TGIF

Whew! I am so glad it's Friday!! Long week...

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is your favorite type of art?
Love the Impressionists; love Norman Rockwell; but also have a particular interest in Jackson Pollock. So no true "favorite," I guess!

Soup
When was the last time you got a free lunch (or breakfast or dinner)? Who paid for it?
Does hubby taking me on a date count? :)

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how emotional are you?
Oh, boy. Probably more emotional than I want to be, most days. Let's say 7.5.

Main Course
Approximately how long do you spend each day responding to emails?
Hmm... Work: 40-60 minutes throughout the day. Home: A little less than that.

Dessert
To what temperature do you usually set your home’s thermostat?
In the cool weather, 72 when we're home and 60 when we're at work (we have those programmable thermostats around the house - very convenient!)

Have a WONDERFUL Friday!!

The Contest Part 2

Yesterday, the author running The Best Ebook of the Summer contest blogged about whether or not contests are based more on popularity votes than on merit. I imagine she was referring to her own contest as well, and wondering how many people who voted did so without reading the ebooks.

Is it a popularity contest? In some aspects, I suppose it is. For those of us near the top, it became a quest to see who could pull in the most votes. But isn't that the case with most contests/elections/polls? People choose a candidate for a variety of reasons, whether it's top quality or word of mouth or wanting to help the underdog.

I know many people voted for my book because they read it, if not in full then in part, as a beta reader or friend. I know many more voted for my book because they knew my name and were intrigued by the excerpt and the reviews they read. And yes, some voted because a friend or family member told them to.

Should I feel bad, soliciting votes from such a variety of people? I don't know...I don't think so. Publishing and sales is all about promotion, like it or not. This contest got my name in front of people who now are interested in buying and reading the book. The hits on my website and blog have doubled in the last 4 days. And if I win the contest outright, I'll get a free review as well.

So what do you think? Was it just a popularity contest? And in this case, is there anything wrong with that? Did the end result - free promotion - warrant my approach to getting the word out? Or did I overstep bounds by asking people to vote even if they hadn't read One Night in Boston?

Writers' Wednesday: How to Get Along in Cyber-World

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Of course, before I dive into today's "how to," just a reminder about The Best Ebook of the Summer contest, going on now. Stop by and vote for ONE NIGHT IN BOSTON...it's the newbie (that's me) against the multi-published author, and I'm holding my own, for now.

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Last week I blogged about how wonderful it is to make friends (and writing pals) via the Internet. And it is, really. I've "met" some terrific people from all over the world. I've learned from veteran writers, thanks to boards and blogs and online classes. And I've picked up some 'Netiquette tips along the way.

1. Don't hog the board. When you belong to a writers' group (or any online group, really), you might be tempted to jump right in and post every few minutes. If that's the flavor of the group, then OK. But make sure that you're leaving room/time for other people to participate as well. And along those lines...

2. If you are asking for feedback, on writing or any other topic, make sure you give it as well. I've seen too many people come to the table with their own agendas, their own needs, and when they got what they needed, turn around and leave. If you're asking for a poll response, make sure you participate when others have polls as well. If you need someone to read a query letter, read theirs when they post it. And so on.

3. Watch the tone of your posts. This one's tough. Email, IM, chatting, posting...all has changed the way people interact. You cannot see someone's facial expression when you're reading their email/post, so if you take offense or sense a negative tone, wait a few minutes before overreacting. Ask for clarification. Many times it's just the person's word choice rather than a personal attack.

4. Be polite, and apologize if you sense someone has taken a post/message the wrong way. Remember #3. People cannot see your face, and they don't always know if you're kidding or being sarcastic.

5. Leave personal problems offline. Not always, of course: sometimes your cyber-friends can help you through tough times. But be careful which dirty laundry you choose to air. Remember there is no privacy on the Internet, no matter how careful you try to be.

6. Reciprocate the nice stuff. Do your online friends remember your birthday and send you e-cards? Do the same for them. Do they take the time to email you offline if you need something? Return the favor.

The Internet is a wonderful place to build new relationships...just be careful, and keep a few 'Netiquette tips in mind.

Anyone else have one they'd like to share?

The Contest

Well, this Best Ebook of the Summer contest has now begun to consume my life...and not necessarily in a good way.

My brother-in-law, an uber-successful NYC businessman, has decided it will be his week's mission to make sure I win, and with contacts in every country in the world, I might have a chance (he called yesterday to tell me that "Brazil, Hong Kong, and London" had checked in and voted). Now if only that will translate to sales, esp. when One Night in Boston comes out in print!

But I am rather tickled that I'm running neck-and-neck for the lead, especially with an author who has 5 published novels under her belt and who entered the contest "to get a little promotion for the novel that got overshadowed by the others" she published this summer. Jeez.

So if you haven't voted, please do, and even if you have, please spread the word to anyone else who hasn't. It would be nice to win and gain some name recognition for myself, along with a review from a multi-published author, to boot.

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I'll leave you with this today: The Samhellion newsletter, put together by Samhain authors. There are some great articles in the September "Great Beginnings" issue...check it out!

Happy Monday!

I love awards shows, as a general rule. I love seeing who's wearing what, who's arriving with whom, who gives the best speeches and who's the most surprised when they win (or don't). I'm a little fed up with the Oscars lately, though, and not only because they stretch out their show with ridiculous skits and songs and interpretive dances so that a 2-hour show becomes a 4-hour one. Ever since "Crash" won Best Picture over "Brokeback Mountain," because 1/2 the members of the Academy admitted they would never vote for a movie with "that kind" of plot, I've been a little turned off.

But I digress, because I love the prime-time Emmys, and they were on last night. I was happy that Katherine Heigl ("Grey's Anatomy") and "30 Rock" won awards; I thought Denis Leary ("Rescue Me") and the casts of "Two and a Half Men" & "The Office" got robbed; I loved Kathryn Morris's dress. Best of all, I was entertained and still in bed by 11:00. :)

I'm also happy because Prison Break starts a brand new season tonight. Yummy! Love the characters, love the writing, love the romantic tension between Michael and Sarah. Couch at 8:00 tonight, here I come!

And finally, I'm happy to report that I am currently in 2nd place, in the Best Ebook of the Summer contest. The poll is open 'til Friday, so I have a lot of work to do to catch the leader, but I'd love to win, if only as a brand new author over someone who's a lot more established in the e-pub world. Plus I'll get a review and promo out of it, so fingers crossed. If you haven't voted yet, please do! And spread the word to anyone else out there...it only takes a minute!

From 4th to 3rd

Brrr! 45 degrees here this morning. Guess I'm going to have to admit that fall has arrived, huh? That's if the orange leaves and the big yellow vehicles lumbering down the road in the morning didn't give it away.

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Well, I've moved from 4th to 3rd place in the "Best Ebook of the Summer" contest, thanks to your votes! But I'm pretty far behind the leader, so if you haven't voted, or if you have friends/family/neighbors/co-workers that haven't voted, let them know, so they can cast their vote for ONE NIGHT IN BOSTON too. Thanks!!

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Today's Unconscious Mutterings:

Rita :: Moreno

Comedy :: Tragedy

Polar :: Bears (do you know they're dying off and will be extinct by 2050 unless we do something about global warming?)

Idiots :: People who don't realize the above and live as if the earth is theirs to waste

Perception :: Viewpoint

Infected :: Snakebite

Fake :: Leather ~ the only kind to wear!

Relating :: Family

Distraction :: My cats, when I'm writing (I still love them, though!)

Gamble :: Vegas

What Color are You?

First things first: if you haven't yet voted for One Night in Boston in the "Best Ebook of the Summer" contest, head on over. I'm currently in 4th place, but the polls are open for another week, so spread the word!

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One of the first lessons I do with my students each year is True Colors. They take a little self-evaluation to determine what color they are, and then we spend a lot of time talking about how that affects the way they approach things, the relationships they develop, etc. It's pretty cool and they always love it. (You can take your own quiz here. Go ahead, find out...)

Well, yesterday the class had a quiz, and their bonus question was to tell me what color they think I am, and why.

I gotta tell you, for 16 and 17 year olds, and considering they've known me one week, they're pretty insightful. This was my favorite response: "You are green most of all, because you are passionate about what you teach and you want us to be passionate about it too. You're not a full-fledged gold, but you are organized and always know what you're doing. You're blue too because you care about our futures, and you're orange because you can talk about "Lost" in the middle of class."

Didn't know I was quite so transparent :)

I Need Your Votes!

Hey everyone, a little shameless promotion here: Ciar Cullen, a fellow Samham author, is running a contest on her blog to select The Best Ebook of the Summer...and One Night in Boston is one of the choices.

Would you hop on over there and vote for me? Please? Ciar will buy and review the winning book...and a little more promo for ONIB wouldn't hurt any. Hey, if you feel like pimping the contest on your own blog, I'd love it even more :) Thanks a million.

Without further adieu, here's Friday's Feast:

Appetizer
When was the last time you visited a hospital?
August, when my cat was v.v. sick. He spent 3 days in an animal hospital that rivals most human hospitals I've been to!

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?
Oh, Lord. I can only go up to 10? 11.

Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)
Early Action Rocks.

Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?
Gotta be a reading club, but as for the name? It's too early for me to be that creative.

Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?
Funny story: We have medium-dark hardwood flooring in the kitchen, dining room, and foyer; the most neutral color beige you can picture for the hallway, bedrooms, and office, and this very interesting mint green tile in the great room. The tile was there when we moved in (as was nasty linoleum and dog-hair filled carpeting in the rest of the house, but that we replaced), and, well, tile is a lot harder and more $$ to replace. So we did a lot of brown in the furniture and throw rugs. And belive it or not, the green really isn't that bad anymore. People who come to our house tell us they actually like it (whether they're being polite or not is a different story, I suppose).

I'm Blogging Today...

...at Samhain's blog, but only after 3:00 EST. So pop on over there and leave me a comment so I don't feel too lonely, OK?

And in the meantime, I wanted to share with you this trailer that I made for Diane Craver's novel A Fiery Secret. Diane's been so helpful since I contracted with Samhain, letting me in on tips and keeping me up to date, that it was the least I could do for her!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with J.A. Giunta

Welcome to another Writers' Wednesday! Today we have an interview with fantasy author J.A. Giunta.

Welcome, Joe! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I was born and raised on the east coast but have lived in Arizona for most of my life. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English from Arizona State but work as a Software Developer for the University of Phoenix. Funny how a career can sometimes stem from a hobby.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I began to write adventures shortly after discovering pen and paper role-playing games when I was eleven years old. My first story was roughly fifty pages long, typed out on a commodore 64 and printed on a dot matrix. I can still feel the staples that bound it pricking my fingers.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.
I’m currently working on the second book of the Ascension trilogy, titled The Mists of Faeron. It’s a self-published work and is actually a rewrite. I spent months improving my writing, by reading numerous books on writing (by writers) and talking with other writers. I learned more in three months at the Absolute Write forums than I did my entire time in college. Well, at least in regards to writing a novel.

How do you go about developing your characters?
I think of them as real people, with belief systems that stem from their upbringing. They have their own quirks, their own way of reasoning, favorite foods and pastimes. I try to have this all reflected in their dialogue and actions, in the way they respond to others and the feelings they go through. The hardest part for me, while calmly writing away, is that people don’t always act rational. They make mistakes, sometimes bad ones, and might not realize it right away.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The most difficult thing about writing is writing. Literally, the first draft. I’m not one of those writers who spews out the first copy just to get the story down on paper, who then begins the process of many revisions. I spend a lot of time thinking about the story, about the characters and their motives, and put it all down in notes and an outline. I break the story down into scenes and lay them all out on paper, then flesh them out from my notes. When I begin writing the first draft, I agonize over every word until the flow is just right, until everything I want in it is absolutely perfect. When I finish a scene, I go back and revise it. Once the manuscript is completed, I do a full revision and edits.

For me, the most rewarding part is being done.

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
Very poorly, thank you. I try my best to get in two hours of writing a day, but sometimes it just isn’t feasible. I work from 5am to 2pm, get my daughter from school after work and then it’s dinner and family time when the wife gets home around 6. So there is some time in there for me to write, if I can work in my office uninterrupted. The problem is that’s a mighty big if. Still, I manage to produce between 15 and 20 pages in a week, which for me is roughly a chapter. As I mentioned earlier, these are not speedily typed pages but are the product of many painstaking hours.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?
I’ve suffered from too many images and words in my head to get them down, but I’ve never run out of material. Even when I reach a scene I’ve left somewhat open and have only a faint idea of what I want to write, as long as I sit in front of the computer the words will come. I spend most of my day thinking about the next scene in my manuscript. It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep. I revise and rework in my head. When I actually sit down to the computer, I’m usually ready to go.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?
I almost didn’t answer this but thought I’d point out for anyone just starting to write that creating a novel is not the same as creating a screenplay. I know, it sounds obvious, but when I first began writing, I saw my scenes as part of a movie in my head. I wrote in ways that would translate well to the big screen. I only learned later this is a pitfall of beginning writers.

Apart from that, there are numerous movies that I love, though some seem better in memory than in the watching again. Movies that move me inspire me to move readers. They remind me, when things seems tough and playing a video game would be easier, that I write because I love to stories and share them with others.

Thanks for stopping by today! For more information about this author or his books, visit his website.

Six Years

September 11, 2001.

Six years ago.

Today we'll wake up to the first Tuesday since it happened. Ths sky's supposed to be blue here, the weather nice. Same as six years ago. But not the same at all.

Political commentary and blame aside, about who was responsible, or what we've done since then, or whether or not the troops should still be in Iraq, I think it's really important not to forget what happened that day, and how much we lost.

Happy Monday!

Over the weekend, One Night in Boston was part of The Romance Studio's Book-a-Day Giveaway. That feature at TRS is a nifty little one in which authors donate copies of their books, and then on any given day, readers/viewers/anyone can email their entry to try and win one of them. There are multiple books each day, so you have to indicate which one you want, and you can only enter once from your email/IP address.

There were 3 other books along with mine on Saturday, and to be honest, I was a little worried that no one would want to enter for ONIB, or that I'd have 5 entries from which to choose (not that there's anything wrong with 5, but...)

Well, I opened my email inbox on Sunday to find a list of 120+ people who had entered to win my book! Now, I have no idea how many people typically enter, and I'm sure TRS has a huge following, but I was so pleased with that response :)

The other nice thing that TRS does for its authors is provide the email addresses of everyone who entered *who chooses to divulge their email address for future mailings.* About half of the people on my list did, which is great...but I don't have a newsletter or anything. I know a lot of authors do, but the idea of putting together one more promotional thing right now is a little overwhelming. I'm thinking of just adding those people to my general email list that I use for announcements about releases, etc.

What do you think? Does anyone out there have a newsletter? Do you think it's worth it? I know some of you have participated in the Book-a-Day Giveaway, so what did you do with all the email addresses you got?

A Drippy Kind of Sunday...

My goals for today:

1. Write the post that's appearing on Samhain's blog later this week.

2. Work on the book trailer I'm making for a friend.

3. Get through as much as I can of the book I'm reading for LASR.

4. All the other Sunday stuff: laundry, grocery shopping, vacuuming...

Or maybe I'll just climb back into bed for a few hours instead :)

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Today's Unconscious Mutterings:

Dork :: Everyone when they're in middle school. That's a rough age.

Refurbished :: Beautiful Victorian houses...something I could never do.

Basket :: Gift.

Mousse :: I used to use it religiously, in the '80s era of big hair.

Studio :: 54

8 ball :: It used to have all the answers for us, back in middle school :)

Masking tape :: Great tool when you run out of lint rollers and your in-laws are coming.

Love :: Can never have too much of it.

Wilder :: Van ______

Lindsey :: Wagner, the original Bionic Woman.

Today Could be your Lucky Day!

Hey everyone, if you haven't yet gotten yourself a copy of One Night in Boston, today could be your lucky day. My novel is featured at The Romance Studio's Book-a-Day Giveaway,(the link is in the left column) and all you have to do is send an email to be entered. At the end of the day, one lucky winner will be chosen at random. How cool is that?

And I have a new review up, as well, from Fallen Angels Reviews:

"I enjoyed One Night In Boston from beginning to end...The flashbacks fill in so much background, and I like that about this book. I felt as if I was right there in the past with Maggie and Jack. I felt Maggie’s swirling emotions as she struggled to decide just how much to reveal to Jack. Also, the relationship between Maggie and her brother is one that anyone could have. It is realistic and understandable...I finished this book with a smile on my face and feeling as if I’d just watched a wonderfully romantic story."

To read the entire review, click here.

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Well, I'm off to my local RWA chapter meeting this morning. Have a great day!

TGIF

Friday's Feast...

Appetizer
Using only one word, how does grocery shopping make you feel?
Hungry

Soup
What is your favorite part about the season of Autumn?
I was going to say the leaves changing colors, but I think that will probably be everyone's answer, so I'll choose baseball playoff season instead (especially since my Cleveland Indians are doing so well this year!)

Salad
Have you ever had any bad experiences online?
Nothing too awful. I just witnessed/was part of a nasty little scuffle on a writing message board. Luckily, the offending member was removed by the moderator. It's too bad when people get personal on the Net...and not in a good way.

Main Course
Name three things that make you happy daily.
My job ~ My health ~ My family

Dessert
What one household cleansing or organizing item would you not want to be without?
Paper towels. I go through far too many of them (I know, I know, I need to be more environmentally conscious and use washable, reusable cloths instead. I'm working toward it).

Props to These Blogs

Two blogs you should visit today, because they're running cool contests:

Ceri Herbert

Diane Craver

One blog you should bookmark and check every day for the next week, since she's running a block/blog party and giving away umpteen books EVERY DAY:

Maya Banks

And one blog you should visit whenever you can, because she's just so freakin' funny:

Rebecca James (check out her blog post on the evils of drinking when your children are sick...)

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And on another subject entirely, here's a little dilemma I'm facing:

This weekend, at my local RWA chapter meeting, we're doing a training/discussion on contest judging, since we have a contest coming up. We want to make sure everyone's close to the same page with using the score sheet, understanding where certain elements should fall, etc. So we're all supposed to bring the first 3 pages of something we've written. We'll read aloud and then discuss how we would score it on the contest sheet.

Umm...OK, but who is going to honestly tell a fellow member "Well, I'd give it about a 2/5." Or, "That hero isn't likable at all," especially after half of the group has probably heard the story before and perhaps even helped critique it? Do you think people will be that honest?

I've decided I'm going to write a really, really bad 3 pages (you know, full of cliches and steroetypes and poor sentence structure and stilted dialogue...maybe even a flashback or two), because I think we should have a "poor" entry to look at and discuss. It will also be interesting to see what people say about it. Will they be kind? Or honest?

And in the interest of research, what sorts of things do you think I should put into this masterpiece? What turns you off from reading a story right from the start? What drives you batty? What do new authors do that needs to be "unlearned"? What comments have you gotten back from judges in the "Needs Improvement" category?

New TV!

Today, we take a break from your regularly scheduled Writers' Wednesday posts (since it's the first week of school, and I'm slacking a little...sorry...new author interview next week!) to bring you this trivial discusssion of what's uppermost on my mind:

With the start of school, along with early mornings, sore feet and throats (all that talking the first few days!), packed lunches, new names of students to learn, does come a bonus: the beginning of new seasons of television shows.

So which ones am I looking forward to?

Prison Break - my top favorite fall show. I can't wait to see the new season! Eye candy aside, the writing in seasons so far has been great: great characters, conflict, dialogue, etc.

The Office - I fell in love with this show over the summer after I watched the back seasons. Terribly funny & well=acted, with just enough of a love interest to keep me coming back for me.

Grey's Anatomy - I'm willing to give it another chance, even though it lost my interest toward the end of last season (please, enough with the whining, Meredith). I might check out the spin-off, Private Practice, too. We'll see.

And other shows that I'll probably tune in to, though they aren't in my Top 3:

How I Met Your Mother (only when it doesn't conflict with Prison Break)
Two and a Half Men (this show is hilarious, really. Sometimes I fall off the couch, I'm laughng so hard)
Survivor - yes, I'm still a semi-fan. It's the only reality show I watch.
Cold Case - One of my favorite cop shows.

Finally, I'm toying with the idea of trying out Dancing with the Stars. I know it's hugely popular, but I've never seen even one episode. Anyone highly recommend it?

So I guess that's about it. We'll see what new shows pop up and catch my eye. What TV shows are you waiting to see?

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to School I Go...

This meme is from Marianne...

10 Things I Love that Begin with B

1. Beginnings - of stories, school, trips, adventures, relationships, etc.

2. Backyards - especially big ones filled with people you like, lush grass and flowers and veggie gardens, and critters who've snuck out from the woods to visit.

3. Boston - A terrific city with terrific history and people and culture. And also, of course, the inspiration for my first novel.

4. Best Friends - An amazing animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

5. The Beatles, even though they hit their heyday before I was born. They were almost all I listened to as a teen :)

6. Books - of course! I'm a writer and a voracious reader...need I say more?

7. Black - it's a fabulous color that makes up the majority of my wardrobe. It matches just about anything and is slimming and forgiving. Wait...who doesn't love black?

8. Bethel Woods - the outdoor concert arena built on the grounds of the original 1969 Woodstock site. It's beautiful.

9. Best friends: the ones out there from grade school, high school, college, grad school, work, and the virtual writing world. I'm so lucky!!

10. My husband's last name, which, incidentally, is also my pen name. Thanks, sweetie!

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I'm off to my first day of school...wish me luck!

Last Day...

...before school starts up again. Where did the summer go?? I know, I know, I can't complain. No other profession gives its employees 2+ months off during the most beautiful weather of the year (of course, I could--and do--make the argument that no other profession requires 2+ months off to recharge and regain emotional sanity the way teaching does...)

So I'll spend today finding something to do with 10 pounds of tomatoes from my FIL's garden (any easy suggestions?), sending out a round of press releases for One Night in Boston, getting things together for tomorrow's bright and early start, and perhaps reading the latest book I'm reviewing for LASR. It's a western, and I deliberately picked it because I have decided to read and review books for that website that I would never normally choose.

By the way, I've also started reading The Time Traveler's Wife: very interesting novel about a man, Henry, who travels back and forth through time visiting his former and future self, and the woman he's married to, Clare, whom he also visits at various points in time (though she lives a linear, chronogocial life: no time travel for her). It's taking me a while to get used to the premise, but the writing is lovely. I'll let you know what I think when I'm a little further on.

And yes, I will spend some time later today picking out my "first day of school" outfit, the same way I did all those years ago when I was the student rather than the teacher. Funny how some things don't change all that much, hmm?

Have a wonderful Labor Day!

Slow-Motion Sunday

Good news: my editor at Samhain has requested the full manuscript of my second 24-hour novel, One Night in Memphis, so I sent that off to her yesterday. Fingers crossed!

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My poor 3-1/2 year old nephew is recovering from Kawasaki Disease...I never even heard of this before Friday, but I guess it's not that uncommon, especially in kids under 5. Luckily, he responded well to the drug treatment and is scheduled to go home from the hospital today. Still, a scary couple of days here.

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Looks like we're going to be blessed with another gorgeous day here in the Northeast US, and I'm determined to spend as much of it outside as I possibly can. What about you? Any plans for the weekend?

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Today's Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Scrabble :: My grandmother - she and I used to play all the time, when I was a little girl.


2. NyQuil :: A really good way to sleep...


3. Roadtrip :: Best way to see the country


4. Idiot :: The village _________


5. Bandages :: Mummy


6. Series :: All the good ones are starting up again on TV soon!


7. Summer :: Almost over :(


8. Prompt :: Writing...and I should use them more often than I do


9. September :: Back to school


10. Chicken :: Little