tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51106937678883864002024-03-08T16:15:52.307-05:00Screwing Up TimeConnie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-65886354080372066902016-04-29T08:29:00.000-04:002016-04-29T08:29:58.840-04:00But What Are They Eating?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJdkZbFnqN3iIhKYQlMfzCGWLiFngajwZThRsSf_L7bIogcRnlJiMQQhoQ94Z5PM_IAHbwU8feTP8fXPnrqLZ-4rFDLFjZQV7iFjNiOL6AO2kHyegmmgp0yfkGA9JbOIpa1jpr9Md9zU/s1600/SUB_NovelCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJdkZbFnqN3iIhKYQlMfzCGWLiFngajwZThRsSf_L7bIogcRnlJiMQQhoQ94Z5PM_IAHbwU8feTP8fXPnrqLZ-4rFDLFjZQV7iFjNiOL6AO2kHyegmmgp0yfkGA9JbOIpa1jpr9Md9zU/s320/SUB_NovelCover.jpg" width="230" /></a>Today, I'm at the blog But What Are They Eating?, discussing the role food plays in the <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/C.-M.-Keller/e/B005CJQJ6S" target="_blank">Screwing Up Time</a></i> novels. Click <a href="http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2016/04/foodfic-please-welcome-cm-keller-author.html" target="_blank">here</a> to check it out!<br />
<br />
And be sure to read some of the other great posts and follow the blog to learn more about food and how authors use it in their novels.<br />
<br />
And a big thanks to Shelley for hosting me!! Check out her novels <a href="http://www.thesolidseries.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-78772930934060971632016-01-20T17:00:00.003-05:002016-01-20T17:00:35.366-05:00Nerd Girl Review<a href="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hprofile-prn2/v/t1.0-1/p100x100/1798802_598067176941750_1749336342_n.jpg?oh=2a2210c358b8d65c9b15cedf7acdac41&oe=57433894" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hprofile-prn2/v/t1.0-1/p100x100/1798802_598067176941750_1749336342_n.jpg?oh=2a2210c358b8d65c9b15cedf7acdac41&oe=57433894" width="200" /></a><i></i><br />
<i><i><br /></i></i>
<i><i><br /></i></i>
<i>Screwing Up Time</i> was just reviewed by <a href="http://nerdgirlofficial.com/" target="_blank">Nerd Girl</a>! Click <a href="http://bit.ly/1lwHjCs" target="_blank">here</a> to read the review.Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-33805982367002774052015-02-03T16:00:00.001-05:002015-02-03T16:00:26.012-05:00Great Book for a Cold, Dark Winter Night<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">N.B. I received this novel from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91lua1tdSlL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91lua1tdSlL._SL1500_.jpg" width="207" /></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Secrets of Life and Death</i> by Rebecca Alexander is a fascinating novel which juxtaposes modernity with sixteenth century Transylvania—who wouldn’t be intrigued?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through Edward Kelley’s point of view, we experience not only the exotic customs, foods, and dress of the late Middle Ages, but we also meet the Countess Elisabeth Bathory—likely the world’s premier female serial killer—whose evil exploits the author imbues with occult purposes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These occult practices carry into the future and affect the lives of the other two point-of-view characters Jackdaw and Felix, who use Kelley’s diary to understand and vanquish the evil that’s survived into the present day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the many point-of-view shifts, the pacing of the novel was quite good. And the characters, especially Jackdaw, were very engaging. Though like most novels with multiple viewpoints, it takes several chapters to be fully vested in each of the main characters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One disappointment I had with the book was that in the climax I felt a little distanced from the characters. Another issue was that the author included a passage where Felix explained why he believed in the magic/occult happenings and how the supernatural realm came to be. Obviously, novels are fictional worlds, which the reader has accepted for the sake of the story. So to include a passage trying to make it all seem real drew me out of the story and felt a bit disingenuous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Aside from those minor objections, this novel was a fun romp through a paranormal view of the past and present. It is the perfect read for an adult curled up in front of the fireplace on a dark night, craving a scary story.</span></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-8137618184679394192015-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-26T07:00:04.233-05:00Finding Zombies!Today, I'm happy to be part of <a href="http://lonitownsend.com/" target="_blank">Loni Townsend</a>'s blog tour for her new novel, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-World-Bites-Townsend-Loni-ebook/dp/B00S74T0SO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1422126658&sr=1-1&keywords=this+world+bites&pebp=1422126655947&peasin=B00S74T0SO" target="_blank">This World Bites</a></i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4qht9f8H3CWgsEqste42EaytrUrkJcx0-7tPiQiLlKaNL5bgDQt4bBqiIKSmcnZcDrA3LnIxvkzcm949v93Z-CYp94Z5NsujDLLmTfO1dM8JP39DcpGGbHP9lgcH6b7cS81BSLvHWvA/s1600/ThisWorldBitesBlogTourBadge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4qht9f8H3CWgsEqste42EaytrUrkJcx0-7tPiQiLlKaNL5bgDQt4bBqiIKSmcnZcDrA3LnIxvkzcm949v93Z-CYp94Z5NsujDLLmTfO1dM8JP39DcpGGbHP9lgcH6b7cS81BSLvHWvA/s1600/ThisWorldBitesBlogTourBadge.png" height="320" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />
Thank you for having me on your blog, Connie!<br />
<br />
A while back, you shared a post about finding passive voice by adding "by zombies" after the verb. If it makes sense, then it is passive voice. I love that tip, especially when it came to <i>This World Bites</i>.<br />
<br />
I started creating passive sentences, just to see zombies interacting with my characters.<br />
<br />
<em>Cera and her gang were attacked...by zombies.</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
I giggled because that actually happened in my book, but not in a passive fashion. The zombies attacked Cera and her gang.
I played with sentences and traded extreme cases with my friends.
And then one Sunday morning, I was sitting in church, singing along with the worship songs when my writer's brain kicked into high.<br />
<br />
<em>The stone was rolled away...by zombies.</em>
<em>His perfect love could not be overcome...by zombies.</em><br />
<br />
The zombie apocalypse was happening right there in church! I really should've been focused on praise, but instead I was analyzing lyrics, wondering how they could make the writing stronger, and after doing so, would it make praise more effective? Effective, maybe, as in I wouldn't have been distracted by the writing.
That happens with all writing. I'm still working on finding all the unintentional zombies in my stories.<br />
<br />
For those of you who want a quick tip on finding passive voice, check out <a href="http://screwinguptime.blogspot.com/2014/10/passive-voice-and-zombies.html" target="_blank">Connie's post.</a> If you want a story with intentional zombies, try out <i>This World Bites</i> and it might make you laugh.
Do you have any other tips for finding passive voice? Have you come across any unintentional humorous lines that work well with zombies?<br />
<br />
Thanks, Loni!! And be sure to check out the links to <a href="http://lonitownsend.com/" target="_blank">Loni's website</a> and the link to her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-World-Bites-Townsend-Loni-ebook/dp/B00S74T0SO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1422126658&sr=1-1&keywords=this+world+bites&pebp=1422126655947&peasin=B00S74T0SO" target="_blank">novel</a> on Amazon.<br />
<br />
<br />Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-48497993263865105082014-12-30T14:07:00.001-05:002014-12-30T14:11:37.884-05:00Blogging for Books, J<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img src="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780553419559?width=125&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>J</i> by Howard Jacobsen</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this book, ruminating on this literary take on dystopia.<br />
<br />
First, I must say that Mr. Jacobsen’s use of language is
deft. There is a gentleness and lyricism to his use of words that is almost
tender, father-like. It makes a lovely counterpoint to seriousness and violence
of story, underscoring its importance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both main characters, Ailinn and Kevern, were delights.
Their love story was beautiful, even though it is clear early in the novel that
both characters are destined for unhappiness because of their own personalities
and the government’s interference. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the many wonderful aspects of the novel, there were
times when the pacing lapsed, particularly during the trip to Necropolis, and I
had to force myself to continue reading the story. Thankfully, the pace did
pick up again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end, the story is a philosophical exploration of
identity, hate, and history. In considering how these issues affect Kevern’s
and Ailinn’s final decisions, it is difficult to come away with concrete
answers. But I suspect that the most any author can hope for is that his or her
readers ask the right questions.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">N.B. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I received this book from </span><a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Blogging for Books</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> in exchange for an honest review.</span></span></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-75507773921242318412014-11-26T08:20:00.003-05:002014-11-26T08:20:47.077-05:00Free Book!To celebrate Thanksgiving, <i>Screwing Up Babylon</i> is FREE on Amazon through Saturday, November 29! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Screwing-Babylon-Time-Series-ebook/dp/B00A0YD99K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351909580&sr=1-1&keywords=Screwing+Up+Babylon" target="_blank">Click here.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsx9-Aou2vU7f_ZjUmj1hqxi_6AeSMfAoPSS5sj7Ovd3zkWSFvEeTOrQczzxXlB_mjtM4r3xay4w5LIXcMwstVMa-qx5F90ljH_4eLR9UaIKkd7sR1qCV_lHUOlY3IO3Us2-d-QoD8GY/s1600/SUB_NovelCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsx9-Aou2vU7f_ZjUmj1hqxi_6AeSMfAoPSS5sj7Ovd3zkWSFvEeTOrQczzxXlB_mjtM4r3xay4w5LIXcMwstVMa-qx5F90ljH_4eLR9UaIKkd7sR1qCV_lHUOlY3IO3Us2-d-QoD8GY/s1600/SUB_NovelCover.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Babylon, one of the most powerful and notorious empires ever, is the last place Mark wants to go. But when he discovers his girlfriend Miranda has been kidnapped and given to the king as a concubine, he travels through the colors of time to rescue her. It won’t be easy, not when the Hanging Gardens are a trap, his life is the prize in a game, and time is a prison. It will take all Mark’s cunning, the help of his friends, and a crazed chimp to free Miranda. When he does, time itself begins to unravel, and a life must be sacrificed or no one will survive.</div>
<br />
<br />Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-53195203376794869492014-11-20T08:18:00.000-05:002014-11-20T08:18:06.968-05:00Writing A Sad Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="File:Kleenex-small-box.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Kleenex-small-box.jpg/469px-Kleenex-small-box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="250" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Evan-Amos. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
A<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">bout 18
months ago, I started writing a new novel. No big deal. Writers do it all the
time. I’ve done it nine times before. But this would be different. Though in my
hubris, I didn’t realize it at the time.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
difference is that this novel would have a sad ending. I’d never written that
type of book before. There’s a good reason that the vast majority of books end
happily. One of them is that sad books are HARD to write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Imagine with
me. First of all, you have to get the reader to desire something very, very
badly. Then, you have to take it away. And make them like it. It’s like holding
out a Tootsie pop to a two year old and saying, “These are some yummy. There’s
chocolate inside the candy. You’d really love it.” The two-year-old reaches for
the Tootsie pop and you pull it away. And here’s the trick. The kid can’t
scream and cry. He must say, “I really wanted it, but I know this is best.”
Yeah, highly unlikely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That’s pretty
much what a sad book is like. And it all comes down to the ending. And I blew
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The first
ending I wrote, I refer to as the T.S. Elliot ending, “This is the way the
world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.” In other words, I dragged my reader
through 80,000+ words and then the main character lost everything and slunk off
into the sunset. My beta reader was incensed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I rewrote the
ending so that it would be stronger. I now refer to this as the <i>King Lear </i>ending because after reading
it, the reader’s heart lies panting on the floor. The second beta reader said, “This
a great ending, but wow, there’s no hope. Don’t you want some hope?” (Clearly,
she did.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At this
point, I did what I should have done at the very beginning. I talked to a
friend who’s made her living writing sad books. (Why didn’t I do this first
thing? But “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”—Alexander Pope) She told
me that it’s important to make the ending strong, but there must be hope at the
end. So I checked the endings of some of my favorite sad novels (anything written
by Khalid Hosseini). Strong endings with hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I did another
revision and with great trepidation sent it to beta reader number three. After
she finished, she emailed and said, “I love the ending.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Score. Now it’s
time to eat that Tootsie pop.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">N.B. For those of you who read the Screwing Up Time series, this book is not part of that series. So don't worry.</span></span></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-54603737633936747892014-10-31T08:11:00.000-04:002014-10-31T08:11:29.784-04:00Style Sheet, You Need One<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you’re a
writer and you haven’t heard of a style sheet, it’s time. You need one. (It
will help <i>you</i> make your book
consistent, which is incredibly helpful if you self-publish. And it will be a HUGE blessing to any copy editor if you can give
them something to start with.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A style sheet
is a listing of the elements that make up your book’s style so that it will be
consistent through the entire manuscript. (Yeah, I know never define a word
using that word.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here are a few of the things that a style sheet should include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Spelling:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 1. British
vs. English (there are grammar differences too).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 2. Names
(Catherine vs. Katherine vs. Catherin vs. Katheryn). It also helps a copy editor (or your super helpful beta reader). That way if you’ve made a mistake
somewhere and typed in the wrong spelling, the copy editor (or beta reader) can
correct it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 3. Made-up
terms or place names, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Grammar: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 1. Serial
comma vs. no serial comma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 2. Comma
after introductory word/clause (Some publishers no longer use a comma
after a "short" introductory clause or word. Personally, as a reader and copy
editor, I HATE that. Just sayin’.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 3. Hyphenated
terms: anything that is specialized to your book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> 4. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Anything
that breaks standard usage—that way the beta reader or copy editor knows that
you haven’t made a grammar error. I can’t tell you the amount of time I’ve
wasted correcting the same grammar errors over and over while wondering if the
error is intentional. (If you are weak in this area, beef up your skills by
visiting the <a href="http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl" target="_blank">Grammar Girl</a> site or <a href="http://www.dailywritingtips.com/" target="_blank">Daily Writing Tips.</a>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Capitalization:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 1. Do
you want your coined words capitalized? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 2. Do
you want nicknames capitalized if they are real words? (For example, a
character is called “Bobcat.”) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Plot Details:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> </b>1. Jot down </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the characters’ names and relationships, i.e., Margaret, mother of Anna. (I once changed a character’s name midway through a novel—not on purpose. But my amazing beta reader caught it. Thanks, Misha!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> 2. To help with consistency, keep track of things of like characters' hair/eye color, the type of car they drive, brand of cigarette they smoke, their pets' names, etc. It's also wise to keep track of the chapter or page number when these bits of information are mentioned. <b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Here's some more information about style sheets: </span><a href="http://deannahoak.com/2006/03/30/the-importance-of-style-sheets/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Here</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. </span><a href="http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/07/12/style-sheets-the-setup-and-the-benefits/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">And Here</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here's an example of real <a href="http://www.kokedit.com/files/KOK_stylesheet_fiction.pdf" target="_blank">style sheet</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-17538491978922953772014-10-22T07:32:00.001-04:002014-10-22T07:32:52.398-04:00Zombies Love Apostrophes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Okay, I have
no idea whether zombies like apostrophes. But because everyone appreciated last
week’s “Passive Voice and Zombies” so much, I thought I’d do another
grammar-made-simple post.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This one is
about apostrophes. They’re actually simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ownership</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: We all know that apostrophes show
ownership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Singular Nouns</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: You take a singular noun and slap <i>’s</i> on the end. (Even if the noun ends in
an <i>s</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Example: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The zombie’s leg
is broken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The bass’s
fin was torn. (Yeah, it looks dumb. But it’s correct.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are a
few exceptions—most you will never run into unless, like me, you are a copy
editor. And even if you do, most people don’t know the rule, so no worries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However, one
exception you might see is in traditional phrases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For goodness’
sake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For Jesus’
sake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But, Jesus’s
apostles. (Yep, looks weird. But it’s correct.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However, if
it looks too weird or you’re not sure, just reword it. (You don’t get extra
points in life for knowing weird grammar rules.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The apostles
of Jesus… The fin of the bass…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Plural Nouns</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: With a plural noun ending in <i>s</i>, all you do is add an apostrophe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Example: The zombies’
arms were missing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With plural
nouns not ending in s, just add <i>’s.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The children’s
beds were not made. (Hmm. Sounds like our house.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once again
there are some unusual exceptions. If you’re not sure or it looks weird, just
reword it. The bottom line is while you may know the grammatical rule, if the
word looks odd and draws the reader out of the text, you’ve failed. The point
of style and grammar is readability. Period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Contractions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Use an
apostrophe to show where letters have been omitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Examples: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don’t (do
not). Simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s (it is).
You never use an apostrophe with the possessive pronoun <i>its.</i> Possessive pronouns never take apostrophes. (Remember: you’d
never write hi’s for his.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The ’90s. The
apostrophe goes before the <i>9</i> because
there are numbers missing. It’s an abbreviation. Easy-peasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you write,
please note that the apostrophe always is open. It looks like this ’. When
you’re typing in Word and a word starts with an apostrophe, Word will make it
look like this ‘. But that is wrong—that’s a single quotation mark, not an
apostrophe. ’Tis a night for zombies.
Not, ‘Tis a night…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-29667985343530953742014-10-15T09:18:00.000-04:002014-10-15T09:18:37.399-04:00Passive Voice and Zombies<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I
was reading an article in a national writers’ magazine in which an author
discussed his editing strategies. He recommended that writers do a global
search for “was” because this would help find incidents of passive voice. Then,
he gave this example, “He was taller than me.” The author said this needed to
be edited because it was written in passive voice…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now the
sentence may need to be rewritten. But it’s NOT passive voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So here’s a quick
tutorial on passive voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In passive
voice, the object of an action is the subject of a sentence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> For example: The ball was thrown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(The
ball did not do the throwing, so it’s passive voice.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the
example the author gave, the verb is intransitive (which means there is no
transfer of action), and it shows a state of being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you aren’t
sure whether something is passive voice, just apply the “zombie test.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Attach “by
zombies” after the verb and if it makes sense, it’s passive voice. And you’ll
need to rewrite the sentence. Here are some examples: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The ball was
thrown by zombies. (Makes sense. Passive voice.) Change the sentence to active
voice. The zombies threw the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He was taller
by zombies. (Doesn’t make sense. Not passive voice.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">N.B. I don’t
know who originally came up with the “zombie test,” but it helps kids remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-9292743490673716692014-10-08T11:44:00.000-04:002014-10-08T11:44:37.237-04:00PolishingMy blog posting has hit the skids this past summer and autumn. However, I'm hoping it's all for a good cause, i.e., my latest novel. Right now, I'm doing some last minute editing of the book (an upmarket women's fiction) before it goes to the first beta reader on Friday.<br />
<br />
That is always a nervy time. It'll be the first time anyone besides me lays eyes on the novel. It really is like showing your baby off to the world and hoping they don't say, "Uh, well, yes, that is a baby."<br />
<br />
I'd love to polish it more and even do a read aloud before my beta gets out her red pen. But that really wouldn't help the book. Just my pride.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #443f38; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The work never matches the dream of perfection the artist has to start with.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #443f38; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">- William Faulkner</span></span><br />
<br />Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-59105859483233916732014-10-02T08:47:00.000-04:002014-10-02T08:47:09.136-04:00Blogging for Books, Bittersweet<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
I received a free copy of <i>Bittersweet</i> from Blogging for Books in
exchange for an honest review.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fN25ZH_PHRAHkFQBdidH9rxFISrKxOcDI5w4bx0K6aydKOfn2xkdN7xNOf_hCUV5wdiTFTMjKUZxOPpLrz2Njwrf3BjPQVBtjGGu4DERyAS5_DEKexD1qUx9kxPgwVt68BOnuJI4lBQ/s1600/Bittersweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fN25ZH_PHRAHkFQBdidH9rxFISrKxOcDI5w4bx0K6aydKOfn2xkdN7xNOf_hCUV5wdiTFTMjKUZxOPpLrz2Njwrf3BjPQVBtjGGu4DERyAS5_DEKexD1qUx9kxPgwVt68BOnuJI4lBQ/s1600/Bittersweet.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have mixed feelings about this novel. I enjoyed the
languid pacing, which matched the summer vacation setting, with just enough
tension to keep me reading the book. I really appreciated use of <i>Paradise Lost</i> as a parallel text as the
protagonist faced her own personal temptation as well as the inevitability of
what she chooses to do. Though I was a bit disappointed by how neatly and
positively the ending was tied up and I felt that the family’s money source at
the time of the bankruptcy was a little underdeveloped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, there is a definite “ick” factor with several sex
scenes and at the close of the novel when the reader discovers what characters
knew and did/didn’t do.<o:p></o:p></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-51553580037274577422014-09-24T07:00:00.000-04:002014-09-24T07:00:08.867-04:00A 15 Line Ripple<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Every few
weeks, I get an email with the first fifteen lines of an anonymous best seller.
The idea is that I’m supposed to read the lines and decide if I was an agent (or
editor) who’d received this submission, would I continue reading. And since the
lines are anonymous, I’m not supposed to be swayed by the title or the author’s
name. (Though, of course, you do know that normally it’s a NYT bestseller.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Ripples_in_the_Blue_Lake_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1707799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Ripples_in_the_Blue_Lake_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1707799.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by David Croker, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons<br />Check out the ripples!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Most of the
time, though not all, I would read further. Even books that aren’t in my genre
preferences.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Before we ask
why I’d keep reading, you might want to know why 15 lines (sentences). Why not
the first chapter? It’s not to keep the email short. It’s not because of
copyright issues. It’s not even to give action novels a leg up. It’s because
most agents and editors decide within the first fifteen sentences whether or
not they’re going to continue to read the novel. If you’re a writer, you have
15 lousy sentences to hook your fish. And that’s why so many novels start off <i>in medias res</i> or with a dead body or a
cheating spouse—though I don’t believe that’s necessarily the answer. For
example, I remember reading any opening to a book where the narrator was out
mowing the yard in bikini (clearly the author had never had a mower kick up a
rock at her) when a dead body fell from the sky. Now that’s a very bold,
attention-getting opening. But really, how do you build tension after that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And tension
is the point. After reading lots of 15 sentences openings, I’ve noticed that
they all have one thing in common, regardless of the genre...they are all very
cleanly written and they all have a “ripple.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Imagine an
irenic lake. The surface is glass. This is what I mean by “cleanly written.”
Every sentence is smooth—put together in the best way possible with the best
choice of words. You hardly notice you’re reading. And then, the ripple. The
glassy surface moves. A ring spreads out in the perfect pond. And you can’t
help but think, “Is it a fish, is it a whale, or is it (wait for it) the Loch
Ness monster?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I suspect
that’s what we as writers need to go for. You don’t need a body falling out of
the sky. If the writing is strong and clean, a ripple is sufficient. The point
of the ripple is to create tension. To show the reader that beneath the surface
of this lake lurks something that will destroy the peace. It leaves the reader
fretting, and it’s what drives him to the next fifteen lines. As the first ripple
moves out, another begins, driving the reader to the next fifteen pages. And
then, the next fifteen chapters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And then, you
have an audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-25516118568409185202014-09-17T16:43:00.000-04:002014-09-17T19:58:40.271-04:00Exotic Thriller<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Catch-Novel-Vanessa-Michael-Munroe-ebook/dp/B00HXYKZ56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410985258&sr=8-1&keywords=the+catch+by+taylor+stevens" target="_blank">The Catch </a>by Taylor Stevens<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an
honest review.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu5jGKF0Cn9hvBjCxyG5G6LKZLBiFWkPmFLTRKZsUn9jo15DoGgVefwximt8yn6XOMRCGUwOAVHM7XpiSz-e-2RRFLmR6AW1B2rSKba_LL8vApsGfWOm9xp5PaGLmLbr-3E65k-3GSCc/s1600/The+Catch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu5jGKF0Cn9hvBjCxyG5G6LKZLBiFWkPmFLTRKZsUn9jo15DoGgVefwximt8yn6XOMRCGUwOAVHM7XpiSz-e-2RRFLmR6AW1B2rSKba_LL8vApsGfWOm9xp5PaGLmLbr-3E65k-3GSCc/s1600/The+Catch.jpg" /></a>Coming into a series in the middle is always a dicey
proposition. I’d never read anything by Taylor Stevens and this is the fourth
book in the Vanessa Michael Monroe series. But I could not resist the exotic
setting of Djibouti, Kenya, and Somalia. Not to mention hijacking and pirates. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The book did not disappoint. Michael is a complex character,
nuanced and tough. She is a blend of spy-for-hire and language lyricist. The
pace was excellent. And the details of life in East Africa made me feel like I
was walking the dirt streets, watching for khat addicts and pickpockets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in a thriller, as important as character, pacing, and
setting are, the book lives or dies on plot. This book lived, and lived well.
Stevens tells a good yarn. There were enough twists, double crosses, and
betrayals I found myself picking up the book even when I didn’t have time to
read. Well done. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll definitely be reading more of these books.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Author Bio for Taylor Stevens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">TAYLOR STEVENS is the award-winning </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New York Times</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> bestselling author of </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Informationist</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">, </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Innocent</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">, </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Doll</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">, </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Catch</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">, and the novella </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Vessel</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">. The series featuring Vanessa Michael Munroe has received critical acclaim and the books are published in twenty languages. </span><i style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Informationist</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> has been optioned for film by James Cameron's production company, Lightstorm Entertainment. Born in New York State, and into the Children of God, raised in communes across the globe and denied an education beyond sixth grade, Stevens was in her twenties when she broke free to follow hope and a vague idea of what possibilities lay beyond. She now lives in Texas, and is at work on the next Munroe novel.</span></span></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-56896297156843496492014-09-10T08:38:00.001-04:002014-09-10T08:38:53.954-04:00PitMad<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for twitter icon" border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yesterday was
PitMad (Pitch Madness). It’s a Twitter based literary pitch festival, starting at 8am and
running through 8pm ET. Basically, you pitch your novel on Twitter using the
hashtag #PitMad and a genre tag (#YA for young adult, #WF for women’s fiction,
etc.). Agents scroll through the tweets (i.e., Twitter posts) and if they’re
interested in your novel, they “favorite” your tweet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Anyone with a
Twitter account can get involved by “retweeting” a tweet that they liked. So
writers/readers get to put their two cents in too. (As one agent said, The next
book you love might be here.) I know I retweeted a few excellent tweets.
Strangers retweeted my tweets, and I even got a message from someone saying “I
would totally buy your book.” </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Easy peasy.
And loads of fun. Except for writing the Tweets. If you don’t use Twitter, the
rub is that any tweet must be no longer than 140 characters—that includes
spaces, punctuation marks, etc. And given the hash tags that were necessary for
PitMad, you’re left with 130 characters. Now try summarizing an 80,000 word
novel in what amounts to 20 words. We’re talking one sentence. Two if they’re
short.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And Twitter
doesn’t like repeat tweets, so you have to craft several tweets to avoid
Twitter rejection. (Yes, you can do tricky stuff like move the hash tags to the
beginning of the tweet.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So the
bottomline is you have to summarize your novel, including conflict, setting,
and hook in one sentence. Gulp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I dusted off
a novel I’d shelved (which I really love) and crafted a few pitches. And some
agents requested the novel. Squee! Here’s one of my pitches:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As WW2 takes
Holland, a young mother must chose to love her missing husband, hide her Jewish
niece, & embrace death to survive. #PitMad #WF (Exactly 140 characters.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you’re
interested, you can go to Twitter and search for #PitMad and see what it’s
like. If you’re a writer and want to participate, PitMads are held quarterly.
The next one is scheduled for December 4. Even if your novel is ready, join the
fun. Retweet your favorite pitches and see how the game is played.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-4760776091941110722014-09-03T07:38:00.000-04:002014-09-03T07:38:01.815-04:00Interview with Author Gina Holmes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqw6ltNNfDa5GQ1-zA31yRYAW7uhFFW6EvB_sH9-v9lVdEpLc2Aee76btQ5MMrwOyJLR1cgWt3B9DbI5WNQJhsZVgck05yPiWgfIbuIrWa0Pimuf9vizBQ8Yhu8EEemvX5vygeyp8D24/s1600/ginacolortiltsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqw6ltNNfDa5GQ1-zA31yRYAW7uhFFW6EvB_sH9-v9lVdEpLc2Aee76btQ5MMrwOyJLR1cgWt3B9DbI5WNQJhsZVgck05yPiWgfIbuIrWa0Pimuf9vizBQ8Yhu8EEemvX5vygeyp8D24/s1600/ginacolortiltsmall.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please welcome, novelist, Gina Holmes in the blog today. Gina is the founder of popular literary site,
novelrocket.com. She is a two-time Christy and ECPA Book of the Year finalist
and winner of the INSPY, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award. Her
books regularly appear on Christian bestseller lists. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gina, tell us a
little bit about your newest release, Driftwood Tides.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Driftwood Tides</i> tells the story of an aging, alcoholic
driftwood artist turned beach bum, Holton Creary, and young Libby Slater. Libby
grew up with an absent father and a loving but cold, socialite mother. Leading
up to her wedding, Libby and her groom-to-be go through genetic testing and she
learns her blood type doesn’t match either of her parents. She confronts her
mother and is reluctantly told that she’s adopted. She goes searching for her
mother, Adele, only to find her husband, Holton Creary lying face down on the
carpet of his Nags Head beach shack. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She lies about her real identity until she is finally found
out. Holton does not welcome the news. He never knew the wife he had given
saint status to had given up a daughter for adoption. Together the two search
to find the truth about Adele, Libby’s father and themselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-LpPNjPrNhQPR9X4OeQcRmaLiNfIfzxnREfv-D-SpqzuEaK0loqthJpMUw37KsTnyCEtZ_vKj7OMAg6dHOLhhIymfXFnI5n2hF_zqVGSwT0dS6sw2FART0X_rVbPS0cMOncR2TdZic0/s1600/driftwoodtides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-LpPNjPrNhQPR9X4OeQcRmaLiNfIfzxnREfv-D-SpqzuEaK0loqthJpMUw37KsTnyCEtZ_vKj7OMAg6dHOLhhIymfXFnI5n2hF_zqVGSwT0dS6sw2FART0X_rVbPS0cMOncR2TdZic0/s1600/driftwoodtides.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What do you hope
readers will take away from this book?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At its heart, <i>Driftwood Tides</i> is really about discovering
who we are, whose we are, where we belong and the need to accept and bestow
forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why did you set the
novel in Nags Head?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, how I love that place! I’m not sure there’s a more
peaceful setting in all the world. And the further out I get from civilization,
the happier I am. I love the sand dunes, the untouched nature, the quaint
towns. Just everything! (Well, except sand in my bathing suit maybe <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You seem to have a
recurring theme in your novels about absent fathers, if it’s not too personal,
why do you think that is?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is too personal, but I don’t mind answering (wink!) When
I was 6 years old, I was packed up by my stepfather and driven to my father’s
house. Overnight I had a new Mom, new sisters and brother, house and life. It
was as traumatic an experience as I can imagine. There were few explanations
that made sense to me and I missed my other family desperately. I think ever
since I’ve been trying to settle some pretty deep-seated questions. Writing
books is wonderful for that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The novel you’ve
written that seems to be a fan-favorite is <i>Crossing
Oceans</i>, do you ever see yourself writing a sequel?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love that book too. Makes me cry just thinking about
certain scenes. I would love to write a sequel, prequel or off shoot stories. I
love those characters dearly. I’m under contract for three different novels, so
I’m not sure when I’ll have the time, but I’d love to explore Craig’s story and
of course, Bella’s. I miss Mama Peg very much! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You’ve said that your
favorite novel you’ve written is <i>Wings of
Glass</i>. Why is that your favorite?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, for storyline, I think <i>Crossing Oceans</i> is the strongest. I think my writing in <i>Wings of
Glass</i> was my best, plus when I was very young I watched my mother in one
abusive relationship after another, and then two of my sisters. I had been
there too, despite thinking I was better than that. I know the mindset that
keeps a woman (or man) in a relationship like that and I wanted to give insight
to those who don’t understand. I’ve received enough letters to know I did what
I set out to do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You’re originally
from NJ but write all your novels from the South, why do you set your novels
down South if you’re from up North?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ha, you found me out! Yes, I was born and raised in NJ. As
much as I love my friends and family, I am definitely more suited for the
slower pace of the South. I’ve lived in Southern VA for half of my life and I
plan to spend the rest of my life here if I can help it. I try to write books
from settings that make me happy. So I write where I want to be. (Although,
I’ve got to say, NJ food is amazing and you’ve got to love a boisterous NJ
laugh!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What do you like most
about being a writer? Least?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most, I like being able to have a platform to share lessons
I’ve learned in my life that I know others would benefit from. And more than
that, I just love to tell a good story. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Least, would be the unpredictability of the business.
Sometimes it seems so random and the lack of control makes me uncomfortable
sometimes. (Which is probably right where God wants me!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do you have any
advice for aspiring novelists?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My advice is pretty much always the same. 1. Write. So many
people want to have written but don’t actually do the work. 2. Get to a writers
conference because there’s so much you
don’t know, that you don’t even know you don’t know. If you don’t you’ll be
spinning your wheels for years, wasting valuable time. 3. Run, don’t walk, to
the nearest bookstore and buy yourself a copy of <i>Self-Editing for Fiction Writers</i>. Then apply it. (Best money I ever
spent!) 4. Join a good critique group and get a nice thick skin, ‘cause you’re
sure going to need it! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>If you could go back
to the pre-published writer you were, knowing what you do now, what advice
would you give her? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I wouldn’t have told myself how many novels I’d write
that would never see the light of day, because I would have given up. I
wouldn’t have told myself how little money there is actually to be made or how
lonely writing can sometimes be. I wouldn’t have told myself that I’d still
have a day job with 4 novels out in stores, including 3 bestselling novels…
okay, but that wasn’t your question… I would tell myself to relax. Some of
this, most of this is, is out of your hands, and that’s okay. It’s not going to
be at all what you think it is, but it’s going to be so much more. You won’t
get rich, but you will touch lives. At the end of the day, that’s going to be
exactly what will fulfill you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Where can readers
find your books and more about you?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for asking. My books are in B&N, BooksaMillion,
Amazon, Lifeway, Parable, Family Christian and hopefully a good number of
independent bookstores. You can find me at <a href="http://ginaholmes.com/">Ginaholmes.com</a>. Thanks so much for
hosting me!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are links to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Driftwood-Tides-Gina-Holmes-ebook/dp/B00J37IGGG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409744088&sr=1-1&keywords=driftwood+tides" target="_blank">e-book</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Driftwood-Tides-Gina-Holmes/dp/1414366426/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=driftwood+tides" target="_blank">paperback</a> on Amazon.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-53826739909223066282014-08-27T10:05:00.000-04:002014-08-27T10:05:32.442-04:00A Masterful Journey through the Human Heart<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="9780770436421" src="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780770436421?&height=281&maxwidth=190" /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(I received
a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To me, a perfect book is something written in breath-taking language with a plot that drives the reader onward. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Constellation-Vital-Phenomena-Anthony-Marra-ebook/dp/B00A5MS0Z0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409147984&sr=1-1&keywords=a+constellation+of+vital+phenomena" target="_blank">A Constellation of Vital Phenomena</a></i> is one of those books.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The unusual title comes from a medical textbook’s definition
of life. And that what this novel is, an examination of life across the years in
the war-torn Chechnya amid people scarred both on and beneath the flesh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These characters broke my heart with their sacrifices and
betrayals, plumbing the heights and depths of the soul’s struggle to survive
and still remain honorable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of the novel I wondered if the author could
maintain the novel’s countless plot threads and interconnections. But he wove
together them in a web as delicate, yet every bit as strong as a spider’s web.
Even the minor mentions of a frozen wolf carcass at the beginning figure in the
end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would heartily recommend this novel for its literary merit
and as an epic journey through Chechen history and the human spirit. I am eager
for the next Anthony Marra novel. Five Stars!<o:p></o:p></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-16248620790928103882014-08-13T08:37:00.001-04:002014-08-13T08:37:54.371-04:00Discounted Book SitesBoth readers and writers are always on the lookout for sites advertising discounted books. Readers, because everyone likes to buy cheap books and what better way to discover a new author. And writers, because they are always looking for sites to advertise their book sales.<br />
<br />
Here are some sites to check out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ereadernewstoday.com/" target="_blank">E-reader News Today (ENT)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.themidlist.com/" target="_blank">The Midlist</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pixelofink.com/" target="_blank">Pixels of Ink</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.indieauthorland.com/" target="_blank">Indie Author Land</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/" target="_blank">Kindle Books And Tips</a><br />
<br />
Most of these sites have Facebook pages you can "like" to get updates or signup pages that will email you the latest deals. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-41653904400101754452014-07-22T08:11:00.000-04:002014-07-22T14:11:39.426-04:00Release Day for The Year of Chasing Dreams.Today is the release for <a href="http://www.lurlenemcdaniel.net/" target="_blank">LurleneMcDaniel'</a>s new book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Chasing-Dreams-Lurlene-Mcdaniel-ebook/dp/B00I1ZJIN6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406030372&sr=1-1&keywords=year+of+chasing+dreams" target="_blank">The Year of Chasing Dreams</a></i>. Congrats, Lurlene!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lurlenemcdaniel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/xl_chasing_dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lurlenemcdaniel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/xl_chasing_dreams.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
Book Blurb:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Ciana Beauchamp hasn’t seen or heard from Jon Mercer in months. Until now. He’s back in Windemere to see her. Deep down, Ciana is filled with joy and relief. She’s never stopped loving him. It’s proof of Jon’s love that he has returned, but what will their future be?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Working hard to maintain the family land that her grandmother left to her, Ciana is approached by a real estate developer who offers her a deal that could benefit the Beauchamp estate and possibly the entire town, which has seen better days. But Ciana is determined not to sell—for the sake of her heritage and the honor of her grandmother.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
When tragedy strikes, almost no one in Windemere is left unscathed. Tragedy has a way of bringing people together, but it can also tear them apart. Ciana can hardly face her choices, but she knows she must, and there are now people she can turn to for help if only she is willing to ask.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Intertwining a family saga with a grand love story, T<i>he Year of Chasing Dreams</i> is sure to elicit joy and sadness as McDaniel deftly depicts ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Connect with Lurlene on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdaniel?fref=photo" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or her <a href="http://www.lurlenemcdaniel.net/" target="_blank">website</a>. (BTW, there's a signed book giveaway going on through 8pm tonight.<a href="http://www.lurlenemcdaniel.net/" target="_blank">Click here</a>.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My review.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I really enjoyed </span><i style="background-color: transparent;">The
Year of Luminous Love</i><span style="background-color: transparent;">. So I was eager to read </span><i style="background-color: transparent;">The Year of Chasing Dreams</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> and find out what happens to Ciana and
Eden. And I wasn’t disappointed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the things I love about this book is the development
of Ciana and Eden—they both become women in their own right, struggling with
love, tragedy, and tears. (After all, this is a Lurlene McDaniel book and I can’t read through one without laughing and crying.) The plot is engaging with some twists and turns. The writing
is clean and the pacing spot-on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An excellent summer beach read, or if it’s winter, read it
curled up next to the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate. Highly
recommended.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-19598079567617524392014-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:002014-07-16T07:00:04.048-04:00Soulless Cover RevealToday, I have the privilege to share the cover of <a href="http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Crystal Collier</a>'s new book <i>Soulless</i>.<br />
(Isn't it lovely?)<br />
<br />
<i><i><b>Have you met the Soulless and Passionate? </b>In the world of 1770 where supernatural beings mix with humanity, Alexia is playing a deadly game.</i></i><br />
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<b><i></i></b></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>SOULLESS, Book 2 in the Maiden of Time trilogy</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwCVPsIW2oicOxRma6ECE0tLmGnhyphenhypheneTRS6cMhlyb7u7CfhPoTKcxEWJegG3hKHa7ci_gxs2ZTyZ53ncj7IkDsaQCaaSv-zhsiLHrHho3AnOJZisql_xQYXwfYznMch5bpFn0neoQHuHA/s1600/Soulless+Web+Med+Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwCVPsIW2oicOxRma6ECE0tLmGnhyphenhypheneTRS6cMhlyb7u7CfhPoTKcxEWJegG3hKHa7ci_gxs2ZTyZ53ncj7IkDsaQCaaSv-zhsiLHrHho3AnOJZisql_xQYXwfYznMch5bpFn0neoQHuHA/s1600/Soulless+Web+Med+Kindle.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and
lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to
reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her
wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her
people have—she's forced to unleash her true power.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And risk losing everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What people are saying about this series: </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 20px;">"With a completely unique plot that keeps you guessing and interested, it brings you close to the characters, sympathizing with them and understanding their trials and tribulations." <i>--SC, Amazon reviewer</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"It's clean, classy and supernaturally packed with suspense, longing, intrigue and magic."<i> --Jill Jennings, TX</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"SWOON." <i>--Sherlyn, Mermaid with a Book Reviewer</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt3iiHSgLTnge6hU-ynedR62nzQReHdFD0Hf7bbH7K-kn5UJ8wBC04ZnhENYE5B01Q0MLVJD6SrYRrNRGKdRE9ZVeJQxlYKDvTpCHcnMZOHeepW9sAerKtx6BLjam5r-t7tmhmwpr8xg/s1600/Soulless+Print+Cover+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt3iiHSgLTnge6hU-ynedR62nzQReHdFD0Hf7bbH7K-kn5UJ8wBC04ZnhENYE5B01Q0MLVJD6SrYRrNRGKdRE9ZVeJQxlYKDvTpCHcnMZOHeepW9sAerKtx6BLjam5r-t7tmhmwpr8xg/s1600/Soulless+Print+Cover+Small.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;">Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend†(a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her </span><a href="http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">blog</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/crystalcollierauthor" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;">, or follow her on </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/crystalcollier1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;"><b>COMING October 13, 2014</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.533334732055664px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22204865-soulless" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtysBIlKazZ8M6CUDxdXdfOZK98gPNOG7ZW27-wJQK6pRqk-nGdvsEqSbHBSU6YvO11zflkOwusH1DxYMyBE3SG5s-1SlRJgd8AZa3F58X52bn_80fsgBf44gpQx9U4yOAbm9jXBVCAOY/s1600/Goodreads+button.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://crystal-collier.com/soulless/preorder" target="_blank">PREORDER </a>your print copy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sign up for <a href="http://crystal-collier.com/email/" target="_blank">Crystal Collier's newsletter</a> to receive release news and freebies.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-62356034548093074952014-07-09T08:36:00.000-04:002014-07-09T08:36:01.098-04:00UpdateIt's Wednesday and I'm supposed to have a blog post. And I do, sort of. The problem is it's only partly written.<br />
<br />
Why? I've been editing, and I'm on a roll. If everything continues as it has been, I will have edited a third of a novel in one week. (Or even more--squee!) This is unheard of for me, especially since we're not talking about last-minute polishing. This is get-down and get-dirty editing--add a new scene/rewrite the transition editing. And I'm loving it.<br />
<br />
I'm actually stunned because normally I'm not that fond of editing. But I'm rolling with it.<br />
<br />
I think it must be the Charleston vacation that started it. Hmm...I think I should go on more vacations. All for the sake of art, of course. ;)<br />
<br />
Here are some photos.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueO5k6Y5FFNDccUhalGlV_yLjE7zBPfCrW7jqL0yycFAK71jklDKaNoMxiwjoZdLGVvg_0pErVMmhMJq-WztPT-FfYkR9_aQlYshahyphenhyphenCaQb24EZUo00marCaDfgMKrfXlaJs0u_v35uk/s1600/CIMG3596_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueO5k6Y5FFNDccUhalGlV_yLjE7zBPfCrW7jqL0yycFAK71jklDKaNoMxiwjoZdLGVvg_0pErVMmhMJq-WztPT-FfYkR9_aQlYshahyphenhyphenCaQb24EZUo00marCaDfgMKrfXlaJs0u_v35uk/s1600/CIMG3596_edited.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middleton Place. This was a plantation, <br />and there were alligators in the water behind me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY9J5rjWCx9fQa9YLi-V9hsGs7-KGxp6GxQ3QeunKHTQ3pUWWYZG_E6Q6vkDdU6fUITbNqKWodpCOPbwJ77nuC2M1EAzuShFCdXtnDoNYQejFhTbfmEhbu6XOo3u0H5eLQexb6gEjflM/s1600/CIMG3546_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY9J5rjWCx9fQa9YLi-V9hsGs7-KGxp6GxQ3QeunKHTQ3pUWWYZG_E6Q6vkDdU6fUITbNqKWodpCOPbwJ77nuC2M1EAzuShFCdXtnDoNYQejFhTbfmEhbu6XOo3u0H5eLQexb6gEjflM/s1600/CIMG3546_edited.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnolias--the BEST restaurant. (Watch out, Paris.)<br />This was fried green tomatoes over cheese grits with a white wine reduction and a sweet coulis. To die for.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-73803043206346195902014-07-03T07:00:00.000-04:002014-07-03T07:22:31.750-04:00Crack for Readers, The Accident<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiDwHONDndAvHKlefbtIg9hSghDPYVkmjl5Q2CJ7pffKz99xEqCGNe4zgKjwtIuirTO_yxrwh3Yra-fzWrHpiBy6L_nImWde3_IR0MqG3LOUmf1-RQnVIFVqx2RazJ0uoHrn2SaantwA/s1600/B4B+The+Accident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiDwHONDndAvHKlefbtIg9hSghDPYVkmjl5Q2CJ7pffKz99xEqCGNe4zgKjwtIuirTO_yxrwh3Yra-fzWrHpiBy6L_nImWde3_IR0MqG3LOUmf1-RQnVIFVqx2RazJ0uoHrn2SaantwA/s1600/B4B+The+Accident.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
A dangerous manuscript, a literary agent, the CIA, Zurich, and Copenhagen. The perfect set-up for a thriller—crack for readers. And it only got better once I started the book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
At the beginning, I was concerned with the plethora of characters and viewpoints, which often turns a novel into a confusion of characters where you have to turn back to earlier chapters to remember who is who. But Chris Pavone does a great job of making each character memorable enough to keep straight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
It is the choices of these characters that drive an intricate plot, which unwinds in a frenetic twenty-four hour period. Not only are the plot and characters well-written, the writing itself is clean and free of the clichés that often find their way into thrillers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Accident-Chris-Pavone-ebook/dp/B00F1W0DKE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404342921&sr=1-1&keywords=the+accident" target="_blank"><i>The Accident</i> </a>is a perfect weekend read or, in my case, excellent treadmill reading. And I have to give five stars to any book that makes me lose track of how far I’ve run.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<i><b>N.B.</b></i> This book does contain some adult situations and language.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I was given a free copy of this novel by "Blogging for Books" in exchange for an honest review.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<b>A Conversation with Chris Pavone</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
(Edgar and Anthony Award winner and New York Times bestselling author) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Q)</b> Your debut novel, The Expats, was widely praised, both in the national media (New York Times, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
USA Today, Entertainment Weekly) and by some of the biggest names in the industry (John </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, and more), was optioned for film, sold in 18 countries, and debuted on </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the Times bestseller list! You’ve worked in publishing almost your entire career; were you prepared </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
for that kind of reception for your first book? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A)</b> I was completely prepared for absolutely no one to buy, read, or review The Expats. If there’s one </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
thing that’s seems hard for a publisher to do, it’s to launch a debut novel successfully. Why would anyone </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
buy it? But if publishers don’t take flyers on first-timers, sooner or later there won’t be any novels at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m amazed and immensely grateful that my vulnerable little boat wasn’t completely lost in the sea of the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
hundred-thousand-plus new books published every year.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Q)</b> You were inspired to write The Expats while living abroad in Luxembourg. Your current home, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New York, features prominently in The Accident, but parts of the novel are also set in Europe—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Copenhagen, Paris, Zurich. Was this new novel also inspired by your travels? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A)</b> Yes, my travels have definitely inspired my writing. And it’s not just the traveling: My first book was </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
based on my experiences as an expat stay-at-home parent, suddenly without the self-definition of a career, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
trying to invent a new version of me, while the new one is drawn from my two decades in publishing. But </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Accident is definitely not about book publishing, just as The Expats wasn’t about Luxembourg. The </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Accident is about ambition, and the permanent weight of decisions made in youth, and the ways we </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
become people we didn’t intend to become. Plus—as with The Expats—spies and crimes and a great deal </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of duplicity.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Q)</b> The world of book publishing figures prominently in The Accident. Was it fun to dissect the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
many aspects of the business? Any details with which you took creative license? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A)</b> I have great admiration for book-publishing people, who’ve all chosen careers that are dedicated to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
helping other people—authors—achieve creative dreams, and to entertaining and enlightening readers, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and to do all this for very little money or recognition; there’s not really such a thing as a rich or famous </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
book editor. So The Accident isn’t a satire, and I have no ax to grind. I do admit to taking a bit of license </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in a few minor particulars, mostly to avoid an excess of exposition, and to keep my cast of characters </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
down to a reasonable number. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Q)</b> I imagine it must be hard NOT to draw on personal experiences, having worked with many </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
authors, editors, agents, and publicists in your line of work. Are any of the characters in the book </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
based on real people? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A)</b> Yes, but I won’t say who. I hope that for some readers, part of the fun of The Accident will be </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
guessing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Q)</b> The protagonist in The Expats, Kate Moore, makes a small cameo in The Accident, while Hayden </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gray, a peripheral character in your debut, features prominently here. Why? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A)</b> I absolutely loved everything about The Wire, and in particular the way the seasons related to one </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
other: different narratives populated by mostly different characters set in different milieus, but all within </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the same interconnected world. I think this is a brilliant way of telling fresh stories with satisfying </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
connections, from the same viewpoint, while avoiding the pitfalls of sequels and prequels and the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
constrictions of a traditional series. I’m trying to do something similar with these books. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-86412474804450658122014-07-01T07:12:00.001-04:002014-07-01T08:33:56.135-04:00Windthrow Book Release<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg_ekYh0zYb_oUtMMLiZZrSBZoRRO-P439vvEjzlCjO7z14h23J-D8-2934dtVQ8h8lTLDmofx9M7eSvB3B_2BXS4CnCYTXiW0vWsLnLpDanCF5vmVkgpQ8kLh-wdChFiAcEeEd9JM9Y/s1600/BioJPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg_ekYh0zYb_oUtMMLiZZrSBZoRRO-P439vvEjzlCjO7z14h23J-D8-2934dtVQ8h8lTLDmofx9M7eSvB3B_2BXS4CnCYTXiW0vWsLnLpDanCF5vmVkgpQ8kLh-wdChFiAcEeEd9JM9Y/s1600/BioJPG.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Today, I'd like to welcome A. B. Keuser to the blog. She's been a writing/blogging friend for a long time--I can't even remember when/where we first met, but I'm thrilled to tell you she released her first novel <i>Windthrow. </i>Check out the book blurb, Q & A with A.B., and links to her novel and social media sites.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Book Blurb</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxQ-lZ3VHKXb1lQT5z8boJKoO8fwXx9fgY18-yKXTlLjwWhnxeG5LTVuZC_p0AxvykHMJ7xgpH4y_0w6e2JGWgtgoCj4h4QCz7FHsEwf3vvIj7j9fFJ2SA1aQYIZg8ai0Fw7FgqCbjsc/s1600/EBookCover_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxQ-lZ3VHKXb1lQT5z8boJKoO8fwXx9fgY18-yKXTlLjwWhnxeG5LTVuZC_p0AxvykHMJ7xgpH4y_0w6e2JGWgtgoCj4h4QCz7FHsEwf3vvIj7j9fFJ2SA1aQYIZg8ai0Fw7FgqCbjsc/s1600/EBookCover_Front.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Ash Larkwood has run her private freight business long enough to know there is only one hard and fast rule in the galaxy: stay as far away from the heartless, war-like xy as possible. When she reluctantly takes Rand Fife on as a passenger it seems breaking that rule is inevitable. He’s gorgeous, paying her a ridiculous fare, and yet things are not the proverbial piece of pie she hoped. When a xy destroyer sets upon them demanding she hand him over and a pair of the skeletal aliens sneak aboard her ship, she knows it’s time for some answers. A pretty face is no excuse for the bucket of lies he’s tossing on her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">What is unique about your novel?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">In Windthrow, I've created a multicultural cast that dismisses erroneous stereotypes and allows for diverse heroes. An Asian woman owning her own freight company, the ruler of a galactic-wide empire who is not a white man, and a black woman owning and running the system’s largest mine while her husband keeps house, are not out of place in the worlds between these pages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">My non-human antagonists are super awesome (and awesomely gross) aliens who’s skeletal bodies are made of a metallic keratin and whose neural pathways run throughout all their cells (they have no actual brain).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Also, fun things with trees and a dragon festival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Tell us about your main character.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Ash Larkwood is an entrepreneur fighting an uphill battle in an industry dominated by men. She’s adventure seeker who longs for the freedom space gives her but loves and misses her family and home planet. Independent, creative and tough, she’s built a network of friends to keep her sane. Her taste in men can be horrible, her taste for drinks leans toward the sweet. I’ve always imagined her actor stand-in as Fan Bing Bing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">How did you start writing?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Boredom. I know it’s not a very fun answer, but I needed something to occupy my time and keep my fingers warm in a freezing office. My first book was written very quickly –130,000 words in the space of a month – and extremely poorly. But that atrocious first novel made me realize how much I love telling stories, and now I’ve got a dozen complete drafts under my belt, and I couldn’t be happier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Why do you write Science Fiction?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I’ve always loved SF. My dad and I watched two things when I was little, Westerns and Star Trek the original series. I think there’s something completely wonderful about the freedom science fiction gives you with plot, setting, and even genre. I almost feel like it should be a category that other genres can fall into. I love playing with those options.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I lean toward space-bound SF because I love the fact that space is its own tertiary antagonist. There’s a whole lot that can go wrong in the void and you always have to be mindful of that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I deeply want society to advance because I love what I see in the innovations of science and love the idea of what could be. I also love exploring the things that can't be fixed by technological advance. The deeply ingrained human flaws that last the test of time…in all their ugly and disgusting glory</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">What’s your method of writing? Plotter? Pantser? Does your character build the story? Etc.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">My writing method changes around quite a bit. I’m mostly a plotter, but the first draft of this novel was completely pansted. Over the course of 20 days in August of 2010, I tapped out the 70,000-words that would eventually become Windthrow (at that point the file was titled “SF”). And then, it was revised, and revised again, and sent to crit partners, and revised again, and again… and here we are almost 4 years later and at about 110k-words. (That four years is why I usually plot my books out in advance)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">What’s your favorite childhood book?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The first books I remember loving in elementary school were Anne of Green Gables and The Wizard of Oz. Both were well worn tomes in the Milner Crest library, and I’m sure I helped crack their spines further. Later, I got lost in the Goosebumps books, The Horror at Camp Jellyjam was one of my favorites. But by middle school, I was already on the Thriller bandwagon and devouring Clive Cussler novels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b>Links</b>:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<b>Amazon Print</b>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Windthrow-A-B-Keuser/dp/149973154X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1404149555&sr=8-6&keywords=a+b+keuser" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/<wbr></wbr>Windthrow-A-B-Keuser/dp/<wbr></wbr>149973154X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&<wbr></wbr>qid=1404149555&sr=8-6&<wbr></wbr>keywords=a+b+keuser</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<b>Amazon Kindle</b>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Windthrow-B-Keuser-ebook/dp/B00LEQ1UNA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404149555&sr=8-3&keywords=a+b+keuser" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/<wbr></wbr>Windthrow-B-Keuser-ebook/dp/<wbr></wbr>B00LEQ1UNA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&<wbr></wbr>qid=1404149555&sr=8-3&<wbr></wbr>keywords=a+b+keuser</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
<b>Website</b>: <a href="http://www.abkeuser.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.abkeuser.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<b>Blog</b>: <a href="http://www.abkeuser.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.abkeuser.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-71080029808858339202014-06-25T07:44:00.002-04:002014-06-25T07:44:41.740-04:00Filling My Creative Tank Last time this year, my husband and I were in Paris celebrating our 25th anniversary. This year, we're in Charleston having a blast--it's amazing. (The only city in the world with more preservation of historic buildings is Rome.)<br />
<br />
Cal and I bought a "Charleston museum pass." So we're visiting restored and preserved homes. And today we're visiting two plantations. I feel like my creative "tank" is being filled to overflowing. I can't wait to start writing and editing.<br />
<br />
Here are a couple of photos. (Unfortunately, the houses don't allow you to take photos inside.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHTxVf8lLVDQGYNYOFNyR_qk9lorr9eNJoJSSpA7qxzrHsH6Lf1Oai1caWhJoq2Pa3nqMXGcg1UYHNB6EME2cQwvbIUWokikodYv6XUlSGpEP-VB33c-5f-QBpcEjGihs_Xn1iNt1hCk/s1600/CIMG3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHTxVf8lLVDQGYNYOFNyR_qk9lorr9eNJoJSSpA7qxzrHsH6Lf1Oai1caWhJoq2Pa3nqMXGcg1UYHNB6EME2cQwvbIUWokikodYv6XUlSGpEP-VB33c-5f-QBpcEjGihs_Xn1iNt1hCk/s1600/CIMG3551.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the allies in Charleston are picturesque.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVdn-_XD81Xrw1AzW2nP-kZZqGSOdjAEDv3o4Ku9Mtj9YzDn_tZwtwl_9aPWYOkHvoN2nvld9Y-vjgqbXGp-ZRxrQ29qRn1UeACc_ER0AZc4rRFRU5lOx3QhtQiyQ4HpTBIpk5mOpFTo/s1600/CIMG3556.JPG" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Huguenot church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXnTLnXLUeUluagyB0bZK0NkGbc98YP7FqitpOMSd_imB5P_gdwtc8CnDhOyzKyazOqsbk-gvFi-H6WR4GzV_S-2aHpxby9XCx1qoa4GhEOLsjZW7fi0wB1jNMromtB5TcOnhFIV5wB0/s1600/CIMG3586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXnTLnXLUeUluagyB0bZK0NkGbc98YP7FqitpOMSd_imB5P_gdwtc8CnDhOyzKyazOqsbk-gvFi-H6WR4GzV_S-2aHpxby9XCx1qoa4GhEOLsjZW7fi0wB1jNMromtB5TcOnhFIV5wB0/s1600/CIMG3586.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm enjoying a joggling board. It doesn't look like much,<br /> but it was bliss for my back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVdn-_XD81Xrw1AzW2nP-kZZqGSOdjAEDv3o4Ku9Mtj9YzDn_tZwtwl_9aPWYOkHvoN2nvld9Y-vjgqbXGp-ZRxrQ29qRn1UeACc_ER0AZc4rRFRU5lOx3QhtQiyQ4HpTBIpk5mOpFTo/s1600/CIMG3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVdn-_XD81Xrw1AzW2nP-kZZqGSOdjAEDv3o4Ku9Mtj9YzDn_tZwtwl_9aPWYOkHvoN2nvld9Y-vjgqbXGp-ZRxrQ29qRn1UeACc_ER0AZc4rRFRU5lOx3QhtQiyQ4HpTBIpk5mOpFTo/s1600/CIMG3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEKtwJDmRU6d_isQlzKnZvbGzmKS_8nnfCxFW-6hU4Cjy_nMeP1TacQIhVNDDD8U7eOyk-os8DlajdC-33sFfzZovTQ9CCL22eho1v1hJV-yWBVcPDYWxGZraVK3ixAEFNJdjd9nPaAQ/s1600/CIMG3562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEKtwJDmRU6d_isQlzKnZvbGzmKS_8nnfCxFW-6hU4Cjy_nMeP1TacQIhVNDDD8U7eOyk-os8DlajdC-33sFfzZovTQ9CCL22eho1v1hJV-yWBVcPDYWxGZraVK3ixAEFNJdjd9nPaAQ/s1600/CIMG3562.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkish coffee with breakfast. (Here's the blouse I recently sewed,)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_391720091"></span><span id="goog_391720092"></span><br />
<span id="goog_1415071234"></span><span id="goog_1415071235"></span><br />
<br />
<br />Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110693767888386400.post-20266255071361496682014-06-18T10:13:00.002-04:002014-06-18T10:13:47.802-04:00Writing Time Travel FictionToday, I'm at The Five Year Project, and I'm talking about what it's like to write time travel fiction.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sylmion.blogspot.com/2014/06/cm-keller-on-writing-time-travel-stories.html" target="_blank">Come join us.</a>Connie Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com3