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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Hello Email Connect & Hats Off Corner Welcomes Nicky Peacock

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Hello Email Connect: Goodbye Hats Off Corner: Nicky Peacock is my last Hats Off Corner writer. 

As some of you know who’ve been hanging with me for a while, I’m “sometimes” scattered. So to help un-scatter my brain, I’ve put together a plan to keep supporting authors, but to do so in a more organized, and I think a better way. Jury’s still out, but it looks like this just might work. 
Sign up on my Special Offers List. Take a look, and if you don’t think it’s for you, unsubscribe. 

I invade your email once, a month. 

My plan is to choose a Follower to Feature each month. I’m still fine-tuning that, but if you want to see what that involves right now, here’s the LINK to the post that explains what I do.

I’m also sharing information that I think might be helpful. 

When I can, I offer free stuff–mostly books. 

End of Commercial. So now on to the last Hats Off Corner and Nicky Peacock!


Hats Off Corner Welcomes Nicky Peacock

Nicky’s an Evernight Teen sister. I’m really happy to host her here today. 
Connect with Nicky on her Amazon U. S. Author’s Page
ME: So, Nicky,  if you had to tweet about your book what 140 characters would you write? 
NICKY: Battle of the Undead is a vampires VS zombies YA urban fantasy. It’s the Walking Dead meets True Blood for teens and above.
ME: I’ll do some Tweets for you using that. It’s good. Can you tell us about one of your characters. What would she love to receive as a gift? What would she most likely choose to buy for someone she cared about?
NICKY: Britannia is the heroine in the Battle of the Undead series and she is a stubborn 400+ year old vampire with a dry sense of humor and love for violence (whether its necessary or not!) I think she’d want the gift of a weapon of some kind, something that could do a lot of damage in a small amount of time. She really wants people to like her, so she’d probably buy someone she cared for something really expensive. For a fellow vampires she’d go out of her way to get them an antique, something that reminded them of the ‘old days’. 
ME: I always wonder if I’m asking good questions. What questions do you wish interviewers would ask you, but never do?
NICKY: The interviewers that have gotten hold of me have been pretty in-depth so far! I think I’ve been asked just about every question going. I guess it would be nice to get a ‘How are you?’ I always try to be really honest in interviews so here’s the answer…I’m really tired, the UK just lost an hour to daylight savings time and my body has not adjusted well! It’s like having jet lag but not having the holiday. I’ll be back to normal soon though – probably just before we get the hour back in Autumn! LOL 
ME: Since almost all authors are expected to promote their books, what has surprised you about the marketing side of this business? What has disappointed you? 
NICKY: I work in sales and marketing for my day job, so nothing has really surprised me. It takes a lot of work and time to get yourself out there and, as a writer, you need to make sure that you balance your time effectively between promotion, social media and actually writing something to promote. It’s always lovely when you connect with other authors and help one another, just like the lovely C Lee McKenzie is doing for me right now!
ME: Simlie Face Here. Hosting authors here is always fun. Do you have any advice for authors still seeking publication? If so, what would that be?
NICKY: Start with the anthology market. This is what I did. There are a wealth of publishers out there putting together anthologies in all sorts of genres that are actively seeking short stories. If you give them what they are looking for, you’re more likely to get published. Also, short stories are quicker to write and edit than a novel and give you a really good starting point for your writer’s CV.
ME: We’re about through here, so what are two important things you’d like readers to know about you and/or your books?
NICKY: Well, about me…I’m always honest in interviews and get really excited when readers get in touch with me.
My books…They are action packed and the series has one more book to come, it’s called Bad Karma.
ME: That sounds very ominous! Don’t want Bad Karma if we can help it.

NICKY: Thank you for having me on your site! 
ME: Great to host you and find out about you and your books. 
You can connect with Nicky a lot of places. Blog, Twitter, Facebook, UK Amazon, Goodreads, Tumbler, Authrograph 


Quote of the Week: “It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.” 
 ― Paulo Coelho, The Zahir

Hats Off Corner Welcomes Barry Lyga

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Hat’s Off Corner Welcomes Barry Lyga
Last month I read Boy Toy by Barry Lyga and knew I’d be one of his fans from then on. I admit to some gushing in a comment on his blog, and then I did a very bold (for me) thing. I emailed him and asked him if he’d care to visit my blog. And HE SAID YES!!
So here is one of new favorite authors. Mr. Barry Lyga. And here’s my REVIEW of Boy Toy if you want to see what I wrote.
Barry Lyga’s Website
You’re a busy dad and author, so I wanted you to know you made my month by taking time for this interview here on The Write Game.  
Let’s start with one question I always like to hear the answer to: As a writer I look to others whom I enjoy reading for inspiration. Do you have a writer or writers you read for inspiration?
B.L.  I tend to be inspired by whatever it is I’m into at the moment. There are some things I read in my youth — the comic books of Paul Levitz and Alan Moore, REPLAY by Ken Grimwood — that have lingered and seem to inform everything I do, but in general, I don’t go any particular author in search of inspiration. I read for amusement, for pleasure, for the joy of seeing someone craft with words. Inspiration is a nice side effect, when it happens.
Me: Can you talk a bit about your experience with rejection, how you handled it, what you learned from it? Any “advice” to those who are still getting the “Thank you, but no thank you” letters?
B.L. My advice is simple: Get used to it. There’s this myth out there that once someone says “Yes,” you’ll never hear “No” again. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve been a professional novelist for ten years; I’ve published over a dozen books, including a New York Times bestseller, and I still get rejections. You just have be prepared for it. I generally try to assume that everything I do will be rejected. Then, if it isn’t, I get a nice surprise! Whatever your coping mechanism for rejection happens to be, don’t toss it out the window with glee when you get that first acceptance — you’ll need it again.
Me: Is there a story behind the story of this latest book that you wish to share? The ah-ha or lightning moment where the story inspiration struck?
B.L. For AFTER THE RED RAIN, I guess the moment was when Rob and Peter told me the basic idea of it and asked me to write it! I thought, “I bet I could write the hell out of that!” It’s up to the reader to determine whether or not I did, of course!4. What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).
You can get your copy NOW

Me: What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).
B.L. I have trouble with this question because I don’t entirely agree with the premise — I don’t think of myself as “successful.” I think of myself as failing more gracefully, perhaps! For every book I’ve published, I can think of someway I failed it, either by missing a great moment or not pushing it out into the world hard enough. You come close with the idea of “creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes.” I’ve always wanted each book of mine to be better than the one before it. Sometimes, I’ve managed to hit that goal, but other times not. Finding time to write is a problem only insofar as I’m now a stay-at-home dad and my first priority is my daughter. But even with that tiny, adorable, slobbering obstacle in my way, I’ve still managed to find time to write a new book this year. The hardest part of this life, truthfully, is the very real fact that once I’ve written a book, it’s fate is pretty much out of my hands. The publisher, the booksellers, and the readers will determine its fate, and there’s pretty much nothing I can do about it at that point. A tough lesson!
Me: “Failing more gracefully” is going to go on my bulletin board. But if your other books are as riveting as Boy Toy I’ll come by and disagree with you–nicely.
Thanks again. It has been great to read your answers. Hope others will glean help from them. And here’s to your latest book–After the Red Rain–just out and getting fab reviews. 

******
Quote of the Week: 

What do you think about Barry Lyga’s answers to my questions? Hope you’ll take a look at what he writes. It’s refreshing and bright stuff. How about you and rejection? What’s your take on that part of life?

Interview With A Bookseller

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Learn more about KEPLER’S
Kepler’s in one of my favorite Indie Bookstores. They are amazing with all they do for readers and writers. I met Angela Mann in 2009 when I published my first book and have kept in touch with her because she’s one energetic and enthusiastic book lover. 
Angela’s on the right. 
I’ve been fortunate to be invited to four Kepler’s events since my debut, and each time I’ve had a great experience. When I asked Angela if she’d have time (she’s one busy lady) to do an interview, she said yes. So here’s Angela.
Lee: You carry a large selection of teen books in your store. How do you choose what books you’ll carry and what titles to feature in your store displays?
Angela: We work as a team. The staff of the youth department look through catalogs and mark what we would like to read, what we are looking forward to, and what we think we will sell well. We meet with publishers’ reps and then decide collectively what to carry, led by the buyer. Displays change all the time. Event books are displayed in the front window. There are seasonal displays (Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc.) and things that we just want to display (recent example: zombies and books to movies). Also led by the buyer.
Lee: I know you do so much to connect authors and readers. What advice would you give to new authors who want readers to find them?
Angela: Reach out to your local community: bloggers, other writers, YA book groups, local bookstores, local libraries, and schools. School visits are a great way to talk directly to your audience. Kepler’s has a wonderful program that connects hundreds of readers with new authors and titles every year. Bloggers do a great job of spreading the word about new favorites. Reach out to them. Send arcs. Let them host blog tours. Give interviews. Bookstores like to support local authors. Go to events of books in your genre, meet the authors and fans of these books, get known. Use social media. Twitter and facebook can connect you directly to your readers. Post photos on Instagram. Spend time getting your name out there.
Lee: Everything you’ve mentioned is right on, Angela. I participated in one high school event Kepler’s organized and was blown away by that day with the teens. I’m looking forward to the next one you’ve put together at Los Altos High. Very exciting. 
Me at one Halloween event at Kepler’s! Do I look kind of witchy?
Kepler’s also organized a gig for me at Carlmont High. 

Lee: You do so many events at Kepler’s. Can you tell us what your most exciting events have been or your most effective?
Angela: I love all our events from story times for the very young to the teen panels. Each event brings its own momentum and energy. I’ve learned from each and every one of them. I hate to single anything out. 
But when I look back highlights have to be: 
*John and Hank Green for The Fault in Our Stars
*Anthony Horowitz for any of the Alex Rider events we hosted (he is so charming and we had an excuse to wear spywear!)
*The Smart Chicks tour (first of its kind)*
*Suzanne Collins for Mockingjay (and the two attendees we gave nerf bows and arrows and asked them to fight for first in the signing line)
*Marcus Zusak for the Book Thief (there was a mini earthquake while he was reading and we were so mesmerized we didn’t stop the reading)*
*Robin Preiss Glasser reading a Fancy Nancy story to a sea of little girls in tutus and boas and everything pink. 

*Neil Gaiman reading from the Graveyard Book on a stage full of gravestones (and unscripted a huge spider fell from the ceiling part way through the event)

*Terry Pratchett who came to Kepler’s just as he had been diagnosed with Alzheimers
*Salman Rushdie (because meeting a literary idol is a huge deal)
*Jimmy Carter (no explanation necessary)
Lee: Those are all fantastic! No wonder Kepler’s is so famous. I know you have a new “look” at Keplers. Can you tell us how your store is organized now? Where’s that teen section?
Angela: The youth department is at the back of the store and the teen section is to the right with a table in the middle displaying the newest titles.
Lee: Easy to find, then. There are so many new books coming out each year. How many do you and the staff read on average each year?
Angela: I don’t know how many other people read – I know we all read a lot. But I keep tabs on what I read online so I can tell you that I read 81 books last year and 61 in 2012.
Lee: Now that’s an impressive number of books, Angela. What are some of your favorite books of this past year? What do you look forward to reading in 2014?
Angela: Last year my favorites were Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, Vicious by VE Schwab, Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, 5th Wave by Rick Yancy, Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, Splintered by AG Howard. There are so many I’m looking forward to reading in 2014. Cress by Marissa Meyer, Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor, After the End by Amy Plum, Panic by Lauren Oliver, We Were Liars by E Lockhart, Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi, Mortal Heart (His Royal Assassins 3) by Robin LaFevers, Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo, Dorothy Must Die by Danielle paige, Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith, The Infinite Sea (5th Wave #2) by Rick Yancy, Armada by Ernest Cline, Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Ask and ye shall receive. Angela, you are over the top splendid. Thanks so much for taking time to do this interview!
So, readers and writers have you read any of these books, met any of these notable writers? Did Angela’s advice for writers resonate with you? 

The Character Club With Eric and Stig & Small Things Celebration!

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Pssst! This is Pete Riley. I’ve gotten rid of C. Lee McKenzie for the day–not easy, I can tell you. She’s almost as hard to ditch as my Aunt Lizzie. Anyway, the reason I wanted to be here today is that I invited two friends over. I just met them in a story called The Deliverers. They’re both into a lot of exciting adventures–my kind of characters.

Eric’s kind of like me. He gets into some messes, but he gets out of them, too. And Stig’s a very important character in the book. The best part about him is he’s an owl and he talks. Yep. A lot.

Here’s what these two have to say about stuff.

Hey, Eric! Great to meet you. Don’t tell anyone, but I could use another friend–one who’s not scared of doing stuff. Weasel, well, he’s okay, but he doesn’t always go along with my plans for having “fun!” You had a major adventure. Wow! Pirates and Dwarves and Bolliwogs. Which ones scared you the most?
Eric:  Hey, Pete! It’s great to meet you, too. I’d love to be your friend, and I’m sure Stig would, too. I can always use another friend; I don’t have too many, either. You might think I’m not scared of doing stuff, but the truth is, the whole Assignment that I went on with Stig was pretty scary. I mean there was a lot of cool stuff, but I was pretty much nervous and worried the whole time. I just tried not to think about all that. We had a job to do and I just tried to do it the best I could, and hope that I didn’t mess things up too bad.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not trying to save villages and stuff like that?
Eric:  Nothing too exciting. I like to read a lot. I also like to go camping and spend time outdoors. After my dad died, I got pretty lonely. We used to spend a lot of time together. That was one of the best things about going on the Assignment, becoming friends with Stig, Kate, Hallo and the Gatekeeper. My mom got my uncle to let me play on my cousins’ hockey team. They’re really good. I really stink, but it’s kind of fun. I think I’ll stick with it and see what happens.
I got real excited when you were tramping through that dead forest. What was it like? What did you think about when you were all alone?
Eric:  Oh man, it was real creepy. There was no sound, everything was dead. It felt like the branches of the dead trees were closing in on us. We were in there a few days. After a while I started to almost get used to the place, until we saw the eyes.
What was I thinking about? Lots of stuff, most of it not good. I was worried about the pirates attacking Calendria and feeling a little bad that my plan didn’t work. I was worried about getting through the dead forest and what we were gonna find beyond it, if we got beyond it. You can probably tell that I worried about stuff a lot. I’ve kind of gotten over that since, thanks to the other Deliverers.
I see you’ve got Stig here with you. Hi, Stig. You should meet my alligator friend, Fanon. He talks, too, so I’ll bet you’d hit it off. What’s your take on being able to talk?  What’s it like working with humans? Fanon kind of likes hanging with me, but he doesn’t like a lot of people. They kind of scare him.
Stig:  Why hello there, my boy. It is a pleasure to meet you. This Fanon sounds like a splendid chap. You know, most people would not believe it, but alligators are quite extraordinary animals—very intelligent and resourceful. They make very good friends and will stick with you through thick and thin. Their appearance can be a trifle off-putting to be sure, but they can be very wise.
As for being able to talk, I never really gave it too much thought. You see where I come from, all owls can talk. My world is ruled by owls and there are very few people. They are not quite as advanced as the humans I’ve met on my travels—a bit neanderthalish to be quite candid.
I find that, on the whole, working with humans has been a unique and rewarding experience. Eric, Kate and Hallo have been excellent friends and companions and I’m quite looking forward to working with them in the future. I can understand Fanon’s reaction to people. I have really been quite lucky to fall in with the proper sort. Unfortunately, there are some who try to take advantage of us. I gather from what Eric says that on his world, people are becoming so numerous that they’re encroaching on the natural habitats of animals, leaving them no place to turn.
If either of you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
Eric:  Hmmm, that’s a great question. I guess the first thing would be to have my dad back alive. My second wish would be to be able to visit Stig, Kate and Hallo any time I wanted, instead of just when we’re on an Assignment. The third would be that my mom chills out and stops worrying about me so much. She thinks I need a father in my life, which is why she’s making me hang out with my uncle and my cousins. They’re okay, but they make me try new things, which can be scary.
Stig:  Well, let me see. I do not do much wishing as a rule. I believe it is up to each of us to make our dreams come true. Still, wishes would come in handy, especially on an Assignment. I think my first wish would be the same as one of Eric’s—to be able to visit or at least communicate with Eric, Kate and Hallo between worlds whenever the mood strikes. I would also wish that groups on all worlds could settle their differences peacefully, without the need for outside intervention. Lastly, and this is purely selfish, I would love to have a pair of hands to go along with my wings. They seemed to be terribly useful things. I can grab things with my talons of course, but it’s really not the same. Still, I suppose that would look rather silly, so perhaps I should just hold the third wish in reserve in case of emergency.
I’m trying to cook up some more excitement around my town–boring, boring, boring! Are you up for another adventure. Say something in a swamp? How about you, Stig?
Eric:  That would be cool, but also kind of creepy. I heard about your last adventure in the Ornofree swamp. You and Weasel sure were brave—Fanon, too. I’d love to check out a swamp, especially one full of witches and talking alligators! Yeah, definitely.
Stig:  I would welcome the opportunity as well. Perhaps we could enlist you, Fanon and young master Wilbur to join the Deliverers on an Assignment. I’m afraid there are any number of worlds in need of some help.
Stig, you owls live a long time, so maybe you haven’t thought about a “bucket list” yet, but if you have, what three things would be at the top of that list?
Stig:  Well now, let me see. I have had the privilege having the opportunity to visit over a dozen different worlds, so travel would not be on the list. I would dearly love to converse with a dragon. Besides owls, it is said that dragons are the wisest of creatures. I’d like to find out if that is true. Perhaps I’ll get a chance in an upcoming Assignment. I would also love to travel back in time. The thought of being able to see what things were like in the past has always fascinated me. Third on the list would be to spend some quality time with the Gatekeeper and find out what he does when he isn’t sending people on Assignments.
Great to meet you guys.
Eric:  You, too. It was really awesome. I can’t wait to hang out with you and Weasel. Maybe we could camp out in the swamp.
Stig: The pleasure was all mine, I can assure you. I’ll tell the gatekeeper to keep you in mind should a suitable Assignment present itself.
Pete: Wow! That sounds like fun. Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks for stopping by and, uh oh. Gotta go. Lee’s coming up the stairs.

Be sure to visit Eric and Stig as well as the author HERE.

And check out this one, too. The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel on AMAZON.

Lee in charge again, finally. There seems to be a lot of stuff on this blog today. I didn’t know about this interview, but it doesn’t seem like Pete’s done any damage, so I’ll let it stay. Today as my celbration of small things, I’m celebrating an Award. This time it’s the Liebster Award. Thanks to Jen Million. Sending hugs. It has taken me a long time to post about this award, but finally . . . here ’tis!

VikLit

The Liebster Rules:
1. The Liebster Award is given to bloggers by bloggers.
2. Each blogger should post 11 5 facts about himself / herself.
3. Each blogger should answer the 11 5 questions that are asked by the nominating blogger.
4. Choose 5 new bloggers to nominate for the Award and link to them in the post.
5. Create 11 5 new questions for your nominees.
6. Go back to their pages and tell them they’ve been nominated.
7. No tag backs.


My Questions from Jen:
1. Think of your favorite character, got it, okay what’s their favorite color?
He’d love the color of the sky.
2. What’s the last book you’ve read?
The History of the English Language. Oye! Really. 
3. What kind of music do you listen to?
It depends on my mood and I’m rather moody, so my music changes as I change.
4. Do you set writing goals for yourself? 
Never. 
5. Which do you like better Dogs or Cats?
Huh? 
6. Are you a Rule Breaker or a Rule Maker?
I like to push the rules, but I don’t feel very comfortable breaking them. I’m always worried I’ll land in jail. I don’t like rules enough to make any.
7. Brownies or Cupcakes?
Brownies as long as there are nuts involved.
8. Favorite Movie?
That’s like asking for my favorite book. I can’t answer that. But I love something that makes me laugh.
9. Name one book you can read over and over?
I read Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings twice because my kids wanted to hear it aloud. I think I deserve a medal for that.
10. Name your favorite meal to eat?
Anything with fresh greens and lemon juice and olive oil  is at the top of my list.
11. Name your favorite character name? (It can be from your own works or someone else’s)
That’s like asking me my favorite movie or book. There are too many characters that I adore or hate or want to write or want to read. They’re all my favorites. However, I have a character named Kenny Fargo that haunts me. I think he wants a book of his own. 

My 5 blogger nominees. So hard to choose only 5!

Michelle Wallace, Julie Flanders , Mark Means, Medeia Sharif, Nutschell

My Questions: And here I’m pushing the RULES a bit. I’m only asking 5 questions. That’s enough, don’t you think?

1. Close your eyes. Make a wish. What did you wish for?
2. If you could do one thing differently what would that be?
3. You have month to do whatever you want, wherever you want. Money’s not a concern. I’m paying. 🙂 What would you do? Where would you do it?
4. Do you dream? If so, what’s your favorite dream?
5. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not reading, writing, blogging, sleeping?

Lynn Kelley Debut Novel, Curse of the Double Digits

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Hope you’ll all welcome Lynn Kelley and her debut Middle Grade novel, Curse of the Double Digits. Here’s what it’s about. 

Becky turns 10 on the 10th day of the 10th month!
She expects it to be magical. The whole class is invited to her party, including Chad, the cutest boy in the fifth grade. So is Darlenie-the-Meanie. 
Becky wants to look cute for her big day, but all her plans go wrong. Really wrong. The magic of turning ten disappears before she even has a chance to blow out her birthday candles.
Things get so bad, she refuses to go to her own party. Becky wonders if the Curse of the Double Digits will jinx her forever.
* * * 
Hello, Lee. Thanks so much for inviting me to guest post today. I thought it might be fun to talk about the real life incident that sparked the idea for Curse of the Double Digits. 
My niece was about six and her bangs were way too long to look presentable for a family event. My sister-in-law tried to trim them, but the scissors were too dull, so my brother had a light bulb moment and grabbed his electric razor. . .
To avoid a spoiler here, let’s just say the event made me wonder how a ten-year-old would react. And of course I left the parents out of the scene and had Becky, the main character, ask her best friend Jenna to do the trimming with the electric razor.
Remember when the saying, “I’m having a bad hair day” was popular? I used to paint these little folk art dolls back then. 

It seems everyone and her sister has a disastrous hair story, such as: 

  • Bangs cut to only an inch long the day before First Holy Communion 
  • A pin curl permanent on the wedding day 
  • Bouffants of the ‘60s and rumors that spiders made nests in some of them 
All those scenarios supplied me with endless possibilities for scenes in Curse of the Double Digits. Hair problems are just one issue Becky has to deal with during a string of bad luck that begins on her magical birthday.
My own children also inspired many scenes. During the years my middle daughter attended kindergarten through 2nd grade, she insisted on wearing a tight ponytail everyday. A couple times it was too loose and we were running late, so I had to send her off to school in tears, and then I felt guilty all day. 
My youngest was Little Miss Tender Scalp, whose tangles were a daily battle. I think she was born with a megaphone built into her voice box, so every time I combed through her hair, her shrieks rattled my nerves.
Hair disasters don’t apply to girls only. When my son was about ten years old, his hair looked wet several days in a row. I wondered why he kept dunking his hair under the faucet. Finally, I took a long look and realized something was up. I felt his hair. It wasn’t wet. It was stiff, sticky, and gross. “What the heck is in your hair?” 
“I used mustache wax, and it won’t come out.”
Now, I’m not saying these incidents are in Curse of the Double Digits, but these are a few of the many situations I had to pick and choose from. 
How about you? Have you ever had a bad hair day, one that you’ll never forget? Then you know how Becky feels and why she doesn’t want to go to her own birthday party!

Don’t miss out on your own free copy. 

Lynn’s giving you a copy of Curse of the Double Digits if you leave a comment on this blog. You might also check out her BLOG , too. She’ll announce winners Friday, Nov. 2

Anyone who leaves a comment is entered. You just have to say whether you prefer a paperback or eBook. (Sorry, but paperbacks are for the U.S. only.) 


Here’s a bit about the author:

Children’s author Lynn Kelley worked as a court reporter for 25 years while she and her husband, George, raised their four children. Her first chapter book, Curse of the Double Digits, for ages 7 to 10, debuted on October 10, 2012. She also coauthors the spooky, fun Monster Moon mystery series for ages 8 to 12 under the pen name BBH McChiller. The highlight of her life are days spent with her grandchildren. Most of her time involves books: either writing books, reading books, or making altered art books. She tries her best to keep her overactive imagination in check.
To buy your copy of Curse of the Double Digits:
Smashwords (formats for all eReaders)
Hope you’ll visit Lynn’s WEBSITE and follow her delightfully funny BLOG if you don’t already. And thanks for the visit. Here’s to the success of your book, Lynn.

Belle

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There are book and then there are beautiful books. Here is one of those beauties. And the title says so right up front. Please welcome Mary Lee Corlett and Belle to the Write Game.
 
Belle: The Amazing, Astonishingly Magical Journey of an Artfully Painted Lady
Written by Mary Lee Corlett
Illustrated by Phyllis Saroff
Also available on Amazon.com
(Just in case this trailer link below fails)
   
•    I have to say that is one beautiful cover and one fabulous book trailer. Now can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I have lived in the Washington DC area for over 20 years, but I was born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.  My mother and three sisters still live there.  I earned my M.A. in art history from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and my first museum job was at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where I was a teaching assistant for the Saturday children’s classes offered by their education department.  (I taught 4 and 5 year-olds in an activity class called “Mini-Masters!”) Later, I worked in the registrar’s office.  After I earned my M.A, my husband and I moved to Washington so that I could pursue curatorial and research work.   I joined the staff of the National Gallery of Art in 1989.  We’ve lived in the Washington suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, for about 13 years, and we have a 15 year old daughter.

    •    This is your first children’s book?

Yes! And it is such a thrill to see it in print!  I have been interested in writing for children for a couple of decades and I have a file drawer full of manuscripts (and rejection letters )  to prove it.  I joined the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in 2004 and in 2007 I submitted Belle for a manuscript review at my regional conference.  The author who reviewed the book was so enthusiastic; she kept me from getting discouraged in my hunt to find the right publisher. The Editor-in-Chief at the National Gallery also loved the book when I showed it to her, but sadly, we don’t have a children’s book publishing program at the National Gallery.  Ultimately, though, it was she who put me in touch with Bunker Hill Publishing. 

    •    What or who inspired you to write Belle?

The short answer is – my daughter!  I used to bring her down to the National Gallery for the wonderful family programs offered by our education department, but I also wanted her to enjoy a simple walk through the galleries with me.  I searched for a book based on the Gallery’s collection with the thought it would help spark her interest in doing that, but I quickly discovered the kind of book I had in mind didn’t exist! I wanted a fun-to-read, fictional story that featured a variety of paintings from the National Gallery’s great collection and focused on the magic of the museum and the ‘art experience.’ So when I couldn’t find that book, I decided I’d better write it!

    •    You obviously are someone who loves art.  Can you tell us how you chose your paintings for Belle?

I have been fortunate to research and write about some pretty terrific artists while on the staff of the National Gallery – Roy Lichtenstein and Romare Bearden, for example – my field is American art.  I love writing about art and artists and of course, I love just looking at art. Yet ironically, when you work in a museum, you often don’t carve out the time to just wander through the galleries. So writing Belle was the perfect excuse to do that!

It was on one of those walks through the galleries at the end of the day, with the idea of this book on my mind, that the butterflies in Jan Davidsz de Heem’s canvas [Vase of Flowers]   just popped out at me!  I think the yellow Brimstone caught my eye first.  He was so delicately alighted, there on the edge of that tulip.  He just looked to me as if he might flutter away at any moment.  But Belle (the Red Admiral) was up there quietly hovering in the corner.  It occurred to me that she’d been hovering there for over 300 years, a quiet observer, and I thought – SHE must have some stories to tell!  Once I discovered those butterflies, I never looked back!  The story began to take shape and soon it had a life of its own.

I wanted to present their journey more or less chronologically through art history.  That’s why there are no works from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance in the book.  Works from these periods are certainly represented in the Gallery’s collection, but Belle and Brimstone were painted in the seventeenth century, and I felt it was important to have their journey take them steadily forward through time, rather than jumping back and forth through the centuries.  And, of course, I needed a villain! I thought there was something comical about having the butterflies’ avian nemesis come from such a tiny little painting [Circle of Jan van Kessel, Concert of Birds]

The worst part of the selection process was discarding favorites! I wanted to select works that would be particularly fun to look at and to imagine blending into. And of course, the colors had to be right.  Brimstone chooses the Vermeer with an ivory-colored ribbon [A Lady Writing], while Belle looks to the one with the red hat [Girl with the Red Hat].

    •    Is there something else you are currently working on?
I would love to make Belle into a series, so I am currently working on a manuscript that takes her on a journey to another museum.  Art travels all the time for touring exhibitions – the perfect set up for another adventure! 
I am also working on a manuscript that features the art of the National Gallery’s wonderful outdoor sculpture garden.  This book would have completely different characters, and I am envisioning it for a younger audience (ages 4 to 8 years). 

Well, you’ve captured my attention Mary Lee. I love the concept and I’m certain your younger readers are going to be captivated by Belle and her adventures in the art world. Congratulations.

Interview with Jo Ramsey

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 Jo Ramsey has some interesting things to say about RUMORS and her new books. Two of them!

Rumors

Someone once said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me.” Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of people who don’t have anything nice to say and don’t hesitate to say something cruel instead.

Especially in high school.

If you made it through school without having a rumor spread about you at least once, you’re very lucky. I don’t know anyone who wasn’t the target of a rumor, myself included. When I worked in public schools, every level from elementary to high school, I heard rumors about students being spread by other students. Sometimes even by teachers!

Rumors and gossip are not far off from bullying in many cases. Telling your bestie, “Hey, see that girl? I heard she’s pregnant” is just more subtle than going up to “that girl” and slamming her against a locker, but it isn’t any less hurtful. Sometimes words hurt more than actions, especially when those words spread through an environment as closed as a typical high school. Whether you’re in a school of two hundred or two thousand, somehow those rumors spread, because everyone knows someone else who hasn’t heard yet.

Rumors feature big in my two latest novels, Cluing In and From the Ashes. In Cluing In, Jamey Mandel’s best friend Jebbi Randolph has been dealing for two years with rumors that she tried to steal a senior girl’s boyfriend during her freshman year. The truth is that the boy raped Jebbi, but no one except Jebbi and a few of her friends know that. During the story, Jamey’s ex-girlfriend becomes the target of rumors that she’s pregnant—rumors which are unfortunately true. And even Jamey becomes the subject of gossip when his ex blurts out in the cafeteria that Jamey’s still a virgin.

In From the Ashes, book five in my Reality Shift series, the rumor that’s followed Shanna Bailey since sixth grade takes on new weight when Shanna has her first boyfriend. In sixth grade, Shanna was caught in the woods with two older boys, who had conned her into going with them. The immediate assumption was that Shanna was “doing things” to the boys, and that’s the gossip that’s been going around about her ever since. Shanna has never dared tell anyone except her best friend Jonah Leighton and her foster brother Mark James the truth: one of the boys tried to force her to touch him, but was interrupted before he could follow through. Now Shanna’s afraid that since her new boyfriend—along with everyone at their school—knows the rumor, he’ll expect her to “do things” with him, too.

Our society makes a big deal out of rumors. TV shows and magazines are devoted to gossip about celebrities, and don’t seem too interested in whether it’s true or not. Coworkers gossip about each other during their lunch breaks; families talk about other family members behind their backs at holiday gatherings. It really isn’t any surprise that rumors and gossip are so much a part of most people’s school experiences.

That doesn’t mean it’s right, though. Words do hurt, especially when you’re the target of them.

Jo Ramsey is a former special education teacher turned full-time author. She has been writing since age five, and started writing young adult fiction when she was a young adult herself. Her first YA urban fantasy novel, Connection, book one in the Reality Shift series, was published in January 2010 by Jupiter Gardens Press. Since then, books two through five in that series, and books one and two in her series The Dark Lines, have been published by that company. Her first YA contemporary novel, Cluing In, was published in November 2011 by Featherweight Press. Jo lives in Massachusetts with her two daughters, her husband, and two cats.

Get your copie of CLUING IN and FROM THE ASHES now.
From the Ashes is available at http://jupitergardens.com/Reality-Shift-Book-5-From-The-Ashes-by-Jo-Ramsey-Print.html

Kai Strand, Author of The Weaver

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Once in a while it’s just wonderful to talk to other authors about who they are and what they write. It’s Kai Strand’s turn to be here today. Welcome, Kai. 
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
First and foremost, I’m a wife and mother of four. As a family we love to geocache and hike around Central Oregon at places like Hole in the Ground, Fort Rock and China Hat. Or at Sahalie Falls, Dry Canyon or the River Rim trail. There are so many beautiful places to explore right in our immediate area.
Beyond wife and mother, I’m also a children’s author. I write fiction for middle grade and young adult. I love – love – love fantasy, but contemporary holds it’s own power over me as well.
Can you give us a brief summary of your book, THE WEAVER?
In a town of storytellers, called word weavers, Mary suffers through her third year of Novice Word Weaving. Mary thinks her troubles are over when she meets a gnome-elf who grants her a wish.  But instead of weaving a better story, she’s weaving strange yarn charms to accompany her still pathetic tales.
The Weaver is a story of persistence. It offers a little magic and a lot of storytelling. It is written for children 9 – 12 years old. 
I’m excited to say it is a finalist in the EPIC eBook Awards. It is so thrilling to think that from all of the books the judges read they placed mine as one of three finalists. WOW!
Congratulations. That’s very exciting. 

What do you enjoy most about being a writer? 
Related to the craft itself, I love the initial creation process. I love finding my way through the story the very first time. It is both fun and worrisome to stumble upon a detour you never would have expected when you first thought up the story in your head. Where will the detour lead? Will you find your way back again? Then the ultimate reward is when you discover how to tie the lose story ends back together to bring the story to a satisfying resolution. 
Related to the written work, I love visiting classrooms. I love getting out there with the kids that I write for and talking about the craft of writing. It inspires me to want to write more just for them and their fantastic imaginations. 
What or who inspired you to write The Weaver?
I belong to an online critique group, called Silver Web. One day I had the critique group’s site up on my computer. We have a very cool spider’s web graphic on the page. When I lived in Southern California, I used to watch in horrified fascination, as our huge garden spiders would spin their enormous webs. The graphic made me remember the beauty of their craft. I thought, “My critters and I weave stories with words like spiders weave webs with silk.” That made me imagine living in a community where people spoke in stories. The next step was to create conflict. Well, that was obvious. What if you lived in a town where everyone was good at word weaving except you? 
Do you have a favorite scene from the Weaver? Can you give us a short excerpt?
No one has ever asked me this before. I’m so glad you did! My youngest daughter would laugh if she were with me right now because every time I get to this point in the story I squeal like a little girl and say, “I love this chapter!”
Chapter 14, titled The Third Law, is the moment that Mary discovers the solution to her problem, but it’s through someone else’s error that she discovers it:
A boy named Dicken, who sat near the front of
the room, raised his hand to answer a question Mary
hadn’t heard Mrs. Frickles ask.
“It is the third law of physics,” Dicken said
importantly. “A motion creates an equal and opposite
emotion.”
The class laughed at his error. Mary, who
didn’t like to laugh at anybody, but found his error
entertaining nonetheless, restrained herself to a smile.
She tried to put a look of understanding in her eyes.
After all, she was forever being laughed at over her …
“That’s it!” Mary leaped off of her stool and
slapped her hand down on the slate tabletop. Chantell
jumped so high in surprise that she almost fell off her
own stool. The class immediately forgot Dicken’s error
and swung eager eyes toward Mary to see how she was
going to make a fool of herself this time.
Mary hissed out the excited breath she’d been
holding and slowly sat back down on her stool. “I’m …
um … well.” She looked up at Mrs. Frickles, whose lips
were pursed as she gazed over the top of her glasses at
Mary. “Sorry, Mrs. Frickles. Dicken’s answer was very
inspiring for me. I’m sorry I disrupted the class.”
Mrs. Frickles continued to stare at Mary as if
considering an appropriate punishment or public
embarrassment, but in the end she shifted her attention
back to Dicken. “I think what you mean, son, is for
every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” Dicken’s look of
confusion grew as the class tittered and giggled some
more.
Can you tell us if you’re working on something else, and if so, give us a little taste?
I’ve recently sold another middle grade novel, Save The Lemmings! to Featherweight Press. Since that is about to go into the editing process, I’ll hold off on sharing an excerpt, but I’m happy to share a blurb: 
When Natalie’s Texty-Talky invention makes her an overnight sensation, the media digs until they find a way to smear her goody-goody image. When her best friends start believing what they read, Natalie’s sunny spirit is pushed to its limits. How will Natalie stop the lies and win her friends back? And who will SAVE THE LEMMINGS?
I’m currently working on Polar Opposites, the second book in my young adult series, Super Villain Academy. I’m shopping the first book, King of Bad. Here is the introduction of the main character, Jeff. In the intro, we can see he’s comfortable being the bad boy, he knows he’s different from others, and he uses that to his delinquent advantage:
Jeff admired the growth of the flames as they devoured wads of paper and fast food wrappers in the wire mesh trashcan. He slipped the book of matches into his pocket and sat back on his heels to admire his work. One side of the can merely smoldered so he blew gently to fan the guttering flame.  It reminded him of how blowing on Jasmine’s neck the night before had resulted in a lovely arch of her back. He growled a throaty sigh remembering Jasmine’s blissful distraction as he’d nibbled her earlobe.
“Hey!”
Jeff glanced over his shoulder. A man, who looked like he belonged behind a desk in a downtown high rise, jogged toward him.
“Ah, the sweet sounds of discipline.” Jeff stood, stuffed his fists in the front pockets of his jeans and shook the long bangs out of his eyes. He half expected the guy’s slick-soled business shoes to slip as he jogged across visitor parking. This was Jeff’s favorite part. Almost getting caught. When the guy was a baseball’s toss away, Jeff turned. He walked a couple steps then skipped up into a jog.
“Kid, stop!”
Jeff chuckled to himself, “Yeah, sure,” and loped across the soccer field.
“Wait a minute.”
Jeff stole a look over his shoulder. The guy was close even though he didn’t seem to be running very fast. Jeff grinned at him and increased his pace. A seven-foot tall chain link fence ringed in the far side of the field to prevent stray soccer balls from breaking the windows of passing cars on the street below. Jeff leaped onto the fence without slowing down and in two cat-like movements, launched himself over the top. He dropped to the ground, landing on a hill pocked with gopher holes, as easily as if he were jumping around in a bounce house. He smoothly transitioned back into a sprint and dashed across the street, startling a lady driving an SUV. 
“Kid, hold up.”
Jeff almost tripped; the guy was half way across the street already. He smirked, finally a decent chase, but not for long. With little effort, Jeff stepped up to a blurring speed. He dashed up a peaceful street that ran perpendicular to the school, where kids rode bikes and ran through sprinklers. Jeff recognized one of the ‘good’ kids from school, washing a ’57 step-side Chevy. 
“Sweet ride,” Jeff called out. The kid looked up at him, but then snapped his head to the left. That guy cannot be that close! Jeff looked over his shoulder to find the guy was only a house length behind him. Holy crap, Batman. No one ever keeps up with me!
For the first time in a long time, Jeff worried. But only a little. With a deep, fortifying breath he pumped his thigh muscles harder. He whizzed past houses so fast he doubted anyone would be able to describe him if they were asked to later. Tears streamed sideways from the force of the wind his speed created. He’d only started to breathe a bit more heavily than normal. Jeff was built to run.
What I love about this series is that kids and adults get away with behaving badly, because they’re villains and that in itself creates conflict. By nature they don’t make friends, don’t care about others, don’t have manners, very self-centered people. Jeff thought he was a bad boy, but then he gets recruited to Super Villain Academy. It is a fun series to write and very different from my middle grade work.
Any favorite authors, books you’d like to share with us?
For young adult books, I love everything Maggie Stiefvater has written. I haven’t read Scorpio Races yet, but I think I’m safe to say I’ll like that too. I read Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins last week. I started grinning on the first page and I swear I’m still grinning from that charming story. So far Cassandra Clare hasn’t let me down either. I love both of L.K. Madigan’s books and it breaks my heart that we won’t read more from her. 
For middle grade I’m a big fan of Kimberley Griffiths Little. Enjoyed The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, Eighth-Grade Superzero, A Wrinkle in Time, the Harry Potter series even after it crossed into young adult, and Just Breeze.
Any helpful hints for writers, maybe something you’ve learned along the way?
The business of seeking publication can be very discouraging. Find ways of reminding yourself why you love to write and circle back around to that whenever you start to get caught up in frustration and self-deprecation. 
Read often. Be sure to steep yourself in the genre and age level you want to write in.  
Finally, everyone always says write a lot. But I don’t think writing a lot does much to improve your craft without good feedback on your writing. So find an effective critique group or partners who understand your genre and target age. Listen to their feedback with an open mind and be sure you are critiquing their work too. You learn so much by helping others. 
I would love if your readers visit me on my WEBSITE. They can find links to short stories, all my contact and social media information, and more stuff about my writing and me. Thank you, Lee, for inviting me to join you and your readers. It has been so much fun visiting.
Loved the visit, Kai. 

In the Throes of Thursday–Guest Post by Megan Curd

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When I asked MEGAN CURD to do a guest visit  here, I said, “Whatever you want to post is fine with me.” I had no idea she’d come up with THE PERFECT one, but she did. You’ll get a sense of her wit and her style from what follows and that should whet your appetite for her YA novel, BRIDGER.  Oh, and it’s available in Kindle. Be sure to visit her website and don’t pass up a chance to read more of this excellent YA writer.

Thanks for stopping by, Megan.

TRUTH: Good Books Get Overlooked
I know, I know, that title makes this sound like a Debbie Downer post, but I promise it’s not. Totally on the contrary! I hope this post makes someone out there even more excited to jump into the publishing literary waters and get wet. If you need floaties, I have them. 🙂
Here’s the ugly truth that none of us writers want to admit: good books get passed up. There just aren’t enough publishing houses, enough agents, enough time in the day to make every good book into a New York Times Bestseller through a major publishing house the way we all want them to be.
HOWEVER.
That doesn’t mean that we should be any less excited about writing, or any less passionate about our books. Think of how many hours we sit, typing away, scribbling notes so we don’t forget plot lines while out to eat with a friend… who now thinks we’re certifiably insane because we’re excited about imaginary people. Wait, maybe that’s just me. Ahem. Anyway, you know what I mean. We’re emotionally invested in our books, and we love our characters like they’re family members or lifelong friends.
Then comes the day that you slaved for: the day you have put “the end” on your manuscript. You’re giddy, and completely convinced that every New York agent will be salivating over it. You send out your queries with shaky hands and a stuttering heartbeat.
And you get a rejection. Then another one. And another.
I’m here to tell you, friends, it WILL happen. I have experienced it first hand. It sucks.
I’m also here to tell you, that if you are truly dedicated to the craft, you CAN make your book a success. I’m not saying it will be overnight, and it may not even be this particular manuscript you’re currently trying to pitch. It might be the next one, the fifth one, or the fifteenth one. All I’m saying is that if you are dedicated, your book will find a home.
Good books get overlooked. Agents simply have so much going on, so much slush to sift through, that’s it is a justifiable phenomenon. The biggest thing that we as writers can do is polish, polish, polish. Sending a query about a manuscript that has not been line edited, beta reader tested, reworked, and beta reader re-tested will deliver sub-standard results. Heck, self-publishing a manuscript without going through the culling process will result in a sub-standard product for our readers.
That, my friends, is the point I’m long-winded, circling around. Good books get overlooked. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t ever see the light of day. I can tell you from personal experience, I had an agent. We parted ways. I had many friends give me crazy looks for letting an agent go. Do I have regrets about the decision? I won’t lie, some days I wonder if the right decision was made, but I can tell you this: I don’t regret the decision to put Bridger out on my own, and I definitely don’t regret having the opportunity to publish Bridger through Soul Fire Press and Christopher Matthews Publishing. Good things can happen via small publishers, just like they can via big publishers.
Good books may be overlooked by what we consider the “Big Six,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t go with a smaller house or go Indie. All are viable possibilities, and if you do your homework and pursue the avenue that is best for your book, you will see results.
No matter what option you choose to go for personally, going Indie was probably the best decision I could have made for my books and myself. I can still be involved in the process and share in the production. I love that. I can interact with my readers and set the prices for my books the way I prefer. That’s a win for my readers as well.
Good books get overlooked. That doesn’t mean yours has to be one of them. Sure, writers such as Amanda Hocking, John Locke, JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer are all either Indies or traditionally published exceptions to the rule. That doesn’t mean that we can’t strive to excel as they have. Exhaust all your options. If you miss out on one opportunity, go for another. Remember this, also: it only takes one yes to make your book happen. One. So take the rejections in stride, and know you’re one rejection closer to getting your yes. Don’t let your book be overlooked, and do everything in your power to give the best reading experience possible to your readers. We owe it to them. After all, they give us our livelihood. 

May The Best Dog Win–An Interview with Dash!

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I love picture books. I loved them when I was a child. I loved reading them to my children. I admit to reading them even when there are no children in the room.  So today I’m really excited to have Kelly Ha . . . No. Sorry. Kelly couldn’t be here today, but she sent a representative, her main dog, in fact. So here’s Dash to give you a little preview of what you’re going find when you open the cover of MAY THE BEST DOG WIN.

Ruff! 

Oh wait, you guys are human. Sorry about that. I’m Dash. Mom’s says I’m a Heinz 57. That means I’m a mixed breed dog. I’m also the star of May the Best Dog Win. Some lady named Kelly Hashway followed me around and wrote a book about me. I don’t know why she just didn’t help me out when Sweeper showed up. I guess she thought the story wouldn’t be as good if I didn’t fight off the Sweeper myself. 

Oh well. I’m here to talk to you all about characters in picture books. (My author says picture books are the ones with the pictures. I guess that makes sense. You humans sometimes call things by strange names, but not this time.) So, I’m the main character–at least that’s what my author said. Really I’m the good guy. But see I have this problem. The Sweeper showed up one day and now suddenly I’m not Mom’s favorite anymore. Sweeper keeps stealing my time with Mom and he steals my leftover food scraps! Do you believe that? So I had to stick up for myself. My author says the main character has to find a way around his problem. I guess she means when I fought Sweeper in the toughest game of tug-of-war ever! It didn’t end well. I don’t like to talk about what happened. You’ll have to read my book to find out for yourself. But let me warn you, it may make your eyes tear. I know mine did.
Okay, so enough about me. Let’s talk about Sweeper. He’s the bad guy. What did my author call him? The ant… no that’s not right. Hang on, let me ask her. She speaks dog. Oh, the antagonist. What a funny word. You humans! Sweeper’s nothing like an ant. He’s huge! Anyway, Sweeper’s the bad guy who comes in and tries to steal my Mom away from me. And he gets to do things that I’m not allowed to do. So he and I have to face off. My author says that’s what happens in books. The good guy (me) and the bad guy (Sweeper) have some sort of fight to see who wins. Hmm, is that why she named the book May the Best Dog Win? Wait that means–oh, I’m not allowed to tell you how the book ends.
I hope you learned something. I heard it’s hard to teach a human new tricks. 
Ruff!

Be sure to stop by and say hello to DASH and KELLY HASHWAY at Freado and take a peek inside this great picture book. Amazon has it in stock now, so you’re just a click away from making a wonderful purchase for your PB library. Dash and Kelly would love it if you followed them on Twitter @kellyhashway and  stopped in to say hello or “Ruff” at their Website.