Victoria Caine's Humor, Inspiration and Camaraderie

I am pleased to be doing a blog swap today with another fellow Prism Book Group author,
Victoria Pitts Caine. Vicki's here to share a little humor, inspiration, writerly camaraderie. Take it away, Vicki.

My writing journey began over twenty years ago when I published a small article in an adoptive parent magazine. Then my super-mom gene took over and I enjoyed the events surrounding my daughter’s lives:  school, sports, music, dance and cheer.

When the oldest left for college in New Mexico, I began researching my family heritage.  After several years of investigation, I entered a genealogy writing contest and won honorable mention.  At that point, I felt the need to tell the story of my mother’s family.  I began writing my self-published historical novel, Rachel.

My own inspiration:  My first book, Alvarado Gold, evolved from a family story told in an old letter from my mother’s great uncle. My ancestors developed a town in Texas and periodically drove cattle to Seattle, Washington. On one such trip, the brothers including my third great grandfather buried the money. The family continued to look for it well over a hundred years later and it was never found.

The verse that runs through the book is from Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, beginning with for everything there is a time and a season. When the church worship band played the song, "Turn, Turn, Turn" one weekend – I knew I had to get the story published.

Camaraderie:  Anything that brings writers together is a benefit. I think we all feed off of each other (in a good way). I facilitate a class once a week for writers where we read our work and do a short lesson. Most of all we share our sorrows and triumphs in the publishing arena. The triumphs usually are celebrated with cake!

Humor:  A funny story from my writing journey. . . for many years I attended a writing class taught by an accomplished author who had several Harlequin Romances under her belt. Several of the students in the class had traveled extensively to exotic places like Africa, Egypt and the Middle East.

We were required to read our WIP each week and I read a scene from my book Cairo that took place in a restaurant. I’ve never been to Egypt and found a virtual tour of an eating establishment on the internet which I described in the book.

When I finished reading, one of the women who had recently returned from Egypt looked at me and said, “I didn’t know you’d been to Cairo. I ate in that restaurant.”

Ah, the power of good research.

Be sure to check out Victoria's newest release: available here or here

Vicki lives in Fresno, California, where she shares her home with her husband, her youngest daughter, two dogs, one very large cat, and about twenty fish.  Other than writing, she enjoys reading, craft work, and collectables. She also collects exotic gemstones. 

Thanks so much for swapping blogs today Vicki. Be sure to visit Victoria's blog 

As always, feel free to comment or ask Vicki questions.

First Lines, First Words, Pitch Contests

I've been having some luck with first line, pitch and first words contests.

I recently made the TOP TEN out of 100 in the Adventures in YA Pitch and First Line Contest with my early middle grade manuscript.

So, I'm entering another contest with a different middle grade manuscript and I wanted you to know what an awesome opportunity these contests provide.

But first click below, by March 18th, to enter your contemporary middle grade manuscript

                                                    CLICK Here to find out the details

Each contest varies in its rules and process, so be sure to read all the rules carefully.

Some contests have multiple rounds where you can revise based on feedback.

The best reasons to enter--FEEDBACK.

I've got to hurry and make my submission. You should too.

As always feel free to comment.

How Do You Choose Your Favorites?

I'm talking about lines from your WIP (work in progress), or finished/published manuscript.

When editor, Joan Alley of Prism Book Group asked for a selection of favorite lines from my new release, Destined for Deception, co-written with Sandra Tilley, I had a dilemma. I love most of the lines, okay, several make me cringe, but I know that’s my uber-revisionist wanting to attack those lines one more time. 

But my favorite lines are the ones that have special meaning because of the little stories experienced during the creation of those lines. The "ah ah moment" when you find the perfect combination of words. Or the clever rhetorical device. Or the lines that only have humor after a glass of wine, late at night. ;)

So here I'll share a few of my favorite lines and their little story. 
All from Destined for Deception. Available on Amazon here or at Prism Book Group Here

Destin's East Pass Bridge

1. “The winking waters of the Gulf of Mexico taunted her from the far side of Destin’s East Pass Bridge. A thousand yards to open water and wind-in-her-hair speed. Exactly what she craved after a long week of head hunting.”

This one makes me smile. :) Can’t you just imagine a fearless Amazonian woman with her spear standing in the bow of her boat speeding across the water searching for her next victim. Okay, maybe that’s only me. LOL

But the career we chose for our heroine Bree was an inspiration from Sandra and her daughter’s successful career in executive job placement.

2. “A rush of hypothermic air blasted him as he opened the door. He didn’t hesitate but strode past the Edward Little prints, down the hall to Bree’s office, and stopped at her open door. A long, soft sigh interrupted keyboard tapping.

He snaked his hand around the doorway and waved the bouquet like a flag of surrender. ‘It’s not a warrant. I thought these might be better. Truce?’”

This line is an ode to the old joke, Florida is the coldest state...

in the summer...indoors. 

And these lines include a shout out to Sandra’s longtime friend Peggy Little and her very accomplished photographer son, Edward. 

                             photo courtesy of Edward Little

3. “She ground her back teeth, ignored everything Drew had told her, and launched her attack. “How could you involve me? And the firm? Why? For what? This boat? I put up with a lot from you over the years, but this goes way beyond sleeping with clients. Fraud? Using our business to do it? And my name on one of those accounts? And on a BP claim I know nothing about? What were you thinking?”

Justin sipped his tea, checked his watch, and then glanced over her shoulder toward the parking lot.

Every cell in her body pulsed. Every breath fueled her anger. Every ounce of energy focused on Justin’s lying face.”

I love the anaphora used in the last line. But the fact that Justin bought a boat with fraudulent BP claims has a hints at truths of real events and then there’s that Florida joke showing Justin must not be a true Floridian because...A true Floridian does NOT own a boat. They make friends with someone who already owns one. That way you don't have to deal with any of the headaches. 

4. “Using his best concerned-citizen voice, Drew said, “I believe this is important city business. Misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars should be important.” He paused to let the dollar amount sink into the audience. “After my extensive investigation, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the people of Destin—and you specifically, Ms. Lerner—have been duped.”  

This line also whispers of real events in Destin after the BP oil spill which fueled our imagination and our plot. Plus I love how the line plays into the title. 

Feel free to share some of your own favorite lines or just comment

Yikes! A Writer's Conference

Okay, I’ll admit I’ve attended a few writer’s conferences. I’ve never blogged about them because...the one thing I learned from the experience...I am a big baby, I mean, introvert. 
All those people...all that smoozing...what if one of those gatekeepers says...

Cartoon Copyright Dave Coverly. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Dave Coverly.

The slice of humor in the comic above is thanks to Dave Coverly and shared by my 
fellow Prism Author, Lisa Lickel who's here today and is not a big baby brave enough to share her writer's conference experiene.

Take it away Lisa...

I survived another writer’s conference. I am not a brave person. 

And as I get older, I find myself inappropriately courageous in some places and inappropriately cautious in others. I paid for, attended, pitched, roomed with my agent, made fun of Canadians I just met, hugged and cheered for people I knew only by name. 

(Okay, I have to butt in here. I’m Canadian, although I’ve been transplanted in the Deep South for over fifteen years now, but how could you make fun of Canadians? We’re so lovable. :) Okay, maybe you're upset we won the Women's Hockey Gold yesterday. But come on, it's hockey. LOL 
Sorry, Lisa, no more butting in :) I promise.)

Seriously, a magnet taught me some things about conference etiquette. You see I had a session of acupuncture beforehand, admitting my nervousness, which resulted in the acupuncturist placing a tiny magnet in the cartilage of my ear to help with anxiety.  I figured it couldn’t hurt.

So what did I learn with the help of my magnet: 

1. Go prepared. 

I checked out the acquisitions editor I targeted for my pitch, as well as recent releases in my genre from the publisher, and shamelessly name-dropped. 

2. Be yourself.

Up to a point. Leaving some mystery is good. Politics, favorite television shows, bathroom sharing, bedtimes, snoring, getting lost, favorite foods, eating and drinking preferences…maybe best left for another time.

3. Speaking of time...leave lots of it: 

To get places—I can’t find my way out a box.

To avoid stress. It can be overwhelming to always be “on point,” so find time to relax for even a few minutes.

To listen. You just might make a new fan and a new friend.

To answer questions and share of yourself. I’ve been published multiple times now and I do have stuff to share. 

5. Keep your expectations realistic.

I went to the conference desiring to meet people who’d been cyber-acquaintances. I was not presenting or offering a workshop at this conference, so I did not expect to sell much. But I did, thanks to a friend who recommended me to others. I also wasn’t sure how much new info I’d absorb from the speakers, but on the flip side, I was also there to support people who needed an audience. And yes, of course, a person can always learn something new, or reinforce past lessons. 

6. Finally, relax and have fun.

 It gets easier for me each time I go. I’m still a little chicken to do totally new things, but with each layer of experience, I grow. I’ve gone from needing a best friend holding my hand, to medication, to the magnet. Maybe someday I won’t even need the magnet.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and sharing your conference experience. Be sure to check out Lisa's newest release and her other books.

The Last Detail, January 2014 from the Prism Book Group

http://www.prismbookgroup.com/TheLastDetail.html

Hope, love, and loss meld two polar opposite personalities. How long can they keep passion for their ministry and each other after the wedding? 

Medical missionary and avowed bachelor Merit Campbell is wounded during a skirmish at his Mideast clinic and sent home to recover. Restlessness propels him to explore the happier moments of his childhood in Illinois where he meets Amalia Kennedy, owner of The Last Detail, who enjoys helping people prepare for their final years. Merit ushers in new life; Amalia ushers it out. Love? Obviously. Marriage? Check. Dealing with the family closet? Step back…Amalia enjoys her predictable life in a quiet little Illinois town—until long-time intended, Hudson, finally proposes in a way that shows her boring and old are coming way too fast. When a mutual friend introduces Merit and Amalia, the spark of attraction makes Merit reconsider his bachelorhood. When he can’t return to the mission, he accepts a call as pastor to Amalia’s church. As the two grow closer they weather constant interruptions from ministry, business, and family, even at their wedding and beyond. When tragedy strikes, they must learn to rely on each other in ways they couldn’t have prepared for. 

Amazon http://amzn.to/1a0Bapx

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1cKdDcK

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/390240

All Romance ebooks: http://bit.ly/1hDtSNh

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. A multi-published, best-selling and award-winning novelist, she also writes short stories and radio theater, is an avid book reviewer, blogger, a freelance editor, and magazine editor. Visit www.LisaLickel.com.

Feel free to comment or ask Lisa a question.

My First Published Novella - Cover Reveal

My romantic suspense, co-written with Sandra Tilley releases THIS WEEK!

Here's the cover.

More info coming, including links. Stay tuned.

New Year, New Friends, Blog Hop

Today, I'm pleased to be part of the Prism Book Group Blog Hop.

                                                         www.prismbookgroup.com

Acquiring Editor, Jacqueline Hopper, is celebrating 100,000 views on her blog with this blog hop as well as some wonderful prizes.  Like a Book Lovers Gift Pack from Prism Book Group.


As a writer I often find motivation from the humor, inspiration and camaraderie of other writers.

Inspiration:
Here's an inspiring quote for notable writer Ursula K. Le Guin.

                                                                         photo courtesy of theguardian.com

" A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight."

Humor:
Here's a bit of humor from my most-beloved Canadian author, poet and feminist, Margaret Atwood. I smile each time I read Ms. Atwood's reply when she was recently asked to write a blurb for an upcoming book that was not her own.

                                                               photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.ca

Here is her reply.

(I blurb only for the dead, these days)

"You are well-known, Ms. Atwood," the Editor said,
And we long for your quote on this book;
A few well-placed words wouldn't bother your head,
And would help us to get in the hook!"

"In my youth," said Ms. Atwood, "I blurbed with the best;
I practically worked with a stencil!
I strewed quotes about with the greatest largesse,
An the phrases flowed swift from my pencil.

Intelligent, lucid, accomplished, supreme,
Magnificent, touching, but rough,
And lucent, and lyrical, plangent, a dream,
Vital, muscular, elegant, tough!

But now I am aging; my brain is all shrunk,
And my adjective store is depleted;
My hair's getting stringy, I walk as though drunk;
As a quotester I'm nigh-on defeated.

I would like to be useful; God knows, as a girl
I was well-taught to help and to share;
But the books and the pleas for quotes pour through the door
Till the heaps of them drive to despair!

So at last I've decided to say NO to all.
What you need is a writer who's youthful;
Who has energy, wit and a lot on the ball,
And would find your new book a sweet toothful,
Or else sees no need to be truthful.

Such a one would be happy, dear Editor, to
Write you quotes until blue in the brain.
It's a person like this who can satisfy you,
Not poor me, who am half down the drain.

So I wish you Good Luck, and our author, and book.
Which I hope to read later, with glee.
Long may you publish, and search out the blurbs,
Though you will not get any from me."

(Thanks to Passive Voice for sharing this on the web last year.)

Camaraderie: 

I'm new to the group of Prism authors and my novella, co-written with my good friend Sandra Tilley, entitled Destined for Deception will be releasing next month. So please check out the other blogs listed to the right of this post.

As always feel free to comment.

A New Year of Writerly Humor, Inspiration and Camaraderie

Am I the only one who has a hard time creating titles? 

Be it short story, novella, or novel titles always strain my brain. And then I tend to get fixated on one a title.  Usually containing alliteration. Which sounds nice to my ear and works for some of my children’s writing but some times...not so much. For instance, I just finished an adult short story and the only title I could think of was  "Bets, Bros and Booze." 

So for a dose of humor here are some titles, along with the author’s name that might bring a smile.

• The French Chef by Sue Flay
• Tight Situation by Leah Tard
• Unemployed by Anita Job

• Off to Market by Tobias A. Pigg

• I Lived in Detroit by Helen Earth
• Inflammation, Please by Arthur Itis
• Handel's Messiah by Ollie Luyah

• Downpour! by Wayne Dwops
• Cloning by Ima Dubble

• Irish Flooring by Lynn O'Leum
• Holmes Does it Again by Scott Linyard

• Home Alone IV by Eddie Buddyhome

• Neither a Borrower by Nora Lender Bee
• The Scent of a Man by Jim Nasium
• Is O. J. Guilty? by Howard I. Know
• Animal Illnesses by Ann Thrax
• French Overpopulation by Francis Crowded
• Fallen Underwear by Lucy Lastic
• House Construction by Bill Jerome Home
• Yellow River by Iam Ping

• Lewis Carroll by Alison Wonderland
• Leo Tolstoy by Warren Peace

• The L. A. Lakers Breakfast by Kareem O' Wheat
• Why Cars Stop by M. T. Tank
• Wind in the Willows by Russell Ingleaves
• Look Younger by Fay Slift
• Mountain Climbing by Andover Hand
• It's Springtime! by Theresa Green

• No! by Kurt Reply

• And Shut Up! by Sid Downe

• 40 Yards to the Latrine by Willy Makeit and Betty Wont
• Glass Bikini by Seymore Skynn
• Yellow River by I. P. Freely

• Sex on the Beach by Sandy Shortz

And for Inspiration...

How about this Magic House? A wonderful writer’s studio found in the urban backyard of my good friend Cath Rathbone.  The inside is just as inspiring. I believe every writer needs a Magic House.

And from a master Anais Nin, a little camaraderie

                                                             photo courtesy of wikipedia

"If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it."

Feel free to comment and share your writerly humor, inspiration or camaraderie.