Wednesday, June 18, 2014

What's Up Wednesday and Exacting Essence

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by sisters Jamie Morrow and Erin Funk to help writers connect on this writing journey.


WHAT I'M READING
I started Elizabeth Seckman's Past Due yesterday, and now I'm almost done! I've had a hard time putting it down. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and hooked by the plot. I'm a huge romantic, and this book doesn't disappoint. (Why else would I be staring at my computer screen for hours on end completely immersed in the story?) I can't wait to see how it ends...

WHAT I'M WRITING
Since I finished the first draft of my YA dystopian, I've been revising more than writing, but the truth is, I kind of get a little depressed when I finish a novel. Maybe it's because I feel a bit of a let down that the story is "over" or maybe because when I write I feel like I can take on the world. I need that creative outlet. I'm hoping I can finish revisions soon and start on the second book in the series.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW
Music. I created a playlist for my YA novel because there were so many songs that inspired me as I wrote. I always write to music (sometimes it is very soft in the background), and I love it when I hear a song and the words fit so perfectly with my current WIP.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
Well, I survived the Frozen party! For those of you new to my blog, my son requested a Frozen party for his 5th birthday, and knowing that I go all out when it comes to decorating, he was like a slave driver! Constantly, he asked me when I was going to work on his party, and if I shifted my focus to something else, he whined that it wouldn't be ready in time. So glad it's over...I plan to post pictures soon...maybe Friday?

Also, I was recently asked to write a story for a Youth Girls Camp that hundreds of girls attend every summer for a week. The leader of the camp wants to convince the girls that deep beauty, inner beauty is the most important kind of beauty. She asked me to write a story, almost like a fairytale, that will illustrate this important concept. She also asked me to come to the camp and read it to the teenage girls during one of their nightly devotionals. The story will be printed and each girl will receive a copy to take home. I'm excited for this opportunity, but also feeling a little overwhelmed. This is such an important message to convey to our youth. The world would have us believe that beauty is skin deep, but I want them to understand that their beauty is measured by who they are and the good things they do, not by the texture of their hair or shape of their body. I hope I receive the inspiration I need to write it and write it well.


    And now on to a Book Release!
                                                                      *****


A BIG congratulations to James Wymore and his latest book, Exacting Essence.


Author Bio:

On a lifelong search for fantastic worlds hiding just out of sight, James Wymore writes to explore. With three books and six short stories in print after just one year, he continues to push the boundaries of imagination. Journey with him at http://jameswymore.wordpress.com/


Book Blurb:
Remember waking up late in the night after a nightmare? Your mother holding you tight and whispering it's all just a dream and everything would be all right?

She lied.

Evil clowns haunted Megan's dreams for years. Even though nobody ever said she was crazy, she knew they were all thinking it. With her life falling apart, she turns suicidal until a new therapist suggests the impossible: dreams are real. Nightmares are living, breathing predators, feeding on dreamers' fears by Exacting Essence.

Most, of course, forget theirs as soon as they wake up. Megan is not so lucky. She's also not so powerless.

But is even a power nurtured within her dreams enough to fight off the horrors lurking just beyond the veil of sleep?


Interested in reading more? You can find Exacting Essence At Amazon and Barnes and Noble.


Be sure to enter the Goodreads Giveaway here.



Also, if you want a little teaser, check out the book trailer below.







So, what have you been up to? Have you read Elizabeth Seckman's book yet? Are you excited for James' new book?




18 comments:

  1. What a cool opportunity to write a story for those girls. You'll do an awesome job I'm sure.
    And glad you survived the Frozen party.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And sorry, Kristin! You're in my sidebar now under Ninja Army One.

      Delete
    2. Awesome! Thanks, Alex! So glad I get to be a part of the Ninja Army! :)

      Delete
  2. Oh no. You're not alone with feeling empty and let down at the end of writing a novel. I feel even a sense of grief and loss, like I'm not sure what to do next. I hate that feeling.

    I'm so excited for you to write for those girls! You'll be awesome. It's always a wonderful opportunity to share your writer-self with kids. Woot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are one busy woman! Good luck with the story for the girls. You'll do great! :)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Youth Girls Camp story invitation sounds awesome! What a wonderful opportunity to empower young ladies.
    Writer In Transit

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's great about the Youth Girls Camp story! And grats on surviving the Frozen party. My daughter is in love with that movie.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I also make playlists for all of my projects! And yes, songs that exactly match what I'm writing give me goosebumps. :-D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Glad you've found some awesome books to read:) And you should celebrate having finihsed your book! We writers have got to take our victories when they come:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I still have not seen Frozen. Glad the party went well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Haha, I was wondering about the Frozen party - thanks for reporting back, and I'm glad all went well!!

    Congratulations on the story for Youth Camp - what an incredible opportunity. I'd be overwhelmed, too. The best advice I can give is to focus on the story and the characters, and let the message (important as it is) come second. That will help your audience connect with the message even better in the long run.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats that you got through the frozen party:) What an honour to write about beauty and the meaning behind it not just surface. You will do it justice. Clowns always seem to have a bit of an evil side-very cool idea for the book

    ReplyDelete
  11. That sounds like a great book you're reading! I'll have to look it up. I'm looking forward to the Frozen party photos. I'll bet it was fun! Congratulations on being asked to write the story for the Youth Girls Camp! I'd be nervous, too, but I'm sure you'll come up with a great story. And congrats to James Wymore on his new book. The clown in the trailer is creepy!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Kristin! I just found your blog through Celebrate the Small Things. I think it's great that you feel depressed when you're done writing a novel. That tells me you are passionate about your characters and your story. I need to get there. When I'm done with revision after revision, I'm relieved it's over. However, I do miss my characters as if they are real friends.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sorry to hear you get depressed whenever you finish a novel. Good luck wrapping up your current revisions so you can finally jump into a new book! Good luck with the story you were asked to write, as well. What an exciting opportunity!

    Also, hurray for surviving the Frozen party! Pics would definitely be fun to see... :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. So awesome to have your first draft completed. I like and hate the editing part. It's the little things that I miss, but editing makes the book shine.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Kristin! I'm Heather and I wanted to know if you would be willing to answer my question about your blog! If you could email me at Lifesabanquet1(at)gmail(dot)com that would be great!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Evil clowns? That's unique! I couldn't help but notice you read books on your computer screen? I read Elizabeth's Fate Intended in paperback and that was the first book I've read that wasn't on a Kindle in a couple of years.

    ReplyDelete

I LOVE reading your comments!! Thanks for taking the time to leave one!

BLOGSPOT TEMPLATE BY DESIGNER BLOGS