deliRiUm - on life and writing

Snow Patrol's Open Your Eyes

2012-02-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

My current musical obsession this week - Snow Patrol's "Open Your Eyes."

I've had it on loop for the last twenty four hours, and have probably heard it over one hundred fifty times.

My favorite parts: the amazing musical end - and the lyrics that say:

"get up, get out, get away from these liars, 'cause they don't get your soul or your fire."

Open Your Eyes Snow Patrol Official Music Video

Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris

2012-02-15T08:53:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

Woody Allen. I know I know. Depending on how old you are, this name will either make you roll your eyes so deep into the back of your head you may start having involuntary seizures or you will immediately throw on your 'cool kid status' - whatever that may be (hipster, preppie, scenester, or the self proclaimed 'originalist') - and start spewing off one liners from Annie Hall or Bananas.

Either way, I promise that you will love Midnight in Paris.

The premise is quite simple -

Boy and Girl go to Paris (pre-wedding)
Boy is a writer fascinated with the 1920's Golden Age
Boy is walking the streets of Paris at midnight and an old fashioned 'motor car' picks him up and takes him to 1920's Paris.
Boy is in the company of the Fitzgerald's, 'Papa', Picasso, Dali, Gertrude Stein, Josephine Baker...and the list goes on and on...

It is a tale of love and nostalgia, but most of all...it is a story about how to find true happiness in this ride we call life.

"To thine own self be true..." Polonius.

The Book of Mormon

2012-02-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

Thanks to my nifty (can we still say that word or does it automatically catapult me to mid century housewife mode?), wicked (now that one is going on "the list"), totally deck (...better), iPhone NPR app, I recently heard an interview with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on The Book of Mormon.

And to quote the late Jobs..."Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!"

The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a remote village in northern Uganda (even though they wanted to go to their favorite place in the whole world.....Orlando! Ha!).

The NPR interview was great because it played several snipits of a variety of songs in the musical, and without question, Trey and Matt have done it again. Oh...some of you will be insulted in that very special "But wait, you must laugh because its totally true!" way Parker and Stone have.

I suppose there is no choice now but to go see them in Broadway!

Wait...I have to blog about Madonna!

2012-02-06T09:35:00.001-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

Giants? Patriots? Game? Wings? Wait! Who cares! Madonna was amazing! Not only did she look incredibly beautiful (and can still pull off "super cute" at...what is it? 52? which btw it's the new 30) - but her back to backer of her hits made many of us tear up.

Madonna is not just the quintessential entertainer of the twentieth/first century, but she also represents (at the risk of sounding corny - and I can't think of it any other way to put it) what being true to yourself, and hedging your bets on your dreams can help you achieve.

Like a Virgin?
Papa Don't Preach?
Her affair with Ingrid?
The Sex Book?
Like a Prayer?

Who would've thunk it! She was telling the world how she saw it and we were all nodding in unison.

When my four year old asked me who the pretty lady was...I told him it was Lady Gaga's mom.

Here's my favorite part of her show - a horsey ride on Redfoo, can she be any cuter?

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest Now Open!

2012-02-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

Just a quick note to let you know the contest is now up and running!

ABNA

The Fight to the Death!

2012-02-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

This is my first - but not my last post - I'm sure, with regards to The Hunger Games! The movie is out March 26 and I can't hardly wait...

For those of you who read the book - you understand how the novelist, so masterfully, catapulted readers right into the post-apocalyptic world of Capitol City. The Hunger Games was an exciting read from page one! The characters rich and unforgettable - Katniss, at only seventeen, chosing to save her sister's life. Peeta, the young baker boy - madly in love with a girl he can never have....the bloodbaths of the deadly game!

Does anything else need to be said?

By the time I finished the book, I felt like I was one of the characters, like I had been completely and utterly submerged in this world and I did not want to come back. Now this, my Dearly Debloggers, this is good writing.

Let's talk craft a little.

What really gets me about THG is that the idea itself is not fresh at all. It's an old idea recycled (i.e, The Running Man) - and did it matter at all? Did we care for even one second that we'd seen this plot before? Albeit, not in teen fiction (well okay, maybe Lord of the Flies?) but still...not a new plot by any means.

And that just goes to prove once more....its not about plot people....its about the characters the writer creates and the choices they have to make - no matter (do I dare say it) the plot.

I hope you join me March 26 as we all watch in amazement....The Fight to the Death.

So here's what happened

2012-01-26T18:36:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

OMG it's freaking 2012 and my first post this year, but hold on! There's a reason why! I had this idea that I could just swap into Wordpress willy nilly, like nooooo problem, and urg, it's been a little tougher than I anticipated, only because I want a certain look, the dashboard is not cooperating, etc etc etc.

So what's going on in the writing world?

The Innocents is almost ready to get published, the artist, who by the way is doing a fantastic job - and I will be publishing more about her at a later date- is almost done with the book cover.

Then - it will be submitted for publishing! Soon!

My goals for 2012 -
- publish THE INNOCENTS - status green
- work on TPAT first draft (OMG I can't hardly wait!) - status yellow

XOXO to all my Dearly DeBloggers! 2012! Woot Woot (OMG, Woot Woot is SO going on the list!)

Check out all these Writing Contests in 2012!

2011-12-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers, more contests!

Writing Contests! Contests! Contests! 2012!

You may say...I'm a dreamer....but I'm not the only one...

2011-12-08T11:18:00.002-05:00

RIP John Lennon Dec 8th, 1980. Thank you for changing the world....

Checking in With Dearly DeBloggers

2011-12-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

After spending one whole month of literary abandon with NANOWRIMO and completing (well almost completing), the first draft of THE POISONED APPLE TREE, - I am beat.

I am taking a break for about two to three weeks - and taking one last pass at THE INNOCENTS, which will be coming out in Kindle March/April of 2012! Very exciting!

It is really hard to step away from TPAT for a whole month, but I think its very much needed. I have been away from it for two days, and new ideas are already forming, new things taking shape. Amazing what can happen to the well when you let it fill back up again.

In other news I just completed reading Beth Hull's new novel, THE BLACK CITY, and I have to say...I think HARRY POTTER has met his match. I promise to bring you a preview soon once I clear it with Beth! Her novel made it to the Baker's Dozen contest! Very exciting! I think we will all be downloading THE BLACK CITY on Kindle very soon!!

Guess what! I am one day early!

2011-11-29T22:53:00.000-05:00

The Poisoned Apple Tree has made it to 51K words, and the good news is that I got the cool "I won" badge from NANOWRIMO, and the other cool thing is that I have a first draft of my new novel! The not so cool news is that this novel will realistically need another 10-15K words (about a week and a half), to really complete the first draft. I will continue to write and take it to the end hopefully over the next week or so.

Then the real work begins. Revision.

Question for the audience:

Do you think you should write a first draft all the way through before going back and revising?

or

Do you think you should stop midway, revise, and then finish?

Stephen King says A. I think I will do that with this novel. I am so close to the end of it and I have taken no peeks at all to what I have written before - the fact that I had a character map/and location map when I began to write really helped me not have to go back and remember which characters, or what the location looked like....

Congrats to me!

Festivus for the rest of us!

2011-11-28T11:28:00.002-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

Forget Thanksgiving and Christmas, hell, forget New Years too! How can we preoccupy ouselves with such nonsense holidays when Festivus is right around the corner?

What other holiday provides activities as "The Airing of the Grievances, and The Feats of Strength?

Join the rest of us on Dec 23rd for Festivus!

Ahhhh....another Festivus mircacle!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

Writing Maladies - by Nathan Bransford

2011-11-22T11:22:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers, this was too cute (and true) to pass up. Thanks Nathan!

Writing Maladies to watch out for, get a vaccine! Pronto!

In other news, The Poisoned Apple Tree is at 38K, I will have 50K by 11/30, and I got a feeling it is going to end up being a 75Ker - trying to contain the monster!

Catching the Rye:

Well you probably first want to have read this book by J.D. Salinger with an immediately catchy voice that kind of spoke to a generation or some nonsense, and after you do that you may be corrupted with that voice in your head for some time if you want to know the truth of the matter. If you really want to think about it it’s already been done and anyway the guy who wrote it didn’t end up wanting to talk to anyone anymore and holed up in a house somewhere so that can’t have been good and you probably want to try and go and write your own voice so you’re not a phony.

Adverb Central:

“What do you mean I can’t use adverbs with dialogue tags?” Lucia asked questioningly.

“Just don’t do it,” Nathan replied testily.

“But why not?” Lucia asked quizzically.

“It’s kind of a rule,” Nathan said resignedly.

“I kind of like them,” Lucia said poutingly.

“If you keep using adverbs,” Nathan said patiently, “Pretty soon your reader will only notice the adverbs and not the dialogue because the adverbs are doing all the work for the reader.”

“Oh,” Lucia said understandingly.

“Yeah,” Nathan nodded knowingly.

Gee Whiz That’s a Lot of Exposition:

“But what is it?” Captain Spaceman asked.

“I’m glad you asked,” his crack scientist said. “It’s a ‘What’s It.’ It is a device that requires me to explain to you precisely how the technology in this world works so the writer can get some exposition out of the way.”

“But why wouldn’t I already know how the technology works?” Captain Spaceman asked. “I am the captain, aren’t I?”

“That’s the beauty of it,” the scientist said. “You will impatiently prod me along while I tell the reader exactly what they need to know even though there is no good reason for us to be having this conversation. You might even say ‘Yes yes, go on.’”

“Yes yes, go on,” Captain Spaceman said.

“And I’ll be sure to include some foreshadowing. I mean, sir, just think of what would happen if the ‘What’s It’ fell into the wrong hands... You might even be moved to weigh in on the gravity of the situation.”

Captain Spaceman scratched his chin. “My gods, that would be catastrophic.”

Olympic Head Jumping:

Jackie saw the problem approach from a mile away. She turned to Richard, who was wondering about the weather that day and thought nothing of Susan, who was sitting quietly and wasn’t expecting the problem at all. Jackie wondered at that moment how everything had gone wrong, while Richard’s eyes widened as he saw another person approaching, Derrick, who gave a wave as he approached, happy to see his friends. Susan began to notice something was amiss and gave a start, which Richard noticed and looked in Derrick’s direction while Jackie had already been onto the problem from the start, ignoring the quizzical expression on Derrick’s face as he tried to understand. No one had any idea what was really happening.

Fantasy Overload:

“We are hearty warriors! Let us share a hearty chuckle! Ha ha ha!” Pentrarch said.

There was a glint in Lentwendon’s eye as he took a swill from a mighty cistern of ale. He bellowed a deep laugh and clapped his friend on the back.

“I say,” Pentrarch said, “What is it about fantasy novels that lends itself to such stilted, manly camaraderie? Do we not have normal interactions?”

“We do not,” Lentwendon said, his voice suddenly grave. “We do not. We prefer to express our friendship with great noise and clapping of shoulders and brood quietly but stoically when matters turn serious. It is the same with our women.”

“Oh yes,” Pentrarch said “Our women are quietly supportive that we must do battle in far off lands, and they always have weary, knowing eyes. In truth they are the strong ones.”

Lentwendon nodded as he stared quietly at his cistern. “And ale, always ale.”

Blogger App!

2011-11-19T15:21:00.001-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

guess what? I am writing to you from the blogger app on my iPhone! OMG! can I love my iPhone anymore?

In other news- Jackson has ear ache and I'm at 34k words on TPAT!

Brian Jud's How To Sell More Books 2012 -

2011-11-18T13:52:00.002-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

If you attended the CreateSpace webinar last night hosted by Brian Jud, perhaps you will share my sentiment. It was geared towards too much planning on paper. I was expecting tips on how to sell books via e-marketing platforms.
I did appreciate the fact that Brian Jud did make it very clear that it is our job to make this our business! Writing is fun, yes, we were born to write, yes, we would die if we don't put some of these crazy characters/fantasies/worlds on the page (or we'd burst into flames!), yes! But the reality still remains that as with anything else that makes money...writing has that business side.

Thank you Brian Jud for reminding us of this very important fact, and do please continue bringing us webinars. E-marketing would be a great one! We are all ears!

And turn on your HD Faces on your gotowebinar -it makes it for a cozier and more engaging meeting!

nanowrimo 26,000 words! Two weeks! Half way in!

2011-11-12T22:25:00.001-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers, already 26K words in, and if it wasn't because I am so flipping tired from having my son's b-day party today, I would've probably written another 2000 words.

I am officially mid way with my first draft, which I am hoping I can do a Stephen King on, and hopefully only have to revise a total of three times - versus twenty three times!

Quick self interview:

Me1: "So...Seven...how are you feeling about The Poisoned Apple Tree?"

Me2: "I am very excited about this project. I think its daring, dangerous, sexy, downright creepy, and although incredibly "fantastic" it is based on real life...there is nothing fantasy or science fiction, or existing in another other realm of our imagination. That's the creepiest part of this book. It is actually based on reality.

Me1: "Can you tell us anything about it?"

Me2: "I can't talk too much about it yet - but let's just say its about a girl who thinks she meets God. Key word here being..."thinks".

Me1: "Wow, that sounds great."

Me2: "You don't know the half of it - or maybe you do, since you have written half!"

Me1: "You're right Seven...you are so clever, and witty."

Me2: "Will not argue with you there..."

Ok DeBloggers - there it is - just a jist.

Day 8 nanowrimo! Counter's at 19900!!

2011-11-08T22:50:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

Just a quick note to let you know what I'm up to.

#1 - nanowrimo day 8 and I am tipping at 20K! Yay!
#2 - reading one of the best teen novels called THE BLACK CITY by super awesome padner' (and superb writer) Beth Hull. Yeah, now everyone's googling THE BLACK CITY, as you should!

Okay, must sleep. Tomorrow someone turns 4.

Times are a'changing, and nanowrimo progress!

2011-11-07T06:05:00.000-05:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

If you think its an hour later than it actually is...then you have officially missed the fallback train.

But seriously, who in today's day in age would actually miss the change of time? With all our satellite adjusted gadgets, we no longer have an excuse to get to school late, work, or to a first date with the ol' "oh my, I forgot to change the clock!"

However, there are some things that didn't know the time had changed. Take my four year old (okay, he will be four on the 9th - and btw, everyday for the last three months he has been asking if its his b-day - very cute!). Like "clockwork" he was up at seven this morning (which was actually six). Oh the joys of motherhood!

In other news, my nanowrimo challenge continues! Averaging 2000 words per day, I have not skipped a beat since the kick off of Nov1st. Do I dare look back and revise? Already? I have to be honest...there are a cast of characters in my novel (about 12), and I am really dying to go back and see who is interacting with who because I am sure I've started to lose track by this time...although I keep notes in my trustie loose leaf paper non-notebook, I know I am missing stuff.

Can I hear from other nanowrimos?

Oh Wow....Oh Wow....Oh Wow....

2011-11-04T11:11:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

If you don't know what I am referencing to, then you have been living in a shoe, in a box, inside of a closet, underneath a volcano, and buried another 6 feet under!

Steve Jobs gave a whole new meaning to "Famous Last Words" - Not only did he come to our planet and completely change the human condition, be before he departed he let us know that he was seeing something that impressed him enough to say "Oh Wow" three times. And Jobs was not easily impressed....

Here's more on that:

Jobs

Day 2 of Nanowrimo

2011-11-02T22:49:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

I am happy to report that day 2 was another success! At almost 5700 words in only two days, I have to say I am pretty excited about my novel. Maybe its because I am not following industry standards, or writing about what I think I "should write" - maybe its because I am writing a novel I truly feel an amazing passion for. I hope you are doing the same, and if not...don't worry, luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Keep on writing!

Here are some Nathan Bransford Tips on writing - found at his blog: Nathan

Believe it or not, there are many writers out there, real writers, who don’t particularly like writing very much.

It’s true! Some find the process tedious, even torturous, and find it difficult to stay focused for the length of time it takes to finish.

Like many writers out there, I’m someone who finds writing really difficult. I ultimately derive great pleasure from the writing process and feel incredibly fortunate to have the time to devote to it, but that doesn’t mean I find every moment riveting.

What burns in the heart of writers varies from person to person, so you’ll have to find what works for you. But here are some ideas that might help keep you in the writer’s chair.

- Cultivate Your Fear of Failure. Despite what Yoda might have you believe, fear does not always lead to anger, hate, and suffering. Fear is one of the best motivators you have. Invest in the idea of your novel. Develop the idea that you’re letting yourself down if you don’t finish it. Put pressure on yourself. Be afraid the regret you’ll feel the rest of your life if you don’t accomplish your dream. Fear is a feeling that can keep you going.

- Set Deadlines With Teeth. Deadlines don’t actually work that well for me personally (they tend to just stress me out), but I know people who swear by them. The trick is setting a deadline with teeth. If you secretly know that the deadline you’re setting for yourself is a soft one, it’s not going to have its hair-raising, stress-inducing maximum effect. So either you have to learn to be scared of yourself and your own punishments or you may need a partner in crime who can help you keep to them.

- Daydream a Little. It’s okay to imagine what would happen if your book blew up and you were on the cover of fifty magazines (do those still exist?) and you were the toast of the literati and a gazillionaire. Don’t let those dreams become expectations to the point that not getting those things gets you down, but give yourself the freedom to imagine those best case scenarios.

- Befriend Writers Who Have Finished a Novel. Before I knew real writers, the idea of writing a novel seemed so impossibly vast it seemed almost magical. But then you get to know the people behind the books, and there’s not as much of a secret to it: They are people who sat in place for as long as it took to write a novel. Get to know them. Lean on them. They may give you a blank, pitying, horrified stare when you start fretting you’re never going to finish, but that blank stare will get you back to the keyboard in no time.

- Write Something You Love. It may be tempting to try and chase the flavor of the moment or what the industry says is selling or the novel you think you should write, but that doesn’t work. You need to love your novel unconditionally if you’re going to finish.

What about you? What motivates you?

Nanowrimo! And we are ooooooff!!!

2011-11-01T09:31:00.004-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers, are you ready for the challenge? I hope you are! I am commited to finishing the first 50K words of The Poisoned Apple Tree by 11/30/11 - and there are some challenges in there (like family coming to visit for 4 days, and my son's b-day), which means, I need to write 2000 words in 25 days! Can it be done? Yes!

Oooorr! 1600 words in 30 days, can you do it? Yes you can!

Ready...set....go! And right after we are done, we can revise in Dec....and then....you know what happens in Jan right? Ahhhhhh Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest 2012!

Seven n Spidey (at almost 4) do Mr. Brightside for Halloween!

2011-10-30T21:25:00.002-04:00

Dramatic Friday Photo Ops

2011-10-28T13:29:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

A picture says a thousand words? Here are my Friday Dramatic Pics. What do you think was going on?

Stella on Comedy Central

2011-10-25T10:46:00.000-04:00

Stella only lasted for a season, and it was one of my favorite shows ever...I don't meet many people that know about it...it is certainly an acquired taste.

Here's Michael, Michael and Craig's take on Writer's Block! Enjoy!

Stella Writers Block

NaNoWriMo

2011-10-21T10:48:00.002-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers!

It's here! Write a novel a 50,000 word novel in 30 days! Are you ready for the challenge!

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

What am I listening to...

2011-10-20T23:28:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

I have begun my new project (The Poison Apple Tree aka TPAT) STARR is taking a backseat for know, since TPAT has just full throttled ahead.

(btw, THE INNOCENTS - is scheduled to be published on Kindle early 2012)

At any rate...as with many Hermes gifts of inspiration , they sometimes come along with a sound track - and here's what I'm listening to on loop these days while working on TPAT.

Read my Mind - The Killers
When we were young - The Killers ("...he doesn't look a lot like Jesus...but he...talks like a gentleman...")
Speed of Sound - Coldplay
November Rain - Guns and Roses (I know, yikes on this one....)
Uprising - Muse
Paparazzi - Gaga (...I'm your biggest fan I'll follow you until you love me...)

Steve Jobs

2011-10-19T12:20:00.001-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

It is kind of freaky that I wrote a post about loving my iPhone only 5 days prior to Jobs' death. Needless to say, Steve Jobs was a genius, a demi-god, taken from us way to soon. He has changed the lives of millions of people in so many different layers of complexity, that one could ponder for days on what the future human condition will be like, based on Jobs' contributions.

In more iPhone news...I keep reading all my books with my Kindle app. I love it. Just recently, I saw a man carrying a real book, and it took me aback the unexpected feeling it arose in me. It was like seeing an 8-track, or one of those mini-recorders students used to carry around...an Atari...white-out (yeah, white-out...it's on its way out....now that you think about it....ahhhhh).

my iPhone - my Life

2011-09-30T08:50:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

I am sure this is not the first post on love for the iPhone, and it surely wont be the last.

My iPhone....

Has all my contacts
Has my calendar
Is my camera
Is my video camera
Is my Radio Station (thank you Pandora)
Is my Ipod (thank you free podcasts on any interest I may desire!)
Is my little TV (thank you Netflix)
Is my mobile library (I always have my books with me! with the Kindle app - which was free btw- like many of these apps), I always have any book I want to read at my fingertips.
Is my internet
Is my navigation
Is my son's favorite video game

My iPhone...my Life.

Some Things I Don't Want to Forget and Wish I Could Tattoo on My Forehead

2011-09-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

I was having lunch with a friend today and during our discussion three things came to light that I'd like all of you to put into practice immediately! Over the next month! Try it out, and see how your life changes:

1) Always go with your first instinct
2) Ask for what you want - no matter what.
3) Welcome mistakes with open arms. The only people who don't make mistakes are the poeple that don't do anything.

Now write it on a post it and put it on your monitor. Check back with me in four weeks.

ABNA Finalists - My Pic!

2011-06-05T10:18:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers,

The moment you've been waiting for....no, not the announcement of the ABNA winner for 2011 (that won't happen until 6/13) - but the announcement of my prediction on who may win - after having read each excerpt.

And the finalists are:

Spookygirl - by Jill Baguchinsky - Teen girl - dark name (Violet), lives in a funeral home (nice setting) - sees dead people (appropriate), draws dead people (interesting). The author's got an inviting story telling voice - the reader is immediately drawn into story.

Devolution - by Richard Larson - Wow. The author has the post-apocalyptic world/language down - and only having read a tiny excerpt, I can tell this is going to be something special - The novel starts with "the newest quarantine zone had only been flagged for 4.8 minutes" immediately propelling the reader into a meticulously crafted world.

Lost in Thought - by Cara Bertrand - Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of the prologue - never have been- they leave me more confused and they are almost always a let down once the real story begins. Very few prologues have ever caught my eye - and this is definitely one of them. Great job. Written in first person, this prologue sets the reader up with the mystery (a murder happening during Victorian times) a mysterious candlestick (the weapon used), an introduction to the main character (a girl with the gift of sight), and finally, a last sentence that will leave you wanting to read the first chapter as quickly as possible: "The truth was far stranger."

I think Devolution will win - being that young adult science fiction novels are on the rise - but my personal pic is Lost in Thought. But the reality is that all three are winners. All three authors will have their writing career propelled through this contest - congratulations to all three authors - you are an inspiration to us all!

The Yellow Wallpaper

2011-05-29T22:02:00.000-04:00

ABNA Announces their Three YA Finalists...

2011-05-24T20:48:00.001-04:00

Dearly Debloggers,

If you have not heard yet, ABNA announced their finalists - for YA we have:

Spookygirl - by Jill Baguchinsky

Devolution - by Richard Larson

Lost in Thought - by Cara Bertrand

I've downloaded the excerpts on my Kindle for iPhone app and plan to read all three - just by looking at the title though...Spookygirl's got my eye...titles are so....so....so important, arent they? Hunger Games anyone?

Low Budget Marketing Techniques - Webinar! TONIGHT!

2011-05-19T13:52:00.001-04:00

We hope you'll join us for our monthly web seminar, Low-Budget Marketing Techniques , to be held on May 19, 2011 at 6:00pm ET/ 3:00pm PT.

Do you want to get more bang for fewer marketing bucks? In today's tight economy, many authors and publishers cut back on their marketing expenditures to save money. But if you can market your books more effectively and efficiently, you can actually do more for less. During this webinar, you will discover many things you can do on a tight budget that can increase your exposure and sales.

Register Today!

Warm Regards,

The CreateSpace Team

"Planet Rock, He Just Can't Stop"

2011-05-18T08:11:00.002-04:00

Dearly Debloggers,

I know I have been on a Nathan Bransford kick - or should I say karate chop! Nathan can't stop talking about self publishing - and how well....we shouldn't do it. Here he is again posting a blog about traditional publishing vs. self publishing.

I continue on my path to self-publish THE INNOCENTS - more on that in a later post - and I do get to choose the cover and the marketing channels. Yay!

Traditional Publishing, Self-Publishing and Control

Posted: 16 May 2011 07:00 AM PDT

Jan Vermeer, "The Geographer"

The amount of control an author has over the traditional publishing process is something that I think tends to surprise non-writers.

Do you get to approve the cover? Nope.

Do you get to call the book whatever you want? Not usually.

But what if you don't like the cover? Can't you stop it? Sometimes. Not often.

As we move into an era when authors have a real choice about whether they want to go the self-publishing or traditional publishing route, authorial control over the publishing process is a very very important issue, and it's something author Hannah Moskowitz recently touched on as well.

I think it's essential to know what kind of author you are. Are you the type of person who wants control the entire publishing process? Or are you happy to give some of that up?

Personally, I like the collaborative element of traditional publishing. My publisher has been great, I love my editor, and I truly don't know what I would have done without them. I love my illustrator, I love the cover, I love the pages, I love the ink, I love the paper, I love the air between the pages when they're kind of flapping in the wind.

I actually did have have input over the illustrator, and I was so thrilled with Christopher S. Jennings' illustrations that I changed description within the book to match the illustrations. I feel like he captured Dexter in particular better than my description did.

For a lot of authors (like me), when you have a traditional publisher you view your book as part of a collaborative process. The book really truly benefits from the input of your publisher. You trust that they know what they're doing. They are living and breathing covers and jacket copy and titles and books and all the rest. It's what they do. You best be listening to them, and those rules about publishers having ultimate say exist for the reason. They're fronting the investment to produce the book, and it prevents books from being held up by arguments and disagreements.

But you do give up some control with traditional publishing. When you go with a traditional publisher they may have at least mutual approval or at most total approval over what your book is called. The traditional publishing process will likely involve discussions about what your title is going to be. You probably won't have ultimate say over your cover.

If the idea of giving up that control gives you the willies: Self-publishing might be the way to go.

You now have that option to produce the book exactly as you want it. Self-publishing affords you total control: over the cover, the editorial process, the title, and everything else. Freedom is yours.

If you want someone else to handle the nuts and bolts and trust the publisher to make the ultimate calls: Traditional publishing may be for you.

Traditional is the decision I made, and it's a choice I've been very happy with.

Another great webinar by Createspace! Free! 4/21!

2011-04-20T14:20:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers, you heard it here first!

Check out another great webinar by Createspace tomorrow register here

A Beginner's Guide to Selling More Books Through Tradeshows:

The biggest US book-industry event, Book Expo America (BEA), will be held next month. Even if you do not plan on attending, there are ways you can use BEA to further your career and sales. Brian Jud will show you how maximize your opportunities there, or at any local, state, regional or national show. You don't have to pay a lot of money to exhibit, and in most cases you can profit more by not exhibiting. Attend this webinar to learn how to take advantage of many ways to reap the benefits of having all your top prospects in one room at the same time.

The Doe Branch Ink - A Writers' Retreat

2011-04-16T08:08:00.007-04:00

Doe Branch Ink is a writers' retreat located on 50 acres nestled in the

Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Just 30 miles north of Asheville

in lovely Madison County - "The Jewel of the Blue Ridge" - our retreat

takes its name from a spring fed stream that flows from high in Pisgah

National Forest into the French Broad River, a protected National Scenic

Waterway.

We offer writers experiences of two kinds: in the late

spring and early fall, we organize facilitated writing experiences

for a small group of guests with successful writers in residence who

are also proven teachers. At other times of the year, our guest house

is available to rent for individual writer's leaves or writers groups

(and book clubs), both short and long-term.

We welcome writers of all levels and all genres to our workshops; what matters

is a sense of purpose and willingness to participate in a supportive community.

During the week you will have substantial time for individual writing, interactions

with a writer-in-residence, and evening readings -- plus time for walks and porch

rockers. Participants have one-on-one conversations about their goals and work

to date with the writers-in-residence based on a writing sample submitted in

advance. Writers-in-residence also lead discussions and readings; there is no

formal course work Above all, Doe Branch Ink offers time away from daily

activities and time to write and talk to others about writing.

Workshop fees depend on room choice and average $1,000 for the week, including

lodging, meal refreshments and program fees.

Please write us at doebranchink@gmail.com if you have questions

or suggestions.

Visit our Website

http://doebranchink.org

Spring 2011 Workshop

Craig Nova, May 15 to May 21

Pam Duncan, May 22 to May 28

David Payne, May 29 to June 4

David Gessner & Nina de Gramont, June 5 to June 11

Deeeeearly Deeblooggerrs :)

2011-04-12T21:39:00.001-04:00

The R u ok? Revolution

2011-03-28T09:57:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers,

Phrases like "the good old days" or "remember when" or "those were the days" bring most of us nostalgia and a longing for the past. Maybe it's me, maybe I'm just a romantic...but I doubt it :)

As a result, I've become super vigilante on things that sometime, in the near future, will become a "remember when."

One of those things is R u ok?

When I see R u ok? flash on the screen of my iPhone, something tugs at my heart.

R u ok? It's like a virtual kiss, or a virtual hug, it's somebody somewhere reaching out telling you they care, and with a simple flash of the R u ok? no matter how far away they are, they suddenly feel like they are right by you.

Next time you send out an R u ok? or are the lucky recepient of one, don't take it for granted - it's a sign of the times...you are living history....it's something special!

What other im/text/email talk will you miss in the future? I'd love to hear from my Dearly Debloggers!

And speaking of nostalgia... here's a code word for some of you....Max Headroom. O-M-G!

Great Free Webinar at CreateSpace! This Thursday 3/17!

2011-03-15T09:08:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers,

As promised, I bring you news of contests, tips, free webinars and anything publishing! Here's today's great find! Register now!

From: CreateSpace

We hope you'll join us for our monthly web seminar,Beginners Guide to Book Marketing , to be held on March 17, 2011 at 6:00 PM ET/ 3:00 PM PT.

Most authors reach the point where they say, "My manuscript is done - now what do I do?" This is a crucial moment because the decisions you make here can affect the success or failure of your entire publishing venture. After the manuscript is completed, there is much the author needs to do regardless of the publishing option chosen (POD, royalty, independent). There are steps that must be taken - in the proper sequence - to give your book its best chance of success. This course is a primer to getting on the proper path and moving in the right direction on your book-publishing journey.

Register Today!

Warm Regards,
The CreateSpace Team

Did I call it or what??! Nathan Bransford is going nuts on the Kindle Millionares

2011-03-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers,

March has been sort of a crazy month for me - hence two weeks between posts. Mostly I've been sick with two different colds on two different occasions (thanks to my three year old brining home all those great little colds from Daycare!) - I've mustered just enough energy to go to my supersecretdayjob, but fell straight into a coma once I was home!

Anyways, what this post is about. Did I call it or what? Nathan Bransford keeps talking about the Kindle Millionares! Now that's funny!

Nathan Bransford may deny or not...but Writers 2.0 are here to stay.

2011-03-01T11:48:00.001-05:00

Dearly Debloggers - If there's any post you read, I hope its this one.

This 26-Year-Old Is Making Millions Cutting Out Traditional Publishers With Amazon Kindle

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry | Feb. 28, 2011, 10:45 AM | 46,304 | 69

Amanda Hocking

Welcome to disruption. 26-year old Amanda Hocking is the best-selling "indie" writer on the Kindle store, meaning she doesn't have a publishing deal, Novelr says.

And she shouldn't. She gets to keep 70% of her book sales -- and she sells around 100,000 copies per month. By comparison, it's usually thought that it takes a few tens of thousands of copies sold in the first week to be a New York Times bestselling writer.

The comparison isn't entirely fair, because Hocking sells her books for $3, and some $.99. But that's the point: by lowering the prices, she can make more on volume, especially impulse buys. Meanwhile e-books cost nothing to print, you don't have to worry about print volumes, shelf space, inventory, etc. And did we mention the writer keeps 70%?

Previously one of the best selling Kindle writers was J.A. Konrath, but it was assumed he was popular because he previously had a publishing deal and so already had notoriety. That's not the case with Hocking, who published stories on her blog before turning to Kindle. In fact, out of the top 25 best-selling indie Kindle writers, only 6 were previously affiliated with a publishing house.

Back of the envelope math suggests that selling 100,000 copies a month at $1 to $3 a pop and keeping 70%, Hocking can make millions per year, straight to her pocket.

Welcome to the new era, the one that scares traditional publishers to death and will make the world better for writers and readers alike. Congratulations to Amazon for making it possible. And congratulations to Ms. Hocking on her success.

Don't Miss: Here's How Amazon Took The Lead In The Billion-Dollar eBook Market -- And Why They'll Dominate →

Nothing Happens Until Something Moves -

2011-02-24T16:19:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

"Nothing happens until something moves..." - that's the great quote I ran into today - and who said it? Albert Einstein.

Nothing happens until something moves...what does that really mean? And, what does that look like in the story you are writing or revising? Is your character moving forward? Is he or she moving from the scene you've had them in for the past couple of chapters? Is he or she moving emotionally and physically through the story?

When you are stuck in your story, the best way to unstuck yourself (and your character), is to create a drastic change - and what does that look like? He/She leaves town, someone dies, decides to chop hair off, does an irreperable prank on his/her best friend, gets mixed up with the wrong crowd one fateful night, etc, etc, etc....

And now for the more important question "Nothing happens until something moves..." - how does that apply in your personal life? In your career as a writer?

Peace in Action - please watch this two min video.

2011-02-21T20:56:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

I ran into this video and WOW. That is all I have to say.

Such a simple concept. If we could only remember this everyday - the world would be a better place. I vow to remember this daily. Can you? Please repost everywhere you can.

Watch Video Here

My Best Friend Denise

2011-02-17T08:31:00.001-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

I wrote this essay for one of my best friends in the world - Denise (last name should not be disclosed) - we've been friends for a VERY long time now - but this is exactly how it was becoming her friend! Muccer - I love you!

My best friend Denise is a psychopath. She seems awful nice and super cool in the start - like you literally can't help but love her from day one.

She quickly puts you through the highly intensive "Denise's New Best Friend Training."

First, the gym: We're beautiful, we're here, we're happening, we're hot, we're unstoppable - we make Madonna look like Rosanne Barr.

Second, you are bombarded with strange music no one's ever heard, but she and God loves...and no one else is worthy... she calls it "girl music" (ie, Tori Amos).

Third, you get intoxicated with school: We're studying, we're smart, we're in college, we registered and bought the books...we are NOT studying, we're skipping class instead and going to Little Caesars exclusively for the bread-sticks, suddenly we are getting a D...dropping the class - and we are learning to never go to school with Denise.

Fourth, you go through Denise's one day immersion course "Meet All My Wonderful Friends and They Will Quickly Heart You - Just Quickly Heart Them!" This consists of meeting Denise's other friends (or alumni of her course) at the Macaroni Grill and hearing a bunch of funny Denise stories while we sit around the table and sip wine...gonna need a lot for this one.

Finally, you go through the "Denise Post Best Friend Test" - this is a test intelligently and keenly designed by Denise. Basically, she will get mad at you for anything you say or do after the "Post Best Friend Test" has begun, and at that point all pencils down - you have failed.

I guess having a friend like Denise pays...at least for a good essay, right?

Happy Valentines - Of Course

2011-02-14T14:58:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

I should've prepared a Vlog for today, since we have a virtual love affair - but let's just say...I owe you one!

Valentines is a day where we celebrate love. Love for everyone we love! All kinds of love...not just sweetheart love but love for your kids, your teachers, your friends, your neighbors (they have to be pretty freaking good neighbors...)

But what about your Hollywood Valentine? (Oh no...is she getting ready to talk about...him?) Yes! You guessed it! What about your Hollywood Valentine?

If I could ask anyone in Hollywood to be my Valentine...it would be...non-other (I know you are about to be shocked, bc you have only heard this like a trizillion times) - Keanu Reeves.

Who is your Hollywood Valentine?

You will NEVER look at a banana the same way...

2011-02-09T08:16:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

I'm cheating a little today. I ran into this article and its so great I need to post it. I promise you this, when you read it, you WILL want to have a banana every day. Seriously, its kinda ridiculous, and really makes you wonder....are monkeys smarter than us?

And for the record, I am having a banana right now.

GOING BANANAS

A professor at CCNY told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on. After reading this, you?ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world?s leading athletes. But energy isn?t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit?s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body?s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Source: A forwarded email from a food writer

Article extracted from this website

Life. Is. Short.

2011-02-04T10:13:00.002-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

I've been doing a lot of pondering these days - staying quiet - listening for answers to questions that quiet frankly, are driving me nuts.

Why is it that we don't do the things we really want to do? One little word - Fear.

False. Evidence. Appearing. Real.

Fear of going into the unknown, making that decision for "fear" of what may or may not happen (like we even know what is BEST for us - we have an idea, but come on! Doesn't life always work itself out better than we could've imagined?). We spend so much energy on Fear, we may as well be taking risks, really.

Before I make any decisions, I ask for guidance. I seek guidance. And staying very quiet I listen for the answers.

Listening for the answers is almost as exciting as knowing that when you seek guidance, no question will go unanswered, in time.

The answers can come in many forms:

-Through something someone says
-Through a song you may listen to
-A sign you may see while driving
-A dream you may have
-Or through a Feing Shui Horoscope (enclosed below)!

In the hopes of helping you get clarity on your decision today, I have enclosed the Feng Shui Horoscope below. Remember, if you are honest (you know when you are writing down the lie), you may get some clarity. And above all, remember, Life. Is. Short.

  Write your answers on paper (BTW, the formatting is a little strange- but totally readable).

   1. Which is your favorite color: Red, Black,
Blue, Green or Yellow?

2. Your first initial?

3. Your month of birth?

4. Which color do you like more, Black or White?

5. The name of a person that is the same sex as you?

6. Your favorite number?

7. Do you like California or Florida more?

8. Do you like a Lake or the Ocean more?

9. Write down a Wish (a realistic one)

When you are done, scroll down. Don't cheat!

Answers:

1. If you choose:

Red: You are alert and your life is full of love.

Black: You are conservative and aggressive.

Green: Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back.

Blue: You are spontaneous and love affection.

Yellow: You are a very happy person & give good advice to those who are down.

2. If your initial is between:

A-K: You have a lot of love and friendships in your life.

L-R: You try to live your life to the max & your love life is soon to bloom.

S-Z: You like to help others and your future looks very bright.

3. If you were born in:

Jan-Mar: The year will go very well for you and you will discover that

you fall in love with someone totally unexpected.

Apr-Jun: You will have a strong love relationship that will last forever.

Jul-Sep: You will have a great year and will experience a major life changing

experience for the good.

Oct-Dec: Your life will be great; you will find your soulmate.

4. If you choose:

Black: Your life is about to get better. You are more than ready for the change.

White: You have a friend who completely confides in you and would do anything for you, but you may not realize it.

5. This person should be your Best Friend.

6. This is how many close friends you will have in your life time.

7. If you choose:

California : You like adventure.

Florida : You are a laid back person.

8. If you choose:

Lake : You are loyal to your friends and your lover. You are very reserved.

Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people.

9. This wish will come true if you send this blogpost to 1 person in one hour.

Vlog: Seven, Sister & Brother Kareoke on Sat Night - You've Been Warned!

2011-02-03T08:51:00.001-05:00

The Last Day of the First Month of 2011

2011-01-31T16:44:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

We've made it! We made it all through the first month in January. What has happened for you in the last thirty days?

I've had to pretty big experiences in the last thirty days, both, which I cannot share with you (part of my supersecretdayjob and the other has to do with...well, I can't even say it!).

Okay, all mystery aside - what's the big deal with 1/31? The big deal is that our 1200 words a day challenge begins tomorrow!

So put up your boot straps, I don't wanna hear you whine, and let's get that novel written/finished/edited.

In a military voice she says, "Are you with me?"

Read up on details on tab above: 1200/day!

Wait for it...and Crackberry

2011-01-28T12:19:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

It's Friday free for all, and I am going to take license.

In the never ending quest to maintain status coolness...it's time we visit 'The List."

As many of you know (or have heard), there are some things that once I put on "The List" really should not be mentioned anymore in any conversation...ever again.

Okay, here are my two new ones.

Crackberry: If I ever hear anyone again use the term "crackberry" I will surely slap the "crackberry" out of their hand. "Crackberry" has got to stop!

It was funny for like 7 minutes. It's outdated. It's not cute.Please stop.

Wait for it: I'm gonna miss this one. But let's face it..."Wait for it" has jumped the shark. If you are caught saying "wait for it" you may as well be saying "look at how cool and hip I am for saying 'wait for it' "

I'm sorry. I know. I'm guilty. I've loved "wait for it" - but we waited, it came, it died. it's stinking, and its got to stop. Please stop.

So debloggers - go out and have fun this weekend, but if you hear anyone crossing the coolness line, don't 'wait for it' slap the crackberry right out of their hands.

1200 Words/Day Challenge - Part Deux!

2011-01-17T00:44:00.001-05:00

I know, Part Deux immediately makes you think of Charlie Sheen and Hot Shots - I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you go there. Okay, follow me...here's where I want you to go...ready?

Welcome to Part Two of 1200 Words/Day Challenge! A little different this go around!

Is your novel half done?
Is your first draft completed but you can't get motivated to roll up your sleeves?
Do you have an idea floating around but can't sit you butt down long enough to write a first draft?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you better get on the bandwagon! We are doing it again!

1200 words a day!

If you're novel's half done (write 1200 a day)
If your draft is completed - revise 1200 words (about 3-4 pages per day)
If your idea is floating around but you haven't sat down to write it! (write 1200 a day).

The Rules:
Challenge Starts on February 1st
Target Finish Date April 1st

That's 60 days Debloggers!

Tips:
If you need a day off writing 1200 a day, double up the next day and write 2400 - don't take more than one day off!

If you have a rough outline or idea of plot it will help. If not, trust the writing process and your muse!

How to join:
E- mail me at sevennblue(at)gmail(dot)com join. In the subject line simply write: 1200

The "Check In" Rules:
All writers all welcome to post their daily progress, brag about what you wrote, comment on challenges, frustrations, victories, and just connect with other writers on tips and craft! Just post your comments below!
Click on 1200 Words/A Day tab to log in progress!

Free For All Friday: Baby Pictures!

2011-01-14T03:56:00.005-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

What better way to get to know each other than to embarrass ourselves with our baby pictures. I've done it again ladies and gentleman!

Here's me, in my crib, in Spain! I am such a good looking baby (ahem...notice, the present tense here...)

Oh! Come on! You better post one too!

Rant: Completely Unrelated to Writing

2011-01-12T05:03:00.001-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

What is the deal with pictures nowadays? Seriously, are we supposed to keep photo albums of all family moments? Because I know I am, and man, do they require a lot of space! I have like...I don't know....fifteen leather bound photo albums (and that's just the last ten years) before that, I have them all in boxes...

I also keep a CD of all the pics I print - but it's starting to pile up. And now, with the iPhone pics! Wow, it can really get out of control.

So I need a plan. A plan for pictures.

I thought - well, maybe an album a year. But that is still too much. In thirty years I will have forty five albums. I have to have the hardcopy, what if the CD's go bad? What if I forget where I did the backup? Jackson will not have any memories to share with his kids (or significant other).

The truth is that pictures are overrated. It's too painful to look at what things once were. Where we came from.
Or maybe its just me feeling this way now...due to..well...the circumstances you have all read between the lines about.

As a result - well, I have nothing. No plan for pictures. I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Printing the memories that will be passed on to my predecessors.

Maybe I'll just print the extra special ones.

Amazon Breakthough Novel Award Contest! 2011!

2011-01-10T05:23:00.001-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

Yeap, it's that time again. January 24th marks the open submission period for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest 2011!

If you have a ocmpleted novel, and it has been revised (trust me, you need to go through at least 3 drafts...) - then you should submit!

What is cool about the ABNA is that if you make it through to round 2, they actually offer feedback! I know the feedback I got from Publisher's Weekly helped me a great deal in the last revision of THE INNOCENTS.

Well Debloggers - here it is Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

It's Friday - hey - look at the 90's go!

2011-01-07T22:31:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

It's free-for-all friday, and I am tired from my "supersecretdayjob!"

So here's a sneak peak into what my friday night looks like:

Jackson in bed by 8:30

Pandora's on - and hey, it's 90's music, like Duncan Sheik's Barely Breathing, Michelle Branch Everywhere, Jewel and the Goo Goo Dolls - yeah...no. Those of you who know me know this is not my cup of tea but I am actually enjoying this 90's pandora station!

My iPhone is driving me nuts - so after like 2 hours of research, I figured out how to burn the freaking videos I took on my phone to DVD to play on DVD player and HAPPY NEW YEAR, they are SIDEWAYS! Urg! Back to square one.

Writing about my evening on my blog post.

Going to bed soon....l i k e n o w.....

Jackson's First Day of School

2011-01-05T05:18:00.054-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

Welcome to Wednesday. The first official Wednesday of 2011. I wonder how many resolutions have already been broken. I know of one for sure. My sister said she was eating no chocolate in January, it's only the fifth and I already caught her desperately opening a Hershey's kiss while stalling a little too long in the car. That woman will never quit eating sweets. Never I tell you. Never.

Which brings me to a total unrelated topic and the title of this post. Today, was my son Jackson's "first official day in school" well, head start school.

He's only three (just turned three in Nov), but's he's super smart (of course he is - what insane parent wouldn't say that), and fully bilingual (kudos to mommy here - I only ever speak to him in Spanish) - so to say he is ready for a head start school (oh, rides bike with no training wheels - kudos to daddy here) - is the understatement of the year (oh, and it's like five days into the year, so we're good - many more understatements to come).

Thought he'd cried. Thought he'd want his monkey (whole other blog post on this). Thought he wouldn't want me to go. Nope. None of that happened. The morning went something like this - except in Spanish:

Me: "Jacksie, ready to go to school?" (by the way, we call him Jacksie, and he calls Michael Jackson, Michael Jacksie - pretty freaking funny).

Jackson: "Jacksie is going to school...yaaaay!"

Me: "Grab your back pack."

Jackson: "Okay."

We start heading out the door. Jackson stops and heads back in.

Jackson: "Wait, I want to take my cars." (goes to the bathroom where he grabs his plastic container full of matchbox cars and heads back out the door).

Jackson: "Wait, I want to take a book." (Grabs a mini version of "The Beauty and the Beast" and shows it to me) It's for homework mommy."

Me: (smiling to myself because he has no idea what he is talking about, but has seen his older cousins do homework..with some sort of book...Jackson figured any book would do). Okay Jacksie.

The whole way to school he is chanting "Jacksie school, Jacksie school, Jacksie school."

We get to the school, he gets out of the car (forgets the matchbox cars - thank goodness), walks in, takes off his backpack and jacket, sits down with the other kids, and waves goodbye at me.

I told you...ready for head-start school? The understatement of the year!

Resolutions..Smolutions...Drop the Rock Baby!

2011-01-03T05:50:00.023-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

Welcome to 2011!

I used to be a big resolutions kind of gal, and it never really quiet worked out for me...until I changed my views on what resolutions really were...they were actually big rocks we were carrying around and wanted to desperately drop - and we had the hope of a new year - we drafted a resolution to fix it.

If there is something in your life that is weighing you down..

d r o p t h e r o c k

Rocks can come in all kind of different disguises - relationships, stupid addictions (like to soda, sugar or cigarettes), eating too much or constantly watching your weight, or obsessing over that person you like, or the one that bugs you (and hence ignoring the beautiful human being you are and should be really nurturing), or saying you are going to work out and not working out which is actually harder because of all the mental stress about knowing you should be working out but you are not going to work out (phew! you know that's exactly what it sounds like in your head!). Or anger, stress, talking negative, saying "I can't do it," or "I'll do it tomorrow," gossip, being a pack rat, worrying too much (or simply just worrying, doesn't everything really always work out for the best anyways? (Now that's a cliche worth saying on a daily basis).

What rocks are you planning to drop this year?

Here's me and my friend Nati on New Years. A big thanks to my sister for hosting ALL the holiday parties in 2010 (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years...) Well...she does it every year (love you Chini).

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T12:47:00.000-05:00

Dearly Debloggers,

It has been quite the year for yours truly. I moved 3000 miles away from my home in California, had some successes with publishable work, my marital status changed, and I got a new "day job."

I can count my many blessings - my son, my health, work, my daily inspiration to write, all my old journals I ran across, being reunited with my family in Florida, my friends (you know who you are) my awesome cyber writing crew (Hey Robin, Beth and Seth), my cool little apartment (my temple! my space!), all the great writers I've read this year that have inspired me (Holly Black, Suzanne Collins), the write on con conference on-line, and the gift to be able to stand in Grace and watch life unveil.

Here's wishing everyone a unforgeable 2011.

Listen to lots of happy music, cry when you have to, laugh as much as you can, kiss your kids and tell them you love them like crazy on a daily basis, and never ever ever stop chasing your dreams.

Signing off for 2010.

Seven.

Random House YA Contest! Get your Manuscript in by Friday 12/31/10!!

2010-12-29T05:30:00.001-05:00

Dearly Debloggers! This is a great contest! The deadline is on Friday 12/31/10!

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers is pleased to announce

The Twenty-Ninth Annual

Delacorte Press Contest

for a First Young Adult Novel

For more info here's the link Random House Contest and Guidelines

JFF (Just For Fun) Monday!

2010-12-27T05:47:00.001-05:00

Hemingway once said he could write a short story in six words.

He wrote:

For Sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.

Here's mine:

...was the last thing he said before gulping the cyanide.

What's yours?

Another Strange Ian Poem

2010-12-24T05:14:00.025-05:00

Dearly Degloggers,

I've featured my friend Ian Ghost and his poetry on my blog before, but this one takes the cake! A segway of one liners that leaves you exhausted with imagery and acute logic.

Untitled

the frog is a loud mouth

who wishes he spoke in whispers

the tree only whispers

and is happy to do so

the seagull reads with his clothes on

the dust mite is a bore

the dolphin is a Rastafarian

the salmon believes in God

the wolf spits when he talks

and aims for the eye

Blake is not Blake

Dylan is Blake

Zimmerman is a Brooklyn-based Cantor

who sings Celtic folk songs in Yiddish

the honey bee doesn’t collect honey at all

it’s only a sexist code name he uses

to lie to his wife with

the honey bee used to be called the pussy bee

the maggot is active rice

the beaver has a lawsuit pending against the vagina

claiming copyright infringement

the breast is full of herself

the camel is a nasty drunk

the elephant performed genocide

against the mammoth

and blamed it on the Indians

the rat acts more busy than he is

the cat is a racist

the gorilla is a monkey in a gorilla suit

the simile is overused

and unimaginative

the platypus

I don’t know

the Englishman

is an eastern gentleman

with a French hate of the States

the woman has glorious eyes

even when sleeping

the jackal is a jerk

the bat has no affiliation with the rat

the shrew won’t stop talking about the dog

the dog doesn’t even know who the shrew is

the owl couldn’t be reached for comment

the spitting cobra is a white supremacist

who is sometimes born black to suit the laws of irony

the rat snake has an identity problem

the reticulated python is very reticulated

I’m told

although at this time I don’t know what that means

the anaconda has a fear of intimacy

the flea flicker is not a bug at all

the pig is a hog with humanity

the dinosaur was never extinct

just pissed off

the badger is a bitch

the clown loach is a burlesque show

the window is a door

invented by the hinge

to undermine the wall

the wall is nothing but trouble

the crayfish was denied color for stealing salmon eggs

the yak is sick of it all

the clouds won’t leave me alone

the hornet pilfers fine words

and sells them to the panda for lion tusks

the ram is a washed up porno star

who blames his fall on the Rosenbergs

the sturgeon died for her kids

the mole is Abraham

and gave his eyes for God

the titmouse told me sex sells

and charged me twenty dollars for that bit of information

the hole is misunderstood

yhe ox invented boredom

and marketed it as God-candy

which the bears bought up by the gross

the chameleon is a cross-dresser

the butterfly is a moth with money

the crocodile envies the walrus

who is equally as ridiculous looking

but gives birth to live young

the raven is a dark imposing figure

who drinks bourbon and belittles his wife in public

the peacock is all talk

the man is a land shark

who pisses in the water and complains about the taste

the sloth is full of shit

the mink is nothing more than connective tissue

the mongoose drank Pop Rocks with Coke

then turned into the Surgeon General

the leach is a slug with teeth

the pilot fish has fake documents

the squirrel got caught plagiarizing the unpublished works

of the plagiarized works of Chaucer

the goat is a yenta

the zebra is a horse impersonator

the praying mantis is a scientoligist

and a close relative to the cricket

the cricket keeps me up all night

reciting bad poetry

the pigeon exists only in mythology

the unicorn chews on coca leaves

to forget about his miserable job

the lizard lost his original tail

in a game of chicken against the dog

now he has two

the man believes in rain

its all he’s got left

the smile evolved from the daydream

who’s evolution is unclear

the hyena has a reputation for sudden fits of laughter

but that’s all a front

in fact he’s highly medicated

and considered potentially suicidal

the chipmunk loves everybody

and has been spotted paying off the bear

to stop eating the salmon

the locust is nothing more than a grasshopper

don’t let somebody to tell you differently

the scarab died for the sins of the lotus

who has been reincarnated into the dung beetle

who is forced to eat shit to appease the scorpion

who has been bellyaching for centuries about

how bad he was fucked on the deal

the sea refuses to speak unkindly about the land

which for the most part has been her undoing

the sea is covered with a fine layer of skin

the man is also covered with skin

but its consistency is questionable

the roadrunner is a cartoon

the tooth has been important in the fight against the flesh

the cheek holds in it many secrets

the preacher sued the bear

in a case involving the distribution rights

over God-candy

the preacher withdrew immediately

after the bear’s lawyer

obtained an incriminating videotape

clearly displaying the plaintiff in a compromising position

with the honey-bee’s wife

the tear is a by-product of the face

who’s stories when sincere

are the most exquisite things on earth

the finger needs supervision

the cornea invented everything

the thank you is an expression of sobriety from

cleaned up heroin addicts

the fuck you is an expression of bamboozlement from

newly created methadone addicts

the prick is a dick who was a peter who became the cock

the cock is a chicken who moonlights as procreation

the sorry never tasted anything and was sorry not to

the rumor is the flunky of the man

and talks all day about all the woman he fucked

the rumor is still a virgin

and if I have more time I’ll tell you why

the sedative is the smile during sleep

the carpet was the prototype for sheep

the nostril is the escape clause of the mouth

the hand is no relation to the finger

the mockingbird is jealous of the moon

which is why he teamed up with the rumor

the sex is busy getting busy

and is also the subdivision of long addition

the tongue wants equal rights

but is no better than the finger

the leopard is the song before the music

the ruddy duck is the cheerleader of fools

the Indian pea-fowl wets his bed

the blerbok is the founder of the third school of redundancy

the Burmese python is really from Boston

which is why he never speaks in the jungle

the ibex screwed the tahr only to create the first donor

in a super race of hooded morgansers

the hooded morganser doesn’t speak to his parents at all

and when drunk refers to them as the loveless freaks

whose boredom made him an orphan

the porpoise is not the dolphin

the dolphin is not God

the porpoise is

©ian ghost

1200 Words A Day Challenge! And Done!

2010-11-05T05:00:00.001-04:00

Dearly Debloggers! 1200 Words A Day challenge officially ended on 10/31. I hope to hear from everyone on their progress.

My first draft finished at 45K - unfortunately, I had some family issues that pretty much nixed the last two weeks of the contest - but I am happy with my 45K, and all I have to do now is finish the climax and my first draft is done! Not bad for a 60 day challenge!

I hope to have Starr finished by the end of the year (the first draft and maybe even some edits!).

How did everyone else do?

Darth Vader and The Crusader

2010-11-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers,

What happens when two toddlers pick their own costumes for Halloween? Well, Darth Vader ends up getting crashed by The Crusader - and will change all his spiritual beliefs in the process!

"Noooo....I must believe in The Force..."

Here's my son Jackson (aka Darth), and my nephew Fernando (aka, Crusader).

The Quiet Week

2010-10-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers -

I can't lie to you! I have been busy - too busy - and I will prove it in this blog -

Where the hell is Seven? Well - this weekend is my cousin's wedding, and my writing time has been taken up by last minute dress alterations, finding a sitter for my boy, dinner rehearsals, hair preparations, and so on and so forth.

I have also been taking a small break from reading YA for the last three weeks - hence the missing "book reviews," and reading some adult non fiction, plus diving into a colleague's finished script.

On the1200 words a day, I am a bit behind, will probably end at around 55K vs. 60K but hey, that is still quiet the accomplishment for a first draft in 60 days! No?

Oh, and now the proof! Here's me in my bridesmaid's dress!

Unpublished Author Extraordinare: An Interview with RC Barnes

2010-10-15T21:50:00.000-04:00

Dearly DeBloggers - it's that time again! I have had the pleasure of reading RC Barnes up and coming novel - The House on Black Tupelo - I immediately fell in love with her characters - RC certainly has a gift for character development. Can't wait to see more of this soon to be published author!

7NB: Where do you get most of your ideas and inspiration?

I am a voracious reader and an avid movie watcher. Always have been. Many times, I get my ideas because I’m disappointed with how a story or book was executed. I’ll think “they should have explored this more” or “why didn’t they realize this was a comedy?” and voila! An idea is born. Then there are the times where a character comes into my consciousness. It happens when I am watching someone (usually a stranger that catches my eye for some reason) and I begin to wonder about whom they are and what goes on in their heart.

7NB: Do you have a set writing schedule, or are you more of a "when the mood hits" kind of girl?

I was a “when the mood hits type of girl,” but I wasn’t accomplishing my writing goals in the manner that I wished. I had to set up a schedule and it actually took awhile to find one that really works. I have three kids and two jobs, and every now and then I take on freelance writing assignments. My spec material was viewed as a luxury to me, and I had to change that way of thinking. I had to view it as work – my future work. My 401(k), if you will. Now, my spec work is job number two and a half, and it gets scheduled like everything else. Of course, there is fine tuning here and there, but being a mom; I already know what being flexible is all about.

My weekly goal is 8-10 hours. Now that school is in session, it happens predominately on the weekends.

7NB: Can you tell us about your current WIP (work in progress)? We’d love to hear about some of the characters or what the main idea is, if you don’t mind sharing.

This particular WIP started from one of my disappointment scenarios. I picked up a book and read the jacket and envisioned the most marvelous ghost story, only to find that the ghost element wasn’t real and there wasn’t even a good thriller component. The writing was lyrical when it should have been tough and on point. So, in some ways I am rewriting that book. I also think that characters are best defined by their relationships. My WIP deals with a fatherless boy who finds his desired father figure in the ghost of a runaway slave. There are many things that happen in the story, but that relationship is the heart of it.

7NB: What does your writing workspace look like?

I had the most beautiful writing space with a large desk, and boards for pictures and note cards to help stimulate my writing and give me inspiration, but sadly my desk has been commandeered by my fifteen year old for his schoolwork. There are very few quiet spots in the home. So in all honesty, my current workspace is the quaint coffee spot across the street which I use as my impromptu living room. They have wifi and I just carry my laptop. If I believe I will be working past 10, I go to Starbucks.

7NB: Your WIP is a YA novel. Any plans to write for other age groups?

I love children’s books. I think the best stories can be found within their pages. Whenever I thought about my writing career, I always viewed myself as a writer for young people. I originally thought my WIP was a YA due to the harsh nature of some of the slave stories, I wanted to incorporate. But an agent at a writer’s workshop I attended told me it was most definitely middle grade – so I’m sticking with that for now. (Especially since I would love that particular agent to represent it)

Having said that, I think I have an adult book in me somewhere, but a few family members need to pass on before I can write it…(wicked smile).

7NB: What is your favorite YA novel of all time? How about your favorite book on the craft of writing?

So hard to answer this, so I’ll cheat a bit. I’ll say favorite all time are “Phantom Tollbooth” and the Harry Potter books, but they are MG and not YA. If we are going for a true YA book, then “The Pigman” by Paul Zindel, Cormier’s “I am the Cheese”, and “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card. My favorite books on the craft of writing are Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Ann Lamott’s “Bird by Bird”.

7NB: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I realized when I wrote a book at the age of ten. It was a real book with chapters, not a story, and it was about 100 pages - typed. I felt so fulfilled and happy when I completed it. Best. Feeling. Ever.

7NB: When you start looking for agent representation, what are some of the qualities you will look for in an agent?

I want an agent that is looking to invest in me for awhile. I am not a one off writer. There will be a few titles coming from me. So a good working relationship and clear communication is key.

7NB: What is the best advice anyone has given you with regards to your writing?

You have to do it. It’s that simple, but also that hard.

7NB: What is the advice would you give to aspiring writers who can’t seem to get their butts in chair to start their novel!

You are not a writer, if you are not writing. Also, I believe that you need to read in order to know your craft. If you wish to write romance, read romance. If it is a thriller, you are crafting, then you must read thrillers. Know your audience.

7NB: What is your experience like, balancing writing and a full time work schedule?

It is the most challenging aspect of my week. I try not to become too frustrated when things don’t time off just right. I have two teenagers and I think that it is important for them to see their mother pursuing her dream and noting the obstacles I face. Perseverance wins in the end.

7NB: What are some of your favorite blogs you follow?

I’m assuming that you mean agent or writing blogs. I follow Nathan Bransford, Mary Kole, and Rachelle Gardner fairly regularly. There are others that I check in with now and then, but I am cutting back right now, because going to these sites reduces my actual writing time too much. I’ll probably regroup and revisit when I am about to enter the hard rewrites on my WIP.

Thank you RC Barnes! And I will see you on tour!! :)

Seth Z Herman & Roose the Muse

2010-10-13T05:00:00.003-04:00

If you haven't heard yet, Seth's got a new blog! Yes, he finally, like he said...sucubummed to the world of blogging - which pretty much means you have to feed "The Monster." And of course, "The Monster," is the blog.

People, blogging is not to be taken lightly - it requires time and attention! Dedication! And sometimes, if we are lucky...inspiration. And you better be witty, and quick, and short!

Today I want to dedicate this post to Seth's blog. Seth is a talented writer and I hope one day to meet up for lunch in a city we happen to both be touring our books (Robin, Beth, Tosha, Ivy and Rifqa...that goes for you too)!

Here's Seth Z Herman's Roose the Muse

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

2010-10-09T05:00:00.001-04:00

Today, John Lennon would've made it to seventy. Wow. Seventy.

My father died at sixty-nine, three years ago, and I remember my father being a very "old" person for his age. Although my dad was a very intelligent and kind man -he wasn't hip, or an artist by any means...so its hard to imagine John Lennon at seventy. Probably walking around with a cigarette talking about the next plan for Amnesty International....or Planetary Peace.

I grew up listening to The Beatles. My brother taught me all about them, and he and I will forever have those memories. I love The Beatles so much, I actually named my boy Lennon.

John Lennon was one of those people that comes to our planet and changes it forever. He wanted world peace above everything - and writing "Imagine" was, I believe, divine inspiration.

Lennon also wrote one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard in my life..."Woman." He captures the essence of "the little child inside the man."

And as a tribute I am posting both those videos on my blog...Happy Birthday John Lennon!

Imagine

Woman

What am I listening to? Tied up and Twisted

2010-10-06T22:19:00.000-04:00

I am embarrassed to admit I have been listening to Top Forty music the last couple of weeks. Yeap, you know the line up right?

Usher and Will I Am - OMG

Flo Rida - Club Can't Even Handle Me

Far East Movement - G6 (okay, this one kinda rocks the house)

Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull - I like it (swore to never like Enrique Iglesias... and here I am - liking a song called "I like it" - truly ironic and a little sad on my part.)

Eminem and Rhianna - The Way You Lie (Although I have to do a sidebar and admit I have always been a HUGE Eminem Fan - that man's a poet and such a sign of the times - Come on, Eminem? Marshall Mathers? Slim Shady?)

Taio Cruz - Dynamite

BOB - Airplanes

Kanye West - Runaway

Okay, so you get it. What's going on with this alternative chick listening to all the Top Forty hits?

Don't ask. Believe me, I am as frightened as you are right now.

Then, out of the blue, today...this song came into my mind and I can't get it out of my head. Remember Dave Mathews? Yeah, like a million years ago? Okay, like 10? Crash Into Me? Talk about a poet!

Tied up and twisted the way I like to be, for you for me...come crash into me....

When that song first came out I sort of liked it, but I was too busy in life to notice the beauty of the lyrics. Ten years later, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

And here it is...

ps- Check out our 1200 a day tab for our update on our writing challenge!

Just The Funny!

2010-10-01T05:00:00.004-04:00

Last week my husband and I went on our "alloted date night." It was my turn to plan it (okay, so it's really always my turn to plan it...but hey, I am good at that!), so I chose a romantic (and inexpensive) Italian Restaurant in Coral Way (this is for South Florida folks!) Caffe Abbracci, and for the evening entertainment, I got us tickets to Just The Funny - which was an awesome deal at ten bucks a head!

What is Just The Funny? Its long improvisation! Comedy sketches! Two hours filled of hi-larious stuff! Guys, we were in stitches! These guys are really good! And the sad part was...there was hardly anyone there! I could not believe it! Maybe 8 of us in the audience!

If you are in South Florida, please check out these guys! They are a hoot! And if you are anywhere else in the country, check out your local long form Improv troupe. It's such a great alternative to going to a movie!

"Bam! That just happened!"

2010-09-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

Dearly Debloggers, Seven is having a major week this week! Did she just talk about herself in the third person? Yeah, she did. Oops, and she did it again! Okay, back to me. Yeah, let's talk about me some more because I am sooooo interesting!

Real quick. This week I am transitioning from one job to another and it's been a bit hectic. I have fallen 2400 words behind on the 1200/day challenge, but totally picked it back up today and already back on track!

Anyone else out there besides Beth and I keeping up with the challenge? I'd love to hear from you.

So of course, right in the middle of the 1200 a day challenge (and the transitioning work challenge), guess what happens? I get totally inspired to write a short story (which I have not done so in a while)! I tried ignoring the "urge" but then I came up with a title, and those of you who know me know what happens when I come up with a title. I am pretty much done and I have to write the friggin' story!

I am trying to keep it under 4000 words, so we'll see.

Book Review: The Body Finder

2010-09-27T04:46:00.001-04:00

By Kimberly Derting. Yes, yes, yes! Another book title I picked up at the writeoncon conference.

The Body Finder follows Violet, a teenage girl who can hear the dead calling to her. Specifically the dead that have been unjustly murdered, that is. Have we seen this premise before? Absolutely. Did the author capture characters and style and made it her own, so much so, that I could not put the book down? Oh yeah!

There is a new killer in town, and he is after young girls - and Violet must catch him before he kills anymore. Except there's so many other things going on, like her real life! She's got a crush on Jay she can't deny, and she must continue living her everyday life, except the voices won't leave her alone until she catches the killer.

Written in third point of view, Derting goes from chapter to chapter, intermittently jumping from the killer's head, back to Violet's head. The two voices are done superbly. The killer's voice is soooooo creepy, it actually made my skin crawl...seriously ("It rubs the lotion on its skin" creepy...okay? If you didn't get that reference Google it!)

Excellently done!

Here's more about Kimberly Derting http://www.kimberlyderting.com/

Book Review: Writing The Breakout Novel - Donald Mass

2010-09-20T05:00:00.001-04:00

Look. I am as guilty as the next person for having thought for the last two years this book was just another "tell me how to write a book" book - sharing nothing I've never heard before. I was not going to fall for the trap. No...not the "How To" trap!

Well...I hate to break the news (I think this saying is on the list by the way), but I was wrong! What? Huh? Come again? Me wrong? Impossible?

Beth, my writing "padner" turned me on to it, and I am so glad she did. It's the way that Mass explains how first time novelists write vs. pros, and how we can catch those things going into our first drafts.

My favorite part is the checklist at the end of each chapter. It really gives you a starting point when picking up your WIP's outline.

Secret: It's at the public library...read it, if you love it....like I am loving it....buy it! Sorry Mr. Mass, but we are writers! Kinda broke right now! Oh, and thanks for the awesome book! But don't worry, I will by the "Workshop" book (what? there is a workshop book that comes along with it? I know, amazing!)

1200 Words A Day Challenge Check In

2010-09-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

Wow. This is such a great challenge...I have been pretty dutifully writing my 1200 a day! Even when I don't feel like writing, I sit down and do it and amazingly enough...something happens in my story.

Things to keep in mind:

1) Its the first draft folks! It can be far from perfect.

2) Keep writing.

3) If you miss a day double up on the next.

Yesterday, in the midst of my 1200 a day, I received a call with some very good news! I got so happy I couldn't get my "butt in the chair (BIC)" again after hearing the news!

Today 2400 awaits. I must go write them now...my Venus, Salem and Adina just walked into Club Delight and nothing good can come of that...muhuhuhahahaha!

Attention! Attention! Great Short Story Contest! Nov 1st Deadline!

2010-09-15T22:46:00.000-04:00

If you are pursuing the publishing dream....remember it can start anywhere, even with a short story. Specially with a short story that wins the Writer's Digest short story contest! Ahhhh....can you see it now? Your short story published? Adding the publishing credit to your query letter?

I know, I know...absolutely fabulous!

Here's the 411 on the contest.

Deadline Nov 1st.
Less than 4000 words.
Various categories (Mystery, Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Thriller, Suspense,
$20 dollar entrance fee (which is okay since we are talking Writer's Digest - well known magazine - and some fabulous prices!)

For more details click here. Oh, and if you are reading this and saying "Man-o-man....I sure like this Seven's blog, she always has great writing tips, writing challenges, and information - remember you can say it best by clicking on the side there (no over there...to your right...yeah, towards the bottom...yeah....right there), and becoming a follower of my blog!

1200 Words A Day Reminder!

2010-09-14T15:15:00.002-04:00

Guys guys guys! Remember to post your progress under the tab above (1200 Words a Day Challenge)!

Book Review: I Know It's Over

2010-09-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Wow. Okay. This was very hard to read. Not because it was a bad novel....nope, not by a long shot, but because it deals with a very scary subject for any teen. Pregnancy.

Told from a genius male point of view (yeah, part of the writeoncon.com male POV reading list!), CK Kelly Martin does an outstanding job following the rise and fall of Nick and Sasha's summer fling.

The novel not only touches on teen sex struggles (in a very realistic way), but other teen subjects as well- drinking, smoking, "weed" and homosexuality.

Incredibly-well-done. Clap clap clap, bow.

1200 A Day Kickoff!

2010-09-10T14:30:00.000-04:00

On your marks!
Get set!
Go!

Welcome to the official "1200 Words A day" Kickoff!

*take a minute and introduce yourself in the 1200 words a day tab (see above) - tell us what you are hoping to complete!

*make sure you check in on a daily basis under our 1200 words a day tab (see above)!

*now go write your 1200 for today!

Oh...and if you have a friend that wants to join, its not too late! Even if they miss today, they can catch up by writing 2400 tomorrow!

1200 A Day Countdown!

2010-09-09T23:00:00.001-04:00

Tips to prepare for kickoff!

Get your idea notebook ready.
Pencil an hour in your busy schedule to write your first 1200 words.
Commit to the challenge. If you miss one day, remember to double up on the next.
Trust the process...after all...it is all divine inspiration...even when you think it's not.

Countdown has begun....kick-off in a few hours!

Important! 1200 /day challenge starts Sept 10th!

2010-09-07T13:09:00.000-04:00

Guys, check out the 1200 a day challenge tab above and join the frenzy! Have your first draft completed by October 30th!

Book Review: Flash Burnout

2010-09-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

By L.K. Madigan...

I picked up Flash Burnout after hearing praises of it at the writeoncon conference. People were praising its genius "boy" first person point of view. As we all know, male YA is just a little harder to sell, right? It's hard to have a girl pick up a book in a male's voice. But I gotta hand it to Madigan, she did a fantastic job.

There is no paranormal or fantastic elements in this book. Just a regular teenage boy with a girlfriend, and a friend who is slowly gaining "more than just a friend" status.

The voice is superb. Blake, the main character, is fresh, funny, and full of hormones. The interactions between him and his brother ring so true, it was hard to believe a woman was writing this novel! It is by far one of the best male POV novels I have read for YA.

It kept me entertained the whole way through, rooting for "the other girl" while watching Blake make mistakes he didn't even know he was making (so true to the human condition!).

And don't even get me started on Chick Trickster! The "evil" school Dejay. So cool.

If you want a quick, "feel good" kind of read... definitely pick up Flash Burnout.

Lollapalooza

2010-09-03T09:19:00.000-04:00

Last night, I had a dream with Lollapalooza....it's official. I have been reading YA too long! Okay, and sometimes I may want to escape back to the days where responsibility meant showing up on time for your friend's birthday party, or starting the weekend right....on Thursday, or making sure you got tickets for Lollapalooza before it sold out. Awe...those were the days!

Lollapalooza was created by Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction in 1991 and was an unexpected success.
It temporarily died in 1997, and in 2003 it was revived again.

Here's the line up for 1994 (check out the blurb in Nirvana), and the line up for 2010. Thank you Wikipedia!

1994

Location: North America

Dates: July 7, 1994 – September 5, 1994

Main Stage: The Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars, The Breeders, A Tribe Called Quest, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, L7, Boredoms (first half of tour), Green Day (second half)

Side Stage: The Flaming Lips, The Verve, The Boo Radleys, The Frogs (first six dates only), Guided by Voices, Lambchop, Girls Against Boys, Rollerskate Skinny, Palace Songs, Stereolab, Fu-Schnickens, The Pharcyde, Shudder to Think, Luscious Jackson, God Lives Underwater, King Kong, Charlie Hunter Trio, Shonen Knife, Blast Off Country Style, Souls of Mischief, Cypress Hill, The Black Crowes

Several of the artists, including Green Day and Cypress Hill, skipped at least one Lollapalooza tour date in order to appear at Woodstock '94instead. (During Woodstock '94, a security guard mistook bassist Mike Dirnt of Green Day for a stage-invading fan and punched out some of his teeth. Green Day did not perform in Miami) (Green Day held the opening slot for the show in Atlanta, flying to New York immediately afterwards.) Nirvana was scheduled to headline but officially pulled out on April 7, 1994, amid strong rumors that the band was on the verge of breaking up. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was found dead in Seattle, Washington the following day. Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, made surprise guest appearances at several shows, speaking to the crowds about the loss.^[1]

2010

Location: Grant Park, Chicago

Dates: August 6, 2010 – August 8, 2010^[8]

(Artists listed from earliest to latest set times)

Parkways Foundation
Friday: Balkan Beat Box, Raphael Saadiq, Devo, Hot Chip, Lady Gaga
Saturday: Rebelution, Blues Traveler, Gogol Bordello, Social Distortion, Green Day
Sunday: Nneka, The Cribs, X Japan, Wolfmother, Soundgarden

Budweiser Stage
Friday: Wavves, Mavis Staples, The New Pornographers, The Black Keys, The Strokes
Saturday: The Soft Pack, Stars, Grizzly Bear, Spoon, Phoenix
Sunday: The Antlers, Blitzen Trapper, Yeasayer, MGMT, Arcade Fire

Playstation Stage
Friday: B.o.B, Los Amigos Invisibles, Drive-By Truckers, Dirty Projectors, Jimmy Cliff
Saturday: The Kissaway Trail, Wild Beasts, The xx, Metric, Cut Copy
Sunday: Miniature Tigers, The Dodos, Mumford & Sons, MUTEMATH, The National

adidas Stage
Friday: Javelin, The Walkmen, The Big Pink, Matt & Kim, Chromeo
Saturday: Mimicking Birds, Rogue Wave, Against Me!, AFI, Slightly Stoopid
Sunday: Health, Switchfoot, Minus the Bear, Erykah Badu, Cypress Hill

Sony bloggie
Friday: Foxy Shazam, The Constellations, American Bang, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Fuck Buttons, Jamie Lidell
Saturday: The Morning Benders, Harlem, Warpaint, Dawes, Deer Tick, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Sunday: Frank Turner, Company of Thieves, The Ike Reilly Assassination, Hockey, Frightened Rabbit, The Temper Trap

Perry's Stage
Friday: LDJS Remix, BBU, Ancient Astronauts, Ana Sia, Peanut Butter Wolf, Kidz in the Hall, J. Cole, Caspa, Erol Alkan, Tiga, 2ManyDJs
Saturday: Lance Herbstrong, Only Children, Vonnegutt, FreeSol, Beats Antique, Wolfgang Gartner, Steve Porter, Joachim Garraud, PerryEtty vs. Chris Cox, Kaskade, Rusko, DJ Mel, Empire of the Sun
Sunday: Dani Deahl, Team Bayside High, Felix Cartal, Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls, NERVO, Chiddy Bang, Mexican Institute of Sound,Dirty South, Flosstradamus, Felix da Housecat, Digitalism (DJ Set)

BMI Stage
Friday: These United States, The Ettes, Jukebox the Ghost, My Dear Disco, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees
Saturday: MyNameIsJohnMichael, Skybox, Dragonette, Dan Black, Royal Bangs
Sunday: Son of a Bad Man, Neon Hitch, The Band of Heathens, Freelance Whales, Violent Soho

Kidzapalooza Stage
Friday: The Happiness Club, School of Rock, The Candy Band, Tim and the Space Cadets, Rocknoceros, Ed Kowalczyk, Recess Monkey
Saturday: Tim and the Space Cadets, The Candy Band, Rocknoceros, The Verve Pipe, The Happiness Club, Dan Zanes and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, JP. Chrissie & the Fairground Boys
Sunday: School of Rock, The Q Brothers, Recess Monkey, Dan Zanes and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Peter Di Setfano & Tor,Thenewno2, Perry Farrell, The Verve Pipe

Just checking in dearly debloggers

2010-09-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

What's going on? The first week of school...that's what!

But more importantly the gun has been fired on Beth and I's 1200 words per day challenge! Yippe!

If you want to join us in our quest to finish draft number one by the end of October email me at

sevennblue(at)gmail(dot)com

Book Review: Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

2010-08-30T08:17:00.000-04:00

   I picked up Ghostgirl by Tanya Hurley after seeing a soccer mom reading it in a hotel lobby. I am shocked that no one's written this story before...at least not in this fashion anyways.

   Charlotte Usher, a seemingly invisible high school girl, dies by gummy bear stuck in throat and is thrust into Dead Ed School.

   The novel is written if third person past tense, and the voice is innocent, funny and and smart - not what your typical goth teen sounds like at all...but I think the plot lends itself to make this a goth novel nonetheless. A goth tale and full of opportunity for amazing marketing (see book cover done coffin style). The book cover looks like something found at the Hot Topic store.

   And to complete the goth feel, the book opens up with mention of The Cure's Why Can't I Be You followed by Evanescence Bring me Back to Life.

   Are you "rolling your eyes" (YA cliche, he he), thinking...geez..not another goth teen tale with lyrical cameos by The Cure and Evanescence, and cover art reminiscent of Emily the Strange?
Well folks, I hate to break the news...but it was actually done very well. I think Tonya Hurley nailed it.

More on Ghost Girl click here

Sevenn's quick TGIF update!

2010-08-27T11:02:00.000-04:00

My internet is finally back...by plugging Ethernet cable into my laptop! Blah! I need a better router for my wireless connection. But at least, I am on-line!

Today: I go back to work on Monday...which means today I have lots of teacher planning ahead of me to complete!

And now a quick update on what is happening in my writing world:

THE INNOCENTS: I am waiting for my virtual group to give me their feedback, and I promise promise promise this will be the last revision I make on the novel! And yeap...it's being entered in the Random House YA contest.

My new project: My friend and I have decided to start a pact where we write 1200 words a day for 51 days starting in Sept on our new projects! That will give us a finished draft by the end of October!Yippe! If you want to join our daily writing pact email me at sevennnblue(at)gmail(dotcom) and you can join our writing challenge!

TGIF!

Quickly...on The Pillars of The Earth, the miniseries.

2010-08-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

One of the greatest stories ever told...Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth. If you have not read this book you need to stop whatever you are doing right now and order a hard cover copy on Amazon. I promise you that you will be glued to the book (about 1000 pages), and won't be able to put it down until you have reached the last page.

It is one of my favorite books ever (that's not YA). It is told in third person point of view and based in 1120 AD with rich characters and multiple plots - each one more scandalous than the last! Yes!

Starz recently came out with the miniseries, and they are half way through. I heard their subscribers increased dramatically because they were hosting the miniseries!

I have been watching them on Netflix (who also has them on-demand), and so far, I am happy with the results, although naturally, the book is a better experience all around, but if you just simply don't have the time to read at the moment, or anytime soon, be sure to catch the miniseries on Starz!

Book Review: White Cat by Holly Black

2010-08-25T23:13:00.000-04:00

What? You're kidding! A book review on Wednesday?

Yes, couldn't wait til Monday!

I know, I know...I've said it adnauseum, I-love-Holly-Black.

This was a completely different novel for Black. Wow. Totally different. One, because it is told from a male point of view, and two, its about curse workers (curse workers = people who perform magic with a touch of their hand...you can be a "luck" worker, or a "death" worker, or an "emotions" worker).

Cassel Sharpe has a problem, he is from a family of curse workers - except he is not a "worker" himself, but he's killed a girl. Workers are sort of like "the mafia" - There are "families" and everything, just like the mob.

Blacks voice comes through in her main character's coffee drinking smart-ass teenager, but still, this was a very different novel for her.

During the last third of the book, some fantastic stuff starts happening, and the book ends with an amazing turn of events that really leaves me waiting for the sequel.

Holly Black has done was many author's cannot achieve - she has written something completely different from all her other award winning novels. White Cat ends on a fantastic note, and if I know Black, she is going to knock it out of the ball park with book two of The Curse Workers.

What? A Tuesday Post?

2010-08-24T10:09:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know! Problem is that I am having some technical difficulties with my internet and my IT person (brother in law), won't be able to come check it out for us until the weekend. So...I may be posting at odd times this week.

I have a book review I will save for Monday because I have too much exciting news to share with all aspiring writers today.

Ready?

First awesome news: Shannon Whitney Messenger is doing an awesome query critique giveaway! Check this out! And all you have to do is donate $5.00 for a good cause. Query Giveaway

Second awesome news: Random House YA contest! And you have so much time to prep your ms still! YAY! click here

Third awesome news: Mockingjay is out! Book News!

Get busy!

Unpublished Author Extraordinare: An Interview with Seth Herman

2010-08-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

I met Seth Herman via a virtual writer's critique group which he put together. Seth is a true inspiration to all of us writers who are chasing that dream. Read his interview and you'll see what I mean. Enjoy!

7NB: Can you tell us a little about your completed novel?

SH: Well, I have two 95k-word novels finished off, and I’m five chapters into my third. So I guess you could say I’m a bit of a workaholic dreamer – I keep on writing and hope something gets picked up, sooner or later.

Both of the finished novels are YA/fantasy – the first is a hodgepodge of randomness, with sci-fi aspects included as well. It’s basically a combination of everything I’ve ever loved about movies/novels/TV thrown into a blender, and it’s admittedly lousy. But I love it.

            The second is much more structured, and that’s what I have out with agents now. It’s more of a YA/urban fantasy, about a boy who protects Gargoyles during the day. The plot is just much tighter. Although for some reason I got much more of a response from agents for my first novel. Maybe the writing’s better there, who knows.

7NB: Where do you get most of your ideas and inspiration?

SH: From everything I’ve ever read, watched, or thought about. It’s a jungle inside my head, I swear. I’m a guy who grew up on Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton, then switched over to YA fantasy novels. Pretty dramatic shift, I know. People tell me I write my YA like they’re thrillers, and I guess that’s probably got something to do with it.

7NB: What prompted you to write your first novel and how long did the first draft take?

SH: Stephen King writes in “On Writing” that everyone’s had that moment where they’ve read something and thought, “Jeez, I could definitely do better than this.” I won’t call out the author or the novel, but I had one of those about five or six years ago. I dabbled in writing for a few years, then really started taking myself seriously. I knew I could really do it when I got a few short stories published. No big money, but just vindication for all the hard work. It’s not like I had written a hundred of them, either – just a few, and two sold pretty quick. So I knew I wasn’t just messing around.

7NB: Do you have a set writing schedule, or are you more of a "when the mood hits" kind of guy?

SH: My time requirement is strict, but it’s not necessarily at a given hour. I write for one hour a day, six days a week, no excuses. It’s the best I can do with a super-packed schedule. But you’d be amazed at what one hour a day could produce. I wrote my second novel while learning in grad school and teaching classes, to the point where my schedule was 8am-1pm, 230-7pm, and 8-11pm. That’s right, I was busy with work/school for twelve and a half hours a day. Yet I still wrote for that hour a day – usually during lunch – and I knocked out a novel in less than four months. When I told people I had written a novel during those months, the only response I got was, “When?!”

7NB: Can you tell us about your current WIP (work in progress)?  We’d love to hear about some of the characters or what the main idea is, if you don’t mind sharing.

SH: This is my first novel written in first person POV, and it’s also my first with major religious undertones. I’m a Jew, and if I was going to write in first person about a character, I figured he should be as close to me as possible.

            The book is another YA/urban fantasy, about a boy who is enlisted to help protect thirty-six righteous people. According to Jewish legend, there are thirty-six hidden righteous people in every generation, in whose merit the world exists. Someone is trying to knock them off. The protag must protect them without letting them know who they are – after all, knowing you’re keeping the world running would lead to arrogance, and that would eliminate some of the righteousness. It’s a complicated mess that I’m trying to sort out as I write, something I probably shouldn’t do, but I’m too excited to write it and I can’t help but go ahead without a straight outline.

7NB: What does your writing workspace look like?

SH: Heh, wherever I can plop down a laptop. Nothing else needed. When I move into a bigger apartment my wife says she’ll think about letting me have a study. Until then, the dining room table it is.

7NB: Your WIP is a YA novel. Any plans to write for other age groups?

SH: Nah, this age group is way too much fun. If I can’t make it in YA, I can’t see myself trying something else. Unless this religious book seems to fit better with an adult, which I don’t think it does.

7NB: What is your favorite YA novel of all time? How about your favorite book on the craft of writing?

SH: Loved Lord of the Rings, although copying that writing style would be career suicide. Loved Harry Potter, of course, as well as Percy Jackson. I was super impressed with how Rick Riordan kept the pace moving – that was the fastest I ever read through five books in my life. It took me like a week. Amazing to read something so smooth and light and quick.

            My favorite book on writing was, well, On Writing, as mentioned previously. Man, can he write. I hate horror, but that was fantastic.

7NB: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

SH: I was always the kid who wrote too much in English class, but I never seriously considered it until I picked up said book and thought I could do better. It’s been five years since, and I’m still waiting. But if I knew it would take this long and I’d pound out two and a half books in the process, I’d still do it all over again.

7NB: When you start looking for agent representation, what are some of the qualities you will look for in an agent?

SH: Need someone who will be hands-on. I want someone to help me with edits and ideas, someone I can bounce concepts off of and get a decent response. And someone who’s personable, and humorous about the whole thing.

7NB: What is the best advice anyone has given you with regards to your writing?

SH: Nobody has really ever given me any advice, to tell you the truth. I don’t have any friends who are writers, and I never took any formal creative writing classes. I read a lot about the craft of writing, but I don’t remember anything that really stuck out. Yeah, I’ve been alone for a while doing this, but it’s still fun as anything.

7NB: What is the advice would you give to aspiring writers who can’t seem to get their butts in chair to start their novel!

SH: I basically gleaned the following mantra from those ten or fifteen books: stick your head in your keyboard, type a bunch of letters, and see what comes out. If you don’t like it, you can always edit it later.

Even the worst writing is better than no writing. After all, you can edit bad writing. You can’t edit a blank page.

And even just a few minutes a day is amazing. You’d be shocked at what those few minutes add up to.

7NB: What is your experience like, balancing writing and being a father?

SH: Oh, the father thing is amazing; there is nothing that can compare to being a dad and being around with your kids. That said, it’s just another thing that “gets in the way” of the writing. To tell you the truth, anyone who says that has their priorities wrong – the writing gets in the way of being a dad. But it’s just like anything else – you have to set aside time for both, and if you don’t, you’re going to sacrifice something. And my kids don’t deserve to have their time sacrificed. So I have to budget my time accordingly if I want to excel at both things, and I try my hardest to do that.

7NB: What are some of your favorite blogs you follow?

SH: To be honest – yours, and that’s it! I don’t have time to follow blogs. I was following Mary Kole’s Kidlit for a while, but then she rejected my manuscript, and I was done with that ;). But seriously, I don’t have time to read someone else’s lousy writing. I’d much prefer to read my own (and make it better, of course).

Thanks so much for having me – this was a ton of fun.

7NB: Thank you Seth, it was a pleasure to have you! You are a true inspiration, and your books sound amazing! Can't wait to see them for sale :)

***

Now, do you feel there's any reason why you shouldn't be writing an hour a day, or doing anything that is your true passion, for an hour a day? Isn't it amazing what one can do with a little discipline and a schedule?

A Day in Sunny Isles, Florida

2010-08-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd be able to relax and read a book by the pool or maybe look at the plot outline of my WIP as my little guy splashed around in the kiddie pool. But here's what I ran into, instead....

Book Review: City of Bones

2010-08-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Let me start by saying that this is a NY Times Best Seller series. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare - is one of those books that looks nothing like the cover, at least this cover!

As you can see here, the cover showcases a "shadowhunter" (kills evil demons), over the city of New York, and although all those elements are in the story, the "shadowhunter" on the cover looks to be about thirty, right? I think this is supposed to be Jace (pronounced Jaycee), who is actually seventeen and the main character's, Clary, love interest.

Clary, sixteen, runs into a group of "shadowhunters" at her local night club (for teens). Soon after, her mother is kidnapped by paranormal evil forces, and Clary is forced to go on a quest with her new found friends.

This story has a really great twist at the end (spoiler alert here - you have been warned!) that makes this popular YA fantasy plot differ from many others. Ready to find out?
Okay, scroll down!

We find out that Jace is Clary's brother, which obviously makes things very interesting and leaves you wanting to read book two, just to find out how the heck is this paranormal (now incestuous) relationship is going to turn out! I have some ideas, but would love to see what the author did.

I have place my order for book two with the local library (budget guys! budget! sorry!)

If you want to find out more about The Mortal Instruments click here http://www.mortalinstruments.com/

Wanted: Madwoman in PJ's

2010-08-13T14:01:00.000-04:00