I'm so excited at all the new entries we have for First Page Friday. If you would like your first page critiqued, just submit your double-spaced 12 pt. font page to juliecoulterbellon@gmail.com As always, thank you to the authors who submit and to the editors who critique. I have learned so much! See you next week.The EntryUntitledby Chas Hathaway What is it about sinking one's teeth deep into the sides of a number two pencil that is so satisfying? Is it the feel of the crushing wood, or the crackly sound it makes? The recess...
Friday, 30 November 2012
Thursday, 29 November 2012
So, if you're just joining us, here's the recap: my new novel All Fall Down is currently on a blog tour (it ends on Tuesday) and you can click here for all the stops if you want to. Some of those interviews and top ten lists were FUNNY (if I do say so myself.) Also, the book is on sale for Kindle users through tomorrow. And I'm offering seven prizes for the tour. Two of the prizes are Book Lovers Baskets. This consists of...
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Want to see a great review I got this morning that made my whole day? Go here I can't seem to get the smile off my face. :)Well, as most of you know, I'm not going to win NaNo this year. It was my first experience with it, and I learned a lot about myself and my writing capabilities. I'm grateful for that.I do want to at least accomplish a goal I've set for myself for writing in November. Last week I set it at 25,000 words by midnight on Nov. 30. Which is this Friday. I currently have just over 19,000...
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Before I dive in, I wanted to let you all know that you have an opportunity to win my new book, All Fall Down by going to Linda Weaver's blog, reading my amazing interview, and leaving a comment. Or you can go read Books are Sanity's review here and enter the rafflecopter for two Book Lovers Basket and/or a copy of my book. Easy peasy! You know you want it for Christmas . . .Hawaii Five-O last night was flagrantly teasing me. Did you SEE all the scenery shots they used? My eyes were practically bugging out. I...
Monday, 26 November 2012
I was a little hesitant to pick up this book because it's the fourth in a series, (The Owen Family Saga) but I've been reading a lot of historicals lately and this one looked promising. Marsha Ward is known for her attention to detail and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could read this as a stand alone and really get into the characters even though I hadn't read the previous three books in the series.It's the story of a family in...
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Thank you for your patience. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.And without further ado, here is the First Page Friday critique. See you next week!The EntryUntitledby M. ClarkAmazonas, PeruFor what seems like the hundredth time this morning, the gears grind, the bus lurches, and I experience near-death as we round another hairpin curve. Somehow, the bus miraculously doesn’t careen off the cliff, and I don’t die a fiery death. Bug-bitten and exhausted, I stretch and yawn and try not to look out the window. With...
Friday, 23 November 2012
Welp, both me and Ms. Shreditor have Thanksgiving brain (she's doing family stuff and all eight of my kids are home and I'm defending my board game titles) so I hope you will check back this weekend for this week's Shreditor column.Thank you so much and I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving weeke...
Thursday, 22 November 2012
In this past week, my aunt died, my health has taken a turn for the worse, and my son had major surgery. But I found that the closer to Thanksgiving day I got, the more I concentrated on how grateful I am for the knowledge that this life is not the end, that I am grateful to have people around me to help take care of me when I'm sick, and how my family all gathered to help take care of my son and the little ones at home. I think true gratitude really is in the attitude and how you look at things. And today, my heart is full.So,...
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Before we get to it, I have to share this with you. It was so funny! Karlene over at Insplasher "interviewed" me for the blog tour. Click here to see how mean I was.Well, this month did not go as planned. My NaNo word count is only at just over 18,000. I'm sort of sad that I didn't do more, but happy I did as much as I did. I don't want it to be a total NaNo bust, though, so, I'm going to make a new goal for myself. I'm going to try to do a half-nano and get to 25,000 words before the month is out. Who's...
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
I know I usually blog about Castle and Hawaii Five-O on Tuesdays, but I have to get something off my chest first. Sometimes I want to give up writing. It's hard to find time for it, only to stress over it, and pour your heart into it and wonder if it's any good. It's hard to have people give you harsh reviews on something you love, and it's hard to have people write you mean emails when you're just trying to do your best. It's true,...
Monday, 19 November 2012
I apologize for being late with my post today. It was my birthday over the weekend and I partied hard every day and had a chocolate hangover this morning. But I am excited to tell you about a book that got me into the holiday spirit. Those of you who know me, you know I feel annoyed by Christmas music when it starts long before December and I feel all Bah Humbug until we're at least past Thanksgiving. But I was pleasantly surprised...
Friday, 16 November 2012
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend the National Book Awards Finalists Reading. I thought that, in lieu of a critique this week, I’d talk a bit about the experience.The National Book Awards are always on my radar. I try to read the Pulitzer and National Book Award fiction winners every year. These awards are on every publishing professional’s radar, but getting nominated is no easy feat. Some five hundred books are submitted in each category, and only five become finalists. Those five hundred submitted titles aren’t even a fraction...
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Well, just when I think I'm getting better, the dang cough comes back with a vengeance. I think it's related to my muse, who seems to come and go with varying strengths. It has taught me that typing while coughing is difficult. *sigh*Anyway, I've been hinting at this blog tour I'm doing for All Fall Down and today I wanted to post it here so you could all join in the fun. (I've had three stops already!) And if that wasn't enough, I also got a bonus review from Rebecca Talley here. It's my birthday this weekend, and...
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Have you clicked on The Book Bug yet to enter the contest for a Book Lover's Basket? Hurry and do it!So, this is my first year doing NaNoWriMo and I'm doing okay. I've got over 15,000 words and while I don't know if I'll make the 50,000 word goal, I'm happy with what I've learned from NaNo so far. I've learned that I can turn my inner editor off and just write. I haven't gone back to edit anything since I started this NaNo novel.I've learned that writing sprints are very motivating for me and even when I have no idea what I'm going...
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Before I get into my thoughts on last night's shows, I have some very exciting news for you! My book, All Fall Down, is officially on tour! I'm thrilled because this is my very first official blog tour and I have to say, Lexie Hogan has done an amazing job. But why should you care about that, you ask? Well, in addition to hearing what others think of the book (you can go to I Love to Read and Review Books for today's stop) there are SEVEN prizes being given away and you have a good chance of winning. Two of them...
Monday, 12 November 2012
I'm excited to be part of a blog tour for Secrets of the Red Box by Vickie Hall. This was an interesting book for me. It wasn't one that kept me up late at night reading, but there was a steady thread of tension that kept me coming back to it. It's like a large mud puddle, once you step in it, you are softly sucked in until you lose yourself (or at least your shoe) in it.The main character, Bonnie, is running away from her secrets,...
Sunday, 11 November 2012
I just wanted to post on this very special day and thank those who serve our country. I am so proud of everyone who makes the choice to do something larger than themselves in protecting the rights and freedoms we all enjoy. My grandfather lived through two tours in the Korean war, was awarded many medals, including one from the President of the United States, but he didn't let the horror of war define him. He came home and volunteered for veterans' organizations to help others, and in the year of his death he was voted Volunteer...
Friday, 9 November 2012
I am so glad to have Ms. Shreditor back. As you know she was without power because of Hurricane Sandy and to tell you the truth I was worried for her. But all is well, she is safe, power is restored, and First Page Friday is back. Welcome back, Ms. Shreditor. I'm glad you're safe.We have one spot left in November's First Page Friday so if you submit today, you can have it critiqued the last Friday in November. So hurry! Tell your friends!And thank you to Kristen for her submission and for Ms. Shreditor's hard...
Thursday, 8 November 2012
So, most of you know I've been struggling a bit with my NaNoWriMo word count. But last night, as I dragged myself to the computer desk (I'm still sick with this rotten cough and cold) I thought to myself, this is going to be horrible. I have nothing in my brain and my outline looks ridiculous. But I sat there, knowing that Debra Erfert was also sprinting with me and I'd have to account to her in fifteen minutes. So I started writing. It was slow going at first, I only got 494 words in the first fifteen minutes, but after that,...
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Well, it's been a fairly productive week. I've logged over 8200 words and I was doing so good until Sunday came. I never write on Sundays and I didn't this last weekend, but come Monday, I was struggling to get back into my story. I'd marched forward so well until then, I assumed that would continue.Monday I ground out two more chapters, but Tuesday left me with no motivation. Today I've been hemming and hawing and trying to sit down and write something coherent. So far, it's not been pretty.So, here's my question...
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Well, I had nothing but gushing praise for last week's episode, but this week . . . meh. I called who the killer was in the beginning (although I didn't see the best friend's boyfriend's crush) and Castle was acting like a first season man-boy. It was also a little rehash of when Beckett was investigating the soap opera case and she was a fan, but was embarrassed about it to Castle. Too much of the same. Come on, writers, I know you can do better.Like, when is Castle going to find out how much of a fan of his books Beckett...
Monday, 5 November 2012
The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson is billed as a romantic comedy and it really is. I loved the shenanigans, the main character and the setting. It's a really fun, light-hearted read.We first meet Taycee Emerson who runs a flower shop in her hometown. She loves her job, but her hometown full of farmers is slowly dying so her best friend comes up with a fundraising plan of doing a bachelorette show---and surprise! Taycee...
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Jon Spell made the suggestion that we post the first page from the Nano novels we're working on. Some said no way, it was unedited stuff that they couldn't post. Others said, sure, why not. So I'm opening up this thread for anyone who wants to post a page from their Nano novel for others to read/comment on.And here's mine: (Keep in mind it's my raw, unedited NaNo work.) :)Colby got out of his car and shut the door, leaning against it for a moment. He was exhausted. They’d been on a domestic violence call...
Friday, 2 November 2012
As all of you know, Hurricane Sandy blew onto U.S. soil this week and left thousands without power, heat, and basic necessities. I have many friends and some family on the East coast and I've been anxiously monitoring their well-being. Ms. Shreditor is one of those friends. She still has no power, but has found shelter and is okay. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this storm.Because of her situation, Ms. Shreditor was unable to do First Page Friday this week, but Jordan McCollum graciously stepped in....
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