Zip! Bam! Pow! An Idea is Born

Here I go with writing prompt number six in the 28 day author blog challenge! You should go check out some of the participants. There is a lot of talent in this group.

Where were you when the idea for your book was initially ignited? Who was the first person you told? How did they respond?

I remember very clearly where I was when I got the idea for my book and the reaction because it was overwhelming that so many people believed I could do it.

I was sitting with my study group at my house - we were filling out little cards to play our own version of trivial pursuit based on notes in our history class - and I was making the questions for the section on Genghis Khan. Already, I had become intrigued by the man and begun the research for my paper. My pen hit the table and I raised my head to look at everyone. They stopped writing and raised eyebrows at me.

"What if it was because of Borte?" I asked them. I had been regaling them with Genghis Khan facts for weeks to that point and they all had a pretty good grasp of his history and peculiarities so they picked up on my meaning right away.

One of the more outspoken women in the group raised her voice, "Ooooooh, that's a good angle. I wonder if you could find any facts to prove that it was."

I answered, "I don't know but I'm sure gonna try. If not, maybe I'll just go off and write it that way anyway."

The reactions to that statement blew me away. I was flooded with suggestions on how to write it, what spins I should put on the story, how wonderful my writing was, how sure they all were that if anyone could do it, it was me, and how wonderful a love story with Genghis Khan in it would be.

Riiiiight. But the idea took hold and wouldn't let go. I knew I couldn't actually write fiction into my paper but I thought maybe... Almost eight years later, Yassa was born.

Bet you're wondering why it took me so long, huh?

Well, I had a baby, battled an illness, and had to return to finish school. I emerged on the other side of all that a better person with a more can-do attitude. No longer will I put off until tomorrow what I know I can accomplish today - no, I don't mean housework, I put that off all the time. What I'm talking about is the big things; those things that make you want to get out of bed just so you can challenge yourself that day.


Whether it's a weight loss plan, a blog challenge, a novel, or your drive to make your business succeed, it's something that will change your life. It drives you to want more. Newsflash: No one is going to hand you anything. You have to go out and grab the bull by the proverbial horns, look him in the face, and scream that you will succeed and no one can stop you.

I just published my first, full-length novel Tuesday. It was hard work, I won't lie, but it felt so good to click that publish button. Many people write and write their whole lives and never have the courage to click that publish button; but I did it. So many people never write more than twenty-thousand words over a lifetime; I wrote over one-hundred-thousand. Nothing like Yassa has ever been written before. An original idea is something that is rare in the publishing world; I stumbled across it and pushed to deliver.

Grow your thick skin and publish that book. Who cares if it gets forty-five one star reviews? It's that ONE five star review that will leave you dancing in the streets. The Abigale Chronicles - Book One has gotten three five star reviews (two on Smashwords and one on Amazon). I was bouncing off the walls when I got those notifications in my e-mail. Can you imagine?

But, I digress.

Let me get off my soapbox and down into the fray. If you haven't done so, you should grab a copy of Yassa. Or at the very least, go take a look inside. NOOK,  Amazon, and Smashwords will all allow you to preview the first three chapters. Trust me, you'll want to read more. If you purchase on Smashwords, you get a free copy of The Abigale Chronicles - Book One as well. Two books for the price of one!! Like a BOGO sale!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway on Goodreads! It's your chance to get a paperback copy of Yassa, signed by ME, for FREE! That's a $17.99 value and NO shipping charges! What's better than free? Even if you aren't into historical fiction, you'll be in to Yassa. I don't go into boring details about this conquering or that one. Instead, I focus on the love story and betrayal. The relationships between the characters are front and center but you'll learn a LOT of facts in a fun way.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

I Wanna Be Like Mike!

Not really. I don't play basketball. :) Oh, man!! Asking me this is like asking a crack addict what kind of rock they prefer...

Who is your favorite literary character? With which literary character do you most relate?

Day five in the 28 Day Author Blog Challenge, here I go...

Laura, not a fair question! I have so many! I'll list five. Without further ado (or adon't):

1. Jane Bennett from Pride and Prejudice - Ms. Jane is such an unassuming character who always has a kind word for everyone. She refuses to see the flaws people have and never talks about anyone behind their back. I think she would say of a rattlesnake, "It does not bite you because it chooses to; it bites you because it must."

2. Sam Gamgee from LOTR - Oh, man. What can I say about Sam? He is the ideal friend that always has your back no matter what you say to him or how you treat him. Sam knows Frodo doesn't mean what he says. When Sam sneaks and follows his friend, the chips fall and Sam is there, as he should be. I want a friend like Sam.

3. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter - I love how bookish she is and how her smarts make her the target for derision. She isn't gorgeous, nor is she painted that way, but she has a certain something that sets her apart; I like to think it's her penchant for reading. She is a friend to the end who understands how Harry feels because she oftentimes feels the same way. People are jealous because she makes them look small.

4. Myra Rutledge from Weekend Warriors - She's an older lady with spunk. I mean, come on, she learns to pole-dance for crying out loud! When she's angry, she seethes and wants revenge. I love that she takes justice into her own hands when her daughter is murdered. Myra makes me punch the air every time she comes up with a plan that is both vicious and clever. She reminds me of my mom...

5. Kitty from A Dog Called Kitty - Okay, so I'm cheating a little bit here but this book is one of my favorites and when the end happened, I cried like a little girl. I fell in love with that smart little dog while reading this book and his antics have stayed on in my heart throughout my whole life. Oftentimes, I recall the author's description of Kitty's reaction when he ate some jalapeno peppers and it still makes me smile. What a great dog.

Is it strange that only two of those characters came from a favorite author? I read Pride and Prejudice any time I don't have a new book around. It's just a great story.

Which character do I identify with the most? Hermione. I see so much of myself in her and it scares me a little. It's like J.K. got into my head somehow, pulled Hermione right out, and slapped her down on paper.

Now on to other things! If you missed it, Yassa released yesterday! Go get your copy now. That's an order a suggestion.

You can find it at the links listed on the top of this blog. Just choose your version and click for a look. If you choose Smashwords, at the back of the book there is a code for a free copy of The Abigale Chronicles - Book One at Smashwords.

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!!

Jo

Reading for Deep Impact

Writing prompt 4! These are difficult to answer sometimes...

How do the things you read impact your writing? What do you love to read? What do you avoid reading at all costs? How would your writing change if you read more of the things you typically avoid?

What I love to read impacts my writing in a profound way, certainly. But I read everything I can get my hands on so my style hasn't been affected in a major way by one or the other. My readings impact my mind instead. I find it easier to build in a twist or for my brain to play mental ping-pong with settings, characters, and sensory descriptions because I know what so many others have done before me.

I absolutely love fiction but am not opposed to reading non-fiction when the mood strikes or I find something I want to learn more about. Yassa required that I read a lot of historical books and white papers in order to fully grasp the timeline and life progression of Temujin (Genghis Khan). What I learned, I embedded in the story. While much of it is fiction, most of it is fact.

Writers have a different thought process than a typical reader. Ohhhh, I can feel your blood pressure rising because of that statement! Allow me to explain, please? A reader may become immersed in a book and feel, just as writers do, but what sets a writer apart is that we aren't just feeling. We subconsciously analyze the text and pick up new phrases as we read along. We pay attention to the nuances that most readers may miss. I read a text word-for-freaking-word and notice when something is misplaced or misspelled.

I am a writer, I care about the text, the pages, and what I take away from the story.

My sister is a reader, and she consumes books more quickly than I do. I barely have time to get to know the character in a book before she's done and has moved on to the next book. She reads fast. Does that mean she isn't fully immersed in the story? No. It means the story doesn't tickle within her that certain something that it tickles inside a writer. A good critic reads the way she does.

If I read more encyclopedia entries, I think my writing would grow flat and uninteresting; too factual for a reader of fiction.

Let me give you a for-instance: 

Wikipedia entry: Genghis Khan (/ˈɡɛŋɡɪs ˈkɑːn/ or /ˈdʒɛŋɡɪs ˈkɑːn/,^[4][5] Mongol: [tʃiŋɡɪs xaːŋ] ( listen); 1162? – August 1227), born Temujin, was the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death.

That is verbatim.

Me: Genghis Khan was a powerful Mongolian ruler with a small stature and a big head. He was born around 1162 and named Temujin; but the plain name didn't stop him from conquering an entire continent. No, it only fueled his desire to be the greatest Khan to ever live. When he died in 1227, his Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in history.

That's how my head works and too much non-fiction would inevitably kill my inner writer :)

Time to get off that and get on this :)

TODAY, Yassa released to KDP, NOOK, Smashwords, and CreateSpace!!!! I'm so happy that it's out there and done. I have been immersed in the book since January of this year. It feels good to finally get it finished. If you do nothing else, go check out the cover art. Watercolor illustration done by yours truly!

You can find it by following these links:

Amazon (digital)
NOOK (digital)
Smashwords (digital)

I have donated a copy for this blog challenge so remember to blog every day for your chance to win. I'm doing a giveaway of the print edition on Goodreads as well. A few interviews are scheduled to hit the web over the month of June and the giveaway is running in tandem with those.

So, follow me and enjoy those great promotions! A super secret fact (that's no so secret once I publish this blog) is: in the back of Yassa, on the Smashwords edition, there will be a coupon good for a FREE copy of The Abigale Chronicles - Book One. Two books for the price of one! You can't beat that!

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Admiring Minds Want to Know

Yes, it's supposed to be inquiring. Wanna fight about it? :)

Who are the writers you most admire? Who are your writing mentors?

Like, admire, idolize, is there really a difference? Bwahahahaaa

My answers are going to be in list form today with a little blurb by each author and why.

1. Fern Michaels - Fern's books are so women empowering it makes me shudder. But I need a good kick in the arse now and then. When I feel like I want to give up and roll over, I consult one of the vigilante books. Those women make a person want to make a difference. In one of those books, they get revenge on a group of men by removing their testicles, pickling them, and mailing them back to the men. The women were getting revenge for a rape. It was apropos. I punched the air when I read it...

2. Stephen King - Stephen's books are so frightfully descriptive that I feel what his characters feel. I am awakened inside and every nerve in my body tingles. To be frank, the man scares the shit out of me because he paints his scenes so well. I tried to do this in Yassa when Temujin is getting revenge on the men that stole his wife and sold her to another man. Those were difficult scenes to write (because he did some terrible things) but they make the book stay with you after you finish; like Stephen's do. Never would I presume to be as good a writer as him, but he taught me a lot.

3. J.K. Rowling - If ever there was a writer out there that we divorcees with a bunch of kids that are down on our luck can look up to, it's J.K. She wrote Harry Potter while scratching by and it paid off. While I have no delusions of grandeur, it's still nice to know that someone somewhere did it. It gives me hope. As a writer, sometimes hope is all I have. My queries certainly aren't going far...

4. Rick Riordan - Mr. Rick releases two books a year in his two series and I am always chomping at the bit to get them. His knowledge of mythology and Egyptian history floors me. He uses his knowledge well and I learn some facts every time I read one of his books. I appreciate the HF genre because I read about boring facts in a fun way. Using a lot of fact is how Yassa was written and when people realize that, they're going to have a new appreciation for the true meaning of loyalty until death.

5. Alice Borchardt - I couldn't believe how much Greek and Roman history I picked up by reading her books. She's Ann Rice's sister, wrote about werewolves and held a doctorate in the study of Ancient Greek and Roman history. When I realized she was intertwining history with fiction, I was intrigued and picked up every one of the Night of the Wolf series. They blew me away. While her writing style is not one I would copy, I still learned a lot about how to be creative while sticking to facts. She passed away before she was able to finish the series but man, it was GOOD.

That's not all of them, but there's the top 5. I hope this introduces you all to some new authors you may enjoy. Most of the above are listed on my Goodreads page. I haven't gotten around to adding all my books there yet because there are literally thousands of them.

I don't have a writing mentor yet but if anyone wants the job, I'm happy to take one on!! Why did I just hear crickets begin to chirp?

Remember, Yassa will be released TOMORROW!! I know you've all been waiting sooooo long! Your wait will be rewarded! I'll post links here so you can go check it out.

That's all for today, folks!!

Until next time, WRITE ON!!

Jo

My Mad Skillz

On I go with the second writing prompt for the 28 day Author Blog Challenge!!

What kinds of classes, programs, or workshops have you taken to hone your skill as a writer? What sorts of exercises did/do you use to improve your craft? Have you ever taught a writing class or workshop?

I have taken a number of college level writing courses and most had nothing to do with my major. I remember when I told my comrades in the design department that I would be taking extra Composition and English classes and how their faces looked. You'd have thought I sprouted an extra head. What they failed to realize was, my design briefs were the best in the class because of it. Even with the extra workload, I was more relaxed because I was doing something I loved. You wanna see real stress? Go visit a college design class the last four weeks of the semester :)

I took extra History classes in college as well. Lots of papers to write. A paper for one of those classes is what spawned the idea for my book titled Yassa that releases Tuesday.

I also trowel around on the web looking for writing prompts. - Yes, I posted some last week. Follow the link to be inspired!! - Many of those creations never see the light of day but they make me think about things I may not have otherwise. It has helped me in more ways than I can tell. I find that people are afraid to put their writings out there to be hammered on. I suppose being an artist has helped me there because I am used to critique.

Exercises I do include automatic writing, READING, blogging, and critiquing other writings (even if only in my head). I find the automatic writing allows me to give freedom to my constantly changing thoughts and opinions. I think all writers are a bit crazy and we need to give our crazed brains a chance to show us what it may be thinking beneath the surface. Writing whatever I want in a nonsensical way and not worrying about punctuation or structure has given me some fabulous ideas for books. Reading does the same thing. I lose myself in whatever book I'm reading and my brain opens up to new possibilities. Blogging is like a warmup for me each day. I don't usually blog on the weekends because I take time off from writing to spend with my kiddos and I don't need the punch in the brain - I can't shut it off once it gets going. Critiquing other people is an exercise that lets me see what falls flat and why.

While I haven't taught a class on creative writing, I did tutor Composition in college and led a number of team papers to As because I understood structure and how to use sensory words. I have considered holding a small workshop in my neighborhood for kids this summer but haven't laid plans for that just yet.

This prompt made me think. I like that.

That's all for today.

Until next time, WRITE ON!!

Jo

My Memory of Writing

So it begins. This is the first topic for the 28 day Author Blog Challenge. Enjoy the read!

Describe your earliest memory of writing. How did your writing habit/process/career develop?

My earliest memory of writing, wow. I know I wrote as far back as age four (my dear mother kept some of my stories) but my personal memory doesn't kick in until seventh grade. It is the worst memory of writing that I have and that very factor may be the reason I remember it so clearly.

My English class was assigned a short story project that I was excited about. We could write on any topic we wanted and the story had to be three pages in length. I took to it with gusto and wrote a fairy tale about a brave warrior, trolls, and magical keys that released princesses from their prisons. My mother sat in the room with me and watched me write it from beginning to end in one session. Never one to complete much (okay, any) homework, my teacher was shocked when I handed it in on time. I knew I had written well and felt good about the work I had turned in.

When I got it back a week later, I had made a B- and there was a note in fiery red ink scrawled across the top of the page: What book did you copy this out of? If I close my eyes really tightly, I can still see it. My heart sank to my feet, butterflies entered my stomach, and tears welled up in my eyes.

I had made some errors in the body of the story (misplacement of commas - JUST TWO) and that crotchety old lady thought that I copied the story. Newsflash: If I had copied the story, there would have been ZERO errors. Duh.

So I go home that day wretched, with my paper in my hand, and fall into my mother's arms. I was crying and babbling about finally doing some homework and getting accused of cheating the moment I did. I showed her the paper and cried harder.

I had never seen my mom to go war before but the lady went to war with that teacher over what she had written on my paper. It wasn't the grade that upset either of us, it was the fact that, because I couldn't diagram a sentence or tell a noun from a verb from an adverb, the teacher thought there was no way I could write that well on my own. Mama let the teacher know that I wrote the story while supervised and there was no way I had cheated.

I got an apology but it had a deep impact on my psyche. What I didn't realize at the time was, my story was so good, my teacher thought I had copied it from a real writer! But, hey, I was a kid.

No one read anything I wrote again until I was in college and had to write papers for my classes. Up to that point, I had been writing for myself. If I was assigned a paper in high school, I just didn't do it. My professors began asking me how long I had been writing. I never told any of them the story behind the reason I stopped.

I just shrugged and said, "I don't really write, I read."

When my Composition I professor asked if she could use one of my papers as an example of excellent writing, I was flabbergasted. When my World History professor told me he had never seen such an excellent paper written before and asked if he could keep it for himself, I was floored. I had something unique and they made sure I knew it. Those two professors gave me more self-assurance than anyone ever had. After all, they weren't related and they still loved my work!

World History is the class that gave me the idea for Yassa (releasing in two days) and is based on the very research that was gathered for my most excellent research paper on Genghis Khan that my professor kept.

I guess the simple answer is, my earliest memory of writing sucks but I truly began writing in college. After I graduated last year, I have taken to it like a duck to water.

I developed a writing schedule, laid my plans, and went to work. I am more satisfied with my personal success of just finishing Yassa than I have been my whole life when I finished anything else. When I finished The Abigale Chronicles - Book One, I felt on top of the World.

I can't imagine doing anything else and getting as much pleasure from it as I do from writing. It's what I was born to do.

Though I still have a hard time with the parts of speech, I can sit down and compose well because I understand. I suppose it goes back to the old saying: "Those who do not read, cannot write."

That's all for today. Until next time, WRITE ON!!

Jo

Wearing A Heart

When you ship your manuscript off to an editor, friend, or beta reader, you sit on pins and needles until it makes its way back home. Some writers fear the tearing apart of their work and some are rewarded for those fears.

I'm going to give some advice to anyone that will listen:

Get your heart off your sleeve.

Realize that when people rip you apart, they are helping you. EVERY comment on your work is helpful, even if it says, "This is total shit." Sure, it's shocking and it may cause you to widen your eyes, pull back your ears, and tilt your head down a little, but don't fly off the handle and cry. If you do that, you're only defeating yourself.

When someone leaves a comment like this one:

I have always loved XXX's writing! I have been reading his work for 35 years. That said, this book/story changed my opinion that he could never write a bad book. I could not believe how this story ended. It read like a story a 10 year old would write. I turned back and forth between the last 2 pages 3-4 times thinking I had somehow skipped pages. After reading XXX and XXX this year, I was left feeling like I had wasted the hour it took to read this book.

Listen to it. Think about why the person felt that way. Be objective about your own work. I know it's hard but it can only help you in the long run. If people leave a lot of comments like the one above, something is wrong.

BTW, the author that got that comment is HIGHLY renowned. It had a 1 star rating with it. He is wildly successful and has sold billions of books. The moral of the story? We all create a turd now and then. Do you think he quit writing? Nope.

If you are someone who can't take criticism, you're in the wrong career.

For as long as there have been people who create, there have been people who do not like the creations. I'm reminded of a Mel Brooks film - History of the World Part I - where there is a caveman drawing on a wall and another comes up, takes a look, scratches his chin, and pees on the artwork. Everyone else in the room cave liked it so why does that one critic get all the attention? Because he had a negative reaction.

Whatever you do, DON'T let the words of ONE person bruise your ego.

Now, if you get a LOT of those comments, you need to stop and ask yourself why people are saying what they are saying. So what if you worked for a year on your book? Something is wrong with it and you need to figure out what that something is. Fix it in your next book.

If you don't believe in yourself, how are you going to get other people to believe in you? NEVER give up if it's something you TRULY want.

I know it hurts but, eventually, you'll become numb to it. You NEED to hear each and every opinion. Don't take it to heart, take it to mind.

That's all for today, folks!! Don't forget!! Yassa releases in just THREE days!! June 4th!! BE EXCITED!! I am!! Hell, if it only sells ONE copy, that's one more than I had today :)

Until next time, WRITE ON!!

Jo