C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Deja Vu Blogfest and Merry Christmas.

By 42 Comments

D.L. HAMMONS

I posted this in November of 2009! Imagine. I was discumboobled even then. Maybe it should have been discombobulated? At least this year I’m aware that the word I used originally isn’t a word anyone recognizes. It must have been a wild 2009!

So here’s my Deja Vu Post.

Discumboobled

Is that how you spell it? 

Tonight is another book signing APPEARANCE and I’m still putting together what I want to say. Then there’s company arriving, my mom who needs some TLC, the cat with a hairball issue, and a leaky toilet. I haven’t blogged in days. I’m wearing my baseball hat all day because I can’t use Halloween as an excuse for my hair anymore. My Tweets have turned to Chirps and when I looked at the garden from my window one of my patio chairs is floating in the fish pond.

Anybody have a system that keeps writing, family, pets, house, and personal hygiene needs under control? If so, please send ASAP!

In the meantime, wish me luck with tonight.

*****

So that was my 2009 post. Deja Vu anyone? Hope you’ll go to the others in this retrospective week and say hi. Here’s the link to D.L. HAMMONS‘s blog again. Their posts will go up on Friday 19 Dec. 

As most of you know, my new Young Adult book is out. Thanks to all who’ve offered to spread the word. I’ll be in touch, but here’s another way you can support me. And it’s simple. Thanks for that!

So much for Deja Vu! 

 Back to 2014 and the Christmas Present. May you and those you love be well and share beautiful time together. 

See you all in 2015. 
Crazy Frankenstein

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

By 20 Comments

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?

Featuring Bassan From Cassa Storm &The Write Club

By 95 Comments

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!

********

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

********
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.

How This Insecure Writer Still Writes and More!

By 36 Comments

Another first Wednesday is here (thanks to ALEX CAVANAUGH for the idea) and another opportunity to explore what it means to be a writer with insecurities and literary warts and many times a sore bum.

For me there’s not a lot of glamour. There’s not a lot of cheering crowd moments. There’s not a lot of money pouring in from mega sales of my books. So what is there that keeps me showing up to the page?

I guess I do it because I love words and the challenge of working them into a pattern to express my ideas. Then there’s the pleasure of seeing my thoughts down in a form that is less ephemeral than my conversations. I guess those are two of the reasons. And sometimes it’s just exciting to read something I’ve written and think it’s worthy of the time, the paper and the ink.

What keeps you going, insecurities and all? Or maybe you don’t have insecurities. How do you manage to keep from that?

****

Put JULY 8 on your calendars because the first round of this year’s WRITE CLUB starts. What a great way to get feedback from your fellow writers. We have DL HAMMONS to thank for this super idea. Has anyone entered? Will you go to the submissions and vote this year?

****

Oh, and do you have any nominations for MISHA GERICKE’S Paying It Forward? Check out her BLOG for the details. I’ve nominated two of my favorite bloggers.