The House That I Built

There's a house being built across the street from us. So far, all they've done is clear the wooded land so there's a nice flat spot to build the house.

The other day, I was thinking about how this cleared land is like our writing. We all start out with cleared land, or a blank sheet of paper, rather. But line by line, brick by brick, we build our "house."

Some of our homes are simple. The materials we use to build them aren't very fancy. No elaborate detailing or expensive framework, but it is a home and it serves its purpose. Just like in writing, some writing is simple in nature, straightforward, not flowery or full of descriptive language. And there's nothing wrong with that, because there are many types of homes just like there are many types of writing styles that translate into many different kinds of books.

Other homes are massive, with rounded archways and drive-through porte-cochère's. And while they are beautiful to look at (and money aside), if it's not your style, then it won't be the right house for you. Same goes with writing. If you aren't a literary writer, don't force it just to try to fit in with a trend. Write what you want to write. If it's simple but full of heart, there's an audience for you out there.

But lastly, don't skimp on your materials. Whether you're building a simple house or an elaborate house, it's all in the materials. As writers, we have so many resources available to us. We have beta readers and critique partners (have I told you lately how much I love my beta readers and CP's?); we also have books that lay out the do's and don'ts of writing; we have writing conferences to attend and writing blogs to read.

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And if that's not enough, you also have the most important thing—YOU.

When you're building your house, you know what works and what doesn't. You know what will make you happy and what won't. Get other opinions, but don't forget to rely on the most important thing. Your own creativity.

What kind of house have you built?

IWSG July: Final Four

Hi everyone! I can't believe it's already July—where is the summer going? Before I know it, my kids will be back in school and I'm seriously dreading that! I'm loving the no-schedule thing!

Well, since it's the first of July, it's time for another group posting of the IWSG! It's a time for writers to air our insecurities or triumphs and offer support and encouragement to other writers. As always, a big thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for starting this awesome group! And thank you to the co-hosts for today: Charity Bradford, S.A. Larsen, AJ, Tamara Narayan, Allison Gammons, and Tanya Miranda!

I'm not feeling insecure this month, instead, I kind of feel like I'm floating on Cloud 9! The past month has been a really good ego-boost for me. And hopefully this feeling will carry on as I begin to query my YA Contemporary MIDDLE OF KNOWHERE.

As many of you already know, a few weeks ago I was chosen to be on one of the teams for Query Kombat. And thus began my amazing ride! After weeks of "battles" against other Kombatants and after beating out four of my opponents, I made it to the Final Four round. Now, can I just say that I never in my wildest dreams would have thought I'd make it that far! In fact, over this past year as I've queried a different manuscript and entered contests with it, I didn't get anywhere in those contests. Making it into the Final Four is seriously like a dream—or an answer to a prayer.

Anyhoo, I got knocked out in the Final Four round BUT I was finally able to see my agent requests from the Agent Round. And the total number of requests I received is...Seven!

I'm super excited, especially because I haven't even started querying KNOWHERE yet. But, as always, I don't want to get my hopes up. But one thing is certain, being in Query Kombat has given me the confidence I need to keep going at this trying-to-get-an-agent thing. I can do this. It may take months, it may take years, but at least I know I'm in it for the long haul.

Thanks, as always, for all of your support! I am always amazed by how wonderful writers are, especially when it comes to cheering on fellow writers.

Happy Wednesday!

I Choose Beautiful

How many of you are familiar with the Dove Choose Beautiful Campaign?

This YouTube video was recently brought to my attention, and if you haven't seen it, you need to. As women, we sometimes devalue our beauty. As women, we tend to think of ourselves as "average" or "mediocre" or nothing "special." But the truth is, we are ALL special. We ALL have something to offer. We are all beautiful.

Yet, in the video, time after time, many women chose the "Average" door. Why? Because they didn't think they could call themselves beautiful? Or they didn't want to be judged off of other's perceptions? How often do we maybe "feel" beautiful but then think that others wouldn't label us as such?

                             

And why is that? Is it because there is a preconceived notion of what makes someone beautiful? Full lips, flawless skin, size 2 body? 

Of course not. Women are beautiful based on who they are, not how they look. Throughout history, women have made a difference. Women have spoken out for what they believe. Take Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who stood up for education and was shot in the face by a member of the Taliban. One side of her face may now be disfigured, but she is BEAUTIFUL!  She is embracing the fact that she may never look the same, but she knows that her words are more important than her physical features. Her words can change the world, more so than her looks every could.

I recently read this book for book club and it was inspiring. As women, there are so many things we can do to make a difference. Sometimes even the smallest thing can help change the world. And that, my friends, is where our beauty lies. Not in the structure of our face or the shape of our bodies, but in the size of our hearts. 

So, the question is....

Which door would you choose?

On a side note, I made it to Round 3 of Query Kombat with my entry Life Sucks—I'm Stuck in Podunk. It started out as 64 Kombatants and we are now down to 16 of us which means only 8 match-ups left. The next round begins Monday! Wish me luck!

Book Review: An Absence of Light

As part of this Book Review Tour, I received an eARC copy of AN ABSENCE OF LIGHT by Meradeth Houston in exchange for an honest review.

The novel grabbed my attention right away by opening with the murder of the main character's family. Of course, it made me want to read on to find out who or what killed them. Forced to flee because of the evidence stacked against her, the MC, Lee, finds herself out of gas with no money, stopped in front of a car repair garage. It almost seems like fate when the owner of the garage is the only person she's ever met who can see the Shadows too. And this middle-aged man, Manuel, is kind enough to take her in without asking too many questions or needing too many answers.

The concept of these otherworldly "creatures" is extremely unique in that they feed off darkness or evil. And soon they begin taking over the bodies of innocent people, eating their soul from inside out. They've set their sights on Lee because she's one of the few people who can kill these vicious "things." Then you add Adam, the cute but distant guy who's been "marked" by the Shadows, and you have an interesting setup. On one hand, they are desperately trying to stay alive and kill as many Shadows as they can while trying to figure out the Shadows ulterior plan, but also there's a connection between Adam and Lee that's almost palpable.

Even though this isn't a genre I would normally read, I really enjoyed it. There were places where the book slowed down a bit, but those scenes were nicely contrasted with a high action scene. And of course, the romantic tension between Lee and Adam makes you want to fly through the pages to find out if they do ever end up together. The ending was a satisfying (although sad) one. I won't say anymore because I don't want to give anything away.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers/horror with science fiction elements and a little romance.

Here's a little more about the book and author.

An Absence of Light by Meradeth Houston
Published by: Evernight Teen
Publication date: October 31st 2014
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Leah’s always seen the shadow creatures. She thought she was immune to their evil—until now.
She’s walked into a massacre, stolen a BMW, and is running from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. Nineteen-year-old Leah’s life just went from mildly abnormal to totally crazy at lightning speed. But no one will believe that the shadow creatures are framing her for the murder, because she’s the only one that can see them. At least that’s what she thought.
When Leah stumbled across a group who share her ability, she discovers they have something she doesn’t: a way to fight back. When the group offers to teach her how to kill the shadow creatures, Leah jumps at the chance. But something is brewing with the creatures. They’re tracking down the hunters like there’s no tomorrow. Leah suspects that maybe there won’t be, and it’s up to her to make sure tomorrow comes. Because she’ll do anything to stop the shadows, including risking her life—and the life of the one she loves—to keep the world from being lost to darkness forever.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23357906-an-absence-of-light?ac=1

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Absence-Light-Meradeth-Houston-ebook/dp/B00OY1ZFJW/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-absence-of-light-meradeth-houston/1120690665?ean=9781772330922

AUTHOR BIO:

Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:

>She’s a Northern California girl. And now is braving the cold winters in Montana.
>When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
>She’s also an anthropology professor and loves getting people interested in studying humans.
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.

Author links:

http://www.meradethhouston.com/

https://twitter.com/MeradethHouston

https://www.facebook.com/MeradethHouston
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5321667.Meradeth_Houston

Happy Reading!!

**Updated: I almost forgot to fill you in on how the Query Kombat contest is going. I made it to the Agent Round which is happening RIGHT NOW! I'm thrilled because my entry received 2 Wild Card full manuscript requests from 2 different agents. I won't know how many other requests I've received until I've been knocked out of the contest, but I'm getting excited that there is probably more. *Keeping my fingers crossed!*

Oh, and if you want to check out my entry, you can find it HERE. :)

Also, it's my week to host Unicorn Bell and I'm talking about two of my favorite things...books and cookies! Stop on by for some great book reviews and yummy cookie recipes. Today, I'm reviewing THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, a YA Contemporary that I absolutely fell in love with. You can read my review HERE.

                                                       

IWSG June: Query Kombat

Hi everyone!

It's time for another group posting of the IWSG—a group created to offer support to writers no matter what their stage in publishing or writing. It's a time to air our insecurities or triumphs and offer hope and support for others. A big thank you as always to our amazing ninja captain Alex Cavanaugh for creating this monthly blog hop. And thank you to the co-hosts as well:  M. Pax, Tracy Jo, Patricia Lynne, Rachna Chhabria, Feather Stone, and Randi Lee!

You may have seen a previous posting where I announced I made it into the first round of The Writer's Voice (which really meant I was one of the lucky ones who was chosen through the Rafflecopter drawing.)  I had entered my YA near future thriller I've been querying for the past few months. Well...I wasn't chosen for a team, so my journey with that contest is over.

BUT...

I recently submitted a different MS (or my query and first 250 of a brand new, shiny MS that I wrote while querying Catalyst) to Query Kombat and guess what?! I made it into the 1st Round!!!

As of right now, I am "battling" against the query and first 250 of another Kombatant and if I win (which it looks like I might) then I move on to the next round which is the AGENT ROUND!

I'm feeling pretty excited right now. I never got this far in any contest with Catalyst. But I did what everyone says to do...I wrote another manuscript. Obviously, I don't know what will happen next or if this will be THE ONE to get me an agent, but I know that all I can do is hope. And keep writing.

**For anyone interested in checking out my entry or the battle I'm currently in, you can find it HERE. My entry is Life Sucks—I'm Stuck in Podunk.

Writer's Voice Entry: Catalyst

I was lucky enough to win a spot in The Writer's Voice! *squeal* For those of you who don't know, The Writer's Voice is a contest in which I post my query and first 250 words of my manuscript in the hopes that I'm chosen for a team that will take me to the agent round. So, here goes...

Query:

In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose genetic modification for their children, eighteen-year-old Sienna Preston clings to the one thing she’s good at—the art of lying. 

After the mysterious death of her father, Sienna uses her liar-for-hire skills to help support her family. As a “normal” girl among the genetically modified—or GM’s—the world around her is a little too pretty, a little too smart, and a little too cruel. Especially since her love interest is the GM's finest.

But not all liar-for-hire assignments go according to plan. And when her covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, Sienna becomes entangled with a corrupt Government official hell-bent on taking her down. Using her lying, thieving past as leverage—and her mother as collateral—Commander Radcliffe forces Sienna to make a difficult choice. Kill the father of the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for or be sent to Solitary Confinement. For the rest of her life.

Or perhaps there is another option…Like joining forces with an extremist group and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad.

Problem is, even an underground Compound can't escape the fiery missiles of the Government's drones. 

Complete at 100,000 words, Catalyst is a YA near future thriller with strong romantic elements.

First 250:

The bio fridge hums with its latest addition—a package of dehydrated bologna.

“The shelf life for product Meat Delite will expire in one month and two days,” the automated voice chimes in.

I sigh in disgust. If I have to eat one more package of that crap, I might just vomit in my mouth. Seriously.

I eye the sparse contents inside the gelled portion of the fridge. The tube of yogurt looks decidedly better than the bottled pickles. And definitely better than Meat Crap Delite. I grab the purple yogurt tube and tear into it.

As the door closes with a click, I stare at my reflection in the tinted glass. The circles under my eyes are a dead giveaway that I haven’t had any sleep. I’m not used to pulling all-nighters, which might also explain why I feel like a ravenous beast.

I suck down the pomegranate-blueberry flavored creamy goodness and listen for sounds of movement inside our double-wide. But all I hear is the steady whir of the solar panels absorbing the heat from the rising sun. Mama and Emily must still be asleep.

Squeezing the tube to get every last drop of yogurt, I slump down in a recycled kitchen chair and mumble to Iris to show me the news.

“Good morning, Sienna. Here are the news highlights for today.” The small Com Screen begins buffering the latest headlines. If I did my job right, the news should lead off with a disgraced Honorable Tanner Caldwell being led away in handcuffs.

****

A BIG thank you to our lovely hosts Brenda Drake, Krista Van Dolzer, Elizabeth Briggs, and
Mónica Bustamante Wagner for this wonderful opportunity. And to my fellow entrants, best of luck!

Saturday Six

Hi, everyone. I've often heard of the Friday Five, but for today, I decided to do the Saturday Six and give you six updates about myself. It's been a while since I've given an update, so this is long overdue!

1) I sent the manuscript for my YA contemporary, Middle of Knowhere, to my CP this week. I think she likes it so far, but I can't wait to see what she really thinks. :)



2) I survived the Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet this week. (Did I mention that I'm the Cubmaster for our pack?) Yep, so I planned, decorated, and executed the event, and boy, am I glad that's over! It was a Minion theme. Cute, huh?























3) Last night, I went to a Zumba fundraiser for a little boy at our elementary school who has cancer. Bring It 4 Brayon. You can find info all over the web about him. He is basically dancing his way through his cancer treatments, and he is unbelievable for a little six-year-old. He was on the Ellen Degeneres Show this past week, and she fell in LOVE with him. Last night, our small rural town raised...*insert drumroll please*  THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!! *cue the squeals*

He is such a brave little boy who has captured the hearts of many!

4) I am still querying my YA near future thriller, CATALYST. There are still a few agents who have my manuscript and I'm waiting to hear back from them before I send more queries. The waiting is the hardest part! BUT, in the meantime, I have a couple contests I'll be entering in the next couple of weeks. Query Kombat and The Writer's Voice.






5) My husband was out of town recently and I had a book "marathon" while he was away. I read like 4 books in 2 days. They were all YA contemporary books so it was great to compare them to my own YA contemporary manuscript. I came away feeling pretty good. And the cool thing about 3 of those books...they were FREE and they were SIGNED! I won them in a Giveaway over on Magen Corrie's website. Gotta love Giveaways!!

6) My son's birthday is coming up at the end of this month. Remember how I did a Frozen party last year? If not, you can click HERE to find out...Anyways, this year he wants an Avengers party. Sooo, I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next couple of weeks...

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Hope you're having a fabulous weekend! What's up with you?