Reading Counts

Like most writers, my love of books began at an early age. When I was small, my mother read to me. Constantly. Once I was old enough to read by myself, I read anything I could get my hands on. In my room, I had a small walk-in closet that housed a white bookshelf. This bookshelf was filled with my favorite books and my favorite book series. I remember hiding out in my closet for hours, surrounded by books and words and stories. Stories that took me to faraway places and into the lives of characters I loved.

I remember this book! source

Loved this series. source

I spent many hot summer afternoons curled up on my blue comforter, reading Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley Twins, and the Babysitters Club. But once I hit high school, the reading stopped. For some reason, I became too busy to read. Too busy with things like cheerleading, soccer, show choir, honor society, class offices, and other clubs. The only reading I did was for English classes, and then I devoured the Shakespeare plays and The Grapes of Wrath. Others complained about reading and bought the cliff notes, but not me. (Okay, maybe I did get the cliff notes once or twice, but ONLY because I wanted a BETTER understanding.)

Needless to say, college wasn't much better as far as "finding the time." And then I was married and had small children. When you're wiping poopy bottoms and cleaning up slop off the floor, there isn't too much time for reading. But when my husband was in law school, there was a group of women who had a book club and that got me back into reading. Then more children came (and more children came) and all the while I WAS reading. To my children every day and every night. Books like Goodnight Moon and DinoTrux and Where the Wild Things Are as I raise my own little "wild things."

And then I heard the truth. If I want to be a better writer, then I HAVE to read. What a great excuse to pick up a book and immerse myself. And when my husband comes home from work, I get to have a conversation like this:

Hubby looks around the untidy house. "What did you do today?"

I hold up the book I've been reading. "Research!"

Can't get better than that!

What were some of YOUR favorite books as a kid?

IWSG December—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It's that time again...Time for another posting of the IWSG (or the Insecure Writer's Support Group for those of you not familiar with it). As always, a big thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this monthly blog hop where we air our insecurities and offer encouragement and support for other writers. The IWSG is a great group to be a part of, so if you haven't signed up yet, you can go HERE to do so.

Also, a big thank you to the awesome co-hosts for today: Heather Gardner, T. Drecker from Kidbits, Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins.

As many of you know, I'm in the process of querying my young adult novel, so you'd think my insecurities would stem from the query or publishing process. However, as of right now, I'm feeling pretty good about where I'm at in this query process.

So, what are my insecurities for this month?

I recently decided to delve into a novel I wrote a while back. It's one that has been sitting and sitting because as soon as I finished it, I realized that I could probably never publish it. At least not under my real name.

This work is raw, emotional, and it's real. It exposes the good, the bad, and the ugly side of love and relationships. My husband (who is ALWAYS my very first beta reader) says it's my best work thus far. And as I've been reading through it and revising the heck out of it, I think I'd have to agree with him.

But the problem is, I can't publish it.

I'd be too embarrassed. Too afraid of what others might think.

So, I have two options: I can revise it until it will make others happy. Or I can leave it as is and let all the ugly parts of me show.

What would you do?

The 777 Challenge

I'm sure many of you have heard of this thing going around the blogosphere referred to as the 777 Challenge. So I was stoked when my good friend and critique partner, Leandra Wallace, tagged me for the challenge. I've been trying to decide what WIP I want to share with you all, and I finally decided on a contemporary romance I wrote about a year ago. It's been "sitting" for a while, but still desperately needs to be revised. And when the time comes, I may need some beta readers...

                                                                             ~~~~~

She glanced at her neighbors across the aisle; a young couple cuddled up together, the girl’s head resting on the boy’s shoulder. A twinge of jealousy washed over her. She and Jack used to be like that. Young and in love and barely able to keep their hands off each other, but somewhere along the way things changed. He changed. She changed. They grew apart.

An ache started in Tara’s chest and moved up her throat. She tried to swallow the lump that formed, but she couldn’t get rid of it, almost as if she had a giant chicken bone lodged there, making it nearly impossible to swallow and even more impossible to breathe. Tears stung her eyes as a thousand memories flooded forth. Memories of good times, laughter, and a distinct fire between her and Jack. A fire that over time diminished and then gradually extinguished.

Turning away from the couple, she focused on the wispy clouds and quickly wiped her tears. She wouldn’t cry over him. She refused to give him the satisfaction.

Focus on the anger. Focus on the anger. 

Unfortunately, even those words couldn’t ease the pain in her chest and ache in her heart.

      ~~~~~

So, here's how the Challenge works. Choose a manuscript or WIP, find the 7th page, scroll down to the 7th line, and share the next 7 lines or so. Piece of cake. And now, I get to choose who I want to tag for this fun challenge....

        >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Drum Roll Please>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


My amazing blogger buddies: Elizabeth Seckman, Sheri Larsen, Chrys Fey, Crystal Collier


And any of YOU who want to join the fun, feel free. Just post your excerpt in the comments below or on your own blog!

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

This Writer Mom...

In an attempt to shake things up a bit and mesh three things I love—writing, being a mother, and design, I decided to create these posts titled "This Writer Mom." Based on color and style, I will match pictures of "mothers" to their ideal writing (and perhaps lounging or dining location). It's a fun way to incorporate design elements into my blog while still maintaining a focus on writing. Hope you enjoy!

This Writer Mom...

                         amiependlephotography.com

Sleeps here...

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Writes here...

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Cooks here...

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SCBWI Conference-A Time to Connect

I'm finally getting around to posting about the SCBWI Carolinas conference I attended in September. Now, obviously, I can't give you details about what I learned in the classes offered because we've been asked not to do that, but I can tell you that I came away invigorated. Renewed. And ready to write.

The best thing about the conference was having a break from my kids meeting other people who are as obsessed with writing as I am. It is always amazing when you immediately connect with another person. I enjoyed meeting other writer moms who are trying to balance writing and mothering. We could definitely relate to each other!

Here I am pictured with some of the amazing women I met:

So fun!!

We had three agents and several editors attend this years conference. Unfortunately, I didn't sign up for a critique session, which I have now learned is a MUST! But I did take the opportunity to introduce myself to one of the agents. I was so scared. So nervous. I had to talk myself into it, but I'm so glad I swallowed my fear and just DID IT! I don't know how many of you know the lovely Christa Heschke, but she is truly the nicest person and so easy to talk to. I knew I wanted to meet her because of a blog post she wrote only days before the conference. Her words helped ease my anxiety of approaching a real, live agent. If you're nervous about talking to an agent at a conference, then you MUST read this post.

I also had the opportunity to meet authors in the Charlotte area. And I got to chat with the amazingly talented Carrie Ryan (NYT Bestselling author of the YA novel, Forest of Hands and Teeth, who I hope to interview in the coming months. *keeping fingers crossed*)

When I got home from the conference, my house was still intact, and my children had been fed and cared for (pretty much). Just kidding. My husband did a wonderful job taking care of the kids while I was gone. But they sure did give me BIG hugs when I got home. I think they might have missed me (just a little).

Oh, and this is my week on Unicorn Bell, so please stop by and say 'hi.' If you are in the process of querying right now, you may benefit from the info. Thanks!

How about you? Been to any writing conferences lately?

IWSG November—Good enough?

The first Wednesday of every month is reserved for the Insecure Writers Support Group (also known as the IWSG). If you are interested in joining this awesome group where we post our insecurities and triumphs, as well as offer encouragement to fellow writers, you can sign up HERE. Created by the amazing Alex Cavanaugh, the IWSG is a wonderful group to be a part of.

I realized something recently (and for most of you, this will come as no shock, you've probably known it all along). I realized how subjective this whole publishing process truly is. A novel one person might not care for, another person might love.

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I recently entered my shiny new YA novel into a contest held by other writers. The goal was to be chosen from the slush pile and go on to be presented on the blogs of said writers so that agents could read and request material. I didn't make it out of the slush pile. Sure, it was a bummer at first, but then I decided to query the very first agent on my list. And guess what? He requested the full that same day. In a matter of minutes I went from complete and total letdown to doing the happy dance. Go figure.

I know nothing could come of this request. Like so many writers who have gone before me, the query trail is paved with rejection. And of course, AFTER I sent my completed manuscript to said agent, I noticed the mistakes. Commas flying here, there, and everywhere. An added "the" where there should be none. Of course.

And while I haven't received my first rejection for my YA novel YET (it's a little too early in the game), I am steeling myself. They will come. I know it as sure as I know the names of my children (which I have to admit I DO forget every now and then, well, not so much as forget as I sometimes get flustered when they are misbehaving, and I call them the wrong name until I get to the right one. Anyhoo...)

Those rejections will pour in like floodwaters. But you know what? That's okay. All it takes is one. One yes. One person who is willing to take a chance on me. So, if I'm insecure about anything this month, it's that. Am I good enough? And will someone recognize my potential.

What about you? What are your insecurities for this month?

Release Day Launch—Nobody Knows by Kyra Lennon

Today is the release day for Nobody Knows by Kyra Lennon. I'm happy to be able to showcase her latest New Adult book.

Title: Nobody Knows (Razes Hell Book 1)

Author: Kyra Lennon

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Najila Qamber Design

Photographer: Lindee Robinson Photography

Synopsis:

It's not easy being friends with rising rock stars - especially when you're the glue that holds them together.

Razes Hell has taken off in the charts, and Ellie can't believe her childhood friends, Drew and Jason Brooks, are on TV and drawing crowds after years spent playing in dodgy bars. From obscurity to overnight success, Ellie soon realises life in the public eye isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as dark secrets become headline news and old conflicts are re-ignited. When a fake feud meant to boost the band’s popularity threatens to rip the boys apart for real, Ellie finds herself torn – a position which only gets more uncomfortable when her loyalty to Jason collides with her blossoming relationship with Drew.

Nobody knows how deep their issues run; nobody but Ellie. With friendship, a music career and a new love on the line, can Ellie keep their tangled pasts from ruining their futures?

Pre-order links: AMAZON | AMAZON UK

Author Bio:

Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.

Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Release Day Party on Kyra's Author FB Page

Release Party - Friday November 7th - Hosts TBA

::: Facebook Event :::

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