The Trifecta of Awesome Giveaway ...

Ok, so right now Shannon Whitney Messenger is hosting an awesome giveaway of some of my favorite books!  If you love Kiersten White (Paranormalcy & Supernaturally), Andrea Cremer (Nightshade & Wolfsbane), and Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss)

then go here  to enter  http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/2011/07/trifecta-of-awesome-giveaway.html


The super awesome prize....well just feast your eyes!

Seriously what are you waiting for?  Go enter!

A Sigh of Relief...

YES! YES!! YES!!! 

Yesterday, one of my favorite beta readers called me to discuss my story.  Now this beta has also been one of my best friends since 7th grade, and she's never been afraid to give it to me straight.  But I must admit that for a teensy moment, a small part of me filled with dread over her verdict.  I was afraid that either she'd pacify me or that she would just hate it.

Well neither happened.  She actually loved the story, the premise, and the characters.  She also gave me honest opinions about plot points that she didn't think were working or that confused her.   I found myself not growing defensive, but agreeing with her.  A lot of the problems she had, were issues that I was already struggling with and had bothered me.  We talked for about an hour and a half, discussing ways I could fix said problems.  I got off the phone loving her even more, and eager to dive back into my manuscript.

Last night she sent me an text letting me know how proud of me she was.  And as if that weren't encouragement enough, she sent me another one this morning saying that she had dreamt about my book last night, and hasn't been able to stop thinking about it since.

It really doesn't get any better than that!  So Charito, if this Beast ever gets published your name is going up in bright lights in my Acknowledgements!

Now to finish editing the last thirty pages she demanded.  Till next time...

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly...

Lately, as I've been winding down to the last 30 pages of my editing, I've been wondering about my actual writing.  Is it good enough?  Are my sentences poetic and flowing, or do they sound clipped and dry or are they somewhere in between?  Am I trying too hard?  Does anyone actually like my book?

Now I know that every writer feels this way, that is a given, but I'm in desperate need of some genuine feedback.  I'm starting to  feel like every single one of my beta readers (who happen to be related to me or have the pleasure of being one of my best friends) are afraid to tell me that my work sucks.  No one is giving me the feedback that I crave, ie: plot points, flow of story, originality of story, plot holes.  Most are focusing instead on punctuation or a misspelled word here or there.  Not what I was really hoping for, even though it is extremely helpful.

Instead, the response I'm getting is a general "I like it."  That leaves a lot to the imagination.  I keep stressing that I want an unbiased opinion, but I also don't want to hound or beat a reponse out of them.  Also, instead of "I like it", how about some examples of what you liked and why. 

Am I being too sensitive, or is this how it is for other writers?  Please let me know if you have experienced this, and if possible, how you dealt with it. 

Till next time...

Awkward and Slightly Inappropriate Truths...

Do you ever have one of those days?  You know the ones I mean.  It's the kind of day where every blog you follow has some kind of witty, inspirational, snarky, or outright hilarious post, while you can't come up with a single solitary idea.  This is one of the main reasons that I don't blog everyday.  It would seem that this edit is sucking all of the creativity juices from the very marrow of my bones.

So I've decided to steal a page from Lisa and Laura Write  http://lisa-laura.blogspot.com/2011/07/tell-truth-tuesday_26.html  , and have my own Tell the Truth Tuesday.  Hopefully, you'll find some of my truths funny (more likely they'll be cringe worthy)

1.  I can fit my entire fist in my mouth. 

I discovered this rare talent my senior year of high school, due to a dare.  After impressing my parents and siblings with this hidden ability, my Grandma showed up.  After some prompting from my Mom, I demonstrated said ability.  My Grandma nearly peed herself laughing!  Seems that she discovered the same hidden talent her senior year of high school as well.  Big Mouth + Little hands= Crowd Pleaser (My husband was equally impressed when my best friend pressured me into showing him when we were first dating.  Might be why he married me?!  Wait that sounded dirty...)

2. I am hopelessly addicted to HBO, Showtime, and HGTV.
 Ok, ok..and maybe Jerseylicious and America's Next Top Model. 
Ahhh....Sookie + Eric=Swoon (I am so not a Bill fan)

3.  Last night I totally cleaned the house for 2 hours, just so I could have the extra calories to devour two brownies.
 (They were desperately needed)

4. I am a compulsive butt pincher/slapper. 
I really don't know why I do this, I just do.  I like to sneak up behind people and bam I've tagged them.  But let me clarify, these people are usually related to me and I have NEVER pinched/slapped a strangers tukus.  My favorite bum to pinch/slap....that would have to be my sister, she always gives the best reaction.

5. Awkward,  Inappropriate, and Strange things spew loudly from my mouth on a daily basis.  Really, I do try to control it.  I even have conversations with myself, declaring what is appropriate and what is not.  But in my defense, half the time I'm only doing it to get a surprised laugh from my husband. (He is the only one who really does fully appreciate my unique brand of humor)  However, if I am among my siblings and parents when this happens, it can quickly escalate to embarrassing proportions.  Then I go home and berate myself..I mean who really jokes about their parents having sex? (Yea that's what I meant by awkward and inappropriate....although I strangely find this hilarious because my Mom gets super embarrassed and my siblings cringe.)  But honestly, my parents had 5 kids, obviously they enjoyed making them.  See what I mean?  I can't stop myself.

Well that's it for now, and please remember that I never claimed to be normal.  I mean what writer can actually claim that moniker?  And hopefully, there isn't a mass unfollowing after this post, because my sincerest wish was that I could make you laugh, giggle, or grunt-choose your flavor.

Feel free to comment some of your own truths, I promise not to laugh.  Ok maybe I will, just a little.

Until next time...

The Library...

I just want to start this post by declaring that I'm an idiot.  Yes, you heard me right....a complete idiot!

Why in the holy loving world did I ever forget about the library?  Ok maybe I have been a little busy in the past five years, what with raising two rambuncious boys and writing the Beast.  Or maybe it was the ten dollar fine for that one book I lost, then found and returned a month later?  But whatever my reasons, they were not valid enough to have caused me to stray.

For goodness sake, my own Mom is an Assistant Librarian at the local elementary school.  And to top that off,  I worked as a library aide all through junior high and the beginning of high school.  In eigth grade,  I even won second place in the Scholastic Writing Awards for my short short story entitled, what else, "The Library."  It even included my favorite Librarian Barb. After the story was published in the local paper, Barb wrote me a thank you letter.  This made my year, because in my world, she was a rock star.

But I digress.  In August, my entire family is trekkiing northward to Maine.  We try to make this trip at least every ten years to visit my Dad's side of the family.  Due to gas prices, food, lodging, and other necessities, the Hubs asked me politely (ie: rudely) to not purchase any books (kindle included) in June, July, or August, to which I foolishly agreed.  (see eye rolling and sighing) 

Now, I'm the type of person who hates being without a book, but at the time of said agreement I still had a cache of books on my Kindle, including hardcovers of Passion by Lauren Kate and Where She Went by Gayle Forman to read.  I had mistakenly thought that these would last me.  Well the joke was on me.  I don't know if it was the pressure to make them last, or if it was the fact that they were excellent books, but I tore through my entire stock.  (hangs head in shame) 

It was right about this time that I had my Mom watch the boys for the afternoon, so that I could accompany the Hubs to some of his doctor appointments.  When I returned to pick them up, they were gushing about going to the library with GaGa.  My three year old had actually cried when he had to leave. To which I made sympathetic noises, but secretly my heart was bursting with pride.

It was in that moment that the light went off inside my head.  I quickly conned the Hubs into taking me to the library.   I don't know if it was the welcoming musty scent of paper or the words floating through the air waiting to be devoured, but the moment I stepped through those familiar doors I went crazy.

I left with eight books, and the librarian's disbelief that I could read them all in fourteen days.  Hubs kept rolling his eyes at me, as I clutched my bag of free books, giggling as if I had just gotten away with a crime or something else just as nefarious.  But how could I explain to a non-reader that heady rush of undiscovered words and worlds.

Well I read those eight books, and I got ten more today.  And quite a few of them were titles that I have been lusting after. 

However, even with the library, I am still plotting about how to secretly purchase Supernaturally by Kiersten White.  I feel a bargain lurking on the horizon.  Hopefully I don't have to trade my soul for it, because I just might! (Just kidding...not really...ok yes I am)

And as a side note, I finally got to read Anna and the French Kiss and totally discovered my favorite line ever in a book.  "Toph is an insensitive douchebag motherhumping assclown"  I laughed so hard!!!  For any who know me personally, douchebag is always a go to insult for me.  I was super excited when I finally got the oppurtunity to borrow this phrase.  Believe me it was much deserved!

Until next time...

Freaking out...

I am seriously trying not to freak out right now.  My writing is just starting to work itself out.   I'm down to the last two chapters in editing, and then I read Nathan Bransford's post about Five Openings to Avoid. 

And what happens to be the number one thing to avoid on his list - A character waking up: Sure, there's probably a good reason the character is getting woken up. Maybe their house is on fire/they're late for school/they just realized their insides are being sucked out by a sea monster. But not only is waking up overdone, what exactly is gained by showing a character wake up? Why not just cut to the insides-getting-sucked-out chase?

Technically my WIP starts with a nightmare that my POV has been tormented with for the last three years since her uncle's disappearance. It's a haunting glimpse into the happenings of that day, including clues to the reason of his disappearance.  My POV has kept these nightmares between herself and her best friend, afraid to confide in her family in case these actual events happened to be based on truth.  It also briefly introduces the main love interest.  This then rolls into the first chapter, that just happens to have her waking up.

Honestly, I have reworked this beginning over and over.  This is the first opening that I have actually felt a kinship for, that I loved.  And now there is the distinct possibility that some agents will pass over my WIP because of it?  Hence the freaking out!  I don't know what actions to take.  Do I leave it as it is, or go back and reedit the opening? Ahhhh....What am I saying?  If I have to rework the opening again, I am literally going to DIE!!!!!!!!! 

I did know that it was risky to start a book with a dream sequence, but for me it was what worked.  My sister said she absolutely loves it, but she is not an agent or even a fellow writer.  I know what I need is a good Critique Partner, but I just don't know the correct avenues in which to pursue one.  In the end, I don't want to appear as some strange stalker, or end up trusting the wrong person.

Please someone help me, I am so freaking out!

Recent Email...

So as a total lark, I requested the reunion scene from The Princess Bride online.  Yes, I am blogging about TPB again.  Can't help it.  Anyway, I received a hilarious letter from William Goldman regaling the legal problems with releasing said reunion scenes.  Below you will find the email.

Dear Reader,
Thank you for sending in and no, this is not the reunion scene, because of a certain roadblock named Kermit Shog.
As soon as bound books were ready, I got a call from my lawyer, Charley--(you may not remember, but Charley's the one I called from California to go down in the blizzard and buy _The Princess Bride_ from the used-book dealer). Anyway, he usually begins with Talmudic humor, wisdom jokes, only this time he just says "Bill, I think you better get down here," and before I'm even allowed to say a 'why?' he adds, "Right away if you can."
Panicked, I zoom down, wondering who could have died, did I flunk my tax audit, what? His secretary lets me into his office and Charley says, "This is Mr. Shog, Bill."
And there he is, sitting in the corner, hands on his briefcase, looking exactly like an oily version of Peter Lorre. I really expected him to say, "Give me the Falcon, you must, or I'll be forced to keeel you."
"Mr. Shog is a lawyer," Charley goes on. And this next was said underlined: _"He represents the Morgenstern estate."_
Who knew? Who could have dreamed such a thing existed, an estate of a man dead at least a million years that no one ever heard of over here anyway? "Perhaps you will give me the Falcon now," Mr. Shog said. That's not true. What he said was, "Perhaps you will like a few words with your client alone now," and Charley nodded and out he went and once he was gone I said, "Charley, my God, I never figured--" and he said, "Did Harcourt?" and I said, "Not that they ever mentioned" and he said, "Ooch," the grunting sound lawyers make when they know they've backed a loser. "What does he want?" I said. "A meeting with Mr. Jovanovich," Charley answered.
Now, William Jovanovich is a pretty busy fella, but it's amazing when you're confronted with a potential multibillion-dollar lawsuit how fast you can wedge in a meeting. We trooped over.
All the Harcourt Brass was there, I'm there, Charley; Mr. Shog, who would sweat in an igloo he's so swarthy, is streaming. Harcourt's lawyer started things: "We're terribly terribly sorry, Mr. Shog. It's an unforgivable oversight, and please accept our sincerest apologies." Mr. Shog said, "That's a beginning, since all you did was defame and ridicule the greatest modern master of Florinese prose who also happened to be for many years a friend of my family."  Then the business head of Harcourt said, "All right, how much do you want?"
Biiiig mistake. _"Money?"_ Mr. Shog cried. "You think this is petty blackmail that brings us together? _Resurrection_ is the issue, sir. Morgenstern must be undefiled. You will publish the original version." And now a look at me. "In the _unabridged_ form."
I said, "I'm done with it, I swear. True, there's just the reunion scene business we printed up, but there's not liable to be a rush on that, so it's all past as far as I'm concerned." But Mr. Shog wasn't done with me: "_You,_ who _dared_ to _defame_ a master's characters are now going to put your words in their mouths? Nossir. No, I say." "It's just a little thing," I tried; "a couple pages only."
Then Mr. Jovanovich started talking softly. "Bill, I think we might skip sending out the reunion scene just now, don't you think?" I made a nod. Then he turned to Mr. Shog. "We'll print the unabridged. You're a man who is interested in immortality for his client, and there aren't as many of you around in publishing as there used to be. You're a gentleman, sir."  "Thank you," from Mr. Shog; "I like to think I am, at least on occasion." For the first time, he smiled. We all smiled. Very buddy-buddy now. Then, an addendum from Mr. Shog: "Oh, yes. Your first printing of the unabridged will be 100,000 copies."
* * * *
So far, there are thirteen lawsuits, only eleven involving me directly. Charley promises nothing will come to court and that eventually Harcourt will publish the unabridged. But legal maneuvering takes time. The copyright on Morgenstern runs out in early '78, and all of you who wrote in are having your names put alphabetically on computer, so whichever happens first, the settlement or the year, you'll get your copy.
The last I was told, Kermit Shog was willing to come down on his first printing provided Harcourt agreed to publish the sequel to _The Princess Bride,_ which hasn't been translated into English yet, much less published here. The title of the sequel is: _Buttercup's Baby: S. Morgenstern's Glorious Examination of Courage Matched Against the Death of the Heart._
I'd never heard of it, naturally, but there's a Ph.D. candidate in Florinese Lit up at Columbia who's going through it now. I'm kind of interested in what he has to say.
--William Goldman
P.S.
I'm really sorry about this, but you know the story that ends, "disregard previous wire, letter follows?" Well, you've got to disregard the business about the Morgenstern copyright running out in '78. That was a definite boo-boo but Mr. Shog, being Florinese, has trouble, naturally, with our numbering system. The copyright runs out in '87, not '78.
Worse, he died. Mr. Shog I mean. (Don't ask how could you tell. It was easy. One morning he just stopped sweating, so there it was.) What makes it worse is that the whole affair is now in the hands of his kid, named--wait for it--Mandrake Shog. Mandrake moves with all the verve and speed of a lizard flaked out on a riverbank.
The only good thing that's happened in this whole mess is I finally got a shot at reading _Buttercup's Baby._ Up at Columbia they feel it's definitely superior to _The Princess Bride_ in satirical content. Personally, I don't have the emotional attachment to it, but it's a helluva story, no question.
Give it a look-see when you have a chance.
--August, 1978
P.P.S.
This is getting humiliating. Have you been reading in the papers about the trade problems America is having with Japan? Well, maddening as this may be, since it reflects on the reunion scene, we're also having trade problems with Florin, which, it turns out, is our leading supplier of Cadminium, which, it also turns out, NASA is panting for.
So all Florinese-American litigation, which includes the thirteen law suits, has officially been put on hold.
What this means is that the reunion scene, for now, is caught between our need for Cadminium and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
But at least the movie got made. Mandrake Shog was shown it, and word reached me he even smiled once or twice. Hope springs eternal.
--May, 1987
* * * *
Use of this excerpt from _The Princess Bride_ by William Goldman may be made only for purposes of promoting the book, with no changes, editing or additions whatsoever and must be accompanied by the following copyright notice: Copyright © 1973, 1998, 2003 by William Goldman. All Rights Reserved.

Honestly, this man is a  GENIUS!!!  Where does he even come up with this?