- Touch of Death ARCs up for grabs! I've been getting a lot of requests for ARCs and I don't have many. Spencer Hill Press takes care of them for me. But I do have 3 to give away and will be doing so once a month for the next three months. The first giveaway is next Monday, October 15th. All three will be open internationally.
- Fangs, Fur, and Fey Giveaway The giveaway ends at midnight, and I'll be notifying the winner tomorrow. Thanks to all who enter, and hello to my new followers.
- Columbus Day My daughter is home today because it's Columbus Day. I asked her if she knew what the day was about and she said, "Yeah, the teachers have to work but we get a three-day weekend." Oh, youth!
- Editing I'm finishing up an edit on a really awesome book for a client. I really love editing.
- Revisions I have to get started on revising my YA Contemporary Romance to break it into two novellas. Should be fun.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
I ordered my copy of Touch of Death last week so I just have to wait until January. I'm also finishing up a client edit which is just in time, because I'm itching to get back into my current WIP to start first round editing. Yeah fun!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you so much, Sarah. You just made my day. :)
DeleteGood luck with your WIP.
Oh, I feel really silly, but what are ARCs?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love your daughter's response about Columbus day, how cute.
On a side not... I am always distracted by how awesome your book covers look. I'm really excited about these books. They are on my goodreads tbr list.
Happy monday and I hope you had a great weekend Kelly.
ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy. :) And don't feel silly.
DeleteAw, thanks, Emilyann. That's so sweet of you. Happy Monday.
=)
DeleteSounds like you've got another good week ahead of you. My daughter is at home today because she's got a stomach bug (that time of year - bugs proliferate). I'm still working on my novel, getting back to a play script and just carrying on carrying on really. Have a good one.
ReplyDeleteI hope your daughter feels better, and good luck with your novel.
DeleteI love your daughter's comment!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on a laptop for the first time, and getting used to it. Oh, and it's been a while since I worked on a Linux OS, it's not difficult, just somewhat different, so I'm getting used to that too.
I'm sure you'll get used to it soon.
DeleteMy kids and hubby is off but I have to work still. Trying to get back in the swing after some conscious slacking lately.
ReplyDeleteSlacking every once in a while can be very good for you. You'll be refreshed.
DeleteGood luck on your editing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie!
DeleteI loved Columbus Day when growing up! Things have so changed. I remember getting off school for that day and also for President's Day.
ReplyDeleteToday, at my job, we take off for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur as extra holidays, but today...I'm very much at work!
Good luck with your edits, too.
Thanks, Diane. Sorry you have to work today.
Delete*I* want an ARC ( should I be so lucky as to win one).
ReplyDeleteI am contemplating whether I blew the last seasonal opportunity to lay out by the pool yesterday, dressing for the day job, and telling my 20+ pound cat that no matter how hungry she THINKS she is, her breakfast time isn't for another 30 minutes.
It was freezing here yesterday. We had to put the heat on for the first time. I'd love a little warmer weather. We actually went from 80 degrees to 50 degrees and it was a shock!
DeleteYou are going to be releasing contemporary YA also? I am sure I am slow on the news!! Anyway that's exciting. Way to cross into two similar but different genres! Great for getting all sorts of reader.
ReplyDeleteHappy Columbus day.. although it isn't a real holiday for most people, including teachers apparently :-)
Yeah, teachers always work on Columbus Day. And as for my contemporary, I haven't actually shared the news yet. It's on the DL for now. ;)
DeleteHappy Columbus Day from someone who knows and remembers! I think the best Columbus day we ever had was visiting D.C. where we actually saw a descendant of the original Christopher Columbus speaking in front of the government buildings.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's awesome!
DeleteI'm putting myself in "Query Letter Boot Camp" again as I did back in January 2012. This time, I'm writing query letters for books I've never written, and while I still believe it's not the same as writing the actual book, I'm desperate to ignite a spark that will lead me to writing a new book for the first time in THREE YEARS.
DeleteI'm also slowly bringing reading back into my life.
It's still hard to read what I write (Animal Fantasy) without envy, but reading books I can't write (YA, Historical or Contemporary/Realistic fiction) or don't want to write (Nonfiction but particularly biography and memoir) helps.
Some people are like that. Me, I love to read books similar to what I write. It reminds me why I like the genre. But I know many people who are the opposite and can't read the genre they are currently writing.
DeleteOh, I still do still feel that way myself, Kelly.
DeleteIt's just hard when beta-readers, as much as I know they mean well, discuss my writing using other books in my genre as the yardstick of quality and what works to the eleventh power, and I don't think it's fair or helpful.
Because I can't be like X writer, no matter how much I may admire them (Brian Jacques, rest his soul, you are a HARD rival for me, yet I'm a fan all the same) they aren't me, and I say that from a sane and valid place.
Just because X published book did this doesn't mean my book needs to. I don't think that's a petty thing to say.
I mean, do you want to be "judged" against all the paranormal novels that came before you?
When I like a book, or even if I don't like a book, I don't do that, and maybe I'm in the minority, but that's how I feel, and I think as writers we need to focus on the book we're critiquing, not the book we think it "should" be.
The reasons I loved Tor Seidler's "A Rat's Tale" are WAY different than what I loved about Micheal Hoeye's Hermux Tantamoq series. That's how I view books I read.
I come to each book or writer on its own terms. Period.
I feel when we go from WRITING to SELLING our writing we forget that, because the nature of writing query letters and synopses just seems to DEMAND we think of comparing rather than celebrate what's different, even though we're told to avoid grandiose claims like "I'm the next HP or HG" and I certainly don't advise that. There's STILL that subtle or not-so-subtle pressure to find what's similar over what sets us apart, even if articles say both points are valid.
Even though some writers don't want to admit/believe it, I think unpublished writers have a harder time of it on this specific part of the process, and just because it hasn't happened to them personally, doesn't mean it's not true other writers.
I'm not against the idea entirely, there are sometimes things to learned from books that came before you.
But when it starts to make you AFRAID to do something different, take ANY risks at all, that's when it's going too far, in my opinion.
To be honest, I try to make my books different from what I know is out there. Touch of Death combines mythology and zombies. People have commented that they love that because it's not a common trend in books. That is one of the best compliments I can get. It's not easy to be different with all the books out there, so I think differences are an amazing thing. And you know I love your book, Taurean. :)
DeleteThanks, and I haven't given up on it, but it's on hiatus while I try to stay the course on drafting my new book. do agree with what your saying. That was my main point.
DeleteI was just saying that sometimes what we do differently can have the opposite effect we intend come query time.
It's sometimes hard to balance the two, because you still want readers to know "Oh, this is that kind of story" while not sounding derivative of something else.
Like how you want people to know early on what you book is like (Paranormal, as in Touch of Death, without ignoring what you did different regarding zombies and whatnot, and that's hard to show in a query, because it has to read clear and thought out, yet kind of like cover copy, but not vague, without shoehorning too much in 2-3 paragraphs. It may be possible but it's hard.
Yes, it is hard, Taurean. I wish it weren't, but it is.
DeleteDang, I am probably too late to the party to request one. boohoohoo.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was visiting this past weekend, but she's back at school now. My second boohooo.
On a happier note. I am sending along my very unlike Brenda story to you.
Have a good C-day.
Brenda, there will be three giveaways and the first is next week. You aren't too late at all.
DeleteI hope you enjoyed your time with your daughter. (I'm sure you did.)
Yay for the story.
Why'd you choose to break your contemp into two novellas instead of a novel? Did your agent request it? I'm curious because I haven't really seen YA novellas selling.
ReplyDeleteI wondered that also. Are you trying some literary journal, they still take novellas, or are you going the Kindle Singles route, where this type of writing does find a home, though how much it sells I couldn't possibly know.
DeleteI actually can't share this yet, but there is a reason. ;)
DeleteOh dang! The suspense!
DeleteLOL. Sorry. I promise I'll explain when I can.
DeleteLOL... great answer. I just love kids. Wohoo! Look forward to that giveaway :D I've read two YA novellas (Throne Of Glass series by Sarah Maas) and I found the method quite interesting. She wrapped the stories pretty well, I think.
ReplyDeletein each novella, that is,
DeleteIt's my first novella, so it should be interesting. I'm diving in tomorrow. :)
DeleteEdnah Walters has left a new comment on your post "Monday Mishmash 10/8/12":
ReplyDeleteHappy Comumbus Day. We don't close schools here, so mine are at school. I'm back blogging again...woohoo, but will feel better when I get back to writing.
Ednah, Blogger ate your comment. LOL.
DeleteDo I need to have a talk with your characters? Tell them I want more of your books so they better start talking!
You better believe I'll be entering those 'Touch of Death' giveaways. I'm dying to see what it's all about -- ah, the suspense!!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'm glad you're looking forward to the giveaways!
DeleteI think your daughter has gotten it right. That's about what Columbus Day has become. DD is home also, only in her school they call it Indigenous People Day, and it's still about the teachers having to work and the kids get a three day weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo many people don't even know it's Columbus Day. Seems a little crazy, but that's what the day has been reduced to, I guess.
DeleteI'd love to read an arc. I should check out the contest. As fas as today? I had to teach. The college where I teach does not clase for Columbus Day!
ReplyDeleteYou'll get three chances to win. :)
DeleteSorry you had to teach today.
Good luck with your first novella. Can't wait to hear how it came about (when you can share). I laughed out loud about your daughter's comment. I am so excited for your ARC giveaway. So awesome!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Thanks, Jess. I'm glad you're looking forward to the giveaway.
DeleteLove it when kids don't QUITE get it! We have 'inset' days here - ie when school is closed and teachers get to do stuff. Hannah, when age of ours, used to call them 'insect days'. !!
ReplyDeleteLOL. That's adorable. :)
DeleteOh I definitely want that ARC. Can't wait until the 15th :)
ReplyDeleteI like to celebrate Columbus Day by taking some of my siblings' stuff, calling it mine, and changing it's name to something that suits me. Obviously, they don't appreciate it so much :P
Samantha, LOL.
DeleteWhen I was a kid we had Columbus Day off, but where I am everyone goes to school.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for your book to come out.
Thanks, Medeia. :)
DeleteWow, you have a lot going on. Don't know how you do it. I'm still trying to organize my work. I love your daughter's response. So funny! Good luck with your revisions.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Auden! Having my daughter in kindergarten gives me 5 1/2 uninterrupted hours to write.
DeleteNice round-up of mish mash this time. I love what children say.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute response to the meaning of Columbus day, hahaha...absolutely precious/priceless. Best wishes with your new romantic undertaking.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Thanks!
DeleteYou seem to organised... share your secret.
ReplyDeleteI have a big day planner and can't live without it. :)
Deletei don't know many people who would say that they love editing. that's cool that you do.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the English teacher in me. :)
DeleteYour daughter's comment was so funny!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Yeah, I laughed.
DeleteAh, Columbus Day... despite the fact that old Chris never landed on the soil of what became the United States...
ReplyDeleteNever did get that one!
I find it funny that America is named after the guy who drew us on the map. ;) Little historical blunders are amusing at least.
Delete