I will be taking a hiatus from blogging until the middle of June. At that time, I will reveal my NEW blog. I'm aiming to help independently pubbed authors (and authors with small press publishers) to receive the credit, exposure, and laud they deserve.
The world of publishing is super hard and my new blog will strive to give everyone the equal footing they deserve.
What you can look forward to:
*Interviews
*Giveaways
*Baby trailers (I have a Mac so making iMovies to promote the works I review)
*Reviews from my students--both MG and YA
*Indie books my lovely librarian friend from LAUSD is ordering based on reviews FROM MY STUDENTS
*Kindle/Nook pick of the week for ADULT titles
*Pretend cover art generated by MY STUDENTS
I'm thinking I will focus on 1 book/author a week. This means Monday would be interview, Wednesday would be review/student reactions and Friday would be baby trailer/cover art.
Hope to see you in June when I launch my grand idea to help promote Indie and small press authors!!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
New Blog Idea
So I've been contemplating something for a while, my little bloggy friends. The days pass, and I am hardly ever able to visit other blogs or post multiple days a week. I just don't have the time available because of my job. Besides, there are a TON of writerly blogs that you can go to for advice, commiseration, etc.
Sooooooooooooooooo, I've decided to transform my blog.
Instead of focusing on myself--which I am totally boring anyway--I am going to start helping authors to promote their work. I'm thinking I want to help indie authors though I have no problem promoting everyone. It makes no difference to me. :)I'm also thinking about having my students read a book and review it so you can get the middle grade/high school perspective.
But how does one go about doing this? Do I contact those authors and ask to promote them? Do I conduct interviews? Do I have a giveaway once a month for the authors I promote (I am kind of poor--*cough*...teacher--but I can afford a bit of a giveaway a month).
Do you guys have any advice on how I can help to promote other authors and transform this site? Do you have example sites I could check out?
Sooooooooooooooooo, I've decided to transform my blog.
Instead of focusing on myself--which I am totally boring anyway--I am going to start helping authors to promote their work. I'm thinking I want to help indie authors though I have no problem promoting everyone. It makes no difference to me. :)I'm also thinking about having my students read a book and review it so you can get the middle grade/high school perspective.
But how does one go about doing this? Do I contact those authors and ask to promote them? Do I conduct interviews? Do I have a giveaway once a month for the authors I promote (I am kind of poor--*cough*...teacher--but I can afford a bit of a giveaway a month).
Do you guys have any advice on how I can help to promote other authors and transform this site? Do you have example sites I could check out?
Monday, December 17, 2012
Epiphany!
I just finished reading the novel The Maze Runner. I thought I would be bored by it despite the best seller stamp (some best sellers I am just not huge into but I totes applaud the work). However, all I could think whilst reading this novel was...
...this is amazing.
...this novel has excellent characterization.
...what a great example of 3rd person utilization!
...could the plot be any more suspenseful?
...how did I not pick this up RIGHT AWAY?
Well, I can tell you I didn't pick up the novel right away because of the cover. It is horrid, IMO. It reminds me of a Heinlein cover from way back when. In fact, I kind of wonder if we have a cover that is *almost* the same somewhere on our shelves. We do!!!! Can you guess which one?? It is greeeeeeen...
Honestly, I might have missed out on one awesome novel just because of the cover. How often we go for aesthetically pleasing covers over content. Okay, maybe you don't. BUT I SO do.
Seriously, people. Go out and read this novel. You won't regret it.
Next week, I will examine this novel in relation to WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL. You won't want to miss it.
Er, maybe you will. It is Christmas after all.
But let's just say this novel has led to an epiphany of gigantic proportions for me in the area of being a reader AND a writer. So if you care at all to hear my drivel, tune in next week!
...this is amazing.
...this novel has excellent characterization.
...what a great example of 3rd person utilization!
...could the plot be any more suspenseful?
...how did I not pick this up RIGHT AWAY?
Well, I can tell you I didn't pick up the novel right away because of the cover. It is horrid, IMO. It reminds me of a Heinlein cover from way back when. In fact, I kind of wonder if we have a cover that is *almost* the same somewhere on our shelves. We do!!!! Can you guess which one?? It is greeeeeeen...
Honestly, I might have missed out on one awesome novel just because of the cover. How often we go for aesthetically pleasing covers over content. Okay, maybe you don't. BUT I SO do.
Seriously, people. Go out and read this novel. You won't regret it.
Next week, I will examine this novel in relation to WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL. You won't want to miss it.
Er, maybe you will. It is Christmas after all.
But let's just say this novel has led to an epiphany of gigantic proportions for me in the area of being a reader AND a writer. So if you care at all to hear my drivel, tune in next week!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Ugh...War of the Worlds
Creating a world is freaking hard work. I knew it would be because I read all of Tolkien's novels--yes, The Silmarillion included. You know you are a Tolkien super fan when you have read that.
However, I so did not think it would be this hard. I utilized the world building check list I cited in one of my other posts (and let me tell you that thing is freaking THOROUGH!)to help me.
It is slow going on the new novel because of all the world building involved. I like the world a lot and my CP gave it a go (she is awesome at world building), but this novel is so much harder to write than my contemporary novels.
Why oh why did I decide to write sci-fi? (Hell, I shoulda written a poetry anthology because I have mad rhyming skills, yo!)
Hope all your writing endeavors are going swimmingly! (I totes hung out with British guys this weekend for the 12 Bars of Christmas. I now have a new-found love for the word "swimmingly.")
However, I so did not think it would be this hard. I utilized the world building check list I cited in one of my other posts (and let me tell you that thing is freaking THOROUGH!)to help me.
It is slow going on the new novel because of all the world building involved. I like the world a lot and my CP gave it a go (she is awesome at world building), but this novel is so much harder to write than my contemporary novels.
Why oh why did I decide to write sci-fi? (Hell, I shoulda written a poetry anthology because I have mad rhyming skills, yo!)
Hope all your writing endeavors are going swimmingly! (I totes hung out with British guys this weekend for the 12 Bars of Christmas. I now have a new-found love for the word "swimmingly.")
Monday, November 12, 2012
Deep In...
I am deep in the trenches right now. Writing, writing, writing. I actually like this story thus far and am driven to write it. I never thought I would want to write Sci-Fi. Go figure. I do.
Hope all of you are loving writing right now as much as I am! No real news. Nothing to report.
Just........I am writing.
What a wonderful feeling!
Hope all of you are loving writing right now as much as I am! No real news. Nothing to report.
Just........I am writing.
What a wonderful feeling!
Monday, October 29, 2012
How Many Publishing Houses Will Be Left?
So, I bet you heard about the merger between Penguin and Random House. You've probably already blogged about it, too. I'm always the last to know. Okay. Maybe I wasn't completely in the dark. Thing were hinted at during our Pearson review of textbooks (though it was a different publishing house when I heard of a potential merger). Not that I have a stake in any house what-so-ever. *Tear*
Every day I am more amazed with the changing climate of the publishing world. It makes me wonder how many other larger publishing houses are going to merge in order to stay in the black.
The new venture will now be called Penguin Random House if the deal is approved (pending approval...see article link). Come on, guys! You are two publishing giants and that's the most creative name you could come up with? Sheesh.
I thought I would make up a couple names and send them in. Just kidding.
Or am I?
Random Penguin, anyone? What about House of the Penguin? Or Pandom Renguin?
Here's the link if you're interested!
Happy Monday!
Every day I am more amazed with the changing climate of the publishing world. It makes me wonder how many other larger publishing houses are going to merge in order to stay in the black.
The new venture will now be called Penguin Random House if the deal is approved (pending approval...see article link). Come on, guys! You are two publishing giants and that's the most creative name you could come up with? Sheesh.
I thought I would make up a couple names and send them in. Just kidding.
Or am I?
Random Penguin, anyone? What about House of the Penguin? Or Pandom Renguin?
Here's the link if you're interested!
Happy Monday!
Monday, October 15, 2012
World Building Resources
So I'm completely captivated by serious world building. The fact that greats like Tolkien and Lewis could build whole worlds with all the nuances just amazes me. It's so freaking hard to do!
Sooooooo, if you are stuck with what to add in your world, here are a few resources I've recommended to others. Let me know if you've come across any other resources as well.
AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME WOT PROMOTE YOUR WORK. It's super hard for me to keep track of works being released. Send me an email and I will add it to my list. :)
1. From the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America site
2. An article on organic world building
3. A simplified version of world building from Suzan Butler
Enjoy and happy Monday!
Sooooooo, if you are stuck with what to add in your world, here are a few resources I've recommended to others. Let me know if you've come across any other resources as well.
AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME WOT PROMOTE YOUR WORK. It's super hard for me to keep track of works being released. Send me an email and I will add it to my list. :)
1. From the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America site
2. An article on organic world building
3. A simplified version of world building from Suzan Butler
Enjoy and happy Monday!
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