Write Stuff: September 2016

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Describe yourself in three fictional characters!

Has anyone seen this silly meme going around the web? A lot of people on facebook have been doing it and it's made me smile. I've also thought about it for my WIP characters (how very meta of me--how to describe a fictional character...with fictional characters). Anyhow, I thought it might be a laugh to do this here. Here's me:

Dana Scully from X-Files

Lisa Simpson

Wednesday Addams (Source)

It's quite a toss up between Wednesday Addams and Bridget Jones, but Wednesday wins out :) I mean, I do study dead people and my office at work is decorated with skulls. (No, I'm not joking...and no, none of them are technically real. Those I keep in a cupboard.) The other two choices are because I'm nerdy Lisa to a T, and Scully as a female scientist dealing with the weird real world.

So, your turn! Tell me who you'd pick.

My goals for why I'm an author #amwriting

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

This last weekend I had a wonderful time at the Montana Book Festival. It was awesome to get to hang out with some fellow authors and talk about our current work, our thoughts on characters and "twisting history" (the panel I was on with Janet Fox and Kent Davis--so fun), as well as cultural appropriation and other such things. It was a great time!

At lunch on Saturday, I was enjoying my super tasty empanada (thank the gods that Missoula is attempting to get in more culturally diverse foods--this land of burgers and fries is killing me), and we got to talking about what goals we set out for ourselves for our books. Thanks to the amazing Kris Dinnison for bringing it up, as it got me thinking long after our conversation ended. Anyhow, the gist of it all was about whether or not we were setting out to get some kind of deeper meaning across with our writing, or just to have some fun. This is obviously a spectrum from one to the other, and I was sitting there thinking that I absolutely fall onto the fun-book end of the spectrum. While I enjoy reading a book with a whole lot of deep meaning and powerful story, when I pick up a novel, you can be sure it's for some kind of pleasurable escape.

Why? Because I read deep books about difficult topics all day. Every day. And then I teach college students about deep topics. Like, why race isn't biologically a reality yet the #BlackLivesMatter movement is vitally important (don't believe me? message me and we'll talk). Helllllooooo deep topics. So when I get time to read a novel, you'd better believe that I want something that's going to help me relax and enjoy someone else's reality for a while. And the more magic and non-real-world-ness going on is going to totally make me even happier.

So, I could be attempting to get deeper thoughts and topics across in my writing. For sure. And I know they creep in, because how could they not? I spend at least 10 hours a day at work thinking about these things, so of course they are going to spill into my writing. But do I want to be consciously thinking about my deeper thematic elements while I'm telling a story I find interesting? Not so much. I'm looking to entertain myself and the reader. To tell them a tale.

To be totally honest, this makes me feel like less of an author. More of some hack. But oh well. That's the truth of the matter. And while I did feel a little odd explaining this to the other authors there, who all were in the deep-theme end of the spectrum, well, I just had to shrug. I write because I enjoy it. I like telling myself fun stories and working to make them as cool as I can. And I especially like to get other people to enjoy my stories and escape from this world as much as possible. Because, well, we all need that from time to time.

Montana Book Festival #mbf2016

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Next week the Montana Book Festival begins, and if you're anywhere near us here in Missoula I highly recommend it! There are so many awesome panels and authors that it's pretty mind blowing. Sometimes I forget how amazing this state is, with its real devotion to the arts and the people who create them.

I'm also super excited to be taking part in the festival again this year, with the wonderful Janet Fox and Kent Davis. We had a blast last year and will be together again talking about Twisted History on Saturday at 2pm at the city library. Details here. If you can make it, please join us! All ages are welcome :)

This process did get me thinking more about twisting history. There are so many fantastic novels out there that bend and twist history just a little, adding magic or taking away some major event, or something more subtle, and I love them. Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate books are ones that I've really enjoyed recently--so much fun to read!

What about you? Any twisted history books you'd recommend, or maybe the big event in history you'd enjoy twisting in a novel?

How important is the plot in a novel?

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Happy Monday! Okay, so today's post comes to you from the novel I'm currently reading. I'm not going to name names, though this is perfectly available information over on my goodreads page. Anyhow, here's the thing I've noticed 200+ pages into the book: there is absolutely no plot. I keep thinking "oh, the author is going to tie this all in together, surely!" And then it doesn't happen. And continues not to happen. And I'm kind of frustrated. Yes, I could put this book down, but it's for our city-wide reading program and I'm supposed to run some kind of activity based on it at the library writing group I run...so I'm still reading. And wondering why I'm reading these little shorts about characters that loosely tie together but I don't really care about.

So, plot. The main sequence of events in your novel. I'm going to be really honest: I can't stand books

without it. I've read a few, many for English classes or things along those lines, as many times these are classified in the Literature section. Many have amazing language and incredible characters and are generally the type of books that make me jealous of the author's word mastery. But the thing is: if there is no driving force behind your amazing language and characters I DO NOT CARE. I want a story, something to happen, something that's going to pull me in and make it so that I cannot put that book down. And that, for me, is the plot. The motivating force, the events that force the characters to grow, that tie together a whole sequence of events and make me step back and exclaim "OH!" and let the tale rattle around in my head while I'm giving a lecture later in the day. That's what I want. A novel that lacks that is not really, in my humble opinion, a novel. Even if your mastery of language makes me weep at your perfect sentence construction.

Clearly, I have some strong feelings about this. Hah! I am writing this and it's just kind of appearing in the dialogue box, so it's a bit of news to me as well :)

Novels have been published, and will be published for many years, without this main unifying force that is a central plot. I will admit that I think they need another reference name--something other than "novel." But, maybe that's just me. There are plenty of novels out there with weak characters or lacking a strong arc, and to some, I imagine there's hesitation calling them novels. For me, plot is central, and I can overlook other aspects so long as something that I find interesting is pulling me into that world and making me want to continue to read.

What about you? Do you need some strong central plot to enjoy a book? Or are characters more important? (Or a solid mix of the two? :)

Thankful Thursdays: is it Fall yet?

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

As we plow into mid-September, I'm doing my best to keep from drowning in work, life, and just general stuff. Some days are better than others. We all get there, don't we? When it just seems like a little too much--a few extra rocks in our pockets in the swim of life :) Anyhow, I often try to spend some time reflecting on what's good in my life at these times, just for a little balance. Blogging is a great way to do that, for me at least, so here goes:

I have a great job, even with the added stress sometimes
Kate the Great is the best dog in the world :) (Yes, I am so biased, haha!)
Two of my Sary Society novels are going to be in print shortly
My agent is awesome
I have a roof over my head and food in my pantry
My mom, sister, and brother are the best (especially for discussing The Great Burrito War of 2021)
Don't ask about the Burrito War. Really.
It's pumpkin season! I love all things pumpkin flavored
My new-to-me car will handle the snow so much better this winter
The small landscaping project in my yard a month ago is looking awesome

This is outside my office at work, and I see it walking home every day. Lovely, isn't it? :)

This is just my random little list. 2016 has been a strange year filled with some crazy stuff in my personal life (death and divorce are just two of the biggies), so I find this helpful.

What are you most grateful for today?

Cover Reveal: TIMELESS by Crystal Collier with a #giveaway

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

TIMELESS (#3 Maiden of Time) by Crystal Collier #CoverReveal

Book Title: TIMELESS (Maiden of Time #3)

Author: Crystal Collier

Genre: YA Paranormal Historical

Release Date: November 1, 2016

TIME IS THE ENEMY

In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.

In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threatâ€”along with an unfathomable evil and her own heartâ€”the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.

Can Alexia escape her own clock?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crystal Collier is an eclectic author who pens clean fantasy/sci-fi, historical, and romance stories with the occasional touch of humor, horror, or inspiration. She practices her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and â€œfriendâ€ (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.

Want the first chapter free? Sign up HERE.

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Book Blitz: SOUTHERN FRIED WICCAN by Susan Sipal #amreading

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I have a lovely BookFish Books novel to share with you all today. Isn't that cover amazing?

When Cilla Swaney returns to her Southern roots from traveling the world as a military brat, she's eager to break free of her life-long role as the major's "good little daughter." She vows to, for once, explore her own interests...especially magick and Wicca.

However, adjusting to life in the homeland she barely knows is keeping her from seeking out her inner goddess. First her church-going grandmother threatens to rat her out if she sets a Wiccan-wandering toe out of line. Then, at her new charter school, the first girl she meets steals her grimoire and casts a spell that sets their shared locker afire. Finally, when that same girl invites her to a coven, Cilla's sister argues she doesn't have the guts to attend.

But it's the dark-haired hottie at school who really ignites Cilla's flame. When Emilio shows up at her coven, she starts believing in her ability to finally conjure her own magick.

Until all Hades breaks loose with a prank gone wrong, and Emilio is possibly to blame. Will Cilla be able to keep the boy, her coven, and the trust of her family, or will this Southern Wiccan get battered and fried?

SNAG A COPY! (it's only $0.99!)

Born and raised in North Carolina, Susan Sipal had to travel halfway across the world and return home to embrace her father and grandfather's penchant for telling a tall tale. After having lived with her husband in his homeland of Turkey for many years, she suddenly saw the world with new eyes and had to write about it. Perhaps it was the emptiness of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus that cried out to be refilled, or the myths surrounding the ancient Temple of Artemis, but she's been writing stories filled with myth and mystery ever since.

Over the last several years, she's also developed and presented A WRITER'S GUIDE TO HARRY POTTER, which helps writers of all genres (including those writing fanfiction) improve their craft with Harry Potter as their text.

Happy Labor Day!

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

It's a holiday in the States today, so to all those enjoying the day off from work, I hope you have a great day!

As much as I love the day off, and the chance to recoup a little from the first week of classes (WHY must the first week always seem like it lasted an eternity?), Labor Day also heralds the end of summer. The leaves are turning on a few trees around town, and I know all too soon it'll be bitterly cold and impossible to go outside. Summer, with its long days and high temperatures, is my favorite. No about of pumpkin spice will change that :)

What about you? Doing anything fun for the long weekend? Ready for fall, or sad to see summer go?

(Also, I'm working through read-throughs on The Chemistry of Fate and Surrender the Sky, as they're going to print here SOON! Yay!)