C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Prop Me Up and Other Miscellany

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Three plucky sleuths. A crumbling skeleton. A buried treasure.

Most of you know I’m about to turn a book loose in the world, so if you’re a writer, you understand my state of body and mind. I’m booked pretty solid through August and probably September, but believe me, I’m eyeing November or December for some down time. 

To add to the confusion, Blogger ate my Blog List last week and then did some nasty things to my posts, so I had my head into html again-not fun in the summer, well anytime really. Apologies for not getting around to everyone’s blog as usual. I’ll be catching up soon.

My Email Connect ( EC) is growing. And in August I’ll be featuring my sixth author. Who I pull from the hat is always a surprise for my EC followers, and I’m really enjoying reading, reviewing and featuring writers like this. If you’re interested in what’s going on behind the scenes, sign up and join us for my launch month. It’s going to be special with more gifts-dragon related, of course. And more about my copywriting course. I’d love to have you as part of the group.


The Beginning of New Paths and Native Landscaping

I’ve turned to landscaping as one way to hoist myself off the writing chair and change a garden to native plants. We have a vacation home that my in-laws built back in the seventies, and it needs mega work. Great! Another project. But I’m enjoying the creative part (moving rocks and digging holes for new plants-creative?) while my husband shakes his head over the construction issues. 

I took a quick break and went to San Francisco for a SCBWI mixer at Books Inc. (the oldest bookstore in the city, btw) And I’m really glad I did. I met a lot of booksellers as well as authors and illustrators. I’ve been trying to do more volunteering for the organization, so I hope to be at more mixers like this one. 

Well, I’m off to check on my book blog tour. Today I’m visiting these amazing bloggers.
 Alex Cavanaugh
Yolanda Renee
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium (sounds ominous, doesn’t it?)

My Quote for the Week: “Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.” Thomas Jefferson (This one seemed appropriate on many levels.)

Monday Miscellany and Sudden Secrets Cover

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I’m still in shock. It rained all day Thursday and Friday still had some of that luscious, moist stuff. Doesn’t the sky know this is California and it never rains here?  But I have proof. Click below and applaud for us water-deprived folk. You can’t see the forest. Even the nearest ridge has disappeared in the foggy misty downpour. Those trees are loving it.

I’ve announced that I won’t be blogging on Fridays anymore, so just wanted to say it again in case you didn’t stop by on Friday. I’ll stick with Mondays only for a while and a few special blog days that might pop up. I’ll still post on IWSG Wednesday. Also if you’re participating in the Deja Vu Hop, my post goes up on Monday, but I’ll be by to say hi to those posting on Friday.

A special thanks to J.L.Campbell for the prize. I won her splendid Who’s Your Hero contest. 

Evernight Teen sent me my cover for Sudden Secrets, so I’m sharing it here because I like it. It has the feeling of my young character who’s managing a lot family issues in this story and a terrible secret. The rundown Victorian house is a key story element, so I was really glad to see it lurking in the background and being just a bit spooky.

Again, if you have some space on your blog and would like to give me a shout out, leave that in your comment and I’ll get in touch with you. It’s the holiday season, so I know how busy everyone is. If you can’t help me in December and can in the new year, I’d really appreciate it.

Now here’s my Ta Da moment. SUDDEN SECRETS unveiled.

How To Get Rid of Shallow Writing & A Quick Technique Book

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Those Shallow Writing Days

Have you ever felt that you were writing a story as if you were looking at it from an outside window? Those are my bad writing days. I hate it when the prose goes flat, the characters have to be pinned up against wall (or as, in this case, a tree) they’re such paper cutouts, and the plot has become a series of not-too-exciting episodes.

A few years ago I heard a speaker at a conference who gave us an exercise to try in small groups. It was this: We had to think of a single picture of something very private. Something we wouldn’t want anyone else to see-so secret that we wouldn’t even carry it in our wallets for fear of being in an accident and having a paramedic discover it. (Kind of the ratty panties or shorts your grandmother warned you never to wear in case you wound up in a hospital.)

Then once we had the image that made us squirm with embarrassment or discomfort, we had to write or re-write something-a scene from one of our WIPs, a character description, a setting we’d been trying to nail and hadn’t.

The premise behind this was to make us understand our job as writers is to reveal what’s hidden and disturbing and in some cases fear-provoking. We can do that best if we start by revealing what we’ve hidden: that deep seated panic of being lost, that sense of despair when someone we love dies, the intense hatred of another, the embarrassment of the flub in front of people.

I have a few of these snapshots and I use them when I’m doing what I call shallow writing. And, no, you can’t see them. You might get a peek at my shallow writing, however.

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I’m doing a Summer Sale for Sliding on the Edge, so it will be selling for .99 through June 26. 

*****

A writer friend just published a concise, but jam-packed little book. She presents her 5 last techniques she learned. These are what saw her fiction published. It’s out in paperback and Kindle. A great QUICK desktop helpmate. I did a REVIEW  if you want to see more specifics about what I found positive in her book.

AMAZON BOOKS

*****

I’m doing a little unscientific survey. Want to help? Here’s the hypothetical situation. The book is in the submission phase, so the writer is in that wonderful hell called WAITING-TO-HEAR-BACK. 
What do you think is the most important thing this writer should do, believing that s/he will be published and will soon have to tell the world about this new book?

T.B. Markinson and Some Monday MiscellanyThoughts

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BUY NOW: US AND UK
HERE’S THE STORY
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Petrie has it all. She’s rich, beautiful, intelligent, and successful. None of this matters to her mom. Les-Bi-An. That’s all her mom sees.
Even though Lizzie insists her mom’s antagonism does not bother her, Lizzie distances herself from her entire family. When her brother, Peter, calls her out of the blue to announce he’s getting married, Lizzie’s entire life changes drastically. Peter’s fiancée wants to bring the lesbian outcast back into the family. Will this desire cause Lizzie to lose everything dear to her?
Sarah, Lizzie’s girlfriend, is ecstatic about this change in Lizzie’s personal life. Sarah, the hopeless romantic, wants it all, including settling down with the fiercely independent Lizzie.
Can Lizzie be tamed? And can she survive her family and all of their secrets? 

WHO IS T.B. MARKINSON?

T. B. Markinson is a 40-year old American writer, living in England, who pledged she would publish before she was 35. Better late than never. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order. A Woman Lost is her debut novel.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR

Take a look at this! 

Every FREE download sends a donation to LA Youth Orchestra. Download yours today here. Smashwords

Heroes of PHENOMENA is a global, cross-industry collaborative campaign encouraging the next generation of authors, artists & musicians! 

Epic motion picture advertising music production house, audiomachine, will make a donation to the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra with every download of the PHENOMENA album companion collection.

A dedicated youth section showcases talented aspiring artists and authors from Elevate’s Life & Art Studios, alongside inspiring industry professionals and the winning entries of PHENOMENA’s Epic Heroes Event!

To wrap up my Monday post,  I found this quote that I thought I’d share. 

“Why do what you will regret? Why bring tears upon yourself? Do only what you do not regret, and fill yourself with joy.”

I’m off to do something I won’t regret and fill myself with. Joy. Want to join me?

Memorial Day Monday

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There’s too much happening to post about only one item. So today I’ll post a lot of different ones.

Starting with Cherie Reich’s new book. 
Here it is! 
 “Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.”

To purchase: Amazon | Createspace | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit |Smashwords | Other Retailers

If you haven’t read the letters authors have written to their younger, less experienced selves, you must. But wait! CARRIE BUTLER and PK HREZO are putting these together into an eBook and you’ll be able to read the collection when that’s available.

1961-2014

On a sadder note, I just found out that one of my favorite blogger/writers has passed away. Cynthia Chapman Willis was a beautiful person who couldn’t win her fight with cancer. We exchanged emails for a while because my niece was going through the same ordeal. I will miss Cynthia’s kindness and her lovely spirit. Her sister created a post on Cynthia’s BLOG. It’s a perfect tribute.

My thoughts on this Memorial Day: “May our words be more beautiful than the silence they fill.”

I’m flying a flag for you, Dad.

Monday Ketchup or How to Make Goulash

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I’ve been busy with wrapping up my mom’s end of life business (there’s a lot, believe me) and seeing to my son’s care since his accident. Therefore, I’ve not really been HOPPING or FB+ING or SOCIAL MEDIA+ING very much. It’s going to take a few more months before I’m at full strength, but I will be. In the meantime, here’s what’s up.

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Today is very special because I get to share BISH DENHAM’S book with you. First, look at this cover. Who wouldn’t pick this from a shelf or a webpage?

Please add this to your GOODREADS TBR 

About the Book






How do you escape a hungry tiger? Why do ram-goats smell? What happens if you get too greedy? In this collection of ten retold Jamaican stories, Anansi the spider tricks, sings, and dances his way into and out of trouble.


But who is Anansi? It was the Ashanti of West Africa who brought the spider into the Caribbean. He clung tight to the web he wove in the minds of those who had been captured, surviving not only the harrowing passage across the Atlantic Ocean, but hundreds of years of slavery.


As a trickster, Anansi has both good and bad traits, which makes him very human. Sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses. When he wins he dances and sings for joy. When he loses, he shakes it off and keeps on living, a lesson for us all.

About the Author
Bish Denham, whose mother’s side of the family has been in the Caribbean for over hundred years, was raised in the U. S. Virgin Islands. She still has lots of family living there and visits them regularly.

She says, “Growing up in the islands was like living inside a history book. Columbus named them, Sir Francis Drake sailed through the area, and Alexander Hamilton was raised on St. Croix. Pirates plied the waters and hundred of years of slavery left its indelible mark. It was within this atmosphere of magic and wonder that I grew up. My hope is pass some of that magic and wonder on to my readers.”
“LIKE” HER FACEBOOK PAGE. 
FOLLOW BISH ON TWITTER.

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If you missed this on Michael’s Blog, the link to his post about his very COOL and FUN COFFEE BLOG HOP is below. It’s a commitment, guaranteed to wake you up!
MICHAEL DI GESU’S HOP
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If you made RESOLUTIONS or set GOALS. Check out this helpful list of TIPS for keeping those in place this year.

How did this Goulash taste? I love it when I have just the right ingredients to make a great stewy kind of blog post. Hope you’ll check out Bish’s book and join Michael’s Coffee Hop.

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 Featuring Books, Indie Writer Help Line, Summer and Write Club

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Books 

(Pilot error confession: This posted a week early, so if you think you read it, you did, but I caught the problem early, so give me points, okay? Also there’s more that’s new. One thing is this SPOTLIGHT. I didn’t expect it to happen until much later, but here it is today! Then a GIVEAWAY went up. Forgot about that one until this morning. Arrg. Summer is going at warp speed.)

This book doesn’t need promotion from me, but it deserves attention, so I’m going to post about it today. A Thousand Splendid Suns stunned me with the vivid portrayal of life in Afghanistan. Hosseini (The Kite Runner) captures the essence of this country, its people and the history from the Soviet occupation to Taliban domination and beyond. There are scenes that are very difficult to get through because of the cruelty, but so riveting in their prose that you must read them. I will never forget the story of the two women caught up in the turmoil of their world. I highly recommend it.

Indie Writer Help Line

I stumbled on this great piece by Ron Vitale and wanted to share it. Here’s how he starts. If you want to read more, I’ve included the permalink above.

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here

I will be up front and as transparent as I possibly can. The self-publishing industry is volatile, difficult to predict and more time consuming than I ever anticipated. But, fear not, it’s not without hope. What is truly important is to have realistic expectations. If you’re looking to make it rich fast, then, yes, abandon hope. If you understand that you’ll be putting in years of work and that you’ll need to build your platform and brand over several years writing at least three books, then you’re in the realm of reality.

Summer 

I got a little carried away with my squash planting this year. I have a sea of squash and my family has already yelled “No more squash anything!”

Ever resourceful, I now pick and stuff squash blossoms. The revolt has been quelled. Who can ever get enough of those tasty morsels filled with cheese?

Hope you signed up for the Write Club.

Anybody read A Thousand Splendid Suns? Comments? Tell Ron I sent you if you stop in and read his post. It’s worth your time. Want a few squash? Did you sign up to vote or enter the Write Club? How miscellaneous is this?

Monday Miscellany Featuring Ruby’s Fire and More

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Books

One thing about being a writer that I love is this: you get to hang with other writers. I’m really excited to host Catherine Stine today with her new book Ruby’s Fire.

Here’s what you can look forward to when you open to page one.

“Seventeen year-old Ruby and her little brother Thorn, have only known a life blighted by the extremist Fireseed Cult. The night Ruby is set to be claimed by one of its cruelest and oldest leaders, she makes a bid for freedom. With Thorn in tow, she stumbles into the world beyond, and finds an opportunity for a fresh start in Skull’s Wrath under the guidance of Nevada Pilgrim, a woman who may not be all she seems. Ruby’s new life could bring her friendship, love, even fortune, but nothing comes without a price. Is Ruby’s talent for elixirs keeping the roof over their heads, or do some of her associates have a more sinister and lucrative interest in them? Life outside a strange cult isn’t without its dangers, and the experience leaves Ruby transformed and communing with the Fireseed more closely than she ever would have imagined. Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by an exciting cast of characters, and the romance is really well handled.”  

Now you have to want a copy, right? Here’s your chance to win a signed copy (U.S. only). 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you’re not the lucky one, here’s the buy link for Ms. Stein’s illustrated paperback at AMAZON. For a Kindle version, click HERE.


Hope you’ll sign up for Catherine’s NEWSLETTER. She has a lot to share that’s worthwhile.

Other sites to connect with Catherine: GOODREADS,  B and N, FB, TWITTER, BLOG,WEBSITE.

About Catherine Stine:Catherine Stine writes YA, New Adult and middle grade fiction. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One, illustrated by the author won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted a 2013 Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award and a 2013 Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Middle grade novels include A Girl’s Best Friend. 

Fireseed One sequel, Ruby’s Fire is earning advance praise from reviewers and authors:
“Ruby’s Fire, returns to the sun-scorched earth of Fireseed One. In this long-awaited sequel, Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by a new and exciting cast of characters. Ruby, Armonk, Thorn and Blane are memorable, and the romance is really well handled. Favorite quote: ” It feels wrong to lean on Armonk right now with Blane staring at me, a hungry, lonely look in his eye. It’s as if he’s never been hugged, never been fed, never been loved…” ”  -YAs the Word
More and more, Catherine enjoys writing speculative tales where her imagination has wild and free reign. She has taught creative writing workshops at the Philadelphia Writing Conference, Missouri University Summer Abroad, The New School and in her own ongoing NYC writing workshop. She loves her readers, and enjoys blogging.

Reader/ Writer Miscellany

  • Want a sound sleep? Tire your eyes naturally by reading until your eyelid can’t stay up. “You fall asleep more peacefully,” says Joseph Emet, author of Buddah’s Book of Sleep.

I could have told him that! Couldn’t you?
  • There are over 1,000 books published every day in the U.S.

Oye! What does this mean for writers?

My Favorite Quote for the Day

“The secret of being boring is to say everything.” Voltaire
I think that can be applied to writing, too. What do you think?

Monday Miscellany Featuring Writers4Writers and Other Stuff

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Hats off to Writers4Writers featured author today,

 Marta Szemik.

Free on Amazon

How do you make a choice when anything you decide dooms your fate? Marked: A Two Halves Novella is a paranormal romance prequel to the Two Halves Series.

Movies

I don’t usually include movies in my posts, but this is Monday Miscellany and it’s summer and I’ve seen a few movies I feel like commenting on.

***** The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel gets my high five. I loved the story and I always love Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith. I laughed. I teared up. I left wanting more. That to me is a good movie.

** Lincoln not so much. And I adore Daniel Day Lewis. His performance was, of course, excellent, but the movie dragged and dragged. I got a refresher course on the passing of the 13th Amendment, so that helped keep my interest. I was really disappointed in Tommy Lee Jones and he’s another favorite of mine.

My Favorite Quote for the Day 

“It is easier to run a revolution than a government.” You’ll never guess who said this. Ferdinand Marcos. Guess he’d know. As I recall he was always declaring martial law.
Hope you’ll download Marta’s book today. Chime in on my movie comments. Disagree? Agree? Any favorite quotes to share?