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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Part 10, The Pros Give Us Some Advice, Featuring Lisa Colozza Cocca, @WeWrite4U_Lit & How I Found the Right Path

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Lisa Colozza Cocca is the last author to be featured in this series. Her book is PROVIDENCE. 
Tagline: Sometimes you have to run away from home to find it.
Advice: Remember teens are people first with the same range of emotions we all have, but often intensified. Write from your heart if you want to connect to the hearts of your readers.
What Reviewers say: 
“Becky’s sweet-as-honey first-person narrative voice suits the dialogue-driven story well–she is an uncomplicated heroine, resourceful and completely without self-pity.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Rosie, Becky, and Georgia Rose create a family built of mutual need, love, and kindness in this gentle tale of life in nostalgic small-town America…. Cocca portrays a community of sympathetic characters…who believe in the promise of life’s second chances.” —Booklist
You can find Providence on sale here. And now under #kindleunlimited it free to download.
AMAZON
Barnes & Noble 
Indiebound 
Find Lisa at
www.lisacolozzacocca.com
Thanks so much, Lisa. Writing from the heart is great advice to writers of all genres. 
Here’s some others on this very topic. While they don’t say it the same way that Lisa does, I interpret their words to mean the key to readers’ hearts is within the writers’ hearts.
“It ain’t whatcha write, it’s the way atcha write it.”
—Jack Kerouac, WD
“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.”
—Virginia Woolf
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” 
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” 
― Ernest Hemingway
So that’s a wrap on Advice from the Pros. I’ve enjoyed hosting ten authors over these months and hope you’ve enjoyed meeting them or learning more about them and their books.

If you want to be contacted next year during National Literacy Month (September) sign up on the Linky below for WeWrite4U_Lit. I hope to make it bigger and better in 2015.

How I Found The Right Path 


It’s here! Download it for Free and read what 60 writers have to share about their writing/publishing experience. 

Part 9, The Pros Give Us Some Advice, Featuring Valerie Storey & @WeWrite4U_Lit

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I stumbled on Valerie Storey’s work, and I was so taken with the first book I read of hers, that I had to read another. She is a writer of compelling tales. It’s no wonder her last name is what it is. She is a remarkable STOREYteller. Today she’s sharing her advice with us.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON


Short Summary for Better Than Perfect:
When fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Haddon’s mother sends her from England to live with relatives in New Zealand, she is confronted with an unfamiliar world of foreign social values and sibling power struggles. Living with her domineering Auntie Faye and in the company of her beautiful, but enigmatic, cousin, Ravenna, Elizabeth wants nothing more than to be accepted by her new and seemingly perfect family. But perfection comes at a price, and Elizabeth quickly learns that appearances can be deceiving, forcing her to choose between a life of conformity or one of independence.
Advice for Writing YA Fiction:

To me the most important thing about writing for the YA market is to remember and record what it was like to be a young adult: all the pain, the joy, the worry, the confusion and especially the belief that no one, no one in the whole world can possibly understand what you’re going through. When I’m writing YA, I like to keep a journal solely for my young adult memories. I use the Natalie Goldberg prompt of “I remember. . . ” and go back to everything I can, from school to family to even what I wore and read at the time. I don’t hold anything back—just let it all out, exactly as I did at fifteen!
Valerie’s advice brings to mind those journals we all kept as teens. I think mine were lost during some move to another state or country, but I do remember scribbling my thoughts and feelings into small leather bound books. Since I no longer have those scribblings, I think I’ll take Valerie’s suggestions and start pouring out what I remember of that time. It will be interesting what comes onto the page.

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If you haven’t joined us yet in supporting Literacy in the month of Sept. I hope you will sign up today, copy the prepared Tweets to tweet about this issue, and retweet those that are up.  You can make this a special month for readers and writers. 

  • Sign up. 
  • Copy and paste the prepared Tweets, which I will refresh two times for your convenience. 
  • Tweet your heart out. 
12 TWEETS ( in parentheses I’ve put the source just in case you need it. Be sure to delete the citation or the tweet will be too long.) Hope you’ll create some of your own, too.
Literacy is learned. Read to your kids. @WeWrite4U_Lit

Volunteer to teach reading. You’re needed. @WeWrite4U_Lit

People who read contribute to our society. @WeWrite4U_Lit

Without literacy democracy doesn’t stand a chance. @WeWrite4U_Lit

46% of American adults can’t understand the label on their prescription medicine@WeWrite4U_Lit(http://www.readfaster.com/education_stats.asp)
44 million adults in U.S. can’t read well enough to read a simple story to a child.@WeWrite4U_Lit (http://www.readfaster.com/education_stats.asp)
90% of U.S. welfare recipients are high school dropouts@WeWrite4U_Lit (http://www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html)
In U.S. one child in four grows up not knowing how to read.@WeWrite4U_Lit (http://www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html)

$80 billion or more each year in lost worker productivity@WeWrite4U_Lit (FYI citation: http://www.literacypartners.org/literacy-in-america/impact-of-illiteracy)

By end of 4th grade 2/3 of low-literacy students end up in jail or on welfare.@WeWrite4U_Lit (http://www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html)

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You don’t have to write YA to use this technique. How do you capture the voice of your characters? Do you journal?  Have you joined in @WeWrite4U_Lit. No? And why would that be? 

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

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

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

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

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

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Now here’s a little drum roll.  

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

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

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

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

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

@supportliteracy 
@LitPartners 
@literature_dp
@literacycoop
@HouLit

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

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

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

Learn to read. Read to learn.

Get books into homes. Create readers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Long and Short Reviews 7th 

Anniversary Bash

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

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

Pros Part 5, Crystal Collier

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If you’re a regular, you know that I’m featuring  some writer friends who have some excellent books out this year. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last week MEDEIA SHARIF visited with her book, SNIP SNIP REVENGE. Today I have girl who knows her cheese, Crystal Collier.  


Tagline: MOONLESS: Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.
               SOULLESS: Everything has its cost.
Best Advice: Writer, know thy audience. Read like your writing depends on it. It does. Gobble up everything you can in the genre. Spend time with teens. Get inside their heads. Find their hangouts and habits.
❀Unleashing the dream world, one book at a time ❀

  Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Website


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At one of my high school visits I met a young writer who asked if I’d meet with him to answer some questions he had about writing. So I did. His questions were along the lines of Crystal’s advice. He wanted to know what I did to be able to write for teens. 
I said, “I talk to them whenever I can.  Just as I’m talking to you.”
“Is that why you go to schools?”
“Yep, but since I also feel my books have crossover appeal, I get to hang out with other age groups and do my ‘research.'”
“Crossover?”
“That means, I want my books to appeal to older readers. I have grandmothers and grandfathers who read my books and send me emails.”
Then he wanted to know where he should start with his writing. 
My advice was  this: 
  • Decide who your reader’s going to be. 
  • Find other books that are written for that group and see if they’re the kind of book you’re considering writing.  
  • Go to a bookstore and find the shelf where you think your book will fit. 
  • Read the blurbs and the jacket flaps. 
  • Find out who publishes the books that are most similar to yours. 
  • Go home and write. . .a lot.

What did I leave out? 


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My quote for the day: If you don’t feel that you [have] read enough, you haven’t read enough” Nicholas Taleb, Author.
So does Crystal’s advice ring true for YA writers? Was my advice good for a young writer? Read much this summer?

I never post on TUESDAY, but I will tomorrow to celebrate The International Blog Hop. You don’t want to miss my lip-licking recipe. Trust me. 



Celebrating Some Small Things

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VIKLIT


LG KELTNER @writing off the edge
KATIE @TheCyborg Mom
CAFFEEMAGGIEATO @mscoffeehouse

 One Pond Lily the Raccoons Didn’t Get Last Night

A Happy Face that Greeted Me in The Garden This Morning
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offer up some literary cuisine. 

My quote for the day:  “Work is the greatest thing in the world, so we should always save some of it for tomorrow.” Don Herold, Humorist

Be sure to visit the others and see what SMALL THINGS they’re celebrating. How about entering the International Postluck Blogfest? I’m already in. I love to eat and read at the same time.

Pros Part 4, Medeia Sharif

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In the past weeks I’ve  featured some writer friends who have some excellent books out this year. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last week MICHELLE ZINK visited with her book, The Wicked Games. Today I have an Evernight Teen author, MEDEIA SHARIF. 

Medeia’s Book Available Now

Tagline: Don’t touch a girl’s most prized possession.


Advice from Medeia: My advice is to get inside a teenager’s head and not to allow a wisp of an adult voice inside your story, save for the actual adult characters. Even during moments of growth, the teenage voice should be there. 

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Here’s one of my favorite quotes about VOICE from Sol Stein. “The author’s “voice” is an amalgam of the many factors that distinguish a writer from all other writers. Many authors first find their voice when they have learned to examine each word for its necessity, precision, and clarity, and have become expert in eliminating the extraneous and imprecise from their work. Recognizing an individual author’s voice is much like recognizing a person’s voice on the telephone.
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Sometimes it takes me a while to “get” the voice I want for my story, even when I think I have a good grip on it in my head. When I have trouble nailing down the character’s voice I want, I try these strategies.
1) I switch the point of view from whatever I’ve written in already.
2) I play with tense.
3) I read both aloud, so I can hear the dialogue and the narration.
4) I decide which has the strongest connection between my character(s) and me.
Here’s a really short bit of a scene from Double Negative. It’s between Hutch and his dad and it’s written in third person, past tense. 
His eyes hurt watching his dad. He missed his easy ways. Dee Dee was part insect, the way she darted around and made gnat sounds just before she jabbed her stinger into him.
“So what’re we gonna do about this school thing, Hutch?” His dad’s “thing” still came out “thang” even after twenty years living away from Texas.
When Hutch answered him, he’d already picked up that sound and Texas was in his voice, too. “I guess I’ll have to stop ditching?”
“You get to Kranski’s office and talk over the problem. If he wants a conversation, you best give him one.”
Here’s that same bit as it is in the book–first person, present tense.
My eyes kinda hurt watching him. I miss his easy ways. Dee Dee’s part insect, the way she darts around and makes gnat sounds just before she jabs her stinger into me.
“So what’re we gonna do about this school thing, Hutch?” Dad’s “thing” still comes out “thang” even after twenty years living away from Texas.
When I answer him, I’ve already picked up that sound and Texas is in my voice, too. “I guess I’ll have to stop ditching?”
“You get to Kranski’s office and talk over the problem. If he wants a conversation, you best give him one.” 
I had to go with the first person and the present tense because, to my ear, it was really Hutch’s voice that way. In third person, past, I lost my kid and I heard more of me. 
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My quote for the day: “It is what you learn after you know it all that counts.” Earl Weaver, Baseball Manager, Washington  Post
Do you have any strategies for nailing voice? If you write for YA readers, did Medeia’s advice ring true for you? Anybody in your life that knows it all?

Pros Part 3, Elizabeth Seckman’s Hop, and I’m A NotSoAccidental Blog Tourist

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Part 3: The Pros Give Us Some Advice and Happy Launch Day to Me

I’m back to enjoying this series that features writer friends who have some excellent books out. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last time YVONNE VENTRESCA visited with PANDEMIC. Today we have Michelle Zink, an author I debuted with and one great person to know.
AVAILABLE NOW AT B&N
Tagline:

Voodoo… Secrets… Revenge. 
Advice for YA writers:

Read everything in the genre. Everything. Not just the big commercial hits or the ones everyone is talking about. Look for books outside your comfort zone, books that have been shortlisted for awards or won them, books about characters with which you wouldn’t normally identify, books you’ve never heard of but that have good word of mouth from a friend. It’s easy to get in a rut and think the genre is derivative (and that you have to be derivative, too), but reading widely will remind you how much is possible, and inspiration will strike you in the most unexpected of places.
Prophecy of the Sisters Trilogy
A Temptation of Angels
This Wicked Game

Lies I Told (Spring 2015))

by Michelle Zink
www.michellezink.com

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 Availble at Evernight Teen
Double Negative’s visiting some more blogs. 

7/27 Beverly Stowe McClure 
7/27 Jess and Stephanie–Author Tracker blog
7/28 Alex Cavanaugh
7/28 L. Diane Wolfe–Spunk on a Stick and Circle of Friends 
7/30 M. J. Fifield
7/30 Julie Musil
7/30 Crystal Collier


If you haven’t entered to win the giveaway, it’s still open. Jump in.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And Now My Contribution to ELIZABETH SECKMAN’S
Totally Imaginative HOP–The Year Was 1865

I’m excited to join in the celebration of the release of Elizabeth Seckman’s new historical novel, Bella’s Point. While the canons were exploding, and the North and South were asunder, a man out here in California was busy with something literary, so my snippet is a bit tangential. Hope nobody minds. 

The Year Was 1865. . .

The ghost didn’t scare Hazel, but it rattled her while she was working because it disrupted her routine. It wafted here and there while she tried to polish the library floor or dust tables, and, while she tried to ignore it, it distracted her from getting her job done. She’d no sooner tidy a row of book spines so they lined up flush with the edge, than a cold finger would hook one book and tug it off the shelf. Then the ghost fluttered away, thumbing the pages, then dropping the book anywhere when it had finished reading.
Rita Baum was already getting ready to fire her. Hazel could tell by how the librarian squinted her direction while re-shelving those errant books. Rita blamed her for the mess the library was in. That ghost had to leave, and Hazel was going to see to it. 
The problem was she had no idea about how to banish ghosts. She knew mops and cleansers and not much more. But she wasn’t a woman who gave up once she set her mind to doing something, so on the next Monday night when the library closed early, Hazel planned to deal with her ghostly problem. She arrived just at dusk and waited until the white cloudy form plucked the first book, fluttered its pages, then stuffed it back almost where it belonged.
As the ghost moved down the row, Hazel retrieved the book and read the title. Short Story Crafting. She put it in its correct spot and followed the ghost’s route, reading each title it selected. The Modern Short Story. How to Write Good Short Story. Grammar and Style.
When she reached the end of that row, she peered into the next, but it was empty. Usually, when the ghost was near she could feel it. The chill. The wisp of vapor. But now she felt nothing. Maybe trailing after it had frightened it away. She returned the last book to its proper shelf and brushed her hands together, satisfied and very pleased that it had taken such a short time to free herself from that pesky intruder.
She finished the floors in the non-fiction section and made her way to fiction. For a change, her job was nearly done tonight on time. And as she ran the mop along row PQR, she imagined that hot bath and TV show waiting for her at home. Then that familiar chill sprang along her arms. When she walked into the next row, STU, the ghost stood not a few feet away. The worst part of its return was that it was tearing pages from a book. That would mean her job for sure. Before she thought better of it, she lunged for the book and yanked it away. 
The ghost stood as still as a vapor can, and stared at her. “That was rude.” While the voice was all about mist and particles, it was a man’s voice.
“Not as rude as you. You can’t tear pages out of a library book!” She held out he hand. “Give me those.”
He shook his head. “These are mine.”
“Not likely. They belong to Angels Camp Public Library.”
“See here, young lady, I wrote this.” The ghost waved the loose pages in the air.
Hazel glanced at the book in her hand. The Collected Works of Mark Twain. She shifted her eyes back to the ghost. “Who are you anyways?”
He pointed at the book she held. “That is me. Or who I used to be before this terrible and permanent affliction.” He waved a hand over his ghostly form.
She opened the book to where several pages were missing. “So what is it you’re here to do?” Hazel liked things simple and tidy, and a book with missing pages annoyed her terribly.
“It has come to my attention that my prose is out of date. I have a Pass to visit for a sufficient time to make modern at least one story.”
“That seems kind of weird,” Hazel said. “Sort of like changing history.”
“Perhaps, but I intend re-writing this one about the jumping frog.”
“I can’t see the reason—”
“Listen to this.” The ghost cleared his throat, then began to read from the papers he clutched. “‘In compliance with the request of a friend of mine, who wrote me from the East, I called on good-natured, garrulous old Simon Wheeler, and inquired after my friend’s friend, Leonidas W. Smiley, as requested to do, and I hereunto append the result.’” He looked up at her. “Well?”
“Hmm. Kind of high and mighty sounding,” Hazel said.
The ghost agreed with a grunt. “No one’s likely to read it written the way it is. Not in this century. The year was 1865 when I wrote that. Things have changed a bit in storytelling. I’m here to set this right, but I don’t have much time left on my Pass.”
Hazel considered the problem. Rita Baum would toss her and her mops right out the door if she found this book shredded. But that writer ghost wasn’t about to budge. He was one stubborn haunt. She could tell by the way he held tight to those pages. “Look here. How about I get you some paper and a pencil, so as you can do your re-writing, but you give me those pages. I’ll lose my job if you don’t.”
Mr. Twain hesitated, then handed the pages to Hazel. “I can’t be causing a loss of a job, but I’d appreciate it mightily if you’d give me that paper and pencil.” 
He wrote for over an hour, then he gave Hazel what he’d written. She tucked the new version into the book with the restored pages she’d carefully taped back into place, then re-shelved the book in exactly the right spot.
“I thank you kindly, “ the ghost said and vanished.
A few nights later, when she’d finished mopping row STU, she opened The Collected Works of Mark Twain and took out the loose pages. Curious, she sat and read the straight up and down strokes of the handwritten lines. “‘A friend of mine wrote me from the East and ask me to visit old Simon Wheeler. My friend wanted to know what ever happened to a guy named, Leonidas W. Smiley. When I found Wheeler, he had quite a tale to tell.’” 
She turned her face to the ceiling, thinking that Mr. Twain might hear her clearer that way. “Not so highfalutin now. Much better.” 

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Thanks to Dianne Salerni for asking me to be on The Not So Accidental Blog Tourist Hop. (Eat your heart out Gary!)
Dianne’s credits are impressive. She’s the author of The Eighth Day MG fantasy series (HarperCollins) and YA historical novels, The Caged Graves (Clarion/HMH) and We Hear the Dead (Sourcebooks). Dianne was a public school teacher for 25 years before leaving the profession to spend more time hanging around creepy cemeteries and climbing 2000 year-old pyramids in the name of book research.

I’m about hopped out, but here’s my contribution to this HOP. 

1.What am I currently working on?

I’m just wrapping up two projects. One is another young adult and I’m back to my female protagonist with this one, and my usual older character with issues. The second project is the sequel to Alligators Overhead, my middle grade fantasy/adventure. I’ve sent it to a to publisher, so I’m in the waiting room.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

You won’t find a lot of romance in my books, so don’t buy them if that’s what you want to read. My characters do love and they do have romantic moments—a few—but as you’ll see from my covers, my characters are the ones mostly on the outside, looking in or dealing with some hard life issues. There’s not a ball gown in sight. Maybe one of these days I’ll write something so I can have a beautiful girl and a beautiful dress on the front of my book.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

One reason I write “gritty” stories for young adults is that I want them to connect with my characters–the loners, the abused, the neglected, the seekers who have only a dim light to guide them. I want them to see they aren’t alone and that others, maybe the author, have experienced and understand what they’re going through. 
4. How does your writing/creating process work?
I wish I knew. If someone could see inside my brain and explain what’s going on, I’d pay a lot of money to them. Each book comes to me in a different way. Sometimes I write the end first. Sometimes I write all kinds of scenes, in no particular order. Sometimes I doodle for hours, walk, pout and give up being a writer because I’m sure I’m not one of those.

Now be sure to check out these two fine writers next Monday, August 4 and see what their answers to these questions are.
CARRIE’S BLOG
CARRIE BUTLER
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.Her passion for New Adult fiction led her to co-found NA Alley—one of the first websites dedicated to the category. A year later, she started a design business specializing in graphics for the publishing industry, called Forward Authority. Her Mark of Nexus series has appeared on Amazon bestselling, top-rated, and hot new release lists in various genres.

STEPHEN TREMP 
Stephen Tremp lives with his wife and two daughters in Mission Viejo, CA. He has a B.A. in information systems and an MBA degree in global management. Stephen has a background in information systems, management, and finance and draws from this varied and complex experiential knowledge to write one-of-a-kind thrillers.
His novels are enhanced by current events at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and other scientific research facilities around the world. These potential advances have the ability to change the way we perceive our universe and our place in it! You can email Stephen at [email protected] and visit him at his WEBSITE for more synopses, reviews, and links to purchase or download his books from Amazon. 

Part 2: The Pros Give Us Some Advice and What About Talking to Editors Anyway?

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Last week I started a series that featured some writer friends who have some excellent books out this year. I asked them to send me their latest book, their tagline and a short piece of advice they wanted to pass on to writers, especially those still seeking publication. Last week CHERYL RAINFIELD visited. Today I have one of my critique partners, YVONNE VENTRESCA. Waving at YV! Take it away.
Now available at AMAZON and B and N

Tagline: In Pandemic, a teenage girl struggles to survive not only a deadly influenza outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.

Advice from YV: Author Richard Bach said, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” Persistence is definitely key in this business. Good writing is certainly important, but there’s something to be said for not giving up.

Thanks Great Critique Partner. 

******
And now about talking to editors.

The first time I had a chance to talk to an editor in person was at a conference, and my tongue kept sticking to the roof of my mouth. No wonder she didn’t have any encouragement for me. How could she ever work with an author who couldn’t get her ideas across.

My next encounter with an editor was much smoother. I could talk. I could tell her what my idea was and why I was presenting it to her. Hurray! I was learning. Here are some tips that I used in that second face-to-face with someone I wanted to interest in my book.
  • I planned for this meeting far in advance. I knew about the editor, what she was looking for, and I knew about her press–what they’d recently published. I was confident my book was a match for her and her company.

  • Just before the conference, I interacted with her via Twitter. She was posting about her walk on the beach (the conference was on the CA coast), so I Tweeted her that I lived nearby and knew the place she was describing. That’s all. No pitch. No hustle. 

  • I made sure to attend the social gatherings, met her and talked about her walk on the beach. Again, that was all. I kept it social, but I wanted her to know I was the one who had Tweeted her earlier. 

  • I arrived exactly on time for our fifteen minute meeting. It was easy to greet her since we’d already had two informal encounters.

  • Earlier, I’d paid careful attention to her presentation on the editors’ panel, and I used this line to start our conversation about my proposal. ” I liked what you said about realistic fiction for teens. It made me think you might be interested in my idea.”  

  • I had my tagline memorized, and I told her I would follow up with a query if she was interested in my idea. 
I admit that she didn’t buy my manuscript, but she did ask for it, and she gave me some excellent advice when she turned me down. I know it was her advice that led to my sale of that book later because it changed the book from one that wouldn’t sell, to one that might. I don’t think she would have bothered if I hadn’t laid some ground work to meet her and present my idea clearly. 

While my sale didn’t happen as I’d hoped, it did happen, and I believe it was because I’d made a connection with this editor, and she was willing to take the time to help me.

Did you like YV’s quote? Be sure to check out her book. It’s good. Any other ideas on meeting with editors/agents? Oh, and Happy Bastille Day.

Beating The Bushes For Those Professionals-Part 1

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My last installment was about doing everything yourself. If you’re not ready to take on The Whole Enchilada, you’re going to need some professional help.

GET THEE TO AN EDITOR:

I’ve already urged you to use a professional proof editor as the last editor to consult before going to press or sending your digital book out for readers. But you may need more than simple proof reading, you may feel the need to consult with a professional on more global issues in your manuscript.

EMMA DRYDEN has been in children’s book publishing for 25 years. Nearly 19 of those were with Simon  & Schuster. Now she has launched a business of her own in which she offers editorial and creative services to authors of children’s books.

My editor, EVELYN FAZIO, has 32 years of publishing experience and has worked at Simon & Schuster/Prentice-Hall, Random House, Marshall Cavendish, and M.E. Sharpe. A former Vice President of E-Content Acquisitions for Baker & Taylor. She’s now freelance editing, and I can highly recommend her. She never guided me wrong with my first two books, and from my experience she has a keen sense about what a book needs to bring it to publication. I hope to work with Evelyn again.


Barbara Watson has recently set up her editing business, and in November I’ll try to lure her onto The Write Game to tell us more about her career and what she offers to writers. Find out more about her  EDITING SERVICE.

IF YOU’RE NOT A WHIZ AT MOVIE MAKING . . .

Now I’m going to show you why you need professional help with that book trailer by totally embarrassing myself. Below is what I was pulling together for my book trailer . . . on my own . . . no help except from my computer. Then my primary Critic-Help Mate-Chief-Of-WhackUp-The-Side-Of-The Head (AKA husband) said, “You’ve got to be kidding.” No, he was kinder than that. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Get a professional, honey.”

I rest my case and give you the link to the professional I hired. MISTY TAGGART who blogs at TRAILER TO THE STARS and you’ve probably seen her product because I proudly display it at the head of my blog.
In Beating The Bushes For Those Professionals-Part 2 I’ll see what I can come up with that might be helpful on the topics of Distribution and Buzz. In the meantime, if you know of an editor you’d recommend or another way to create an exciting trailer give us that contact information. Also in October there’s going to be a special post with Karen G. (Coming Down the Mountain) and me about SMALL PRESSES, so I’ll let you know when that’s up on Karen’s blog.