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Best Blogs Thursday and Then Some!

July 12, 2012 by admin

The lovely and talented M.H. Gerber has tagged me for a blog hop called The Next Big Thing. Thank you, M.H.! She’s been one busy lady, with three books out. I’m so impressed!

After I take care of my weekly Best Blogs business, I’ll answer some questions and point y’all in the direction of some authors to watch.

Some weeks it’s easier than others to find new blogs worthy of recommendation, but yesterday the indomitable Totsymae, one of my all-time favorite bloggers, tossed me a gift when she turned me on to The Good, The Bad, The Worse. Blogger Linda Medrano covers a variety of topics with intelligence and humor. She’s fun and interesting, the kind of person I would like to get to know better. I’ve been catching up on her posts with great delight. Check her out!

Now, back to The Next Big Thing. Here are my answers to M.H.’s questions:

1. What is the title of your book/WIP?

Currently, I am completing Blood and Loam, a Vietnam-era book about a young woman coming of age in a time of social and political upheaval.

I’m also drafting a series of essays and a new novel with the working title House on the Hill. I’m sure that will change several times, though!

2. Where did the idea for the book come from?

With Blood and Loam, I wanted to write about the confusion I felt growing up in the 60s and 70s. Women’s roles were changing, and I was getting a lot of mixed messages. I’d had some turbulent relationships in those days, so I wanted to explore the life of a young woman with little self-esteem. Originally it was set in 1980, but when I switched it to 1970, it opened all kinds of exciting doors! A lot of things happened that year that reverberate through our current political climate, so the setting has become its own character.

3. What genre would your book fall under?

Good question! I am calling it historical fiction because the Vietnam-era setting is essential to the story. The main characters are female. Just as in The Foreign Language of Friends, I write about women who don’t get along very well – in this case, a mother and daughter. For some reason I am fascinated by the friction that can exist in female relationships. So, I suspect that some people will call it “women’s fiction,” but I don’t think it really qualifies.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Stella: Lindsey Lohan. Yes, you read that right. I’m rooting for her to make a comeback. She needs to stop messing with her face, though.

Ruth (Stella’s mother): Sarah Jessica Parker. I need someone petite and blue-eyed. She needs to die her hair black, though.

Adrian: Colin Farrell or Johnny Depp. I need someone who can come across as dangerous and sexy at the same time.

Luke: John Goodman. Well, John may be a little old for the role these days, but I need a big, beefy, blue-collar type of guy.

Grandma Hannah: Dianne Wiest.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When the violence at Kent State erupts, new graduate Stella Kellar returns to her small, Midwestern hometown to escape the turmoil, only to find that some wars are personal.

6. Is your book published or represented?

No.

7. How long did it take you to write?

Years. Seriously. I first drafted the novel more than 20 years ago, but made the mistake of getting it critiqued too soon and ended up tossing the whole thing in the trash. It was originally a horror novel, but I didn’t want to end up being stuck writing horror — that’s not what I do. In 2010, I used NaNoWriMo to rewrite it in its current form. It’s now been through two developmental edits, and I think one more will do it.

It’s a hard book to write, but I think I have the right story now. I had to be older, wiser, and a better writer to do what needs to be done. There are big themes and some events in the book that are so controversial, I was told by one expert, that no major publishing house would touch it. I’m uncomfortable with it, but it’s the story that wants to be told, so I’m sticking with it.

8. What other books within your genre would you compare it to?

Good question. I’m reading some other Vietnam-era fiction now to see what other people have done. Right now I have no idea.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

None and all. This book has no real roadmap – it’s unlike anything else I’ve read. That’s one reason it’s been so hard to write.

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book.

It’s sexy and violent, with multiple taboo topics!

Some writers to watch whom I have tagged:

Juliet Greenwood: Check out her elegant, lovely Eden’s Garden.

Ute Carbone: The author of a fine novel, Blueberry Truth, Carbone has some new work out that I’m excited about reading.

Karen Wyle: Author of a powerful, character-driven sci-fi novel called Twin Bred. I recently had the privilege of being a beta reader for one of Karen’s WIPs, currently called Reflections, and she’s working on other stuff as well.

Have a great weekend, y’all! I’ll be busy the next several days at the Port Townsend Writers’ Conference. I’m sure I’ll have lots of news to report next week!

Filed Under: blogs, books, fiction, writing Tagged With: best blogs, books, fiction, good books, novels, women, writing

Blog of The Week: The Creative Penn

June 28, 2012 by admin

Normally I don’t recommend blogs that pertain specifically to writers, because not everyone who reads my blog is a writer. However, many of you are, so a good one is worth mentioning now and then.

Recently I enrolled in Joel Friedlander’s Self-Publishing Roadmap, and as part of the package he included several bonuses, one of which was Joanna Penn speaking about marketing novels. I’ve been following Penn on Twitter for a while, but it wasn’t until I heard her webinar that I became a true-blue fan. In less than 90 minutes she boggled my mind with her generosity and spirit. Through a combination of free and paid information, she provides expertise on navigating through new media. In addition, she writes novels, so she knows the challenges of marketing fiction successfully. Many of the experts I’ve run across online are great at nonfiction but provide little help for me, so Joanna is a great find.

Not only is her advice useful and specific, but she is also one of these chirpy, cheerful sorts that lets me know that I can fix my mistakes. I made some rookie errors with the production of The Foreign Language of Friends, even though it’s the third book I’ve produced. It was the first one, however, in this brave new world of e-publishing, and there are things I would do differently.

Is it too late to relaunch a book, I wondered? Never, Penn says. Unlike traditional published books, self-publishers can relaunch a book at any time, even years down the road. I busily scribbled notes and now have a plan for going forward — and a plan for setting up new work for the future.

Penn also has a regular podcast that I’ve found helpful, too. I just have one question: when does she sleep?

For those who aren’t interested in writing/publishing tips but want to go straight to fiction, Penn keeps a separate blog for fiction with the tagline “ancient mystery, modern thrill.” I’m looking forward to reading her books. In the meantime, she’s going to save me a lot of time, money, and heartache on my authoring, and she can do the same for you, too!

Filed Under: blogs, fiction, writing Tagged With: best blogs, book marketing, novelist, novels, podcasts, social media, writing

Blog of the Week: Dating Dementia

June 7, 2012 by admin

Thank you, Zencherry and Tina Fariss Barbour of Bringing Along OCD, for nominating me for blog awards. I will acknowledge you more appropriately next week when I am back from my Peoria/NYC trip — but I wanted to offer a hearty Namaste! and thanks for your continued support.

This morning I head off to a day of Book Expo America, where I will hang out with my editor, Jill Bailin, and browse the exhibits. The Foreign Language of Friends is being exhibited in two different places: the New Title Showcase and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. I am feeling a bit starstruck, being in the Big Apple and having my little book on display. At heart, I’m still that working-class girl from a small Midwestern town, and I never cease to be surprised at life’s twists and turns. You just never know, eh? Pinch me!

Anyway, enough about that. Today’s the day I recommend a blog! I’m dusting off one of my personal favorites, Dating Dementia by Nancy Wurtzel. Nancy writes about a variety of topics, from the very funny to the heartbreaking. I never know exactly what I’m going to get from her, but it’s always interesting. Divorced with a college-age daughter, Nancy relocated from Los Angeles to rural Minnesota, where she grew up, to care for her mother, who has dementia. Take a look!

Filed Under: blogs, Life Changes, women Tagged With: best blogs, Blogs, Dating Dementia, dementia, Nancy Wurtzel

A Blog for Short Attention Spans

May 17, 2012 by admin

If you ever want something completely different from my somewhat long-winded posts, here’s a blog for you:

Just a Minute, I’m Busy – Glimpses in the Life of a Procrastination Fairy

You’ll find quick thoughts, book reviews, and more, all in bite-size pieces.

In homage to this short, sweet, and fun blog, I’ll keep mine short as well! Have a great weekend, everyone! I’m off to a grantmaking workshop (I’m now on the board of a local nonprofit) and then to enjoy the Rhododendron Festival!

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: best blogs, Blogs, book review blogs, Just a Minute I'm Busy, procrastination, Rhody Festival

Sunshine Blogger Award

May 10, 2012 by admin

Thanks, Tina Fariss Barbour of Bringing Along OCD, for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Tina writes with tender honesty about her efforts to manage a life overshadowed by OCD, anxiety, and depression. Her posts educate, and her determination and resilience inspire. Tina, you go, girl! You’re awesome!

Here are the rules for this blog award if you are nominated:
  • Include the award logo in a post or on your blog (see the flower photo above).
  • Answer 10 questions about yourself.
  • Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers.
  • Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know that they have been nominated.
  • Share the love and link the person who nominated you.
So here are 10 things about me:
What are your favorite things to do? Exploring in nature, gardening, writing, travel, cooking, crafts…I have an endless list!
Where would you most like to travel? I’ve been fortunate to travel to many different countries. With my recent move to the Pacific Northwest, I have many travel opportunities right in my own backyard. I am excited about hiking the Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island, and other nearby areas.
Who would you most like to meet who is still living? Jon Stewart
Who would you most like to meet who has passed away? Louisa May Alcott
What do you think is the hardest thing to do? Bury a child. I’ve done it and don’t ever want to do it again.
What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink? Herbal tea, especially if it’s served in a really pretty teapot. With little sandwiches and chocolates and scones…maybe a little pre-tea champagne…oh, wait, I’m getting off topic. Sounds good, though, doesn’t it?
What is your favorite charity? Donorschoose.org. I love supporting teachers and schools.
What are you proud of? I know how to persevere, and I do not give up easily. Good quality for a book author with a *sigh* small audience. (The Foreign Language of Friends is only $1.99, by the way!) 🙂
What ambition do you still have? To learn how to treasure every moment. Life is too short to waste time with dramas, whether mine or others’.
What is your favorite flower? Purple irises and yellow snapdragons.
My nominations (in no particular order): I always enjoy these blogs!
Broadside
Abby Off the Record
The Neurosis Files
Dating Dementia
Serene One
Everywhere Once
Traveling Through…
Passionate Pursuits
One Sister’s Rant
I Am an Author, I Must Auth
There are so many more, but these are faves I haven’t listed in a while or ever.
Have a great weekend! Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms!

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: Abigail Green, anxiety, best blogs, Brenda Moguez, Caitlin Kelly, good blogs, Julie Farrar, June O'Hara, Michael Charton, Nancy Wurtzel, OCD, Tina Fariss Barbour

Blog Recommendation of the Week

May 3, 2012 by admin

I would like to thank Tina Fariss Barbour of Bringing Along OCD for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Thanks, Tina! I had hoped to post the required elements this week (answering some questions and recommending other blogs for the award), but I have run out of time. So, for this week anyway, I will stick with the usual Thursday format by recommending one blog. I will try to get my act together for next week.

This week, I’m offering one of my favorites. I’ve recommended it before, but Zencherry’s The Zen Corner has upped her game in the humor department. Plus, (hopefully) I have a few more readers than when I last recommended it. Some things bear repeating!

Maureen Hovermale, the Zencherry herself, can find the silliness in everyday life, and her posts often make me laugh out loud. There is a consistent quality in her posts that make me look forward to them day after day. If I had an Erma Bombeck award to give, I would give it to Zencherry.

So, have a laugh!  Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you next week!

Filed Under: blogs Tagged With: best blogs, Blogs, Bringing Along OCD, Erma Bombeck, Great blogs, Maureen Hovermale, The Zen Corner, Zencherry

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