Writing YA and Other Things I Love

Today is the day…BOOK LAUNCH!!!

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

In Nubian a woman can be whatever she chooses. At 14, Kandake knows exactly what she chooses…Prime Warrior of Nubia. But her grandmother has said that she will follow her father on the throne.

Refusing to abandon her warrior dreams, she continues to train. When her brother is kidnapped, Kandake learns she must be both queen and warrior to win his release.

I am so excited about my book finally seeing the light of day! In 2010 I entered this manuscript in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and advanced to the semi-finals. Here is a sample of the reviews I got.
Amazon.com Review I fully expected (with a title like "Nubian Princess") that this excerpt was written by a thirteen year old with prose that left a lot to be desired. Not so. This is a writer that knows his (or, her) fiction-writing craft. The prose is smooth and mature and enjoyable ...
From Publishers Weekly This stellar historical novel brings ancient Nubia to life as one girl struggles to understand her destiny. Kandake, 14, is the youngest child of King Amani, ruler of Nubia. Her desire is to protect the land she loves as a warrior, but the decision is not in her hands. When Great Mother announces Kandake as the heir to the throne, she sadly accepts the inevitable, striving to understand Great Mother’s reasoning. Meanwhile bandits have been raiding Nubia’s trading caravans, and Egypt, Nubia’s ally and neighbor, is asking for assistance to protect its borders from the Assyrians. When Kandake’s brother Alara fails to return from a hunting expedition, King Amani makes a difficult decision: Nubia must use her resources to defend her border. Alara’s rescue must take second place. Unwilling to accept this decision, Kandake and her friends sneak away to find Alara. This skillfully crafted novel weaves cultural details into a remarkable, well-structured plot featuring a strong African heroine. The characters are fully developed, and their motivations, inspirations, and the growing maturity of these teens are believable. Readers will eagerly hope for a sequel to resolve the larger political issues facing Nubia and its future Queen.
And here is my most recent review. It’s long, but I think he understands Kandake best.
Stephanie Jefferson brings the ancient kingdom of Nubia vividly to life in this enthralling tale of a young warrior princess poised on the brink of adulthood and great power. The land, people, and culture of Nubia are described with such lush detail, humanity, and love, it’s hard for me to believe I couldn’t hop on a plane and visit it. And surely Kandake really is out there somewhere standing tall and proud, warrior strong. The next time I’m faced with a challenge and need to find an inner reserve of that measured strength and wisdom, I will close my eyes and imagine I’m Kandake. Despite her story being set so far in the past, Princess Kandake reads as a very real teenager, with the timeless growing pains and questions we can all relate to. When is it okay to break the rules? How much control do we really have over our own lives? How do you balance responsibility to others with responsibility to yourself? And Kandake makes mistakes. She has a lot to learn. But I love her for how fiercely she loves her family and her people, and for her constant struggle to do the right thing despite a headstrong nature. I was rooting for Princess Kandake all the way. This is also a story of family and the complex interrelationships between siblings, and parents and children, made even more intense by the fact that this particular family must rule and protect their beloved kingdom, which is caught in the rising tensions between Assyria and Egypt. Kandake is given an awesome burden to keep her people and their fertile country safe from war. She must meet the expectations of the role she is given, while also being true to herself. The solutions she finds are unique and inspiring, and I look forward to her next adventure.

~Tommy Kovac, Writer & Artist

Wonderland – Disney Press

The Royal Historian of Oz – SLG Publishing

Of course, now you want to run right out and buy it so you can read it for yourself. Here’s the best way. Just use this link.

Fridays R 4 Fun!

2012-01-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

Usually I find interesting pictures or strange and different subject matter to post about on Fridays. But today I can’t think of anything more interesting than this.

I have two publications available and I’m dying to share them. The first is a short story that was published in the magazine, Beyond Centauri! The title of the story is As Long as You Clean Up After Him.

Here’s the cover!

You can get a copy from Sam’s Dot Publishing

The other publication is my debut novel, PRINCESS KANDAKE. It’s the first book in the Nubian Princess series!

You can get a print or electronic copy through the links on my website.

And here are the two covers together

I can’t wait until I have a whole string of covers to share!

Excited! Happy! Jazzed!

2012-01-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

My book, PRINCESS KANDAKE, launches in less that two weeks! What a super moment in my life. The feeling is almost as good as getting a new grandchild – almost, but not quite!

I’ve been preparing for my book tour in CA. I’m putting together ‘touchables’ of things that I learned during the research for this book. Today I’m making kohl. that’s the heavy eyeliner you see in every movie where Egyptians are depicted. It’s main ingredient is frankincense.

Kohl was used for more than beauty and it was worn by men AND women. Kohl provided some protection from the suns glare, but mostly it prevented eye infection. Frankincense has an antibiotic quality and was used as the base for many of the ancient medicines and balms.

Tomorrow I’ll be making eye shadow. No medicinal attributions, the shadow’s sole purpose was beauty, but men wore that, too. The process is pretty cool. I get to grind actual gemstones!

Oh yeah, back to the book. It launches Feb 1st. But I’m letting all of you get a head-start. Just follow this link.

PS If you're in CA, I’ll be presenting at Cal-State Univ. San Bernardino on Feb 15 at noon in the Pfau Library and then on Feb16 at the Corona Library at 3:30pm. I hope I see you there.

Fridays R 4 Fun!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

By the way - I am guest posting on Haley Whitehall's blog today. I'm talking about my debut novel, PRINCESS KANDAKE, and how it came to be. Take a look!

The Month After Christmas

Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The cakes and the pies, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt
I said to myself, as I only can -
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So, away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie, not even a lick.
I'll only chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore ...
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

I have no clue as to the author of this poem. If you do, I’ll gladly give him/her credit!

Getting Back to Work

2012-01-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

It’s time to get back to work. I’ve been distracted with getting the book to print, then spending time with my grandchildren, recovering from the cold from the nether-regions, and now finally I’m ready to get back to work. I sat myself down and had quite a serious discussion about my recent work ethic. It was not pleasant, let me tell you.

One of the things I said was that I needed a list of goals for the year and that it needed to be divided into accomplishable segments. Then I instructed me to write out a schedule that must be followed every day. This schedule must include writing, reading, marketing ideas, research for new stories, and posts for my blog. I told me that there could me no shirking or laying about. Writing is a serious business and I need to handle it that way! Boy, I can be really stern. I got raked over the coals!

Have you have your talk with you about this year’s goals? What did you say? I hope you weren’t as mean as I was.

Time with Friends

2011-12-29T16:51:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend time with my former critique group. It was wonderful! We spent time catching each other up on what was happening for them. Most of all, they celebrated with me the up-coming release of my new book, PRINCESS KANDAKE.

These are the people that were with me from the very beginning. They listened to each and every chapter offering ways to make each line better. What great friends, talented and supportive! They have even included my book launch in their blogs, tweets, and on the Facebook news feeds. It was only appropriate that they should get the first peek.

Now that I have relocated to Arizona, I miss meeting with them and getting their input. We will forever be connected. Every time I come to town they allow me to sit in with them at their critique gatherings.

Please join with me in my excitement of the release of PRINCESS KANDAKE, available February 1, 2012.

2011-12-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

I'm so sorry. I'm playing with my grandchildren and we're having a blast. I'll be right back. I have something cool to tell you!

Egypt’s 25th Dynasty

2011-12-06T12:17:00.001-08:00

You might ask what has Egypt to do with Nubia and particularly it’s 25th dynasty. My answer would be, “Quite a bit!” And this is why.

Around 750 B.C. Egypt was in cultural and religious turmoil having been routed by Libya and several other kingdoms. Egypt was lost in a period of, what history describes as, decadence.

Piye, the ruler of Nubia, believed the only way to save Egypt from itself was to conquer it. Following a year-long campaign every leader in Egypt yielded to his authority. Thus, Piye became the first of the black pharaohs and the beginning of Egypt’s 25th dynasty.

For three-quarters of a century this series of rulers brought reunification to a worn-torn Egypt, reinstituted their religious culture, and “filled the landscape with glorious monuments, creating an empire that stretched from the southern border at present-day Kartoum all the way north to the Mediterranean Sea. They stood up to the bloodthirsty Assyrians, perhaps saving Jerusalem in the process (Robert Draper,National Geographic, February, 2008, p. 38).”

After conquering Egypt, Piye went back to Nubia and never returned. When he died, his burial wishes were honored. Piye desired to be buried in an Egyptian-style pyramid with 400 horses. He was the first pharaoh to be entombed in this way for over 500 years. This is the line of the 25 dynasty: Piye, who took the Egyptian name Thutmose III, ruled for 35 years. Following his death, his brother, Shabaka, ruled and took up residency in Memphis (the Egyptian capital) and took the name Pepi II. Piye’s son, Taharqa, followed Shabaka to the throne and proved to be not only a military genius, but chose to spend his political capital to create “a panorama of architectural wonderment” from Napata to Thebes,” according to Draper. This pharaoh can be credited with restoring both military might and cultural/religious notoriety to the kingdom of Egypt, setting the stage for all pharaohs to follow.

Fridays R 4 Fun!

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well, it’s that time of year again. The day after Thanksgiving usually ushers in the Christmas season. That’s also the day that most people (if they aren’t out shopping) put up their tree.

Just so you know, there’s more than one style of tree. For those of you that aren’t stuck in the ‘olden days’ and expect a tree to be pine and conical, I thought I’d enlighten you. Maybe this year you could try something different.

This first one is for those of you who can’t get away from the typical pine and conical shape. It’s the same as usual…just flipped. If you’re tired of the back-breaking chore of picking those needles out of the carpet by hand( because the vacuum cleaner never gets them all), this is for you. Now they’ll fall onto the table cloth. Just bundle it up and take it outside and shake. Don’t worry about them getting into you food. After all, the surgeon general says we all need to add a little more fiber to our diet.

Okay, okay, so you don’t like the idea of an upside-down tree or one hanging from the ceiling. How about we don’t do pine and skip the needle problem. This one’s on the floor and it’s not pine. I don’t know what it is…but it’s not pine. Don’t like this one? How about we try something different. This one put me brings the movie Tron to mind. Want something not quite as heavy? What about a tree made from paper. Not good either? Sheesh, there’s just no pleasing some people. This is my last option. It’s pine, with lights, and a little bit of whimsy.

See you next Friday!

Search and Research

2011-11-27T12:07:00.001-08:00

Last post I told you the story of why I wrote the novel, Princess Kandake, that will be launched February, 2012. I told you all about my granddaughter and her need for a princess that looked like her and my use of the ancient kingdom of Nubia. So now I will begin to tell you a little bit about that kingdom.

Nubia was know by several names. The more well known names are the Kingdoms of Kush (You can find a few references in the Old Testament) and Nubia. It was located in the area between Egypt and Ethiopia (then called Aksum), what is now called Sudan. Its boundaries shifted depending on what was happening at the time.
But this map can give you a general idea of its position.

Nubia, for most of its existence, was under self rule, but having a powerful neighbor like Egypt required they maintain respectable defensive skills. These warriors were so good at what they did, Nubia was often referred to as the Ta’ Seti or Land of the Bow. They were also given the nick name, pupil shooters. A group of warriors, called the Medjay, was hired by Egypt to fight the Hyksos and other enemies. Because of their renown, services of the Medjay were continued through 1144 BC as a sort of police, keeping the peace in Egypt. Even in death Egypt looked to the skill of the Nubian warrior for protection.

Here are 40 Nubian archers, painted wood, from the tomb of Prince Mesehti 11th Dynasty, Ancient Egypt.

Now you know where Princess Kandake gets her warrior spirit.

Fridays R 4 Fun!

2011-11-25T08:37:00.001-08:00

Happy day after Thanksgiving!

While the holiday brings to mind many things to be thankful for, the poor turkey lives in fear and trepidation of the coming of this day.

Many of us sit around the dinner table with family and friends sharing a wonderful meal and enjoying the relationships of those with us. We eat ourselves to over-full and nod off for the rest of the afternoon.

Little do we know that the turkey is preparing for revenge. Vengence takes the form of forcing us to eat more and more dishes starring this bird for many meals to come lest any of it should go to waste.

We start of with the mild and benign turkey club sandwiches. Then move on to the next use of the the bird, yes the all favored turkey meatloaf. That’s really not so bad. But then we start getting a little creative turkey hash patties. But this last dish is a new one on me. The thing is frightful and I don’t believe someone came up with it, but here it is…drumroll please…

Yes, you’re actually seeing it…TURKEY CAKE!

Have a great weekend!

Trying Something New

2011-11-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I’m launching my novel Princess Kandake during black history month, February, 2012. Trying to gear up for that has brought all kinds of thoughts and ideas to mind. The most important being I have to get serious about my marketing plans, goals, and platform as a writer. Fortunately for me, I’m taking an on-line course from Bob Mayer and Jen Talty on self-publishing and the options available.

The first part of the course was making us aware that success is about more than writing. Being a successful author is a business and all successful businesses require plans, goals, marketing, and a solid platform. And everything I do must be tied to these four things. So I’m beginning with this blog.

I have clued you in on my journey, but I never told you what got me started in that direction and what keeps me going. (Of course you are a part of that motivation.)

I have the most beautiful granddaughter on the planet. (I know you think yours is, but sorry to say, you are wrong.) She loves to play dress-up. One day she came to me and said, “Nana, I want to be a princess, but they don’t look like me.” She was pointing at a Disney ad. “Where are all the beautiful brown princesses?”

That got me started. I was on the hunt. My daughter (her mother) and I started pointing out every princess of color we could find. We looked everywhere, at every book, poster, and magazine available and even some that weren’t.

It occurred to me that Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc. were sitting on the bookshelves of every library and close at hand for anyone to pick up, anyone except my granddaughter. Being who I am, I couldn’t rest until I did something about it and I wanted a story that would not be time-sensitive and could even become a classic. (Why dream if you can’t dream large!) The research began.

I needed someone from history and the further back the better. I hit upon ancient Nubia. Learning of the power and far reaches of this ancient kingdom were perfect! I started with a picture book, but the tale outgrew that format. It is now a Tween novel filled with adventure, action, conflict, and a hint of romance.

I will share a bit of Nubia’s greatness next time. See you then!

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school, I decided it was time to start wearing make up. I know, most girls start wearing it long before then, but I had really strict parents. Anyway, I thought long eye lashes would be great and of course I would need lipstick. But what colors to use.

I started paying attention to the other girls at school to see what they used, thinking that would help me with choices. Well, observing them helped me all right, helped me into deciding I didn’t want to look anything like them.

To this day I rarely wear make up, always afraid of overdoing it, but it still fascinates. I marvel at women who do a wonderful job and try hard not to stare at those who do the opposite. Take a look at what I mean.

Her make up isn’t really for day wear, but it is attractive in a fantastic sort of way. Hers is getting farther out there, clearly for use on the stage. This one brings Swan Lake to mind. She looks like she was experimenting with her big sister’s eye liner. This one wanted a tattoo but didn’t have the nerve for needles. And this one belongs in a play meant for children.
The rest of these are clearly for effect, looks that are designed to make you stare. I wonder if she’d still get a kiss good night. I would have a difficult time maintaining eye contact. I wouldn’t know which eyes to connect with. And talk about being two-faced. This last one would make me stare, but instead of thinking “freaky” I’d think “beautiful.”

Have a great weekend!

Fridays R 4 Fun!

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Most kids love building stuff. Whether it’s with blocks, clay, or mud, it doesn’t matter just as long as they can create. When I was a kid there was this gray stuff called modeling clay, Lincoln Logs, tinker Toys, and Erector Sets.

The next generation got Legos. Today everybody knows what these are. They were invented to entertain kids. I bet the creators of Legos didn’t think they’d become art or the instrument of philosophical expression.
Fire! Food.

Romance! Captivity. Yearning. Perspective.

Helplessness Despair! I believe they were intended to be the building blocks of thought and imagination.

This is what happens when grown-ups get hold of the toys they wished were around when they were kids.

What Kind of Author am I?

2011-11-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

This morning as I was reading a great blog post by David Farland from his Daily Kick in the Pants. He asked these questions: What kind of writer do you want to be? Do you want to be considered an entertainer? A prophet who forewarns of political doom? A writer whose work electrifies and binds people together?

It was not hard for me to come up with an answer at all. From almost the beginning of my writing adventure, I’ve known the type of writer I’ve wanted to be. The simplest answer is to say I want to be an entertainer. But it goes beyond that. I want to write the kind of story that the reader gets lost in. What I want to happen when the reader sets the book aside for a much needed bathroom break, they become disoriented because the scene they’ve been caught up in does not match the room that has just appeared.

Bill Spann, an author and engineer I’d connected with years ago, said, “In writing, you want to create the waterfall effect. Take your readers to the very edge and drop them in.” I have never forgotten this advice and am striving toward that mark every day.

I think I’m almost there. What about you, what kind of author are you?

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is over, but my mind is stuck on candy and all things sweet. One of the things I enjoy watching on TV is the confectionery competitions on the Food Network. When Life calms down a bit I plan on trying my hand at the art of pulled sugar.

In the meantime, I’ll share with you how sugar can be beautiful and sweet at the same time.
While this sculpture is gracefully uncomplicated it intricate in its execution. Imagine ‘pulling’ each one of those petals and placing them in just the right spot. This one requires not only artistry, but balance from an engineering perspective. I can’t even begin to comment on the complexity of this piece.The movement and color in this remind me of a fair in springtime. This piece is filled with beauty and emotion. It’s telling a story of intensity, strength, and grace. Who wouldn’t want a tiara filled with jewels, even if the gems are made of sugar. And this one is just plain fun!

Have a great weekend.

What Happened…Where’d the Time Go

2011-10-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hi all. I can’t believe that I've lost a whole week. I’ve been busy working on the final edits of Princess Kandake, settling into cardiac rehab, and trying to learn formatting and totally lost track of time. The result…I forgot to post here.

How could that happen? I haven’t a clue. But I can say that I am back on track now. Today I have decided to find someone to help learn this whole formatting thing. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll just hire someone to do it.

Getting someone else to do it is probably the better idea. So I begin my search, finding someone who can format my novel to CreateSpace that will charge a price that I can afford. Any volunteers?

Fridays R 4 Fun!

2011-10-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

My favorite read is science fiction. It always amazes me the creativity of the stories. I love writing tales about future possibilities or strange imaginings. When I found these images all kinds of storylines popped into my head. I thought I’d share them with you.

This is how I envision the entry to a wormhole. Or space burping stars into existence.

If I wrote fantasy with magic, this would be the birthing of a great spell, one that destroyed an enemy.
And this is what I imagine power looks like

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today I’d like to share images of something that inspires me. It’s totally funny to me because they don’t exist. Yet, when I see images of them or figurines I am completely awestruck.
Imagine raising one from an egg and having it has your pet. Or discovering its secret lair.
What if you came across one while you were out for a walk. There is was, looking down at you.
I’ve always thought sunset was a magical time. Some days I believe that if we could look directly into the sun, just as it sets, this is what we’ll see
What if we really could mount the back of a dragon. Where would it take you? Could we take a ride among the stars?

Alas I fear the only dragon-siting I will ever experience is one like this, within the clouds.

CRANKY

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I AM CRANKY!!! You want to know what put me in this mood? I’ll tell you, but I have to warn you, it’s a long story. As I prepare to launch Princess Kandake my mind is spinning with questions threatening to undermine my confidence, but I am determined to move forward. The doubt comes from publishing industry’s propaganda.

The industry has promoted the belief that they are the only ones who are able to discern the quality of writing and if they don’t offer a contract the piece has no value. To make matters worse, writers, agents, and writing associations are swallowing this hogwash without question. And the worst of it is, not only are they swallowing it, they’re promoting it, too!

Every editor and editor’s assistant receives mountains of writers’ scribblings. Some of it is not very good or at least not ready for publication. Within that same pile there are many manuscripts that are good, but don’t have the earning potential the publisher is in need of, which has no bearing on the quality of the writing. What we are often told is: “This is very good, but we’re looking for a BIG book.” Or, “This is very good, but I’m not sure we know how to market it.”

Since these manuscripts are without contract, they are lumped together with the ‘not ready for publication’ group. As a result, many writers have taken it upon themselves to publish their own work and I have joined their ranks.

Just so you know…we publish ourselves because we believe in our work and know there is a market for it.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in elementary school, teachers were forever telling me the trees I drew were not realistic, especially in second grade. Just because some of them looked like lollipops, or pyramids, or even skeletons with hands, Mrs. Sharon would lower my score. I wonder what kinds of grades God would get for creating these?

Tree branches don’t always have sharp angles on their branches. Sometimes they bend over, they even lay down. . Yes, Mrs. Sharon, sometimes they do look like they have hands.

Hooray! I'm Getting Back on Track

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yippee! I’m coming back. I’ve got energy again. Am I 100%? Not yet, but I don’t need two naps a day just to keep my brain straight. I couldn’t stay away any longer. I missed you.

I’ve been thinking about a new story, one that takes me into another world. The storyline isn’t complete, but it’s unfolding. Yeah, it’s another tween, ‘girl power’ story. That makes the protagonist female around 14, there’s a lion who’s a shape shifter, and there’s plenty of skullduggery and action.

It feels good to have the creative side of me awake and active. I can’t wait to have it all written down.

My granddaughter tells me I don’t write fast enough. She wants me to have a new book ready for her every week. I agree that I should write faster, but I don’t think I can have a new one ready every Saturday. But I'm writing again!

I Haven’t Disappeared, but I Need To Rest

2011-09-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

Hello All, I haven’t stopped blogging. I’ve been fairly ill and am recovering. I think of it as having hit a speed bump so I have to slow down a bit, but…

I’ll be back!

Thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes you have sent my way. I do appreciate them.

Industry vs. Independent

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I emailed this discussion opener to some of my writer friends.

Thought I'd open a discussion for anyone who's up to it. The deeper I get into the publishing of Princess Kandake, the closer I come to deciding to never query again, at least not with the major publishers and possibly small presses, too. Anyone care to comment?

One of them asked me to share my thoughts. Here’s my response

My thinking is, with the economy in a serious decline and bookstores closing, the publishers are taking on less and less, they are accepting even fewer debut works. Add to that the reality that the royalties are getting less, the support for marketing is nearly nonexistent, and writers having little to no input in covers and illustrations (even when it changes the direction of the story), do I want a contract? If I can develop a product that is of equal/or better quality and market it successfully, what do I need them for?

1. I trust all of you much more than I do them to tell me what works for the market I'm aiming at.

2. I pulled all of the YA and MG books off my shelves and compared the cover art and, frankly, mine is as good or better than most.

3. I’d have to market it myself anyway.

4. The likelihood of earning out my advance within their prescribed limit is pretty low which is a mark against me. Instead of being an unknown and high risk investment as a debut author, I am now a money-losing author. This greatly reduces my chances of getting another contract?

If I can do all of this (print, cover art, market, etc.) within my own budget, what do I need them for? If my work is good, why shouldn't it be out there? Why should I allow them to be the gatekeepers?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject, pro and con.

Time to Celebrate!

2011-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am super jazzed. I just finished book #2 in the Nubian Princess series. Yay for me. Now it’s time to give it a bit of a rest in a drawer, out of site for a while, before I begin the revision process. What will I do in the meantime?

I plan to read!!! I’ve got a few books that I need to get through, two fiction and two non-fiction, before I write another word. What’s next on the writing agenda?

Even though I have an idea for the next NP book, I think I want to leave the ancient world for a while. I’m feeling like some science fiction. I’ve got something in the future I want to get to before I return to the ancient past.

But the biggest thing is that I finished it. Yay For Me!

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-09-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

I remember watching television as a little girl and seeing women wear strange hats. Bonnets like these would have me giggling for at least an hour. The hats I found for this post make these women look tame and boring.
A hat was worn for two reasons, protection or self expression.Today you guess which hat belongs to which category. This first one is fairly easy I wouldn’t want to meet the guy that’s expressing himself with this one. Her hat reminds me of some alien insect invasion. Do you think she has a great appreciation for chess. Talk about potty humor I don’t know if you can see it, but she has a room with a sink and a bath tub on her head . At least this hat’s useful. A few years ago, a politician loved the phrase, “it takes a village”. Is this her hat? What statement is this hat making? pro or con? This hat reminds me of the group Spiro Gyra Remember the Broadway production of Madame Butterfly?
These make me hungry There’s always room for dessert or but if you want something light . This is the funniest of all because everyone else was being silly and she’s serious.

That’s it for today. See you next Friday. Remember, if you have a particular interest, let me know. I’ll find it.

This is the Beginning of the End

2011-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

It is. It really is. Today I begin writing the ending for the second book in the Nubian Princess series. I can’t believe it.

I have been writing like a…I don’t know what, but I’ve been getting a lot done. It will be nice to tie it all up. I’ll be leaving Nubia for a while. I’ll be back, remember I have the idea for book #3, but I’m headed to the near future. I have a need to write science fiction.

I’m going to take a couple of days off from writing first, though. I need some serious read time. I’ve pulled a couple of books off of my shelves and I’m digging in. Nothing would please me more than to accompany the reading with some good chocolate. Alas, the points, chocolate has quite a few of them. While I’m expanding my horizons with my reading, I have no desire to expand anything else.

So I will see you later. I’ve got to get this manuscript finished so I can dig into those books. I’ll be back on Friday with something strange.

Presenting Tommy Kovac…A very talented man

2011-08-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

I would like tot introduce you to Tommy Kovac, one of the most talented individuals I know. Tommy is a writer and an illustrator. The way he weaves a story is fabulous. His art work challenges the heart and mind. And his imagination…just WOW. Here’s your chance to get to know a little about the one and only (I think) TOMMY KOVAC

How long have you been writing?
I’ve written stories as long as I can remember, from the time I first learned how to write. Creative writing was my favorite thing to do in school, when they’d just let us be free to make up our own stories. Luckily for me, I’m not one of those people who gets intimidated by a blank page! I love it
.
What inspired you to start writing?
I guess it must have been the fact that my parents read to me so much, and created an atmosphere at home that was “rich in print material.” That’s a phrase that springs to mind from working in public education, because usually if a child struggles with reading it’s because there’s nothing at home to read. I have many idyllic memories of sitting right between my mom and dad and us reading a book together. I was a lucky only child.

I started making up my own stories at a young age partly because I enjoyed READING stories so much, and partly because my brain was always taking off on its own path and imagining what the story would be like if it went in a different direction. I’d be slightly dissatisfied and start re-directing the story in my head.

Tommy, you’re also an illustrator. Do you ever struggle between writing and drawing?
All the time! I love both processes, but finding the time to devote to each of them is tough. Especially since I work full time, and have a wonderful husband and awesome family and friends. I’m sure you know how hard it is to find the time for everything you want to do creatively while not ignoring your family!

I also sometimes struggle with new story ideas, trying to figure out whether it would be best as a novel, or an illustrated book, or an actual comic book/graphic novel. That can be a tough call sometimes. I think it’s very important to leave certain things to the reader’s own imagination. It’s also a time issue, because if I decide a certain story DOES need illustrations of some kind, it’s going to take me a lot longer than if it were just prose. And I mean a LOT longer.

How did you discover your ‘voice’?
I have no idea. I think it’s probably a very good thing that I was writing and drawing at such a young age, decades before I ever joined any kind of writer’s group or attended any writing workshops. If I had heard the term “writer’s voice,” and had to THINK about my own, I probably would have struggled with it a lot more. Over-thinking anything creative can be very dangerous.

Having said that, once I DID start learning about the actual “craft” of writing, it helped immensely. It’s great to be able to identify the different aspects of what you’re doing. Now that I’m familiar with the concept of a writer’s voice, I feel I can use it more to my advantage. Know what I mean?

Why did you choose to write for children?
I like creating stories, and some just end up being appropriate for children, or for an “all ages” audience. There are tons of things I want to do creatively, at different times!

When I was fresh out of high school and looking for a job, I had no idea where to focus my efforts. My mom suggested thinking about what I enjoy personally, and finding a job that suits that. I thought, “Well, I collect beautifully illustrated children’s books like Sendak and other classic children’s illustrators,” so I looked up “children’s bookstores” in the yellow pages. I called the first one I found and they just happened to be hiring. I got the job, and it was a great experience that solidified my interest in children’s publishing. (Incidentally, that’s where I met Julie! She was doing story times there.)

Some of my co-workers also worked part-time at a public library in the children’s room, and when the little independent bookstore closed, I got a job there.

When I eventually found a publisher for my comics, the first 3 series I created were very edgy and had lots of mature humor. People became familiar with me as a NON-child friendly creator. But my publisher knew I had it in me to change gears and do something different. He asked me to write “Wonderland,” for a project with Disney Press, and some people were very surprised at the results. They assumed it would be twisted and dark, coming from me, but that would have been so wrong for that project. I’m a big Lewis Carroll fan, and wanted to honor his original work. We were going for a “timeless” feel, and I’m very proud of what we created.

Then that same publisher asked me to write an Oz-related series, and although “The Royal Historian of Oz” is a little edgier than “Wonderland,” it is still all-ages appropriate. The main character is a 15-year-old boy, though, so because of the viewpoint it’s probably best for junior high and high school.

Which is your favorite age group to write for?
By the time I’m done with an all-ages project, I’d say writing for adults is my favorite because by that time I miss it. By the time I’m done with something twisted, dark, and dirty, I’d say writing for kids is my favorite because by that time I miss THAT. It all has to balance out, in this continuing rotation.

What media do you prefer for illustrating?
Black ink on white paper. My favorite pen is a pure black double-tipped Zig Memory Writer. I think they’re intended for scrapbooking because they’re archival quality pigment ink, but they’re perfect for what I do because they’re non-bleeding and waterproof, and the fine-tipped end is plastic and keeps a very sharp line for a long time. My favorite paper to draw on is vellum cardstock. It took me many years to find that pen and that paper!

If I need color I’ve become pretty comfortable with Copic markers (used a lot for Manga, but the color range is amazing), and pastel pencils for shading. I can use them with that same lovely vellum paper and my Zig pens.

What are you favorite children’s books? Authors?
I love Tove Jansson’s “Moomintroll” series, originally written in Finnish and translated. She also did newspaper comics about the Moomins, but I prefer her illustrated chapter books. They’re so charming and full of quirky little characters that have very bohemian attitudes. She also did all of her own stylized black & white line illustrations, and that had a big influence on me.

Also- Lewis Carroll’s Alice books (both of them), the Oz series by Baum (all 14 books!), and Maurice Sendak’s illustrated picture books (Higglety Pigglety Pop! and Outside Over There are my faves). There are more, of course, but those are my core favorites!

If you could have an author as your mentor, who would you choose? What about illustrator?
Wow, that’s a hard one. I don’t know if I could come up with just one for each. I don’t think any one creator has all the answers.

How do you keep going when you get an industry ‘no thank you’?
That’s when I usually write or draw something totally hideous, that’s so wrong and obnoxious I don’t think anybody would ever publish it. The kind of thing that makes ME giggle hysterically. It’s usually a parody of something I think we see too much of in publishing these days, so I can get my bitter rage out by lampooning the crap publishers say YES to, when they could be publishing MY crap. I guess the core of that impulse is to get back to creating just for the sake of it, for my own enjoyment in the process, not because I’m focused on what I think may get published.

Have you ever been offered a contract that you knew was not in your best interest? How did you handle that?
No, I don’t think I have. Mostly because I’m not very good at protecting my own best interest! And because I haven’t had a whole lot of offers. You could definitely make an argument for the Disney partnership project (Wonderland) not being in my best interest, but I did it anyway! I just really wanted to write about Wonderland and those fascinatingly crazy characters.

I did turn down an opportunity to write a Peter Pan series for my comics publisher. That was NOT one of those books I read and loved as a child. I love the Disney movie, I love the ride at Disneyland, but I don’t feel I have the familiarity with the original material that would be needed to do it justice. My publisher even asked me again, and maybe a third time later. I went as far as getting a copy of the original book and doing some research on the history of the story. It’s pretty interesting how J.M. Barrie did several incarnations of Peter Pan in book and play format. But I knew one of my fellow comics creators with that same publisher was very passionate about Peter Pan, so I kept suggesting to my publisher that he have THAT guy work on it. He finally did, although it probably had nothing to do with what I said. Anyway, that other creator showed me some of his work on it at Comic-Con in July and it looks totally AWESOME.

Do you participate in a critique group? Why/Why not?
Yes, I do! When I can work it into my schedule, that is. I belonged to an online critique group for a short time, but just didn’t click with the other members. Then a friend (Julie) helped get me an invite to my current group, and it’s totally awesome. I mean that! I’m not just saying that because you’re in it, and because they’ll probably read this! Seriously, it has been the best experience and I feel I’ve grown immeasurably as a writer. Because of the process of being in a critique group and having to read your work out loud to a bunch of people you’re not related or married to, and because these people happen to have a great deal of talent and good advice.
I’m just frustrated that I don’t have more Saturdays when I can make it to the group. Sometimes it’s a very hard call to make, whether to go to critique, or to stay home and use that time to actually write or draw on my current projects. Sometimes I have copying, assembly, and mailing to do, as well. (Because of my indie self-published zine works)

Do you have a Social Media presence? Why?
Yes. I started out with a website and a “LiveJournal” account, mainly because I really get a lot out of the interaction with my readers and fans, and wanted to make sure they could find me if they wanted to. I truly believe if what you’ve created has made a real positive difference in ONE other human being’s life, then it’s worth it. Even my raunchy stuff has a definite viewpoint and real opinions, and I’ve felt incredibly energized by fans who have taken the time to contact me and tell me that it meant a lot to them. Having that boost has made ME take the time to contact other creators who have affected me in the same way, to let them know. I didn’t realize before how important that could be, to get that feedback.

Now, as you know, we creators are constantly bombarded by the “need” for a social media presence. I guess I feel that it’s important to be able to interact with your fans, to make yourself accessible to them. You both get a lot out of that. But you have to be careful not to spend all your free time keeping up with all the social media blathering, and not actually creating!

Where can we find you?
email: tommy@tommykovac.com
website: www.tommykovac.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/tommy.kovac
library-themed blog: www.smellslikelibrary.blogsot.com/
everything else-themed blog: www.tommykovac.blogspot.com/
Amazon’s page for my upcoming graphic novel release (October 11, 2011)
My comics publisher’s online shop with my stuff

What is your dream writing related event? Illustrating?
Right now I really want to finish writing a middle-grade fantasy chapter book with one illustration per chapter. It’s called The Weirdling Woods. I originally created the concept as an animated series for a Nickelodeon producer who was interested in working with me. She liked the concept a lot, but although we spent a lot of time working through it, it just never panned out. The good thing is that I retain all the rights to it, and can still use it! It’s about a gentle little boy named Clayton who is transported to a fantasy world, where he becomes friends with a good little witch named Thistle.

Before I really get to work on that, though, I’m trying to wrap my head around the eBook revolution and get a few stories listed with Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Thank you for taking the time and interest to interview me, Stephanie! You’re the best.

Thank you Tommy for spending this time with me and allowing me to share you with the blog world.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, it’s Friday again. That means it’s time for another installment of the strange, weird, or funny. The subject of the day is signs.

They’re everywhere and they don’t always make sense. I have chosen these few, from among the countless, because they either made me laugh or I thought they were just plain stupid. You decide which is which.

Do we really need to be told how to go? They think this is directional assistance Yet they have no trouble stating the obvious… Maybe you got confused about this How about this one Really?

This one’s funny, I guess the fact that there’s a Pit Bull in the yard isn’t scary enough. Or maybe our common sense left the building with Elvis I guess in this case they thought using a little humor would help you think clearly. Or they could always threaten you with a penalty Sometimes they provide us with a few helpful hints this could be helpful, too Then there are times when signs just don’t make any sense at all. And what the heck does this one mean? So, if a plane should land on your car it will bounce right off. Yeah right.

Have a great weekend.

I Found a Great Book

2011-08-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

I found this great reference book for all of us that are striving to become Indie Authors. It is awesome!

Not only does it have all of the information you need, it’s a really good read. Zoe Winters describes the process in detail. Her presentation of the material is such that you can see the options available. She explains it clearly enough for me to make and ‘informed’ choice.

For instance, I always knew that I needed a business plan. I researched it in detail and reviewed the process countless times. Each time I came away more and more confused. I now have a ‘working’ business plan and that’s after reading her chapter on the process ONE time. Zoe, you ROCK!!! And that’s only a small part of her book.

I purchased it from Smashwords, but it’s available in Kindle and several other forms. It is a must read! And it’s a bargain…only $4.99!

This book is worth so much more. So get off this blog and order it now. You will not be sorry.

Zoe, if you read this, I want you to know I Tweeted about it a couple of days ago and several people ‘following’ me said they’re getting it. Your sales should be through the roof. You earned it! Thanks…thanks…thanks.

I Can’t Believe It!

2011-08-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe that something so small, so minor could have such an effect. Friday morning I had a surgical procedure performed in the doctor’s office. No general anesthesia, only an injection at the site. Nothing more than you’d get from the dentist.

There was this cyst, about the size of a pea, on the inside of my lip that was removed. So I should have recovered by now. I’m dragging like…I don’t know what.

The muscles in my face ache from trying to keep my lips still. My husband can’t understand what I’m saying half the time and rice and eggs and mashed potatoes are starting to get a little old. I ate some sherbet—that was nice.

Okay, so it’s only been a couple of days, but this is starting to bug…big time! That’s what’s on my mind today. By Wednesday I should have something better to blog about.

Friday's R 4 Fun

2011-08-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is fun today. I am so sorry I’m late. I had minor (very minor) surgery this morning. Getting prepared for that, everything else slipped my mind. But here it is...
Today’s subject is jewelry! What can be strange or weird about that, you ask? Well…see for yourself.

We will begin with this piece. Can you see what it’s made from? Yes! That’s hair! Many years ago, when someone dear to you died, it was a ‘tradition/custom’ to make a piece of jewelry from their hair.
I think this is an odd item. A necklace of ice cubes. Somehow in the old ‘cops and robbers’ movies when the crooks talked about the ‘ice’ I don’t think they had this in mind.
Here’s a gift for the architect in the family. A house ring . This one’s for the plant lover. And for the vain woman who wants everyone to know how ‘hot’ she is… these earrings do the trick. And so everybody will know how sincere you are A tear drop.
From here it gets a little weird. How about a belly button ring. Or pendant, if you prefer.
Or a ring of your teeth. The Tooth Fairy may have a few complaints about this. In that case, use the teeth of someone or something else, if you wish. Or maybe you have a thing for feet. Now that’s just too weird.

Okay, that’s the jewelry for today. See you next Friday!

Finding Balance

2011-08-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Pulling together all of the things I need to do to get this book out there is a tricky endeavor. I’m trying to do too many things at once.

I am walking through the manuscript again making sure grammar and sentence structure are correct. I am also in the process of learning formatting for Createspace and my other options for distribution.

Marketing is another big ticket item on my plate. (I know, mixed metaphor, but I’m so focused on other things that I can’t worry about this one. ) I’m trying to get a handle on my blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts, Goodreads, and Book Country. Then I have to get an understanding of blog tours, press releases, and today I heard about a Blog Ball.

Did I mention that I’m working on the sequel to Princess Kandake? Top that off with new story ideas crashing around in my head.

I’m exhausted! There’s got to be a better way to get all of this done. I am so open to suggestions. I am waiting to hear from you.

Finally Rested

2011-08-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

At last I feel human again. I’ve been recuperating from spending the last ten days running around getting things ready to send to Donna Casey, the cover designer.
She created a masterpiece! I love the cover so much I have to show you again.

After taking a few days off from writing I’m ready to get back to it. I even have an idea for the third book.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-08-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable! With all of the book cover hoopla, I completely forgot about today’s post. I can’t believe I did that. Never fear, here it is
.
Today’s subject is fashion. It is hard enough to believe that someone created these, but it’s even harder to believe people are actually wearing them.
I guess this works if you or your friends are members of a ‘fan’ club. I know…terrible pun. Can you guess the name of this line? Origami Fashion…ok. If costume balls are called ‘Masques’ is that what you wear? If so, this dress will be a real hit. This one isn’t so bad, but it is not my idea of a bridal gown Let’s not leave the guys out of the act. This outfit is for the more fashion conscious man.
Mr. GQ… …NOT. Sunglasses...these glasses are just a little something extra for that day in the sun you planned . I don't think Oakley is in any danger of losing business. And for a more casual look, these pants are for… What was the occasion again?

Which of these would you wear?

Cover Debut!

2011-08-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Breaking news!!! The cover has arrived!

I just had to share. For credit information go to my website

It’s Morning Already?

2011-08-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I drove to CA. Friday morning I met with Makeda Beck, the cover model, to fit and make adjustments to the costume. Friday afternoon I braided her hair. Saturday morning I visited my critique group in CA. Saturday afternoon I watched the photographer take the pictures of Makeda and took a few of my own.
Saturday evening I went to dinner with a friend. Sunday I celebrated my granddaughter’s eighth birthday. Sunday night I listened as she and two of her friends giggled and squealed until five in the morning.
Monday I visited with two-month old Brandon and had dinner with his parents. Tuesday we picked up the other grandchildren and drove back to AZ. Tuesday evening I sent the pictures to the cover designer. I’m exhausted!
And that’s my news for today.

Introducing… Princess Kandake

2011-08-07T00:50:00.000-07:00

For weeks I have been posting about the costume I’ve been working on for the cover model of my upcoming book. I have shared the construction process with you starting with the mold and leading up to the cutting of the lather.
Here is a picture of the leather being stretched and shaped over the mold.   This is what it looked like once it dried. And here is the finished product after it has been dyed and assembled with the straps and fastenings.
Now for the best part. Today I met with the cover model and photographer to shoot pictures to be used in the design. I present to you PRINCESS KANDAKE!



               PRINCESS KANDAKE
             Warrior by Choice, Appointed to rule

A huge thank you to the beautiful and talented Makeda Beck
These are from my camera. the professional photos are much better. I will share those with you once I get the proofs.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-08-04T22:59:00.000-07:00

Every Friday I bring you something strange and different. This week is no different. Today I bring you pictures of unlikely houses and buildings that are little beyond surreal.
A pair of shoe houses with a matching hat New meaning for ‘flip this house or this one A house on stilts A real tree house Remember the mirrors at the fun house? or tilted floors
This would give me nightmares so would this These are more whimsical This is just odd And here’s a house that reminds me of my favorite movie…Avatar

I Have Decided!

2011-08-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you for your help. I have decided on the title. I never thought naming the book could be so difficult. Here’s the list of the titles you proposed. This is what was submitted in the comments.

The Reluctant Princess                 Her Own Terms
The Princess Warrior                    Born to Rule
The Princess Way                          Strong Hands, Royal Blood
What Your Heart Tells You          Kandake: A Warrior Princess
Kandake Saves the Kingdom        Warrior by Choice, Princess by Blood
Next in Line                                   Kandake: Princess vs. Warrior
Daddy’s Girl                                  Born to War, Raised to Rule
Bow to Me                                     Not Your Average Nubian Princess
Born to War, Raised to Rule         Kandake: Princess Warrior of Nubia
Warrior Princess                            Princess Kandake: Warrior of Nubia
Nubian Warrior Princess
The Princess Who Didn’t Want to be Queen

From the list, you can see that I combined several of your suggestions in the title. And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Drum roll, please….

PRINCESS KANDAKE Warrior by Choice, Appointed to Rule!

Thank you all, again. Now on to the next step.

Interview with an angel…Angelina C. Hansen

2011-07-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Good Morning everyone. Today it is my privilege to interview Angelina C. Hansen, an author of YA literature. I met Angelina in a group for writers of YA fiction on the She Writes website. It’s great site that supports women who write, but some of its members are men. Let’s get started.

Angelina, how long have you been writing?
Since I was three, but you wouldn’t want to see that stuff. The first draft of my first novel is dated April, 28^th, 2007. That must be the official date.

What inspired you to start writing?
The short answer? Boredom. The long answer? My subconscious mind had been tapping me for years. For example, seven years ago when I was house hunting, a little voice inside my head would say, “That would be a cozy place to write a novel.
It took me another three years to acknowledge that voice.

How did you discover your ‘voice’?
Opened my mouth and there it was .^_^.
But for real, my voice appeared as I was writing my second novel, a highly emotional story of my heart.

Why did you choose to write for children?
Because I’m 16. Really. I just inhabit a 40-year-old body.

Which age groups are your favorite?
Kids aged 3 to 5. They laugh when I’m being my goofy self and never roll their eyes.

What are your favorite children’s books? Authors?
As a child I was obsessed with CHARLOTTE’S WEB and THE BOXCAR CHILDREN. And I read all things Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl, and Judy Blume.

If you could have an author as your mentor, who would you choose?
Laurie Halse Anderson who I’m looking forward to listening to at the SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A. in a few weeks.

How do you keep going when you get an industry ‘no thank you’?
What’s that? Just kidding. I take whatever feedback I receive and use it as an opportunity to improve my craft. After I stop pouting, of course.
Do you participate in a critique group? Why/Why not?
For my first novel, I had an online crit group, but now I use trusted beta readers because I can give them the entire manuscript and it doesn’t take forever.
Do you have a Social Media presence? Why?
Yes. Because networking with my fellow writers encourages, enlightens, and entertains me.

Where can we find you?
In bed. Wait. You mean online? On Verla Kay’s Blueboards, SheWrites, and Goodreads.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AngelinaCHansen
Website: http://yascribe.com
Blog: http://yascribe.blogspot.com/

What is your dream writing related event?
Reading from my debut novel to a huge crowd in a high school auditorium without belching into the microphone.

That’s funny! I’m not sure belching into the microphone would be a big problem. Some might even join you, but that would more likely be the Freshmen class. Thank you Angelina for the chance to get to know a bit of you.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I’d hold a car show. Not one with the usual sedans and sports cars, but the truly different car.
Where to begin? How about I start with home. Looking for that new couch or overstuffed chair for your living room. These two pieces of furniture make sure you get there in comfort. It gives new meaning to ‘couch potato.’
Before you start up that DVD you’ve been dying to watch, you realize you need something from the market. You slip on your shoes and head to the store, in your shoe . When you get there you find that the parking space you want has a shopping cart blocking your way. Remember, you’re trying to eat only healthy snacks. How about a banana? That’s really a good choice, because if you misplace your dentures you can still eat it. But don’t worry, here they are.
Later you decide it would be better to go out for entertainment. You don’t need tickets for the local theater, they have open seating. What to choose…should you pick a pirate movie? Nah, you’ve got the kids with you. There’s that movie about mutant turtles. Or you could watch that film about so many miles under the ocean and all of the strange things you can find there.
On your way, you remember you promised to visit Grandpa. You turn around head down his street and there he is, waiting for you in his new hover chair. Your dad was always a bit of a roadster.

You have dinner together. It’s time for dessert. Grandpa says he forgot to pick up ice cream while he was at the store and volunteers to go get some. You tell him it’s too late to go out by himself, after all the neighborhood has changed and not for the better.
He tells you that’s not a problem and invites you out to the garage to see his new motor scooter.
That concludes the show for the evening. Please come back next week for sights of the strange and different.

Oh, BTW Sunday I’ll be interviewing a great, upcoming YA author, Angelina C. Hansen. Be sure to stop by and get acquainted. See you there.

Today is a Great Day!

2011-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up feeling a little tired. I took the dog and went for our usual walk. Clear skies and bright sun, everything I need to get the creative juices flowing. I'm back home and the blood is wizzing through my veins.

Today I feel like there are endless possibilities! I can write that great story. I’m full of ideas just waiting to jump out onto the page. I am filled with energy!

I'm planning on getting lots done. I’m starting with that costume. It should be finished by the end of the day. The difficult bits of the breastplate are done. I plan to get that WIP right up to the climax. If it weren’t so hot I’d bake a cake. In this heat there is no way I’m firing up that oven!

So…what gets you moving? What will you get done today?

Almost There!

2011-07-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

This progress bar depicts how far I have come in the making of the costume for the cover of my book. It says that I am at least 70% complete. I’ve been working all weekend, which made this post late.

If you recall, the book takes place in ancient Nubia. The main character, Kandake, is a warrior. The model that represents Kandake will be clad in breastplate and sarong.

The breastplate is being made from calf-skin leather. Here are the stages: It started with my wrapping Makeda in duct tape. Whis resulted in this shell I it covered with a plaster wrap and filled it with plaster to add strength to the form You see it here wrapped in plastic, prepared for the leather. Here is a picture of the entire calf skin. In this next photo, it has been cut and stitched to it’s basic shape. It is now soaking in a tub of water, softening It will be stretched, molded, and dried over the form above.

The sarong began as a length of fabric. I altered the color slightly. As you can see, it’s been stitched, stamped, and painted. Here is a close up view of the detail All that’s left is to add a few beads.

See, I’ve not been slackin’, I’ve been very busy.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday. That means another installment of the crazy or strange photos I find interesting.

When I was searching for what to show you this week. I came up with the idea of strange and bizarre hairstyles. As I was sorting through the pictures it occurred tome that some of these people were serious about their hair. Because I don’t want to offend anyone, I switched it to animals, dogs mostly.

This one is my favorite. It’s a cat that reminds me of Yoda, “There is no try, there is only do.” I think of Fabio when I look at this one. I’m not saying it looks like him (legal disclaimer). Oh yeah, bad hair day. Worse hair day.

Now for our special guests. Lets see if you can guess who or what they are supposed to be. Contestant No. 1 step forward please. That’s right you guessed it, Golden Goldilocks. Johnny Depp has nothing to worry about with this one. This one is just sad. Even he looks like he wants to cry. Flower Power, Psychedelic Dog. This little guy is all set for Halloween Mr. Bones. And can you guess who this is.That’s right! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle…uh Dog.

This concludes today’s excursion into the realm of strange hair. And of course the other legal disclaimer…no animals were harmed or injured during this production.

Anybody have a suggestion for next week?

Where Does the Time Go

2011-07-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, is it Wednesday already? Seriously, I can’t believe it’s the middle of July and I still have so much to catch up on.

I poured the plaster for the mold, but I have to do it again because I didn’t make enough. I’ve added the first layer of color to the fabric for the kilt/skirt for Kandake (it’s more like a sarong). And now it’s time to make a decision about the type fasteners I will use.

I’m trying to push, but I’m tired and I don’t feel well. I think it was something that I ate. I got up this morning to go for my walk and almost didn’t make it. It took me so long to get out of the house that it was 8 o’clock and already hot.

There is so much left to be done and I’m TIRED. Well if I can get enough accomplished maybe I can take a nap.

Back in the Saddle

2011-07-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

There have been too many interruptions. To be honest most of them have been self imposed. Now it’s time to settle down and get to work.

Today I was talking with a friend bemoaning my need for a second critique group and not being able to find one. True to her nature, Diana Guerrero let me have it in spades. She’s an awesome writer and the facilitator of my very first writing group.

She knows me and my writing very well so I can’t get around her at all. She said that I’m holding myself back and many other things that I will not mention here. So here’s what she said.

“Everybody can write, but not everyone has talent. Get out of your own way. It’s time to grow up. Find a writing partner, and get to it.”

When it comes to writing and what I’m doing, or not doing, I can count on Diana for the voice of truth! Since I don’t want another '’put on your big-girl pants’ discussion, this is what I’m doing.

I have contacted a fellow children’s writer and asked her to become my writing partner, revamped my writing schedule, and just doing it. So…officially, I’m back in the saddle.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-07-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Last week LynNerd asked about pictures of strange shoes. I had no idea how footwear could be so extraordinary. So, let’s begin our tour through the shoe department. I will start with the more mundane. This one is perfect for the beach. This one’s ideal for your next BYOB party. A novel way to bring a date. But what if you can’t get out?Take your work with you. Never worry again about being mugged. Maybe you’re not the gun type. Worried about leaving the kitty home alone?Or maybe you’d prefer to go shoeless. There are many options
but be sure to get a pedicure There’s always the barely-there choice. or these Need more support? Try these. Do you remember the go-go boot? They were cute and you could dance in them. I doubt if these are for dancing..

This concludes our tour. Any ideas for next week?

Frustration!

2011-07-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

I have shared with you that I am on the road to turning a manuscript into an e-book. And I have talked about all of the things I need to get done.

Well, frankly I’m ready to break something. I’m behind schedule on just about everything. The only thing that is saving my bacon is that I always allow way more time than I really need, but that’s not helpful at the moment.

Today I had a list of things to do and I got precious few of them completed. The day started out well. I got up early and went for a walk. I came home and put myself to work. Things were going fine. I had everything scheduled.

The first problem happened when the repairmen that were supposed to come at nine and move a gas line didn’t come until ten. I purposely planned tasks that could easily be interrupted for that time slot. I got all of those done before they arrived because there were no interruptions.

At ten I move to writing, working on my WIP. I can’t count the number of times I had to leave the computer and move something, turn something off, turn it back on again. And every time I got up I had a heck of a time remembering what was supposed to be said in the dialogue. I’m trying to set up the climax, for crying out loud. I love writing action scenes, but they have to be set up meticulously.

So I decided to leave that and work on the breastplate. I’m in the craft room setting up the mold, taping everything in place so that the bloomin’ thing won’t shift when I pour the plaster in it. The duct tape is sticking to the plastic drop cloths. The braces shift because I’m removing the tape from the plastic.

Finally I get it all set up. So now I’m mixing the plaster. The dog runs by. I still don’t know how he got caught in the plastic sheeting, but the mold starts sliding off of the table. Now remember I’m mixing plaster and have a short window of time to get it poured.

I grab at the plastic to keep the mold from hitting the floor. The piece of board I’m using to stir falls on the floor. Now I have to mop up the spill before the dog gets into it. I get it all cleaned up and I’m ready to finish mixing the plaster, but it’s hardened in the bucket. SCREAM!!

Okay, it’s time to call the husband and have him break the plaster out of the bucket. I get in the car to go for more plaster, but the city inspector just arrived to check the new gas line. I have to stay because my husband has an appointment.

I gave up! I am now sitting in front of the TV watching old episodes of Mission Impossible on Netflix. I feel like they understand my day.

My Confession

2011-07-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

This is my confession. This week my grandchildren came to visit me. We played a few games, read stories, went on outings, and watched several movies.

Work? Well…that’s the confession part. I didn’t get very much work done. I did what any grandmother would do. I spoiled them rotten! The most healthy thing they ate this week was their vitamins. We ate pizza, pop corn, pudding, sandwiches, and drank soda. Their mother limited them to one can of soda per day, so we drank punch and juice.

I did get some writing done but that was after they had gone to bed. Oh yeah, bedtime comes much later at Nana’s house. We’d stay up late at night and sleep late in the morning.

During their stay I introduced them to cartoons from my childhood like Felix the Cat They watched episode after episode and laughed hysterically.
They loved Popeye My grandson asked if we could buy some spinach so he could get stronger. And what grandmother would deny their babes anything. I bought it, but we never got around to eating it.
My granddaughter particularly enjoyed the Pink Panther and the Incredible Mister Limpet . My grandson thought Inspector Gadget was cool and exciting Later they alternated watching episodes of Gumby and speed Racer .

So that’s my confession. I played with them instead of getting things done that were on my schedule. Oh well…

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-07-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

How we feel about life has a lot to do with perspective. The way we view an encounter often determines our next decision. Well, here’s something that messes with what we think we see.

Living life on the edge. Is this what we think will happen in California when ‘the big one’ hits?

                                Oops! Somebody left the water running. I’m sure the neighbors aren’t all that happy about it.

The great escape of today and yesterday.

And now it’s time for me to get back to work.


I’m having so much fun finding these photos. What topics would you like to see in the photos of the strange and weird?

An Interview Starring...Me

2011-07-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

I’ve been interviewed! A fellow writer, Angelina C. Hansen, was kind enough to request an interview. I had to think about it for a long time before I consented to do it…all of .0001 seconds.

She posted it yesterday. It was a lot of fun and gave me a chance to think about why I write. The short answer is ‘I love story,’ but if you want the details go over to her blog. It’s all there.

Angelina is a fellow writer of YA fiction. We connected on She Writes, a community of women who write and support each other.

If you would be willing to allow me to interview you, it would be my pleasure. Send me a message and I’ll get right back to you. You can find my email address on my profile of this blog.

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T00:32:00.000-07:00

This is the document that started it all. Thirteen colonies wanted to have a say in the country it was supporting. They refused to be ignored. After the loss of many lives and the sacrifices of many people, this great nation began.
                             Our first president, George Washington, worked long hours with a tireless group to put together a country that represented its people.
This is the document that resulted.

A difference of opinion divided this nation and brought it to a place of civil war, a war that devastated and nearly destroyed it.
                                 This president, Abraham Lincoln, addressed an ailing nation that lost more sons than it could afford, a nearly countless number. This speech, the Gettysburg Address, was delivered at the memorial of those men who lost their lives fighting for their ideals.
           This is believed to be one of the many copies of those word delivered on that day. Having survived that terrible loss, this nation worked to heal many of its wounds and overcome its weaknesses.

More than a century late, this nation elected its first president of African decent, President Barack Obama.

Regardless of the politics involved this country can celebrate its great accomplishment. This nation began as a group of upstarts and radicals and developed into a nation that serves its people. It struggled over differing ideologies that divided and nearly destroyed all that it had accomplished.

What is laudable is that we not only overcame this division, but the very people that were a significant part of the reason for that war are now represented in the White House.

The United States of America is a great nation. Is it perfect? Not at all, but its greatness stands in spite of its imperfections. I am proud to be called one of its citizens.

Please join me in wishing this great nation a very happy birthday as we, once again, celebrate our Independence Day.

Friday’s R 4 Fun

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s what I found this week, optical illusions. I have always been impressed with things that change appearance based upon your personal perspective.

Here’s a picture of a man standing on a bottle of water. I think it’s kind of cute and fun.

                      We often hear people talk about the man in the moon, but no one said anything about him playing sports.

       This one is a little strange. You either see a woman putting on her make-up. Or you see a skull.

These men wear what is really not clothing.

                  I thought this one was really wild. It isn’t a drawing of a man’s head.

In looking at the way these pictures play tricks with your eyes and mind, I know there’s a moral in there somewhere. But that’s for you to determine.

Have a great day. See you next Friday!

Procrastination is My Sworn Enemy

2011-06-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah! I’ve got it lined up in my sights and with just one little squeeze of the trigger…

Every morning I have a routine. I check my email, turn on my cell phone, review and revise my WIP, and the list goes on. But lately I’ve been putting off one thing after another. That ends here! I will hunt procrastination down with extreme prejudice.

Today I am making a list of all of the things I need to get done in a timely manner. Here we go.

1. Write –work on sequel and short stories.

2. Continue to walk through the NP ms to ready it for formatting

3. Work on breastplate – this really should be number 1, but it really doesn’t matter what order I list it so long as I get it done.

4. Write posts for this blog.

5. Exercise

6. Everything else.

So now that I’ve written it down, I had better go do it. By the way, two things, 1) the next post will be on Friday, so look for something fun and 2) I’ve put a new story up on my website.

See you Friday!

Lost in the Forest

2011-06-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of how I’m feeling right about now. I can see the forest and the trees. There are so many things that I need to be doing. It is difficult for me to prioritize. I’m over-thinking everything.

I try to plan and write my next short story, but my brain circles larger, more complex plots. There’s no way they can be written in under two thousand words. I keep at it, but I just get frustrated. So I think, if my brain only wants to focus on the more complex, then switch gears and work on one of my longer works.

That shouldn’t be a problem. I open the file on my next story in Nubia, but I get stalled. I can’t keep my mind focused. I keep thinking about working on the breastplate and which is the next step in that process.

Fine, I tell myself. That’s both constructive and productive. I walk to my craft room and stare at the thing. Mind you, I don’t pick up a single tool or material to work with. All I can think about is, I need to work on my website. So I go back to the computer and open to the page that needs work…nothing comes.

It boils down to having so many things to do that I can’t get focused. It has all but paralyzed me. The best thing to do is get back to the basics. Take it all out of my head and write everything down. Once I make a list, it will be much easier to see.

When I get it done, I’ll show you what it looks like.

Fridays R 4 Fun

2011-06-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Whimsy and quirkiness, that’s what the world needs more of! I was reading Kristen Lamb’s blog post, Give a Dry Blog New Life - The Power of Themes and realized I could be having a lot more fun. So starting now every Friday I will blog about something that I think is fun, like cakes that make me smile.

Who ever would have thought to have a cake that matches your shoes. This one is definitely for the fashionista in all of us. And if you’re going out, you don’t want to forget you make-up bag.

What about a cake that looks like a baked potato.

A cake that looks like a hot dog.

Here’s my favorite food, popcorn. I never thought it would come as a cake.

This has to be better than pop corn flavored jelly beans.

How about this, a cake of Max and his friends.

And finally, the cake that looks like cake…well almost.

This was a hoot. I hope it made you smile, too. We’ll see what I find next Friday.

The Making of a Breastplate

2011-06-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago, I introduced you to the model of my book cover, Makeda. You saw a picture of me wrapping her in duct tape. In a later post I told you I got an idea about making the breastplate in leather. Here is the picture of the raw leather.

I put a pair of my reading glasses on it to give you a gauge for the size. This is one full calf’s hide. I know, it sounds awful. Rest assured, I had nothing to do with taking the life of the animal unless you count the hamburger I ate.

Remember the picture of me wrapping Makeda in duct tape. Here is the shell it produced.

I taped that to the side of a bucket for two purposes 1) to hold it’s shape while I 2) lengthened it and covered it with plaster cloth wrap. As you can see, it was a very messy process. After it dried, I removed it from the bucket and this is what I got . The next step is to fill it with a slurry of plaster that I’ll make from the powder in the container on the left. Once it dries and hardens, it will become the mold for the leather. But that’s different post.

Now you're caught up with where I am in the process. It’s work, but lots of fun.

So Much to Do

2011-06-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

I feel like this tree, snowed under and completely buried. Getting this book ready has been a blast. There are so many things involved in launching it that sometimes I can’t see my way through.

It’s not just making sure that the ms is of the highest quality, nor is it getting things put together for the cover. And to be honest, it’s not even the formatting and getting it uploaded that have got me going nuts. It’s everything else.

It’s what Elizabeth Law of Egmont Publishing said, “For the new author, whether print or electronic, success is based on the platform the debut author builds.” I have to plan for the promotion of the book, get people interested in it, and get them interested in me and what I do. That’s the hard part. And there’s another thing, I have to be really creative in how I arrange ‘book signings’. It’s an eBook!

I doubt that people will want me to sign their Nooks, Kindles, Kobos, or iPads. So I’m brain-storming every moment I can to come up with new and innovative alternatives. One idea is creating mini-posters of the book cover. I’ve even thought of having a rubber stamp that is a caricature of the cover design.

On top of all of this I have to maintain my writing schedule, post on this blog, update Facebook and Twitter, and create new stories for my website. And that’s just the writing part of my life!

It really is a good thing I’m enjoying myself.

A Second Option

2011-06-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have so many ideas running through my head, I imagine the neural pathways in my brain must look something like this. Oops, a bit of the psychologist just broke through. Sorry.

Yesterday I went to the local leather and saddle shop and spoke with one of the owners. I live in Arizona now and there are such things here. Really cool stuff.

I described to him what I was attempting to do for the breastplate and why. He got so excited that we must have spent at least an hour talking about the possibilities. He’s reading a book series that takes place around the same time period as my novel. He asked detailed questions about what I wanted the finished product to look like.

He pulled out his supply catalogs and explained the pros and cons of the different types of hides available and what I could expect the end products to look like. What a great guy! Then he walked me through the construction process and explained what to expect at the different stages. We talked about colorings and fasteners and methods of finishing!

I had a blast! I can’t wait for the material to come in so I can get started. It should be here next week. I’ll keep you posted on how things are going.

Book Cover Process

2011-06-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

As promised here are some pictures of me with the model for my book cover. Her name is Makeda which is a wonderful tie in to my eBook. Makeda is the name that is believed to belong to the Queen of Sheba.

Makeda, my model, is extremely intelligent, beautiful, and reads a mountain of books every week. She is one of my Beta readers and she doesn’t hold back. If she doesn’t like it or something in the book doesn’t work, she has no problem telling me. In fact, her complaint about this book is that she wanted it to be longer. What I love about kids, especially Teens. They tell you the truth. But I digress.

Together, Makeda and I, are making the pattern for Kandake’s breastplate. It all started with a roll of duct tape and a tee shirt.

Then I wrapped her in the tape, with several layers, in the areas the breastplate would cover. And here we are at the end.

PS Makeda's mother, Vicki, took the pictures.

I’ve Been Tagged! Now Guess Who’s It?

2011-06-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

I’ve been tagged! Here’s the line I had to complete. Writing is like…

Writing is like having the windows of imagination wide open and the passing breeze sweeps my ideas across the printed page, or computer screen. Honestly. When I write, images just pour out into words. Most of the time I have no idea where they come from, but I think it is the coolest thing. I watch the storyline develop on the page in front o me.

When I write, something physical happens in my brain that feels really good. I love it. So now you must tell me what the experience is like for you. Here are the writers I’m choosing to tag, but the line is open for anyone to complete.

Smells Like Library Tommy is an awesome writer and artist. He’s also a school librarian who works hard to make the world of books interesting. He even creates displays that are works of interactive art.

The Bookshelf Muse This blog by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman is for all aspiring writers. One of the things I like best on this blog is the emotional thesaurus.

The Happy Nappy Bookseller Doret’s blog reviews books. She exposes us to books that generally wouldn’t get the attention they deserve. There are so many books that don’t meet mainstream press. Doret gets them out there!

So, Tommy, Becca and Angela, and Doret this tag is for you. Tell us all what you think...Writing is like

We’re Getting There

2011-06-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Progress is being made! All of you have been very helpful and supportive. The poll for suggesting book titles is going well. You have given me some great ideas. Please keep those coming. Think of the title you believe would make you want to read the book and write that suggestion in the comments.

Today, I take the breastplate prototype to the model to try on. I will make the necessary adjustments and markings for the final shape and placement of the straps. I am super excited! It is all coming together.

Even though it’s a lot of work, I’m having a blast. I’ll be posting pictures of the process within a couple of days. Thanks for walking with me through all of this.

Great Input!

2011-06-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! There are so many wonderful title suggestions already. Most of them are titles I never even thought of. What is really interesting are the reasons for the titles people suggested.

I have my cell phone set to alert me to every new title that you leave in the comments. I find myself staring at the phone waiting for the next idea.

Your suggestions amaze me. They are all so inventive and perfectly represent the story of Kandake or Nubia. Keep them coming. Even if you’ve already left a suggestion and you think of another title, send me that one, too. And please, be sure to tell me your reason for it.
I can’t wait to hear more!

What’s in a Name

2011-05-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have been working fast and furiously trying to get everything ready to launch my new eBook. It occurred to me that I can’t go any farther until I settle on a title for the book.

Here’s where you can help. On the left sidebar is a poll offering you three titles to choose from. Select a title, vote, and then tell me in the comments why you chose that particular one. Or if none of these suit you, write your own in the comments and tell me why this one is better.

It would probably help you to know a little bit about the book. It takes place in the ancient kingdom of Nubia. Kandake is the youngest daughter of King Amani. All she ever wanted was to be a Nubian warrior, but her grandmother has chosen her to be the next ruler of Nubia. The story is about her struggle between her grandmother’s choice and her desire.

Follow this blog to keep tabs on the poll to name the book and find out what I decide, with your help of course.

Slow Down

2011-05-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get so much done, lately--finding a designer for the book cover, making a costume for the cover model, looking for a formatter, looking into the price of printing and posters. I have so much to do and I’m trying to maintain my writing schedule at same time. There is such a thing as attempting to do too much at one time. I need to slow down.

The other day I was working on a new story for my website. It was a very short piece with an uncomplicated plot. I read through it (or so I thought I had) and the sent it off to a writer friend, Lynn Kelley, to critique. She is the sweetest and really good at catching mistakes and making suggestions.

As usual, she sent it back full of corrections and suggestions. When I reviewed her edits I almost fell off of my chair. What I had sent her was a story that made no sense! It made about as much sense as the script in the picture, for me. My brain was so tired that what I thought I had written was definitely not what was on the page.

I really need to slow down, take some time to rejuvenate, and hopefully my writing skills will return.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2011-05-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh…Since I made the decision to e-publish my manuscript, my mind and my desk started looking like this. There are so many things for me to do. I’ve decided on the designer for the cover art. I’ve nailed down what I want the costume to look like. I’ve even engaged the photographer. And that’s only the beginning.

Next is making the costume. Then I have to get the pictures to the designer and find a formatter. As soon as the cover is done I have to get posters made.

All the while, I’m walking through the manuscript one last time to be sure there are no errors and it reads smoothly. I also have to line up reviewers (I’m open to one or two extra if you’d like), set up school visits and book signings. Because the book ties-in neatly with Black History month, I will be launching it at the beginning of February. I have a little time, but not much.

On top of all of this I have to maintain my schedule for the other novels I’m writing. I also have to make time to create the flash fiction and short stories that I’m uploading to my website. Take a look.

I feel buried, but it’s a good feeling!

Hard Work Ahead

2011-05-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have begun the process of getting my book ready for publication. I’m taking a long slow walk back through the manuscript to make sure it is all that it can be. At the same time, I am searching for a designer for the cover and a formatter for the text.

You wouldn’t believe how many artists are out there. I’m talking about the ones with a reputation for good work. Sheesh! I have gone to countless websites and searched through portfolios looking for a style and passion that I want for the cover. There are so many choices. I have settled on one whose work has the feel I’m looking for.

The model I have chosen for the cover is a beautiful and brilliant young teen whose eagerness and determination totally embodies my main character. Because she is a minor I will not release her name until the project is closer to completion.

Now on to the costuming. I am scouring the internet and history books for just the right garment. I want to choose/create several so that I have sufficient options for the photo shoot. Once that is done, I’ll have to coordinate the schedules of the model and her mother, the photographer, and myself to set a date for the photos.

Then it’s on to the formatter and planning school visits and appearances. Oh My Gosh! There’s so much to do. That brings me to the tie-in of the picture. This is a Wee Spoon. The Wee of Africa award this spoon to a very industrious woman in honor of her hard work. By the time I get everything done, I will have earned my own spoon!

I'll be Taking the Left Fork

2011-05-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have decided to publish one of my favorite manuscripts (ms) as an e-book. The decision was not an easy one. I have been working to get this ms published through traditional channels, but I keep coming up against roadblocks.

It is not the quality of the story or the writing that has been the problem. It is more of a business/investment issue. The traditional publishers and agents have a difficult time seeing this as more than a niche-market item and they're looking for something that is more of a sure thing for the mass market.

At first the rejections didn’t make sense. How could they say that the ms is a very good story, or extol the characterization, dialog, or even setting and not take it. Then I started researching the whys of publication and things became more clear.

I was looking at the from the wrong perspective. I had personalized something that was simply business with monetary goals. Essentially I had not realized we have different ends we are attempting to achieve and it has little to do with my skill as a writer or choice of subject matter. Publishing companies are in business to make money. They have a lot of ‘mouths to feed’ and limited investment capital to with which to do it.

I, on the other hand, am looking at the ms from a needs perspective. I originally wrote the story for my granddaughter so that she could have a princess that looks like her. From there it grew to be a story of girl empowerment and endless possibilities. So I guess the argument comes down to this: monetary needs vs. social needs.

Once I arrived here it was a short jump to realizing that I need to publish it myself. It occurred to me that I was upset about someone else’s choices about their own investment. What I realized is that if I truly believe in the ms and the need for it, I should be willing and able to invest in it myself. Will it be an easy do? No. Will it cost me financially? Yes. Will I do it anyway? ABSOLUTELY!

Choosing the Right Road

2011-05-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

I have come to the fork in the writing/publishing road and must make my next move. I have made a decision to e-publish one particular piece of work. This manuscript has had great difficulty finding a home. Agents and editors, alike have given it great feedback, but don’t think it’s ‘right for their list’ or ‘not a big enough book.’ So I have decided to turn it into an e-book.

Will I do this for every manuscript? I’m not sure about that. There are stories that I have written that fit the current market and do not present the same dilemma.

Having said that, the publishing industry and its reshaping to become a part of the digital age may change my view of what I want for my work. There is much to consider. Granted, there is considerable prestige to be had in following the tradition publishing route. Will that always be the case? That remains to be seen.

For now I will make that decision for each manuscript based on its own merit. What about you? What are you choosing?

Decisions

2011-05-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

I am on the precipice of a decision, as they say. I must decide whether or not to go ahead with an e-publishing choice. The manuscript I am choosing is one that attracts a lot of attention from the industry, but it isn’t one they believe will sell big enough to take a chance on.

I’m wondering how they determine what will sell big and what will not. Or, what does it mean to sell big. It’s easy to point to the success of the Harry Potter or Twilight series, but who could have predicted their success? Both authors received multiple rejections and then a couple of savvy agents and editors took a gamble. And as you know, their gamble paid off bigger than anyone could have imagined.

How often does something like this happen in publishing? The answer is, not very. If we look at the more popular authors like Stephen King, John Grisham, or even Nora Roberts, we don’t see that instant meteoric climb to the top. They are at the top all right, but they worked and worked to get there.

Please don’t misunderstand. I am in no way suggesting that Rawlings or Meyers didn’t work hard, because there is not any doubt that they did. I would say that they each worked very hard. But what has happened for them does not happen on a regular basis. Unfortunately authors, agents, and editors appear to be searching for the elusive ‘it’ that will bring them this kind of success.

I don’t know if a manuscript of mine will ever make such a mark, but that’s not what I’m aiming for. My sights are set on writing a story that will leave the reader satisfied, but also have them yearning for more. Right now I I have a completed manuscript that works on several different levels (as stated by the industry professionals) and could be a commercial success. The problem is that they don’t believe that it is the blockbuster they’re looking for.

So here’s the decision part. Do I wait for them to come around, or do I go it on my own? Your input is very welcome.

The Love of Reading

2011-04-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

I have always loved to read or to be read to. This could very easily be a picture of me. I read everywhere and everything.

In the morning, getting ready for school, my mother would prompt me (a nice way of saying she fussed) to stop reading and eat my breakfast. In the evening, she would tell me I couldn’t bring my book to the table. I would sneak and read books at my desk in school when I should have been listening to the teacher. Maybe that’s the reason math takes me a bit longer.

In any case, I read every chance I got. I still do. Sometimes there's a war within between reading a new book or writing a new story. When the book wins, I justify it by telling myself, this will help me to be a better writer. And that is the reason this post is late.

What am I reading? It’s a wonderful YA entitled, Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu.

Sunrise on Easter

2011-04-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! Sunrise and new days are rich with fresh starts and second chances. It’s Easter morning and there’s nothing that exemplifies this better than today. Tradition has us decked out in new clothes, big dinners with family, and the all-important egg hunt. All of this is followed by stuffing ourselves with great treats.

For me the best treats in the world are time with family and friends (especially grandchildren!) and quiet time for a good read. These usually do not happen at the same time. I find it difficult to laugh and tell wild stories and read all at once.

So today I get a second chance to spoil my grandchildren, again (their parents would say I never stopped the first one), another opportunity to appreciate the ones I love and those who love me, and more time to write more stories.

Enjoy your second chances. Happy Easter everyone!

To Write or Not to Write, There is no Question

2011-04-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

This picture reminds me of my journey to become a published author. I work to improve my craft. I get good ideas. I paint their picture in words. Then with the help of my critique group, I revise and revise until finally it’s ready to submit.

I search among the agents, whose numbers rival the stars, for the ones that seem a good match for the piece. I dredge up the confidence to send it out and then I wait. And wait. Until finally I hear from them and this is what they say, paraphrased of course.

I great story, but it’s not for me. I no longer represent this type of story. Wonderful characterization, great emotion, believable dialog, but… There is always a ‘but’. This piece would be better suited to someone else. I’m just not in love with the story. You deserve to be represented by someone who…

So there I stand in the desert of publication waiting for that final, refreshing drop of…I think this is great, I’d love to represent you and your work. One day it will come.

The Making of a Story

2011-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am often asked where I get ideas for a new story. The answer is, they come from everywhere. I can see a dog digging a hole. Most people think that the dog is digging up something it has buried, or some small animal disappeared down a hole and the dog is going after it. Not me.

I think about the dirt flying through the air and see small universes being scattered, or I wonder if something from the center of the earth will escape into our realm through that hole, or I wonder if the fleas have taken control of the dogs mind and that they are giving him an alternative to scratching them.

All of these things, and more, roll around in my mind and smolder like this volcano until they grow into a plot line and erupt into a story. Everything I see is grist for the creative story mill. So the next time you catch me staring, beware you could end up in one of my stories.

Dark No More

2011-04-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I have been dormant for far too long. I could list a million reasons (eg, I moved out of state, my husband retired, weddings, showers, births, etc), but the fact would still remain that I have neglected you. Well, no more! So here is my first offering in a very long time.

I've decided to explore the world of short stories and flash fiction. I have found that I really am enjoying it. One of the reasons is that I get a new idea and I can get to the end within a few days! I am not abandoning the world of novels, instead, I am adding this new love. I decided to start posting them on my website www.stephaniejefferson.com I'll keep you up to date when I post new stories. You can read Swan Song

There will be more to come, here and on the site.

Discipliine

2010-11-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

I've been working on maintaining a writing schedule. It's been over one month now and so far so good. I'm writing everyday and loving it. The change of mindset has helped me tremendously. I'm working on another book about ancient Africa and revisions on the first one.

It's amazing to me the things I thought worked, but really don't. Revising has shown me the difference of how I wrote then and what my work is like now. What's got me worried is if I thought that was good writing, what will I think of how I write today a year from now.

I must continue to remind myself that the important thing is that I grow as a writer. Every story will get better each time I create one, or so it should. At the end of the week, I will print out the revised book and read it through. On the one hand, I am looking forward to seeing what it has become. On the other hand, I'm hoping all of the changes work and that it flows the way it is supposed to.

As the saying goes: the proof is in the pudding. We will see what we will see.

Really Doing It

2010-10-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

I have been back from vacation for 4 weeks now. Everyday I have made good on my commitment to treat my writing like I would a job. So, every morning at 10AM you will find me in front of my computer writing away. And doing it happily.

It's funny, for years I have heard that to be a successful writer I need to be writing everyday. I guess I never believed it. I thought that if I wrote on a regular basis that would be enough. I have found that writing everyday is a far cry from writing on a regular basis. I guess I would have to admit that they were right.

What I have noticed in this short time is amazing. My writing has dramatically improved. It has even affected the my recognition of problems within the piece.

I'm not completely sure why I never did it before. I used excuses like I'm too tired after coming home from work. Or, I need to wait until I get inspired. And there's even the excuse that I have to wait until I can figure out what happens next. Unbelievable. Now that I can see the difference in my writing for myself, I am determined to continue this practice.

Yesterday a friend sent me an email about a writing contest for YA writers. It's being sponsored by Guide to Literary Agents. In order to submit to the contest they ask that you mention the contest in your social media, so I'm doing it here and on my Facebook page. The prizes are: a critique by literary agent Tamar Rydzinski and a free one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com. I'm game. How about you?

It's Good to be Home

2010-10-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my critique group. It's been a long time. Being with a group of incredible writers feels wonderful. My vacation was great, but I missed being with them. I missed the learning. I've come to love the comments they make on what we all write. I so appreciate the time they take with my work.

When I first started writing I dreaded critique. I thought everyone was telling me what I was doing wrong. In some crazy way I thought they were criticizing me. Man, was I all wet. Now I know they are telling me how to make each piece better. I look forward to seeing how this group of talented people will help me polish my work.

Today there were ghost stories and stories about vampires. After all it is that time of year. There were also stories about Christmas, historical issues, and even a visit to a bog.

I am stoked! Let's see what I can turn out this week.

Time to Head Home

2010-09-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's time to go home. This is our last night on the road. We've been traveling so long that I'm having difficulty remembering the day and date; although I have to admit it doesn't bother me one bit. It's been pleasurable and exciting. We traveled to places I've never been and spent time with friends I haven't seen in a long while.

Our last stop has been Arizona. It's hot, but no humidity! Now I have a really good reason for not moving east of New Mexico. Visiting is fine but I don't think I could live there. After all, I do enjoy wearing clothes that aren't sticking to me all the time, and dry hair is a definite plus. I have no idea how my friends do it. I've asked them. All they say is 'you get used to it.' Used to it? Why on earth would I want to do that?

So we're relocating here, Prescott, Arizona. It's small enough that things still move slowly, but large enough to provide all of the amenities of the larger cities. It reminds me of my home in Twin Peaks, but not as secluded.

Now I have to plan the move. The worst of it is going through all of our belongings to decide what things we'll take with us. OMG! I can't believe we have so much junk! A lot of it is good junk, though. We have some cool stuff; a potter's wheel, a very large air compressor, a drawing table, bookshelves, and books. I have hundreds of books. Parting with them is going to be really hard.

I guess I could donate them, but that means I won't have them to read anymore. I don't know if I can part with them. So what if I've read most of them, I could always read them again. I've read some of them two and three times. And what about the ones I haven't read yet? Do I donate those, too? Decisions, decisions.

Humidity

2010-09-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, the humidity is almost as bad as the toll booths. It never occurred to me how the country maintains its lovely green fields as we travel across the states. There are no sprinkler systems. Nor are there huge rigs spread across the hillsides keeping things green. IT'S THE HUMIDITY!

I have often complained to my friend in Iowa that her lawns are green without her having to do much of anything to keep them that way. In California I have to use lots of water if I want my lawn to stay lush and green. Not to mention the juggling act I have to keep up between the drought and the home-owners association. The water company says to stop watering because of the shortage and the association says we have an obligation to keep the grass green and attractive. It's crazy making.

If we lived in any of the states we've visited, we wouldn't have that problem. The water for their lawns comes right out of the air. That brings me right back to the problem of humidity.

How on earth do the people here make it. It's hot, sticky, and I feel like I'm going to drown with every breath. What makes it worse is that when you walk through open markets or the entrances to shops they have misters spraying the air with even more water. What is that about?

I get that they're trying to make it cooler, but it only increases the water content of the air. Sometimes I have to go into a shop just to be able to breathe. I feel like I should get a rebreather just to make it down the street. There must be a trick to breathing here. I haven't figured out, yet. Maybe I should ask somebody. I wonder if they have gills, or maybe there's some other secret they're not telling me about.

Oh, well, I heading back toward the desert, now. It's hot there too, but at least I'm not in danger of drowning.

Thoughts and Writing

2010-09-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

I've been traveling across the US with my husband since the beginning of August. We're due home by the end of September and we're enjoying all of the in between. While we were in Charleston, NC we attended a jazz festival. The music was great from start to finish. As usual it began with the lesser known/beginning artists and moved up the chain of experience and fame to the headliners, Spyro Gyra. This group has been playing since the 1970's. That's over thirty years of experience and it definitely shows in their music.

I was blown away by their talent, composition, and showmanship. It started me thinking about my own writing and the career I hope to have. It all comes down to time; time spent learning the craft and practicing the craft.

When I question my success it leads me to important questions: What is the extent of my commitment? Am I doing all I can to grow and improve? What is my resistance to greater commitment? Am I willing to pour my all into my writing?

It would be easy to say, 'yes', but would that be the truth? Looking at the time I've spent writing while traveling I'd have to answer, 'no'. So what am I willing to do about that?

I think what I need to do is sort out what I'm willing to do and take a long hard look at what that means in terms of the success and goals I want to achieve. The concert was very helpful in bringing me to this place. I've been here before, but not with such clarity about who I am and where I need to go from here.

The first jazz group was good. I enjoyed their music and would listen to them again. The second performer was Euge Groove, a very talented young man possessing great showmanship. He included the audience in his performance, gave the listeners what they were hoping for. I would definitely buy his CD. The last group, Spyro Gyra, was beyond beyond. Their music took me on one journey after another. My emotions were slammed. Their sound had color and texture.

How does this relate to writing, more importantly, my writing? It was clear to me that each performer was in a particular stage of development. I would say that I'm almost to the level of the first group. Again they were good, but not great. Euge Groove can be compared to the up and coming writer with a few books out there on the shelves, but clearly working on their craft and getting better with each new work. And Spyro Gyra, they're at the pinnacle of what is possible to achieve.

Each has invested considerable time and energy to get where they are and will likely continue. What about me? Will I?

The Toll Booth Saga

2010-08-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

You all know that I'm on a massive road trip. We've been to Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, and we're now in New Jersey. Visiting with friends has been lovely; getting to them, not so much.

The jaunt from Arizona to New Mexico was enjoyable. I looked forward to visiting with family friend I hadn't seen in over ten years. It was great, we just picked up where we left off. After several fun-filled days we left New Mexico and headed for Iowa.

Things were going fine, great weather, clear roads. Then we reached Kansas. Entering the state we went through a toll booth and accepted the little white piece of card stock with the magnetic information strip on the back and thought nothing of it. We later pulled into a KOA for the night. I should have known that the bold, bright red lettering across the top of the campsite map indicating the storm shelter was an omen for things to come.

Oh, the weather was fine. not a cloud in the sky. We even spied a gaggle of geese on the way out of the campgrounds the next morning. We got back onto the highway without any problems. Traffic was good. Off in the distance we could see another of those toll booths. No worries, right, we'd just pull up to the window insert that ticket we received the day before, pay the toll, and be on our way. Ha! No one told us it would cost us $23 to leave the state! OMG, $23 just to drive through!

We paid it and went on to Iowa. The scenery along the way was beautiful. We arrived in Iowa with little trouble and spent a week with another wonderful friend. At the end of the visit we started out for New Jersey.

We traveled through Indiana, another pleasant drive. We paid a small toll in Ohio and made it all the way to Pennsylvania and spent the night there. The KOA was great. They even had a small petting zoo, two goats and a cow, well, technically he was a bull.

We left the next morning and encountered another toll booth, because the last one we encountered in Ohio had charged so little we thought nothing of it. We accepted the ticket and traveled on. Little did we know this would be more of a Kansas experience.

Leaving Pennsylvania we arrive at the booth at the state's border, inserted the ticket and waited for the total due. $32!!! We they kidding? We had to pay them $32!

Now we were wary of any toll booths that loomed on our horizon. We arrived in New jersey and were making our way to the place we would store the RV during our visit. We missed our exit and had to travel through another toll booth to get off the highway and turn around. Considering our recent experience, we approached it with a bit of anxiety. The toll wasn't that bad compared to what we'd paid in Kansas and Pennsylvania. We exited, made a U-turn and got back on the highway. Can you believe it? They charged us to go back through even though we'd paid them less that ten minutes before. After a small discussion we paid the toll and headed back in the other direction.

No one told us we couldn't take the exit we needed from that direction, so off we go, make another U-turn, and get back on. What do you think was standing right there between us and the exit we needed? You guessed it, another toll booth. Do you think they would let us through considering we've now paid them a whopping $30? Noooo. We has to fork over another $15 to get where we were going. That makes $45!!!! OMG.

Now we know how they're planning to resolve the national debt---TOLL BOOTHS.

Getting Ready to Hit the Road

2010-08-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone? It's August! That means it's the end of summer and time to leave on the massive road trip my husband and I have planned. So now I'm packing furiously and trying to remember everything that we'll need. My biggest struggle is figuring out how to maintain a writing, critique, and blogging schedule.

I've managed to put some things in place, like mobile WiFi, getting a wireless printer for the RV, and arranging to swap manuscripts and chapters online. I think the most difficult part will be putting a writing schedule together and maintaining it; along with exercise.

I would love to visit some independent bookstores while I'm on the road. Here's my itinerary, if any of you can think of a bookstore I should stop by in one of the areas I plan to visit, please let me know. We're going to Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida, Maine, Indiana, and probably more places.

Wow, has it been that long?

2010-07-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm sure some of you are wondering where I've been and what I've been up to that would keep me away so long. Remember the wonderful distraction I now have? It's not the only one. I've been celebrating my birthday. It was July 21st, but I'm still celebrating.

I keep telling myself that it's time to get back to work, but apparently I'm not a very good listener. I got great gifts from my family and wonderful wishes from friends. My husband started with buying me the beach cruiser I've be drooling over. It's bronze with beautiful tan scroll work. It has a brown leather seat with braid and tassel trim. It even has a black basket in front and a bell. I've been riding it just about every day.

Then the darling man surprised me with an iPad! I have an iPad! I've been playing with it every day. There are so many wonderful things I can do with it. I've even been using it to keep up with the daily news. I'm still searching for great writing Apps. If any of you know of some good ones, please pass them my way.

Then my daughter and her family treated me to my favorite breakfast of tasty Belgian waffles and sausage, in bed! On top of that, they gifted me a Keurig coffee machine! I've been planning to buy that thing for over 3 years and now I have one. It makes great iced tea.

These are the thing that have been distracting me. I've asked myself, more than once, where is your discipline? The answer is, gone until after my birthday. But how long will that be? What will get me back in line?

Well it's going to have to be soon. I've got lots of work to do and storylines are calling out to me, begging me to come back.

Wonderful Distractions

2010-07-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

I told you my husband retired last month and he is my wonderful distraction. It's awesome having him home, but I can't seem to get anything done. The problem isn't him, it's me! I go into my study and sit in front of my computer. I even open the files I need to work on. When I'm in here, he doesn't come in to disturb me or even call me into the room where he is. He respects my space and waits until I'm either taking a break or finished with that session.

It's me! Here's how it happens. I'm sitting in front of the computer, writing or revising whatever. I hear him laugh or comment about something in another room. I have to go see what he's saying or doing. I know the man isn't talking to me. He could be talking to our daughter, the grandchildren, or even on the telephone, but I have to go. He doesn't even have to be saying anything, just the thought of him being there sends me scurrying to look at him.

He's really supportive of my writing. He asks, "Are you taking a break now, you just got started?" Or "Did you finish that scene already?" Sometimes it's even, "Did you need to read something to me?" He's really a great guy and that's part of the problem. I just want to be around him all of the time.

He assures me it will wear off as time goes by, but I'm not sure. He even offered to leave the house while I write. That's not going to happen, I just got him back! I have to hope he's right about the newness wearing off, otherwise I'm in deep trouble. It's just that he's hot, and buff, and nice like all firemen. And he's MINE!

A Great Hero Passes the Baton

2010-06-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

Today is my husband's last day as a firefighter. He's been on the job for about 32 years. He has loved every minute of it! He would argue that point saying that he loved fighting the fire, but hated the 3am rescues of people who called because they couldn't sleep.

I was invited to the fire station to join in the send off. The celebration was from 10am to 3pm. Engine after engine came through with all of the firefighters wishing him well. Each had something wonderful to say about him. I heard so many AJ stories, most of which had us laughing until our sides ached. I can't tell you how many took me aside to tell me about the positive effect he's had on their careers. One guy said, "we've all heard of the man's man, well AJ is the firefighter's firefighter." Being in a room with so many who put their lives on the line every day was humbling. Listening to them attribute much of their skill to the time my husband spent training them was really over the top!

This has been an awesome brotherhood and I have been blessed to be able to see it in action. At the end of the day (mine, not his, he's still at work) we were taken to dinner by the guys in his station. It was hilarious driving up in the engine and watching the valet try to figure out if he should offer to park the big red thing. Of course he wasn't allowed to. So the engineer parked it on a side of the parking lot opposite rows of Bentleys and very high end Mercedes. Frankly, our ride cost just as much, if not more, than theirs. *smile*

Today has been wonderful. The best part of it is knowing that I will have the privilege of sharing his company for the rest of my life! Happy Retirement AJ. We all love you.

Frustration!

2010-06-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

I am so frustrated right now, I could bite someone's head off. This writing thing is crazy. It's so very difficult to know what the truth is. How on earth do I find out the truth. No one in the writing profession commits to saying anything that is helpful. That's not completely true I had an agent tell me the writing was flat in places and of course he was right.

So I went through the ms with a fine-toothed comb. I find exactly what he's talking about and change it. The flat places came from trying to put too much information in places where it wasn't necessary or helpful in moving the story along.

I wish someone could tell me if I should continue to shop the ms around or move on to the next thing. Trying to look at things realistically, I haven't sent it around as much as "they" say you should, whoever 'they' are. How many times should it go out? How do I know when to quit?

This stuff is so subjective that agents are reluctant to say it's bad because it just may not be what they like. I understand what they mean because I've had friends recommend books that they loved and I just thought they were so-so or didn't like them at all.

How do I find the agent with the taste for what I write?

New Things

2010-06-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I saw something brand new: Synchronized Treatmilling! First, I never new such a thing existed. Second, it happened at church, and third, it was a hoot and very clever.

Because yesterday was Father's Day our church celebrated with what they called ManDate. The campus was turned into an amusement park. There was rock climbing, motocross, four-wheeling (big trucks including a Hummer), hatchet throwing, bands, and meat - BBQ. There was more, but I can't remember it all. It was kicked of with the synched treadmilling. I wish I had brought a camera. By the time I remembered that my digital recorded video, it was over. I'll have to ask around to see if anyone recorded it.

It inspired lots of book ideas. I'm not quite sure how to put them together yet, but I have written them down. Later I'll sort through them and see which ones are viable, but I know something's there.

Writing and Loving It

2010-06-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

I love to write and the whole writing process; my process, anyway. I start with an idea. They come from anywhere. Most of the time ideas happen when I'm sitting and people-watching. It isn't what they say or do, it's what they don't do and don't say.

For instance, I was at the store and a mother in line with me was trying to tell her child "no" about some candy. She told the child "no" several times and each time the child tried to explain why the mom should buy it. After a bit, the mother became frustrated and said, "I said you can't have that. What about that can't you understand." The child asked again. Then the mom shouted, "What? You didn't understand me? I used English. What language do you speak? Chinese?" She turned to the rest of the people in line and asked if any of us spoke Chinese."

After nearly choking to death on smothered laughter, I got an idea. The story idea that came from it was about a teen who suddenly speaks a strange language and can no longer understand English.

Having the storyline build in my head was awesome. Letting the characters unfold literally feels good in my mind. The best part is watching it take form on paper. I love it!

I've Been Thinking

2010-06-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about where to go from here. My plan is to continue to query agents about Nubian Princess and see how things go. So far I might have two interested, but it's early yet and we'll see what shakes out.

It took me a moment to get back on track, but here I am. Friends and family have been very supportive. My husband is the best guy on the planet. Really. (You might think yours is, but it's really mine.) He encourages me constantly and helps in whatever way he can.

I've decided to work on the next NP book. It's my way of having a tantrum. I think this may be the longest running tantrum ever because it's going to take me a while to get the manuscript finished. The best part about it is that I'm enjoying revisiting Nubia and the characters. I will have to do more research, but that's part of the fun.

I've found out about a press that specializes in YA multicultural science fiction. What a prize! When I finish this manuscript, I'll get back to my other love. The stars are out there waiting for me and I plan to get there.

Not This Time

2010-06-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your support of my entry into the Amazon contest and your paitience in my blogging about it at every opportunity. They didn't chose me. What a bummer. The day I found out was really difficult. It caused me to question my abilities as a writer and my choice of subject matter in my writing. I had to have a serious talk with myself.

I have decided that I have to truly listen to what professionals say about my writing and hold onto that. I have been told by several editors that my writing is 'very good' to 'excellent'. These editors are from major houses, so I have to believe they know what they're talking about. That means my writing is in the ballpark.

That takes me to the subject matter of my writing; therein lies the problem. Each time a major editor reviewed/critiqued my work, they were impressed with the writing but the story wasn't something that fit with what they were looking for. One even suggested something they'd love me to write which was a subject I'm not ready to work with.

Should I change and write what has been asked for or should I write what is within me? What is within me is much more positive and encouraging. What she asked for would take me to a very dark place. I'm not sure that if I visit that place I would be able to leave it. That would not be helpful to me of those around me.

Being a person of color requires that I keep some things locked away because there is no resolution to them. It is very difficult for someone who has not experienced this as a way of life to understand the impact
this has on everything one thinks, sees, and does. It is my hope that the things I choose to write about help change that for those who come after me.

Who knows? I may be fooling myself or even shooting myself in the foot. Only time will tell.

Interview with a Princess

2010-05-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here it is folks, as promised. It took me longer than I thought. It's really difficult to look and sound professional with tissue crammed in your nose. Today I'm much better and definitely presentable. So now I'm sitting across from Princess Kandake. I'm so excited about this opportunity I need my notes to keep everything I want to ask from getting mixed up. She graciously agreed to answer questions many of us have about her position as King Amani's daughter and an heir to his throne. Let's get started.

Good morning, Princess Kandake, thank you for coming. How are you? Nubia is quite some distance to travel, how was the trip?

I am well, thank you. The journey was difficult but pleasant. Having the readers so invested in my story made stepping off the pages fairly simple. The difficult part was the journey through time. It seems things have changed greatly. In your time very few people travel by horseback and your travel routes are so filled with what you call cars, makes getting from one place to the next a little frustrating.

Yes, I imagine our world is very different from yours. Would you describe Nubia for us?

Your world does have differences than mine. Nubia is a place full of promise and opportunity, beauty and strength. If you were to visit, you would see why I love it. Because we are close to the Nile River, our land is lush, it keeps our grasses growing and that keeps the cattle healthy. We are a hard-working people. We trade in items we make from iron and other metals. Our animal hides are in high demand and so is what we make from frankincense, like our medicines and kohl. But what Nubia is best known for is our warriors, which, by the way, are male and female.

I can see that you love Nubia, why wouldn't you want to rule over it?

In this time, people seem to think being queen is a wonderful thing, something everyone should want to be. Being queen and ruling over a kingdom is very difficult and constraining. There is little room for yourself.

Difficult? Constraining? What do you mean?

A queen has great responsibilities. She must ensure that all of her people have enough food to eat and the medicines they need regardless of what happens with the cattle or crops. She must make sure the laws of the kingdom are fair to everyone and settle any disputes that arise. It is the queen that holds the kingdom together. And that's just what happens in Nubia. A queen must know her neighbors well and determine if they are allies or enemies. She must also be aware of what is happening in those kingdoms and how this effects Nubia. Besides, a queen can't go hunting whenever she wants.

That does seem like a lot of responsibility, but isn't being a warrior dangerous?

Life is dangerous. What matters most is how I live that life. I could spend my days making decisions that others have to carry out. Or, I could spend my days doing what the ruler commands and making sure those necessary things get done. I'm more of a doer.

You say that you want to be Nubia's next Prime Warrior, doesn't that mean you would have to give commands?

Yes, but I get to participate in those commands. The Prime Warrior is required to have the same or better skills as all the warriors. She would protect the way of life in Nubia from all enemies. I'm already really good with a bow and my skills at combat are growing every day.

Before we wrap things up for today, one of my readers would like to know how old you have to be to begin warrior training?

In Nubia we begin learning skills like riding a horse or shoot an arrow at a very young age. These skills are important to hunting and providing food. As you get older, say about 9 years old, you begin training at the trade you desire.

Why begin training so young?

For us 9 years is not not very young. We are declared adults at 14 years, a much younger age than in your world. Here, you don't start your adult life until 18 years.

Princess Kandake, thank you so much for your time. I understand that you are open to another interview. I look forward to our meeting again.

You are very welcome. I look forward to our talking again, soon.

That does it for today. Be sure to get your questions to me, Princess Kandake will be available to answer them in our net interview.

I Can't Believe It's Been So Long!

2010-05-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, how long does a cold last, anyway. Today I finally woke up with energy, feeling well, and having a brain. Although, there are those that would say that the brain thing is debatable.

Saturday I attended Agent's Day in Newport Beach, a SCBWI event where four agents presented. I rode down with three of my writing buddies. It was great to catch up on what we're all doing and hoping for. The weather was overcast (surprise... not) with a cool breeze. Two of the four agents really impressed me. They presented as informative and human. The last characteristic is really important.

Writing is fun and enjoyable even though it is a lot of work. Submitting is a little scary, but a necessity. Meeting agents and editors is terrifying! I always go to brain freeze when there's an opportunity to speak with them. I push myself to do it, but afterward I kick myself for not talking about anything interesting. My assumption is that if I continue to work at it, this disability will leave me.

Saturday I had a moment to speak with one of the agents. She was immediately approachable, inviting, and warm. We talked about reading my work and her backlog of things to get done. I realize that all agents have pile of work to do, not to mention the queries that flood their mailboxes (email included) daily, but sometimes the way they present this is a little off-putting. What I hear is, "I'm not sure if reading your work is worth the time I'd be taking from more pressing things." I doubt that any of them is ever saying that, but it's how it comes across to me. This particular agent didn't have any of that tone in her conversation with me or any of the others at the event.

I hope that when she reads my submission she finds it something she would love to represent. I'd love to work with her.

Can You Stand to Hear More?

2010-04-27T23:47:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine just emailed me the review by Publisher's Weekly. OMG!! I may have that stroke after all. Here's what it said.

From Publishers Weekly

This stellar historical novel brings ancient Nubia to life as one girl struggles to understand her destiny. Kandake, 14, is the youngest child of King Amani, ruler of Nubia. Her desire is to protect the land she loves as a warrior, but the decision is not in her hands. When Great Mother announces Kandake as the heir to the throne, she sadly accepts the inevitable, striving to understand Great Mother’s reasoning. Meanwhile bandits have been raiding Nubia’s trading caravans, and Egypt, Nubia’s ally and neighbor, is asking for assistance to protect its borders from the Assyrians. When Kandake’s brother Alara fails to return from a hunting expedition, King Amari makes a difficult decision: Nubia must use her resources to defend her border. Alara’s rescue must take second place. Unwilling to accept this decision, Kandake and her friends sneak away to find Alara. This skillfully crafted novel weaves cultural details into a remarkable, well-structured plot featuring a strong African heroine. The characters are fully developed, and their motivations, inspirations, and the growing maturity of these teens are believable. Readers will eagerly hope for a sequel to resolve the larger political issues facing Nubia and its future Queen.

Can you believe it. It doesn't get any better than this. If it does I'd better be sitting down and have a canister of oxygen standing by.

WOW!! Semifinalist!

2010-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

That's right, I've made it to the semi finals. I can barely stand it. The contest started with 5,000 entries. Then that was cut to 1,000 and again to 500. Now they have cut that down to 50 and I'm still in the running. How awesome is that?!

I checked the website early this morning and the list had not been posted. Then I checked again in the afternoon and still nothing. I went to the movies to distract myself. I saw How to Train a Dragon, a really cute film. When I got back I went online to the Amazon site and found that the list was posted AND MY NAME WAS ON IT!!!!

If you still haven't reviewed the excerpt, now is the time.

Go to http://www.amazon.com/ and search Nubian Princess by Stephanie Jefferson. It's Kindle ready. No Kindle? Don't worry, just download Kindle for PC/Mac.

Now buy ($0.00) Nubian Princess. It will be downloaded to your Kindle PC/Mac. Read the excerpt and then review it on Amazon. Of course you loved it and will give it a 5 star rating. Don't wait to do this. The editors are reading all the reviews and using that as part of the judging criteria.

Now here's the big deal, between May 25 and June 2 vote for NUBIAN PRINCESS.

The Princess

2010-04-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Lately there has been some controversy over a princess who does not want to be queen. There are those who have called her selfish, foolish, or even immature. Having grown up in the US where there are only elected officials, I wonder about that question, too.

All of the tales we read and have read talk about a prince or princess fighting to get to the throne. There are even stories where siblings fight for that privilege to rule. Then there's the buzz that we get over here about the Royal Family in Great Britain. To me it looks like you get a lot of what you want, wear really nice clothes, and ride in parades waving at people. There's always the problem of having you mate chosen for you, or the public appearances you have to make whether you want to or not. But from the perspective of most of us, being a Royal looks pretty cushy.

Yet, there is a princess that has made it pretty clear that the throne is not on her list of things to do. I thought it would be nice to get her perspective on what it would be like and why she would choose differently. I was able to reach Princess Kandake and she graciously agreed to interview with us. She is more than willing to answer any questions you might have about being a member of a royal family.

We're still trying to work out a date that works for both of our schedules. Since the date is not yet set, you have time to pose any questions you might have for her in the comments of this blog. Once the date is set, I will announce it in time to collect those last minute questions. So get those questions in.

The Fury of the One-Armed Paper Hanger

2010-04-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Now I know how politicians feel when they're in the middle of campaigning. Once I found out I'd made it to the quarter finals, I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger (as my mother would say). Posting on Facebook, tweeting, blogging, creating and distributing postcards and flyers. All to get you to download the excerpt of my book and write a review. Have you done it yet? If you haven't, get to it! The steps are fairly easy.

1. Go to Nubian Princess by Stephanie Jefferson.
2. Click the 'buy' link to download. The cost is a whopping $0.00, but I don't think that will break this week's budget. If you don't have a Kindle, the right sidebar has a free download for PC or Mac.
3. Read and enjoy the excerpt.
3. Now write your review raving about the wonderful writing and story. You'll want to give it a 5 star rating.
4. I will thank you profusely for you review.

Of course this is a shameless plug for my book. Did you expect anything else? Now click the link, click the link!

Date Confusion!

2010-04-02T11:30:00.001-07:00

Boy! I had no idea how much the excitement of moving to the next round would cloud my ability to reason! I have been telling people about the Amazon/Penguin Contest and not giving complete information. I think my brain is a little clearer and I'll try again.

First, I need you to read and review my excerpt of Nubian Princess at amazon.com. Here's how:

1. Log in at www.amazon.com If you don't have an account with Amazon it's simple to do and it's FREE!

2. Search Nubian Princess by Stephanie Jefferson.

3. Download the excerpt. The price is a whopping $0.00. Be aware this download is for Kindle. If you don't have a Kindle, there's a FREE download that's Kindle for PC or Mac. FREE!

4. Read the excerpt.

5. Write a glowing review (of course it will rate 5 stars!) and post it.

Second, I need you to do this really soon, like before May 18th. The sooner you do it the better. The judges are making selections for the next round so do it now, Now, NOW!

This concludes my shameless attempt to get you to help me get the much coveted contract with Penguin. My next shameless attempt to get you to help me will be the information you need about voting for me!

I'm Almost Home

2010-03-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

We docked in Florida late this morning. Now I'm resting in the hotel. I fly back to California at noon tomorrow. Now for the really interesting news.

On Tuesday I found out that I made it to the quarterfinals in the Amazon/Penguin Breakthrough Novel Contest. Hooray for me! You can read an excerpt of the manuscript on Amazon.com. To do this go to http://www.amazon.com/ and search Nubian Princess by Stephanie Jefferson. You'll be able to download, read, and review it if you have an account with Amazon. If you don't, you can start one. It's very easy and free.

The download is for a Kindle. If you don't have a Kindle (neither do I), first download Kindle for PC, Mac, or iPhone from that same website (also free), then "buy" the excerpt at a whopping price of $0.00 (Why don't they just say it's free?) All of this is FREE.

Once you do this you can read the excerpt and leave a review. I would love for you to tell me what you think. Then May 25 12:01 AM EST through June 2 11:59PM EST you can (must) vote for me. The Grand Prize is a contract with Penguin!!!

Man, am I stoked!