C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

First Wednesday, Month 7!

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A Post Vacation Dialogue
Me: “I’m back physically, but mentally I’m still enjoying an Aegean swim.”
Muse (AKA The Nag): “Did you say Aegean? I thought you were going to the Ionian.”
Me: “Well, you see there was a change in plan. It’s called ‘life takes a left instead of a right,’ so there were different boats and different crews and, therefore, a different sea.”
The Muse (AKA The Nag): “Are you sure you’re not losing it?”
Me: “Somewhat sure. Listen, fella, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Here’s a picture of me pretending to write when, in fact, I’m waiting for the anchor to drop so I can jump into the water. To be very honest, I wrote not one word.”
C. Lee McKenzie, author

Thanks for the picture, Jason!

The Muse (AKA The Nag): “And you call yourself a writer.”
Me: “I like the title. And who could resist jumping into this?
And, of course, after a swim I was busy eating and talking and eating some more. There may have been wine involved.
The Muse (AKA The Nag): “Ah ha! Just as I suspected. I’m stuck here minding the estate, and you’re off swimming in some exotic sea and getting snockered during the day!”
Me: “Not ‘snockered‘ just…happy.”
The Muse (AKA The Nag) turns away in a sulk.
Me: I did some work while I was gone. Look! Double Negative was in the top ten books listed in this wiki: Stunning YA Books That Chronicle The Tough Realities Of Growing Up.
The Muse (AKA The Nag) shrugs. No eye contact.
Me: I’m in too good a mood to let you rile me, so go ahead and pout and let me get on with this first Wednesday post.”
In this brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh, each month the IWSG announce a question that members can answer in their posts. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

Remember, the question is optional!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Natalie Aguirre, Jennifer Lane, MJ Fifield, Lisa Buie-Collard, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

I’d like to say that there’s nothing of me in the people I create, but I suppose a writer can’t avoid creating a cast that is nothing like them. So when I thought about the question, I had to admit there are bits of me that I recognize in some of my characters.

I’ve been known to be stubborn-I’d prefer to call it determined-and that trait pops up in several characters. If Shawna Stone (Sliding on the Edge) hadn’t been hugely stubborn, she wouldn’t have survived. I threw a lot at Ms. Stone in this story, and she finally fought her way through all of it.

My fears peek out at me when I think about Carlie Simon (The Princess of Las Pulgas) and she withdraws into herself when those fears become very big-my usual strategy. When I’m really scared, I disappear until I get all of that under control.

Like Cleo Brown (Sudden Secrets) I can carry around a lot of guilt about mistakes, and I used to run like she does to escape, but these days I’ve turned to hiking and yoga to help me out.

So in short, these are the traits I’ve written into some of my characters, and I’m sure I’m not alone. Can’t wait to see what others have answered this month.

Dancing Lemur Press

There are some really good July bargains from Dancing Lemur Press.Some restrictions apply. Free swag with all direct orders. See the SITE for details.

 

 

 

WEP

Thirty writers entered the June WEP! Go read some and see what you think. There were many that deserve applause. But here are the stars according to the judges: Pat Hatt, Elephant’s Child , Toi There were so many great stories that I’m sure it was a difficult choice.

 

 

Quote of the Month: Compliments of The Muse (AKA The Nag) “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” Seth Godin, entrepreneur, author, speaker.

Going Fishing

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Actually, I’m not going fishing, but I am or hope to be swimming in the Ionian Sea. Whatever I’m doing next week, it won’t be social media. My brain needs a break. In case you want to know why, you can read about it HERE. I’ll get back to all of you when I return.

Here’s my itinerary for the month. Pulgia for a week at a farm house. Ionian islands for the rest of the time on a sailboat. So simple. Exactly what I need after a year of “adjusting.”

Ionian Sea

My Plan for June

However, I haven’t forgotten that today is the famous Insecure Writers Support Group Day.

 

In case you’re new to the group,

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

The question is optional!

June 5 question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Diane Burton,Kim Lajevardi,Sylvia Ney,Sarah Foster,Jennifer Hawes,and Madeline Mora-Summonte! Please stop by their sites and cheer them on.
I’m skipping the question this month, so I can pack. I’m leaving tomorrow… on a jet plane. Don’t know when I’ll be back again. Well, not exactly. I’ll be back at the end of the month, but that was a nod to John Denver and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Sweet sixties!

When I return, I’ll have my hands full because a publisher has just taken another of my Young Adult books , so I’ll be doing what authors do when they have a book coming out. I have nothing except the title and my tag to share yet.

 

 

A blood-smeared knife
One young man’s word against another
A lifetime dream crushed

 

 

 

And then because it’s summer, I’m offering the Kindle version of Alligators Overhead (book 1 in the Adventures of Pete and Weasel trilogy) for $1.99 the month of June.

 

Quote of the Month: “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta