In day two of our Valentine's Day series, LOVE ME, LOVE MY CHARACTERS, Gus from Mary Cunningham's fun, time-travel story, THE CURSE OF THE BAYOU, book three in the CYNTHIA'S ATTIC series from QUAKE, turns Ghost Whisperer.
Twelve-year-old Gus talks with Connor, whose friend, Parker, is finding it hard to live with the guilt over his bff's death. Or maybe someone doesn't want him to live, either, in Alyssa Montgomery's spooky e-book, WHERE ARE YOU?
What secrets does Connor reveal to Gus about the accident and his new (after)life? See what they have to say at Mary's Cynthia's Attic blog.
In Alyssa Montgomery's WHERE ARE YOU?, Parker Ryder’s best friend is dead. Everyone says the accident wasn’t his fault, but Parker can barely live with the guilt. Now, Parker is getting strange e-Mails. It seems that someone else doesn’t want Parker to live with the guilt … Or live at all!
February 12, 2009
Love My Characters 2: Ghost Whisperer meets Connor from WHERE ARE YOU?
Love My Characters 2: Ghost Whisperer meets Connor from WHERE ARE YOU?
2009-02-12T02:00:00-06:00
CA Verstraete
alyssa montgomery|cynthia's attic|ebook|quake|spooky ebook|
Comments
February 11, 2009
Love Me, LOVE My Characters 1
The best part of reading is getting to know the characters, right?
Several of the authors from QUAKE decided to do something special for Valentine's Day.
Take a tour around each of our blogs and meet someone special - our characters! We think they're pretty neat people and hope you enjoy meeting them, too!
First up is Briana Morgan Fairchild, also known as Brie, and leader of THE PIXIE CHICKS by Regan Black.
See what she has to say at Sam Morton's blog today.
-- In THE PIXIE CHICKS by Regan Black, life takes on a delicious new flavor when their normal Friday night walkabout through the Hobbitville Gardens reveals secrets and adventures previously unimagined. Four teens explore portals, magical gardens, and reach for the stars in an adventure only the boldest will dare face.
Several of the authors from QUAKE decided to do something special for Valentine's Day.
Take a tour around each of our blogs and meet someone special - our characters! We think they're pretty neat people and hope you enjoy meeting them, too!
First up is Briana Morgan Fairchild, also known as Brie, and leader of THE PIXIE CHICKS by Regan Black.
See what she has to say at Sam Morton's blog today.
-- In THE PIXIE CHICKS by Regan Black, life takes on a delicious new flavor when their normal Friday night walkabout through the Hobbitville Gardens reveals secrets and adventures previously unimagined. Four teens explore portals, magical gardens, and reach for the stars in an adventure only the boldest will dare face.
10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing
An article I read about improving your life started me thinking about similar easy ways to improve your writing.
1. Start Small.
Big projects can sometimes be overwhelming. Break it into bite-size pieces. I'm guilty of stressing over not writing the 20 pages a week I'd planned. Setting goals smaller, say 3 pages a day, will get near the same results, with less stress. And if you don't get the exact amount done, don't beat yourself up. Even one paragraph or page is one more than you had before, and 500 or so words closer to your final word count.
2. Believe in Yourself
A bad review can hurt. But that inner critic who tries to hold you back and tear down your efforts (you're a lousy writer, you'll never get anywhere, why are you wasting your time?...) can be worse. Believe in you. Think on what you've accomplished and move forward. One rejection is just that. It's not the end. Don't let rejection stalk you. Send that story or project to another publication and move on to the next one. Having at least a few stories circulating (some say 10 or 12 if you can) will prevent you from obsessing over one.
3. Learn From Others
Success comes from listening to others who have already been there. Check out the experiences of other writers in your genre. Study the works of writers you admire to see how they did it. No matter how many years you've been writing, there is always something new to learn.
4. Review Yourself.
A little self-evaluation can be good to gauge where you are in your writing goals and progress. Be honest; don't be afraid to point out your shortcomings, but also decide on how to improve them. Maybe you've only been published in lower paying markets and are afraid to move to the next level. Pick a market you haven't written for; study the content, and work on a story to submit. Becoming a better writer doesn't mean treading water; test the waters in new markets.
5. Make Goals.
Goals keep you from stagnating, but make them reasonable. Start with one goal, like planning to get published in a new magazine in your genre, or working on a story in a different genre or field. When that goal is accomplished, make a new goal. Keep moving forward and don't stress over how long achieving that goal may take. It isn't a race. Work at the pace you feel comfortable with.
6. Seize the Day!
Swallow your fears. Some opportunities only come once. Don't be afraid to take a chance. You never know where it will lead.
7. Don't Fear Mistakes.
You'll make mistakes; you'll write less than stellar stories. We all have. It's one mistake. Even if you make the same mistake, it's not the end of the world. Learn from them. Every mistake only makes you stronger.
8. Don't Be a Victim
Self-pity leads to depression, which leads to inactivity, self-doubt and can be a vicious spiral that robs you of your energy and happiness. No matter your circumstances, there is no reason to sit still and be unproductive. Don't make excuses, do something. There are tons of free resources available. Use the Internet and computers at the library. See if there is a niche in your community where you can volunteer or provide a service. See #5.
9. Enjoy Yourself
We all can't be Rockefellers or live like them. Always thinking the grass is greener on the other side will never make you satisfied. Look closer and you'll find crabgrass and weeds there, too. Enjoy your faith, friends, family, pets, and hobbies. Shut off the computer. Make time to exercise and have some fun. You'll feel better and be more productive.
10. Think Positive.
It takes less energy to think positive, plus it'll add more to your life and your writing.
** Have any favorite tips or lifestyle changes you've made to improve your writing? Please share!
1. Start Small.
Big projects can sometimes be overwhelming. Break it into bite-size pieces. I'm guilty of stressing over not writing the 20 pages a week I'd planned. Setting goals smaller, say 3 pages a day, will get near the same results, with less stress. And if you don't get the exact amount done, don't beat yourself up. Even one paragraph or page is one more than you had before, and 500 or so words closer to your final word count.
2. Believe in Yourself
A bad review can hurt. But that inner critic who tries to hold you back and tear down your efforts (you're a lousy writer, you'll never get anywhere, why are you wasting your time?...) can be worse. Believe in you. Think on what you've accomplished and move forward. One rejection is just that. It's not the end. Don't let rejection stalk you. Send that story or project to another publication and move on to the next one. Having at least a few stories circulating (some say 10 or 12 if you can) will prevent you from obsessing over one.
3. Learn From Others
Success comes from listening to others who have already been there. Check out the experiences of other writers in your genre. Study the works of writers you admire to see how they did it. No matter how many years you've been writing, there is always something new to learn.
4. Review Yourself.
A little self-evaluation can be good to gauge where you are in your writing goals and progress. Be honest; don't be afraid to point out your shortcomings, but also decide on how to improve them. Maybe you've only been published in lower paying markets and are afraid to move to the next level. Pick a market you haven't written for; study the content, and work on a story to submit. Becoming a better writer doesn't mean treading water; test the waters in new markets.
5. Make Goals.
Goals keep you from stagnating, but make them reasonable. Start with one goal, like planning to get published in a new magazine in your genre, or working on a story in a different genre or field. When that goal is accomplished, make a new goal. Keep moving forward and don't stress over how long achieving that goal may take. It isn't a race. Work at the pace you feel comfortable with.
6. Seize the Day!
Swallow your fears. Some opportunities only come once. Don't be afraid to take a chance. You never know where it will lead.
7. Don't Fear Mistakes.
You'll make mistakes; you'll write less than stellar stories. We all have. It's one mistake. Even if you make the same mistake, it's not the end of the world. Learn from them. Every mistake only makes you stronger.
8. Don't Be a Victim
Self-pity leads to depression, which leads to inactivity, self-doubt and can be a vicious spiral that robs you of your energy and happiness. No matter your circumstances, there is no reason to sit still and be unproductive. Don't make excuses, do something. There are tons of free resources available. Use the Internet and computers at the library. See if there is a niche in your community where you can volunteer or provide a service. See #5.
9. Enjoy Yourself
We all can't be Rockefellers or live like them. Always thinking the grass is greener on the other side will never make you satisfied. Look closer and you'll find crabgrass and weeds there, too. Enjoy your faith, friends, family, pets, and hobbies. Shut off the computer. Make time to exercise and have some fun. You'll feel better and be more productive.
10. Think Positive.
It takes less energy to think positive, plus it'll add more to your life and your writing.
** Have any favorite tips or lifestyle changes you've made to improve your writing? Please share!
February 10, 2009
Scrabble Tag
I love playing Scrabble(R) so it's funny that Helen from Straight from Hel tagged me.
According to Helen, this tag is called either “The Love of the Written Word” or the “Scrabble Tag.” The rules are:
List at least five things you do to support and spread a love of the written word, then tag five people. (If you list something that touches youngsters, you get a bonus letter!)
Okay the five things I try to do to support writing:
1. Feature writers on the blog and share interviews with them.
2. Invite writers to share their writing tips.
3. Try to write original posts on different aspects of writing.
4. Mingle posts on writing with posts about miniatures and other topics for variety. It draws non-writers to the blog who may find the book posts interesting also.
5. Seek advice and encourage other writers to share their knowledge. I realize I really don't know it all. ha!
Five people I'm tagging are:
* Chester Campbell
(oops, sorry Chester, I see Katie tagged you first. ha!)
* JR Turner
* Mayra Calvani
* Pam Ripling
* Emma Larkins
Have fun!
According to Helen, this tag is called either “The Love of the Written Word” or the “Scrabble Tag.” The rules are:
List at least five things you do to support and spread a love of the written word, then tag five people. (If you list something that touches youngsters, you get a bonus letter!)
Okay the five things I try to do to support writing:
1. Feature writers on the blog and share interviews with them.
2. Invite writers to share their writing tips.
3. Try to write original posts on different aspects of writing.
4. Mingle posts on writing with posts about miniatures and other topics for variety. It draws non-writers to the blog who may find the book posts interesting also.
5. Seek advice and encourage other writers to share their knowledge. I realize I really don't know it all. ha!
Five people I'm tagging are:
* Chester Campbell
(oops, sorry Chester, I see Katie tagged you first. ha!)
* JR Turner
* Mayra Calvani
* Pam Ripling
* Emma Larkins
Have fun!
February 09, 2009
Eye Candy: Preview Miniature Witch's Greenhouse
I've been awfully slow about getting this project close to being done, though I've been making things and working on it forever (or it feels like that. ha!)
This is the bay window shop in the Houseworks Street of Shops set. I love this set and was thrilled to get it one year during Hobby Builder Supply's 50% off sale. Great buy!
The double window shop, is now home to my Teapot Shoppe. You can see it by clicking the link at the Verstraete Miniatures Gallery. The corner shop is going to be my witch's bakery.
Witchy Wallpaper
The first obstacle that prevented me from going any further was the wallpaper. Finally, when I saw this "UGLY" scrapbook paper in the clearance section, I knew I'd found the perfect thing! (Egads, believe it or not, it's supposed to be Christmas holly. More like a Tim Burton Christmas I'd say).
The floor is made of painted egg carton pieces set in tinted spackle. The stones outside are egg carton also. I'm thinking of putting matching rows of stones on the sides, too. See Victoria Miniland for tips on egg carton stones and bricks.
The Table
The fun part was making this table. It's a bit "wonky," but what else would a witch want to work on? (Try saying that fast!) I had to do some figuring as I wanted it to fit in the corner. There'll be shelves full of odd plants above the table and around the room.
A Few Funny Plants
Here are a few "odd" plants I've been making. The red "Poison" plant also has little "googly" eyes. The bone plant is perfect for keeping the dogs content.
The Witch seems to have a knack for, uh, growing extra parts.
I'll try to add some more photos when I get a little further. I also have a wallhanging box I covered in paper clay and will use as a wizard's room. I still have to paint it. Maybe I'll have one of these done by this Halloween. (Maybe).
** Have any special projects you've been working on "forever"?
This is the bay window shop in the Houseworks Street of Shops set. I love this set and was thrilled to get it one year during Hobby Builder Supply's 50% off sale. Great buy!
The double window shop, is now home to my Teapot Shoppe. You can see it by clicking the link at the Verstraete Miniatures Gallery. The corner shop is going to be my witch's bakery.
Witchy Wallpaper
The first obstacle that prevented me from going any further was the wallpaper. Finally, when I saw this "UGLY" scrapbook paper in the clearance section, I knew I'd found the perfect thing! (Egads, believe it or not, it's supposed to be Christmas holly. More like a Tim Burton Christmas I'd say).
The floor is made of painted egg carton pieces set in tinted spackle. The stones outside are egg carton also. I'm thinking of putting matching rows of stones on the sides, too. See Victoria Miniland for tips on egg carton stones and bricks.
The Table
The fun part was making this table. It's a bit "wonky," but what else would a witch want to work on? (Try saying that fast!) I had to do some figuring as I wanted it to fit in the corner. There'll be shelves full of odd plants above the table and around the room.
A Few Funny Plants
Here are a few "odd" plants I've been making. The red "Poison" plant also has little "googly" eyes. The bone plant is perfect for keeping the dogs content.
The Witch seems to have a knack for, uh, growing extra parts.
I'll try to add some more photos when I get a little further. I also have a wallhanging box I covered in paper clay and will use as a wizard's room. I still have to paint it. Maybe I'll have one of these done by this Halloween. (Maybe).
** Have any special projects you've been working on "forever"?
February 05, 2009
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!)
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!)
February 02, 2009
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!
Searching For A Starry Night Now in KINDLE!
2009-02-02T11:22:00-06:00
CA Verstraete
Amazon.com|kindle|Searching For A Starry Night|
Comments
January 30, 2009
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.
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.
January 29, 2009
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!
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!
January 28, 2009
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
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
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