Tag a Writer

So you know that you have serious brain problems when you prepare a blog post weeks ahead of time and just forget to post it. Wow! Yep that is me J

My dazzling friend Deana Barnhart tagged me last we and since Emily King and I are working on a colab together we thought it would be fun to answer the questions together.

What am I working on?

Emily: Angie and I are currently finishing revisions on our YA fantasy, A SEASON OF BLOOM AND SHADOW, our first collaboration. We’ve also begun conceptualizing another YA fantasy that we hope to start once we’re querying. Writing a collab is so much fun!

I’m also receiving beta feedback on my rewritten (from MG to YA) fantasy, DAGGER ISLAND. Some of you may remember this MS from a year ago. It was received really well by agents, but I was told it would sell better as a YA. After writing another MS, I returned to this one and am now hoping to polish it up to query soon.

Angie: Emily is way more ambitious than me. My only project for the moment is my collab with Em, unless you count throwing Honey Nut Cheerios at my eight-month-old so I can write a project. Some days it is.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Emily: I like worlds with different ethnicities and landscapes, among other diversities. I feel a world isn’t complete until it’s as varied as ours is.

Angie: I think of my work as fantasy with a twist. Maybe it’s an unusual world, or fun magical limitation. Our current MS is about people separated into tribes by the seasons of their birth. Their season is the only time they possess magic.

Why do I write what I do?

Emily: I write fantasy because I enjoy building a world wrought with the same prejudices, government injustices, religions, and various ideologies we find in ours. Then I plunk my characters down in all that turmoil and watch them wither or thrive.

Angie: I second Em’s answer and add that fantasy is an escape from this world. I love the possibilities that open up when I’m not required to stay here, and I don’t have to do much research J.

How does my writing process work?

Emily: Well, I just ask Angie what we should do and go with it. J  Really though, working on a collaboration novel requires a lot of late night emails, early phone calls, and texts the size of the Bible. You do everything you normally do when writing—brainstorming, plotting, drafting, revising, rewriting—except you don’t have to do it alone. Two heads really are better than one.

Angie: I LOVE writing with Emily. It’s by far the most fun I’ve ever had writing. Everything is easier when you have someone to bounce ideas off of and share the stress. And just to set the record straight, any time Em says something feels off and we need to fix it—I listen. Her writing instincts are ALWAYS right.

To get really technical, this is our process: Brainstorm the world, beat out the bones of the plot, draft chapter by chapter in order, let it sit for a few months, revise for character depth and plot holes, send to betas, revise again, polish polish polish, query!

I know I want to tag my favorite Burley Idaho writer Cortney Pearson. We had such a great time at Storymakers. She is so sweet and talented! I also happen to know its her B-day this week, so take your time with the tag Cortney J

Angie

Slacker

I’m a blog slacker this week. Sorry. My kids are home for Spring Break and my hubby is out of the country on business. Its been nonstop pizza, movie marathons, and popcorn parties at our house—anything to keep the peace :)

I’m hoping that next week I will have a few one-sentence-pitches that I could use some feedback on. Until then I hope you all had a great week and an awesome weekend!

Angie

In Defense of YA

I love books. All kinds of books. But I will say I tend to gravitate to the fiction variety. I can be found reading non-fiction once in a while, but it better blow my mind or I’m not interested.  If given the choice of fiction, YA is by far my favorite.

Courtesy of asme.org

I’m so tired of people slamming YA. Belittling it and those who read it. If I was a fab lawyer like Jessie Humphries, I could argue my point better but I’ll just have to settle for listing why I LOVE YA.

YA is still relevant in my life—As much as we would like to think that once we are out of high school we never have to go back, the truth is SCARY. The world is HIGH SCHOOL. I can’t count the times I’ve listened to what is going on in at my hubby’s office and thought it sounds just like high school—rumors, lies, gossip, stealing others work, etc.  Even among women I know, I feel like I’m a Sophomore again.

YA helps me understand my teenagers—I have two (yep, I’m that old). I love to read YA and talk to my boys about it. As I read, I remember teens are moody, learning, confused, insecure, whiny, sometimes selfish. But that is okay, because they are still trying to find their place in the world.

YA lets me explore feelings—When I read YA (or most fiction) I feel like I am living the story. When I read non-fiction I feel like I’m sitting through a lecture. Yawn. YA is always heavy on the feelings. Teens tend to be more dramatic in the expression of how they feel :)

In YA I can dig for meaning—I can find truths in fiction that aren’t readily apparent. If I read a YA story that explores the theme of selfishness, I have to work to understand how it affects the characters and me. Reading a non-fiction book about selfishness generally doesn’t change me as much.

Everyone can love what they want. Reading is such a personal experience. I would love to see a little more open-mindedness and a little less judgment. A girl can wish.

What kind of books do you LOVE and why?

Angie

Side note—Here is an old post called Fiction and Empathy. It includes a study that explores the idea that reading fiction actually makes people more empathetic than people who read non-fiction. Just saying :)

Just for fun!

I watched this a while back and I just had to share it. Studio C is big in Utah but I'm pretty sure most of my non-Utah friends haven't seen it. Take the time to watch it. It's SO worth it!!!
Angie

 

Long Overdue Update

Geez Louise! It’s been exactly 9 months since I posted. I have a million reasons why I’ve been so busy but only one reason why I decided I need to make a serious effort to come back—I miss you all!

I’m so out of the loop about who has new agents, who is writing new books, whose books are coming out. I need to get back in touch.

Here is what I’ve been up to in the last year…

We like to call him Smoosh :)

Had a sweet baby. He’s my real reason for being out of the loop, but he’s worth every squeeze.

Wrote a book with Emily King. Emily kept me sane during a terrible pregnancy. Nothing gets your mind off your troubles like writing. Except maybe serving others J I’m so lucky, Em called me up and asked if I wanted to do a collaboration. We are almost ready to query.

I moved from Florida back to Utah. I LOVED Orlando. There are some days I really miss it, and I always miss the people there, but I couldn’t keep my kids thousands of miles from their grandparents. And I missed the mountains in my back yard.

So that is about it for me. I’m going to make a serious effort to break away from the laundry and baby food to blog at least once a week. I think I can commit to that.

Catch me up. Tell me the most exciting thing that has happened to you in the last year.

Angie

How to Date A Nerd

I was so lucky to read How to Date a Nerd when it was still in rough draft form. Cassie sent it to me for a once over after having an agent ask for it. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN... and that isn't always to case with first drafts. I have a special place in my heart for this book and for Cassie.

SO EVERYONE GO CHECK IT OUT! You will love it.

-Angie

BLURB:

*squee!*

Zoe has a great pair of legs, perky boobs, and wears exactly what she needs to show it all off. She works hard for the easy sleazy ‘you only wish you were me’ reputation, burying who she really is—an all-out nerd.

The only time Zoe gets to be herself is when she hides under her comforter to read X-Men comics, sending jealousy stabs at everyone who attends Comic-Con. Keeping up her popular rep is too important, and she’s so damn insecure to care about the consequences. But when Zoe’s sister takes her car for a ‘crash and burn into a tree’ joyride, her parents get her a replacement. A manual. Something she doesn’t know how to operate, but her next door neighbor Zak sure as heck does.

Zak’s a geek to the core, shunned by everyone in school for playing Dungeons and Dragons at lunch and wearing “Use the Force” t-shirts. And Zoe’s got it bad for the boy. Only Zak doesn’t want Popular Zoe. He wants Geek Zoe.

She has to shove her insecurities and the fear of dropping a few rungs on the social ladder aside to prove to Zak who she really is and who she wants to be… if she can figure it out herself.

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestseller REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and PULLING THE SWITCH. She also has a three book deal with Swoon Romance Publishing, including her book HOW TO DATE A NERD. She spends her time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

Spell for you guys today (because I'm just so happy!)

EXPECTO PATRONUM!

Cassie Mae Author of Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend Friday Night Alibi to be released July 29th by Random House Flirt How to Date a Nerd to be released November 5th by Swoon Romance Publishing Blog

Anything for Cassie Mae :)

I feel like I've known Cassie forever. I knew her back when she was writing Fantasy and hadn't found her love of Contemporary yet. I'll do anything for her. Including coming out of my pregnancy induced exile to promote her books. If you haven't read her work yet you are in for a treat. I love you girlfriend!!! - Angie

Take it away Cassie!!!

Dance Party!!! I'm super thrilled to show you all my cover for my New Adult debut, FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI, published by Random House Flirt. This baby comes out on July 29th, but you can buy it now! And it'll just zap onto your ereader the day it's released.

Wanna know what it's about? Well, it's about this pig who learns how to fly, but only on friday nights and he grants wishes to people who are not where they're supposed to be, to get them out of a bind. You know I'm totally joking. I just wanted to see how many people just skipped over all these words to get to the pretty cover, lol. You mention the pig in the comments and you get cyber gold stars.

Here's the blurb :D

Rising star Cassie Mae introduces New Adult readers to a practical soon-to-be college freshman who seems to have everything—until a special guy shows her what she’s been missing.

In the wealthy town of Sundale, Kelli Pinkins has hatched the perfect plan to capitalize on her sweet reputation. For a generous fee, she will be every trust-fund baby’s dream: a Friday-night alibi, the “girlfriend” or “BFF” that parents dream about. With college approaching in the fall, Kelli’s services are in demand more than ever, which means that her social life is nonexistent. But Kelli is A-okay with that. She’s raking in cash for school. Besides, relationships are tricky, and sometimes very messy. She’d rather be at home on Xbox LIVE, anyway. Then the unexpected happens: She meets college stud Chase Maroney.

Chase isn’t like the preppy, privileged guys Kelli usually meets in Sundale. For starters, he’s twentysomething, always wears black, and he shoots back one-liners as fast as she can dish them out. But Kelli’s attempts to drive Chase away falter when she realizes that he treats her like he really knows her, like he cares about knowing her. When Kelli finally gives in to the delicious kiss she’s been fighting for so long, she faces a tough decision: make Chase a real-life boyfriend and risk her heart . . . or keep her clients and lose her first true love.

Advance praise for Friday Night Alibi

“Totally entertaining with as many swoon-worthy moments as hilarious ones, Friday Night Alibi is a must-read.”—Jolene Perry, co-author of Out of Play

“A fun, funny, and fantastic story, this is one you will read in a day, and pick up to re-read again the next.”—Kelley Lynn, author of Fraction of Stone

Oh, and stuff about me too.

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. Her angel children and perfect husband fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

And now the pretty!

Pre-order Friday Night Alibi: 

Amazon  |  Barnes &Noble   |  Google Play  |  Random House

Cassie Mae

Author of Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend 
Friday Night Alibi to be released July 29th by Random House Flirt
How to Date a Nerd to be released November 5th by Swoon Romance Publishing Blog

Super Secret Project

I know. I know. I said I was going to post every week, but I have a good reason why I’ve been MIA. No, seriously. It’s really good.

I’ve been working on a super secret project—one that has taxed every bone in my body and zapped all my mental strength. I’d like to say it’s been fun, but for the most part it’s been absolute misery. It’s one of those projects that starts off terrible, eases up in the middle, then gets really uncomfortable before you get this AWESOME reward at the end.

You guys are so smart to guess it right…Yep…I’m pregnant J

We can throw confetti and strike up the band, because when my mom asked, “On purpose?” The answer was YES. This is number four for me and my hubby. My youngest is eight, so that’s a big gap, but what can you do?

I love writing, but if I had to say what my number one mission in this world is, it would be my kids. Although they may debate that idea around bed time (I’m kind of mean).

So I haven’t been online much, and only writing sporadically, but both are hard to do with your head in the toilet. Go ahead, try it—I dare you. I’ve been crazy sick with this baby, tons more than with the others. Here are the highlights: 24/7 nausea, repertory infections, forced bed rest, early contraction—and I’m only at 16 weeks. Heaven help me.

My baby the size of a gummy bear.
Don't blink or you will miss it.

I wish I was more like Cassie and I could pop out 9 books, one for each month I was with child and then sell them all the day my baby was born J Or like Erin Summerill who, I would bet my last nickel, ran at least one marathon while pregnant with each of her five kids. Tell me if I’m wrong someone. No, I’m the lame one who is sick all the time and people wonder if they have died.

So long story short, I haven’t died (even though I’ve wanted to) and I miss all of you and your wonderful energy. Now that I’m in my second trimester I’ll try to do better, but I’m making no promises.

-Angie

P.S. I need to send a public shout out to the amazing Emily King. We started working on a project together before all of this started and she’s been the best friend to me. She patiently listens to my whiny texts and doesn’t complain when I am a week or two…or three late with a chapter or critique. I love you girl J

My FAVS of 2012

I know this is extremely late, but about a month behind seems like how I’ve been rolling lately—better late than never right?

I read 90 books in 2012—10 short of my goal, but still impressive. I was surprised how many books were just okay with only a few terrible ones. Here are 5 of my favorites. Add them to your TBR list.

CINDER—Best fairytale retelling I’ve ever read! Super creative with fabulous characters. This book is a great example of using more than one great high concept idea—Cyborg Cinderella in Asia, mixed with creepy invaders from the moon.

THE SCORPIO RACES—The writing in this book was AMAZING. Lyrical just like I like it.  It was so cool how Stiefvater mixed the macabre with the beautiful.

 THE NIGHT CIRCUS—This book was GORGEOUS! It’s a little bit of a slow moving story, but the fact that you want to stay in the world the author has created makes it worth it. The setting is just as much of a character (maybe more) then the actual characters. I seriously felt myself relax every time I opened it up. Fabulous writing!!! But if you are looking for plot you might be a bit thrown off.

FRIENDS AND FOES—I love Sarah Eden. She has such a talent for crafting believable and moving romances. I will read anything she writes.

SAVE THE CAT—AMAZING!!! Seriously, the best book on story structure I've ever read. Even though it is for screenwriters the principles really are universal for all storytellers. If you don’t own it, you should.

 Here are 5 other books that made my favorites list:

EDENBROOK – Julianne Donaldson

PALACE OF STONE – Shannon Hale

SHADOW AND BONE – Leigh Bardugo

TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE – Jessica Day George

LEGEND – Marie Lu

Happy Reading in 2013

-Angie

When the going gets tough…

I failed to blog last week, so far my resolution isn’t going well. I’m old enough to know goals rarely work for me. I pretty much do what I want :)

Has anyone been hit with the killer flu that’s been stalking America? I don’t have that but I’ve been sick for almost three weeks. I’ve had good days and bad days (mostly bad) and you know what I’ve found out about myself? I’m a big baby and a whiner? Yes, but that isn’t what I was going to say. I can write (at least a little) through lame situations.

Have you ever written while really sick? Do you muscle on or wait until you are 100%? I’m generally not one to push myself too much, but I’ve found that if I do, I can accomplish a lot.

-Angie

I’m back and with a treat :)

The rumors are false…I am not dead. I guess that would be considered good news :) I have no real excuse for my blogging absence besides just plain crazy BUSY. But starting this week I’m going to try to ease back into it.

So to start I get to be a stop on Elizabeth Seckmans Blog tour for her new book—Healing Summer. I asked Elizabeth about writing pitfalls and of course she gave me a super clever answer. Take it away Elizabeth!

Hey Angie! Here’s my list of pitfalls. There are plenty more…probably as many pitfalls are there are form letter rejections.

Petulance. No one likes a brat, whether they are four-years-old or forty. As a writer, you are working for the reader. You are on this Earth to make them happy. Not the other way around.

Insecurity is to writing as a water hose is to a flame. You have to have faith in yourself, even when no one else does.

Time. Finding it, managing it, and never having enough of it.

False hopes. We all want a break out hit first time out of the gate. If you think it’s the only measure of success, you’re probably in for a let-down.

Anglais. (added some French in here to make this work!) Failing to study the language and master its usage will lead to failure.

Languishing. You can’t pine over a single work. Do it till it’s done, then do another.

Lollygagging. Okay, me calling my Facebook obsession platform building makes me guilty of lollygagging and that’s bad.

That was awesome Elizabeth! Everybody check out her book. It sounds awesome. Also you can vote for Elizabeth’s best post on her blog :) I missed you guys. It’s nice to be back.

-Angie

Healing Summer

Maybe Love, Not Time, Heals All Wounds

Ditched at the altar…biopsied for cancer…Mollie Hinkle is having a bona fide bitch of a summer. When life sucks so hard it takes your breath away, what's a girl to do? Pack a bag, grab a few friends, and leave the past and the worry in the rear view mirror. What wounds can’t be healed by a drive across the Heartland, where quarter flips at cross roads determine the route and the future? All roads lead to Craig, the second son and bad boy of the haughty Coulter line. Has fate brought her to the miniscule Montana town to find happily ever after or will it just break her heart?

“Healing Summer” is the second book in the Coulter Men Series.

Elizabeth’sBlog

Elizabethon Facebook

Elizabethon Goodreads

Elizabethon Amazon

Please NO MORE CAPTCHA!

Trict…shipwa…seesswre…jezoof.  I know they aren’t real words but type them as fast as you can. NOW. FASTER. YOU’RE TOO SLOW! BOO!!!

Am I alone in this or does everyone hate those horrid blog verification words (captcha)? Yes, you do—I know you do.

Well good news. YOU CAN TURN THEM OFF.

So this is my plea today. Everyone go into the settings on your blog and turn it OFF. I know they are there to help people from getting comment spam, but has anyone ever REALLY gotten comment spam? I never have. And even after I turned mine off, I haven’t gotten comment spam.

Need help? Have no fear. This is easy peasy. Well kind of. Shelly Morris has information on her blog today about how to fix this so check it out HERE.

Please take 2 minutes and switch it off…I’m begging you. Angela Ackerman (The Bookshelf Muse) did a post of this very thing back in March—Is Your Blog Easy to Love. She totally backs me up.

You have no idea how happy it makes me to see—Your comment has been published—and I didn’t even have to type in that nonsense word!

Please will you do it? I’m begging you.

-Angie

Check it out!

My rocking CP Emily King is hosting a super fun blog hop with Tammy and their lovely assistant David Spade!

You can check out the details HERE or HERE :)

What can go wrong if David Spade is involved?

-Angie

Won’t You Be My Neighbor—Elizabeth Seckman

Today I'm so excited to welcome the talented Elizabeth Seckman! She is a little bit sweet. A little bit sassy. And a whole lot of fun.

Elizabeth: Dip me in chocolate and I'd be perfect!

Angie: LOL!

Elizabeth: Oh, I should say, thanks for having me over. Just show me to the pool and you can fill in the blanks for me. :)

Angie: Deal. It is a balmy 85 degrees outside. I like the sun, but I miss wearing sweaters.

Elizabeth: Sweaters (and hoodies) do hide more of my um, flaws...so I do have that in my favor! It's getting chilly here in WV and the leaves are all aglow.

Angie: I'm a little jealous of the leaves and the chill.

Here is my first question for you. You live in a small town. I grew up in a small town (as in no stop light town). So we have that in common. I want to know what you like about your small town?

Elizabeth: I like that I feel safe. I can walk my dog at midnight and never worry. And I LOVE that I have a whole town of narks to report the behavior of my children. Poor guys can't get away with squat! Keeps ornery boys on their toes...a little.

Angie: LOL! Narks :) That is so true about small towns. I know when I was a teenager I never dared step out of line because I knew my science teacher would tell my parents all about it at church on Sunday.

Elizabeth: I hear ya! There was plenty of rottenness I opted out of for the same reason. I have a plaque that says small towns are like big families...and that's true. 

Angie: Are you the only author in your little town? And what do they think about your writing?

Elizabeth: That's a tough question! The town I live in now does have several red lights, so I don't know everybody (and I hate to say, yep just me...and offend someone). I've met several people who are writing books, but have not met one with one on print. According to the town bookseller (we have one bookstore), there are other published authors around these hills, but they primarily write nonfiction. In Tyler County where I grew up (and is just a few miles away from my home), native son, Austin Boyd, has several books to his credit. I've never met him...but way to go man!!!

Angie: That is pretty cool. Do they carry your book in the book store?

Elizabeth: Yes, it's available on the front shelf! And the owner's mom bakes me cookies for signings. How special is that?

Angie: Very special and sweet!

I know that you write romances. What is the easiest and hardest part about writing a love story?

Elizabeth: Easiest part is the characters. I hear their voices and putting them on paper and calling it a story is cheaper than medication. The hardest part is the love scenes. They take the most editing. I tell myself, just close the door, don't worry about it! But then my betas will complain and I'll sweat through it. They're a labor of love...pun fully intended. 

Angie: LOL. I like closed door love scenes. The kissing is the best part anyway :)

Elizabeth: Kisses? Fun to get...don't like to write them either. But I will! I aim to please..well, to a certain extent...not doing any "Shades" of anything...I'll leave that to the more creative writers. :)

Angie: Or less creative. "Shades" is not my kind of a real love story.

Elizabeth: True. Glandular love is easy come, easy go. Real love is about loyalty, not head spins. I often joke that my own husband would walk through the fires of hell to bring me ice water if I said I was thirsty, but I love him enough to never ask it of  him.

Angie: Aww :) What a sweetie. I know what that is like. True love is unselfish. My hubby would get out of bed at midnight to take the trash to the curb in his pjs so I don't have to. That is love!

Oh, *snaps fingers* I've got a question for you. What was the last book you read and what did you learn from it?

Elizabeth: Aww...that is real love!!! Last book I read was a YA story about dragons and such. I won't mention the title because its magic didn't work on me. Way too much exposition for my taste. Tell me once and I've got it. Don't beat me over the head with what a character is thinking.  A long time ago, I decided if I skimmed a passage when I edit (because after umpteen readings it bored me) then I chopped it. If I was bored, the reader would be bored. This story confirmed that the idea of "less is more" should be considered by writers. 

Angie: That is awesome advice. I know I need to work more on that in my writing! 

You mentioned before that your characters write themselves. What kind of characters are your favorite to write?

Elizabeth: Smart alecks. They can say all the rotten things this good girl never does. ;)

Angie: So true! Are you ready for the traditional pageant question? I'm going to give you a hard one.

Elizabeth: Miss South Carolina was my coach...so I, um, uh, um, think, for the love of the kids in Afghanistan, and in, um, other places like Newark, that I am ready.

Angie: Perfect :) You are very good at this.

*Clears throat* What has been the most life changing experience of your life?

Elizabeth: And you said it was going to be hard! That's so easy, even a bleach soaked brain can answer that! 

Having my kids. Becoming a mom changed everything. Every decision, every choice I make, I have to think of them. I never once worried about Ebola, crime rates, or impact collision ratings on mini vans until I had kids. 

Here I thought you'd ask me how to bring peace to the Middle East. :)

Angie: LOL! No peace in the Middle East questions (I'm foreign policyed out from the debates :) I thought it might be too personal of a question, but your answer was awesome. My kids changed everything too. I learned to be (or try to be) unselfish from them.

I know you have all boys :) What do they think about your love stories?

Elizabeth: That they need to sell more and make more money...lol. My son's teacher asked me to speak to his class...all the kids had writing questions...my son asked, "What's for dinner?" 

Making them food...that's what impresses them. 

Angie: Boys! I have two so I can testify to that :) 

You were awesome Elizabeth!!! Thanks for stopping by today. You can swim in my pool anytime. Maybe next time we can go to the beach.

Elizabeth: I'm a beach junkie, so you betcha!!!

Can you all see why I love her so much? So much fun! You can check out Elizabeth’s book Past Due on Amazon or Goodreads. She is all kinds of awesome :)

-Angie