Build Your Own Story (And Win One, Too!)

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of presenting to each of the third grade classes at a local elementary school. (They've always been so incredibly kind to me at that school -- I couldn't ask for more support!) Rather than rambling on and on about how a book is made, I led an interactive activity called, "Build Your Own Story," where the students and I... well, built our own story. I gave them one category at a time (characters, setting, what does the character want, what's in the character's way, how does the character try...

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There's No Place Like the Library

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'm moving across the country. While I'm very excited and ready to move on, there are some things I'll miss about where I live now. One of those things is, of course, my town's library. It's the place I always go when I need a change of scenery. I have a certain table where I regularly sit and do my work, and after a few hours, I pack up my stuff and wander through the juvenile fiction section. Sometimes, I'll grab a middle grade book and settle in a nearby chair for an hour. Other times, I'll just check out a stack of novels and read them over the course of a week. The feel of the library...

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Writer is Evolving!

If you think that's a weird post title, that's because it is. I'm referencing the Pokemon video games, specifically the screen that shows your Pokemon evolving from one form to the next. It's a magical moment for people who play this game. The cute little animal they've cared so much for and trained so diligently has finally transformed into a more powerful and capable beast. Writers evolve, too. But our evolution is usually less obvious and isn't accompanied by suspenseful music. Sometimes, when I'm feeling brave enough, I'll go back and scroll through old short stories and manuscripts. It can be helpful to take a look...

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Moving On and Moving Away

The past couple of months have been very busy around here. We're working on moving across the country, and every step of that process (packing, doing home repairs, looking at houses on the opposite coast) has been time-consuming, but also kind of fun. Anyway, that's my latest excuse for not blogging as often as I should. *wink* But despite all the busyness, I've still been able to make progress in the writing world. I'm editing a MS based on CPs' suggestions (while also continuing to receive feedback from new CPs) and simultaneously drafting a super fun WIP. I honestly adore the projects I'm working on, and would devote...

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Silly Ideas

The other day, I was deep in thought about something trivial -- I was thinking about how teens today communicate. They text, they Facebook message, they use whatever apps they have on their phones... and none of that was how I had communicated with my friends as a teen. I had a basic cell phone, but texting regularly would be expensive. So, back then, we did what everyone was doing: we used AOL instant messenger. Boy, do I cringe when I think back on those days. (Any of you guys have a "buddy list" back in the day?) Thinking about instant messaging reminded me of this dumb story idea I had when I was in middle school. It...

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That's Out Of Character

Several years ago, I subbed for a fifth grade teacher on a regular basis. I got to know her students well, and still remember most of their names even today. But one boy in particular stood out to me. We'll call him Travis. Here are some of the things Travis liked to do: - Make fun of his classmates and call them names. - Talk back to teachers. - Roll his eyes whenever a new assignment was given. - Act like he didn't care about anything or any person. I thought I knew exactly who he was. He was a bully and a troublemaker. It seemed like every time I turned around, he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing. One...

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Review of ROCK 'N' ROLL PRINCESSES WEAR BLACK by Kelly Polark

So, once upon a time, I wore a lot of black. Who am I kidding, I still do! But years ago, I wore black clothes almost every day and was criticized for it. (Which only made me wear more black.) But anyway... This book rocks in more ways than one! ROCK 'N' ROLL PRINCESSES WEAR BLACK by Kelly Polark is a seriously cute book that I can so relate to. Here's more about it: Music class and recess totally rock, but being teased in school and ignored at home totally stinks. Stefani Lucas is a rockin’ sixth grader who loves music and dresses...

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Emily Ungar, Author of LIBERTY BELLE, Guest Posts Today!

Today, we have a special guest with us -- Emily Ungar, author of the middle grade novel LIBERTY BELLE, which was just released on August 12. You can learn more about LIBERTY BELLE below, but first, Emily's here to talk about her favorite childhood books: I really enjoyed Shelley’s recent post on favorite childhood books. As soon as I saw her image of those familiar worn covers, I felt an instant comfort. I loved all of the Beverly Cleary books, Boxcar Children, Babysitters Club, Sleepover Friends, The Gymnasts...I could go on forever!...

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Dear Old Friends, AKA Childhood Books

During one of my most recent trips visiting my mom, I had the pleasure of going through an old box of books. It felt like reuniting with old friends! These were just some of the familiar faces I saw. I wanted to hug them. Perhaps my favorite discovery was the very first book I'd ever read on my own (besides picture books and early readers): Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary I remember sitting at my desk in first grade and opening this book for the first time. My teacher (one of the best teachers I'd ever had) praised me for challenging...

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Writing With Chronic Illness

Hey everyone, before I point you in the direction of Misha Gericke's blog, where I'm a guest today, I'd like to share one thing: My book, Wishing for Washington, has been entered in a contest held by IndieReCon. The category is Best Middle Grade Book of 2014. If you feel like voting for Wishing for Washington, that would be way awesome and I'd be your friend forever: http://indiereconlive.com/?contestants=wishing-for-washington Anyway, onto today's topic... I'm at Misha Gericke's blog today, talking about ways I manage to keep writing while chronically ill. Please feel free to check it out at: http://sylmion.blogspot.com/....

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Hello from the Revision Cave

It's dark in here. I knew my manuscript needed work, but I didn't realize how much. So. Much. It's funny, before I started writing seriously, back when I was just scribbling down stories for fun and only sharing them with a few people, I didn't realize how exhausting and arduous the editing process is. I thought it was just like the editing process we had in English class: Step 1: The teacher reads what you've written and crosses out misspelled words, adds in punctuation marks you missed, etc. Step 2: You write a new draft, incorporating those changes. Step 3: You're done. Right? I had a conversation recently, in the...

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All Of Your Questions, Answered!

This week, my critique partner and friend, Kristi Wientge, interviewed me on her blog. She's a fantastic person and everything you could hope for in a CP, so I encourage you all to go visit her at Moments-n-between: http://moments-n-between.blogspot.com. It was SO kind of her to do this, and she came up with some superb questions! Just a warning: my answers are a little on the long and rambling side. But we've covered pretty much everything. If there's anything you've wanted to know about the process of publishing Wishing for Washington, this interview is where you'll find i...

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The Way You Talk

Have you ever been in a conversation -- or overheard a conversation -- and heard someone say a phrase or word that just sticks with you? When I was in college, I had a philosophy professor who had a very quirky way of describing things. He was an older gentleman, very kind and easy-going (and very forgetful... he gave us the same assignment a few times in a row... oops.) We worked in groups in that class, and when my group (3 other girls and myself) was finished with our work, we'd talk and talk. Sometimes our discussions got lively and full of dramatic storytelling. Every time our professor walked by and heard us gabbing...

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Review of WISH YOU WEREN'T by Sherrie Petersen

If you love Middle Grade, love science and space, and love to be taken on an adventure, then please -- read this book! A summary of the book, taken from Goodreads.com: Marten doesn't believe in the power of wishes. None of his have ever come true. His parents ignore him, his little brother is a pain and his family is talking about moving to Texas. Not cool. So when he makes an impulsive wish during a meteor shower, he doesn't expect it to make any difference. Until his annoying brother disappears. With the present uncertain and...

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The Paperback Is Out!

Just letting you guys know that Wishing for Washington is now available as a paperback! (Yup, those are my copies!) The back cover is all pretty with clouds and stars and stuff. And it feels amazing. Like, the smoothest book I've ever touched. But I might just be biased. Anyway, if you or someone you know would like a copy, you can find it on Amazon! Now that my book baby is out of my hands, I'm focusing on other projects. Editing one manuscript while drafting another. Fun! What is everyone working on this summe...

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Gift Ideas for Writers

(Said in announcer voice) "Do you have a friend or family member who is a writer? Are you struggling to figure out what kind of gift to give them for their birthday or a holiday? Well, struggle no more!" My birthday was last week, and my family gave me the most fun and creative gifts! So, if you need a gift for the writer in your life, here are some ideas: My mom bought me a WRITER T-shirt and WRITER tote bag! I can't wait to show off to everyone that I do what I love. They're from the TV show Castle, which I also recommend to writers. My...

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What Would We Do Without Our Friends?

Sharing a book with the world can be a scary thing. You've worked so hard on it, and then it's time to release it into the wild. It's out of your hands. But something that makes publishing a book much less scary is the support of friends and family. I'm so grateful for the people in my life, for the encouragement they've provided and enthusiasm they've shown. I couldn't do it without them. (Which is why my acknowledgements section is so long -- a lot of people have helped me on this journey!) I'm also very thankful for my fellow writers. My blog and Twitter buddies have helped me in many ways: providing feedback, cheering...

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Wishing for Washington is now on Amazon.com!

I know the official release date for the e-book was supposed to be June 18, but yesterday I decided I'd play around on Amazon. The mobi (Kindle) formatting was all done, and there was nothing stopping me from actually publishing it. So I did. If you're interested, you can check it out here. If you're not sure if you'd like it or not, you can read a sample on Wattpad.com. I kept thinking I still had a week before the release (though I guess I could have waited a week before fiddling with Amazon), so I wasn't really prepared to announce it today. It definitely feels surreal. The Nook version and print version are still...

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Review of BINGO SUMMER by Dawn Malone

Middle Grade is my favorite genre by far, and though I don't have the opportunity to blog about every single MG book I read, I do want to make a point of sharing ones that really stand out to me. BINGO SUMMER by Dawn Malone is a book I wanted to blog about even before I finished it. Not only because Dawn and I are email buddies, but because I can picture many different kinds of readers, kid and adult, who would love this book! The story is fascinating (what kid -- or adult -- doesn't dream about winning the lottery and getting rich?)...

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How Do You Read e-Books?

Hi friends, before I talk about today's topic, I wanted to let you know that WISHING FOR WASHINGTON is now on Goodreads! You can add it to your To-Read list if you'd like. Today, I have a question for anyone who reads e-books: What kind of device do you use to read them? Do you have a Kindle, Nook, iPad, or another device? I'm wondering because I'm in the final stages of formatting my e-book, and I've noticed some subtle differences between mobi (Kindle) and epub (Nook). Due to these differences, the mobi version has been much easier to code than the epub, so the Kindle version might release earlier than the Nook. (But...

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Cover Reveal for WISHING FOR WASHINGTON!

I announced a few posts ago that I have a middle grade novel coming out called WISHING FOR WASHINGTON. And that's basically all I announced. So, without further delay, here's everything else about WISHING FOR WASHINGTON! Starting with... the cover: Isn't it pretty? It's all thanks to Steven Novak of Novak Illustration! He's got some amazing skills! (You can click on the image for a larger version, if you'd like.) So, what's WISHING FOR WASHINGTON all about? Here's the summary: As punishment for playing doorbell ditch, twelve-year-old...

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No Spoilers, Please!

Before I get to today's subject, I just want to let you guys know that I now have a Facebook Page! I'm not asking you guys to "like" it or anything, but if you do, please feel free to plug your own Page's URL in the comments so I can "like" you back. So, several months ago, I was browsing Twitter when I saw a tweet about a TV show I watch. The tweet said something along the lines of: OMG I can't believe [CHARACTER] was killed off on last night's episode of [TV SHOW]!! ...and I hadn't yet seen the episode. Thanks for the spoilers, random Twitter person. You're un-followed. (Not really, but I was momentarily annoyed enough...

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So... I Have A Book Coming Out!

Yup, you read the title right! I unofficially announced this on Twitter last week, but here's the official post: My debut middle grade novel, WISHING FOR WASHINGTON, will be released this summer through my small business, Frolloway Press. Woo hoo!! I know it's all pretty vague right now, but trust me, more details will be coming soon, including the actual release date and a summary. I'm working on a whole bunch of things at once right now. And you know what? I love it. My decision to self-publish was one I made over the course of many months. Actually, close to a year. I wasn't necessarily set on self-publishing this...

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Why Did You Love That Book?

I've been thinking a lot about the books that children choose to read. I work with kids, and it's always interesting to see which books they take out of the library, buy at the book fair, or borrow from their teacher. Everyone has different tastes. I've seen kids reading fantasy, adventure stories, contemporary stories, graphic novels, joke books, and various other non-fiction books. (The girls seem to prefer how-to books on crafts, while the boys seem to gravitate toward non-fiction about things like sharks and spiders, from what I've noticed.) No single book is going to attract everyone, and no reader is going to love...

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You Share A Name With My Character!

I've recently made a new acquaintance who shares a name with one of my characters. One of my favorite characters, in fact. It's not an insanely uncommon name, but it's not one you hear everywhere. So, when this person introduced himself, I might have been grinning like an idiot. Which might have been creepy. If you're a writer, you probably understand this. Our characters feel real. We think of them just as often as we think about actual people in our lives. It's part of the job. If you're not a writer, this might sound weird. It might sound like no big deal, like someone sharing a name with an imaginary friend you had...

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Overheard Conversations

A few years ago, I was heading into a Subway restaurant when I overheard the conversation of two people passing by. They were a father and daughter; the girl was maybe 5 or 6 years old. "Daddy, let's get Subway!" she said. "No, sweetie," he responded. "Daddy doesn't like Subway." The little girl gasped. "How come you don't like Subway?" "Because," he said, a firmness in his voice, "Daddy just doesn't like it, okay? Just like how Daddy doesn't like..." That was all I heard. They were out of my range of hearing, and I was about to open the door to Subway, anyway. Like I said, that was a few years ago, but it is still...

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My Characters Now Eat Seafood (Re-Post)

I'm going through old blog posts from the archives and have decided to re-post a few. Here is one from 2010: I hate seafood. It's unfortunate, because I live in such a seafood-loving area. I've never been able to stand the smell and the texture of the food. Luckily, I married a man who doesn't like seafood either, so I'm not forced to be around someone else eating it in the house. Because I find seafood so repulsive (no offense to those who enjoy it, which is most of the world, I think), I never wanted to make my characters eat it. I couldn't stand to write something like, "the waiter brought them their food, the smell...

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A "Medley" Of New Things

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. The past month was crazy busy for me, hence the quietness on the blog. But I'm back and ready for an exciting new year! I anticipate a bunch of new things coming up in 2014. In fact, something big has already happened, three days into the new year -- we adopted a dog, Medli. She's a two-year-old chocolate lab mix. She's a total sweetheart (loves everyone -- adults, children, dogs and cats) and is proving to be a fast learner. I think she's going to make an awesome writing...

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