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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

A to Z Blog Challenge: The Letter B and IWSG

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The Write Game’s Theme 
AtoZ Blog Challenge
2014

Stuff I Learned or Laughed at from Bloggers in the 2013 A to Z Challenge .

All you gots to do is identify the Mystery Blogger each day. I’ll give you hints when I can. I’ll post the answers and the winner each Monday.
Four visitors (one each week) can win: 
Week 1) an ebook of Alligators Overhead 
Week 2)an ebook of Sliding On The Edge 
Week 3) an ebook of The Princess of Las Pulgas 
Week 4) a $10 gift certificate from Amazon 
 (If you already have one of the prizes, I’ll figure something else out!)
BY
1) identifying the most bloggers correctly=2 points.  
2) leaving witty comments=1 point or more depending on glibness
3) adding to the information and making it more valuable=2 points 

TIES WILL BE BROKEN BY MY CAT. SHE’S FAIR AND IMPARTIAL.UNLESS CATNIP IS INVOLVED, THEN SHE GOES WITH THE BEST SUPPLIER.
Plan Ahead

Mystery Blogger B’s 2013 theme: ” I’ll be sharing what I learned on a month-long blog tour I did last year for one of my novels and what I’ve discovered since.”
B  is for Blog Tour

  • Plan in advance. Further than you think you should.
Decide on length of tour and frequency of posts.
Contact possible hosts, who are a good fit for your novel.
Write posts in advance. Seriously.
Send posts early and make them easy to manage.
Prepare badges and order giveaways.
Decide on a giveaway/freebie day early and include in your post for each blog.
Use all promotional opportunities available.
Gift your hosts with a copy of your book.
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/845380
  • Just before the tour.
Change your blog header (optional, but an immediate indicator that you have something special happening on your blog).
Continue to update your blog, so visitors will be aware of your promo/marketing efforts and where you will be on what days. 
Contact tour hosts a few days in advance to be sure they remember when to post.
Ensure book links, Rafflecopter widgets and online freebies are in place and ready to roll out on day one.
Who was it? HINT: This blogger loves Jamaica and “Joy” is her name.
SIGN UP or VISIT the others who are on this AtoZ Challenge and check out the HOSTS:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out

Tina @ Life is Good

Damyanti @ Amlokiblogs

Jeremy @ Being Retro

Nicole Ayers – The Madlab Post

Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian

ALEX CAVANAUGH

How do I have time to be insecure in April? I don’t know, but I am. Here’s what I mean.

Will the posts I’ve scheduled actually publish? 
Get up at 3AM to be sure. 
Go to bed. 

Did I have any typos or grammar mistakes? 
Get up at #:3:30AM to be sure. 
Go to bed. 

Did I get that writer’s name correct? How about those links, did I check them? 
Get up at 4AM to be sure. 
Forget bed.

April 1 Oh No! Day ONE of A to Z Blog Challenge

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The Write Game’s Theme 
AtoZ Blog Challenge
2014

Stuff I Learned or Laughed at from Bloggers in the 2013 A to Z Challenge .

All you gots to do is identify the Mystery Blogger each day. I’ll give you hints when I can. I’ll post the answers and the winner each Monday.

Four visitors (one each week) can win: 

Week 1) an ebook of Alligators Overhead 

Week 2)an ebook of Sliding On The Edge 

Week 3) an ebook of The Princess of Las Pulgas 
Week 4) a $10 gift certificate from Amazon 
 (If you already have one of the prizes, I’ll figure something else out!)
BY
1) identifying the most bloggers correctly=2 points.  
2) leaving witty comments=1 point or more depending on glibness

3) adding to the information and making it more valuable=2 points  

Let the Game Begin
A is for Anger.



Mystery Blogger A’s 2013 theme: “This year, I’m focusing on two themes:  Emotions and grammar, depending on which letter we’re on each day.”

This post was on how to write about a character’s ANGER. Here’s what Mystery Blogger A suggested. It was a great tip.

“Whatever physical traits and action the character models to show anger, it’s more effective to contrast it with whatever mood came before it.”

Who was it? HINT: This blogger just pubbed a thriller. Initials N.T.

SIGN UP or VISIT the others who are on this AtoZ Challenge and check out the HOSTS:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out

Friday Celebration of Small Things

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SIGN UP BEFORE APRIL 1
SIGN UP AND JOIN OUR FRIDAY CELEBRATION

I’m celebrating having all my A to Z Blog Challenge Posts done! Yes. All 26 are now written and scheduled. 
  • Thank you computer for not dying on me again (another reason to celebrate). 
  • Thank you bloggy friends for adding your support through tons of droopy days.
  • Thank you, Rain Gods in the Sky for sending California some wet stuff. We sorely needed it.
I won’t see you Monday, but. . . guess what? April 1 arrives on Tuesday and I’ll be here. See you then.

A to Z Blog Challenge Theme Reveal and Those Small Things to Celebrate

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Happy A to Z Blog Challenge

Theme Reveal

 2014

SIGN UP HERE!
Déjà vu 2013

Remember this badge from 2013? Well this year I’ll be taking you back to last year’s A to Z. Some of you will recognize your own posts from last year, so you’re sure to guess one right.

Here’s how it will work:

  • I’ll post a mystery A to Z blogger’s post from 2013. 
  • I’ll give you a hint if I can.
  • There will be prizes each week for those who: 

      • 1) guess the most mystery bloggers each week.

      2) leave additional information about the post, so I can learn something more about the topic. 
      3) make me laugh or think with your comment.

    Can’t forget to CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS!

    THANKS VIKLIT
    My lettuce crop is coming up. 
    I’m eating Fava Beans from the garden. 
    My peach tree is in full blossom. 
    My computer works. 
    I’ve finished reading John Adams’ bio. 
    I just started the final revisions on my sequel to Alligators Overhead. 

    My Blogger Wish List

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    SIGN UP HERE!

    ***15 DAYS UNTIL APRIL 1***

    Since many of us are getting ready for the A to Z Blog Challenge, I thought I’d rant a bit about what I wish wouldn’t happen in the Blogging World.

    • I wish there was no such thing as Word Verification. I get somewhat testy after taking out the magnifying glass and deciphering the cryptic numbers and blurred letters, then seeing this message: “Your comment will be available after approval.” 
    kakisky

    • I wish that bloggers would tidy up their profiles so that long abandoned blogs were not listed. 

    • I wish that comments like “Congrats!” and “Have a good day!” didn’t appear after someone posts about their Pomeranian’s abduction by aliens or their liver transplant.  Reading the post or at least gleaning the message makes the blogging exchange interesting.
    So there’s my wish list. Anything you’d like to add to it?
    ******

    My book and I are guests at thebooksage today. I’d love it if you’d stop by, take a peek at the review and say hi to this book reviewer. 

    Insecure Writers’ Support Group and Some Gratitude and I’m Totally Blitzed

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    THANKS TO NINJA ALEX CAVANAUGH
    Just a touch of Insecurity
    Might detract from my Maturity.
    Some days my prose soars to the sky.
    Then on others it might well die.
    If I could only surely say 
    That the muse was here to stay,
    You would never hear my childish screams,
    And I would sleep in bundled dreams.
    THANKS TO SHERI LARSON

    It has taken me over three months to come back to a center where I feel somewhat stable. My mom’s death and my son’s accident coming at the same time, threw me off in many ways. First, I didn’t have time to think about my mom not being here. I was so steeped in making trips to the hospital to see my son and talking to doctors that I often forgot my mom entirely. Then one evening, when I usually called to check in with her, I picked up the phone to say hi. Only to tell myself I couldn’t call her because I’d have to tell her about her grandson, and that would upset her. It a few moments before I knew that wasn’t reason I couldn’t call her.

    • My gratitude is that my son has improved and that doctors feel he will continue to do so. 
    • My gratitude is that I have a caring supportive family and friends. 
    • My gratitude is that I can appreciate what I have and not dwell on what I do not.
    THANKS DL HAMMONS
    Yesterday we BLITZED Bish Denham and Nicole Olea. Are you next?

    Celebrating The Small Things from A to Z

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    VIKLIT
    SIGN UP HERE

    Apples are the best fruit. Highly portable, delicious and keep the doctor away. So I’m celebrating my apple trees. By April this one will be full of blossoms.  Then the deer will hang out and wait for the fruit. They’ll clear the bottom limbs, but I’ll get the apples higher up. . .if I hurry before the birds find how juicy those red things are.

    Butterflies always deserve to be celebrated.

    GEDC

    I’m almost done with my A to Z posts. Want to see what my THEME is this year? Check back MARCH 21.

    VIDYASURY

    How to Avoid Common Writer Mistakes & Cassa Fire’s Special

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    If only it were easy to WhiteOut our mistakes.
    http://tinyurl.com/l348ctv

    Since I’ve made every mistake a writer can, I thought I could speak to this issue with some authority.

    I waited way too long to start thinking about publicity.

    I thought my publisher would do it all. Please don’t laugh. I was a mere child when I began.

    I said, “If I can write a book, surely I can promote all by myself.”

    I thought my book was good enough I didn’t need to worry about promoting it. (This isn’t exactly what I thought, but close.)

    I thought that the media would pick up my Tweets and my Blog Posts and my FB Post in no time flat.

    I thought that if I did a few Tweets, a few Blog Posts, a few FB Posts, I could kick back and have a nap.

    I thought once I had a publisher, I didn’t have to think about finding another one.

    Now that I’m a seasoned soldier in the book publishing business I can admit to all these mistakes and more. So what to do to avoid these?

    7 to 12 months before launch

    • start lining  up your reviewers.
    • make a list of book fairs or events that are scheduled around your launch target. 
    • make a list of things you can count on your publisher to do for you and fill in the gaps yourself or hire a publicist. 
    • make sure your website is up to date.

    6 months before launch

    • send announcements to newspapers, trade magazines, especially those with “up-coming publications” columns.
    • write press release, so you’ll have it to send with your ARCs or galleys.
    • troll for blurbs
    • have a professional author photo taken
    • set up Google Alerts for both your author name and your book title

    5 months before launch

    • update  your business cards
    • order bookmarks etc.
    • lay out a book tour for yourself. This can be in addition to what your publisher has done, or just what you want to do.

    3-4 months before launch

    • have book trailer made.
    • write letters pitching your book to media.
    • check with local bookstores to see if they will carry your book.
    • create launch materials: interviews, giveaway ideas, activities for blogs.

    2 months before launch

    • schedule your launch appearances: virtual or in person, using your launch materials.
    • memorize your tagline or pitch, so you can say it any time, anywhere.
    • recheck website and add your buylinks.

    Just before the big DAY

    • confirm everything with everyone. 
    • schedule Tweets with buylinks for AM and PM daily. 

    After the big DAY: do not stop promoting. 

    This isn’t a complete list of things to do, so I hope you’ll add to it. I’ve gleaned these steps from other bloggers, my experience and reading what publicists have to say. 

    ALEX CAVANAUGH’S BLOG

    Here’s a writer who know all of this stuff. Be sure to take advantage of this last day of his offer.  CassaFire is 99 cents at AMAZON and his publisher’s site. 

    Why I’m An Insecure Writer AND Major Cover Reveal!!!!

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    THE NINJA BEHIND IT ALL
    Some time ago I rambled on about that edgy YA that was writing and so excited about, and then one day inspiration packed its bag and took a vacation. “So what,” I said and gleefully launched a new project. I would turn one of my middle grade novels into a YA. That lasted for several days–8 I think.

    So there I was at Chapter 7, feeling pretty smug when, wham, this other middle grade popped into my head, one I’d written and tucked away a year ago. All that book needed was a few adjustments, and I’d have something ready for my critique group, and maybe I could sub it by this summer.

    That’s when something very strange happened. 

    Here’s the story: I was at my desk, hammering out those “adjustment” when I heard this pounding at my front door. When I opened it a whole gaggle of people clustered outside. One, a young nondescript girl wearing either a sweater or a blouse, I couldn’t tell, stepped out of the group.

    “They’ve chosen me as the spokesperson,” said she.
     “They?”
    “Your characters.”
    I cast a wary eye over the crowd. Three young boys, one in a striped T-shirt, one kind of sandy haired, the other dark and growly, stood with their arms crossed, their eyes unfriendly.
    “I remember you. You’re in that Dragon story, right?”
    They nodded in unison.
    “Did I write you as hostile young boys?”
    “No,” the growly boy said. “It’s the waiting that’s made us this way.”
    “I see.” I noticed an older woman looking rather lost and teary in the middle of the group. “Why are you so unhappy?”
    “That’s the way you left me two years ago. Could you please just step on it and figure out how to get me out of this slump?”
    “Gee, I didn’t think . . . I mean, you’re just characters—” The crowd turned hostile. I held up both hand in apology. “I’m doing the best I can. Right now I’m all over that ghost story. 

    They looked like Ben and Allie from Chapter 7

    I picked out two characters who had to be Ben and Allie because they looked like Ben and Allie, the ones from Chapter 7. The other characters cast jealous glances in their direction.

    The nondescript girl cleared her throat. “All we want is some follow through, you know? I’m tired of not having a personality or even decent . . . clothes.” She passed her hand over her unexceptional self.
    “Thank you for bringing me your concerns. I’ll make a plan and stick to it. Promise.” I turned to go back to the safety of my office, but stopped in the doorway and looked back at Ms. Average. “BTW, are you wearing a sweater or a blouse?”
    She’d at least like a nice sweater.

    “Good question. You never decided, remember? When you get around to finishing that story, however, I’d like a sweater. Cashmere. Bright yellow.” And off she walked, or ambled, or cavorted. I haven’t made up my mind.

    So have your characters ever organized and confronted you? If they did what would they complain or applaud about your writing plan, or like in my case, non-plan? You might consider how you’ll handle what I just had to because it can be very touchy. Once they turn on you, you could be in serious trouble.
    Be sure to visit others like myself who have banded together for this IWSG. Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG.

    Composers For Relief Cover Reveal for Beyond the Binding

    I’ve been looking forward to seeing this for a while. I’m not disappointed. Are you?

    Where Musician And Writers Collborate

    What Worked? What Didn’t?

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    Arlee Bird – http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/
    Yolanda Renee – http://yolandarenee.blogspot.com/
    Jeremy Hawkins – http://www.beingretro.com/
    Alex J. Cavanaugh – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

    In all honesty I think one strategy that’s worked (even though on a small scale, 14 to 20 books sales in fifteen minutes) for me has been creating and presenting writing workshops. I’m able to meet readers in person and since many students return for two or three years, I build a small but steady reader base. They keep in touch, asking when my next book is coming. My biggest problem is having a new book ready for sale.

    My Class of 2013!

    Leslie Rose read Alligators Overhead to her fifth grade class and whether or not that sold books, I couldn’t say, but I sure got a lot of feedback from her kids–wonderful notes and great pictures.
    I think if I get my act into gear and finish that sequel, this classroom exposure might prove to be a great way to attract attention. Now I need more fifth grade teachers who want to read stories to their classes.

    One Picture of the Haunted Mansion + Alligator

    I contributed to two anthologies The First Time and Two and Twenty Dark Tales. That led to several bookstore appearances where I met other authors, but also booksellers. Knowing the people is a big part of getting books noticed. Plus I was well reviewed in both anthologies for Premeditated Cat and Into The Sea of Dew. Good reviews always help if only for the ego, but after the book signing, sales on Amazon went up for two of my books.

    Me, Suzanne Lazear and Nina Berry at Mysterious Gallaxy Books