How to Promote Online, by Debra Burroughs, author of She Had No Choice
Whether you are traditionally published, small press published, or self published, I have learned that most, if not all, marketing is put on the shoulders of the author. Unless you are a well-known author or a shooting star, you have to be prepared to promote your work yourself.
Most authors I know would rather do almost anything than wear the “Marketing” hat. But in today’s publishing world, like successful author and blogger D.D. Scott says, “You better put your big girl panties on,” and do it.
The first online page you should concentrate on is your Author Page on Amazon.com. If you haven’t uploaded your photo and bio to this page, stop what you’re doing right now and take care of it. Go to: https://authorcentral.amazon.com, log in with your username and password, click on Profile in the blue bar at the top, and use the tools on the right on the next page. Easy peasy.
The second online presence you should have is a Facebook page. Some people say you should have a personal page, some say have an author page, some say have a page for each of your books, and some say have all of the above. I don’t know who’s right. I have a personal page and an author page where I will promote all of my books. Go on Facebook several times a day (early morning, noon, and evening) and post something interesting so people want to be “Friends” with you and come back. You can post about your books sometimes, but show people you are a real person with some personality.
After Facebook, set up a Twitter account and learn to use it. I’m reading Twitter Power 2.0, by Joel Comm, right now to help me become an expert. Make sure to upload a photo to your Profile and write something interesting about yourself so when people check to see if they want to follow you, you can hook them with why they should want to follow you.
The next avenue of online promotion would be your website and/or blog. Some people blog every day, some only once a month, and others do it anywhere in between. It’s an excellent vehicle to drive your Facebook and Twitter followers to, so you can engage with them. Make sure you have a place where they can subscribe to your site and a “Contact Me” button so they can send an email to you.
My last bit of advice is to continually learn more about marketing. Every day, I receive a blog post in my email from TheWritersGuideToEpublishing.com with great tips on marketing and promoting books. I’m also reading We Are Not Alone, a book by Kristen Lamb, about building your brand and online marketing for writers. I go to KindleBoards.com/writerscafe and join the discussions. There’s just so much out there to know. Good luck!
About Debra Burroughs:
Debra Burroughs grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during a tumultuous time when the Civil Rights Movement was gearing up and racial tensions were mounting. Her parents moved the family to a more peaceful small town in the Central Valley of California.
Over the years, with a large Mexican family, she heard many stories about their history, particularly from her mother and grandmother. As she would relay these colorful and heart-wrenching family stories to her friends, many times she would hear them say, “You should really write a book about that.”
After continual encouragement and gentle prodding from her husband, she finally decided to do it. Now that their children are grown and gone, Debra has found a quiet place to write in their home in Boise, Idaho.
You can visit Debra Burroughs’ blog at www.DebraBurroughsBooks.com.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
10 Things I Didn’t Know Savvy Diva’s Take On…44 Days of Random Thoughts & Observations By Guest author Jahzara, the Savvy Diva
Days of Random Thoughts & Observations By Guest author Jahzara, the Savvy Diva
I made the decision to write my book two years ago, as I began blogging. Though I didn’t write everyday on my blog, I made sure on a daily basis that I jotted down my topics and thoughts. However, I had no idea that a good writer…a dedicated writer would experience so many turbulent issues.
In December 2009, my blog had been active for at least three months, my mind had produced a whole notebook of rants and thoughts, but my lack of focus and holiday influences conflicted with my-self inflicted deadline to have a book written and revised by the new year. Looking back, I can recall the following ten lessons I encountered while rallying internally to produce a higher level of creativity than I had done for my blog.
Discipline is the most important attribute any writer must have to become the great writer most of us desire to become. Without the discipline, the will to achieve a goal becomes mute.
Focus comes along with the discipline. If you lack focus then all of the goals you bellow out become only sound bytes of social conversation and not reality. I witnessed many obstacles destroy others who lacked the focus they so desired, and I was determined not to let my passion fade away without notice.
Friendships and the real meaning of a true friend becomes relevant but slowly diffuse to the category of non-existent once you realize your dreams and goals are…your dreams and goals; and not those of the people you thought were your friends. I learned during the process that the flaky people who called themselves friends were the ones who wanted to see me fail because my priorities for success were threatening their initiative to see me fail.
Rituals play a huge part in my creative process. I’ve been writing since grade school, but I never honed in on my writing ritual, I just wrote. But during the nine months it took me to write my book, I realized that my process of dancing and singing for a half hour before writing was needed to achieve the level of creativity.
Revisions are like the family member that no one likes having around…but without them, the family isn’t complete. Without revisions, my creative work wouldn’t have been good enough to release into the literary world. It took me many years to accept that my first draft could never be my last and final draft. Constant revisions make you look at your work differently each time, and with each round it improves.
Flexibility isn’t necessary the best attribute to have while writing because there is always room for deviating from the focus. I experienced many times the interruption of something exciting; whether it was a phone call or a knock at the door that prompted me to consider changing my writing schedule. I found that if I allowed the any distractions to command me to be flexible around the external activities of my writing space, I would never complete the task at hand to write, write and write.
Timelines and Outlines are necessary because without them both, my book would still be a work in progress and not a completed project. I make sure I set timelines for each chapter, and outline the chapters so it’s etched in my mind continuously…leaving me to be strong in my process. However, flexibility is something great to have with timelines because everything isn’t produced or doesn’t go as planned…especially the constant flow of creativity.
The words Final Draft don’t mean the project is final. Even though as a writer I am used to revision processes but the anxiety of waiting for copy editors and content editors to review and give notes and await your feedback and revisions is the most taunting task of writing. and the need to rewriteCommitment to the art of writing is one of the most rewarding lessons I have acquired along the way. Sharing my gift of writing is my passion and should always be the most important thing I think about when writing and not how much money I want to make from my gift. If writing is natural, the rewards will come naturally as well.
The Publishing Date was the most exciting date on the calendar of events for me during the process, but without flexibility around the process, it can be hardening to the soul when the release date changes continuously. My release date changed three times, and had I not been someone who loves to produce quality, my finished product wouldn’t be worthy enough to share today.
I made the decision to write my book two years ago, as I began blogging. Though I didn’t write everyday on my blog, I made sure on a daily basis that I jotted down my topics and thoughts. However, I had no idea that a good writer…a dedicated writer would experience so many turbulent issues.
In December 2009, my blog had been active for at least three months, my mind had produced a whole notebook of rants and thoughts, but my lack of focus and holiday influences conflicted with my-self inflicted deadline to have a book written and revised by the new year. Looking back, I can recall the following ten lessons I encountered while rallying internally to produce a higher level of creativity than I had done for my blog.
Discipline is the most important attribute any writer must have to become the great writer most of us desire to become. Without the discipline, the will to achieve a goal becomes mute.
Focus comes along with the discipline. If you lack focus then all of the goals you bellow out become only sound bytes of social conversation and not reality. I witnessed many obstacles destroy others who lacked the focus they so desired, and I was determined not to let my passion fade away without notice.
Friendships and the real meaning of a true friend becomes relevant but slowly diffuse to the category of non-existent once you realize your dreams and goals are…your dreams and goals; and not those of the people you thought were your friends. I learned during the process that the flaky people who called themselves friends were the ones who wanted to see me fail because my priorities for success were threatening their initiative to see me fail.
Rituals play a huge part in my creative process. I’ve been writing since grade school, but I never honed in on my writing ritual, I just wrote. But during the nine months it took me to write my book, I realized that my process of dancing and singing for a half hour before writing was needed to achieve the level of creativity.
Revisions are like the family member that no one likes having around…but without them, the family isn’t complete. Without revisions, my creative work wouldn’t have been good enough to release into the literary world. It took me many years to accept that my first draft could never be my last and final draft. Constant revisions make you look at your work differently each time, and with each round it improves.
Flexibility isn’t necessary the best attribute to have while writing because there is always room for deviating from the focus. I experienced many times the interruption of something exciting; whether it was a phone call or a knock at the door that prompted me to consider changing my writing schedule. I found that if I allowed the any distractions to command me to be flexible around the external activities of my writing space, I would never complete the task at hand to write, write and write.
Timelines and Outlines are necessary because without them both, my book would still be a work in progress and not a completed project. I make sure I set timelines for each chapter, and outline the chapters so it’s etched in my mind continuously…leaving me to be strong in my process. However, flexibility is something great to have with timelines because everything isn’t produced or doesn’t go as planned…especially the constant flow of creativity.
The words Final Draft don’t mean the project is final. Even though as a writer I am used to revision processes but the anxiety of waiting for copy editors and content editors to review and give notes and await your feedback and revisions is the most taunting task of writing. and the need to rewriteCommitment to the art of writing is one of the most rewarding lessons I have acquired along the way. Sharing my gift of writing is my passion and should always be the most important thing I think about when writing and not how much money I want to make from my gift. If writing is natural, the rewards will come naturally as well.
The Publishing Date was the most exciting date on the calendar of events for me during the process, but without flexibility around the process, it can be hardening to the soul when the release date changes continuously. My release date changed three times, and had I not been someone who loves to produce quality, my finished product wouldn’t be worthy enough to share today.
Friday, December 9, 2011
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge
Run's January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.
The Rules:
Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
There are four levels:
The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.
I will list the books here as I read them.
1. "Vex" by Addison Moore (kindle)
2. "Coexist" by Julia Crane 210 pages
3. "Watched" by Cindy Hogan 348 pages
4. "My Blood Approves" by Amanda Hocking 261 pages
5. "Demon Princess: Reign or Shine" by Michelle Rowen 288 pages
6. "Demon Princess: Reign Check" by Michelle Rowen 304 pages
7. "In the Mind of Thaddeus" by Julia Crane (kindle)
8. "The Strange Case of Finley Jane" by Kady Cross (kindle)
9. "Beasts and bffs" by Shannon Delaney (kindle)
10. "Fallen from Grace" by M.J. Putney (kindle)
11. "Conflicted" by Julia Crane (kindle)
12. "Consumed" by Julia Crane (kindle)
13. "The Goddess Test" by Aimee Carter 293 pages
14. "Beautiful Chaos" by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 518 pages
15. "The Hidden" by Jessica Verday 389 pages
16. "Hereafter" by Tara Hudson 404 pages
17. "A Chalice of Wind" by Cate Tiernan 250 pages
18. "A Circle of Ashes" by Cate Tiernan 216 pages
19. "A Feather of Stone" by Cate Tiernan 231 pages
20. "The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove" by Lauren Kate 248 pages
21. "A Necklace of Fire" by Cate Tiernan 250 pages
22. "Beautiful Demons" by Sarra Cannon (kindle)
23. "Moon Spell" by Samantha Young 436 pages
24. "My Soul to Lose" by Rachel Vincent 87 pages
25. "My Soul to Take" by Rachel Vincent 279 pages
26. "Heavenly" by Jennifer Laurens 294 pages
27. "Whispering Hills" by Taryn Browning (kindle)
28. "When Destiny Knocks" by Heather M. White 200 pages
29. "Kings and Queens" by Courtney Vail 328 pages
30. "Book of Shadows" by Cate Tiernan 176 pages
31. "The Coven" by Cate Tiernan 185 pages
32. "Blood Witch" by Cate Tiernan 202 pages
33. "The Goddess Hunt" by Aimee Carter 71 pages
34. "Chosen" by Sarah Swan (kindle)
35. "Inner Demons" by Sarra Cannon
36. "Abandon" by Meg Cabot 304 pages
37. "13 to Life" by Shannon Delany 308 pages
38. "Secrets and Shadows" by Shannon Delany 320 pages
39. "Bitter Demons" by Sarra Cannon
40. "Turned at Dark" by C.C. Hunter 32 pages
41. "Hunting Kat" by Kelly Armstrong (kindle)
42. "Protected" by Cindy Hogan 350 pages
43. "When Destiny Strikes" by Heather M. White
44. "Dark Magick" by Cate Tiernan 186 pages
45. "Awakening" by Cate Tiernan 188 pages
46. "Spellbound" by Cate Teirnan 190 pages
47. "Forgive My Fins" by Tera Lynn Childs 293 pages
48. "The Girl in the Steel Corset" by Kady Cross 473 pages
49. "Gone" by Lisa McMann 214 pages
50. "Fins Are Forever" by Tera Lynn Childs 262 pages
51. "Gone, Gone, Gone" by Hannah Moskowitz 288 pages
52. "The Dream Slayer" by Jill Cooper 312 pages
53. "Eve" by Anna Carey 336 pages
54. "Crave" by Melissa Darnell 416 pages
55. "The Ultimate Revenge: Echo's Revenge" by Sean Austin
56. "Pretty in Black" by Rae Hachton 312 pages
57. "Loving Summer" by Kailin Gow 250 pages
58. "Texas Gothic" by Rosemary Clement-Moore 416 pages
59. "The Secret Circle: The Divide" by Audrey Clark 352 pages
60. "The Seventh Sister" by Z.L.Arkadie
61. "Unwind" by Neal Shusterman 335 pages
62. "Redheads are Soulless" by Heather M. White
63."Visions of You" by C.Y. Bourgeois 212 pages
64. "My Soul to Save" by Rachel Vincent 279 pages
65."Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins 391 pages
66."Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins 390 pages
67."Black Satin" by Rae Hachton
68."Anna Dressed in Blood" by Kendare Blake 316 pages
69."Spellbound" by Cara Lynn Shultz 341 pages
70."Underworld" by Meg Cabot 336 pages
71."Cold Kiss" by Amy Garvey 304 pages
72."Goddess Interrupted" by Aimee Carter 296 pages
73."Persephone" by Kaitlin Bevis 237 pages
74."Spellcaster" by Cara Lynn Shultz 371 pages
75."Gone At Zero Hundred 00:00" by C.R. Hiatt 352 pages
76."Among the Nameless Stars" by Diana Peterfreund 60 pages
77."Taste" by Kate Evangelista 259 pages
78."Just Like You" by Megan Landis (kindle)
Finish the Series 2012 Reading Challenge
I am participating in the 2012 Finish the Series Reading Challenge hosted by Socrates Book Reviews. I am entering the level three challenge, and will finish 3 or more series.
Here are the guidelines:
1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, James Patterson’s Alex Cross, etc. etc.)
2) It doesn’t matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that’s fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.
3) The qualification period is January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Books must be read during this time frame to count.
4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky on Yvonne’s page to sign up, but make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge.
5) If you don’t have a blog, that’s fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading.
6) Any format of book counts – audio, ebook, etc.
7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn’t necessary. It’s fine to change series during the year – as long as you complete whichever series it is.
Choose a level….
Level 1 – Complete 1 series.
Level 2 – Complete 2 series.
Level 3 – Complete 3 or more series.
My series that I wish to finish are:
Wake series by Lisa McMann
1. Gone
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
1. Darkest Mercy
Evernight Series by Claudia Gray
1. Afterlife
2. Balthazar
Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
1. Max
2. Angel
3. Fang
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Gift Card Giveaway Hop!
I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Attack of the Book are hosting a Gift Card Giveaway Hop with over 140 blogs participating in the giveaway. I am giving away a $10 gift card to Amazon, Lush, or any other store that will do an online gift card (so that you have it online and don't have to wait for it in the busy holiday mail). For my International readers, if you win, you may choose a book of your choice for $10 or less from the Book Depository. Please enter using the Rafflecopter. If for some reason Rafflecopter is being hokey, then leave your entries in the comments and I will hand enter them in the raffle copter. The contest runs from 12:01 a.m December 9th through Midnight December 13th. When you're done entering my giveaway, please check out the other blogs involved in the giveaway for many chances to win.
Entries are for 1. Entering your name and email 2. following on google friend connect 3. following on twitter 4. commenting on any of my other blog posts 5. letting me know which gift card you would pick and 6. tweeting about the giveaway.
P.S. Can someone tell me how to do the google entry forms because rafflecopter hasn't worked right the last two times.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Do You Remember Your First 'Big Issue' Moment? by guest author Kath Russell
Do You Remember Your First 'Big Issue' Moment?
One of the wonderful things about writing my book, DEED SO, was transporting my adult self back to the time when I took my first step on the road to adulthood, the early Sixties. Through my main character, Haddie Bashford and her friends, Sarah Jane and Elise, I got to experience that first crush, those intense girl friendships, the first feelings of not being in shall we say total sync with your parents' view of the world, those yearnings to belong and those feelings of being misunderstood. Because DEED SO deals with important historical events that changed the face of America, I also got to write about Haddie as she first comes to grips with issues beyond her family, school, church and community -- issues playing out on the national and international stage, such as civil rights, the Vietnam war and women's rights. My generation went on to develop a phase for this experience when your eyes were opened to big goings-on, the moment when it stopped being 'all about you.' We said your consciousness had been raised.
Can you recall in your own life when you first connected with an external event in a visceral and cerebral way different from any connection you had made before. A moment when you realized that your life and your immediate world did not exist in a bubble, but was joined at the hip with a bigger world, a vast place where forces were at work way beyond your control or understanding. For many people, 9/11 was such a moment. For others, the Challenger tragedy. My first recollection of an experience like this was the Hungarian Revolution. My parents subscribed to Time magazine. I never took much interest in it. Back in the day, young people did not get barraged with violent images as they do now. Television news was little more than a boring visual of talking heads. I didn't pay much attention to that either. One day I came home from school and happened to glance at the stack of mail on the kitchen table. A troubling image got my attention, and I slipped the magazine off the pile and took it to the den. The article about the revolt in Hungary was accompanied with graphic photographs. To this day, I can remember the picture of a bloody body being dragged by a tank.At dinner, I started asking questions. My parents were disturbed I had seen the pictures. My father cobbled together a mini-lecture on the evils of Communism and the glories of America, including freedom of speech and the right to assemble. The magazine was taken away from me and future issues of Time were removed from the mail stack before I got home from school. Life magazine disappeared too. Modern parents don't have the luxury of this kind of censorship.
I could not shake the image. It would wake me up in the dead of night. It haunted me on the school bus. The bloody body had power over me for months. Who was the young man? What could he possibly have done to forfeit his life so horribly? Who was the tank driver? Why was he so cruel?Years later I attended Northwestern University and majored in history. My focus was Russo-American relations, the Communist bloc, the Cold War and Totalitarianism in general. See a pattern here? Coincidence? I think not.
Try to recall your first close encounter with history writ large. Is the incident still an influence in your life?
In DEED SO, Haddie Bashford witnesses the killing of a black teenager by a white farmer. The racially charged tragedy shifts the balance in her small community of Wicomico Corners as surely as an earthquake. Haddie must testify at the trial of the farmer while the courthouse is surrounded by civil rights demonstrators. Violence begins to tear at the fabric of the formerly peaceful town. Mysterious fires are set which lead to fear and finger pointing. Finally, the arson claims lives and impacts the destiny of everyone close to Haddie. In the midst of this upheaval, Haddie's secret love interest returns from Vietnam, a changed man with a mission that puts him on a collision course with the establishment. Haddie's baptism into the world of adult conflicts forces her to chose between her family, her friends and her love. She learns that choices have consequences in the most tragic of twists, when she becomes convinced that she is directly responsible for the death of others. Come join Haddie and her friends as they live out the last year of innocence, the year before President Kennedy was assassinated, and the civil rights struggle, the women's rights movement and the Vietnam war changed America forever.
Thanks for inviting me to blog!
About the author: Kath Russell enjoyed over thirty-five years in marketing and communications management in the biotechnology industry. She was an executive with one of the first genetic engineering companies. Russell also was president of Russell-Welsh Strategic Life Science Communications, Inc., and founder and chief executive officer of an ecommerce company offering services for mature companion animals and veterinarians. Russell received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, her master’s degree in journalism from Boston University, her master’s of business administration from the Kellogg School of Management, and earned her certificate in creative writing from the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
One of the wonderful things about writing my book, DEED SO, was transporting my adult self back to the time when I took my first step on the road to adulthood, the early Sixties. Through my main character, Haddie Bashford and her friends, Sarah Jane and Elise, I got to experience that first crush, those intense girl friendships, the first feelings of not being in shall we say total sync with your parents' view of the world, those yearnings to belong and those feelings of being misunderstood. Because DEED SO deals with important historical events that changed the face of America, I also got to write about Haddie as she first comes to grips with issues beyond her family, school, church and community -- issues playing out on the national and international stage, such as civil rights, the Vietnam war and women's rights. My generation went on to develop a phase for this experience when your eyes were opened to big goings-on, the moment when it stopped being 'all about you.' We said your consciousness had been raised.
Can you recall in your own life when you first connected with an external event in a visceral and cerebral way different from any connection you had made before. A moment when you realized that your life and your immediate world did not exist in a bubble, but was joined at the hip with a bigger world, a vast place where forces were at work way beyond your control or understanding. For many people, 9/11 was such a moment. For others, the Challenger tragedy. My first recollection of an experience like this was the Hungarian Revolution. My parents subscribed to Time magazine. I never took much interest in it. Back in the day, young people did not get barraged with violent images as they do now. Television news was little more than a boring visual of talking heads. I didn't pay much attention to that either. One day I came home from school and happened to glance at the stack of mail on the kitchen table. A troubling image got my attention, and I slipped the magazine off the pile and took it to the den. The article about the revolt in Hungary was accompanied with graphic photographs. To this day, I can remember the picture of a bloody body being dragged by a tank.At dinner, I started asking questions. My parents were disturbed I had seen the pictures. My father cobbled together a mini-lecture on the evils of Communism and the glories of America, including freedom of speech and the right to assemble. The magazine was taken away from me and future issues of Time were removed from the mail stack before I got home from school. Life magazine disappeared too. Modern parents don't have the luxury of this kind of censorship.
I could not shake the image. It would wake me up in the dead of night. It haunted me on the school bus. The bloody body had power over me for months. Who was the young man? What could he possibly have done to forfeit his life so horribly? Who was the tank driver? Why was he so cruel?Years later I attended Northwestern University and majored in history. My focus was Russo-American relations, the Communist bloc, the Cold War and Totalitarianism in general. See a pattern here? Coincidence? I think not.
Try to recall your first close encounter with history writ large. Is the incident still an influence in your life?
In DEED SO, Haddie Bashford witnesses the killing of a black teenager by a white farmer. The racially charged tragedy shifts the balance in her small community of Wicomico Corners as surely as an earthquake. Haddie must testify at the trial of the farmer while the courthouse is surrounded by civil rights demonstrators. Violence begins to tear at the fabric of the formerly peaceful town. Mysterious fires are set which lead to fear and finger pointing. Finally, the arson claims lives and impacts the destiny of everyone close to Haddie. In the midst of this upheaval, Haddie's secret love interest returns from Vietnam, a changed man with a mission that puts him on a collision course with the establishment. Haddie's baptism into the world of adult conflicts forces her to chose between her family, her friends and her love. She learns that choices have consequences in the most tragic of twists, when she becomes convinced that she is directly responsible for the death of others. Come join Haddie and her friends as they live out the last year of innocence, the year before President Kennedy was assassinated, and the civil rights struggle, the women's rights movement and the Vietnam war changed America forever.
Thanks for inviting me to blog!
About the author: Kath Russell enjoyed over thirty-five years in marketing and communications management in the biotechnology industry. She was an executive with one of the first genetic engineering companies. Russell also was president of Russell-Welsh Strategic Life Science Communications, Inc., and founder and chief executive officer of an ecommerce company offering services for mature companion animals and veterinarians. Russell received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, her master’s degree in journalism from Boston University, her master’s of business administration from the Kellogg School of Management, and earned her certificate in creative writing from the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Winter by Tori Amos
In honor of winter and snow and the chill in the air, I am posting a song that makes me nostalgic for when I was younger. The song is Winter by Tori Amos. I love Tori. I really related to her as a teenager - and that's where my blog title came from (as well as my email address) for those of you that don't.
Enjoy
"Snow can wait
I forgot my mittens
Wipe my nose
Get my new boots on
I get a little warm in my heart
When I think of winter
I put my hand in my father's glove
I run off
Where the drifts get deeper
Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice
"Your must learn to stand up for yourself
Cause I can't always be around"
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Boys get discovered as winter melts
Flowers competing for the sun
Years go by and I'm here still waiting Withering where some snowman was
Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
But I only can see the myself
Skating around the truth who I am
But I know dad the ice is getting thin
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Hair is grey
And the fires are burning
So many dreams
On the shelf
You say I wanted you to be proud of me
I always wanted that myself
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses have gone ahead
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change
My dear"
CAN THE WORST OF TIMES MAKE FOR THE BEST OF LINES? by Guest Author Aaron L.
I think I heard somewhere that “life is pain”. I beg to differ. Life is the ability to survive the pain.
When I began my journey into creating my novel, “Light Under the House” I only had a germ of a plot and not much else. I was a college drop out at the time and didn’t have much going for me. I had also sown a lot of seeds into endeavors that turned out to be useless. I had a mountain of wasted opportunity and regrets piled up. I wasn’t trained expert in any field. What did I know? Then again, I did know a few things… I knew about rejection. I knew about the loss friendship. I knew about living with frustration, anger, and fear. I knew those things. I knew I had a story to tell.
So I asked myself, what does it look like to overcome the wounds I’ve been dealt? What does it look like to fail and come back again? What does faith in action look like? As I started to ask myself these questions, the novel grew and so did I. In the process I learned some key things:
If you want to challenge the reader you have to challenge yourself. “Light Under the House” is a novel about character. I knew I wanted to be better. A better brother…son…friend…a better man. If I didn’t find it challenging I was certain no one else would.
Don’t be afraid to be open and generous. I’ve learned not be afraid to talk about issues that through my story and its characters that are personal me and my struggles. Are scars are just proof that we’re still alive, we can show them.
Everyone has a strength, let yours shine. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all pain. I’ve lived a very blessed life. While it was true that I didn’t have any technical expertise, I did have life experience. By the time I was fifteen I had lived in numerous places in the U.S. and abroad. I had been around the world. I had diverse experiences to draw upon in dealing with people and life. It also helped to hone a unique perspective. What are your strengths?
So can the worst of times make for the best of lines? I think it can. If not, I’m sure I’ll survive it.
About the Author: Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up in places from Seattle to South Africa, he spent a lot of his time drawing. Aaron always knew that his future lay in a creative field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of different types of art and design, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. He lives near Chicago, Illinois.
When I began my journey into creating my novel, “Light Under the House” I only had a germ of a plot and not much else. I was a college drop out at the time and didn’t have much going for me. I had also sown a lot of seeds into endeavors that turned out to be useless. I had a mountain of wasted opportunity and regrets piled up. I wasn’t trained expert in any field. What did I know? Then again, I did know a few things… I knew about rejection. I knew about the loss friendship. I knew about living with frustration, anger, and fear. I knew those things. I knew I had a story to tell.
So I asked myself, what does it look like to overcome the wounds I’ve been dealt? What does it look like to fail and come back again? What does faith in action look like? As I started to ask myself these questions, the novel grew and so did I. In the process I learned some key things:
If you want to challenge the reader you have to challenge yourself. “Light Under the House” is a novel about character. I knew I wanted to be better. A better brother…son…friend…a better man. If I didn’t find it challenging I was certain no one else would.
Don’t be afraid to be open and generous. I’ve learned not be afraid to talk about issues that through my story and its characters that are personal me and my struggles. Are scars are just proof that we’re still alive, we can show them.
Everyone has a strength, let yours shine. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all pain. I’ve lived a very blessed life. While it was true that I didn’t have any technical expertise, I did have life experience. By the time I was fifteen I had lived in numerous places in the U.S. and abroad. I had been around the world. I had diverse experiences to draw upon in dealing with people and life. It also helped to hone a unique perspective. What are your strengths?
So can the worst of times make for the best of lines? I think it can. If not, I’m sure I’ll survive it.
About the Author: Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up in places from Seattle to South Africa, he spent a lot of his time drawing. Aaron always knew that his future lay in a creative field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of different types of art and design, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. He lives near Chicago, Illinois.
Monday, December 5, 2011
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (12/5/2011)
Finished Since Last Post:
I Am Not Your Victim: Anatomy of Domestic Violence by Beth Sipes (for School)
The Vision by Jessica Sorensen
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Shattered by Sophia Sharp
Currently Reading:
Flame of Surrender by Rhiannon Paille
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Up Next:
Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn
Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012
I have tons and tons and tons of books on my shelf that need to be read, that I never get to because something else new comes out and catches my eye. This year I plan to take part in the Mount TBR Reading Challenge hosted by My Reader's Block. The challenge goes from January 1 to December 31st of 2012 and can only include books that were on my bookshelve by January 1, 2012.
I am going for the Mt. Vancouver Challenge level, which means that I will read 25 books from my own shelf. I will post my list here as I read the books.
1. "Seven Up" by Janet Evanovich 337 pages
2. "Hard Eight" by Janet Evanovich 326 pages
3. "My Blood Approves" by Amanda Hocking 261 pages
4. "Demon Princess: Reign or Shine" by Michelle Rowen 288 pages
5. "The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove" by Lauren Kate 248 pages
6. "Abandon" by Meg Cabot 304 pages
7. "13 to Life" by Shannon Delany 308 pages
8. "Undead and Uneasy" by MaryJanice Davidson 288 pages
Free Reads 2012 Reading Challenge
I am going with the "On the Cheap" level, which means I will read 15 books for this challenge. The challenge starts January 1st and goes through December 31st 2012. I will update my books here as I read them.
1. "Watched" by Cindy Hogan 348 pages - ARC
2. "Patient Zero by Jim Beck 147 pages - ARC3. "Nuclear Romance" by Abby Luby (kindle) -ARC
4. "The Public Pretender" by M.D. cliatt (kindle) - ARC
5. "Hereafter" by Tara Hudson 404 pages - RAK
6. "Bound to Remember" by Lola James (kindle) -ARC
7. "Sugar and Spice and Not So Nice" by Janet McNulty 117 pages - ARC
8. "Whispering Hills" by Taryn Browning (kindle) -ARC
9. "When Destiny Knocks" by Heather M. White 200 pages - ARC
10. "Kings and Queens" by Courtney Vail 328 pages - ARC
11. "Meeting Destiny" by Nancy Straight 291 pages -ARC
12. "Cowboy Moon" by Cait Lavender (kindle) - ARC
13. "When Destiny Strikes" by Heather M White - ARC
14. "Secrets" by Liz Schulte 318 pages - ARC
15. "Before I Go to Sleep" by S.J. Watson 372 pages - giveaway
16. "The Girl in the Steel Corset" by Kady Cross 473 pages - RAK
17. "Gone, Gone, Gone" by Hannah Moskowitz 288 pages - Free to read on Simon & Schuster website
18. "The Dream Slayer" by Jill Cooper 312 pages - ARC
19. "The Ultimate Revenge: Echo's Revenge" by Sean Austin - ARC
20. "Pretty in Black" by Rae Hachton 312 pages - ARC
21. "Loving Summer" by Kailin Gow 250 pages - ARC
22. "Unwind" by Neal Shusterman 335 pages - Free on the Simon & Schuster website
23. "Redheads are Soulless" by Heather M. White - ARC
24. "The House on Blackstone Moor" by Carole Gill 212 pages - ARC
25. "Visions of You" by C.Y. Bourgeois 212 pages - ARC
26."Dark Side of Valor" by Alicia Singleton 352 pages - ARC
27."Black Satin" by Rae Hachton - ARC
28."Persephone" by Kaitlin Bevis 237 pages - ARC
29."Gone At Zero Hundred 00:00" by C.R. Hiatt 352 pages - ARC
30."Among the Nameless Stars" by Diana Peterfreund 60 pages - Free from Epic Reads
31."Taste" by Kate Evangelista 259 pages - ARC
32."Dreamwalker" by Andrea Heltsley 434 pages - ARC
Friday, December 2, 2011
YA-AHOLIC's 2011/12 New Year's Giveaway Hop
Ya-aholic is having a giveaway in honor of the new year. The winner has the option of 4 great book bundles. Stop by her blog and take a look. She also writes great reviews and has giveaways fairly regularly.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Get to Know me (12/1/11)
The getting to know you meme is hosted every Thursday by I am A Reader Not a Writer
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Strange Little Girl. Trust me it fits. I hear that about myself on a fairly regular basis.
If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s just such an amazing story.
Horror or Romance?
Can I have a little romance in my horror?
If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why?
That’s a tough one. There are so many time periods I’d like to check out. The Italian Renaissance for one, because there were so many things happening. I also think I’d like to be a teenager or young adult in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80s…just to experience the things that happened during those times would be amazing.
Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?
I’d rather have a bunch of small things…I’m not much on expensive things.
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Strange Little Girl. Trust me it fits. I hear that about myself on a fairly regular basis.
If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s just such an amazing story.
Horror or Romance?
Can I have a little romance in my horror?
If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why?
That’s a tough one. There are so many time periods I’d like to check out. The Italian Renaissance for one, because there were so many things happening. I also think I’d like to be a teenager or young adult in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80s…just to experience the things that happened during those times would be amazing.
Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?
I’d rather have a bunch of small things…I’m not much on expensive things.
YA SCAVENGER HUNT GOING ON NOW!
There are a ton of authors hosting a YA book blog event. Each author's blog features another author's book, special features and giveaways with a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt winner gets a huge prize back from all the authors.
I don't know which author is hosting per se, but I began my hunt on author Bree Despain's blog. If you love YA and giveaways, you should check it out.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Most wanted new releases
I have sixteen more days of school this semester and it's really getting down to the grind. I haven't been posting as much, so in the meantime, here is a list of the new releases I am most looking forward to reading:
November RAK Wrap Up
November wasn't a good month for me. I have my November people picked out but didn't get any of my books mailed out yet. I plan to more than make up for it in December. I sent 6 in October, so I'll send at least that many this month.
I did receive and RAK from Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog
If you would like to take part in December's RAK please sign up at Book Soulmates.
My wishlist is here: Amazon Wishlist
Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
December and January Giveaway Links
It's helpful to have all the giveaway hop links in one place, so I (as well as all of you) can find them easier - so here are the hops I've found for December and January. If you know of any more please let me know so I can add them (and enter them). I will most likely be hosting a giveaway in some of these so be sure to check back.
One Stop Christmas Hop – November 29 to December 6
Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop December 1 to 5th
http://www.simplystacie.net/2010/09/holiday-gift-giveaway-hop-update-blog-list/
Book Lover’s Holiday Giveaway Hop – December 2 to 6
Gift Card Giveaway Hop – December 9 to 13
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Hop – December 13 to 24
http://intoxicatedbybooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/12-days-of-christmas-blog-hop.html
Mid Winter’s Eve Blog Hop – December 21 to 27
Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop – December 30 to January 3
Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop – December 27 to 31
Young Adult Faerie & Fantasy Giveaway Hop – January 6 to 12
Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop – January 13 to 18
Young Adult Giveaway Hop – January 27 to 31
One Stop Christmas Hop – November 29 to December 6
Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop December 1 to 5th
http://www.simplystacie.net/2010/09/holiday-gift-giveaway-hop-update-blog-list/
Gift Card Giveaway Hop – December 9 to 13
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Hop – December 13 to 24
http://intoxicatedbybooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/12-days-of-christmas-blog-hop.html
Mid Winter’s Eve Blog Hop – December 21 to 27
Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop – December 30 to January 3
Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop – December 27 to 31
Young Adult Faerie & Fantasy Giveaway Hop – January 6 to 12
Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop – January 13 to 18
Young Adult Giveaway Hop – January 27 to 31
Friday, November 25, 2011
Black Friday Giveaway Bonanza
I am giving away a $10 e-gift card to Amazon for those of you in the United States and for International entries I'm giving away a book of $10 or less value from the Book Depository (if they ship to your country). Please enter via raffle copter.
Ok everyone - for some reason raffle copter is being stupid and intermittently posting an older, closed giveaway. When I hit refresh it usually puts the right one in. In the event you wish to enter and raffle copter has the wrong giveaway (as in closed) please enter in the comments. I will be making a spreadsheet and will draw a winner that way. I don't want to just delete the rafflecopter because so many people already entered. I apologize in advance for the trouble. This is the first issue I've ever had with rafflecopter and don't know what else to do.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tap Dance and massacres
It’s been a little while since I posted, and I apologize for that. The last ten days I have been swamped with end of semester projects and research papers. I just finished a 4000 word paper for my Criminology Class. We had to choose a crime that happened in the last five years and analyze it with one or two criminal theories we studied this semester. I chose to analyze the Virginia Tech Massacre through Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory and Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory. My decision was influenced by my tap dance class.
I know, that’s weird – how could something like tap dancing make me think of a brutal massacre? We were working on a routine to “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People. I downloaded the song so that I could practice at home, and as I listened to the song for the twentieth or so time, I started catching dark lyrics in the catchy tune …”All the other kids with the pumped up kicks better run, better run, outrun my gun…” Upon looking the lyrics up and then verifying it on the bands website, I discovered that the song is about a kid that goes on a shooting spree at his school, going after all the rich and popular kids (as represented by their “pumped up kicks” a.k.a. expensive sneakers).
I’ve always been fascinated by crime and the psyche of the criminal. When I was younger, I wanted to be a forensic profiler for the FBI. What makes killer’s minds tick? Why do they do the things they do? I clearly remember the Columbine Shootings as well as The Virginia Tech Massacre from the time when they happened and wondering what made these kids snap. What does it take for people so young to become so angry, so full of hate, that they decide to not only end their own lives, but those of classmates and teachers?
This could turn into a HUGE rant about bullies, parents not being involved enough in their kids’ lives, the media, and number of other reasons that have come forth over time, but I’d rather not get into all of that. It’s been said over and over in the past. In the case of Seung-Hui Cho (The Virginia Tech shooter) he was disturbed since childhood, diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, depression and selective mutism – a rare form of social anxiety where the individual is afraid to speak – afraid of hearing the sound of their own voice. Cho’s mutism was so bad he would not even speak to his parents or his teachers. Even in 8th grade Cho identified with the Columbine shooters. Despite years of counseling and medication, Cho snapped.
I’m sure it would be a frightening place to be, but I really want to get into the minds of these killers, and figure out what’s going on. I haven’t had anything above general psych and none of the theories I’ve studied in criminology really come close to explaining the motivations of these trouble young people. Agnew says that adolescents are under strain because they are not treated the way they want to be treated, and that these negative relationships cause anger. From the various articles I’ve read, including the official report by the Virginia Tech Massacre Review Panel, it appears that his family, counselors, teachers, and college roommates all tried to be social, to make friends, etc but Cho rejected their advances. Hirschi says that deviance occurs when there are no strong social bonds to family and institutions (ie. Schools). Again the people in Cho’s life made attempts to bond, but were rejected or treated with hostility and weirdness.
Hours of research and 4000 words later and I am still no closer to understanding the senseless violence that occurred on April 16, 2007.
I know, that’s weird – how could something like tap dancing make me think of a brutal massacre? We were working on a routine to “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People. I downloaded the song so that I could practice at home, and as I listened to the song for the twentieth or so time, I started catching dark lyrics in the catchy tune …”All the other kids with the pumped up kicks better run, better run, outrun my gun…” Upon looking the lyrics up and then verifying it on the bands website, I discovered that the song is about a kid that goes on a shooting spree at his school, going after all the rich and popular kids (as represented by their “pumped up kicks” a.k.a. expensive sneakers).
I’ve always been fascinated by crime and the psyche of the criminal. When I was younger, I wanted to be a forensic profiler for the FBI. What makes killer’s minds tick? Why do they do the things they do? I clearly remember the Columbine Shootings as well as The Virginia Tech Massacre from the time when they happened and wondering what made these kids snap. What does it take for people so young to become so angry, so full of hate, that they decide to not only end their own lives, but those of classmates and teachers?
This could turn into a HUGE rant about bullies, parents not being involved enough in their kids’ lives, the media, and number of other reasons that have come forth over time, but I’d rather not get into all of that. It’s been said over and over in the past. In the case of Seung-Hui Cho (The Virginia Tech shooter) he was disturbed since childhood, diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, depression and selective mutism – a rare form of social anxiety where the individual is afraid to speak – afraid of hearing the sound of their own voice. Cho’s mutism was so bad he would not even speak to his parents or his teachers. Even in 8th grade Cho identified with the Columbine shooters. Despite years of counseling and medication, Cho snapped.
I’m sure it would be a frightening place to be, but I really want to get into the minds of these killers, and figure out what’s going on. I haven’t had anything above general psych and none of the theories I’ve studied in criminology really come close to explaining the motivations of these trouble young people. Agnew says that adolescents are under strain because they are not treated the way they want to be treated, and that these negative relationships cause anger. From the various articles I’ve read, including the official report by the Virginia Tech Massacre Review Panel, it appears that his family, counselors, teachers, and college roommates all tried to be social, to make friends, etc but Cho rejected their advances. Hirschi says that deviance occurs when there are no strong social bonds to family and institutions (ie. Schools). Again the people in Cho’s life made attempts to bond, but were rejected or treated with hostility and weirdness.
Hours of research and 4000 words later and I am still no closer to understanding the senseless violence that occurred on April 16, 2007.
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