Monday, November 25, 2013
The Fussy Librarian
Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 26, Screwing Up Time is being featured at The Fussy Librarian, a website I mentioned once before, that offers personalized ebook recommendations. You choose from 40 genres and indicate preferences about content and then the computers work their magic. It's pretty cool -- check it out! www.TheFussyLibrarian.com
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Kindle Books and Tips
Screwing Up Time is being featured at Kindle Books and Tips. It's a great site for authors looking to promote their books and readers looking for e-books, especially if you want a bargain.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Editing Groove
Oops. I know I was supposed to post here today. But the truth is that I've hit an editing groove. Words and pages are flowing. My editing muse must've finally decided to show up. So I really don't want to stop. And I'm hoping you don't want me to stop either. But I promise to make it up to you.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Indie Life, NaNoEdMo
November is NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month. The idea is to write 50,000 words of a novel in one month. 50,000 words isn't actually the normal length of most novels (except middle grade). Most novels fall in the 75k to 85k range. But the idea is write along with lots of other people and to provide each other encouragement.
I've never done NaNo because Novembers are always much too busy for me, and first drafts aren't my struggle. Editing is much harder for me than drafting. And I'd love to find a group of writers who are also editing, who want to encourage each other and hold each other accountable (For example, I need people who remind me, "Don't watch that cute YouTube video that was just posted on Facebook because you haven't met your editing goal for the day/week." Or, "that spilled orange juice--let the dog lick it up, you haven't met your editing goal." Or, "hey, your kids need clean clothes, teach them how to run the washing machine and get back to editing.") Hmm. If my kids see this, I'm pretty sure this post will get hacked.
Anyway, if there's anyone out there who like to do NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month), let me know. Even if it's just one or two other writers--I don't rue small beginnings. Most great things start small.
Leave me a message in the comments. Or email me Connie (dot) M (dot) Keller at gmail (dot) com. And do it soon, before my kids wipe this post from cyberspace.
And be sure to check out other posts in Indie Life.
Because being Indie doesn't have to mean going it alone.
JOIN US FOR INDIE LIFE!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
People Watching
When I was
young, I sometimes went with my grandfather to the airport. My grandfather was
a very punctual man. But often we’d get to the airport 2 hours before the
flight we were waiting for was due in (this was back in the old days before TSA
and you could wander the airport). My grandfather would pick a comfortable seat
near a main artery of airport-people-traffic and he’d sit. I’d sit next to him
in companionable silence. A few minutes before the flight was due in, we’d walk
to the terminal and wait for whoever was arriving.
When I was an
adult, we were together at the airport and I finally asked him, “Why do we come
so early?” He smiled and said, “So we can watch all the people.” And, of course,
that’s what I’d been doing too in those hours while we sat. I’d watch the
people go by and made up stories about their lives. But I was taken aback when
he said this. I’d always viewed him as a practical man. He was a contractor who
built homes. He’d served in the Dutch Underground during World War II. He was a
man who did things with his hands. But I should’ve known there was a romantic
in him. He was known as a gifted organist—back in the old country when organ-playing
was a sign of culture. When he was 88 years old and came to visit our family
for a week, he got down on his hands and knees and played Matchbox cars with my
little boys. And he always had a peppermint in his pocket for me.
 |
| Here's a photo of my grandfather in his Dutch army uniform. |
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
KidLit Blog Tour, I'd Probably Be a Scullery Maid
The lovely Laurel Garver, author of Never Gone and Muddied-Finger Midnights, tagged me in the KidLit Blog
Tour. Thanks, Laurel!
What are you working on right now?
Right now,
I’m finishing book three in the Screwing
Up Time series. It involves several time travel locations, two in the past
and one in the future. And I’m beginning to play with ideas for book four. (But
I won’t allow myself to write any new ideas down yet. If I did, it would be too
tempting for me, and I’d start traveling to this new place and begin the
adventure there. And that would be so unfair to my readers who haven’t gone to
any of the places in book three yet.)
How does it differ from other works in
its genre?
The majority
of YA/NA books (time travel included) are written from a girl’s perspective. But
when I started this series, my sons were in their teenage years, and they and
their friends were wonderful guys—creative and funny, people I enjoyed being
around. I wanted the chance to tell their story. How does a guy see and
understand relationships, his own weaknesses, and how do his experiences help
him to grow?
Why do you write what you do?
I love YA
because it’s one of the most creative genres out there with lots of subgenres
(dystopia, zombie, romance, sci fi, etc.). So there’s something for everyone,
both readers and writers. Plus, it has tremendous energy with its quick pacing
and dynamic characters. How can you not love it?
How does your writing process work?
When I start
a book, I usually have a general idea of where/when the book is going and who the
new characters are. But how the story is going to get there is a complete surprise.
It’s like riding a rollercoaster while wearing a blindfold—and I love it.
Any departing words of wisdom for
other authors?
I'm tagging Anne Riley, Melissa Pearl and Rowenna . I can't wait to read their answers.
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