Hey, guys! Today, I'm over at NA Alley discussing "new adult" misconceptions. Want a sneak peak?
"...I should admit something: I
am a nomadic info-sponge. It starts with one well-intended Internet search, and
then comes the distraction. One thing leads to another. Something shiny catches
my eye. I wander a bit.
Because of this, I catch a variety
of posts and articles—lately, NA-centric ones. You know what I’ve learned?
There are a few bloggers who
oppose NA. (Everyone gasp now!) In the spirit of education, I’ve decided to
summarize their complaints/misconceptions and answer them FAQ style!"
Interview a heroine of your manuscript, novel, or WIP by a fellow female counterpart also from your written work. Your featured heroine can be interviewed by her best friend, a heroine from another one of your written works, a sister, the opportunities are endless! ✓
Have your heroine answer at least 3 of the questions recommended below or make up your own! ✓
Post a picture of your heroine, the interviewer, or both! ✓
Post a song for the theme of the interview or a song that reflects your featured heroine's personalitysituation.✓
Post our hop button! (Though not required, feel free to repost on your blog about the hop!) ✓
Post your entries on June 22, 2012 and hop around the other blogs through the linky! ✓
For this hop, the interview will have more of a "girls chatting" type feel because after all, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! So feel free to write it like a short scene in a book!
Here are the recommended questions for it:
1. How would you describe your hero? ✓ 2. What's your biggest date horror story?
3. What turns you off from a guy the most?
4. What's the best date you ever had?
5. Kiss on the first date?
6. What gets a guy a second date?
7. Boxers or briefs on your guy? ✓
8. What is one thing you believe can tell a lot about a person? ✓ 9. What attracts you to a guy the most?
Okay, I’m using two characters from STRENGTH: Rena Collins (MC) and her best friend/roommate Gabby Hernandez. This is just a silly flashfiction for the blog hop. It’s not in the actual novel, I promise. :)
...And if you want to read the actual novel, it'll be out 03/07/13. ;)
[Rena’s POV]
As soon as I open the door to our dorm room, I regret it.
Gabby spins around in her desk chair, eyes wide and exasperated. “’Bout time! I’ve got the thingy all hooked up.” She jerks her chin toward the crooked webcam clipped to her laptop. “You said you’d be out of class at three.”
I let my backpack slide off my shoulder and onto the floor. “Yeah? It’s 3:07. My teleporter’s in the shop.”
She shakes her head and sends her spiral curls flying. “Girl, don’t you take that sarcastic tone with me. We gotta be loveable in a minute.”
Wait. Loveable? Webcam? “What the hell are we doing?”
“We’re makin’ a video for the Internet!” she hisses and slaps the chair beside her. “Have you seen how that shit takes off? We’re gonna go viral.”
My arms fly over my chest before I can stop them. “Have you lost your mind?”
Her eyes roll back toward the ceiling. “Not like that, Ree.What kind of girl do you think I am, anyway?”
Before I can answer, she hits the record button. “We’ll edit this stuff out later. The important thing is that you feel comfortable in this environment. It translates to the audience, and—”
“What audience?” I interrupt, crossing the room to peek over her shoulder. “You still haven’t told me what this is!”
“This”—she reaches back, tugs on my arm, and forces me into my desk chair—“is a web talk show.”
...God help us all.
Her face lights up like Christmas morning, and she smoothes a hand back over her hair. “Hey, hey! This is Five Minutes of Gab with your host, Gabriela Hernandez. Today we have a special guest on the show. She’s my best friend and college roommate: Rena Collins!” She claps while I stare at the blinking red light.
A second ticks by, and then another. Finally, she elbows me in the ribs.
“Ow! I mean, hi.”
Gabby grabs a note card off her desk and turns toward me, creepy smile plastered in place. “Tell us, Rena, do you prefer guys in boxers or briefs?”
I blink. “What does that have to do with—”
“Boxers or briefs!” she repeats in a louder voice, lowering her brows for emphasis.
“Boxers, I guess, but—”
“Interesting.” She shoots the webcam a conspiring look, and then turns back to me. “What’s one thing you believe can tell a lot about a person?”
“I don’t know.” I slump back in my seat. “Their eyes?”
She leans in. “What about their eyes?”
“Uh…” Stupid blinking light. I can’t think!
“Rena.” She snaps her fingers to draw my focus. “What can you tell about a guy by looking into his eyes?”
No sooner than the words leave her lips, do a pair of very specific eyes come to mind. Intense, cerulean, and the slightest bit wary. “E-Eyes are the windows to the soul,” I mumble.
“Okay?” She waves her hand for me to continue.
“Well, say you know a guy who’s really—you know—intimidating. Sometimes, when it’s just the two of you, he lets his guard down. His gaze softens. It’s like you’re seeing him for the first time.”
“Sounds like you’re thinking of someone specific,” she replies, her mouth curving into a wicked grin. “Anyone I know?”
My cheeks burn a guilty verdict, but I do my best to play it off. “What? No, I was just… you don’t… he’s not…”
“Uh huh,” she snickers. “Okay, on an unrelated note, how would you describe Wallace Blake?”
“Whoa.” I’m on my feet in a flash. “What does he have to do with anything?”
She adjusts the camera, and I catch sight of my face on the screen. “See that folks? Her face is red. I bet she’s thinking of ‘Ace in his boxers!”
...The next thirty seconds are a blur. She runs; I tear after her. She shrieks; I shout obscenities. She feints right; I get hit in the face with a pillow. And that’s not even the worst part.
The video does go viral.
#
*Grins* And as for Rena’s theme song:
“Beautiful Disaster (Live)” by Kelly Clarkson
I know, I know! I would normally give Rena a more kick-a theme, but the lyrics really suit her circumstances. ;) Thanks for stopping by!
Question of the Week:Can you describe your heroine in one word?
First...
I'm back! I spent some time with my family in Washington
D.C. and Maryland last week. (Expect more pictures on my personal blog
Thursday.) Not only was it a wonderful break, but the downtime recharged my
writing batteries! Don’t you just love when that happens? :)
Second...
I'm being interviewed by the wonderful Empress King Emily R. King, over at Get Busy Writing, for Blogging Mentor Monday! I'd love for you to stop by. :)
It was just after midnight, and I was spiraling. You know how that goes, right? After months of sweating it out in Query Hell, I was starting to wonder if I had taken the wrong path.
I mean, I knew it would be hard pitching a yet-to-be-established category (New Adult). I knew I could be setting myself up for disappointment and failure. I just didn’t realize what a toll it would take on my sanitymotivation confidence.
That’s when the email came.
I braced myself for rejection. Seriously, I held up my hand and looked through the cracks between my fingers. As I skimmed the page, eight words stood out from the rest:
“We would love to offer you a contract...”
My vision went hazy with color, and little bells rang in my ears. Huh? Did I read that wrong?
“We would love to offer you a contract...”
I read it over and over, like the words were going to morph into the finger and tell me to go to bed—but they didn’t. (Thank goodness! Can you imagine how creepy that would be?) I couldn't process it.
Needless to say, I didn't reply that night. I was too lightheaded, too shocked. So I pretended to sleep for five hours.
By the time I “woke up” the next morning, I had convinced myself it was a dream. I did the zombie-stumble to my computer and brought up my email.
“We would love to offer you a contract...”
That’s when it really hit me.
I responded right away and had a chance to swap messages with one of the fabulous co-owners. Remember the 2nd panel from my comic last week? It was like that. She GOT my story! I was elated!
We talked a bit more, and she sent me the contract. You can probably guess what's coming next.
I’m pleased to announce:
I HAVE A BOOK DEAL with Sapphire Star Publishing!
Signing the Contract
Oh, sweet validation...
I am on the right path. I am on my way to achieving my dream. This IS happening!
A big shout-out to The Man Upstairs, my family, my critique partners, my beta readers, my friends, and everyone who has supported me in the past year and a half. Thank you so much! You’ll never know how much I appreciate it. *Hugs*
Next, a huge thank-you to Sapphire Star Publishing (SSP) for believing in my work. I am beyond thrilled to work with you all! :)
(Side note: I am so impressed with this publisher already!)
Finally, a special shout-out to my critique-partners-turned-pub-sisters Lisa & Nancy! I am so excited to take this step with you two!
...Yeah, me too. *Cough* I just wanted to let you guys know I'm over at David's blog today. I made a doodle-type-comic-thing about critiques. If you get a chance, check it out! :)
Have a great weekend! ♥
P.S. Don't forget my 1st Blogiversary Giveaway ends tonight!
"...I should admit something: I
am a nomadic info-sponge. It starts with one well-intended Internet search, and
then comes the distraction. One thing leads to another. Something shiny catches
my eye. I wander a bit.
