Friday 29 August 2014

Which Fictional Guy Is Your Best Match?



I've already blogged about the worst fictional dates and the best book boyfriends, so now it's only natural to write about finding your perfect literary match.  

With so many great fictional fellas out there, it's hard for a gal to know which pretend guy to dream about. Well, look no further. I've created a test to determine who your perfect literary match should be!

You can complete the quiz to the right of this post or click here to go directly to the Quibblo website.

And once you've figured out who your perfect book boyfriend is, check out how the fictional girls did in the latest on-line dating service, Happily Ever After.

Who's your best match?


Thursday 21 August 2014

Sophia Veragara And I Talk About Being Sexy

This was a list complied by Sophia (*cough* marketing team *cough*) for a make-up manufacturer trying to sell its new brand of mascara. Besides buying the mascara, here are Sophia's other rules about being sexy.

Sophia.veragara.biography.org



Sophia: #1. Wear heels! Flats are for the unflirtatious.

Me: Cleopatra wore flats, so there.

Sophia: #2. Mess up your hair just a little. It's sexier that way.

Me: Awesome! Think of the time I'll save in the morning by not brushing my hair.

Sophia: #3. Sexy is a state of mind. Believe you're sexy, and you are.

Me: What if I'm believing that I'm sexy, but I'm wearing flats and I've brushed my hair.

Sophia: #4. If you've got it, flaunt it! Have nice legs? Wear short skirts.

Me: I've got asthma.

Sophia: #5. Be silly, not serious. It's sexier.

Me: This is the fourth time 'sexy' is used in this list. Oh, sorry! *shoves seriousness to the side and giggles instead* 

Sophia: #6. A push-up bra never hurts.

Me: If the underwire pokes out the end and digs into your flesh, then yeah, it does hurt.

Sophia: #7. Talk with a husky voice and keep it just above a whisper.

Me: How can I be silly with a husky voice that's just above a whisper? Everyone will think I have a cold or that I'm doing a bad Christopher Waken impersonation.

                                                                  youtube.com


Which rule is your favorite? Mine, not Sophia's...

Thursday 14 August 2014

Why I Write YA

Oh, hi there.

I was tagged by my writerly buddy, Jane LeBak to be part of a writing process blog tour. I should totally ace this test.


1. What am I working on?
 


I recently finished the last edits for my YA coming of age novel, BUTTERFLIES DON'T LIE. Hey, it comes out in a month! *muppet hand flailing*

Presently, I'm buckling down with revision for my YA paranormal mystery, THE ASP. It's Veronica Mars meets Indiana Jones. You can check it out on Goodreads here.

Then I'll return to Willard's Department Store, continuing to write BLACK FRIDAY, the second book in the NIGHT SHIFT series. You can read that YA paranormal mystery for FREE on Wattpad. Go ahead...don't be shy.


2. How is my work different from others of its genre?

NIGHT SHIFT is FREE! Plus, the MC is a dude. Not rare of course, but most paranormal romances are in the first person with a female lead. And I dig the creepy yet stylish mystery of the old department store. I hope you'll give it a chance.

3. Why do I write what I do?

I write because I have to. I write the stories I want to read. Actually, I write to stop the voices in my head.

4. How does my writing process work?

I sit in the chair and make myself keep writing sentences until I have enough of a mess to edit. I'm a fan of sticky notes. I have a simple outline of the major events. Before I write a scene, I list all the things that have to happen before the end of that chapter.

I'm a fan of cliffhangers too, but not too many in a row. Also, if your 'pickle of a situation' keeps ending with an easy solution, the cliffhangers will lose their effect. Readers want conflict!

Now I encourage you to check out the blogs of these other splendid people...


Megan Whitmer is a breath of fresh air on twitter my friends. And she vlogs like a pro. Plus, she makes these cute scrunched up faces that Katie Holmes would die for. Her debut YA paranormal mystery, BETWEEN is out now.

Meet the sassy and always in fashion, Heather Marie. Her YA debut novel, THE GATE THROUGH WHICH THEY CAME, comes out this month. She's all that and a bag of chips. Plus, she's really cool. And since she follows me on twitter, that makes me cool too.


How does your writing process work?

Friday 8 August 2014

How To Decipher A Rejection

We've all been there...

One finger hovers over the mouse, ready to click open the e-mail that just popped up in your inbox from an agent you've queried. Your heart is hammering against your ribs.

Maybe it's a partial request! Maybe it's full request! Maybe it's an invitation to set up a call!!!

Or maybe *sad violin music* it's a rejection.

And when someone tells you they don't like your heart and soul, and all the blood, sweat and tears that go with it, you want a good reason, don't you?


unleashyourcalling.com

Dude, I feel you pain. I'm somewhat of an expert on rejections. Suffice to say, I've racked up my fair share. And with that experience comes wisdom.

Here are some actual rejections I've received over the years and what they really mean.


#1. Rejection on JUST JESSE from editor.

Thanks for sending this my way, but I'm afraid the story didn't hook me like I had hoped. Keep in mind another agent may feel differently.

What it means: Keep writing. Keep sending out queries.



#2. Rejection on JUST JESSE from editor.

I loved the setting and the pacing of the story, but I didn't fall in love with the main character to my satisfaction. Thanks for thinking of me and please keep me in mind for future projects.

What it means: Keep writing. Keep sending out queries.


#3. Rejection on query for NIGHT SHIFT by agent.

A YA paranormal from a male POV isn't selling well in this genre. Most readers are girls and want to live the experience through the protagonist. If you consider changing the POV to a girl, I'd be willing to take a look at the first three chapters.

What it means: Keep writing. Keep send out queries. Also, HARRY POTTER and PERCY JACKSON.


#4. Rejection on query for THE ASP by agent.

This is a unique premise and I love the unexpected twist, but unfortunately my client case load is such that I'm no longer looking for YA writers at this time.

What it means: Keep writing. Keep sending out queries.


#5. Rejection on query for JUST JESSE by agent.

Sorry, but your work isn't the right fit for our agency. Please forgive the impersonal nature of this email, but it is necessary to send a form rejection if we strive to respond to every query.

What it means: Keep writing. Keep sending out queries.


Hm...it looks like they're all saying the same thing, keep writing, keep sending out queries. And here's a bonus. DON'T GIVE UP!!!


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