Monday, February 18, 2013

Options for Decisions in a Sequel

 
I don't know about you, but I usually write sequels to my books...but I always have trouble getting into them and figuring out how to make them true to the characters...yet different from the first novel! However, this article lays out the dos-and-don'ts of sequel writing! To find out what I mean, check out: Options for Decisions in a Sequel
 
Your busy and happy blogger,
Rebecca

Monday, February 11, 2013

Interviewing Aspiring Authors: Jamie from Through Two Blue Eyes!

 
Hi guys!
 
Today is a special day, it marks the first of my (hopefully) monthly interviews with fellow authors! Each month I will interview an aspiring author! This month, and the first interview ever, is my dear blogger friend Jamie from Through Two Blue Eyes ! She was SO sweet to agree to do this!
 
The purpose of these interviews is to help people meet fellow authors and to give aspiring authors a chance to get the word out about their books! :D I hope that these interviews will be both helpful and inspiring!
 
As I said, Jamie is the author I am interviewing this month! :D She is an eighteen year old who writes both mysteries and family adventures! I believe this is her first fantasy novel, and I can say without doubt that her idea is really interesting and I hope someday to be able to buy her work in a bookstore! :D
 
But now it's time to get down to the meat of the interview! So without further adieu, here is Jamie's interview! :D
 
 
1) What is your book about?
To boil it down to the bare bones, my book follows the lives of three people and their experiences with a fictional, cursed, unpublished novel that magically pulls two of those people into it’s pages to reinvent the story.
2) Who are your main characters?
Their names are Ryan Evets, Will Blane, and Penny Taylor. Ryan Evets is the creator of the novel; he has an emotionally traumatic past and a controlling spirit. He looses everything when he’s book is cursed by a witch whom he himself created. Will Blane is one of those guys that everyone loves to be with and he works at a museum that is owned by Ryan and his extended family. Penny comes from a dysfunctional, divorcing family, is really emotional unstable and insecure; she and Will are fast becoming best friends and they discover Ryan’s book together on accident, thirty years after it’s been cursed and hidden.
3) Who is your villain?
I’m still not sure about who my ultimate villain will be at this moment, but as of now, the villain I know the most about is the fictional fantasy witch that Ryan creates for his fantasy novel. Her name is Quina Jax. She takes over Ryan’s mind and, when Will and Penny are pulled into the novel, is attempting to take over the fantasy world Arrahiem with her black magic.
4) What genre does your book fit into?
I would say it falls under Young Adult Christian Fantasy.
5) What age range of readers are you trying to reach?
Teenagers to young adults, so between twelve and twenty one would be the general range, I should think.
6) What style is your book written in? Is it first person? Is it third?
It is being written in third person.
7) Is this a single book or a series?
It is going to be a single book with two parts. At first I thought I would make it a series but then I realized I could accomplish what was needed by simply making it two parts. So the first part is with Ryan Evets writing and creating the novel, the second part is the thirty year jump to when Penny and Will discover the book. The weird part of this is that I started writing Part Two first. Sooo…. Yeah, it’s kinda odd. 
8) What are your goals for this book(s)? Is it just for fun or is it for publication?
It’s started off as just for fun and while I’m not completely positive about publishing it, I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback about it from my friends. Right now, out of all the books I’m working on, I would pick this one to take all the way to bookstores. While it’s not something I’m working towards or definitely planning at this point in time, I am keeping it in the back of my mind.
9) Why will readers love your book?
That’s a tough questions and one you should ask them! I don’t think I could confidently presume what someone else would love about my story .
10) Where did the idea for your book come from?
My book is the result of two different ideas being merged together. The first idea was to try writing a fantasy story because I’ve never seriously tried writing fantasy before. The second idea was to try writing a story about two teens being pulled into a book and having to journey to change the plot as the word count goes to give a happy ending so they could return to reality. I joined these two ideas together and this was the result!
11) What is your inspiration?
What is my inspiration? Tough question because it comes from many different things. One of the main inspirations for this book is my in-real-life best friend, Dylan, who has spent probably the past nine months reading stories with me. He helped to inspire both part of the book’s plot idea and he’s graciously become the skeleton for me to base the character Will off of. He’s encouraging, he’s lots of fun and he’s been very kind to me since we first met. So, he has my respect and I’m not afraid to admit that I probably would not have gotten any of this story idea without him.
12) Any writing tips for fellow authors?
Well, this is the biggest thing that has stood out to me in the past year and it’s hard to learn and except, especially if you’re a perfectionist. Expect to write trash the first time. Ouch; that hurts but it’s true. What you hear in your head and what your fingers will write on the screen will be very different, often very discouraging and disheartening. So, just be realistic and expect to write trash the first time. It is easier to go back and rewrite your crappy dialogue the way you want it then trying to write perfect dialogue the first time. The key is this: once you have something horrible written, then there is now something tangible to work with. You can see that crap staring at you. You’ve written something down on the page but you can now make it better! You can now see which words need to be changed, if the structure of the sentence should be rearrange, if the sentence should be communicating something totally different! I have to constantly remind myself about this but once you’re able to except you can’t write your story perfectly the first way, it gets much easier to just let the words flow. It’s hard and sucks but it’s true! And the truth shall set you free!

End of interview!

Thanks SO much Jamie for wanting to be a part of this! You were awesome! :D If you want to visit Jamie's blog, it's Through Two Blue Eyes. Just stop on by, I'm sure she'd love to hear from you! :D

If anyone else would like to be interviewed about their book, please leave a comment and let me know and I'll get in touch with you! Currently, I'm looking for my March interview! So again, just let me know and we'll talk! P.S. You don't have to answer ALL the questions I ask about your book if you don't want to, I can just change a few here and there to accommodate you! :D

But once again, BIG thanks to Jamie and I hope that you all enjoyed the post! :D

Your busy and happy blogger,

Rebecca

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Thursday, February 7, 2013

So Cute!

 
I own nothing! This is not my work nor am I trying to make money of of it!


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Wordy Wednesday!

This is part of a new thing I want to start called Wordy Wednesdays. On Wordy Wednesdays I'll post a pic or article that will tell you all the different ways to say things :D Hope this comes in handy for us wordy authors!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Every Life Has a Story


The Power of Notebooks...and Converse!

 
 
Many writers say that carrying notebooks is bad...especially for authors who have trouble actually sitting down and getting the work done. However, many authors strongly recommend using notebooks as a sounding board for ideas. After all, it's not always convenient, or safe, to tote an expensive laptop around everywhere you go!
 
Notebooks are very handy tools for authors! Like the picture above ^ says, "You never know when inspiration will strike!" and that's the truth! You never do know when an amazing idea will pop into your head! Also, writing ideas out on paper really helps to unscramble the web of characters and plot ideas that is zooming around inside your head! Seeing all your thoughts on one--or in my case many--pieces of paper gives you a chance to visually connect the dots and work through the issues in your story!
 
However, notebooks do have a downside. Many authors use notebooks as a writing substitute--writing their ideas out on paper makes them FEEL like they are writing...when in reality they are not. Notebook Authors give the practice a bad name and often encourage other writers to just avoid notebooks all together. But, if you are a disciplined person and can write out your ideas and still make time for real writing--then you should be fine! :D
 
I started using notebooks about a month or so ago. I wanted to spend even MORE time writing, but it wasn't practical for me--or safe for my laptop--to take my computer everywhere I went. So, I decided to just carry a small notebook...just in case a good idea hit me. It was love at first page! Once I started carrying a notebook I was no longer afraid to let my ideas flow! Before I'd been afraid to come up with a cool idea while I was out because I might forget it before I got home!
 
Of course, I try to discipline myself. I only use notebooks when I'm out and for story building...not story writing. You see, right now I'm in the middle of a HUGE writing project (Book One Rewrite!), but...a really amazing idea popped into my head (well...actually it's been there for a while and I just now found a plot for it.). So, instead of stopping Book One, or forgetting the new idea...I just use a notebook for the new idea while I continue working on my original project! :D This way everyone is happy and I'm still working!
 
 
But anyway, I just wanted to share my enthusiasm for notebooks! I've already filled up a small red one (which my wonderful mother bought for me!) and now am trying to decide between the two brand new ones I got one my shopping trip yesterday!
 
 
Sorry for the poor quality pic...but you get the general idea of what the notebooks look like! :D I'm leaning more towards Big Ben at the moment...it's the same format as my red notebook and I think I want to save my Paris one for later! :D Can you believe these things were only two bucks a piece? I love them!
 
Oh...and before I go...the Converse part of the post!
Like I said, yesterday my mom, sister and I went shopping! I needed a new backpack (my old one broke after many years of devoted service. Currently I'm blaming school!) and I also needed some new shoes! I was looking for some athletic shoes...and maybe a pair of Converse. I figured I'd only get one or the other because shoes are REALLY expensive now! :( But I got SO much more than I'd bargained for!
 
Behold!
 
 
Two brand new, REAL Converse shoes! I found these at Goodwill believe it or not! They are brand new (I'm not kidding! No wear or tear what-so-ever!) and are REAL Converse...not a knockoff! :D I was so tickled to find them! Most of the time when I find Converse at a thrift store...they are worn out, but these are brand new! :D Plus... they fit me and my wallet perfectly! How much were they you ask? Oh...only about five dollars a piece! No, I'm not kidding! Brand new Converse for only five bucks! EEEKK! :D So happy! And yes, these are women's Converse! *sigh* This was the find of the day...seeing how Converse are usually forty dollars a pair! :D Saved 70 bucks! :D

 
These, however, were very expensive! These athletic shoes were thirty five...but I love them and my oh so sweet mother let me get them! :D They are really comfortable and are very springy! In fact...I'm wearing them right now! :)
 
 
 
 
But anyway...that's my two cent's worth about notebooks and Converse! So until next time! :D
 
Your happy and busy blogger,
Rebecca