Dark Kid Lit, Realm Makers, and Whispersynced Audiobook

It looks like I've not even thought about this place for a few weeks now. But I assure you, that's not true. I've started--and deleted--several blog posts lately. I simply can't get hold of a topic solidly enough to post about it.

So, today I will at least get some links and such up:

I have another post up at A Flame in the Dark. It is my take on why kids should be allowed to read dark fiction. Check it out HERE.

I don't normally post links to reviews of my books, but this one just made me feel so awesome when I read it. Review of Seeking Unseen on Yellow30 Sci-fi Review--click HERE.

Realm Makers. If you haven't heard (did I post here about this yet?), I'll be on faculty at the Realm Makers Conference this coming May (30-31) at the campus of Villanova University, which is just outside Philadelphia, PA. I'll be teaching a session on Writing for the YA Market, and co-teaching one on Science in Fantasy Writing. For more info and registration, click HERE. (PS--we have Tosca Lee as Keynote Speaker, and I am stoked!)

The last thing I want to mention is that Finding Angel is now Whispersync enabled. That means, if you buy (or already own) the ebook copy, you can purchase the audiobook for $1.99. That is ebook and audiobook together for just shy of $6. The coolest part is that they will be synced, so if you want to listen for a while, then read, then go back to listening, etc., it will keep track of where you left off and keep going from there.

HERE is where you can purchase both. You have to buy the ebook, then the audiobook will show up at the lower price and you can then buy that. (If you find that they can go in the cart at the same time, let me know, but I'm pretty sure they have to be bought separately.)

PS--if you want a taste of the audiobook, you can listen to the first couple of chapters here:

The Alien in a Room Full of Bonnets

I wasn't going to blog about this, but I woke up at an ungodly hour this morning (4:40 am to be exact) and could not get back to sleep, even after snuggling on the couch with a book and a nice, warm blankie. So, instead, I made some coffee. Being that it's still very early (yes, 6:45 is "very early" for me) and I have caffeine coursing through my veins...I guess maybe I'm still simultaneously groggy and wired enough to write about last night.

A local writers group had a special guest speaker last night. With the right Google fu I'm sure you can find out who she is, but I'm not naming names because I don't want things getting tangled. She is a very sweet lady. But, she writes Amish fiction, and to be honest I attended pretty much just to confirm my...irritation with the genre at large.

You see, one of the things she said was that she was lucky to catch the wave of the Amish trend. She admitted to not seeing herself as particularly gifted when it comes to writing--it is something she has to work very hard at. She also basically said that you don't have to necessarily be a "good" writer if you're writing what is popular.

Sure, this was meant as encouragement, to cheer on those in the audience doubting whether or not they can really do it if they're not brilliant writers.

I would like to say it encouraged me, but it did not. It only confirmed what I already know about the publishing world, and more specifically the Christian publishing world.

If you've not followed me for long, let me state this--I am a Christian, but I don't write "Christian" fiction. Everything I've ever written, with the exception of maybe two flash fiction pieces, is suitable for the secular market.

That means that this woman's comments in many ways don't apply to me. Still, it's one of those things. Because I want to see a place where writers can be both faith-driven and, well, weird, I find the whole idea that popularity rules so far above good writing to be a bit atrocious.

I mean, yes, I get it. And I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never be one of "those" names. As much as I want to be widely read, I love my small band of rabid fans who love my work for actual intelligence and substance.

Anyway, it was distressing in other ways because I have very talented friends who DO see themselves as writers for a specifically Christian market, yet they don't fit the trends.

BTW--this speaker also read a list of what's hot in the Christian market according to, I believe, her editor or agent (can't remember specifically, but it was a pro in the field). The top were of course historical, Amish, and women's fiction.

One quote that stuck out was that YA is supposedly on the up-rise, but she (the editor/agent) *was not seeing that*.

Spec-fic was not even mentioned.

(Well, unless you count the mention of Amish Vampires in Space that turned into the big opening joke. I tell you, it was hard to keep my mouth shut about it, but I knew that making a stink would only create a scene and not actually convince anyone in the room to take the book seriously. Kerry Nietz has done nothing but impress me with his writing so far, but demographics are demographics. If you don't get that statement, reread the title of this post.)

Oh, this feels like it's turning into less of a post with a point and more of a "I just had to get it out of my system" thing. I suppose that's fine. Many of my contemporaries can relate, so I'll leave it this way.

And I will end with a link for what I think is going to be the driving force behind Christian speculative fiction--a genre which may have not gotten much notice but is NOT going away.

Click HERE to learn more about Realm Makers and this year's conference, which will be May 30-31 at Villanova University, just outside Philadelphia, PA. (BTW, I'll be teaching a couple of classes there, so check out the schedule when it's posted.)

20 Years of Marriage...so off to Harry Potter World!

I am completely shamed by the fact that my last blog post was sooooo long ago. Well, I would be if it weren't for the fact that I've been so busy. The holidays completely consumed us, and then they were quickly followed by....
My 20th wedding anniversary!

Jeff and I decided to do what any true theme-park-and-Harry-Potter-geek couple would do and we spent three days at Universal Studios. Without the Beasties.

I know, right??

What this means for you...

Well, it was GOING to mean a blog post with a lot of pictures. But Blogger is being a pain in the butt. So, I've loaded all the pics into a Public Album on Facebook. You should be able to see all the pics without a membership or anything. (Let me know if you have issues.)

Hope you enjoy! And of course, there will be another blog about the new Harry Potter section when it opens and we go visit again!

Goals and Wishes for 2014

As you can see, I've not been blogging very regularly lately. Between homeschooling and holidays and birthdays and camping trips and conventions...well, let's just say I've been busy.

It's normal though, for me, to be insanely busy this time of year. It's also normal for me to starting thinking about my accomplishments and my goals for next year. That's likely true of most people, I'm sure.

Accomplishments for 2013:

• This year I haven't put out my third Toch Island book as I thought I would, but I did publish two ebook novelettes (Protection's Prison and Ordinary Folk). 
• I also taught at a writers retreat and worked panels at two conventions (Realm Makers and Necronomicon). 
• I participated in several craft fairs and author events at libraries.
• And just a couple of weeks ago I did my first school visit.

Goals for 2014:

• Complete my novel, tentatively titled Relent. You can read about the premise here. It's in the editing stage, although this has been the hardest editing job I've had to do yet.
• Complete two shorter works, both of which at this point look like they'll be novelette length, or possibly novella. One is Toch Island-related and the other is not.
• When the above two goals are cleared, then I can dive in full-force with Toch Island 3.
• Work even more conferences/conventions and get more school visits.
• Push for more reviews of what I've already got out.
• Sketch more.

Yep, those sound like pretty normal goals for an author, eh?

But there are two that have been niggling at the back of my mind...

However neither of them are things I can control, so I suppose these are "wishes" for 2014 instead:

• Fan art for Toch Island Chronicles. I know, how completely narcissistic! But I keep seeing these authors posting art that readers have done of their characters (and trailers for their books) and I can't help thinking, "That would be so cool!"
• Some time back, there was a discussion on Facebook that involved me mentioning that I'd love to be written as a villain in someone else's fiction. That thought has stayed with me. Some may think that's an awful wish, because we all know what happens to villains at the ends of stories (especially those of a speculative nature), but I would find it a total honor. I've always thought the actors who play villains in movies get to have the most fun, but I can't act :P. 

There you have it. And if I don't blog again before Christmas, have a merry one!

My First School Event

I've been a published author for two years now. (Well, for my novels--I was published as a short story writer for the first time about five years ago.) And ever since Finding Angel released, I've been looking forward to speaking to kids at schools. Yes, I admit the idea terrified me at first, but a local homeschool organization invited me to speak at a career day and I had so much fun, so I began asking around in search of teachers who might be interested in me coming to their classes.

I found out rather quickly it's much easier said than done. Schools are already pretty short on time when it comes to covering material, and taking time off for a guest speaker doesn't seem to be anywhere near the top of the priority list.

Well, at least not if you are a virtual unknown.

Some of my friends have friends and/or relatives who are school teachers, and they've tried connecting me with those teachers for school visits. But initial enthusiasm quickly turns to excuses. "We've got to prepare for FCATs right now...so, maybe in a few months?" "How about next fall/spring? I'll get back to you..."

Sigh.

I'd pretty much given up on the possibility, at least until my homeschooling Beasties are older and I can leave them alone for long stretches while I pound the proverbial pavement trying to sell myself at face-to-face meetings with teachers.

And then...

At a local writers group a few months ago, I found out one of the members is a middle school teacher. I introduced myself after the meeting and asked her to please keep me in mind if she or any teachers she knew at her school were interested in having an author come speak. She was very sweet, and took my card, but hold my breath I did not.

A couple of months later, I was preparing to teach a workshop at the Florida Inspirational Writers Retreat, which happens to be run by the same writers group where I met the middle school teacher. She came up to me during the last group meeting before the retreat and told me about the Great American Teach In that would be happening at her school in November, and asked if I'd be interested in coming to speak!

Long story, short--okay, slightly less long--last Thursday I spoke to middle school students in two of her classes.

And it was AWESOME.

Of course being the big dummy that I am, I didn't take a camera, so I have no pics to show you. But I will never forget the faces I saw there. Smiles and eyes wide with interest. Hands going up one after the other with such great questions!

I started off by asking if any students were interested in writing, and the enthusiasm of some of the responsed just blew me away. My purpose in asking them was actually not to assess their interest, but to give a way for me to let them know that when I was their age I never thought of myself as a writer. It made me kind of sad--happy, but sad because when I was that age I could have been filled with the enthusiasm they have now if I'd given myself a chance to be.

Anyway, I had my art--and still do. And that was something that surprised me as well. I showed them some of my work, from present day and from waaaay back in high school. The oohs and ahhhs, and show-me-mores warmed my heart and kept me smiling the whole rest of the day!

All I can say is: Totally worth the wait. And now something I want to get to do even more.

So thank you, Mrs. Kramer, for asking me to speak to your classes. And thank you, students, for your awesomeness! Write on!

In Lieu of a Real Blog Post....

And yes, I'm still slacking on this blog. The last post I put up here was wimpy, I know. And today's won't be much better.

Fact is, I've been busy. Schooling the Beasties, who are getting older and more complicated. (Yes, I said that right--their schoolwork is getting more intensive, but the Beasties are the ones getting more complicated :P.)

And last week we took five days to camp at Disney's Ft. Wilderness. You can see the pictures HERE if you'd like.

Then, after getting back from camping, I decided I needed some time to draw. This first one is a sketch of a photo I found on Pinterest. For some reason, I just really, really love this.

And this one....well, if you can't tell "who" he is... :P

Anyway...

Since I still have no content of substance to post here, I give you THIS, a blog post by Maggie Stievater. Neither familiarity with Ms. Stiefvater nor the song to which she is referring in this post is necessary. But not having food or drink in your mouth when reading it (and some tolerance for a few mildly crude references) is necessary. Enjoy.

Where I Am, Since I Have Barely Been Here

Short post today just to share that my first contribution to the newly re-launched A Flame in the Dark blog by Diminished Media Group went live today.

In "Making it Personal" I analyze the differences between the novel and movie for The Woman in Black. I found some serious differences that in my opinion made the story in the movie far stronger--and more terrifying.

Would love if you'd stop by and check out my article, and the others that are up there. I'm looking forward to contributing more to the site in the future!

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Anyway, I've not been blogging much lately--yes, I'm fully aware--but hope to get my head back into it soon. The Beasties are getting older, which means their schoolwork is getting more intensive. I've been really completely swamped with schooling them lately. Not to mention my house has basically been a construction zone for months. We are in the final stretch of laying down tile floor through about 1/3 of our house. It has been a lot of work and inconvenience, but the result is worth it!

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Also, don't forget about the Goodreads giveaway for Finding Angel. Only a couple more days to enter for one of two print copies (signed, of course). CLICK HERE.