So, You're a Writer...: February 2012

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

OPPRESSION Virtual Launch Party!

Continuing with today's theme, we're going to celebrate the release of Jessica Therrien's debut novel, OPPRESSION! All together now...

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :)

It's the first in her YA paranormal romance/adventure series, CHILDREN OF THE GODS, and promises to be very, very good! Ready to hear more about it? Here's the book description:

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OPPRESSION

(Children of the Gods #1

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.

For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.

Or so she thinks.

Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her.

Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to centuries of traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

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Sounds great, right? How about a little preview? Click here to read the first few pages of chapter one. :) Just make sure you're back here next Monday (03/05/12), when Jessica stops by as part of her OPPRESSION blog tour. It'll be the first interview here at SYAW. Are you excited? I know I am! :)

So, sit back and enjoy yourself; put your feet up on the coffee table (I won't flip out this time, I promise!); and get ready to win some awesome prizes! This is from Jessica's page:

Here's What You Can Win:

Grand Prize: Signed Paperback Edition of Oppression

Another Super Cool Prize: Lined Paper Notebook

Pretty Neat Prize: Oppression Poster

How Can You Win?

To be entered to win these prizes you can do any of the following:

1. Tweet about the release of Oppression using the hashtag #Book1OPPRESSION.

Example: Celebrate the release of Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) by @jessicatherrien #Book1OPPRESSION #YA Available NOW!

Example: Read #Book1OPPRESSION (Children of the Gods #1) by @jessicatherrien today for only .99 cents! http://amzn.to/wBDtn1

2. Facebook - tag @Jessica Therrien (Author) about the release of Oppression.

Example: Celebrate the launch of Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) by @jessicatherrien! The e-book is on sale now for NOOK & Kindle for only .99 cents!

Example: Spread the word for prizes! Today is the official release of Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) by @jessicatherrien

3. Visit any of the following Virtual Launch Party Host blogs and comment on their Virtual Launch Party posts:

PARTY HOSTS

K.T. Hanna	Jessica Wentz	Tasha Seegmiller
Melanie Fowler	Jenny S. Morris	Liliana Espinoza
Rebekah Loper	Rachel Morgan	Mark Koopmans
Rachele Alpine	Carrie Butler	Cherie Colyer
Holly Kammier	Miranda Hardy	Kim Chavez
J.C Martin	Wendy	Juliana Brandt
Tia Bach	Bethany Lopez	Magan Bagan
Precious Emily Trunko Susan Francino Ainsley Shay	Jaime Morrow Avery Marsh Marisa Corvisiero	Claire Frith Sarah O'Scalaidhe Jessica Salyer

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Follow Jessica on: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Want to buy OPPRESSION?

$0.99 E-Book

Amazon Kindle Edition (US)
Barnes & Noble NOOK Edition (US)

Amazon Kindle Edition (UK, France, Germany)

$12.99 Paperback

Amazon (US)
Barnes & Noble (US) - on sale for $7.79

Amazon (Canada)

Amazon (UK, France, Germany, Japan)

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Have a great week, guys! ♥

CassaFire Release Party!

You guys know Alex J. Cavanaugh, right? I'm sure you do. You can't go two steps without seeing his ninjesque influence somewhere in the writing community. He's everywhere! ;)

Another thing you probably know is his second novel, CassaFire, comes out today... and we're throwin' a party! The goal of this shindig is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. Cool, right?

Twitter hashtag: #CatchFire

There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at Alex’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour (02/27-03/09). You should probably check it out.

...But after this. Stick around for a minute. ;)

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You know what I like to call those little, thought-provoking pearls of wisdom Alex leaves us with from time to time? Cavaknowledge. Go ahead. Say it with me. Ca·va·knowl·edge. It's fun, isn't it?

Anyway, to celebrate the release of CassaFire, I've compiled three instances of Cavaknowledge for writers:

3. Writing Exposition and Description
2. Dudespeak
1. Character Motivation

Good stuff. :) Now on to the reason we're here!

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CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

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

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

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

Available today!

Science fiction - space opera/adventure

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

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

Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Amazon Kindle

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.”

- Library Journal

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There you have it! Go support Alex as a friend/fellow writer/fellow blogger/loyal reader. Have a great week, guys! ♥

Monday, February 27, 2012

My Favorite Evil Genius: Dr. Horrible

First, a big shout-out/Happy 2nd Blogiversary to The Golden Eagle! Our beloved hostess has been ~~planning world domination~~ entertaining the blogosphere for over two years now! How cool is that? :)

To celebrate, she created The Evil Genius Blogfest.What does that mean? Well, basically, participants get to highlight the evil genius of their choice. Three guesses who I chose. ;)

Dr. Horrible

For those of you who aren't familiar, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog was a low-budget film created during the WGA strike of 2007-2008. Joss Whedon fans (*cough* me) were able to watch all three parts of the film online--doled out in 14 minute increments, every two days--back in July of 2008. It. was. hilarious.

After the trailer, I'll prove Dr. Horrible's evil genius status with facts straight from the movie. That is, if I haven't worn out my DVD yet...

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Three quotes from the man himself:

NPH + Nathan Fillion + Felicia Day = Win

3. (After talking about using a vocal coach to improve his evil laugh.) "A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards. If you're going to get into The Evil League of Evil, you've got to have a memorable laugh."

2. "And by the way, It's not about making money--it's about taking money. Destroying the status quo because the status is not quo. The world is a mess and I... just need to rule it."

1. "So, as of tonight, I am in the Evil League of Evil if all goes according to plan... which it will, because I hold a PhD in horribleness."
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Not enough for you? How about three (non-spoiler) facts?

3. He created a TransmatterRay, a FreezeRay, a StunRay, and a DeathRay.

2. At least one of those used wonderflonium he procured from ~~an armored truck~~ a courier van.

1. His arch-nemesis is a superhero: Captain Hammer!

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See? He's the epitome of an evil genius.

...Sort of. ;) Have a great week, guys! ♥

Monday, February 20, 2012

First Campaigner Challenge: The Eighteenth Hour

It's time for the First Campaigner Challenge! Here are the rules:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. (✔) These five words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count) ✔

include the word "orange" in the story ✔

write in the same genre you normally write ✔
(romance, though it's kind of diluted here)

make your story 200 words exactly! ✔

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Shadows crept across the wall, weaving darkness into the eighteenth hour.

CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Image by Mr. Greenjeans

Beyond my window, the sun had begun its descent into the horizon, bathing the world in a hazy, orange glow. Unlike the cards littering my sill, it promised no warmth, no hope for tomorrow—only a safe passage into the night. One last time.

My eyelids followed the waning light and lowered of their own accord. If I could just drift off for a second…

It was the trembling against my back that kept me grounded, still bound to the man who clung to me with every fiber of his being. His breath hitched as he swallowed a half-formed sob, but he didn’t say a word. He just rocked back and forth with his arms around me, burying his tears in my hair.

With a shaking hand, I brushed my fingertips across the back of his neck, imprinting the goodbye I didn’t have the strength to say or the heart to believe. Vows were meant to last longer than this. It wasn’t fair...

The baby awoke with a cry in the background, innocent and oblivious.

No, it wasn’t fair at all.

I drew my last breath, and everything faded.

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...Well, crap. That was depressing. Last time I write a challenge entry in the middle of the night!

Anyhoo, if you liked it, feel free to vote (I'm #5). While you're there, check out the other entries. It's always cool to see how differently everyone interprets the flash prompt. :)

Have a great week, guys! ♥

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I Hijacked Someone's Blog

Hey, guys! Just a quick mid-week note to let you know one of my critique partners, Melissa Maygrove, is doing a series for beginning writers called "You Are Here." (I know, I know. Consider it a refresher, oldbies!) Anyway, she asked me to do a guest post on first chapters today. If you get a chance, check it out. :)

(Besides, Melissa is my beloved mentee for the Fire It Up blogfest. This is a way to preview her pretty, new blog!)

Monday, February 13, 2012

Where's Waldo-ing: Setting

Sometimes writers indulge in what I like to call Where's Waldo-ing: the act of hiding little aspects of oneself away in fiction. There are many ways to go about this, but today we're going to focus on setting--specifically, where the story takes place.

(Time and circumstance would take all day...)

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How about a few famous examples?

Janet Evanovich was born in New Jersey.
Her bestselling Stephanie Plum series takes place in New Jersey.
PC and Kristin Cast live in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Their bestselling House of Night series takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Rachel Gibson lives in Idaho.
Many of her books take place in Idaho.

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See, like most things, Where's Waldo-ing is fine in moderation. These authors paid homage to their respective areas, without making their stories feel like well-masked memoirs. There are a few ways to go about that:

Include some details. What do you know, as a resident, that other writers won't be able to grasp from afar? What does the area smell like? What's the weather like in April? How diverse is the community? What slang is used? What kinds of jobs are available there?
But not all of them. Don't give a shout-out to that little family-run coffee shop on the corner. By the time your book's in print, it could be out of business. If you're writing about a certain city/town, you want to be as authentic as possible... for as long as possible. Be vague, if you have to.
If all else fails, make stuff up. You know where STRENGTH takes place? Wilcox, Ohio. "But Carrie, there is no Wilcox, Ohio..." Exactly. In my made-up college town, I can incorporate all of my local experience, without the restriction of a predefined area. I get to map out every school, every shopping mall, and nothing will change--unless I say so. (Seriously. I made a map.) There's a lot of freedom in this option, but you'll still want to keep things grounded in reality. For example, I placed my made-up town in NE Ohio, but mentioned its proximity to other, real cities, like Columbus.

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What about you guys? Ever written about somewhere you live/have lived? Have any tips to add?

Have a great week! ♥

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

11 Questions from Kathleen Doyle

Don't worry. There aren't two Mondays this week. This is a special post. ;) Kathleen Doyle, over at Writing, Reading, and Life, has viciously generously tagged me to answer 11 questions of her choosing. Afterward, I get to make up 11 questions of my own and tag 11 unsuspecting victims bloggers. (Bwahahaha!)

Her Questions:
1. On average, how often do you look in a mirror (practicing faces for your writing does count!)

I won’t lie. I have a mirror on my wall and make faces at myself all the livelong day. *grins*

2. What is your weirdest/strangest/most interesting habit? Be honest!

I do a nervous little dance when I watch shootouts on TV. No, you can’t see it. :P

3. If you could go anywhere in the UNIVERSE, where would it be and why? (Fictional places are totally part of the universe.)

Oh, oh! I would go to Wilcox and hang out with Rena and Wallace. <3

4. What fictional character do you hate with a passion?

I won’t name the book, but there’s this chick who hooks up with a vampire. (Not that book, Twi-haters. :P) Anyway, she goes from being an independent woman to some touchy feely doormat who puts up with Vamp-man’s I’m-older-than-dirt-so-I-don’t-know-how-to-respect-modern-women attitude. By the middle of the book, I’d already lost my patience and wanted one of the other vamps to tear into her jugular…

5. Upon landing on a deserted tropical island, you realize you have only one thing to help you survive! What is it?

Hah! Laila Knight asked me this once. I told her I’d want a razor to shave my legs. You know you’re going to end up stranded with some big, strapping dude on that island. Might as well be prepared. ;)

6. What do you ~~hoard~~ collect?

Blue Jackets memorabilia and ninja t-shirts.
...Don't judge me. :P

7. You’ve just landed on a brand new, never before discovered planet. What do you name it?

The Kingdom of NIHAPAYD! (Abbreviated from: Nanananananaa! I have a planet, and yoooou don't!)

8. Fill in the blank: I am proud of myself for _______________.

I am proud of myself for working so diligently toward my goal of publication. In the beginning, I didn’t have much faith in myself or my writing ability. You guys have really helped with that. <3

9. You have half an hour to cook a meal for your family/friends/people. What do you make?

Chicken! C’mon, there are eighty bazillion ways to serve chicken. Give ‘em a salad and some bread with it. They’ll be good to go.

10. You’ve just been asked to give an impromptu speech on any subject. What do you talk about?

I’d probably encourage people to donate to a nonprofit. I've given a few speeches on blood donation and several concerning the lack of clean water in poverty-stricken areas. I think we speak best when it’s from the heart. <3

11. Is there life beyond our planet?

…Um, yeah. I just landed on a new planet in question #7. ;)
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My turn! (I'm going tag a mix of new and old friends.)

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Their Questions...

What was the last song you listened to?
Plotter, pantser, or non-committal hybrid? ;)
There’s a new release from your favorite (living) author! Do you click to order the ebook or rush out to buy it in print?
You’re stressed out. What snack do you turn to? (If you don’t stress-eat, we don’t want to know… you robot. *grins*)
Name two fictional characters you’d want to see get in a fight.
The animal you most identify with is the _______.
Two things within arm’s reach:
If you had to compete in the 2012 Olympics, which sport would you pick?
Do you kind of hate me right now? It’s okay. I would, too. ;)
Did you eat breakfast this morning?
Describe your current book, MS, or WIP in three words.

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Have fun! ♥

Monday, February 06, 2012

Awards & Upcoming Events

It's the first Monday of the month, and you know what that means. It's time to get organized!

Awards:

You can always find mine listed here, but I wanted to give a few shout-outs. Here are the awards I've received in the past month or so:

Thanks to Nancy, Cassie, Lisa, and Victoria! You guys are amazing, and I'm so grateful to have been mentioned in your posts. *Hugs* :)

Since there have been so many awards going around, I'm only going to nominate a few who--to the best of my knowledge--haven't received these yet. First, let's check out the requirements:

Great Comments award: Ah, this one is easy. I just have to pass it along to one of my dedicated commenters.

Great Commenter: Iain!

For the Kreativ Blogger and Versatile Blogger awards, I'm supposed to list facts about myself and tag people. I know you guys are busy, so let's go with one fact and three nominees.

Fact: I don't know how to ride a bicycle. ...What? I never learned! I don't suppose anyone is willing to teach me? :D

Kreative Blogger #1: April Plummer!

Kreative Blogger #2: Lindsay Currie!
Versatile Blogger: Joylene Nowell Butler! (No relation, in case you're wondering...)

Last, but not least, we have the information on the Skunk award:

"The thumbs up from Skunk award' since 'we all feel like stinky, stinky skunks some days' and there are people who 'make us feel (and smell) a lot better'. To pass the award on, name one thing that you love about yourself, then pass on the award to as many bloggers as you want to"

Something I love about myself: Hmm... well, I always tell it like it is. I can be tactful, but don't ask me things unless you really want to know. I value honesty. *grins*

Thumbs up to: Melissa Maygrove!

There you go, guys! Just hop on over to my Awards Page, and grab the appropriate image. Cookies and punch to follow. ;)

Upcoming Events:

Rach Harrie's Fourth Writers' Platform-Building Campaign starts today! It's always a lot of fun, and you'll "meet" a ton of other writers. Don't forget to sign up! :)
Alex Cavanaugh's second book, Cassafire, comes out this month. There's a huge release party happening on the 28th, so be sure to make blog rounds that day. :D
Guess what? Jessica Therrien's debut novel, Oppression, comes out on the same day! That means we get to have two parties*. Woohoo! :)

*Which probably means I'll skip my post on the 27th and post twice on the 28th.
I'm also participating in the Get Fired Up blogfest this month. Talk about a great way to give back to the blogosphere! Stop by on March 1st to hear about the blogger I worked with. :)

Have anything else to add? Shoot me a comment, and I'll put your event here. :)

Image by David Castillo Dominici.

Have a great week, guys! ♥