C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Monday Miscellany or I’m a Winning Fool & Small Things Hop (That’s ambiguous on purpose.)

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I’m a Winning Fool

Kyra Lennon bestowed a copy of her book, Blindsided on me. It arrived!  Thanks, Kyra. I’m excited about reading your story.
Then The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow saw to it that Simon and Schuster sent me a copy of a fabulous Middle Grade story called  Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. The cover alone makes me which I’d written this one.
I’ve got me some reading to do!

I did read Every Day, which I won from Cece M. Robert a few weeks ago. And I reviewed it. If you’d like to read that review, it’s on AMAZON and GOODREADS. Thanks Cece.

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Now for the Miscellaneous bits:

Celebrating The Small Things

HOP

(This should have come on Friday, but call it either early or late this week.)

1. I planted my first lettuce, spinach and broccoli of the season in my greenhouse.

2. I brushed my cat. Now that’s not an easy thing to do, even if I include it here as “small,”  since this cat came from some bushy Persian strain of animal. She’s knots and more knots every week.

3. I found the top of my desk, well, parts of it. Finding any surface space required stacking and sorting. Small, but immensely important.

4. I wrote two notes to friends in Europe-longhand. Felt great.

My favorite quote for the day:

Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. - Mark Twain

Do you enter to win books? If so, what books are you winning? Any recommendations? How about those simple things that you’re doing? If you don’t enter this Hop, tell us what you’re doing that’s not earth shattering, but important to you. If you say you’ve just finished a Nobel winning novel, you’re banished for a while. Any favorite quotes I can snag for future use? 

Monday Miscellany, Alex Fest, Christmas Recipes.

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I’m festing and hopping all over the BlogOSphere today. The holiday season for events is in full swing. Hope you enjoy these because they were a lot of fun to participate it. Sooooooo, without more preamble, here are they are.

Here’s the blogfest to wrap up 2012. Those who joined had to respond to 4 questions, which included writing a piece of Flash Fiction (100 words, using all prompts). 
What does Alex look like?
Taut, muscled and stealthy, Alex is truly Ninja head to toe.
Who could play Alex in a documentary?
Johnny Depp is a dead ringer for Alex. I’d say he should play Alex in any documentary.
Who does Alex remind you of?
It depends on the day: Shinobi-Wan Kenobi on his stealthy days and Steve Irwin when he’s stalking alligators.
How Does He Do It?
Nimble Ninja Xela crept forward. His taut, muscled form gliding in silence. Feeling his way in darkness, yet seeing more clearly than ordinary warriors in sunlight, Xela, could be mistaken for Shinobi-Wan Kenobi or—Johnny Depp. He had to bring the list to the NNG (Next Ninja Gathering), and he had to do that without the Listmaker’s knowledge. He stepped up to a lighted window. Inside, the Listmaker slumped at his desk, snoring. In one leap, Xela popped open the window without a sound, slipped the list from under the sleeping man and exited with next week’s book releases.

Now, don’t miss the other 5,000 fest posts. 

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Character interviews are always kind of fun. I chose to interview Weasel. He’s the twelve-year-old sidekick for my MC in Alligators Overhead. Let’s see if I really know this kid. Here’s Weasel answering the questions.

Hi, I’m Weasel and just so you know, that’s a nickname my dork-head brother laid on me. I’m fine with it, really because my real name kind of sucks. No. It really sucks, so I’m not telling you what it is. They call me a “brainiac.” I’m in 7th grade, but I go to the 8th grade class for math because . . . well, I already know 7th grade math.
I’m supposed to say something about how I feel about winter, but I live on the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the southeastern part of the U.S. We don’t get too much of what people think is winter. Maybe 60’s in the day and 40’s at night in December. When we get a winter storm, it’s cold and wet. And I like that because sometimes they close school and I can stay home and read, which is what I like most. See? I am a Brainiac.
All I need to laugh out loud on any day is my friend, Pete. He’s amazing for making all kinds of mistakes and getting into all kinds of trouble. The problem is, while I’m laughing, I have to figure out how to get him and me out of the trouble he’s stirred up. 
I played truth or dare on a camping trip once. I’m not good at lying, so I chose truth all the time. Pete was with me. Guess what he chose?
My best winter memory is the time Pete got caught playing hooky just before Christmas. Principal Pitt gave him detention every day for a week. I had a lot of time to catch up on my reading. I guess by now you know what I do most of the time: work on getting out of trouble that Pete causes or read.
A book would be my best creative Christmas gift ever. I’m reading the bio of Queen Victoria. You know who she was, right? And I guess that answer another question because that’s my favorite book right now. 
I might start a snowball fight, if I had some snow, but then maybe not. I’d probably not get the first snow ball off. Pete would be way ahead me on that one.
My family celebrates Christmas like most people, I guess. Mom puts up one of those trees from Walmart, Dad sprays some “evergreen” stuff around the room, and then we go to dinner at a restaurant we all like-Guido’s Chinese Palace.
Hey! Great that you wanted to interview me. I kind of liked this.

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Want to join the fun? Here’s the Linky:

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Christmas Countdown: 15 days and counting! 

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If you’re in need of some simple and tasty recipes for this busy time, go visit SOUTHPAW. She’s posting some great menu ideas . . . really. I have tried several and they are delicious and some are fast. My kind of meal!

Monday Miscellany Here on The Write Game: A New Book and Some Blogfests

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I don’t usually post about new books on Monday,  but sometimes we need to adjust to fit other schedules. I hope you enjoy reading about this book.

First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch

“What if history didn’t happen that way … the first time?”

Garison Fitch was one of the most revered scientists in the Soviet Americas until he left fame behind to work on a secret project in his log cabin in the mountains of Marx.

But something went wrong. Instead of traveling interdimentionally, Garison has traveled through time … twice.

Now, he’s in something called “The United States of America” and a woman he’s never met before is calling herself his wife. It it a hoax? Or, has he somehow changed history? 

If so, can he return the world to what he believes is “normal”, or must he live in this strange world he created?

Excerpt:
Heather’s Diary
March 15, 2005
I am so scared.
I was expecting today to be one of the greatest days of my life.  It was supposed to be one of the greatest days in the history of the world.  In the grand scope of science and history, maybe today will go down as a great day, for the most ambitious experiment in the field of quantum realities seems to have been at least a partial success.
As this once promising day winds down, though, I have to think it’s the worst day I’ve ever known.  It’s the end of the day, the sun has gone down just like it’s supposed to and everything seems fine about the world except that I am alone in my bedroom.  My husband is in the house, but I don’t want him in here.  I’m afraid of him.
Afraid of Garison?
Somehow, I know it’s not his fault, though.  He must have gotten hit on the head, or been drugged or something.  Because the Garison who came back from the experiment today isn’t the Garison I married.
Something is wrong with him.  I have to find out what so I can help him.
What can I do?  And what if I can’t help him?  What if this is permanent?
Maybe I’m being silly.  Maybe this is just temporary.  It all started just this afternoon, after all.  Maybe it’ll be gone in the morning and everything will be back to normal.
He claims he’s been gone five years, though.  And he looks like he’s been gone five years or even more.  What if that’s true?
What can I do?

$25 Tour wide giveaway. Go to  Rafflecopter 

Purchase
Kindle * Nook * Smashwords


Welcoming a new book is always a nice way to start at new month. Hope you’ll support Garrison and buy his book. 


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And we have other ways to welcome December, too!  I can’t believe I’m doing this, but here it is,  Babyfaces Blogfest. Want to reveal the youngest YOU? If I can do it, so can you.




I’m guessing I was about two here,  and when I asked my mom where this was taken, she said Modesto-you know a hot valley town in California. This picture happened way before Valley Girls became popular. Want to see what other bloggers looked like back at the beginning, before writing set in?



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And then, of course, we have the Christmas Photo Hop started by Kyra Lennon. Can’t pass this one up, can we?
Check out the other Festive Christmas PEEPS!

You have to add the audio yourself. “We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (There’s some repeating here, then) Bring us some figgy pudding. Oh, bring us some figgy pudding. Oh, bring us some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.” How did I do?
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Since I’m into my blogfest mode, here’s another one that’s coming up. It’s different because it’s for one blogger who supports, entertains and informs us all the time. You might want to join the fun, so here are some places to go to find out what’s afoot.  

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If you have book coming out in 2013 here’s a place to go for a super book trailer. MISTY TAGGART creates some very special, unique trailers.  I loved mine. You’ll love yours.




I Miss You Blogfest

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The hosts for this one are Matthew MacNish, and Alex Cavanaugh. Andrew Leon

I could have a list of hundreds of blogs that I would miss. There are so many great bloggers out there, sharing their thoughts and lending support as well as giving great information to all of us who write.

But I can’t list hundreds, so I’m only going to acknowledge one. I don’t visit her often, but when I do I linger and think before I comment. Many times I only read the posts so I can carry the message with me throughout the day, and I don’t leave a comment. At her site, posts are about the essence of life: love, fear, loss, beauty, hope, triumph and, above all, finding a way to be at one with yourself and the life you live from day to day.

The SunnyRoomStudio is a refuge from all things frantic, from stress, from writing-slumps and fears.

Thank you, Daisy Hickman for creating a space that is perfect for me and all of your followers. I’d miss you if you weren’t out there.

The Next Big Thing

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Blatant Self-Promotion Alert: You may leave now or stick around to read about MY book. However, there are others mentioned in this post, so I have redeemed myself . . . slightly!

Before I take my blogging break-which I totally crave-I’ve joined the THE NEXT BIG THING, thanks to JOSS LANDRY super blogger who invited me. 

In this hop we’re going from blog to blog to discover some exciting books that we might not have heard about yet or that are still in WIPs. To let us know a bit about the books we each answer 10 questions. 

So here we go!

Q and A
  • What is the working title of your book? 

Well, my title is a done deal because Alligators Overhead came out in July. I never had a “working title” because the idea of the book came from the title. Odd? Yes. But true.
Can you see the alligator? This is only one of them in that ceiling.
  • Where did the idea come from for the book?

My knotty pine ceiling had all kinds of alligators up there staring down at me when I was a kid. I slept under the covers most of the time and when we moved I checked out the ceilings in the new house before I chose a bedroom. I didn’t want any more KOTTY PINE with alligators to keep me shivering at night.
  • What genre does your book fall under?

It’s fiction and it’s aimed at kids 8-12; however, the old characters are kind of fun in it, so just because you’re past puberty don’t  pass it up.
  • Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Now you’ve got me. I do not have a clue. Maybe one my readers will come up with an idea or two.
  • What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

To rescue the last member of his family and save a threatened habitat, a twelve-year-old trouble-maker struggles to control his mysterious powers and change from prankster to warlock hero.
  • Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I did this one myself. Lots of work. But I’m in control.
  • How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It seems like all of my books are one year in making. This is one I started, then stopped, then started again, so I’m estimating about a year in total.
  • What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Maybe Hoot? But only because of the ecological thread. I don’t think there are other similarities. Maybe readers will see them and tell me.
  • Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Just that ceiling. I loved the idea and I loved the title. I just needed to find the characters and the story to fit.
  • What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Maybe the alligators? Usually cats do the job of familiars, but in my book we have alligators instead. Also the witches are not very witchy; they don’t sail across the sky on brooms or anything like that.
Now I’ve tagged 5 other writers and they’ll be posting their Q & A next Wednesday, October 3. So I hope you’ll stop in and read what they have to say about their books. 

Hope you’ll stop in and say hello to:
LM PRESTON
STEPHEN TREMP
KAI STRAND
BEVERLY STOW MCCLURE
BEN WOODWARD

The Kindness Project

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One of the KINDEST acts I can think of at the moment is acknowledging a wonderful blogger who shares beauty in all ways: words, deeds, and images. A way to expand that KINDNESS is to share that beauty with others. So here’s part of one post DAISY HICKMAN wrote recently.

Daisy’s QUESTION: Are you always evaluating something?  Do your thoughts run you around the block a few times before you even get up in the morning?

Lee’s ANSWER: Oh dear, yes.

Her question reminded me of those other times-those times of being in the moment-those times of JOY. I decided to turn off my “thinking” mode the mode where I’m constantly evaluating and strategizing and planning for the next step. I decided to just BE. Just listen. Just watch. Just attend to what my senses presented-for one day. 

Here was my JOYFUL day. Here’s a day when I was “willing for things to be as they are.” 

A Garden Griffin

One Rose for the Garden
Sand Sculpture of Plein Air Artist
A Bit More Art
A Quiet Space
My Stare Off Into The Trees Place
Thank you Daisy Hickman for reminding me about the 
JOY. 

FOR SOME REASON THE LINKY WON’T COUGH UP ITS CODE FOR ME TODAY, SO HERE’S THE LINK TO TAKE YOU BARBARA WATSON’S BLOG WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP AND JOIN THE FUN