Searching For A Starry Night in Top 10 of Reader's Poll

Wow! A great surprise! Last time I checked I was stuck at #11 in the annual Preditors & Editors Readers Poll and pretty much thought I was out of it.

Well.

Today I checked back at the final results for the 2008 poll and was stunned to find Searching For A Starry Night at #8 in the Top 10 of the mystery category...

And Searching For A Starry Night was also #8 in the book art category. Isn't that cool!

Thanks to all who voted!

* Read more about Searching For A Starry Night and get your copy at Quake (Print, ebook, and now in Kindle!)

Searching For A Starry Night Now in KINDLE!

My book - Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery is now available in Amazon's KINDLE format.

Sam, her bff Lita and a mischievous Dachshund named Petey, face a cranky housekeeper, dog-hating gardener, and an ancient family curse as they try to find the missing miniature replica of Van Gogh's Starry Night. For ages 10 and up.


Check it out!

Survey: Ebook or Print?

I'm tired today so thought I'd pose a few questions and see what everyone thinks.

There's been quite a few discussions lately on "green" reading - ebooks - electronic books.

Yes, my book Searching For A Starry Night is available in ebook form (and is a finalist in the 2009 Eppie Awards in the ya/children's category.)

I've read ebooks and like them. For one, they're cheaper. Too bad the e-readers are so expensive yet. Maybe I'll get one at some point.

So the questions today:

* Got an e-reader? Which? What do you like about it? Have a Kindle? Do you like it or why not?

* Why do you or don't you like ebooks?

* Print or electronic, and why?

* Feel free to share your thoughts on electronic and print publishing.

Roast Me! at Book Roast Blog Today

Hear that sizzle?

I'm being roasted, grilled and whatever else today at the Book Roast blog.

Stop by and read a new excerpt from Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery.

** Take a chance! Answer a question at the Book Roast blog and you may win a copy of Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery or get a copy from Quake.

See you at the grill and bring your chef's hat.

** Be sure to comment! Then check back in later. I'll be popping in after 1 p.m. Central to see what everyone is talking about and find out why my ears are burning. ha-ha!

Happy Meme: Tag I'm it!

Jacquelyn Sylvan, author of the book, SURVIVING SERENDIPITY (which has one of the coolest, most striking covers I've seen - see it at her Serendipitous Times blog - just tagged me for the "Happy Meme."

Hey we all need happiness, right?

The idea of the "Happy Meme" is to list six things that make you happy.

That can vary, of course, depending on the day (or hour), but the six things that give me joy (in no particular order) are:

1. Chocolate
2. My dog
3. When the writing actually "clicks"
4. Miniatures
5. Family, friends
6. Reading a good story or book

Now I have to pick six people to list their six favorite Happy thoughts, and they'll pick six people, and so on. Hopefully I haven't picked someone already tagged.

I tag:

Norm Cowie (FANG FACE)

JR Turner (DEAD FRIENDS FOREVER

Debbie (DEBBIE'S TINY TREASURES)

Publisher Karen Syed

Authors Evelyn David (THE STILETTO GANG)

Emma Larkins

Writing Tip 16: Story Elements by Sunny Frazier

Californian Sunny Frazier, author of the mystery, FOOLS RUSH IN, ( Wolfmont Publishing) featuring astrologer and Sheriff's Department employee Christy Bristol, is also an award-winning short story writer.

Whether she's reading, or writing, short stories, Sunny looks for certain elements. These elements can also apply to novels, as well.

Writing Tip 16: Story Elements

Sunny says, "there are three elements I always look for in a short story.

1. The Best Line. "I have my students locate what they believe is the best line. It makes them aware that not every line has to be golden and a writer certainly doesn't want to lose a reader in self-indulgent prose. However, there should be one line that absolutely pops the piece. Like the finest accessory in the closet. This is the line to let readers know 'I'm a writer to be reckoned with.' I love it when I come across a sentence that makes me say, 'I wish I'd written that!'

2. The Universal Message. "Every prize-winning story has one. It should be subtle, not the moral-of-the-story. If a story doesn't have a sub-text, then it has no staying power in the reader's mind. I look for stories that have something I can identify with and will walk away thinking about. Give me a story I have to read twice--once for enjoyment, the second time to go deeper.

3. Tell-Me-Something-I-Don't-Know. "This one element takes a story out of something just conjured in the mind. I want the piece to include a fact that I didn't know. I want to say to someone in a social conversation, 'Did you know such-n-such? I read it in a short story.' It gives authenticating detail to written material. Do your homework, writers."

-- SUNNY FRAZIER is author of the Christy Bristol mystery series. Her first novel, FOOLS RUSH IN, won the Public Safety Writers Best Novel 2007. Her next book, WHERE ANGELS FEAR, also draws on her past work in the Sheriff's Department. It debuts in February '09.

Her short stories have won multiple awards. The latest anthology, NEVER SAFE, features two stories from Sunny, "Ditched" and "Life is a Cabernet."

Author Carolyn Hart says, "NEVER SAFE lives up to its name with dark tales of desire, madness, cruelty and despair. Gritty and gripping."

Eye Candy: Shabby Chic Miniatures

Is it real or is it miniature?

Today, I'm sharing some pieces that make me think of those interesting little second-hand shops where you can find all kinds of unique things for your house.

My friend Kitty first tried her hand at "shabby chic" decorating in her charming French Country-style "Brocante House," part of which I shared here previously.

She is continuing her fascination with the "shabby chic" style by constructing a new "Brocante Shop."

Can't you picture this neat hutch in your home or at your favorite store?





Make yourself at home. Looks comfy, don't you think?



Kitty made a great "faux" tray using everyday items.

* Make your own Miniature Tray *

1. Glue a scalloped or lacey paper trim to a round piece of wood or a Woodsie.
2. Paint paper and wood silver.
3. Make a tray filled with candle cups and candle holders: Fill the finished tray with silver bead caps and small crystal beads to resemble candle holders and cups.

* See more photos of Kitty's other work at her Minis by Kitty blog.

Blog Award Again!

Thanks to Debbie at Debbie's Tiny Treasures and Jody at Mini Leaps and Bounds for giving me this blog award. This award is making the rounds, as this is the 2nd (and 3rd) time I've received it.

The rules state that you are to pass the award on to 15 people. (Would that be 30 this time?) I only named seven the first time and will probably only name a few more this round since I know a lot of bloggers don't like to bother with the awards, and I fear that I'll be repeating some blogs the others mentioned. But thank you ladies for your regards and good wishes!


A few blogs and bloggers of note - Please check them out!

* Donna of Hager Bears. Cute work.

* Tracy at Minis on the Edge for all the cool miniature dollhouses she creates. Great inspiration!

* My cool fellow authors of QUAKE at the Teen-Seen blog.

Friday Rants: Britney, Thain, and all that junk

I'm tired of thinking, so I'm going to post today on all the ridiculous things I come across. Feel free to add your own rants, too. Get it off your chest and have a good weekend!

Heard: What? Britney to get millions for a book (well a three-book) deal? (Can she write? Meow.)

Huh. Well Searching For A Starry Night is only $10. Ebook is $6. A bargain and I wrote it myself. I'm not making millions so please buy one.

Heard: Greedy Bank of America CEO John Thain ousted. But not before spending millions (gee, remember the bailout??) on office redecorating, an $87,000 rug, and, oh the best - something like $37,000 for what's being called a "commode on legs."

Let's call it what it is - a toilet. The question: why is it that ill-spent money always goes towards lavish lavatories? Remember Saddam Hussein's gold toilet? I know there were others who did much the same whom I can't think of at the moment. I'm sure there's enough tar and feathers left for him and Madoff.

Heard: Names we've already heard too much of barely a month into 2009: Madonna, Tom (and Katie), Clint's rehash of Dirty Harry without a horse; spoiled Hollywood kids; Brangelina and their brood; stars who died and now are elevated to sainthood. Enough already. RIP.

Okay rant over (for now). Feel free to add your "favorites."

Inaugural and Other High Fashion by Designer Jason Wu

Besides the Inauguration itself, there was plenty of anticipation over what First Lady Michelle Obama would wear to the Inaugural Balls Tuesday.

While Obama's choice of the pretty, sparkly white gown by designer Jason Wu has been both applauded and derided, what's interesting is that there has been little mention of the young designer's previous experience.

Although he came out with his first fashion collection in 2006, not many people realize that Wu has been a recognizable name in the collectible fashion doll world since 2001. These are not "toy" dolls, as one columnist sniped. Far from it.

Wu's Fashion Royalty line features poseable fashion dolls with originally designed wardrobes that would fit right in any life-sized fashion show.

Of note is the new Hollywood Royalty line featuring dolls with amazing likenesses.

The line features Lana Turner (2008, 1000 edition, $89.99 for basic doll) and Josephine Baker (2009, La Baker, $99.99), along with some incredible costumes. The Premium Lana doll comes dressed in a gorgeous black-and-white embroidered gown from her movie. (500 edition, $179.99).

Pictured: Left, La Baker, basic Josephine Baker doll. Right, Premium Lana Turner dressed doll

See the Integrity Toys site for other fashion doll lines and dealers.

The dolls, available in limited edition collections of 300 to 1200 editions, (these dolls are usually 15-15.5" tall compared to the standard 11.5" Barbie doll size).

The wardrobes of these and other collectible dolls, like those from designer Robert Tonner of Tonner Dolls, are definitely tempting. Very tempting.