Monday, July 22, 2013
Books You'll Love from Books We Love: New Interview with author Sydell Voeller
Books You'll Love from Books We Love: New Interview with author Sydell Voeller: Sydell Voeller grew up in Washington State, but has lived in Oregon for over thirty-five years. Throughout her twenty-...
Find Significance in what you create by Rita Karnopp
I wrote the following blog for another site - but I felt like sharing here, too. I truly believe sometimes we fail to acknowledge our successes - and we should. I hope this reminds you to give yourself major kudos every time you write 'the end.' Rita
We write because we are inspired. We have stories rambling around in our heads and we have this great desire to write them down, and share them. We also have the desire and ambition for success. We have goals to actually make money from our book sales.
After completing that first book - we are filled with incredible pride and joy. We have every right to be. Unfortunately, those feelings don’t last all that long. An impending question pressures us into asking, “What next?”
A feeling of doom and gloom consumes us. Why? We are filled with mixed emotions; excitement, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, apprehension, and even frustration. The proverbial question that is most daunting; “What if no one likes my book?” It’s our insecurities that haunt us the most.
So many people say they are going to write a book – and never do. You’ve done something fantastic. You were committed, worked hard, and sacrificed to accomplish this one thing. Yet, you are allowing self-doubt, anxieties, and even fear, take you from euphoria to downright depressed.
Shake it off and step back. Take time to compliment yourself on a job well-done. Celebrate! Nothing will feel like finishing that first book. Take time to feel pride in yourself. Take time to share your success with your family and friends. Take time to plant this feeling in your mind – so you can revisit it in the future.
There is no greater joy than to experience this sense of creativity, then sharing it with others. The moment we think of asking, “what comes next,” deflates our exhilaration and changes to being overwhelmed – the excitement turns to uneasiness.
You’ve finally written that book – now don’t let the panic of taking the next step stop you. It’s often the fear of failure, the frustration of not knowing which way to turn, and even the dread of being told that what you just poured your heart and soul into is – crap.
Remind yourself, you didn’t work that hard or put that much love into a story to fail. Don’t be satisfied, or settle for knowing you wrote it – and nothing more. Learn what comes next, follow a plan and start submitting that book for reviews. Take the feedback and comments that will make the story better (toss the others away) and rewrite. Then move on to the stage of finding an agent or publisher.
Let me point out here that not all writers are as successful as Dean Kuntz or Catherine Coulter. That does not mean you are not successful. I don’t feel I’m a failure just because I haven’t sold millions of books. My main goal was to see my name on the cover of ‘a’ book. I now have fourteen published books! I’m so proud of that success. I refuse to tarnish that feat by comparing myself to writers who have accomplished more.
Don’t let a miss-guided sense of success take away from the significance of what you’ve accomplished. Step back and remind yourself of the ‘joy’ you felt when you typed ‘the end’ and finished that first book. Ask yourself why you write in the first place - this should determine the value you place on success. Find significance in what you create and celebrate it – book after book.
Don’t let a miss-guided sense of success take away from the significance of what you’ve accomplished. Step back and remind yourself of the ‘joy’ you felt when you typed ‘the end’ and finished that first book. Ask yourself why you write in the first place - this should determine the value you place on success. Find significance in what you create and celebrate it – book after book.
(Note: Yes - I did receive the New Covey Award.)
Labels:
books we love,
inspiration,
Rita Karnopp,
writing success
I would say writing is my passion . . . I see a story in just about every situation. I love Native American history and all the lessons it has to offer.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Sneak peak Sunday, Designed for Love
“What the hell?” My carry-on bag slid across the floor and slammed into the wall. My feet slipped out from under me, I landed flat on my back, and someone fell on top of me, pinning me to the floor. The breath knocked out of me, I lay still a moment.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I finally caught my breath and pushed him off. “Everyone’s always in such a big hurry.”
“Why’d you slow down? You darned near stopped in front of me.” He stood up, brushed himself off and held out his hand to help me up. “Sorry.”
I knocked his hand away, got to my knees and stood. I didn't need his help. Not his or anyone else’s for that matter. What I needed was to find my bag and get on to my gate.
“Look, I’m sorry. It was entirely my fault. I shouldn't have been in such a hurry.” He held his hand out to me again, but I ignored it. “Here, let me get that for you.” He hurried to pick up my bag, but I grabbed it first.
“Look, Mister, I have a plane to catch, so excuse me if I don’t have time to chat.” I straightened up my bag, grabbed the handle and started toward my gate. Good looking in a rustic sort of way, I had to admit. Probably worked outdoors or at least spent a lot of time outside. Not that it made any difference. I didn't have time for him. Or any man for that matter. I had a career to build, and men didn't figure into it.
Available from: Books We Love Publishing
As the second youngest of six children, I always had a vivid imagination and loved to make up stories. I often sat and daydreamed about imaginary characters and lost myself in books and make-believe worlds.
My love of writing began as a teenager, but only recently pursued it seriously. With encouragement from fellow book-club members, NEORWA and my husband, I began writing and submitting my work.
Although Satin Sheets was my first published novel, I have over forty articles and stories published in magazines such as Good Old Days, Nostalgia, and Ohio Writer along with several online publications.
Besides teaching three writing courses for Long Story School of Writing, I taught a writing course at Cuyahoga Community College.
In my spare time, I enjoys spending time with my six children, fourteen grandchildren and great grandchildren. My hobbies include ceramics, knitting, quilting, and jewelry making. But after my family, my first love is writing. I reside with my husband of forty-eight years in Northeast Ohio. You can visit my website at: http://www.roseannedowell.com
Friday, July 19, 2013
A Few Lines From. . .Kat Attalla
This week, a few lines from Kat Attalla's China Blue:
At eight p.m., he drove to the camp. The dark skies overhead made it
seem later than dusk. Just to make sure he covered his bases, he ran
his Jeep off the road in a ravine deep enough to need a tow-truck to get
out. By the time he reached her Craftsman house, he was soaked to the
skin. Damn! He never thought a summer rain could be so freaking cold. A
woman who fed the squirrels and birds would not turn her back on a
stranded motorist. Would she?
He knocked on the door and waited. The air rumbled with a distant thunder. In the past decade, he had thought about her many times: The sad young girl with the magnificent eyes. So he wasn't prepared for the woman who opened the door. Her eyes were that same bright blue, but the rest of her bore little resemblance to the skinny teenager in that hospitalbed. Her hair had grown back and fell below her shoulders in thick black waves. Denim jeans molded long legs and a fitted tee shirt revealed a hint of cleavage at the scoop neck. But her most striking feature was the rifle cradled in her arms.
Please stop back next week for a few lines from Hazel Statham.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
kboards: "Night Corridor," by Joan Hall Hovey
kboards: "Night Corridor," by Joan Hall Hovey: Described by her readers as "Mary Stewart, part Mary Higgins Clark and in no small part, Stephen King," Joan Hall Hovey applies he...
I am an award-winning suspense novelist. My novels include The Abduction of Mary Rose, Night Corridor, Nowhere To Hide, Listen to the Shadows, Chill Waters. Presently at work on a new suspense novel.
I also tutor writing students at
Winghill school, enjoy playing piano though I'm not very good but enthusiastic. And I do voice over work, some of which you can hear on my website:
www.joanhallhovey.com hear an excerpt of CHILL WATERS complete with music and sound effects.
I live in a modest home on the banks of the beautiful Kennebecasis River with my terrific husband Mel, and adorable beagle/lab, Scamp.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Meet Anne Van, author of BWL's latest release Toyko Dare
Anne Van is an artist, fashionista, turned writer.
She has a Masters Degree in Fine Art and attended Waseda University in Tokyo
Japan on a scholarship. She has exhibited her artwork all over the United
States and one of her works was displayed in a museum in Picasso’s hometown of
Malaga, Spain. After several years toiling as a fine artist, she switched gears
to pursue another passion, fashion. Anne graduated from FIDM in Los Angeles and
designed sportswear for major retailers. All the while she heard stories in her
head. So one day she quit fashion and finally put her stories on paper. Since
then Anne has published an article in a national magazine and an award winning
travel story about her time living in Tokyo, Japan. She has also published
short fiction. Anne continues to write the stories that fill her head. She
lives in a Victorian home in a historic landmark district in Pasadena,
California along with three rescue cats, including one that has six toes, and
her TV composer husband who thankfully doesn’t. Anne loves to hear from her
readers and can be contacted through her website: http://annevan.net
Also visit:
Blog: annevan1111@blogspot.com
Twitter: @AnneVanWrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.van.7
BWL: How
long have you been writing and in what genre?
AV: I’ve been writing for six years. My favorite
genre is Young Adult. Seems I never grew up.
AV: I’ve lived in Japan and travel a lot. I get my
inspiration from the places I’ve been and the interesting things I discover
along the way.
AV: I’m working on book two of the Tokyo Dare
series. Erin has her dream boyfriend and is doing well in her second semester
at Seda Academy. She’s even making progress on her to-do list. But just when
she thinks she’s settling into her life in Japan a string of events turns her
world upside down.
AV: I like how quickly my stories can reach
readers.
BWL: What
are your hobbies and interests?
AV: I love to decorate and have a passion for
making beautiful spaces especially in historic homes. The Victorian era is my
favorite. I’m an avid collector of decorative objects from the time. I was
lucky enough to inherit some wonderful 1880’s furniture from my family. My
Victorian house is the perfect place to display the antiques I’ve been
collecting since high school.
AV: I’m working on the Tokyo Dare series and
several other projects. I’m always developing new story ideas. My head is full
of them.
Find Anne's BWL page here: http://bookswelove.net/van.php
Friday, July 12, 2013
A Few Lines From. . . Juliet Waldron
This week, A Few Lines from Juliet Waldron's Nightingale
"By the Blessed Mother, I shall not be your slave forever. I swear it!"
"By the Blessed Mother, I shall not be your slave forever. I swear it!"
Max stopped at the door, one powerful hand resting on the high latch, gazing back at her.
"The
day will come when I shall relinquish you to whatever fate devises," he
replied evenly, as if this, too, was an outcome he would control. "But, Klara, haven't your teachers explained that words should be chosen precisely? You are not my slave. A more perfect metaphor would be that of a little brown nightingale kept in a fine and luxurious cage for her own good."
"Your pet!"
"My sweet, sweet songbird." Tenderness, for the first time in this encounter, entered his voice. "My beautiful and wonderfully talented Nightingale."
As she began to weep, he'd said, "Now listen to me, Maria Klara and listen well! I charge you to always remember, I am the one who holds the key to your cage."
and/or
Coming next week, a few lines from author Kat Attalla.
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