It's been nearly six months since my last story came out: Dark Horse, A Lords of Shifters Novella. So, what's up with that? Why the lapse in time? I don't know.
The plan was to have Blood Pyre out by March and then the next book out this summer. That didn't work out so well, obviously.
And why haven't I been keeping up with the blog? I don't know.
A blog a week shouldn't be so bad, I suppose. But that hasn't happened in a very long while.
Life happens. Boys become teenagers in a blink of an eye. Work becomes constant. New interests develop. Trips to Hawaii happen. And everything else gets put on the back burner. Well, it's time to get back to work.
Today is my first day writing again. It's been so long that I think I forgot how. My goal was to hit 5K words today. Saturday is my only writing day, so the more words the better. Far from 5K, I reached 1,500. What happened? I don't know. But don't worry because I'm getting 'er done this time.
I'd like to take a few minutes once in a while to keep you posted on the progress of Blood Pyre and other rad stuff I feel important, like vegan cookies and running events. I appreciate your patience with me and can't wait to finally bring you the books you've been waiting for!
Until then, if you haven't already liked my Facebook page, go there now. There will be ebooks given away when the page hits 200 "Likes" Yay for FREE EBOOKS! ----> http://Facebook.com/AngelaCarlieBooks
Here's a picture of my sweet boy and I at the coast this past weekend. It was a beautiful weekend. Look how tall he's getting!
And here is one of the pieces of music I've been listening to while writing Blood Pyre.
Just in time for the release of Dark Horse next week, Spider Wars went free on Amazon today. Of course it's also free on iBooks, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. Go get your copy today!
Jess' life has never been ordinary. After all, life on the road with an
immortal family of gypsies is hardly predictable. Living in the small
town of White Salmon, Washington has brought some normality to her life.
But when her cheating, sometimes boyfriend, Nicu, gets involved with a
group of arachneshifters, life gets a little sticky. Will she be able to
save him from the web he's spun? More importantly, how much is she
willing to risk to get him back?
Thank you for participating in the Indelibles On Fire Blog Hop Giveaway. We are so excited at the number of people who entered. If you missed the announcement on who won the Kindle Fire, you can check it out on the Indelibles blog. Congratulations!
I was so happy at the number of people who showed interest in my novels. The emails to the winners have been sent. So, if you haven't received an email, you should notify me. Why, you say? Because everyone who entered my giveaway will be awarded the book of their choice. Yay!
As I mentioned in the email, I'm the type of person who enters contests all the time. Yet, I never win. I'd at least like a gold star, or something, from my efforts, but the win cool stuff fairy never passes my way. Therefore, I'd like to award everyone who took the time and effort to post on my blog during the giveaway something special as a thank you. Your interest in my stories means a lot to me.
If you posted on the blog, but didn't get an email, please do let me know. There were a couple emails that didn't go through.
When you hear the word "Forks" what do you think of? The utensil. Choices in life's journey. The town in Washington where vampires and werewolves reside. I want to mention two of those conjured thoughts now.
I recently tested into a nursing school. Apparently my scores were in the top percentile, which surprised me. Well, even though the test said I can go to that school, I'm unable to because of financial reasons. I mean, if we scraped and stressed for the next two years, maybe, a very slight maybe, there would be a chance we could come up with the money. But realistically, I'd get halfway through the program, and I wouldn't be able to pay for the rest. So, it's probably best to go to community college. Sure, it will take triple the time to finish, and it's severely competitive to get into the program once the prerequisites are done, but that's a chance we'll have to take. I'm excited to begin my first class in September. Chemistry. Ooooh. Aaaah. Wish me luck!
And now for the town in Washington where vampires and werewolves reside. Did you know it rains there, like all the time? Ha! Not all the time, but it did rain when we stopped by last Monday. I'm told it was sunny and 70 degrees the day prior and the day following our visit. Figures, eh?
We also visited a beautiful rainforest on our journey north. Of course, it rained there, too.
Now to the other stuff. October is going to be an exciting month. It's always full of awesomeness, but this year will be even greater because I'll be going on tour with three other YA authors, Stacey Wallace Benefiel,Lisa Nowak, and Rebecca Knight. We are in the scheduling venues and thinking up really cool tour name stage, but it's going to be rad! Here are a few of the stops already confirmed:
Cover to Cover Books
WordStock 2011
Beaverton Library
A Children's Place Bookstore
Interzone, Inc.
We are working on finalizing a few other locations, so check back for a list of dates in the near future.
One more thing -- Starting Monday, I'm going on a juice fast. I will most likely be grumpy and irritable the first few days, so if my presence seems sparser than normal on the social networking sites, this is why. The fast will only last about two weeks, and I'll be adding cooked and raw fruits and veggies on the third day, so it won't be so bad.
Another one more thing -- Don't forget that Loramendi's Story went on sale this month! It's still only 99 cents for the ebook on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. The paperback will probably be available on Amazon in the next week or two, too.
To be extra sure that Loramendi's Story shows up on August 7th, I decided to hit the publish button today. Sometimes it can take a couple days and sometimes, like today, a few hours to become available. Barnes and Noble is still thinking about it while Amazon is already complete. Here's the link!
If you have a Kindle, you can now purchase Loramendi's Story for only .99 cents! Since this is the first book in the series (Lords of Shifters), I'm keeping the price low. It hurts, but I'm hoping it will help gain new readers.
I've been doing a lot of research into spiders lately for my next novel. They totally creep me out, but the research must be done. So, after spending a few hours reading and looking at pictures of the eight legged creatures, I crashed in the recliner for some much needed time with my Kindle.
My big pooch, Cookie, fell asleep at my feet.
Out of nowhere, a ginormous hairy spider scurried across the floor, straight toward Cookie. I pushed her head so she would stand, but she was out and didn't budge. The spider bolted straight for her cute pooch nose. I pulled her heavy face up to save her from the spider attack. She finally woke and helped me out by standing.
The spider stopped.
I maneuvered my Kindle toward the spider to capture it and then I brushed it off into the front yard.
Afterward, I danced around to make sure it wasn't crawling on me even though I clearly saw it scurry off in the other direction.
Whew.
I pretty much saved my dog's life. I'm a hero.
Have a great night. I hope you enjoy Loramendi's Story!
I'm so excited to be able to participate in Sample Sunday with a new novel. Today, for the first time ever, I give you a glimpse of my upcoming YA Paranormal novel, Loramendi's Story -- A Lords of Shifters Novel.
You've heard about my upcoming series, right? No? Well, let me tell you a little about it.
Loramendi's Story is the first novel in the Lords of Shifters series.
Lora wants nothing more than to be the wind behind sexy windsurfer Chance's sails. But fulfilling that wish just became...complicated. After seventeen years of normal life, someone wants Lora and her family dead. And the attempted massacre isn't nearly as strange as the reason behind it.
Genre: YA Paranormal Publisher: DarkSide Publishing Publish Date: August, 2011
While reading Loramendi's Story, you'll want to pay close attention because there will be clues woven into the web of words about another series in the works.
I'd like for you to enjoy Loramendi's Story for free before it's published. That's right, I said free. Fill out the form below to receive an Advance Reader Copy in PDF form. Copies will be emailed about two weeks prior to the official release (by the end of July).
A limited number of e-ARCs are available, so sign up today and tell all your friends. Sit back, relax and enjoy Loramendi's Story on your eReader. Please fill out the form prior to July 8, 2011.
If you plan on reading Loramendi's Story, please remember to add it to your Goodreads list
The form is now down. Thank you everyone who requested to receive an e-ARC. PDFs will be emailed to you at the end of July.
If you choose to be added to the DarkSide Publishing newsletter mailing list, you will receive a confirmation in the email soon.
All efforts will be made to email eArcs to everyone requesting one up to 100 copies. If more than 100 people request a copy, a drawing will be held to choose the 100 recipients. We have the right to rescind this offer at any time. Dates are not guaranteed. Please feel free to leave any comments in the comment section below. I also retain the right to change anything about this giveaway that I choose -- just in case I forgot something. :) Thank you!
Land of Corn Chips is going on tour! That sounds so rock-star-ish, but that's how Land of Corn Chips and its readers roll. The {Teen} Book Scene has worked hard to put this awesome tour together.
Take a look at the schedule below and please be sure to stop by and say, "Hey," in your rockstar way.
Monday, June 27th
A Good Addiction is featuring character tweets from the cast of Land of Corn Chips.
It's time to tell you about my next novel. LORAMENDI'S STORY is the first book in the Lords of Shifters novels. It will be out this August. I'll announce some awesome opportunities on how peeps can get their paws on an e-Arc soon! For now, just check it out and enjoy.
Lora wants nothing more than to be the wind behind sexy windsurfer Chance's sails. But fulfilling that wish just became...complicated. After seventeen years of normal life, someone wants Lora and her family dead. And the attempted massacre isn't nearly as strange as the reason behind it.
Evan Laverne isn't the average guy seen in most YA Romance novels these days. He's not the dark and mysterious teen heart throb that every girl salivates over. He doesn't skip class or belong to a rock band or have a super-fast car. He's not a loner or a drinker or a jock. No, Evan doesn't belong to a gang, he doesn't sparkle, nor does he smell like a cute fuzzy wolf.
Evan has a kind heart. He loves to help people. He genuinely cares about the homeless and the less fortunate. Evan is thoughtful, he believes in God, but doesn't push his beliefs on others, he's homeschooled, and volunteers at the local shelter. He's shy around girls and hasn't really kissed one. Until he meets Autumn. And a first kiss can't get any memorable than theirs.
Most importantly, Evan is real. He's that guy. The good guy who girls wish they chose instead of the loser who was fun for just a minute.
He's the opposite of everyone else in Autumn's life and that's exactly what she needs. How much cooler can a guy get? Not much.
Find out more about Evan and Autumn in Dream Smashers -- available in eBook and paperback. Follow the links in the sidebar.
It's true! Land of Corn Chips is now available as an eBook at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords. Plus, it's only 99 cents! How cool is that? Very.
Eleven-year-old Nate Hansen never believed in dragons before an eccentric man with a purple-feather hat kidnaps him. Spirited to the Land of Corn Chips on the back of a mechanical yellow dragon, Nate must find a way to avoid being ground into compost. His only hope of escape is to earn the friendship of the local wrestling gang and zombie kids, and to believe in a parent he no longer trusts.
Eleven-year-old Nate Hansen never believed in dragons before an eccentric man with a purple-feather hat kidnaps him. Spirited to the Land of Corn Chips on the back of a mechanical yellow dragon, Nate must find a way to avoid being ground into compost. His only hope of escape is to earn the friendship of the local wrestling gang and zombie kids, and to believe in a parent he no longer trusts.
Land of Corn Chips, full of adventurous story, will be available on an eReader near you June 6, 2011. Click Here to read the first chapter. Happy reading!
Someday Famous YA Author is a series of interviews with awesome authors, famous now or future famous, who write for young people.
Addison Moore has gotten around since March 26th, 2011. Her name has graced the screens of more Kindles and eReaders than many best sellers--in only less than a two month period. She's been called "The Next Indie Sensation" and "Indie Phenom." That's a lot to live up to, but I'm here to tell you her debut novel, ETHEREAL, lives up to the rumors and name calling.
Many authors dream of seeing this screen shot I took tonight. (I totally just learned this little trick. You should be proud and tell me how awesome I am now. Google taught and proud.)
Can you see it? It looks a little blurry to me, but you'll have to trust me when I tell you that ETHEREAL ranked #186 in the Paid Kindle Store, #6 in two categories, and #7 in one. That shot would make any newly published or long-time published author smile for a month.
ETHEREAL (Celestra Series Book 1)
Description from Goodreads
Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.
When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.
Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.
Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in.
Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?
How cool is that? Very.
I'd like to introduce you to an awesome author, who happens to also be super nice, (Someday) Famous YA Author, Addison Moore.
Addison:
Angela, first, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog! I’m thrilled to be here!
Me:
The pleasure is mine.
I bought ETHEREAL a week or two after it came out on Kindle. It sat in the device until last week when I had a moment to pick it up. Then, I couldn't put it down. I totally fell in love with the characters, Skyla, Logan, Gage... I won't talk specifics so the peeps who haven't read the novel won't be upset, but I'll say that the tension between the characters was perfect. I sometimes felt so angry and hurt right along with Skyla. (And sometimes I wanted to slap her.)
What or who (or both) inspired you to write this story and these characters?
Addison:
Thank you for your kind words. I really enjoyed writing this story. It’s actually a marriage of two stories that I abandoned years ago because I pantsed (writing with no outline) myself into a corner with both of them. It was the characters that kept drawing me back to the island. I just couldn’t get them out of my mind so I fashioned a unique storyline just for them.
Me:
ETHEREAL just came out and it's been received very well as far as I can tell. Have you been given much feedback from readers other than the reviews? If so, what's one of the best things someone said that made you feel all warm and tingly inside?
Addison:
Oh my gosh. I cannot tell you how amazing it has been to receive emails, DM’s, tweets, blog comments, facebook messages, and messages on goodreads! I have been blown away by the response by readers and their kind words about my story. Mostly people want to know when book 2 is coming out. And that makes my day every single time!
Me:
Tell us how you came about publishing ETHEREAL. I noticed you have an agent, but did you publish this novel independently or through a publisher? What's the scoop?
Addison:
I self-published Ethereal and plan to do so with the rest of the series and other projects as well. My agent came about after Ethereal was out for three weeks and I’m very excited about the future.
Me:
You left ETHEREAL at a point where I wanted to turn the page and keep reading, but couldn't. Now I'm super excited to read the second novel, TREMBLE. Please tell us a little about it.
Addison:
TREMBLE is ready to launch as soon as next week. The tension between Sklya, Logan and Gage really heats up when Sklya starts to develop feelings for Gage as well. A new character is introduced and really turns Skyla’s world upside down.
Me:
Here's a couple of easy questions for you.
What is the last book you read that you'd like to recommend to others and why?
Addison:
I didn’t just finish it, it was probably a few books back, but I have to recommend THE BOOK THIEF. What an awesome novel with an amazing premise. And how can you go wrong when the narrator is death?
Me:
I'd normally ask what your favorite food or drink is, but I read somewhere you drink Dr. Pepper and overdose on chocolate often. So, I'll ask something else: Who is your favorite super-hero and why?
Addison:
I’m pretty sure she’s the antithesis of a super-hero, but I’m going to say Cat woman. Every since I was little I’ve had a fascination with that sexy costume of hers. Can you blame me?
Me:
Is there anything you'd like to add?
Addison:
Celestra series coming out sometime this summer. Book 3 will include Chloe’s diary in its entirely. I’ll have the cover for that one up my blog soon. =)
Me: Thanks again, Addison! And congratulations on the success of your novel. I wish you the best.
Addison:
Thank you for hosting! I had a blast!
Addison Moore is a USC graduate who enjoys writing young adult paranormal romance. Ethereal is her first published novel in the Celestra series. She lives with her family and two dogs on the west coast.
If you enjoyed this interview, please follow my blog. There will be more great interviews like this in the future. Have a great weekend! Peace out for now.
Someday Famous YA Author is a series of interviews with awesome authors, famous now or future famous, who write for young people.
If you've read my blog in the past, you'll know I adore Mindi Scott. She writes books with teens in them. Her debut novel, FREEFALL, was published last year by Simon Pulse. Read Here
About FREEFALL (description taken from Goodreads):
How do you come back from the point of no return?
Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend, Isaac, alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time when Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn't wake up.
Convinced that his own actions led to his friend's death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.
Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth soon realizes he isn't the only one who needs saving . . .
If you enjoy contemporary novels with real characters, you'll love FREEFALL.
Mindi has graciously given her time to answer some questions for the blog today. See how cool she is? Here we go...
Me: Seth has become like the guy that should have his own poster because all your fans would probably buy it and hang it on their walls to goggle and daydream over. Unlike many YA novels, Seth feels like a real guy you'd find at any high school. I think that's one of the reasons peeps are so drawn to him.
Since the story is told in his POV AND in first-person, I'm wondering how difficult was it for you to pull that off so well. What was the process like to wrap yourself inside a teenage guy's head?
Mindi: Oh, man. A Seth poster! My editor teases me because of how much I do not see him like that. I think he is a very good-looking boy, but I've just spent waaaay too much time in that kid's head, you know? (That said, thinking about Rosetta never fails to make things get all slow-motion-y. I'm a straight woman, but she had such an effect on Seth that I still haven't totally gotten over it.)
Let me try to think back on my process of writing Seth. One thing I did a lot of during that time was read other young adult novels from male points of view. There was probably a solid year or more where I read very little from female POVs so that I could stay focused. Also, a good portion of my waking hours were spent thinking about Seth and trying to imagine how he'd see things, how he'd feel about them. At the start, I'd write sentences in my own words and then work on how to make them sound like him. Usually, it involved cutting out about half of the words, and then pulling out a thesaurus to change most of what I had left. Eventually, his voice came naturally, but it took a lot of practice to get to that point.
The other day, I randomly flipped open a copy of Freefall and read a few sentences and was like, "Whoa. How did I do that?" because it is very much not me and all Seth. I'm the only one of us who is the real person here... right? ;-)
Me: There are so many things I LOVE about "Freefall." The characters and setting and plot...oh my. What inspired you to write this story?
Mindi: Awww, thank you! I'm so happy to hear that!
The inspiration for this story came mostly from Rosetta, who appeared out of nowhere one day. I then pondered who would be The Boy Who Could Love Her. He turned out to be Seth and I decided to tell the story from his point of view instead of hers. Yay! Quite simply: I wanted to bring these two very different people together. So I did.
Me: Your next novel, "Live Through This," comes out next fall. (Which seems like forever from now.) What would you like the world to know about this novel? What stage are you at in the process--are you still editing or is it complete?
Mindi: I am still editing. I have a lot left to do to get it ready, so it is lucky for me that the release date is next year! For now, I would like the world to know the following about Live Through This:
a. This story is about a girl who lives in Kenburn, the same town in which Freefall takes place. No guarantees (since I am still editing and things are changing), but there's a good chance that a familiar character or two might pop up at some point!
b. I've been told that this book is similar to Freefall in that it addresses Issues without reading totally like an Issue Book. There's also emotional stuff along with some humor and hope. And, seriously, lots of flirting! This time around, I believe that the overall tone is livelier, but the lows go much lower. We'll see if others agree when the time comes!
c. I wrote this book for exactly one reason: It was the book I needed to read when I was a teen. I'm hoping more than anything that the girls and guys out there who might need it will find it.
And now the easy.
Me: I have to admit that many of the things that drew me to "Freefall" before I had heard about it were similarities I have with you, the author. I LOVE that you're a vegetarian. I adore that you live in Washington. Washington authors are so rad. We both have worked for attorneys in the past. Plus, we both enjoy Blind Melon. I'm sure you're more of a fan of Blind Melon than I am, but still. I'm more like an early 1990's Blind Melon fan.
That said, what's your favorite vegetarian dish/food to eat?
Mindi: We do have a lot in common!
Hmm. Let's see. My favorite vegetarian dish lately is stuffed bell peppers. I keep inventing all these new recipes (with mixed results, naturally) and I'm so hooked.
Me: What is your favorite Blind Melon song?
Mindi: I might very well be more of a BM fan than you (and most people!), but I do want to clarify that while BM will always be a part of me, I don't listen to their music much these days. I had their first three CDs on constant repeat while I was going through some rough stuff in my 20s. Sometimes it's hard to go back to that. Plus, despite what my debut novel might have people believing, self-destructive musicians really, really, really are not my thing these days. :-)
That said, I love just about everything off the Soup album. My all-time favorite BM song is "Galaxie" and a close second is "Walk." "Walk" is about battling addiction, I believe, but some days, it really relates to life in general:
And under a sun that's seen it all before
My feet are so cold
And I can't believe that I have to bang my head against this wall again
But the blows they have just a little more space in between them
Gonna take a breath and try, try again.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Angela! These were fun questions! :-)
Back to Me: I may seem like a stalker, but I'm truly not. Mindi Scott's a really cool author and I like to know stuff about really cool authors so that I may share their novels with the world--or at least the few people who follow this blog. ;)
Thank you Mindi for spending some time with us! And thanks to my followers for checking out this interview. Be sure to also check out FREEFALL if you haven't already at your local indie book store or HERE from Amazon. Also, keep an eye out for LIVE THROUGH THIS fall of 2012.
I'm not sure what it is about the music from the early nineties that conjures dark sentiment for me. Perhaps it was a despairing time, an age of wandering alone to a murky rhythm, destination unknown. Late teens and early twenties were like that. Hell, mid-thirties are still like that. Whatever the reason, Blind Melon, Nirvana, Soul Asylum, Spin Doctors and all those other rad bands from that era always cause me to reminisce. It's probably that way for everyone. Perhaps it's the mourning of lost time. Anyhoo, in honor of Mindi Scott, I was unable to find a video of "Walk" (which I am bummed about), but here is "Galaxie" instead.
And since we are going back in time, a song that still melts my tear ducts, "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum.
If you enjoyed this interview, please follow my blog. There shall be more in the future. :)
Peace out.
PS -- I TOTALLY LOVE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS, TOO! What's your favorite dish?
Autumn meets Rainy from Chapter 12
Dream Smashers by Angela Carlie -- all rights reserved
Available as an eBook for only $2.99 and paperback for only $11
Our meeting was just one of those things that happened. On the first day of kindergarten Gramps stood next to me at the corner, waiting for the bus. He held my lunch box and backpack for me until the bus squeaked and then psshed to a stop. It seemed like a giant banana until the doors opened, and then it seemed like a jungle. All kinds of noise escaped from those opened doors, none of it sounding the least bit safe. Screeches, giddy laughter, yelling, crying, sneezing, coughing, all struck me as terrifying and crazy.
Gramps nudged me toward the gaping mouth of the bus. I tried to stay brave while he threaded my arms through the backpack straps and handed me my lunch box. “Chin up, kiddo. You’re going to meet some of the best friends of your life on this bus.” He winked at me, giving me superhero strength.
I climbed up the stairs, turning at the top to wave at him before the doors slammed shut. I found a seat next to a window and held the fire behind my eyes and down my throat from escaping. The bus moved forward.
Two houses down, a girl my age with a sprinkler of hair plopped on top of her head, scurried from a house. Her arms flapped like wings, signaling the bus to stop.
Air somehow forced itself over my vocal chords and out my mouth. “Stop!”
The driver jerked the bus to a stop and opened the doors.
The girl, out of breath, slapped her body down next to me. “That was close!” She opened her lunch box, the very same lunch box that I held on my lap—a pink plastic Barbie box. Her box didn’t hold items of nourishment though. Instead it held glittery lip balms of every flavor imaginable. Grams never had the extra money to buy me lip balms when I asked each week at the grocery store. And the girl had an entire lunch box full. We’ve been friends forever since that day.
As mentioned in a previous post, we are repackaging the eBook edition of Dream Smashers.The paperback edition will not be changing.
Sixteen-year-old Autumn is a human heartache. Everywhere she turns people are stomping on her hopes and dreams. Her mom’s a tweaker. She’s lived with her chain-smoking grandmother for as long as she can remember. Even her best friend has issues. Autumn seems to be the only responsible person she knows and she’s sick of putting up with it all.
When she meets Evan, a hot guy without a worry in the world, she can only wonder if he’s for real or just another Dream Smasher.
A girl who no longer wants to care and a boy who cares enough for the both of them. Dream Smashers is a love story, but most of all, it’s about letting go.
It's not my original vision for the cover, obviously, but I'm falling in love with this cover more every time I look at it. On top of that cool tidbit, what makes it even better is I made it myself with the ever helpful critiques from my fellow DarkSide Publishing authors. So there's a little pride for ya.
This cover should be live on all the storefronts by midweek.
If you've been a follower of this blog for some time, you'll remember the series Someday Famous YA Authors from last year. I'm happy to announce the series will resume this month. Prepare to meet some fabulous authors!
I'm receiving the last of the proof reader notes for Land of Corn Chips this weekend and will have the advance reader copies ready to send out to awesome bloggers very soon. Some are already scheduled to receive an ARC. If you are a book blogger/reviewer and would like to review Land of Corn Chips, let me know and I'll add you to the list to receive a pdf. Land of Corn Chips is a novel written for ages 8-12 and up.
Dream Smashers will be getting a facelift. That's right. It's not even two months old and already needs some cosmetic surgery. Don't worry though, the important guts will remain the same. We're shining up the packaging to make it pretty enough for all those eBook buyers. Yes, it's true, books are judged by their cover and we are a society that likes shiny things--even shiny books.
Last weekend we watch THOR at the theater. Oh my. I'd love to see it again and can't wait for it to come out on DVD. For reals. This weekend we will probably go see PRIEST. Have you watched it? I hope it's wicked cool. I'll let you know. I also can't wait for PIRATES next weekend. Ah, so many movies! But for now, I leave you with this magnificent bit. When you get to :19 seconds, pause it. You have to be quick though!
Dream Smashers was awarded the FLAMINGNET TOP CHOICE AWARD. This is the first award Dream Smashers has earned. I'm so excited and happy and honored. Thank you Flamingnet!
Piece Two:
Tomorrow morning at 8 am (pacific time) I'll be interviewed by Joann Hamman-Buchanan on her radio show The Eclectic Artist Cave. This is kind of a big deal for me because I'm not much of a talker. I'm a quiet person with not many spontaneous words (my words must simmer), so this should be interesting. Or not! ;) No, really, we'll be talking Dream Smashers and DarkSide Publishing, how could it not be interesting? I hope you stop by Fate Radio to listen live!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND!
I finally sent Land of Corn Chips to the proofreaders today. I'm wondering if I should rest my brain for a bit by reading a yummy book or jump into the next project that has been haunting me. I'll probably do a little of both.
Flamingnet Fate Radio Mother's Day Land of Corn Chips
I complain a lot about my hands hurting all the time. It's an occupational side effect. One I'm going to have to let go of soon, else pay for it later in life. Although my job isn't good for my hands, the people I work with are good for my soul.
After giving my last massage for the day, I entered the laundry room to find this most awesome gift. It wasn't my birthday or anniversary so it took me a few moments to realize why anyone would give me something on a non-gift-giving day.
In the card were small messages of encouragement, like: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm reading your novel, but I'm only half-through!" -- Dr. Rayn, "May all your dreams come true, Angie." -- Sharon, "You really are an inspiration." -- Sammy, "I'm so proud of you for publishing Dream Smashers." -- Katie, "Congratulations!" -- Alicia, "You're such an inspiration achieving such a dream." -- Brittany, "Hope you sell plenty." Dan and Abby.
The most perfect gift a writer could ever want. A cork board to use as a story board and a basket full of stationary, inspirational plaque, tea, hilighters, pens, candles, tea cups, and important writerly things. Plus, a beautiful charcoal drawing by Katie and a lovely plant whose life may be very short. Tell me I don't work with the best people ever and I'll call you a liar. I thank them for the encouragement!
Onto the cover reveal.
The Land of Corn Chips cover will be revealed on Friday, April 29, 2011. Six gracious bloggers have agreed to participate in the reveal.
Here's a picture of my sweet boy and I at the coast this past weekend. It was a beautiful weekend. Look how tall he's getting!
