31 Blogs

Sounds like a bad chick flick, doesn’t it? Like a crazy person, I signed up for #31daybc, which stands for “31 day Blog Challenge” in normal speak.  July is a busy month for me, but honestly, I don’t think I have any months that aren’t busy anymore.  I thought it might actually be a good month for me to blog lots, because I have lots going on this month.  I resolved last January to write more, including blogging more, and its one thing I haven’t done to my own satisfaction. I’ve found that “challenges” help motivate me, so I jumped on this month long challenge. And I can’t lie; I like the fact that it’s just a month.

So what’s going on this month?  My  birthday, my daughter's birthday, a trip to the Oregon Coast Writer’s Workshop and, if all goes well, a book release for Hush Puppy . (I still don’t have a firm release date, but I should hear something any day now.) I hope you’ll come back often to cheer me on.  And Please!! Give me blog post ideas!!  I love comments so talk to me, k?

Blog #1 July 1  One down, 30 to go!

The America I Wish For

I wasn’t sure I would post this. I don’t typically get political on my blog for a reason. I believe in everyone’s right to their own opinion and that it’s not my place to try to change the opinions of others.  That said the Trayvon Martin murder and the Sandy Hook murders have profoundly disturbed me, as a parent and as an American.  I want to write about what I feel today, so bear with me. I’ll be brief.

No one, of any color or creed, should have to fear for their lives while walking down the street, or attending school, minding their own business. No one, especially not a child.  This is the America I wish for. I know it’s a big wish, but here’s hoping for the best, ‘cause that’s what I do.  I know you’re better than this, America. Please don’t prove me wrong. Peace~

Diversity in Young Adult and Middle Grade books

I’ve been following along in Marieke Nijkamp’s blog event DiversfYA lately. It’s been extremely illuminating.  If you get a chance, you should hop on over there and check it out.  It’s about diversity, or the lack thereof, in fiction for young people. 

That’s not to say there are no diverse characters in fiction today, but there could certainly stand to be more.  The world and its people are a rich kaleidoscope of experiences and our stories are too. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the stories of minorities seem to be rather rare in traditional publishing. 

Those I’ve read seem to fall on the tragic end of the spectrum, but not always.  Marcello in the Real World by Francisco Stork is a beautiful story about a young savant learning to function in the harsh, reality of everyday life.  Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda is a brutal look at what happens to a bullied Asian teen who’s immigrated to America.  These stories are honest and truthful and need to be told, but I think there’s room for minority characters in science fiction and fantasy too.  In fact, librarians who work in schools with minority kids are begging and pleading for it. 

Why aren’t these characters being reflected in published fiction?  Are white authors afraid to write characters outside their own race?  Are there less authors of color for some reason?  Do publishers avoid buying multicultural fiction?  I’m sure I don’t know the answers to all these questions, but I’d like to know your thoughts.  What would you like to read about? What multicultural books have you read that we should know about?

Hush Puppy cover is here!

I wish I wasn’t so crazy-busy right now so I could do a proper blog post to tell you how much I love this cover.  It’s an intelligent, beautiful young woman with all the potential in the world, just like my heroine. 

Leave a note here and let me know what you think, and after that, you can jump over to my web site and read an excerpt if you like.  And don’t forget a Facebook like so you can get all the updates on the release of the book. J  Hope you’re going to have the best week ever~

Writing Update: Oregon here I come!

 

I’m getting excited for the Oregon Coast Writer’s workshop coming up in July. The emails have been flying back and forth about the class in preparation, only making it worse.  I have to send in a writing sample for the instructors, so I’ve been debating on that. I think I will send in Vessel, since it’s newest and it’s something I want to work on perfecting.  I’ve queried it to a couple agents and publishers, but no bites so far. Given my generally positive experience with self publishing so far, I don’t think I would hesitate to publish it myself if it comes to that.

Every trip we’ve taken to Oregon has taken us to a new beach. This time it’s a place called Oceanside, perched on a cliff, not far from Tillamook – cheese capitol of the west. Things I’m looking forward to – tide pools, seafood, and writing/photography.  Things I’m not looking forward to – fog, rain, and any form of cold weather.  Our spring has been too cold and I’m ready for summer now. Got that Oregon?? I want sunshine!

 

My latest project is the third book in the Storyteller series, working title “The Last Page”.  All the chapters are outlined (I’m a huge outline fan) and I’m just finishing Chapter One this week.  My goal is at least chapter a week. If I can do that, I’ll have a book in six months. That would be lightening speed for me. Maybe with the kids out of school and dance lessons for the summer, I can do it. I’m having fun with it anyway. I guess that’s what’s important.

I’m hoping to reveal the cover of Hush Puppy in the next week or so. I’ve been lucky enough to have a publisher that allowed me input into the cover design and I think it’s going to be really beautiful. Can’t wait to show you!

Peace~

Welcome again :)

This isn't my first blog, but it's my first Blogger blog and the first I've had that looks so sweet.  Many thanks to the very lovely and talented Maddee James and her team at www.xuni.com .  I appreciate you making everything look so good!

Check back often for updates on current and upcoming novels, as well as my usual witty commentary on life and writing and the writing life.  See you soon!

what makes you read?

Things are progressing, slowly but surely, on the publishing front.  My manuscript, Hush Puppy, has reached the proofreading stage at the publisher and the cover is in development.  I feel like I should warn people it's more of a novella than a novel, but the length feels right for the story to me, even if it is on the shorter end.  I don't tend to write giant tomes.  I like to get straight to the point.

 There will be a new web site for all my books (self and traditionally published) soon too.  The blog will move there, but don't worry. I'll make sure you have the link.  It's going to be gorgeous, I think.  Can't wait for you to see it.

 

I've been trying to figure out how to market Hush Puppy.  The publisher doesn't have a huge marketing wing, so a lot is up to me.  Many authors these days are doing blogs tours to promote their books, contests online, giving away iPads and gift cards, advertising on Twitter and Facebook.  It's enough to make your head fly right off.  I still have a day job.  When am I going to do all that stuff too?? Its a lot of noise and flash, but I have to wonder, just how much of that stuff works? Because I can probably count on one hand the number of books I've opened up based on something I saw on Twitter.  That's not much.  So I wanted to ask you, what is it that makes you pick up a book and read it?

 

Is the pretty cover? The reviews on Amazon? Or your friend saying, "Oh, you've got to read this! You'll love it!"  What do you think?