or Outside? - Outside Dogs or Cats? - I used to have cats growing up and I adored them. But now I'm allergic so I'd have to say dogs. Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter e-book or Paperback? - Paperback but ebooks are essential for holidays. Sun or Rain? - Sun. This is by the far easiest question so far. Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - For picture books, pencil and notebook. I scribble so much out but then I often go back to what I wrote initially. I like to see it all there on the page so I can find my best lines. But for anything longer, it has to be keyboard. I got a certificate for my touch typing when I was eleven years old and it's a skill that has served me well! Comedy or Drama? - Comedy. Laughter really is the best medicine! One of my biggest struggles is getting a scene that is completely hilarious in my head down on paper without losing the comedy gold. Chips or Chocolate? - Chocolate. I think from my answers above you probably already knew that! I'm back today with a fabulous author guest to chat about their super fun and exciting MG duology, plus a surprise appearance from Bigfoot! Here we go...  Lija Fisher was raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Her debut novel, THE CRYPTID CATCHER, was published in 2018 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR). It received a starred review from Booklist and was a Junior Library Guild selection. THE CRYPTID KEEPER, her second novel, is a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. Lija travels the country doing school visits where she gets kids interested in reading and science through searching for hidden animals, or cryptids, like Bigfoot.  The Cryptid Catcher is the first book in a monstrously fun middle-grade duology by Lija Fisher about a boy who inherits a job hunting legendary creatures. After Clivo Wren's archaeologist father dies mysteriously, the newly orphaned thirteen-year-old finds out the truth: his dad was no archaeologist. He was actually a cryptid catcher, known for finding elusive beasts like the bloodsucking chupacabra. His goal: discover the one extraordinary cryptid whose blood grants immortality—before the knowledge falls into the wrong hands. The mission remains unfinished, and now there's only one person who can take the renowned cryptid catcher's place: Clivo. He may not know the first thing about monster hunting, but he's willing to give it a try—because anything beats staying home with his salsa-crazy aunt and her neurotic cats.  The Interview... Who are you and what do you write? Hi! I’m Lija Fisher, and I write humorous adventure novel for 8-12 year olds. My books focus on the world of cryptozoology, or the search for legendary animals that might be real (like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster!) Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I didn’t start writing until my mid-30’s. I was living in NYC trying to make my way as an actor and wasn’t having much success. But I knew I wanted to be creative, so I started writing since it was the easiest thing to do while waiting for the phone to ring. I always say that I came to writing out of desperation to fulfill my creative voice! How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? I wrote one book and queried about 100 agents, with no success. Then I wrote another book which was an adult novel about a soldier hunting dragons. I queried about 100 agents again and one agent responded. He said he liked my writing style but felt that the book would work better as a young adult novel. I had no idea what that genre was like, so I read a whole bunch of YA books and turned my book into a story about a 16 year old boy who's hunting dragons while wishing he had a girlfriend. It was terrible! So my agent suggested it might work better as a middle grade novel. So I read some MG books and changed the story to a thirteen year old boy who discovers that cryptids are real and his legacy is to protect them. That story worked, and I discovered, through writing for different age groups, that my natural voice fit in the middle grade genre. My agent sold that book to a wonderful editor, and I did another re-write with her. Then she unfortunately left her job, so I became an 'orphan book' and the process stalled for about a year. Finally, another amazing editor picked up my book and I did another full re-write with him. So my debut novel, The Cryptid Catcher, went through three different genres and at least four major re-writes. But I learned so much through all of that guidance that writing my second book, The Cryptid Keeper, went much smoother because I actually had a better idea of what I was doing this time! What's been the most enjoyable part of your writing/publishing experience so far? The most enjoyable, and delightfully surprising, part about my writing journey is how it’s introduced me to cryptozoology. I had no idea what a fun, interesting world the search for legendary animals was and I really enjoy getting kids interested in reading and science through talking about these mysteries. I’ve even been invited to speak at Bigfoot festivals, which I NEVER would have anticipated when I started writing! Would you go back and change anything? I wouldn’t go back and change anything, but of course there are things I wish I knew. There’s no manual for how to become a published author or what to do when you get there, so I certainly made some stumbles. Such as spending way too much of my own money promoting my book in ways that didn’t pay off. But that’s also how I learned, by discovering what it was I didn’t know. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? In 10 years time I would LOVE to still be writing. Publishing is a hard business with a lot of rejection, and there’s no guarantee your next book will get published. I picture it like I’m steering a ship in a storm, with rain and wind battering my face, and I just have to keep plowing forward with a smile, despite getting slapped occasionally by a flying fish. But I love creating stories and I’d be so fortunate to still be doing so in 10 years. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Honestly, I’d say - be careful who you show your work to. When we’re starting out at anything, we’re often uncertain and look to others for validation that we should keep going, and one harsh word of judgement can derail our confidence. Find people who you trust, who will champion your work even while pushing you to get better, and float on their encouragement. Your beginning work might stink, and that’s okay, what’s important is that you keep plowing forward with confidence, like the rain-soaked captain of that ship getting pelted with flying fish! And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? - Mayo, yummy! Night or Day? - Day for sure! I go to bed so early my friends have called me a grandma since my twenties. Inside or Outside? - Outside! I live in Colorado so hiking and biking in nature is my life. Dogs or Cats? - Doggies! My boyfriend has a dog, Lucy, and he claims I love her more than him. (*whispers* sometimes that can be true) Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook! On there I can interact with my friends who know and love me. On Twitter, I’m desperately trying to connect with people I don’t know and, for an introvert like me, that can be hard. e-book or Paperback? - Paperback! I’ve never read an ebook. I need the smell of paper and ink when I’m reading. Sun or Rain? - Rain! Anything to make the day cozy so I can sit inside and write. Comedy or Drama? - Comedy, for sure. My books are all about the funny.  I'm pleased to kick off a new week with a fascinating insight into how one editor selects stories for anthologies. Check it out...  Judy Penz Sheluk (editor/author) is the bestselling author of two mystery series, both set in Canada: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Her short stories appear in several collections, including Live Free or Tri and the Superior Shores Press Anthologies The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, and Heartbreaks & Half-truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, which she also edited. Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, International Thriller Writers, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors. Some important things to know about Judy... Ketchup or Mayo? Mayo Night or Day? Day Inside or Outside? Outside Dogs or Cats? Dogs Twitter or Facebook? Facebook Ebook or Paperback? Paperback Sun or Rain? Sun Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Both Comedy or Drama? Drama Chips or Chocolate? Chocolate  Title: Heartbreaks & Half-truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense Name of Series: A Superior Shores Anthology Number in Series: #2 Genre: Mystery & Suspense/Short Stories Editor: Judy Penz Sheluk Authors: Sharon Hart Addy, Paula Gail Benson, James Blakey, Gustavo Bondoni, Susan Daly, Buzz Dixon, Rhonda Eikamp, Christine Eskilson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Flora, John M. Floyd, J.A. Henderson, Blair Keetch, Steve Liskow, Edward Lodi, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Peggy Rothschild, Joseph S. Walker, James Lincoln Warren, Chris Wheatley and Robb T. White. Lovers and losers. Whether it’s 1950s Hollywood, a scientific experiment, or a yard sale in suburbia, the twenty-two authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “heartbreaks and half-truths” in their own inimitable style, where only one thing is certain: Behind every broken heart lies a half-truth. And behind every half-truth lies a secret. Selecting Stories for an Anthology: An Editor’s Point of View I’ve been on all sides of the anthology fence, as a story submitter, a publisher, editor and judge. I’ve felt the thrill of acceptance and the disappointment of rejection (as the intake coordinator for Passport to Murder, the Bouchercon Toronto anthology, I had the dubious distinction of sending a rejection letter to myself). I’m also an avid reader of short mystery fiction. Love it. And so, in October 2018, I sent out my very first callout under my recently formed Superior Shores Press imprint for The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, published June 18, 2019. Buoyed by the critical acclaim and commercial success of Plans, and convinced that this time around I’d be able to streamline the process somewhat, I sent another callout in October 2019, this time for Heartbreaks & Half-truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, for publication on June 18, 2020. Now, with Plans, I’d received a total of 71 submissions, and I was expecting about the same number this go-round. Not so. In all, 105 submissions were received for Heartbreaks, representing authors from Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Scotland, the UK, US, and Canada. But, how does one make the cut from 105 to 22? The truth is, reading is subjective. I’ve yet to read an anthology where I’ve liked every story in the collection (my own anthologies excluded). The best you can do is even up your odds. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you submit:
Interested in submitting? If all goes according to plan, I’ll be sending another callout for the third anthology under the Superior Shores Press umbrella. Sign up for my newsletter as I’ll announce it there. Until then, I hope you’ll check out The Best Laid Plans and Heartbreaks & Half-truths. At the very least, it will give you a good idea about the types of stories I select. I am delighted to be part of the cover reveal crew today for a super good friend of mine and just an all around LOVELY person. And this book is simply delightful! Check out the beauty of both author and cover...  Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, SC now resides in the gorgeously green PNW. When she’s not writing, SC is working on creating a food forest in her backyard, wearing fun socks, reading romance novels with swoon-worthy heroes, and shamelessly encouraging her borderline obsession with burritos. www.scalban.wordpress.com Twitter: @muchasfloras Facebook: @s.c.alban Instagram: @s.c._alban Pinterest: @authorscalban THE BOOK COVER...  PLAYING CUPID BY SC ALBAN From author SC Alban comes a tender and humorous, coming-of-age novel that follows the journey of a girl who must give up her heart in order to find love. For the past five years, seventeen-year-old Megan Cooper has built a wall around her heart with little room to experience true feelings. However, her entire world shifts the moment she hits Cupid with her car driving home from finals. With his shooting arm significantly injured, she has no choice but to take his place. Now, as Megan races to find Cupid’s final three love matches in order to meet his quota by the start of the new year, she comes face to face with the very emotions she’s been pushing away for so long. Caught between what her head is saying and what her heart longs for, Megan must face old wounds, find forgiveness, and track down the perfect match for the one boy she can’t stand. Parliament Press: Instagram: @theparliamentpress Twitter: @parliamentbooks Facebook: @theparliamenthouse  I'm absolutely delighted to welcome a picture book author to the blog today whose gorgeous debut was released earlier this year. OMG it's soooo cute! Check it out...  Kat Harrison is a writer, editor, and chronic illness advocate from Michigan. Her writing has been featured in various print and online outlets such as Real Simple, New York Family, The Mighty, and Yahoo. She lives with a not-so-fun buffet of chronic health conditions and has recovered from fourteen surgeries, but she keeps her sense of humor thanks to an incalculable amount of coffee and brightly colored headbands. Her debut picture book, SURGERY ON SUNDAY, was released in March 2020 by Warren Publishing. It’s illustrated by UK-based artist Shane Crampton.  Sunday – a kid with an ocean-sized imagination -- is nervous about her upcoming ear surgery. Mom and Dad tell her to put on a brave face, but how can she when she has so many questions? Will it be scary? Will it hurt? (And what does it mean to put on a brave face anyway?) When surgery day rolls around, Sunday’s stomach is in knots like a triple-tied shoelace. But thankfully, she has her BFF, Octavia the Octopus by her side. With the additional help of a few “rules,” her parents, kind doctors and nurses, she soon learns surgery isn’t so scary after all. It actually makes her feel a whole lot better! Written with spunk, humor, and a lot of love, SURGERY ON SUNDAY teaches kids they can be brave, even when it’s hard. The Interview... Who are you and what do you write? I’m Kat Harrison and I write health-focused picture books as well as personal essays about chronic illness, mental health, and disability. Do you sense a theme? Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I’ve always been a writer. In fact, I can’t remember a time when writing wasn’t my go-to outlet creatively and emotionally. But after incurring a medical trauma at the age of 15, my seriousness about writing exploded tenfold. I was determined to make my voice heard and to become an unforgettable storyteller. I strive to get a little closer to that, day by day and draft by draft. Without writing, I’m not so sure I’d know how to breathe. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? I got my start in lifestyle journalism -- primarily in the parenting and beauty sector – as a magazine editor. I didn’t start writing about health until I wrote a feature story on migraines for Real Simple in 2014. Fast forward to 2016-2018, I recovered from four major surgeries and wrote 27 essays for The Mighty about my life with chronic illness. To be honest, I can’t imagine writing about anything else now. Health narratives are what I’m most passionate about and translating that point of view into picture books has been equal parts terrifying and fulfilling. Kids tell it like it is! What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? Without a doubt, the hardest part about my publishing experience with SURGERY ON SUNDAY was getting others to believe the story had a purpose and a place in today’s market. I received so much feedback about there not being enough value for “niche” stories like mine and for a while, it led me to believe I was rooting for a project that wouldn’t see the light of day. But eventually I learned to quiet the voices of the crowd. As for the enjoyable part, when I first saw the initial round of color interiors that Shane Crampton whipped up, my heart burst into a million Monarch butterflies. I was so proud I didn’t give up on Sunday (and she is too).  Would you go back and change anything? My biggest regret is not arming myself with more market research whenever I spoke with publishing professionals. I read so many comp titles which helped me write the best and most unique story I could, but I lacked evidence in the business department. Comprehensive research as to why there was a much-needed place in the market for a book like mine would’ve given the story deeper and more obvious roots. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? I’d like to be far, far away from operating rooms. But health catastrophes aside, I hope to have written many more stories for kids. And maybe, just maybe, have completed my memoir. It’s always there, looming like a shark, but I haven’t had the patience and tenacity to give it a go. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Learn how to take criticism gracefully. While writing is inherently personal, it’s important to compartmentalize feedback for what it is – a tool for improvement. Good feedback will make you a more nuanced self-editor and elevate your craft. Oh, and don’t forget to read. A lot. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? I can’t choose, so I’ll go with Mayochup! (Apparently that’s an actual product now. What a time to be alive.) Night or Day? Daytime, preferably morning. Inside or Outside? Inside. My chronic pain is very dependent on a controlled environment but I also love a good stroll. Dogs or Cats? Despite my namesake, I’m a dog person. My rescue pup is my whole life! Twitter or Facebook? Neither. Instagram all the way. e-book or Paperback? Paperback. There’s nothing like the real thing. Sun or Rain? I write better when it’s raining but sunshine is my surefire mood booster. Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Keyboard. My laptop is like an extra limb. Comedy or Drama? Drama. I love to laugh but I’m more satisfied when I feel deeply. Chips or Chocolate? Please don’t make me choose. Salty and sweet is my favorite combo! I'm delighted and thrilled and so excited to welcome today's author guest and help celebrate the release of their debut novel and what looks like an INCREDIBLE YA contemporary fantasy! LOOK!  Erica Waters grew up in the pine woods of rural Florida, though she now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. She has a Master’s degree in English and works as a university writing tutor. When she’s not writing books, you can find her hanging out with her two dogs, Nutmeg and Luna. Ghost Wood Song is her debut novel.  YA Contemporary Fantasy HarperTeen July 21, 2020 Sawkill Girls meets Beautiful Creatures in this lush and eerie debut, where the boundary between reality and nightmares is as thin as the veil between the living and the dead. If I could have a fiddle made of Daddy’s bones, I’d play it. I’d learn all the secrets he kept. Shady Grove inherited her father’s ability to call ghosts from the grave with his fiddle, but she also knows the fiddle’s tunes bring nothing but trouble and darkness. But when her brother is accused of murder, she can’t let the dead keep their secrets. In order to clear his name, she’s going to have to make those ghosts sing. Family secrets, a gorgeously resonant LGBTQ love triangle, and just the right amount of creepiness make this young adult debut a haunting and hopeful story about facing everything that haunts us in the dark. The Interview... What do you write? My first two books are YA contemporary fantasies, although sometimes Ghost Wood Song is called a paranormal mystery. Pretty much everything I write is spooky, atmospheric, and character-driven. The book I’m working on right now is a haunted house MG, which I’m having a ton of fun with. My writing tends toward Southern characters, gothic atmosphere, and lyrical prose. Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I’ve always been a writer in some capacity, but I got serious about wanting to write and publish YA fantasy in my 20s after reading Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. That book made me realize how beautiful and powerful writing in the YA category can be. And when my dad died in 2013, I got really serious about making my writing dreams a reality. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? I wrote and queried three novels over the course of three years, amassing 101 agent rejections. But my third book was the one where I found my voice and style. It got me an agent and a book deal. That deal was for two books, so I’ll have Ghost Wood Song out this year and another stand-alone out in 2021. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? The hardest part has been the waiting. Writers do so much waiting—to hear back from agents we’ve queried, to get an edit letter from our editors, to see our books on shelves. I wrote Ghost Wood Song in 2017, sold it in 2018, and it debuts in 2020. That’s two years of waiting for it to come out, not to mention all the years of writing and hoping that came before. However, there is a ton of joy in the writing/publishing life. I find most of my joy during the actual writing—getting lost in a story, caring deeply about my characters, seeing a whole world take shape under my fingertips. That’s heady stuff. But there are great things about publishing too, like all the brilliant, kind people I’ve met, whose input has made me a better writer. And you really can’t beat the feeling of holding your book in your hands, with a beautiful cover and your photo on the back. That’s worth all the waiting and work. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? I think what matters most is persevering. Lots of super talented people aren’t agented yet and don’t have book deals. Creativity and talent matter, but so much of getting published is luck and timing. So keep writing books you want to read, put in the work to become a better writer and to understand the publishing industry more, and don’t get discouraged when you aren’t successful right away. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? - Ketchup Night or Day? - Day Inside or Outside? - Outside Dogs or Cats? - Dogs Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter e-book or Paperback? - Paperback Sun or Rain? - Rain Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Keyboard Comedy or Drama? - Drama Chips or Chocolate? - Chocolate |
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April 2021
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