Write Stuff: September 2011

Friday, September 30, 2011

One last guest post :)

I'm really rather sad that the month long YA/MG blogfest that has been going on around here in coming to a close. I have one last post up on Kim Baccellia's blog, that you should might want to check out! It's also the last opportunity to enter my contest, so please do leave a comment there. If you want more chances to win, the links to my other interviews are on the sidebar and leaving a comment there earns you an extra entry. I'll be posting the winner later this weekend (hopefully Sunday).

October is practically here, and I've been trying to think of something fun to do. I'm thinking some kind of writing contest, actually. Fun prizes (books, critiques, you know, the fun stuff!) included! Anyone have any good suggestions?

Guest Post by Marva Dasef, author of Bad Spelling & a CONTEST

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:00 AM

It's my pleasure to have Marva here today--she's been the force behind the incredible blog-fest this past month, which I'm sure has been a ton of work! She's chosen to share with us a little bit about the world of Bad Spelling! Be sure to leave a comment for Marva, and one will be chosen to win her book!

BAD SPELLING – Book 1 of the Witches of Galdorheim

A klutzy witch, a shaman's curse, a quest to save her family. Can Kat find her magic in time?

If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.

Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.

The young witch, accompanied by her warlock brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way. At the Troll Kingdom, a young troll, Andy, joins the siblings in their quest to find the shaman and kill the curse.

by Marva Dasef http://marvadasef.com

Blog: http://mgddasef.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/MarvaDasef

Twitter Handle: @Gurina

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWgjP4szkh0

Release date: October 14th MuseItUp Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/3daem4r

Grind Your Bones

Giants aren’t the most popular neighbors. They tend to be a little selfish, keeping golden-egg laying geese and magic harps to themselves. In Norse mythology, a giant called a jotun (or Jötunn) is literally made of ice or stone (depending on the season, I guess). Frost giants are far more popular in games and fantasy books. There’s just something chilling about a giant made of ice. Since the scene which has the jotun is spring, I went with the stone giants. They could also use the press.

Originally, in Norse mythology, the jotuns live in Jotunheim (well, duh!). The Encyclopedia Mythica (http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/articles.html) says:

Jotunheim is one of the nine worlds, the homeland of the frost and rock giants. Situated in Midgard, on the middle level of the Norse universe, Jotunheim is separated from Asgard by the river Iving, which never freezes over. It lies in the snowy regions on the outermost shores of the ocean. Mimir's well of wisdom is in Jotunheim, beneath the Midgard root of the ash tree Yggdrasil.

I’m not much more enlightened, but who doesn’t love a big, bad giant roaring in to cause havoc? When Kat and Rune meet up with the jotun, she finds that her ability to communicate with animals grows stronger the further away she travels from Galdorheim Island.

Excerpt:

The path was clearly magical. The foliage, although wild and unkempt, glowed with greenery and flowers. Giant mushrooms, some the size of dinner plates, sprouted under the bushes. Birds twittered in the trees. Kat ducked as a bumblebee as big as her fist droned past her head on its way to another blossom. Here it was spring, just like on Galdorheim under the shield.

Kat pulled off her parka and draped it over her knapsack. Rune soon did the same, even though his tolerance for extreme temperatures was usually much higher than Kat’s. They were strolling along, enjoying the warmth, the flowers, and the buzz of the bees, when Kat looked up to see an eagle riding an updraft in a lazy circle above them. “Look!” Kat pointed. Rune glanced up at the bird.

“Interesting…not! C’mon, Kat, it’s just an eagle,” he replied.

Kat looked down at her feet and mumbled, “I thought it was interesting.”

A few moments later, Rune stopped abruptly, holding up his hand.

“Shhh! Do you hear something?”

Kat listened but heard only chirps and buzzing. “No, but your hearing is better than mine.”

Rune turned slowly in place, trying to home in on the sound. Kat watched, puzzled.

The hillside by the path trembled then heaved upward. Dirt and rocks flew through the air. The shaking earth knocked Kat backward. She plopped onto her behind with a yelp, ducked her head, and covered it with her arms to fend off flying gravel. Peeking out from beneath her upraised arms, Kat's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. In front of her, the shaking earth rose and unfolded. Then a monstrous glob of rocks and dirt rose higher and higher into the air. Two huge boulders blinked at her. Kat screamed. A gaping mouth appeared beneath the eyes, and a monstrous nose jerked and wriggled its way to a place between the eyes and mouth.

Rune grabbed her arm, jerking her to her feet. “It’s a giant! Run! Run!”

Kat sprinted after Rune, who quickly outpaced her, as the giant continued to grow and take shape from the rocks and earth. Kat risked a quick glance over her shoulder. A horrendous, rocky fist swung in a downward arc, its target appallingly clear. She tried to force her flying feet to move even faster, hoping to outrace that ponderous, clenched hand. She looked up to see the eagle plummeting downward, its wings folded against its sides. Kat aimed a thought at the eagle. “Help me!” The eagle flared its wings and stopped abruptly in midair. It then turned and flew away. She was disappointed but not surprised when the eagle left. No use. She picked up her feet and raced after Rune.

A wild, high-pitched screech split the air. Kat looked back again. She gasped in surprise, stumbled, and almost fell. Flailing her arms and digging in her heels, she managed to stop upright. She stared with unbelieving eyes as a flock of eagles, dozens of them, circled the monstrous form. The birds dived at the thing’s head, distracting it from its intended victims—her and Rune.

The giant swung its huge hand, batting at the eagles, trying to drive them away. The big raptors easily evaded the lumbering blows. Kat watched as the eagles dove again and again, buffeting the creature’s head with their wings, pecking at its eyes and threatening with their outstretched talons. She wondered how they could possibly hurt stone eyes, but the giant seemed to think they could. It shriveled downward, shedding rocks and dirt as it collapsed. Down and down it went, melding back into the earthen hillside that spawned it.

The eagles flew in a wide gyre around the hillside, preventing the giant from reforming. One of the birds veered away from the flock and flew down to Kat. It landed gracefully on a boulder beside the path. Folding wings and settling feathers, it cocked its head and regarded her with a fierce, yellow gaze.

“Thank you,” Kat gasped, fighting to catch her breath. “Thank you so much!” The great bird dipped its head in what could only be an acknowledgment. Then it spread its wings, uttered a soft “Kkkreeeee,” and launched itself into the air, climbing away with long, powerful beats of its wings.

Rune shut his open mouth and then gasped, “You did it again! Do you believe me now?”

Thanks for stopping by, Marva! Very interesting post, and Bad Spelling sounds awesome! Remember to leave a comment!!

I'm all over the interwebs today!

By: Meradeth Houston on 9:07 AM

(I hate the word "interwebs" but sometimes it just works *sigh*)

Anyhow, lots of fun stuff going on today: over on the lovely blog of Sue Perkins, I have a post up about the creative process. I talk about my random inspiration process. It's fun. And it has a dorky title that is all mine. Leave a comment for a chance to win! Check it!

Also, and this one I find really random, I'm posting over on my publisher's blog, talking about e-books in the college setting. I got some of my students to tell me about using e-textbooks, and it made for an interesting post. If you're curious about the younger (early 20's, late teens) and their use of electronic media, I do recommend it, even if all it's unscientific glory :) See the post here!

All kinds of fun stuff!

Welcome to Monday (and blog awards :)

By: Meradeth Houston on 9:06 AM

Ahhh, Monday. I have a long week ahead of me, yet I always feel the most rested on Mondays, creating this strange connundrum of productivity (which I love) and pessimism about the week ahead (which I hate). So, yeah, welcome to Monday!

The delightful Kerri Cuev at Craft Junkie (quite possibly the most awesome blog title ever) has left me an award:

Adorable, right? Seriously, go check out her blog--it's lots of fun!

So, rules are: Anyone who accepts this is asked by the person selecting them to do three things: Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post. Share 7 things about yourself. Pass this award along to 15 discovered blogs and let them know about it.

So, 7 things? This might be a bit random...

I have a large button on my backpack that I made, which reads "I Sequence Dead People" because that's what I do!
I'm married to a theoretical physicist. Whenever I think I'm feeling a tiny little bit smart, I have to realize I'm not :)
Current favorite band: The Black Keys. Love them!
I can't wait for the Hunger Games movie to come out. I'm also looking forward to Breaking Dawn (I know, I know, but I'm being honest here).
I spent my weekend making scrabble pendants. They are freaking adorable. I'll be posting a little pic of them sometime soon.
Today is my first day of teaching this quarter and I haven't planned my lesson yet. I'm blogging instead. Oops!
As I write this, my inbox dinged with the edits on my novel from my editor. I think I may go throw up now. (They're two days early! I was going to finish my WIP in that time!)

Okay, random enough? So, now for some blogs to link to...I'm going to go with people from the MuseItUp blog fest, as they are awesome and totally deserve this:

All of these ladies have great blogs that are worth a peek! And definitely go check out Kerri's blog, too!

Interview with my Main Character, Julia

By: Meradeth Houston on 1:07 PM

I know, how many of these can I have? Well, remember that they all mean more entry chances to win :) And if you'd like to learn a little more about the Sary, and the main character in Colors Like Memories, Julia, check out Barbara Ehrentrue's blog!

Interview with C.K. Volnek author of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island & a CONTEST

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:00 AM

It's my pleasure today to host Ms. Volnek, author of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island! Leave a comment, too, for a chance to win this awesome book!

GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND

In 1587, over 115 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island without a trace, leaving behind not only unanswered questions, but a terrifying evil.

Now it’s up to twelve year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the age-old mystery and save his family from the hateful beast that haunts the island.

With the help of newfound friend, Manny, a Native American shaman, and an elusive Giant Mastiff, Jack must piece together the clues of the Lost Colony to discover what really happened. Shrouded in ancient Native American folklore, it's up to Jack to uncover what the evil is and why it haunts his island. But can he destroy it...before it destroys him?

You can find out more about GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND at the following locations:

http://www.ckvolnek.com/ghost-dog-of-roanoke-island1.html

http://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=128&Itemid=82

Amazon

And other fine web book stores

Hi Meredith. Thanks for the opportunity to join you on your blog today. I’m excited to let everyone know my e-book GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND comes available September 23 through MuseItUp Publishing. GHOST DOG is a tween ghost story with a twist of Native American folklore and based on the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. (And I’m giving away a FREE copy of the e-book to one lucky reader who leaves me a comment!)

(Q) Thanks for stopping by my blog! Let’s start with the basics: where are you from? Is there any place online you’d like to direct us to learn more about you?

I hail from the upper plains state of Nebraska. I grew up in a small town, complete with one gas station, post office and grocery story, all rolled up in one. I swear the gravel streets did roll up at sundown. But it was a wonderful place to grow up. My horse and dog were my best friends and I had the freedom to ride the hills surrounding my home, dreaming up many of the adventures I write about today.

After I got married, we traveled around for several years following my husband’s career, but ultimately we came back to small-town Nebraska. Even though I work in the city, I can’t wait to get out and hurry back to my small town where I only have to deal with three stoplights and an occasional tractor.

As for where your readers can find me…I’d love to meet them and make new friends. They can contact me at ckvolnek (at) yahoo (dot) com.

They can join me on my web page: www.ckvolnek.com, or visit me at my blog: www.ckvolnek.com/blog.html.

They can also find me on Facebook (C.K. Volnek) or Twitter (CKVolnek), Good Reads and Jacket Flap.

My book trailer can be watched here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo

(Q) I always love hearing about how the idea for a particular book came about. Please fill us in on how you got the idea for Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND was actually inspired after reading a news article about the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. To be honest, I don’t remember studying the Lost Colony in school so the story truly intrigued me. I was fascinated by the mystery and my muse went wild coming up with a story of what she believes happened to the missing 117 colonists. I was also appalled by the actions of Sir Richard Grenville and Ralph Lane. They destroyed an entire Native American village simply because he thought one of them stole a silver cup from his ship. This action warranted my muse to create a story evoking the value of acceptance and tolerance and the power of forgiveness…coupled within the confines of a chilling ghost story.

(Q) Which authors have most influenced your own writing?

It’s hard to choose just one or two favorite authors. I try to make it a habit and glean all I can from any and all authors I read. I don’t want to copy anyone’s specific writing style, only build on the style that is best suited for me and the piece I am working on at the moment.

(Q) What do you do for fun other than writing?

I dabble in a variety of other things than writing…spending time with my family, flower gardening, jewelry making, hiking, and spending time with my four Papillon pups… I am officially known as the ‘dog woman’ around our small town. Lol. I take them on a lot of walks and have trained them to do an array of tricks from the usual sit, down, stay to roll over and play dead, crawl like a marine, wave hello and good-bye and take a bow. Noah, my biggest trickster of the bunch, is quite a ham-bone and is actually a certified therapy dog. We have visited nursing homes and outdoor events, as well as being a regular at my CCD classes. But he goes to my classes with a lesson, such as unconditional love, patience and obedience.

(Q) If you could describe your ideal writing spot, where would it be? What music would you listen to (if at all)? What treats would you have on hand?

I’m a night-owl. And I have a laptop. So most of my writing is done sitting in my most comfortable chair in the front room with at least two pups sitting by me or on the ottoman. I have my I-pod, loaded with Yanni, and a Diet Coke at hand and I’m ready to write, write, write.

(Q) Plotter or pantser? Both? Neither?

Actually I am a bit of both. I do outline some, and then continue to outline as I write by the seat of my pants. I can’t do the whole outline before I start writing or my muse will revolt and take the story a totally different direction. And what my muse wants, my muse usually gets.

As for when I write…I am a night-owl, so most of my writing is done at night. I work a day-job (at least for the time being ;-) and am able to check e-mails and blogs from there, leaving me free to put my feet up in my favorite chair and write, write, write on my laptop. I try to write at least 15 minutes every night on my WIP. If I don’t, my muse gets cranky and will jump ship to a totally new WIP. I already have three WIPs going so I don’t want to give my muse any further reason to start another one. lol

(Q) Do you have any new projects that you are working on? Care to share?

I have two additional books coming out from MuseItUp. A HORSE CALLED TROUBLE is a horse story (of course) for tween girls and comes out in December, 2011. A trouble teen must overcome her abusive past to save the defiant horse that taught her to love and trust again.

THE SECRET OF THE STONES is the first of a series called THE LOST DIARIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND and will make its debut in April of 2012. THE STONES is a much lighter story and is a Harry Potter meets Merlin the Magician kind of story. A Merlin-loving tween is thrust into magic mayhem when the gift he’s been entrusted to protect turns out to be the enchanted object detailed in a mysterious prophecy.

I also have three WIP’s in progress. The first would be the second in the series of THE LOST DIARIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. The second is a YA paranormal/romance called SLEEPERS. My last WIP is a piece close to my heart. It is a fictional YA piece based on the true story of a school bus crash from my home town in which we lost three wonderful children and one parent. A tragic story but filled with miracle and hope.

(Q) What kinds of marketing do you think are the most successful in terms of getting your name/book out there? (Curious minds are taking notes!)

That is a loaded question! Marketing is a giant beast, as big if not bigger than writing the novel. When I received my contract one year ago, I knew nothing. I started to build a platform by building a website, getting involved on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Jacketflap. I’ve joined local writing groups and on-line groups. I’ve also joined several boards such as Kindle Boards, Verla Kay, KidlitChat, Shewrites, and BookBlogs. Each day I try to make one small baby step forward. With baby steps, I have come a long way to gaining recognition and setting up my writing platform, but I know I still have a long way to go.

(Q) If you'd like to add anything, please do so.

I’d be honored to offer a free copy of my e-book, GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND, as soon as it is released on September 23. I hope whoever wins will offer me a review…a good one of course. Lol.

(Q) How about an excerpt to tantalize the readers?

Here is a rare sneak peek at what lies in wait for my readers…enjoy. ;-)

A thunderous roar shook the earth and trees. Jack wobbled, his arms flailing. A massive wind gust hurled across the bluff and smashed Jack to the ground, driving the clouds, leaves, and dirt into a spinning frenzy around him. Rain poured down in sheets and bolts of lightning flashed across the ebony sky, striking at the ocean and trees. The fire licked at the torrential downpour, growing bigger and brighter, as though being fed gallons of gasoline. A large shadow began to grow from within the hissing flames, growing bigger and bigger until it towered over the Algonquian elder and boy.

Manny helped Jack up, his gaze never leaving the fire. “It is Witiku!”

Jack wiped the rain from his face. He gasped as the shadow began to take shape. Yellow eyes pierced the darkness from within the flames, and a long snout protruded from a face of spiky gray-brown hair. Pointed fangs filled the beast’s mouth. It snapped and howled, rolling its head and neck, angry and fierce. Wooly ears grew from the top of its skull, pivoting back and forth, listening to the call of distant thunder. Skeleton-thin arms covered with matted fur swiped at the wind and rain. Razor-sharp claws glistened in the firelight. The beast writhed and twisted, its hairy, gaunt body bursting out from the fire and landing in the muddy mire on long misshapen legs. The fire spit and flashed, flaming fingers reached for the beast as the downpour now forced the inferno to retreat, hissing and seething into the red-hot embers. The Witiku stood straight and raised its arms upward, the dying fire sputtering and licking. The beast took a long, deep breath and opened its mouth, a horrific scream of anger and hate surging from its black lips. The small oak tree shuddered in its quake, its branches trembling.

Thanks again, Meradeth! And (waving at readers), I hope to meet you all soon. And remember, readers, to leave me a comment for your chance to win a FREE e-copy of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

Charlotte Volnek, aka Charlie or C.K., lives in Nebraska with her husband and four fur-kid Papillon pups. A mother of three grown children, Charlie has a passion for writing and focuses most of her stories toward middle grade and tweens. Having a son that ‘hated’ to read spurred her to create stories to entertain, encourage and inspire young readers. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, long hikes, gardening, and movies.

I hope everyone enjoyed the interview! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win this awesome sounding book!

I'm being interviewed!

By: Meradeth Houston on 9:50 AM

It's not really an interview this time--I'm talking about research. Ahh, that thing all writers just love, right? :) I have a few things to say about getting the past "right" though, and some great photos to share that you might like. Plus, a comment earns you another chance to win! Go check it out on Barbara Bockman's blog!

Interview with Shellie Neumeier Author of DRIVEN

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:00 AM

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

DRIVEN can be purchased at Amazon!

(Q) Thanks for stopping by my blog! Let’s start with the basics: where are you from?

Used to be Jackson, WI until August 22, now it’s Cincinnati, OH.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001729933656

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#%21/shellie_c

Website: http://shellieneumeier.com/

Booktrailer: http://youtu.be/D0iUtvrC_PU

(Q) I always love hearing about how the idea for a particular book came about. Please fill us in on how you got the idea for Driven.

What inspired me to write this book was the desire to encourage the next generation. They have an amazing access to their world with the ease of travel and the internet. They also have the opportunity to change their world unlike any previous generation has. But they’re also bombarded with harsh realism and even harsher dramatized “realism.” It would be very easy to forget that they have a good and Godly purpose.

(Q) Which authors have most influenced your own writing?

Oooh, easy one. Mark Twain and Frank Perretti are my two favorite authors who influenced the writing of Driven.

(Q) If you could describe your ideal writing spot, where would it be?

On a warm beach by the ocean. I love to hike and hang with family and friends. I also do a fair amount of reading and occasionally quilt.

What music would you listen to (if at all)?

My taste in writer’s music depends on what I’m writing…dark if the scene is dark or energetic if the scene is more upbeat.

What treats would you have on hand?

I’ll take anything chocolate, please…unless there’s cheesecake available, then I’ll take a large cyber-bite of cheesecake, please.

(Q) Plotter or pantser? Both? Neither?

I’m a plotter; worksheet, outline and all.

(Q) Do you have any new projects that you are working on? Care to share? (optional if you don't have a WIP to talk about)

I have a novella romance releasing on October 1, A Summer in Oakville (co-authored with Lisa Lickel) and a mid-grade chapter book, The Wishing Ring, releasing in February. I’m currently working on a sequel to The Wising Ring and another young adult novel about a seventeen year-old boy who lands himself in a treatment center and must figure out how to get home.

(Q) What kinds of marketing do you think are the most successful in terms of getting your name/book out there? (Curious minds are taking notes!)

Ok, curious minds, I’ve found blog tours (yay for this one) and social media venues to be the most advantageous in building a platform. But those venues only work if they are targeting folks who the book would appeal to. I look for blogs that teens read and connect with YA readers online through forums and other social sites.

(Q) How about an excerpt to tantalize the readers?

From a comfortable height above the trees, Sebastian circled the abandoned paper mill, drinking in the atmosphere of dereliction and decay surrounding the property. This place has more character than most of the humans I know. Half broken windows winked like the evil eyes of wayward souls, while snow drifts gathered in the corners. The wind toyed with the snow, whipping trails that could chill his feet and ankles. If he had feet and ankles, that is.

Slipping through a second-story window, Sebastian watched a rat scurry across the dusty floor in a dash for the shadows. Like an angry cloud—black as asphalt, thick as cigar smoke—Sebastian floated after the rodent, watching with mild interest as it raced for another shadow and nearly collided with an old tom cat whose eyes glowed bright with hunger. The tom sprang, but Sebastian turned away. He didn’t have time for these cat and mouse games today, no matter how much he enjoyed them. He had bigger game to consider, and as he moved over the room, he thought about the girl he’d come to destroy.

Sebastian peered through the panel of small rectangular windows overlooking the town of Brookfield, fifty in all, though most were broken, and he yawned as he watched the town stretch with morning life. Humans filtered in and out of the corner diner, scampered about in their shiny cars, and huddled against the wind in mindless oblivion. Sebastian’s mouth curled into a sneer.

Shellie Neumeier holds a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a minor in Psychology, Sociology and Social Studies. A devoted mother of four, Shellie previously worked on staff with Northbrook Church as the King’s Kids ministry assistant (serving children in grades 2nd through 5th). Shellie’s YA novel, Driven, is available from Risen Fiction and her middle grade chapter book The Wishing Ring will release February 2012. She is an active member of SCBWI and ACFW as well as a contributing author for various blogs. Shellie is located in southeastern Wisconsin.

Thanks for stopping by Shellie! I hope you all enjoyed learning more about DRIVEN!

After Reading: Dead Until Dark

By: Meradeth Houston on 9:23 AM

by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

(Honestly, finding a good summary of this book was impossible! But, really, I think most people get the idea :)

So, I really don't watch a lot of TV, but I've wanted to see TrueBlood for a while now. It's just that, well, I'd rather read :) So I finally managed to get a copy of the first few books in this series and really enjoyed the first one! It took me a while to get into the story and characters, mainly I think because there's a lot of "Southern" flavor to the pacing and flow of the book--particularly how Sookie thinks and talks. For a California girl, that took a little getting used to. But then I was drawn in and loving all the myriad of characters, their thoughts and quirks, and the very real work Harris has built. Lots of fun, for an adult book anyway!

My question is, how true to the books is the TV show? A lot? Not so much? (I really should just suck it up and Netflix the first season, but I've got this manuscript to finish, and my first round of edits from my editor are due any day now....)

Interview with Lawna Mackie Author of ENCHANTMENT

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:00 AM

Stumbling into the world of Enchantment brought Meeka everything she'd been searching for. Peace. Magic. A gorgeous knight in shinning armor.

Kerrigan is torn between his desire for Meeka and his duty as a dragon shifter guard sworn to expel all foreigners.

Can Kerrigan keep Meeka safe as his enemies strive to turn her into a weapon that will destroy all he is bound to protect? Or will their passion override duty?

Available from MuseItUp on January 13th!

Welcome Lawna to my blog!!

(Q) Thanks for stopping by my blog! Let’s start with the basics: where are you from? Is there any place online you’d like to direct us to learn more about you?

I’m from a small town called Didsbury in Alberta, Canada.

I love visitors to my website www.lawnamackie.ca

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawna-Mackie-Author/148835408509152

www.twitter.com/Lawnamackie

(Q) I always love hearing about how the idea for a particular book came about. Please fill us in on how you got the idea for ENCHANTMENT.

I love this question! Well, probably like others I got the idea for my novel ENCHANTMENT from a dream. My dreams are quite bizarre. Threeo who is a secondary character in this book came to me in my dreams as a Hippo-Dog-Burrowing Owl…go figure. A creature so detailed just had to become real, so I decided to write the paranormal/romantic fantasy. (I love this! I wish my dreams were this cool!)

(Q) Which authors have most influenced your own writing?

Sherrilyn Kenyon

P.C. Cast

Christine Feehan

These are my top three. I get so wrapped up in their stories!

(Q) What do you do for fun other than writing?

I love camping, fishing and spending time with my furry critters in the outdoors.

(Q) If you could describe your ideal writing spot, where would it be? What music would you listen to (if at all)? What treats would you have on hand?

My ideal writing location is sitting in my lawn chair, with a crackling fire, staring up at the mountains and listening to the rumbling river in the near distance. This place really does exist! I do like to listen to music sometimes and if I do I like anything from the 80s. That’s a great question…What treats would I have on hand? Well most likely potato chips. (Dang, can I come visit? Sounds great!)

(Q) Plotter or pantser? Both? Neither?

I’m definitely a pantser who enjoys writing by the seat of her pants. I can’t plan or plot, I just write from the heart usually after I’ve had an inspiring dream.

(Q) Do you have any new projects that you are working on? Care to share?

I do have a couple WIP’s on the go. One of them is book two of ENCHANTMENT called PERFECT MISFITS, I’m also writing a Christmas story that will be self published, and I have another novel on the go that I can’t name at the moment.

(Q) What kinds of marketing do you think are the most successful in terms of getting your name/book out there? (Curious minds are taking notes!)

I think social networking is very important…so tweeting, face booking, and blogging. Take advantage of doing media releases, radio interviews, and other types of promotional advertising. Attending conferences is also a valuable place for networking.

(Q) If you'd like to add anything, please do so.

I hope everyone will enjoy ENCHANTMENT, which is scheduled for release January 13, 2012, available through Muse It Up Publishing http://museituppublishing.com

I will also have another novel coming out on December 19, 2011. It is a paranormal romance, IMPOSSILE TO HOLD it will be available through Liquid Silver Books http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com

A bit about Lawna:

I have always believed in fairy tales and when I got tired of the old ones I made up my own. Each story would have a hero and heroine, but they were anything but typical.

I devoured my first romance novel when I was a teenager. I couldn’t read them fast enough. Years later I stumbled across my first paranormal romance…an injustice would be done if I tried to explain my joy when I found this genre of romance. My passion was finally in print.

Now, with the help of my bizarre dreams and crazy imagination, I have started to write and intend to share my stories with you. I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.

I am truly blessed. My husband is my inspiration and soul mate. We live on a small acreage in Didsbury, Alberta, with our most beloved companions, Dozer, Daisy and Mandarin.

Happy reading everyone!

Yay! Thanks for the great info! ENCHANTMENT sounds great!

Interview with Sue Perkins author of Spirit Stealer & a CONTEST

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:00 AM

It's my pleasure to host Sue Perkins on my blog today, talking about her novel, Spirit Stealer, which will be available from MuseItUp in October! Sue wants everyone to know that she's holding a contest for a free copy of her book--all that you need to do is comment on HER blog, links below!

Playful phantoms roam the aisles of the nighttime library. Evil arrives with the materialization of the spirit stealer.

The library at night has a life of its own. Phantoms roam the aisles to tease Fader, the street urchin who creeps in at night for a warm place to sleep. The evil spirit stealer evolves and takes half of Fader’s spirit, trapping him the library forever.

Forty years later Amelia joins Fader in the night world of the library. He tries to protect her and fails with disastrous consequences.

Time moves on and one hundred years after the library opened Tyler tries to rescue Amelia. Will his attempts also fail?

(Q) Thanks for stopping by my blog! Let’s start with the basics: where are you from? Is there any place online you’d like to direct us to learn more about you?

I live in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. The scenery and weather provide many ideas for the settings of my books. My blogspot is http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com and my website is http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com plus I can also be found on my Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sue-Perkins/187981637917791

(Q) I always love hearing about how the idea for a particular book came about. Please fill us in on how you got the idea for Spirit Stealer.

It was a dark and stormy night... No not really but it was dark and I got lost on the way to a friend’s place for a writing weekend. She lived way out in the country with no road signs or lights. The darkness brought to mind what would happen to a child shut in a familiar place, alone and in the dark.

(Q) Which authors have most influenced your own writing?

My main influence has come from fantasy authors. Terry Pratchett is a favorite due to his wonderful sense of humor. Anne McCaffrey and her Dragons of Pern grabbed me from the first of the series and I’ve read nearly all of her fantasy books now. David Eddings fantasy books are also favorites of mine. These three authors show that fantasy covers a wide spectrum and I hope I am adding to the richness of the genre.

(Q) What do you do for fun other than writing?

I love to do Zumba. Not only does it keep me fit but it’s great fun too. Not sure if it comes under the heading of fun but I like doing graphic art and of course reading.

(Q) If you could describe your ideal writing spot, where would it be? What music would you listen to (if at all)? What treats would you have on hand?

My ideal writing spot is not at home. I do tend to have my favorite chair to sit in and write, a very relaxing Stressless chair. However, the ideal writing spot is in Auckland. When Michael King, a well known New Zealand writer, died several authors got together and set up a trust. They then obtained the lease of an old cottage halfway up an extinct volcano. Authors can go there and spend time in solitude and write. The cost is very reasonable and I try to get up there for a ten day period each year. I get so much done without the distractions of home.

(Oh, wow! I would kill for something like this!! :)

(Q) Plotter or pantser? Both? Neither?

Definitely a pantser. Usually the first idea for my books are the first scene. I let it percolate for a while then write the first page, or chapter. I then put it to one side and let it stew for a bit longer then just dive in. I find if I do an outline or plot the story it loses the oomph factor and seems flat to me.

(Totally hear you there!)

(Q) Do you have any new projects that you are working on? Care to share?

I have five new projects at the moment, but will concentrate on the Middle Grade one. Again it starts with the first scene in a graveyard. I can’t tell you any more than that as I keep things very close to my chest until I get it on the computer.

(Five projects! I'm impressed!)

(Q) If you'd like to add anything, please do so.

During the course of the MuseItUp Young Adult and Middle Grade blog tour I’ll be running a contest on my blog. Visit my blog and leave a comment to any of the posts of the blog participants and be in to win an ebook of Spirit Stealer when it is published.

(Q) How about an excerpt to tantalize the readers?

Excerpt of Spirit Stealer:

Fader spent the beginning of the night searching the building, looking for another way into the library. He searched the main entry and laughed as he sat in the Chief Librarian’s chair and twirled round.

I’ve got to find some way to get in. His gaze roamed the space before the front doors. Somewhere the pompous old fool wouldn’t even think to check.

Fader looked toward a small door on one side of the main desk.

Please let there be something to help me in here, he prayed as he opened the door.

The room held books neatly stacked on the floor and shelves. A bookcase hid the bottom half of a small window, but it only took a moment for Fader to fiddle with the catch. When he finished, it appeared to be locked, though it didn’t shut completely. He pulled the shelving further across until it hid the catch, but left enough room above for him to climb the shelves and slip out through the window.

The window entrance proved to be safer than the alley door. He didn’t have to worry someone might see him, or the window would be found and locked. He arrived after the library closed and left before it opened—too early and late for the librarians, lessening the chance of capture. Half his nights he spent reading and the other half sleeping. Weeks passed, and his nocturnal visits remained undiscovered. Fader began to think of the nighttime library as his very own place.

Then the noises started.

Born in Devon, England, Sue traveled the world with her husband, including two years living in the Middle East with her young family. A few years later the family moved to New Zealand. Sue, her husband and dog have settled on a three acre block at the top of New Zealand's South Island. Their two children are now the globetrotters.

Sue writing genres include fantasy, romance, young adult and middle grade. When asked if she would ever stop writing she replied "Not until all the plots in my head have been written - which will probably I'll never stop."

Her hobbies include reading, writing and anything to do with crafts. Researching family history is another past time which holds Sue's interest. She works as a graphic artist for a local trade paper.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Sue! And please, everyone, head over to her blog to leave a comment for an entry in her contest!