C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Pros Part 7, The Pros Give Us Some Advice, Featuring Brinda Berry & @WeWrite4U

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For those who are new to me, I’ve  featured some writer friends who have some excellent books out this year. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline or log line and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last week JENN HUBBARD with her book, UNTIL IT HURTS TO STOP. Today I have Brinda Berry of UNCOMMONYA joining us. Take it away, Brinda.

Brinda’s Book Available at AMAZON, B and N, KOBO, APPLE ITUNES
Logline: Tales of myth and legend retold. A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart.
Best advice: Never underestimate your audience. YA readers want to be challenged by rich plots, genuine emotion, and multidimensional characters.
Brinda Berry
Adventures with Adrenaline-Addled Attraction
WEB     BLOG     FACEBOOK    TWITTER   GOODREADS    YOUTUBE

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In keeping with Brinda’s advice, one thing that seems to still surprise readers is that what is categorized as young adult, intrigues older readers. That’s because, even though the MC is usually a teen, the plot, the characters and the themes are not limited to reach a stereotyped teen profile. Here’s what one reviewer-THEBOOKSAGE-said about some YA books he read. One is mine. I blush! But not much, not anymore.

“I have a confession to make.  I am NOT a 16-year old girl.  And, yet, I absolutely loved C. Lee McKenzie’s The Princess of Las Pulgas, which IS about a 16-year old girl.  I have read and enjoyed several YA books in the past that had teenage female protagonists - Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne and Wyndano’s Cloak by A.R. Silverberry (his was a fantasy to boot) come to mind.  So I’m not a novice when it comes to YA’s.  You can add [McKenzie’s] to my recommend list.  It’s absolutely terrific.” The Book Sage

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Now here’s a little drum roll.  

Below (if Blogger hasn’t sabotaged me) is a Linky. This is NOT a HOP, so you can relax, Gary, and you can sign up, too. September is National Literacy Month, and I hope that you’ll join me in supporting LITERACY. Here’s how.

1. Let me know you’re interested by signing up on the Linky. Then, please get the code and post the Linky on your own blog if you can. If you don’t want to add the Linky to your blog, put up a link to THE WRITE GAME, so others can sign up. I’ll keep the Linky on my blog until the last week in September.

2. Below are some pre-written Tweets and I’m hoping we can TWEET UP A STORM with Tweets and RT’s the month of September. I’ll be posting more pre-written Tweets during the month to keep them fresh.

3. I’ve created a LIST/GROUP for Twitter @WeWrite4U_Lit, so please join and use the group’s handle in your Tweets.

4. I’ve followed and been followed by these literacy groups. You might want to add some of them or find some local to you.

@supportliteracy 
@LitPartners 
@literature_dp
@literacycoop
@HouLit

12 PREPARED TWEETS ( in parentheses I’ve put the source just in case you need it) Hope you’ll create some of your own, too.

30 min of reading to a child each week=literacy & love of reading

Don’t give kids a sucker. Give them a book. Make reading valuable

Learn to read. Read to learn.

Get books into homes. Create readers.

Children who can’t read can’t contribute to society.

Read aloud to your kids. Make it dramatic. Make it fun. Create readers.

32 million adults in the U.S. couldn’t read  2013 (FYI citation: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/illiteracy-rate_n_3880355.html)
academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure (FYI citation: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/illiteracy-rate_n_3880355.html)

$225 billion or more each year in non-productivity in the workforce (FYI citation: http://www.literacypartners.org/literacy-in-america/impact-of-illiteracy)

over 2 million New York City residents are functionally illiterate That’s 25% (FYI citation: http://www.literacypartners.org/literacy-in-america)

This is the first year I’ve tried to organize this, but I’m hoping to make this an annual event, improving it as I learn what works and what doesn’t. Any suggestions? Leave them in your comment. Thanks.

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My quote for the day: “Another belief of mine: that everyone else is an adult, whereas, I am merely in disguise.” One of my favorite authors, Margaret Atwood
No questions today. You’re on your own.

Pros Part 6, Jenn Hubbard and Long and Short Reviews 7th Anniversary Bash

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For those who haven’t been here before (tsk tsk) in the past weeks I’ve  featured some writer friends who have some excellent books out this year. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last week CRYSTAL COLLIER with her books, MOONLESS AND SOULLESS This week I have an old friend of mine, JENN HUBBARD. We debuted together, and she writes some excellent books. UNTIL IT HURTS TO STOP (Viking 2013) is her latest.

Available at B&N
Tagline: Just when Maggie starts believing she can outgrow her history as the local outcast, the girl who once bullied her returns to town.
Advice: Never underestimate your audience.

Jenn’s advice is quite similar to Medeia’s, but while Medeia’s focused on young adult writing, I think Jenn opens it up to include writing across all categories. At the word level, the danger in following this advice might be in our trying to impress the reader with our knowledge of those stupendous-sublime-exotic adjectives and adverbs. 

I love all of our words, but we risk falling into the quick fix called “telling” when we grab for the adjective or adverb and don’t create images with active verbs to “show” what we mean by things like, “Marsha was repulsed by her mother.” For me, a better way to capture that repulsion is through action. “I wanted to strangle Mother, but I’d have to touch her do it.” That last sentence gives me the chills. The first one, not so much. What do you think?

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Long and Short Reviews 7th 

Anniversary Bash

Reviewing Fiction One Happy Ever After at a Time
You can find them on FB and follow on TWITTER
There’s a party you might like to come to, and you don’t have to bring anything. However, you might win a $100 Amazon/BN GCs that are being given away– along with publisher GCs, books, ebooks, and author swag!  There will be dozens of winners. 

My quote for the day: “If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.” Confucius

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?
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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. 

Featuring Bassan From Cassa Storm &The Write Club

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Visit Alex Cavanaugh’s Great Blog.
I always love to hear what kids have to say about their lives and the world they live in, so I’m really excited about having Bassan, Byron’s young son, here today.
Hi Bassan. I’ve read CassaStorm and feel as if I’ve visited Tgren. Can you tell everyone what your home planet is like, so they can understand where you live?
Good day, Lee. A lot of Tgren is desert, although there are areas of vast lakes and grassy plains. Where I live, there’s a lot scrub brush, except near the river. We grow most of our crops near the river. Our buildings are made of stone and clay, with lots of windows to catch the breeze. Of course, I live on the Cassan base with my parents, and all the buildings are of Cassan design. Still really dusty though. Makes me sneeze sometimes.
Nice to know that even in the future Kleenex is a necessity. 🙂 

You have a wonderful mom. What’s she like?
Mother is wonderful! She always makes time for me and we play games and stuff. She almost never gets mad, either. Of course, I don’t want to make her mad. Sometimes I worry when she and my father are flying. I don’t want to lose them.
They have a lot of responsibility for your planet’s safety. I can see why you worry. 

I know you’ve had some problems with other kids because you’re half Tgren and half Cassan. Tell us what’s it’s like being different from the others.
Most days it’s no fun. I attend classes with the other Cassan children and sometimes they call me a half-breed. My best friend Drent is half Tgren, but no one messes with him. Wish I was tough enough to stand up to the bullies.
Some things like bullies and intolerance never change. I’d hoped those kinds of things would be long gone from our galaxies. Guess not. 

Your dad’s famous. What’s it like being the son of a famous Cosbolt pilot?
It’s really awesome what he did during the Vindicarn War, but it makes me feel awkward. I’ll never do anything as great as that. I don’t even like to fly.
We all have our place in our worlds. I’m sure you’ll find yours.

What do you want to be when you’re grown up?
I want to work on the alien ship that’s buried in mountains next to our city. It carried my ancestors to Tgren! I want to know more about the ship and those people.
 See? When you grow up I’ll bet you’ll be a great scientist and make amazing discoveries for all the inhabitants of these worlds.
Is there anything you’d like to change about your life?
I wish I could fit in better. I wish people respected me like they respect my father. I’m not even sure he likes me that much.
That’s hard, but when I met your father in the book he seemed like someone who had deep feelings for his friends and family. He just didn’t show them very much. 

If you could send a message back to a planet called Earth, say about 2013 or so, what would you tell them about your time?
They need to be prepared, because they aren’t the only ones out there. And not everyone is nice, either.
I’m passing this along. It’s a great heads up for this century.
Thanks so much for coming here today, Bassan. It has been very interesting to talk with a young representative from the future. You’re amazing!

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Book three, Cassa Storm, finds Byron facing a galaxy-wide war that could end life on all of the planets. In this stage of his life, Byron has more to fight for than ever-his mate, Athee and his son, Bassan. Facing his greatest challenge, Byron must convince the diverse and warring races to sign a peace agreement if he’s to save his world and his family. However, the the final step in securing peace will put him and his son in terrible danger.

I liked how the racial conflicts propelled much of the plot in this story, driving home a message that’s relevant to our own world and giving the book an interesting texture.

At the center of the family theme, is the coming together of father and son. Byron learns of his son’s isolation as a mixed race child and Bassan learns of his father’s love and belief in him.  READ MORE

CassaStormCassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

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Have you voted for your favorite entry in the WRITE CLUB? It’s hard to choose, but very interesting to read the entries this year. 
I’ll be celebrating some small things on Friday! Hope you’ll join me and the others in this Celebration.

Monday Miscellany with Special Featured Guest Jessica Bell

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New Books

Adverbs & Cliches in a Nutshell
by
Jessica Bell

This is a wonderful “pocket-sized” writing guide for authors that gives you a quick reference for avoiding those pitfalls-over-use of adverbs and clichés. As the author points out these “subversives” weaken your prose and produce lack-luster stories; they deaden your unique voice.

What I liked about this book was it’s no nonsense approach. Ms. Bell states the purpose succinctly and clearly (adverbs can be useful), and doesn’t burden us with more RULES: Thou shalt never use a cliché.

She gives excellent advice and provides easy-to-use examples of 34 common adverbs and associated clichés used to express ideas or emotions. I really appreciated the example paragraphs for each of these sets. The first two paragraphs rely on adverbs and clichés. The third she calls the Unique Example, and it shows how much more exciting and vivid writing becomes, using details and your unique style.

This is a workbook and a great resource for writing teachers and writers. I love having it.

Jessica Bell
E-book: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo
Paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Things I learned on Vacation

Reading for pleasure is pleasurable. 
Catching fish is highly overrated.
Eating fresh fish is not.
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My favorite quote for the day

“My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations.” 
I don’t know who said this, but I love that they did.
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So please add Jessica’s book to your Goodreads list, buy it, share your experience with it. Tell me what you learned or are learning while summering. And enjoy the day with acceptance and few expectations.

Whatcha Reading? Her Grammarness Has a Sense of Humor . . .Kind Of

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I’ve just finished May This Be the Best Year of Your Life by Bornstein and Blindsided by Kyra Lynnon, and my reviews are up HERE.

I won Keeper of the Lost City from The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow and so now I’m off on a wild adventure fantasy, written for middle grade readers.

I love that I can read anything and find something of value in all of them. So . . .whatcha reading?

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Her Grammarness


I’m a huge fan of Richard Lederer, and I’ve kept many of his articles I’ve read over the years because they made me laugh. We all know how embarrassing it is to write something, then discover it has grammatical errors. Even Her Grammarness knows how that feels. *Face grows red.*

But here’s a fellow who knows how not to embarrass himself. Thanks for sharing this, Mr. Lederer.

A Zoo keeper who lost two of his animals in a fire wrote to a zoological supply company:

Dear Sirs,
Please send me two mongooses.
When he re-read the letter, he thought it didn’t sound right, so he tried again.
Dear Sirs,
Please send me two mongeese.
That plural sounded even worse, so he wound up with:
Dear Sirs,
Please send me a mongoose, and while you’re at it send me another mongoose.
Do you ever write around a grammar issue that you’re not sure of? What are the sticky wickets of standard written English for you?

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Is everyone ready for the A-Z Blogging Challenge? Eeeek! Gotta go. I have a lot to do before April.

Monday Moods-All A-Flutter

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LM Preston’s new book FLUTTER OF LUV is here!


C. Lee’s take on Flutter of Love:
Your parents were kids when you arrived, so while they’re in your life, they’re not really. Your refuge is Nana. And how about you? Well, you’re the fifteen-year-old who can’t afford contacts, or a hair salon. What’s worse is you still have braces and your breasts haven’t come in yet, not like the other girls. You’re the tomboy who loves to play football with the “rag tag” team in your hood. Then Tony arrives and he’s the one you crave to notice the young woman behind those horrid glasses and wired teeth.

This is a sweet story about first love and all the angst that comes with it. What I enjoyed most were the characters: Nana who says things, like, “. . . in life we get what we get, so deal with it.” Dawn, the MC, with the knowledge that, “Every girl has a little ‘stalker’ in her. And, of course, Tony who won’t tell a girl he loves her unless he means it.

I also loved the authentic and consistent voice of this ten episode story. Well told and interesting from start to finish. A book with lots of heart.

Here’s the book summary: Dawn, the neighborhood tomboy, is happy to be her best friend’s shadow. Acceptance comes from playing football after school with the guys on the block while hiding safely behind her glasses, braces and boyish ways. But Tony moves in, becomes the star running back on Dawn’s school’s team and changes her world and her view of herself forever.

About LM Preston:


LM. Preston loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl.  She worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. Her passion for writing science fiction was born under the encouragement of her husband, who is a Sci-Fi buff, and her four kids.  Her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds feeds her creation of multiple series for Middle Grade and Young Adult readers thirsty for an adventure.  She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encourages her writing.
Direct from LM: 

One of the challenges with deciding to write a romance was that I personally hate writing the ‘boring parts’. You know what I’m talking about, when nothing really is happening except the main characters are whining about how they love the other character.
So…
I have a problem. I hate reading or writing books that nothing happens. Now there are many books that have been considered bestsellers that are just plain dull. Nothing truly happens to the character for over ten chapters. At least nothing you can see outright. But I have stuck with them. I have read those works in spite of the fact it took me an awful long time to do so. And have to admit that sometimes nothing really has to happen for you to enjoy reading.
DOES IT PAYS TO BE DULL?
However, great works of fiction are not exciting. But they feed you bits, and nibbles of the underlying plot and conflict along the way. There are some genres that are notorious for this type of ‘ease the reader in’ approach and I find that they tend to be my least favorite genre.
WRITING THE DULL PARTS
As a writer there are parts when I just have to bring it down several notches. I’ve tried over my writing years to weave exciting things into those mundane parts where the character has to learn something, share something or experience something. And I’d be lying if I didn’t reveal that there have been bestsellers that I had to force myself to read in pieces just to finish.
I’ve realized that yes, yes, yes, there is a need for those slow parts of a book. It sets the pacing, brings the reader in, and if the writer is really clever, they are a welcomed slow down.
SO WHAT DO I DO?
In Flutter Of Luv, I decided to slim this book down to a short story and write only the part which something juicy happened.

Be sure to get your copy. 
Available on Amazon
Find out more about this author and her books at her WEB SITE 
Check  out herb blog at  YA SCIFI WRITER’S RAMBLING
Other Links: 
Facebook: YA Series 
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