TBR Featured Author

Look who TBR (To Be Read) is featuring as their July author-of-the-month:

http://tbrtheblog.blogspot.com/p/tbr-featured-author.html

And watch for the author interview on July 8.

The Things We Do for Love….

By Patrice Lyle

Nothing is sweeter than having your first book released on your favorite holiday! Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday because it celebrates love. Yes, I’m a total sap when it comes to love and relationships. Yes, I love getting flowers and mushy cards. Yes, I love romantic comedies and pink hearts. I love it all.

So how do my gushy emotions relate to writing? Well, as far as I see, the love of writing is very similar to love.

For better or for worse. Hmm. Where do I start? Some days my writing flows freely and without much effort, and other days it’s agony trying to squeak out one tiny word, much less a complete sentence. Some days I think my writing’s pretty good and some days I know it totally sucks. Some days I think I’ll never have enough time to write all the books I want to write and some days I wonder how I’ll ever manage to finish another book at all. But I keep writing because I love it.

For richer or for poorer. Okay, this one makes me chuckle. Yes, I’ve dreamt about making tons of money as an author (who hasn’t?) but so far that has yet to pass. I’ve spent a lot of money on my love of writing. I’ve gone to tons of workshops and conferences, most of which have required plane tickets and hotel fees, in addition to the registration. I’ve paid dues to several writers groups. I’ve bought tons and tons of craft books and writing magazines. I’ve earned a master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction. I’ve spent money on my website, trailer and marketing. But I did all this because I love to write.

In sickness and in health. I’ve written when I was heartsick over a rejection. I’ve written when there didn’t seem to be any hope of publication at all. I’ve written when my story was in desperate need of CPR. And I’ve written myself into a corner far too many times to count. But I always kept going because I love to write.

‘Til death do us part. I wrote my first novel when I was ten years old. It was a middle grade mystery about these two girls who were shockingly (J) very similar to my sister and me. I knew what I wanted to do with my life, so I committed to making that dream happen. I’m forty years old now, so I’ve been chasing my dream of publication for thirty years. And believe me, there have been many times over the past few decades when I thought it might never happen at all. That I might literally take my dream to the grave. But my love of writing is what kept me going.

Bottom line is, I love to write so I’ve given it my all. I’ve kept on writing through the good times and the bad, just like we do in love. Faith, hope, and love totally relate to writing. Faith that your writing will resonate with an audience. Hope that someday your book will be published. And an amazing love of the craft.

Happy release day to LETHALLY BLONDE and SCARLET! And Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

ISBN 13 978-1-61603-013-1
ISBN 10 1-61603-013-5

Morgan Skully is the world's only blonde demon girl, and she's got a brand new, very unusual afterschool job. Spying for the Devil. She'd much rather use her cloak-and-dagger skills to spy on hottie-licious Derek with her friends, but the Devil won't take no for an answer. Luckily for Morgan, her new boss is kinda hot. Her assignment is simple: find out who at Pitchfork Prep is funneling secrets to the Siberian Werewolf Council. If she succeeds, pedicures and platinum highlights are just the beginning.

But if she fails…there's more on the line than killer shoes.

And take a sneak peek at the trailer that'll be showing up in some theaters. Watch for it in a theater near you!

Blogmania Is Here!!

Thanks for joining us for Blogmania today. Be sure to check out all the great prizes at the official site. More than $38,000 in prizes will be given away on Sept 15-16. Only 2 days to enter.

We hope you'll friend us and leave a comment for a chance to win the following prizes:

3.1 MP digital video camera;
4X digital zoom,
1.5 color LCD screen,
includes USB cable and
audio/video cables $90.00 value

Leap Books gift certificate $10.00
Plus 3 Leap Books $46.00 value

Handmade glycerin soaps in a beautifully
decorated Victorian padded box $35.00

We're glad you stopped by. Be sure to visit Leap Books website for Free Reads, great new books for teens, and fun activities for schools and book clubs.

http://www.leapbks.com/exclusives/ofdh.html

FREE READs:

http://www.leapbks.com/exclusives/mpdav.html

Here are a few upcoming events for Leap Books:


OCT. 4

Kat O'Shea, Editor-in-Chief of Leap Books, is teaching a workshop Handling Backstory the Right Way.

Here's the blurb:

You only have a paragraph or two to capture an editor’s or reader’s interest. If you don’t draw readers in quickly, it’s hard to make a sale. Get your story off to a more exciting start by eliminating backstory. Discover how to identify backstory, when to cut it, where and how to use it effectively.

WHEN: Oct 4 - Oct 31
COST: $15 for Premium Members
$25 for Basic & NON-Members

So head on over to Savvy Authors to register.

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Throughout October, author Judith Graves will be available for visits:

October 2010: Young Alberta Book Society TALEBLAZERS Lit Fest. Touring schools and libraries across Alberta, discussing my journey from singer/songwriter to Young Adult paranormal fiction author. I explore what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your  work (revision with BITE!). She'd love to meet all students, library staff, and teachers from across the province. Book her now: www.yabs.ab.ca

 Here are two of Judith's scheduled appearances:

October 5: Red Deer College Confluence Campus (Rocky Mountain House, AB).

October 22:  Author visit in Grimshaw, AB.

Pictures from VA Festival of the Book

If you read yesterday's post, you know that Bonnie J. Doerr had a great time at the Va Festival of the Book with fellow authors Ruth Spiro (Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist), Emily Ecton (Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments), Deborah Heiligman (Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith), and Laura Rennert (Emma, the Extraordinary Princess).

Here's a picture of the panel with their books (from far left): Bonnie J. Doerr, Deborah Heiligman, Emily Ecton, Ruth Spiro, and Laura Rennert (speaking).

The fun didn't end there. The group enjoyed getting to know each other before and after the panel. Here's another shot of them together. This time Fran Cannon Slayton (When the Whistle Blows), who served as moderator for the panel, has joined them. From far left the group includes Fran Cannon Slayton , Emily Ecton, Debra Heiligman, Bonnie J. Doerr, Ruth Spiro, and Laura Rennert.

Be sure to add the VA Festival of the Book to your list of must-dos for next year if you missed this one. I'm betting you'll see Bonnie there again. She thoroughly enjoyed her experience. And here she's relaxing around the campfire with author

Edie Hemingway (Road to Tater Hill).