"DINYB" BlogFest & a Sweet Award :)

Aloha,

 

Hosted by the fabulous Ciara Knight and that guy I call "No-need-to-hyperlink Alex," I’m participating in the Did I Notice Your Book BlogFest today.


The idea is to post about a book you’ve noticed.

The book I noticed (and really enjoyed reading) is Oppression by Jessica Therrien.

 

Here’s a synopsis taken from Jessica’s blog:

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.

For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.

Or so she thinks.

Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her.

Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to centuries of traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

YA paranormal romance/adventure is generally not my reading genre, but I loved this book and can’t wait until part two of the Children of the Gods series comes out this FebruaryJ
You can find Jessica’s Goodreads info here or more info on Oppression here.

###

Livia, over at Leave it to Livia, dropped the Super Sweet Blogger Award in my lap the other day, which was a big surprise, as I’m not what one would call a sweet person.

 I’m more into spicy, eye-watering hot foods than sugary deserts and when it comes to eating out, “My eyes are way too big for mah belly,” he said in a Scottish accent.

However, as there are no “I. Need. More. Rolaids. Stat.” or “Help! My Eyes Are Bleeding” awards being handed out, I am honored to accept, but must apologize for the boring answers:

1. Cookies or cake?
Neither. My Mama says I’m sweet enough.

2. Chocolate or vanilla?
Neither, but if I was being tortured, I’d smear chocolate to numb my fingernail-less nails.

3. What is your favorite sweet treat?

Tiramisu. It’s my only dessert of choice, unless you count a *good* Irish coffee, but none of that green stuff on top, please!

4. When do you crave sweet things most?
Evenings, if you must know. One piece of dark chocolate with a glass of red wine tends to keep the doctor away.

5. If you had a sweet nickname what would it be?

“Bah humbug.” That's a sweet right? :)

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I'm passing this on to the following three people, in the hope their answers are more substantial than mine J

Kirsten over at A Scenic Route

Tammy over at Tammy Theriault

Suzi over at Literary Engineer

 Have fun everyone, and for all you published peeps, I hope many people notice your book today - and tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and th-[WARNING! INK CARTRIDGE DEPLETED]

 

A Love Letter to T. Ball. (Or: What's In A Title?)

 Aloha,

 With only fifty days before my first draft deadline of WIP #1, I am, nah-yah, somewhat "stressed" when it comes to writing.









So, in order to combat the claustrophobic lack of time I feel surrounding my remaining seven wrinkly braincells, I took a day off.

As you do.

A complete not-a-single-WIP-word, Thursday off.

I wasn't a Writer.

I wasn't a Researcher.

I wasn't a Stats-Checker.


I was, however, a baseball coach.


A terrifically bad baseball coach.

But I was a coach...







...to poor No. 1 Son, who is by default my guinea-pig experiment into being a Parent Coach.


His first ever T-ball "game" is soon.

He's excited.

I'm excited that he's excited.

Maybe I'll write about it.

Maybe I shouldn't...

But, I'll definitely coach it.

Because.... I've signed up...

(thrusts chest out, while sucking in former six-pack, turned current keg :)

...to be an "assistant coach" with a vivid imagination.

The Coaches schedule is coming through on the email...

Let me see.... the responsibilities of the assistant coach are...

(I'll be the bench coach and the hitting coach... ohhh, will I get a stopwatch?)

The email opens with nary a click.

The search is on. What does the assistant coach do?

THE LINK is found... I read...

"The assistant coach is responsible to organize snacks, picture day and general team logistics."

Snacks?

Picture Day???

Did Joe Torre, Yogi Berra or Mike Scioscia ever organize snacks, picture day and general team logistics.

I have no idea, but when I see my beautiful boy step up to the plate for the first time, I will gladly slice oranges and be Gen. Logistics until the Cubbies win the World Series :)


Have a HAPPY Friday everyone, and remember...


"Let's Play Ballllll !!!"

 

 

 

 

Nov. 19th BlogFest News + Guest Posting at Livia's

Aloha,

I’m guest posting over at Leave it to Livia’s today, but also wanted to offer a massive Mahalo to everyone who commented on my recent IWSG post.

I was overwhelmed by the passion and the time people took out of their day. Time is an irreplaceable commodity, so I bow and say thank you.

PS… wondering what to do if an agent leaves you, read this post (10.08) by Janet Reid, literary agent.

Did I mention… I’m guest posting at Leave it to Livia’s?

So, you are probably sick of me talking about bad parenting tips, so my guest post is about *you*… only you’re the one talking about you.

Read about you here.

But wait!

There’s more!

Though I haven't got one of those crawler things at the bottom of the Telly, I do got breaking news ‘bout the BlogFest that kicks off Nov. 19. 

I thought it might be fun to let you in on a little secret…

This BlogFest will be like nothing you have ever experienced before.

It’s not a book reveal.

It’s not a tour.

It’s not even about St. Patrick’s Day…

It is, however, only 40 days away.

And it’s abo-[Thank you for calling Verisung Useless. To continue this message, please insert two quarters for three more minutes… to continue this message, pleas-…]

Dial tone…

Travelling home - the Hawaiian way! (Hickam AFB, 09/12)


 

"First Impressions" Critique & IWSG on Agents

Aloha,

 Before I get to my IWSG post below, I’m participating in FIRST IMPRESSIONS, (which offers short critiques of beginning pages submitted in advance.) This awesome project is the brainchild of Dianne Salerni and Marcy Hatch.

Please stop by and let me know what you think of page one from the memoir I am co-writing.



 

A Segway.



 

Speaking of putting myself out there, here’s a Segway to my post for Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

 

 

 

 

My issue is with “I’ve got an agent” posts.

I hope no one thinks I’ve been eating sour grapes – that's so not my intent. This subject has bothered me for a while, just wanted to share.

Trust me, I enjoy reading and commenting on posts that help launch Cover Reveals, promo new releases and especially those “I’m-going- to-be-published soon” deals.

I also appreciate seeing the number of success stories rise on Querytracker.net (it was 886 when I signed up – last month – and now it’s at 945.)

I would simply suggest caution against getting too excited to anyone who signs with an agent - whether new or established. 
Agents can’t guarantee a sale – trust me, I know, (I’d like to stick my neck out and ask any agents reading this to comment – am I way off base?)

Agents shouldn’t be viewed as a status symbol either.

Sure, it’s a nice chunk of the publishing puzzle, but agents shouldn’t be expected to produce a quick sale out of thin air – especially when they, too, may be new to this industry of ours, you know the one that's imploding and recreating itself even as I write.

This isn’t a good time to be a first-time author in the world of publishing, so of course, it would make sense to many people who think an agent can solve all their publishing problems, but that’s asking a lot.

Perhaps I am thinking too deep into this subject, and that’s a fair comment. However, here are my two experiences so far:

·         Missing out on a reportedly large advance and a contract with one of the big six all with a well-known agent (in 2009).

·         Having an agent (at a writer's conference) read my pages, look me in the eyes and say, “I guess I’m repping you, then. Let me send you over our standard contract.” Eight months later, I'm still waiting... Hawaii isn't *that* far away! (2012).

Honestly, I wish anyone (and everyone) with a new agent only the best wishes for success, but you should also prepare for the disappointment of not finding a publisher (or suffering through a non-communicated change of mind.)

My former agent and I ended our relationship amicably in 2010, and it’s fun to hear people’s reaction when other writers say, “he was your agent. Wow.”

In the case of the second agent-to-be- that-never-was, my perception is that I was strung along far too long. One phone call or email (to put me out of my misery) would have been more than welcomed.

So, what happens when I sign with a new agent?

First of all, I hope to find someone who will become as passionate as Donald Braswell’s story as I am.

And when I do, I will make sure to link the agent’s name and contact info to my bio with the understanding that our working relationship is a partnership.

Because I already know that although the story may be done, the hard work will have only just begun.