Hi, everyone. The Gaelic Wordsmith has gone on an unforeseen hiatus. I've been dealing with some personal issues and have not had the time, nor frankly, the inclination, to update the blog. Give me another couple of weeks, and I'll come back stronger and more focused than ever.
In the meantime, I continue working on Murder in the Family as time and health permits.
Thanks for your patience, and happy writing.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Contests
As promised, here is what I've been working on lately: contests, contests, contests! They are fun and keep my writing skills sharp. And they've given me a break from editing my latest novel, Murder in the Family.
I entered the 79th Annual Writers Digest Writing Competition - what I refer to as "The Big One." The grand prize is $3,000 and a trip to New York, where a Writer's Digest editor will accompany you to meet with up to four editors or agents. So exciting! My daughter the screenwriter also entered, and when one of us wins, we've agreed to take the other with us.
I got over-exuberant this year and entered four short stories: French Braid (Inspirational); He Always Tells Me He Loves Me and Everything in its Place (Genre); and Sometimes a Bribe was all a Mother Had (Mainstream). Normally, I write genre stories (horror, mystery, horror, some light romance - no heaving bosoms, please! - and horror), so French Braid and Sometimes a Bribe were completely different experiences for me. Both stories just came to me out of the blue. French Braid is about loss while Sometimes a Bribe is about redemption. He Always Tells Me is a kind of "Outer Limits" meets "Twilight Zone" meets anything by Nora Roberts. Everything in its Place is sci-fi all the way, the first such effort. Also a story that just came to me. I entered it in the 2007 Yosemite Writer's Conference Contest and won second place, so I thought I'd swing for first this time. It could happen, right?
More about the other contests I've entered - as well as those I plan to enter or are thinking about entering - in my next post.
Writing short stories has always been fun for me, but now it's time to get back to the novel. Happy writing!
I entered the 79th Annual Writers Digest Writing Competition - what I refer to as "The Big One." The grand prize is $3,000 and a trip to New York, where a Writer's Digest editor will accompany you to meet with up to four editors or agents. So exciting! My daughter the screenwriter also entered, and when one of us wins, we've agreed to take the other with us.
I got over-exuberant this year and entered four short stories: French Braid (Inspirational); He Always Tells Me He Loves Me and Everything in its Place (Genre); and Sometimes a Bribe was all a Mother Had (Mainstream). Normally, I write genre stories (horror, mystery, horror, some light romance - no heaving bosoms, please! - and horror), so French Braid and Sometimes a Bribe were completely different experiences for me. Both stories just came to me out of the blue. French Braid is about loss while Sometimes a Bribe is about redemption. He Always Tells Me is a kind of "Outer Limits" meets "Twilight Zone" meets anything by Nora Roberts. Everything in its Place is sci-fi all the way, the first such effort. Also a story that just came to me. I entered it in the 2007 Yosemite Writer's Conference Contest and won second place, so I thought I'd swing for first this time. It could happen, right?
More about the other contests I've entered - as well as those I plan to enter or are thinking about entering - in my next post.
Writing short stories has always been fun for me, but now it's time to get back to the novel. Happy writing!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
New Direction for Blog
Also, I've submitted to several contests lately, and my next post will fill you in on how that's going. Occasionally, I'll post something having to do with the writing process, grammar, scene-setting, dialog tags, etc. Basically whatever's on my mind.
As for the book reviews, they will likely come in clumps, as I usually have anywhere from three to five books going at any one time. One in the bedroom, one in the living room, one in the tiniest room in the house and one I take with me anywhere I might be caught having to wait in a line. Right now, I'm working on Line by Line (Cook); Cemetery Dance (Preston & Child); Convict Grade (Damien) and a cookbook called Almost Homemade (Taste of Home Digest).
Hope everyone enjoys! Happy writing.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Bonnie Hearn Hill, author of TAURUS EYES, drops by for a chat and book giveaway! Post a comment below to enter for a chance to win.
It is my distinct pleasure to host my friend and teacher, author Bonnie Hearn Hill, on the second leg of her three-part blog tour. Bonnie is the author of the young adult STAR CROSSED trilogy.
Bonnie worked as a newspaper editor for 22 years, a job that, along with her natural nosiness, increased her interest in contemporary culture. Prior to her new STAR CROSSED series from Running Press/Perseus Books, she wrote six thrillers for MIRA Books, as well as numerous short stories, nonfiction books and articles.
An interest in astrology along with her close friendship with Cosmo Magazine Astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper inspired the Star Crossed series: Aries Rising, Taurus Eyes, and Gemini Night.
A national conference speaker, Bonnie founded The Tuesdays, a bonded and successful writing workshop in Fresno, California, and she also teaches an occasional online class. On Fridays she meets with her private critique group (humorous astrology author Hazel Dixon-Cooper, prescriptive nonfiction writer Dennis C. Lewis, mystery novelist Sheree Petree, and musician/thriller novelist Christopher Allen Poe). What happens in those groups ranges from spontaneous applause to “getting filleted,” as Bonnie’s students and colleagues call it.
Here is a short synopsis of TAURUS EYES.
Logan McRae is spending her summer at the camp of her dreams, thanks to her discovery of that amazing book, Fearless Astrology. Away from home and her friends, she now finds herself faced with a new set of challenges, a new enemy, and maybe even a new guy.
From the moment Jeremy Novack grabs her hand on the ghost-tour bus, Logan feels an immediate connection. She's sure Jeremy feels it too. But in order to secure a coveted writing spot in a national teen anthology, Logan must impress her instructor Henry Jaffa, the renowned journalist who is editing the book. She feels confident that she will shine with her brilliant astrological piece about Sun signs, but then Jaffa switches everyone's topics!
Now Logan has to compete with Jeremy, who seems obsessed by their shared topic about the ghost of an obscure dead singer. Logan has only the stars to guide her as she tries to win the respect of her idol, write a stellar essay, and capture the heart of her newfound crush.
And now Bonnie answers questions on developing characters, dispenses some advice for beginning writers, shares pictures of her cat, and hints about the next series she's working on.
I know your stories are character-driven. So are mine. The way I develop my characters is to live with them for awhile, let them tell me who they are, what they think, how they'd act to certain events and situations, before I commit anything to paper. By then, the story flows fairly well, even if it does usually have lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting. How do you develop your characters?
Much the same way you do, Lisanne. I listen. I think about what they would do in situations they can control--how they dress, what kind of car they drive (and the condition of the car). When you know how someone acts in situations s/he can control, you have idea of the character will react when the situation is out of control. I also believe in the character letter. That is, just letting the character rave on so that you can hear her voice and learn about her life. When I write the character letter, I begin, "Dear Bonnie, My name is ____, and I was born___." After several pages of backstory, I write: "My problem now is..." Doing this keeps me from turning my first three chapters into backstory and helping cut to the chase. Once you have a strong character who is proactive and sympathetic, you can write the story.
What a great idea. I'm going to apply that to my current manuscript and see what develops! Much of your work to this point has involved adult characters. Was it difficult developing believable teenagers?
Not at all. I love my characters. A slave after the Civil War was the protagonist in one of my short stories. I've written male POV characters. Like you, I believe it all starts with the character. I don't have to know
how some universal teen thinks. I just need to know the character I know and believe in, and I need to put her in the middle of two problems, one external and one internal. When I unzip my own skin and zip up hers, I don't just know that person. I am that person.
Now that you've written three novels that use astrology as a backdrop, do you find yourself analyzing friends and acquaintances according to astrological traits, and trying to figure out their sign based on these
characteristics?
Guilty! Even worse (or better), humorous astrology writer Hazel Dixon-Cooper is my closest friend and a member of my critique group. She's talked to me about astrology for years, but I had no idea of much of it stuck. Some signs are easier to guess. For me, it's Leo (one of my favorites), Aries, Taurus (are you blushing, L?) and Sagittarius. I just realized that three of these are Fire signs. Maybe they are more obvious because they are so out there. Although Gemini/Taurus isn't supposed to be a good match, that's never been the case for me. My husband is a Taurus, as is my agent. And check out that wide (bull) chest on my cat Parker.
What's up next for you, after the Star-Crossed series? Have you lready started your next book?
Thanks, Bonnie. That's something you taught me well - just get it down. You can fix it on rewrite.
Good luck on the rest of your tour, and I look forward to reading TAURUS EYES and the upcoming GEMINI NIGHT.
BE SURE TO POST A COMMENT BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TAURUS EYES. ASK A QUESTION, TELL US YOUR ASTROLOGICAL SIGN, OR SIMPLY COMMENT. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
It is my distinct pleasure to host my friend and teacher, author Bonnie Hearn Hill, on the second leg of her three-part blog tour. Bonnie is the author of the young adult STAR CROSSED trilogy.
Bonnie worked as a newspaper editor for 22 years, a job that, along with her natural nosiness, increased her interest in contemporary culture. Prior to her new STAR CROSSED series from Running Press/Perseus Books, she wrote six thrillers for MIRA Books, as well as numerous short stories, nonfiction books and articles.
An interest in astrology along with her close friendship with Cosmo Magazine Astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper inspired the Star Crossed series: Aries Rising, Taurus Eyes, and Gemini Night.
A national conference speaker, Bonnie founded The Tuesdays, a bonded and successful writing workshop in Fresno, California, and she also teaches an occasional online class. On Fridays she meets with her private critique group (humorous astrology author Hazel Dixon-Cooper, prescriptive nonfiction writer Dennis C. Lewis, mystery novelist Sheree Petree, and musician/thriller novelist Christopher Allen Poe). What happens in those groups ranges from spontaneous applause to “getting filleted,” as Bonnie’s students and colleagues call it.
Here is a short synopsis of TAURUS EYES.
Logan McRae is spending her summer at the camp of her dreams, thanks to her discovery of that amazing book, Fearless Astrology. Away from home and her friends, she now finds herself faced with a new set of challenges, a new enemy, and maybe even a new guy.
From the moment Jeremy Novack grabs her hand on the ghost-tour bus, Logan feels an immediate connection. She's sure Jeremy feels it too. But in order to secure a coveted writing spot in a national teen anthology, Logan must impress her instructor Henry Jaffa, the renowned journalist who is editing the book. She feels confident that she will shine with her brilliant astrological piece about Sun signs, but then Jaffa switches everyone's topics!
Now Logan has to compete with Jeremy, who seems obsessed by their shared topic about the ghost of an obscure dead singer. Logan has only the stars to guide her as she tries to win the respect of her idol, write a stellar essay, and capture the heart of her newfound crush.
And now Bonnie answers questions on developing characters, dispenses some advice for beginning writers, shares pictures of her cat, and hints about the next series she's working on.
I know your stories are character-driven. So are mine. The way I develop my characters is to live with them for awhile, let them tell me who they are, what they think, how they'd act to certain events and situations, before I commit anything to paper. By then, the story flows fairly well, even if it does usually have lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting. How do you develop your characters?
Much the same way you do, Lisanne. I listen. I think about what they would do in situations they can control--how they dress, what kind of car they drive (and the condition of the car). When you know how someone acts in situations s/he can control, you have idea of the character will react when the situation is out of control. I also believe in the character letter. That is, just letting the character rave on so that you can hear her voice and learn about her life. When I write the character letter, I begin, "Dear Bonnie, My name is ____, and I was born___." After several pages of backstory, I write: "My problem now is..." Doing this keeps me from turning my first three chapters into backstory and helping cut to the chase. Once you have a strong character who is proactive and sympathetic, you can write the story.
What a great idea. I'm going to apply that to my current manuscript and see what develops! Much of your work to this point has involved adult characters. Was it difficult developing believable teenagers?
Not at all. I love my characters. A slave after the Civil War was the protagonist in one of my short stories. I've written male POV characters. Like you, I believe it all starts with the character. I don't have to know
how some universal teen thinks. I just need to know the character I know and believe in, and I need to put her in the middle of two problems, one external and one internal. When I unzip my own skin and zip up hers, I don't just know that person. I am that person.
Now that you've written three novels that use astrology as a backdrop, do you find yourself analyzing friends and acquaintances according to astrological traits, and trying to figure out their sign based on these
characteristics?
Guilty! Even worse (or better), humorous astrology writer Hazel Dixon-Cooper is my closest friend and a member of my critique group. She's talked to me about astrology for years, but I had no idea of much of it stuck. Some signs are easier to guess. For me, it's Leo (one of my favorites), Aries, Taurus (are you blushing, L?) and Sagittarius. I just realized that three of these are Fire signs. Maybe they are more obvious because they are so out there. Although Gemini/Taurus isn't supposed to be a good match, that's never been the case for me. My husband is a Taurus, as is my agent. And check out that wide (bull) chest on my cat Parker.
What's up next for you, after the Star-Crossed series? Have you lready started your next book?
I can't not write. GEMINI NIGHT will publish in the fall, but I have started an entirely different YA paranormal. I'm well into Act II and having a great time with it. Of course, I'm also hoping to write more Star Crossed books. I've outlined three of them.
And finally, what advice do you have for beginning writers?
Read. Find a mentor you can trust. Write something every day and try to get out of your comfort zone. Don’t play it safe. Even if you fall, you’ll fall forward. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Just get it down before you or someone else can convince you that you can’t. A surgeon friend of mine says, “I can fix anything but dead.” Well, I can fix anything except a blank page. And so can you.
Thanks, Bonnie. That's something you taught me well - just get it down. You can fix it on rewrite.
Good luck on the rest of your tour, and I look forward to reading TAURUS EYES and the upcoming GEMINI NIGHT.
BE SURE TO POST A COMMENT BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TAURUS EYES. ASK A QUESTION, TELL US YOUR ASTROLOGICAL SIGN, OR SIMPLY COMMENT. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Author Bonnie Hearn Hill Stops by for a Visit on May 30, 2010
Mark your calendars – author, editor, teacher and public speaker Bonnie Hearn Hill makes a stop on her 31-day Taurus Eyes blog tour (and book giveaway contest) to chat with us on Sunday, May 30, 2010. This is the second book in her Star Crossed young adult series.
Post a comment, ask Bonnie a question, or just tell us your astrological sign, and you’ll be entered in the contest for a chance to win a copy of her book. So be sure to stop by and enter to win! Check out her website at http://www.bonniehearnhill.com/.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
I'm Back
Sorry I was gone for so long. After tackling some health issues, I got so involved in my writing that I'm afraid I completely forgot about updating my blog.
I've written several short stories and entered them in a few contests. Won't hear back about them for a few months, but any win will help establish credits and credibility when I start shopping my mystery novel, Murder in the Family. Will keep you posted
In the meantime, I'm pleased to announce that I will once again be hosting my teacher and friend, thriller-turned-young adult author Bonnie Hearn Hill on her latest blog tour for her "Star Crossed" young adult mystery series. This month she is promoting the second in the trilogy, Taurus Eyes, once again starring Logan McRae and her new-found fascination with the bok she found hidden among her mother's things - Fearless Astrology.
It looks like Bonnie will be visiting us on Sunday, May 30, 2010. It will include a look at the book and an interview with Bonnie herself. I know you will enjoy.
Stay tuned for further details. And thanks for following!
I've written several short stories and entered them in a few contests. Won't hear back about them for a few months, but any win will help establish credits and credibility when I start shopping my mystery novel, Murder in the Family. Will keep you posted
In the meantime, I'm pleased to announce that I will once again be hosting my teacher and friend, thriller-turned-young adult author Bonnie Hearn Hill on her latest blog tour for her "Star Crossed" young adult mystery series. This month she is promoting the second in the trilogy, Taurus Eyes, once again starring Logan McRae and her new-found fascination with the bok she found hidden among her mother's things - Fearless Astrology.
It looks like Bonnie will be visiting us on Sunday, May 30, 2010. It will include a look at the book and an interview with Bonnie herself. I know you will enjoy.
Stay tuned for further details. And thanks for following!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sorry I've Been Away
Had a few health issues. Missed posting - will start up again soon. Please check back next week. Thanks for following!
Friday, April 2, 2010
How I Got Started in this Writing Thingy
Okay, now that the Aries Rising tour is over, I'm back to my own stuff. Just completed my manuscript, Murder in the Family, and have sent it off to my teacher for final review. Then on to researching agents and the dreaded query letter!
But before we chat about those, let's chat about how we all got started in this writing thingy, anyway. Here's my story:
There wasn’t much else to do the year I turned seven. Stuck in bed, I read anything I could get my hands on. At eight, I brought home a sack full of books every month from the school book club (remember the Troll?). Someone asked me just today what my favorite toy was as a child. "Books, of course," I responded happily. "Still are." By nine, I’d read everything in the children’s library – twice. At ten, my teacher gave me Robinson Crusoe.
It was a natural progression to writing, I suppose. It didn’t matter what, I just loved the act of creating, of filling the page with words for others to read and enjoy. In seventh grade, my best friend and I churned out a hundred-page masterpiece – a huge number when you’re eleven-going-on-twelve. We turned in our masterpiece to our English teacher, our pre-pubescent chests swelled with pride. We got a “C”.
That first rejection didn’t deter me, though. (They still don't!) For years I wrote, the ideas flowing continually. Short stories, poems, articles, reports, even a song or two. Then, as suddenly as I’d started, I stopped. Life happened. The kids came along. Bills needed to be paid. Whatever excuses existed, I found them – and more. Except that when I wasn’t writing, I wasn’t me. I felt incomplete, uneasy, just plain wrong.
After dreaming of being a “real” writer for years, after the kids were grown and the husband an ex, I began to write again. Most of what poured out was garbage, but the stuff worth keeping I began to show to people I thought would be honest about how bad my writing was.
Seems everyone has their own opinion about what makes for a good read. The beginning needs to be flashier (ok . . .I think). The middle drags. Can you add some panache? (well, um . . .) How about some romance? (But it’s a story about the boogeyman) Why don’t you take out the part on the swing and make it happen at her friend’s house? (I would, except that would change the entire story.) The ending needs to be snappier. (Huh?)
It was enough to make me hurl. Was I engaging my readers or driving them to the remote? So, I began to take classes, to learn my craft and hopefully, perfect it. I’ve come a long way from the neophyte I once was, and today, while I hope never to feel as though I’ve learned everything there is to learn, I do feel good about my writing ability. I now have three novels under my belt, and am looking for representation.
My goal will always be to weave an honest tale, one that touches my reader clear through to the heart, whether it be the warm and fuzzy tingle of joy and happiness or the ice-cold stab of fear and dread. As long as my stories feel authentic, my characters are true to themselves and the dialog realistic, I’m confident that I will someday be able to turn my fantasy of being a “real” writer into reality and perhaps even delight a reader or two along the way.
Could there be anything better? Not hardly.
Send me a comment and tell me how you got started. I'd love to hear from you!
But before we chat about those, let's chat about how we all got started in this writing thingy, anyway. Here's my story:
There wasn’t much else to do the year I turned seven. Stuck in bed, I read anything I could get my hands on. At eight, I brought home a sack full of books every month from the school book club (remember the Troll?). Someone asked me just today what my favorite toy was as a child. "Books, of course," I responded happily. "Still are." By nine, I’d read everything in the children’s library – twice. At ten, my teacher gave me Robinson Crusoe.
It was a natural progression to writing, I suppose. It didn’t matter what, I just loved the act of creating, of filling the page with words for others to read and enjoy. In seventh grade, my best friend and I churned out a hundred-page masterpiece – a huge number when you’re eleven-going-on-twelve. We turned in our masterpiece to our English teacher, our pre-pubescent chests swelled with pride. We got a “C”.
That first rejection didn’t deter me, though. (They still don't!) For years I wrote, the ideas flowing continually. Short stories, poems, articles, reports, even a song or two. Then, as suddenly as I’d started, I stopped. Life happened. The kids came along. Bills needed to be paid. Whatever excuses existed, I found them – and more. Except that when I wasn’t writing, I wasn’t me. I felt incomplete, uneasy, just plain wrong.
After dreaming of being a “real” writer for years, after the kids were grown and the husband an ex, I began to write again. Most of what poured out was garbage, but the stuff worth keeping I began to show to people I thought would be honest about how bad my writing was.
Seems everyone has their own opinion about what makes for a good read. The beginning needs to be flashier (ok . . .I think). The middle drags. Can you add some panache? (well, um . . .) How about some romance? (But it’s a story about the boogeyman) Why don’t you take out the part on the swing and make it happen at her friend’s house? (I would, except that would change the entire story.) The ending needs to be snappier. (Huh?)
It was enough to make me hurl. Was I engaging my readers or driving them to the remote? So, I began to take classes, to learn my craft and hopefully, perfect it. I’ve come a long way from the neophyte I once was, and today, while I hope never to feel as though I’ve learned everything there is to learn, I do feel good about my writing ability. I now have three novels under my belt, and am looking for representation.
My goal will always be to weave an honest tale, one that touches my reader clear through to the heart, whether it be the warm and fuzzy tingle of joy and happiness or the ice-cold stab of fear and dread. As long as my stories feel authentic, my characters are true to themselves and the dialog realistic, I’m confident that I will someday be able to turn my fantasy of being a “real” writer into reality and perhaps even delight a reader or two along the way.
Could there be anything better? Not hardly.
Send me a comment and tell me how you got started. I'd love to hear from you!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Book Review: "Aries Rising" by Bonnie Hearn Hill
High school sophomore Logan McRae, an Aquarius, only wants two things this year: to get accepted into a prestigious summer writing program for journalism students, and get hot senior Nathan to ask her out. In order to get into the writing program, she'll have to get cranky English teacher Mr. Franklin - or Frankenstein, as the kids call him - to recommend her to the nominating committee. To go out with Nathan, she'll have to get him to notice her first. Both possibilities seem remote. Until she discovers an astrology book buried in her father's closet.
Fearless Astrology seems like the answer to her prayers. It promises to transform her life through astrology. She decides to use the book to her advantage and sets about uncovering information about her teachers and friends, which she plans on using to read their star charts. Can she get Frankenstein to love her writing enough to secure a position in the writing program? And get Nathan to like her?
Aries Rising is the first story in the "Star Crossed" trilogy by Bonnie Hearn Hill. While the basic story isn’t unique, the premise is, and one many teens will enjoy: can you use astrology to help you understand the people around you well enough to be able to figure out what motivates them? And then take that knowledge and apply it to yourself so that you can get along with them better? And get what you want? All without being manipulative?
Logan becomes the star of the school with her star charts and readings. But then things go wrong. The more she thinks she understands people, the more she claims to be able to figure things out, the more things go wrong. Like when she claims she can figure out who belongs to The Gears, a group a kids who start off vandalizing the school and quickly progress to making threats against the teachers. But the boys continue their pranks and the kids at school turn against her.
Hill walks a fine line with Logan. She’s basically a nice kid who just wants to understand people and why they are who they are. It would be easy for her to use her new-found knowledge about astrology to manipulate those around her into doing her bidding. And if this were another type of story, that’s exactly what would happen. But Logan looks past the façade most people show the world to the person within. They become real people – even her teachers – with real emotions that motivate them. She begins to relate to them differently, and in doing so, she grows and matures.
This is a teen book different from so many others. Logan is an ordinary teen, a little insecure, who feels like everyone else is far more confident. There is a teen girl’s desire to have a boyfriend, and not just any boy, but the hottest one in school. But the importance of this quest diminishes the more she delves into astrology and begins to understand more of the world around her.
Each chapter of Aries Rising begins with a relevant quote taken from Fearless Astrology and ends with a journal entry that expands on Logan’s feelings about what happened within that chapter. We also get to read some of the essays she writes in her attempt to gain Frankenstein’s approval. Throughout the book, Logan talks a lot about what she learns about the sun signs of her friends and teachers. As she feels more comfortable with what she’s learned, she also talks about the influence of the moon and rising signs. There was a lot of astrological information thrown out there and it was all a bit confusing.
But I like the way Logan grows, as a person, a friend, and as a writer. She is a believable character, although she and her friends don’t always use the slang I hear kids using these days. Like when they say “boy” instead of “dude.” Or “dated” instead of “went out with” or “hooked up with.”
It was refreshing that astrology wasn’t presented throughout the book as the magical way to get what Logan wants (a la Harry Potter). In fact, she has a terrible argument with her father over her using the book, and he warns her to be careful. The only magic about it at all is the way it helps Logan gain self-confidence.
But all in all, this was a fun read. Logan is an enjoyable character whom I wouldn’t mind seeing more of, and in fact, am looking forward to reading her further adventures. There is a sneak preview of Taurus Eyes, the second in the series, in the back of the book, and the third adventure is titled Gemini Nights.
Check it out - I know you'll enjoy the entire "Star Crossed" series.
Fearless Astrology seems like the answer to her prayers. It promises to transform her life through astrology. She decides to use the book to her advantage and sets about uncovering information about her teachers and friends, which she plans on using to read their star charts. Can she get Frankenstein to love her writing enough to secure a position in the writing program? And get Nathan to like her?
Aries Rising is the first story in the "Star Crossed" trilogy by Bonnie Hearn Hill. While the basic story isn’t unique, the premise is, and one many teens will enjoy: can you use astrology to help you understand the people around you well enough to be able to figure out what motivates them? And then take that knowledge and apply it to yourself so that you can get along with them better? And get what you want? All without being manipulative?
Logan becomes the star of the school with her star charts and readings. But then things go wrong. The more she thinks she understands people, the more she claims to be able to figure things out, the more things go wrong. Like when she claims she can figure out who belongs to The Gears, a group a kids who start off vandalizing the school and quickly progress to making threats against the teachers. But the boys continue their pranks and the kids at school turn against her.
Hill walks a fine line with Logan. She’s basically a nice kid who just wants to understand people and why they are who they are. It would be easy for her to use her new-found knowledge about astrology to manipulate those around her into doing her bidding. And if this were another type of story, that’s exactly what would happen. But Logan looks past the façade most people show the world to the person within. They become real people – even her teachers – with real emotions that motivate them. She begins to relate to them differently, and in doing so, she grows and matures.
This is a teen book different from so many others. Logan is an ordinary teen, a little insecure, who feels like everyone else is far more confident. There is a teen girl’s desire to have a boyfriend, and not just any boy, but the hottest one in school. But the importance of this quest diminishes the more she delves into astrology and begins to understand more of the world around her.
Each chapter of Aries Rising begins with a relevant quote taken from Fearless Astrology and ends with a journal entry that expands on Logan’s feelings about what happened within that chapter. We also get to read some of the essays she writes in her attempt to gain Frankenstein’s approval. Throughout the book, Logan talks a lot about what she learns about the sun signs of her friends and teachers. As she feels more comfortable with what she’s learned, she also talks about the influence of the moon and rising signs. There was a lot of astrological information thrown out there and it was all a bit confusing.
But I like the way Logan grows, as a person, a friend, and as a writer. She is a believable character, although she and her friends don’t always use the slang I hear kids using these days. Like when they say “boy” instead of “dude.” Or “dated” instead of “went out with” or “hooked up with.”
It was refreshing that astrology wasn’t presented throughout the book as the magical way to get what Logan wants (a la Harry Potter). In fact, she has a terrible argument with her father over her using the book, and he warns her to be careful. The only magic about it at all is the way it helps Logan gain self-confidence.
But all in all, this was a fun read. Logan is an enjoyable character whom I wouldn’t mind seeing more of, and in fact, am looking forward to reading her further adventures. There is a sneak preview of Taurus Eyes, the second in the series, in the back of the book, and the third adventure is titled Gemini Nights.
Check it out - I know you'll enjoy the entire "Star Crossed" series.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
And the Winner is . . .
Congratulations to Mikki, the winner of the Aries Rising drawing. Check out her blog, The Word Painter, at http://mikki-wordpainter.blogspot.com/. Lots of thought-provoking work going on there!
Thanks to everyone who posted a comment to my guest blogger, Bonnie Hearn Hill and her brand new teen series, Star Crossed, and the first book in the series, Aries Rising. And you're all still in the running for the end of the month iPod drawing!
I've finished Aries Rising and will post my review soon.
Thanks to everyone who posted a comment to my guest blogger, Bonnie Hearn Hill and her brand new teen series, Star Crossed, and the first book in the series, Aries Rising. And you're all still in the running for the end of the month iPod drawing!
I've finished Aries Rising and will post my review soon.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Aries Rising
I'm so excited. My copy of Aries Rising arrived today. Will read it as soon as humanly possible, and let y'all know what I think.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
31 Days of Aries: The Blog Tour, Book Drawing and iPod Touch GIVEAWAY! See below for information on how to enter.
March 13, 2010
I’m very proud and happy to host author Bonnie Hearn Hill here at The Gaelic Wordsmith. It’s the thirteenth day of her 31-day blog tour. Whew! 31 blogs in 31 days, thanks to WOW! Women On Writing. What a busy lady.
Bonnie is with us today to discuss organizing your thoughts into a cohesive, well-written manuscript, and then what to do with your highly polished manuscript in order to gain the attention of that all-elusive, somewhat mystical agent (at least to those of us who don’t have one yet!).
Bonnie spent 22 years as a newspaper editor and wrote six adult thrillers as well as several non-fiction books.
She was also my first online writing instructor and has helped me tremendously over the past few years. She loves to mentor aspiring writers and has helped countless fledglings learn and perfect their craft. On behalf of all of us, thanks, Bonnie!
An interest in astrology and a friendship with Cosmo Magazine Astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper led to the development of her new Star Crossed Series for the teen market.
Q & A
Q: Some writers, myself included, have all kinds of ideas we want to put into a single manuscript. How do you choose which ideas to include and which to leave out?
A: The craft of writing fiction isn't about ideas. It's about character. Your character wants something (or doesn't want something), and your story is about the struggle. Of course, you'll have different story threads (such as subplot, love story, whatever), but your external conflict is your primary plot. Your ideas will be reflected in the writing and in what the reader takes from the story, but the reader won't be able to take anything from the story unless you set up a strong goal for your character at the beginning and carry it through to the end.
Q: With money so tight in this economy, how can a writer get the attention of an agent without attending a writers conference?
A: I thought it was cool of the Backspace conference to offer two scholarships this year. Even those who didn't win had their first two pages read by an agent. You might consider attending a less expensive workshop close to home or taking a class. Many agents obtain clients through referrals. Most of all--and I know you've heard this a million times--write a manuscript they can't put down, something in a hot genre that jumps off the page from the beginning.
Q: How did you find your agent?
A: I got very lucky. I had written a nonfiction book about the history of Muscle Beach, and it was picked up by a regional publisher. When I got ready to sell my novel, I wrote to the publisher and asked if she would suggest an agent. She did. In the header of the e-mail, I wrote: "Referred by ..." The agent responded in about five minutes. That was the end of 2000. I've been with the agent ever since.
Q: What mistakes do unpublished writers make that keep them from attracting an agent's attention?
A: Poor query letters copying something they've seen online or in a book. You need to tell the agent why you are writing to him/her. In fiction, no clear genre or no hook. Telling instead of showing. No scenes. Wandering point of view.
Q: How many agent rejections on a single manuscript should a writer receive before giving up?
A: Well, a friend of mine just got her first nibble for a mystery at #48. The agent got her a lovely three-book deal with a major publisher. You don't know if your queries are being read, so if you feel good about your genre, your sample and your query, I would think nothing of sending out 50 or 100. The query tracker web site is cool because you can check the results others have had with the same agents you are querying.
Q: I've seen lots of advice online about how to write a query letter. I know that you disagree with much of what's being advised. Can you elaborate?
A: Many tell you to start with a section of your book. Not! Can you imagine how old that would be for the poor person in charge of the slush pile? Start with why you are writing to this person. Then describe (briefly) your story in terms of the protagonist's quest. Show that you know your genre and word count. Include your credits only if they are important. Taking writing classes or winning 8th honorable mention don't count. Your letter doesn't have to be lengthy. All it has to do is show that you can write and that you have a great idea.
Q: What sun signs make the best writers? (Those of us born under Taurus already know!)
A: My talented husband is a Taurus, so I'd have to agree with that one. Also, they are great at using all of the senses to create their stories. Any sign can be a writer. The Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sadge) tend to rush right in. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are natural communicators, but each communicate in a different way. Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) can be more methodical in their approach. Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) are more emotional, and some can let their emotions get so involved that they sabotage their own efforts.
Thanks again for the opportunity, and good luck!
Thank you for letting me hang out on your blog during my 31 Days of Aries. Hope we get lots of entries for the contest. Bonnie
GIVEAWAY RULES:
A copy of Aries Rising to one lucky reader!
To enter: Post a comment (make sure to include your email address) and ask Bonnie a question, tell us why you want to win Aries Rising, or simply tell us your astrological sign. One entry per comment; multiple entries allowed. So let’s get some good questions going!
There's also a contest for an iPod Touch involved for those who enter. The drawing for the iPod Touch will happen at the end of March, 2010.
And in case you’re wondering…Bonnie is a double Gemini, saved by an Aquarius Moon. Air and Fire with very little Earth.
Be sure to visit Bonnie’s website at www.bonniehearnhill.com/. It’s a great site!
Facebook: Become a fan! www.facebook.com/StarCrossedseries.
Check out WOW! Women on Writing at www.wow-womenonwriting.com/.
March 13, 2010
I’m very proud and happy to host author Bonnie Hearn Hill here at The Gaelic Wordsmith. It’s the thirteenth day of her 31-day blog tour. Whew! 31 blogs in 31 days, thanks to WOW! Women On Writing. What a busy lady.
Bonnie is with us today to discuss organizing your thoughts into a cohesive, well-written manuscript, and then what to do with your highly polished manuscript in order to gain the attention of that all-elusive, somewhat mystical agent (at least to those of us who don’t have one yet!).
Bonnie spent 22 years as a newspaper editor and wrote six adult thrillers as well as several non-fiction books.
She was also my first online writing instructor and has helped me tremendously over the past few years. She loves to mentor aspiring writers and has helped countless fledglings learn and perfect their craft. On behalf of all of us, thanks, Bonnie!
An interest in astrology and a friendship with Cosmo Magazine Astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper led to the development of her new Star Crossed Series for the teen market.
Q & A
Q: Some writers, myself included, have all kinds of ideas we want to put into a single manuscript. How do you choose which ideas to include and which to leave out?
A: The craft of writing fiction isn't about ideas. It's about character. Your character wants something (or doesn't want something), and your story is about the struggle. Of course, you'll have different story threads (such as subplot, love story, whatever), but your external conflict is your primary plot. Your ideas will be reflected in the writing and in what the reader takes from the story, but the reader won't be able to take anything from the story unless you set up a strong goal for your character at the beginning and carry it through to the end.
Q: With money so tight in this economy, how can a writer get the attention of an agent without attending a writers conference?
A: I thought it was cool of the Backspace conference to offer two scholarships this year. Even those who didn't win had their first two pages read by an agent. You might consider attending a less expensive workshop close to home or taking a class. Many agents obtain clients through referrals. Most of all--and I know you've heard this a million times--write a manuscript they can't put down, something in a hot genre that jumps off the page from the beginning.
Q: How did you find your agent?
A: I got very lucky. I had written a nonfiction book about the history of Muscle Beach, and it was picked up by a regional publisher. When I got ready to sell my novel, I wrote to the publisher and asked if she would suggest an agent. She did. In the header of the e-mail, I wrote: "Referred by ..." The agent responded in about five minutes. That was the end of 2000. I've been with the agent ever since.
Q: What mistakes do unpublished writers make that keep them from attracting an agent's attention?
A: Poor query letters copying something they've seen online or in a book. You need to tell the agent why you are writing to him/her. In fiction, no clear genre or no hook. Telling instead of showing. No scenes. Wandering point of view.
Q: How many agent rejections on a single manuscript should a writer receive before giving up?
A: Well, a friend of mine just got her first nibble for a mystery at #48. The agent got her a lovely three-book deal with a major publisher. You don't know if your queries are being read, so if you feel good about your genre, your sample and your query, I would think nothing of sending out 50 or 100. The query tracker web site is cool because you can check the results others have had with the same agents you are querying.
Q: I've seen lots of advice online about how to write a query letter. I know that you disagree with much of what's being advised. Can you elaborate?
A: Many tell you to start with a section of your book. Not! Can you imagine how old that would be for the poor person in charge of the slush pile? Start with why you are writing to this person. Then describe (briefly) your story in terms of the protagonist's quest. Show that you know your genre and word count. Include your credits only if they are important. Taking writing classes or winning 8th honorable mention don't count. Your letter doesn't have to be lengthy. All it has to do is show that you can write and that you have a great idea.
Q: What sun signs make the best writers? (Those of us born under Taurus already know!)
A: My talented husband is a Taurus, so I'd have to agree with that one. Also, they are great at using all of the senses to create their stories. Any sign can be a writer. The Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sadge) tend to rush right in. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are natural communicators, but each communicate in a different way. Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) can be more methodical in their approach. Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) are more emotional, and some can let their emotions get so involved that they sabotage their own efforts.
Thanks again for the opportunity, and good luck!
Thank you for letting me hang out on your blog during my 31 Days of Aries. Hope we get lots of entries for the contest. Bonnie
GIVEAWAY RULES:
A copy of Aries Rising to one lucky reader!
To enter: Post a comment (make sure to include your email address) and ask Bonnie a question, tell us why you want to win Aries Rising, or simply tell us your astrological sign. One entry per comment; multiple entries allowed. So let’s get some good questions going!
There's also a contest for an iPod Touch involved for those who enter. The drawing for the iPod Touch will happen at the end of March, 2010.
And in case you’re wondering…Bonnie is a double Gemini, saved by an Aquarius Moon. Air and Fire with very little Earth.
Be sure to visit Bonnie’s website at www.bonniehearnhill.com/. It’s a great site!
Facebook: Become a fan! www.facebook.com/StarCrossedseries.
Check out WOW! Women on Writing at www.wow-womenonwriting.com/.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Upcoming “Aries Rising” blog tour (and book giveaway contest)
Mark your calendars – author, editor, teacher and public speaker Bonnie Hearn Hill makes a stop on her 31-day “Aries Rising” blog tour (and book giveaway contest) to visit with us on Saturday, March 13, 2010. Post a comment, ask Bonnie a question, or just tell us your astrological sign, and you’ll be entered in the contest for a chance to win a copy of her book. At the end of the tour, one lucky person will win an iPod Touch. So be sure to stop by and enter to win! Check out her website at http://www.bonniehearnhill.com/.
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
People who don’t write often ask those of us who do where we get our ideas. Even fledgling writers like me sometimes wonder where those famous authors we admire get their ideas, and can we get a key?
Where ideas come from are as varied as writers who have them. Ideas come from life, from our experiences, from our imaginations. They even come from other people. One of my favorite activities has always been people-watching. As a young teenager, my mother worked at California State University in Fullerton. She used to take me to work with her, and I was free to roam the campus. In the center was a small quad area, and I would sit there under a tree and watch all the students scurrying to and from class, fascinated with everything, taking copious notes. I loved the way people walked, the way they talked, what they said, how they said it. Body language was intriguing to me. One woman would toss her hair and smile and that seemed to mean “I’m available,” while another would toss her hair and walk away and it meant “leave me alone.”
People-watching is a great way to study real-life situations, to learn realistic traits that will add depth and dimension to your characters. You can do it in a park, at McDonald’s, waiting in line somewhere, even driving on the freeway. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve sat, dreamily watching the world go by, storing tidbits of information about conversations, body language and how facial features work together or against one another. Or how often such scraps of information simmer just beneath the surface, only to emerge years later as a wisp of a character trait or a bite of conversation I employ in my stories.
Try it – you just might like it! Post a comment about your people-watching experiences. I’d love to hear from you.
Where ideas come from are as varied as writers who have them. Ideas come from life, from our experiences, from our imaginations. They even come from other people. One of my favorite activities has always been people-watching. As a young teenager, my mother worked at California State University in Fullerton. She used to take me to work with her, and I was free to roam the campus. In the center was a small quad area, and I would sit there under a tree and watch all the students scurrying to and from class, fascinated with everything, taking copious notes. I loved the way people walked, the way they talked, what they said, how they said it. Body language was intriguing to me. One woman would toss her hair and smile and that seemed to mean “I’m available,” while another would toss her hair and walk away and it meant “leave me alone.”
People-watching is a great way to study real-life situations, to learn realistic traits that will add depth and dimension to your characters. You can do it in a park, at McDonald’s, waiting in line somewhere, even driving on the freeway. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve sat, dreamily watching the world go by, storing tidbits of information about conversations, body language and how facial features work together or against one another. Or how often such scraps of information simmer just beneath the surface, only to emerge years later as a wisp of a character trait or a bite of conversation I employ in my stories.
Try it – you just might like it! Post a comment about your people-watching experiences. I’d love to hear from you.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Backstory
I started writing in grade school. Back then they called it “Creative Writing.” I just called it fun. Except every year when the teacher would hand out the same tired worksheet, and we were supposed to fill it out completely and turn it back in for a grade. We were supposed to know everything about our characters, from their name and occupation to what they looked like, thought about and wanted to do with their lives. How was I supposed to know all that about some character I’d just made up? More to the point, why did I need to know all that junk? It seemed like a gigantic waste of time to me. I just wanted to get on with it, to get the story written. Needless to say, I hated having to think about my characters’ backstory, and resisted all attempts at forcing me to do so.
I’ve matured as a writer since then, and now I not only believe in backstory, but I understand its importance. In fact, sometimes I think I might even know too much about a character. I live with my characters for a long time before I commit their story to pen and ink (more like fingers to keyboard these days, but you get my drift). For weeks – or sometimes even months – before I start writing, they “talk” to me. I learn all about their childhood, their hopes, dreams, fears and what they think about. They even fill me in on their shadowy secrets.
By the time I do start to transcribe the stories they share with me, my head is filled with a character’s life. Sometimes it’s hard to filter through everything and decide just how much backstory to use. This is the dilemma I find myself in with my current manuscript, Murder in the Family. The first draft had a second chapter that was far too heavy. I tried to put in everything I knew about Sheriff’s Deputy Dana S. Sinclair’s life. What a mistake that was. After putting the manuscript aside for the difficult but necessary cooling off period, even I was bored with Chapter 2. Yikes!
So how do we decide how much backstory is really necessary for the reader to know in order to advance the story? I spent a lot of time thinking about how the story ended (which for those out there who know me know that even I was surprised by the identity of the killer!) and worked my way back from there. I took large chunks out of the chapter and rifled through them, saving what I thought I might be able to use and discarding the rest. Then I went through the manuscript and inserted a little bit here, a little bit there, until I was satisfied that I’d put in just enough to make the story cohesive without (hopefully) boring the reader with too much unnecessary information. Like how Dana’s brother Phil died, and why she felt responsible. Or the incident with the ice cream and her seventh birthday. Things that may seem unimportant at first glance but ultimately advanced the story.
We want our fans to enjoy themselves, to stay not only with books but with our books. With so many options out there pulling people away from books and reading – the internet, video games, dvds, to name just a few – we want to keep our readers entertained and coming back for more.
And isn’t entertainment the ultimate goal of fiction?
I’ve matured as a writer since then, and now I not only believe in backstory, but I understand its importance. In fact, sometimes I think I might even know too much about a character. I live with my characters for a long time before I commit their story to pen and ink (more like fingers to keyboard these days, but you get my drift). For weeks – or sometimes even months – before I start writing, they “talk” to me. I learn all about their childhood, their hopes, dreams, fears and what they think about. They even fill me in on their shadowy secrets.
By the time I do start to transcribe the stories they share with me, my head is filled with a character’s life. Sometimes it’s hard to filter through everything and decide just how much backstory to use. This is the dilemma I find myself in with my current manuscript, Murder in the Family. The first draft had a second chapter that was far too heavy. I tried to put in everything I knew about Sheriff’s Deputy Dana S. Sinclair’s life. What a mistake that was. After putting the manuscript aside for the difficult but necessary cooling off period, even I was bored with Chapter 2. Yikes!
So how do we decide how much backstory is really necessary for the reader to know in order to advance the story? I spent a lot of time thinking about how the story ended (which for those out there who know me know that even I was surprised by the identity of the killer!) and worked my way back from there. I took large chunks out of the chapter and rifled through them, saving what I thought I might be able to use and discarding the rest. Then I went through the manuscript and inserted a little bit here, a little bit there, until I was satisfied that I’d put in just enough to make the story cohesive without (hopefully) boring the reader with too much unnecessary information. Like how Dana’s brother Phil died, and why she felt responsible. Or the incident with the ice cream and her seventh birthday. Things that may seem unimportant at first glance but ultimately advanced the story.
We want our fans to enjoy themselves, to stay not only with books but with our books. With so many options out there pulling people away from books and reading – the internet, video games, dvds, to name just a few – we want to keep our readers entertained and coming back for more.
And isn’t entertainment the ultimate goal of fiction?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Blog Under Construction
Check back soon - I'll have some info and items of interest posted in the next week or so.
Thanks for blogging with me.
Thanks for blogging with me.
Contest for Middle Grade and Young Adult Aithors
I found a great contest for middle grade and young adult authors - and it's FREE! It's called the "Dear Lucky Agent Contest." I love that title, don't you? Check it out.
I plan on entering Moonspell.
Here's the link: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/Dear+Lucky+Agent+Contest+Middle+Grade+And+Young+Adult.aspx
Good luck, everyone!
I plan on entering Moonspell.
Here's the link: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/Dear+Lucky+Agent+Contest+Middle+Grade+And+Young+Adult.aspx
Good luck, everyone!
Welcome to my Blog
Currently, my mind is swirling with so many "thunks" that I'm pulled in several directions. I'm marketing my young adult paranormal novel, Moonspell, while trying to edit my adult mystery, Murder in the Family. But there's those pesky characters from two novels and a short story who keep competing for my time as well.
Does anyone else have that problem? I live with my characters long before they begin to tell me their story. You see, I don't "write" stories, the characters tell me what's happening and I'm just the transcriber. Because no matter how much I try to write something, particularly a work of longer fiction, it never turns out how I imagined it. Oh, sure, I have a vague sense of where to begin, where I want to go and how to get there, but inevitably, my characters will tell me I'm all wet and take the story where THEY want it to go. For example, in Moonspell, up until the final chapters, I thought the killer was James's aunt. Ha! Little did I know who the werewolf really was.
In Murder in the Family, the killer changed three times (my characters seem to enjoy keeping me in the dark!) before I found out who it really was. And that's what's making the editing so challenging. I have to go back and edit in the character more so that everything makes sense. Don't you just hate mysteries where the killer is only in the story a brief amount, a peripheral character so to speak, and when you find out who done it, you as the reader feel cheated? I do, and I vow never to cheat my readers.
So, I edit. And edit. And when that's done, I go back and edit some more! But, I love it. Don't you?
Does anyone else have that problem? I live with my characters long before they begin to tell me their story. You see, I don't "write" stories, the characters tell me what's happening and I'm just the transcriber. Because no matter how much I try to write something, particularly a work of longer fiction, it never turns out how I imagined it. Oh, sure, I have a vague sense of where to begin, where I want to go and how to get there, but inevitably, my characters will tell me I'm all wet and take the story where THEY want it to go. For example, in Moonspell, up until the final chapters, I thought the killer was James's aunt. Ha! Little did I know who the werewolf really was.
In Murder in the Family, the killer changed three times (my characters seem to enjoy keeping me in the dark!) before I found out who it really was. And that's what's making the editing so challenging. I have to go back and edit in the character more so that everything makes sense. Don't you just hate mysteries where the killer is only in the story a brief amount, a peripheral character so to speak, and when you find out who done it, you as the reader feel cheated? I do, and I vow never to cheat my readers.
So, I edit. And edit. And when that's done, I go back and edit some more! But, I love it. Don't you?
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