Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #33 -- We Interrupt This Fictional Fun...
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| So. You came by to visit with my crazy friends from Riverview, USA. I know how it is. You're addicted to them every bit as much as I am. Unfortunately, the twin stresses that prompted last week's Thursday Thirteen haven't been resolved (Mom, I love you, but you said some very hurtful things at a time when the focus should have been on #2's school dilemma, not either of us), and now there's more! 1. I caught #1's cold and it's doing its best to turn into bronchitis. 2. I've been tagged for a meme by Lori. 3. I've been tagged for a meme by Red. 4. I've been tagged for a meme by Thomma Lyn. 5. I've been tagged for a meme by Wylie. 6. Plus, Aline and L^2 have also tagged me in the past, and I've had to let those balls drop. 7. #2 has her first dance recital next week. I am not nearly so silly as you think because I'm stressed over having to put her hair into a bun. 8. #1 is home from school and all he wants to do is play with friends. And play with friends. And play with friends. I don't mind being his chauffeur (so long as he doesn't call me Jeeves), but it'd be nice if some of these friends were home to play with! 9. I'm tickled pink by everyone's responses to my story poem (scroll down if you missed it). I can't decide if I'm glad no one wanted me to tell them more about our nameless roadie, though. Eventually, I'd like to do a book about a roadie. 10. The way you guys reacted to last week's Thursday Thirteen touched me. Not just because you caught on that I'm stressed, but because you love Trevor so much. It just makes me all the more eager to bring you Trevor's Song. I hope you'll stick with me and help me build my fan base as we progress through this process called publication. 11. The summer reading contest is coming. Can you feel it? Are you one of the many people who've stuffed my inbox with prizes and suggestions, only to not get a response? Apologies for that. I've been so focused on #2's school dilemma that I've answered only the barest of mails. 12. I'm not ready to launch the Summer Reading Contest and dammit, I want to be. You guys are going to dig it; it'll be the same format as Debut a Debut, only with some improvements. Fortunately, Erica at Writing Aspirations is on board with me again. And Karen at Morsie Reads. And hopefully lots of you guys, too. Yes, if the criteria fits, you can overlap this contest with any of your other reading challenges or contests. I'm easy like that! 13. I really want to spend time with Trevor and company. As you guys have noticed, I love my characters. I wish I had more, more, more time to write (I know, don't we all?), but what struck me last night was that one of my least favorite solutions to #2's school dilemma is sending her to a program that would give me more time to write. Can YOU figure that one out without invoking the phrase, "You're putting your daughter first, you good mom, you!"??? And edited to add a bonus: it seems that the Tour Manager found this week's header picture... in the home of our own TTer Babe King. Be sure to tell her you saw her here and to thank her for the picture -- and be sure to get her new release from Freya's Bower this month, too!!! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: contest, meme, Thursday Thirteen, Trevor, Writing Aspirations
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Tag me twice yet again... (Mother's Day 2007)
Now, I'm TOTALLY not complaining that I seem to get tagged in spurts like this. It makes it much easier to answer these tags and still have room for fiction.
Therefore... let's get on with the meme...
Both Erica and Red tagged me for the eight random things meme, but Erica explicitly asked for a band member's eight things, or eight things about the official ShapeShifter band mom, Sonya Voss.
It took awhile before anyone fully stepped up to the plate. Kerri is Sonya's daughter-in-law and was afraid she'd be seen as being a kiss-up if she said too much. Trevor didn't want to say anything nice in public, of course. Amy's busy with a patient. So that left… Good Old Dependable Mitchell.
Or, as Trevor calls him -- for good reason -- The Big Idiot.
Eight things about Ma:
1. She knows I only call her Ma to get under her skin. And since she knows that, she's always ignoring it. But I do it anyway 'cause now I'm stuck doing it.
2. She used to send us care packages on the road. She'd even fill the boxes with rubbers and underwear, especially on that last tour before I met Kerri, when the girls we'd let into the dressing room decided it was fun to steal our underwear when we dropped them.
3. She let us practice in the basement. We're a loud band, but she never complained, even when we weren't around. She'd just tell people she was glad she knew where we were.
4. Sometimes, she'd complain. If we were working on a song that sucked, she'd tell us. Every now and then, she had suggestions to make the song better. Not enough to turn herself into a pain in the ass, but when she said something, we'd listen and follow. It usually worked, too.
5. When I conned Kerri into meeting her, Ma treated Kerri like she was already a member of the family. Kerri was the first girl I ever did more than sleep with; that was probably all the tip-off Ma needed.
6. Ma and Dad used to come to all our shows. I mean ALL. They never missed a damn show. Sometimes, they were the only people in there. Now that we're big, they still come whenever we're in town. Even when we play Wolf Whistle shows. We have to save them two spots, even when we don't want to.
7. No one'll talk about it, but I think it was Ma's idea to let Trevor come live with us. She was always fast to tell anyone that she always wanted a second boy and that Trevor was better than a baby 'cause she didn't have to deal with his diapers. Trev hates it when she says that; he thinks he's too cool to have ever needed diapers. Amy says he probably didn't get out of them until he was seven. She might be right.
8. This is how cool Ma is: whenever she has the family over, she makes sure the entire band comes. With steady girls, if we've got 'em. And when I'm on the road but Kerri's at home, Ma makes sure Kerri comes to dinner a few times. She's sorta like Val; she likes to cook for the people she loves. Val's the better cook, of course, but don't tell Ma that. She might get a complex, but for a cook who didn't go to cook's school, she's damn good.
As for who to tag, here are the rules:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Hey, notice how you don't have to link back to anyone? Well, let's fix that. Feel free to link back to me, okay? I love new groupies!
And next to share… Karen, Milan, Dewey, she, Claire, Breeni, Nimrodiel, and littlebirdblue. Yep, a lot of book friends you may not be familiar with. Why aren't you?
I only get to hound you for ten more days with this. Aren't you glad? I am.
And if you've missed it somehow, Just a reminder... go vote for me!
Yes, I'm totally going to torture you with this until the voting closes on May 22. So go vote, will ya? If you've already voted, why not register under another e-mail address? You'll get to vote again that way!
(PS -- I've got my first sunburn of the year. I'm not happy about that. *sniff*)
Therefore... let's get on with the meme...
Both Erica and Red tagged me for the eight random things meme, but Erica explicitly asked for a band member's eight things, or eight things about the official ShapeShifter band mom, Sonya Voss.
It took awhile before anyone fully stepped up to the plate. Kerri is Sonya's daughter-in-law and was afraid she'd be seen as being a kiss-up if she said too much. Trevor didn't want to say anything nice in public, of course. Amy's busy with a patient. So that left… Good Old Dependable Mitchell.
Or, as Trevor calls him -- for good reason -- The Big Idiot.
Eight things about Ma:
1. She knows I only call her Ma to get under her skin. And since she knows that, she's always ignoring it. But I do it anyway 'cause now I'm stuck doing it.
2. She used to send us care packages on the road. She'd even fill the boxes with rubbers and underwear, especially on that last tour before I met Kerri, when the girls we'd let into the dressing room decided it was fun to steal our underwear when we dropped them.
3. She let us practice in the basement. We're a loud band, but she never complained, even when we weren't around. She'd just tell people she was glad she knew where we were.
4. Sometimes, she'd complain. If we were working on a song that sucked, she'd tell us. Every now and then, she had suggestions to make the song better. Not enough to turn herself into a pain in the ass, but when she said something, we'd listen and follow. It usually worked, too.
5. When I conned Kerri into meeting her, Ma treated Kerri like she was already a member of the family. Kerri was the first girl I ever did more than sleep with; that was probably all the tip-off Ma needed.
6. Ma and Dad used to come to all our shows. I mean ALL. They never missed a damn show. Sometimes, they were the only people in there. Now that we're big, they still come whenever we're in town. Even when we play Wolf Whistle shows. We have to save them two spots, even when we don't want to.
7. No one'll talk about it, but I think it was Ma's idea to let Trevor come live with us. She was always fast to tell anyone that she always wanted a second boy and that Trevor was better than a baby 'cause she didn't have to deal with his diapers. Trev hates it when she says that; he thinks he's too cool to have ever needed diapers. Amy says he probably didn't get out of them until he was seven. She might be right.
8. This is how cool Ma is: whenever she has the family over, she makes sure the entire band comes. With steady girls, if we've got 'em. And when I'm on the road but Kerri's at home, Ma makes sure Kerri comes to dinner a few times. She's sorta like Val; she likes to cook for the people she loves. Val's the better cook, of course, but don't tell Ma that. She might get a complex, but for a cook who didn't go to cook's school, she's damn good.
As for who to tag, here are the rules:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Hey, notice how you don't have to link back to anyone? Well, let's fix that. Feel free to link back to me, okay? I love new groupies!
And next to share… Karen, Milan, Dewey, she, Claire, Breeni, Nimrodiel, and littlebirdblue. Yep, a lot of book friends you may not be familiar with. Why aren't you?
I only get to hound you for ten more days with this. Aren't you glad? I am.
And if you've missed it somehow, Just a reminder... go vote for me!
Yes, I'm totally going to torture you with this until the voting closes on May 22. So go vote, will ya? If you've already voted, why not register under another e-mail address? You'll get to vote again that way!
(PS -- I've got my first sunburn of the year. I'm not happy about that. *sniff*)
Labels: Blogger's Choice Award, meme, Mitchell, mothers, Sonya, Writing Aspirations
Monday, May 07, 2007
Fiction Outtake: For Erica (The Early Days)
Some fiction again this week for Rhian's Poetry Train. I don't think you need any run-up to this; it's the early days, the fledgling band's put together a small tour on a shoestring budget. On these tours, you rely on the goodness of locals -- or you sleep in your truck.
By the way, you can blame this -- and its conclusion, which I'll run tomorrow -- on Erica at Writing Aspirations. It's all her fault.
"Hey, M," Trevor said, coming up behind Mitchell, who was half-in, half-out of the Bronco, trying to clean it out a bit. He wasn't sure, but he thought it was starting to smell. Four guys on the road would do that, he knew. But damn, it had happened fast.
"Whatcha-doin'?" Trev sing-songed.
Mitchell bombed an empty can of Mountain Dew at him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why the fuck not? It's fun." Mitchell tossed another one, again without looking. Who cared where it landed, so long as it was out of the truck.
Trevor smacked his lips. A bag rustled; Mitchell guessed he had talked someone into coughing up some chips. Until they got paid for this show, they had about five cents between the four of them. Unless, of course, Trevor was hoarding cash again and had used that to buy the stupid chips.
"Because I'm not alone," Trevor sing-songed.
Mitchell groaned and buried his head in the seat of the Bronco. He should have known.
"You want to come meet Erica."
Before he raised his head, Mitchell let himself growl. Getting it out would be the only way he could smile at this girl. He didn't want to be social; he wanted to clean the damn truck out before he had to think about the show. He had about ten minutes, tops.
What he saw when he turned around surprised him. First of all, this girl was holding a can of bean dip, and she and Trevor had almost abandoned the chips for it. Mitchell half-expected Trevor to pick the can out of her hand and lick it clean.
The last time he'd done that, he'd turned it into foreplay.
"Who're you?" Mitchell asked. She was tall for a girl, almost taller than Trevor, and she wore ratty denim shorts over fishnet hose and fourteen-eye black Doc Martens. A push-up bra and a ripped black Soulbender t-shirt; she looked more goth than metal except her hair wasn't dyed black and she didn't have makeup on. In the absence of those, Mitchell decided she was … normal.
"Erica," she said and stuck her finger in the can of bean dip. She licked it off before saying, "The Sleeve wanted me to connect with you guys. I'll be doing your dressing room tonight, so if you want anything special in there, holler. Also, if you need a place to crash tonight, I've got room."
Trevor moved a step closer to her and started examining her mouth. "I want something special," he said.
"Forget it," she told him coolly. "I'm taken."
"M here can fix that for you," Trevor said, giving Mitchell a wide smile like he was asking for a punch.
"Not gonna happen," Mitchell said before Erica could react. She was cool enough, she worked for Steve the Sleeve, and if she was offering them a place to crash, he was all over it. Anything to keep from driving most of the night. He'd pull over for an hour or two when he had to, but sleeping in the truck was old. If he never had to do it again, he'd be happy.
Trevor turned and started rummaging through the back seat of the Bronco.
"Think you want that place to crash?" Erica asked, peering past Trevor into the truck.
"If it's no big deal," Mitchell said, wondering how many other times she'd made this same offer. She didn't have that over-eager bunny attitude; this was old hat for her.
Trevor emerged with a crumpled pack of cigarettes. "One left," he said, pulling it out. It wasn't very straight.
It didn't seem to matter how banged up the cigarette was because suddenly, Mitchell wanted it for himself.
"I'll make dinner for you after we get back to my place after the show," Erica offered. "I make a mean Mexican spread."
Mitchell narrowed his eyes and looked her over. This was bordering on ritual. "You're Steve the Sleeve's girl?" he asked, his opinion of the local promoter plummeting. Everyone knew you didn't use your girl for dressing room detail.
Erica snorted. "I wouldn't do that sleazeball if you gave me a million bucks and underwrote my own promotions biz. But he pays me good," she shrugged. "So what if I have to kick him in the balls every now and then to keep his hands off me? It's nothing compared to how hard he'll get it when I spin out and start doing my own shows."
"You're on for that place to crash tonight," Mitchell told her. There was something honest about her, something he could relate to. He wasn't so sure about the Mexican food, but he'd deal with that when he had to. The last time they'd had Mexican food, they'd all gotten sicker than dogs and had to stop at every single rest stop along the drive.
Maybe the homemade effect would make the difference.
And because the voting's not closed yet...
And if you've missed it somehow, Just a reminder... go vote for me!
Yes, I'm totally going to torture you with this until the voting closes on May 22. So go vote, will ya? If you've already voted, why not register under another e-mail address? You'll get to vote again that way!
By the way, you can blame this -- and its conclusion, which I'll run tomorrow -- on Erica at Writing Aspirations. It's all her fault.
"Hey, M," Trevor said, coming up behind Mitchell, who was half-in, half-out of the Bronco, trying to clean it out a bit. He wasn't sure, but he thought it was starting to smell. Four guys on the road would do that, he knew. But damn, it had happened fast.
"Whatcha-doin'?" Trev sing-songed.
Mitchell bombed an empty can of Mountain Dew at him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why the fuck not? It's fun." Mitchell tossed another one, again without looking. Who cared where it landed, so long as it was out of the truck.
Trevor smacked his lips. A bag rustled; Mitchell guessed he had talked someone into coughing up some chips. Until they got paid for this show, they had about five cents between the four of them. Unless, of course, Trevor was hoarding cash again and had used that to buy the stupid chips.
"Because I'm not alone," Trevor sing-songed.
Mitchell groaned and buried his head in the seat of the Bronco. He should have known.
"You want to come meet Erica."
Before he raised his head, Mitchell let himself growl. Getting it out would be the only way he could smile at this girl. He didn't want to be social; he wanted to clean the damn truck out before he had to think about the show. He had about ten minutes, tops.
What he saw when he turned around surprised him. First of all, this girl was holding a can of bean dip, and she and Trevor had almost abandoned the chips for it. Mitchell half-expected Trevor to pick the can out of her hand and lick it clean.
The last time he'd done that, he'd turned it into foreplay.
"Who're you?" Mitchell asked. She was tall for a girl, almost taller than Trevor, and she wore ratty denim shorts over fishnet hose and fourteen-eye black Doc Martens. A push-up bra and a ripped black Soulbender t-shirt; she looked more goth than metal except her hair wasn't dyed black and she didn't have makeup on. In the absence of those, Mitchell decided she was … normal.
"Erica," she said and stuck her finger in the can of bean dip. She licked it off before saying, "The Sleeve wanted me to connect with you guys. I'll be doing your dressing room tonight, so if you want anything special in there, holler. Also, if you need a place to crash tonight, I've got room."
Trevor moved a step closer to her and started examining her mouth. "I want something special," he said.
"Forget it," she told him coolly. "I'm taken."
"M here can fix that for you," Trevor said, giving Mitchell a wide smile like he was asking for a punch.
"Not gonna happen," Mitchell said before Erica could react. She was cool enough, she worked for Steve the Sleeve, and if she was offering them a place to crash, he was all over it. Anything to keep from driving most of the night. He'd pull over for an hour or two when he had to, but sleeping in the truck was old. If he never had to do it again, he'd be happy.
Trevor turned and started rummaging through the back seat of the Bronco.
"Think you want that place to crash?" Erica asked, peering past Trevor into the truck.
"If it's no big deal," Mitchell said, wondering how many other times she'd made this same offer. She didn't have that over-eager bunny attitude; this was old hat for her.
Trevor emerged with a crumpled pack of cigarettes. "One left," he said, pulling it out. It wasn't very straight.
It didn't seem to matter how banged up the cigarette was because suddenly, Mitchell wanted it for himself.
"I'll make dinner for you after we get back to my place after the show," Erica offered. "I make a mean Mexican spread."
Mitchell narrowed his eyes and looked her over. This was bordering on ritual. "You're Steve the Sleeve's girl?" he asked, his opinion of the local promoter plummeting. Everyone knew you didn't use your girl for dressing room detail.
Erica snorted. "I wouldn't do that sleazeball if you gave me a million bucks and underwrote my own promotions biz. But he pays me good," she shrugged. "So what if I have to kick him in the balls every now and then to keep his hands off me? It's nothing compared to how hard he'll get it when I spin out and start doing my own shows."
"You're on for that place to crash tonight," Mitchell told her. There was something honest about her, something he could relate to. He wasn't so sure about the Mexican food, but he'd deal with that when he had to. The last time they'd had Mexican food, they'd all gotten sicker than dogs and had to stop at every single rest stop along the drive.
Maybe the homemade effect would make the difference.
And because the voting's not closed yet...
And if you've missed it somehow, Just a reminder... go vote for me!
Yes, I'm totally going to torture you with this until the voting closes on May 22. So go vote, will ya? If you've already voted, why not register under another e-mail address? You'll get to vote again that way!
Labels: Blogger's Choice Award, creative writing, fiction, Mitchell, outtake, Poetry Train, ShapeShifter, touring, Trevor, Writing Aspirations
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #23 -- The Balancing Meme
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My good buddy Erica at Writing Aspriations tagged me for the balance meme. You know, Lillie Amman's meme about how to achieve balance in your life, especially when you're juggling being a writer, a blogger, a literary agent shopper, a mom, a wife, a classroom volunteer, a gym rat, and the mom of a cat with irritable bowel disorder. But it's not me Erica wanted to tag. Rather, it was my "delicious fictional characters" she wanted to hear from. Not that I blame her; they're way more interesting than I am. That's why so much of this blog is devoted to them. (what? Did you think I was trying to sell you something? There's no book to buy yet!) So, to combine the fun with my weekly Thursday Thirteen, here you go, Erica. one Kermit Ladd: The question I've been sent here to present to you today is how you achieve balance in your lives. You're these mega-huge rock stars, but you're also ordinary guys. How do you do it? What is the biggest challenge you face in balancing your lives? Trevor: Wait. What happened to that babe who called us delicious? Would she like a taste? (He leers. When that gets no reaction, he eyes Mitchell nervously, but the singer merely stretches his legs out before him and casually crosses his feet at the ankles.) Trevor: Okay, then. Just make sure she knows how to find me. two Kermit Ladd: Balance, Trevor. Not women. Daniel: Why can't women be the balance? Even if it's only for two minutes in an elevator, any sane man can get lost in a good woman. There's your balance. You get that time to forget about performing for an audience and get to think about you. three Kermit Ladd: Most people would call that selfish since you're not caring for your partner. That's not very balanced -- or is that your biggest challenge? Trevor: My biggest challenge is doing it right. You need both feet on the floor. (He stands up and lifts one foot. Immediately, he sways and has to touch his toe to the ground.) See? My balance sucks. Eric: There's real wisdom in there, Trevor. (The bass player turns away, but not before a sneer crosses his face.) There's a reason people call us stars. They think we belong up there-- Mitchell: In outer space. Like freaks. Eric: No, M. High in the heavens, with the other celestial beings. Worshipped and celebrated. But the truth is that we're just people. four Kermit Ladd: Exactly. Now, how do you manage to balance your audiences' expectations? Mitchell: We make better music and put on great shows. Eric: We're approachable. Our fans can come up and talk to us. Mitchell: Well, they could before they got so thick. We had to hire security to save us from them! five Kermit Ladd: So you've got the fans. What about being yourselves? How do you maintain that balance between private person and rock figure? Trevor: Well, Mitchell's parents kick us in the ass when we need it. Eric: They remind us to keep both feet on the ground. When we're at home, not only do we do our own laundry-- Trevor: No, Mitchell's mom does mine. Mitchell: Kerri does ours. Won't let me near it. Trevor: You turned her favorite panties pink? Mitchell: No. She said please. Please leave it for me. (He shrugs.) If it makes her happy, I'm all for it. Daniel: Happy women are good things. Trevor: Gotta have both feet on the floor to keep a woman happy. Or both knees on the bed. Take your pick. Daniel: Val's happiest when I'm home and paying attention to her. I can be Daniel, not Daniel of ShapeShifter, and I do that because she makes me check my ego at the door. six Kermit Ladd: So, sometimes, it does get to your heads? Eric: We wouldn't be human if it doesn't. seven Kermit Ladd: How do you come back to Earth? Mitchell: A roadie stops our prima donna routine over a broken amp by plugging it in. Management calls with something we need to deal with. You kick the garbage all over the kitchen floor and realize you're the only one home to clean it up and take it out already. Trevor: Eric and I get stoned. That's a good way to come back to Earth. Daniel: Sure beats those announcements the doctors make, telling what you caught this time. eight Kermit Ladd: What about priorities? What are your priorities, and how do you meet them? Mitchell: It's a dead-heat between Kerri, making music, and running the band. As for taking care of it all (he shrugs), I do what needs to get done. Any spare time's for me. Daniel: Ditto. It's what we do in our spare time that's different. Eric: I meet things one at a time and try not to freak about how much lies ahead. It's about faith: having enough faith that I'll get through everything and will have time for myself. Trevor: My priorites are simple: women, girls, bimbos. My bike. Getting stoned. And the band. Possibly in that order, but you need to put girls in between all the other shit. nine Kermit Ladd: How about balance in your personal lives, then? Mitchell, you're married. Daniel, you've got a long-time love. How do you balance the demands of the fans with your personal lives? (Daniel and Mitchell exchange looks, daring each other to go first.) Mitchell: Sometimes, you have to turn to a fan and ask if they'd mind giving you some space. I hate to do it, but say you're in the hotel pool, getting some laps in, and they're standing on the edge, yelling at you to come sign an autograph. What do you do? We deserve down time, too. Daniel: I had it once at an Otters game. Sitting in the stands, digging the ball field, eating my hot dogs-- Trevor: And Cracker Jack? Daniel: Wouldn't be a ball game without it. But there's this fan, bugging you and not letting you watch the game. You feel like a total heel for asking them to let you alone, but you've got to, or suddenly, there's ten thousand people forgetting they came to watch baseball. Instead, they're standing in line for your autograph and the team's gathered on the field, drawing straws to see who gets the privelege of knocking you out. Ten Kermit Ladd: What does that have to do with the women in your lives? Trevor: Nothing, unless they're at the game, too, and the fans are stepping on them to get to us. I've seen it happen. Mitchell: You told them to do it. Trevor: Well, the fans weren't crawling after us, so what did we care? Besides, the girl who got stepped on dumped that dick and ran off with me. I got what I wanted in the end. eleven Daniel: I think that sometimes, our fans forget that we are people first. That we can't be ShapeShifter twenty-four-seven. Kermit Ladd: Why not? Eric: We'd only have one foot on the floor. Show him again, Trev. (Trevor stands and, again, lifts one foot. Again, he quickly wobbles.) Daniel: See? You've gotta have both feet on the ground or you're useless. Mitchell: Especially when you need to adjust something on your guitar's foot pedal without stomping on it. twelve Kermit Ladd: You make it sound easy. Mitchell: Sometimes, it is. Sometimes, we need someone to stand on one foot so they can use the other to kick us in the ass. Especially when we're on the road and we're surrounded by people who get paid to say yes to us, no matter what we ask for. Trevor: No one said yes when I asked to spend a night in the locker room with those cheerleaders. Mitchell: You could've spent the night. You just got pissed when we said you'd have to do it without the girls. Trevor: What's the point without them? thirteen Kermit Ladd: Final question and it's back to the women, so please answer it this time. How do your women deal with you guys being on posters that fans pin to their walls? Eric: We stay in a lot. That way, the girls don't have to deal with the jealous pettiness of the others. Daniel: Bodyguards. Trevor: I let a girl pin me to … okay, not the wall 'cause I don't get that hardcore. But the floor. With her knees. It was a lot of fun. (He ducks as Mitchell takes a swipe at the back of his head.) Mitchell: Kerri's strong enough that when she's in a bathroom and hears someone saying how they wish she was dead so they could take her place, that sort of thing doesn't bother her. And when girls come on to me and tell me to forget about her, she laughs in their faces. Daniel: She likes telling you about the shit she overhears. Mitchell: And most of it's shit, too. We all know whose bed I'll be in. Trevor: Yeah. Just remind the world you're the idiot who picked her over all the better ones out there, why don't you? Kermit ends the conversation here as Trevor takes off running, Mitchell hot on his heels. One last note, now that you've reached the end: Don't forget to scroll down to the Buy a Friend a Book Contest. And happy birthday to my blog! It's one year old today, Wednesday April 4. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: Daniel, Eric, meme, Mitchell, Thursday Thirteen, Trevor, Writing Aspirations
Monday, February 19, 2007
And the Winners are...
First off, congratulations to everyone who played along, thought about playing along, or tried but got derailed (Cheesy, I still love you!). I'd have to say our first Debut a Debut contest was a smashing success.
So. Without further ado, here are the winners and their prizes.
Janelle -- 5 points from BookMooch.com
Little bird blue -- $20.00 gift card from Borders
cherie pie -- Tina Bendoni's Argus: In Dreams
Karen -- Suzanne Adair's Paper Woman and Sela Carsen's Not Quite Dead
Andrew -- Shane Gericke's pack, including Blown Away, his debut
world in a satin bag -- Racy Li's Ninja
Confessions of a literary persuasion -- Lila Shaara's audio of Every Secret Thing
breeni -- Sela Carsen's The Virgin Courtesan
mark baker -- Lila Shaara's Every Secret Thing (hardcover)
sahbu -- Thomma Lyn's Thy Eternal Summer
she -- $20.00 Border's gift certificate & Rhonda Stapleton's Stripped
megan -- Dawno's You Pick
prester john -- Michael FitzGerald's Radiant Days
scooper -- Matt Curran's The Secret War
la lady lisa westerfield -- RG Willems's Targets of Affection
A few last housekeeping notes...
1. I'll keep the list of suggested authors and the prize list up at my main website. Hope you'll refer to it often and find yourself some good books.
2. Erica posted a great interview with Joshua Palmatier at Writing Aspirations. We're talking to Joshua about having him be involved in our summer contest, so the next few months would be an excellent time to pick up his first -- and second! -- book, The Skewed Throne and The Cracked Throne.
3. You may be looking at the fact that prolific reviewer Antheras only won five points from BookMooch and wondering what's up with that. That's because she refused anything more and will be joining the Debut a Debut team. Thanks to Janelle for doing that; with her knowledge, Debut a Debut (and our upcoming summer contest) will get bigger and better. You cool people will be able to say you knew us when!!
4. Lastly, thanks to all of you who were part of this in any way, large or small. We hope you'll keep spreading the word of the joint West of Mars and Writing Aspirations contests; there WILL be more (did I say summer contest?), so check in at our blogs for updates about all of that.
In the meantime, enjoy the fun stuff that Erica and I bring you on a semi-daily basis. We appreciate the fact that you guys are our readers. We hope we've exposed you to new bloggers and book reviewers and more neat sites for us bibliophiles (didn't know your favorite metal head knew those big words, huh?), and we hope you'll make at least some of them new favorites. Just... don't forget us. We'll miss you.
I'm out of here for the night... off to my couch and what else but a good book!
So. Without further ado, here are the winners and their prizes.
Janelle -- 5 points from BookMooch.com
Little bird blue -- $20.00 gift card from Borders
cherie pie -- Tina Bendoni's Argus: In Dreams
Karen -- Suzanne Adair's Paper Woman and Sela Carsen's Not Quite Dead
Andrew -- Shane Gericke's pack, including Blown Away, his debut
world in a satin bag -- Racy Li's Ninja
Confessions of a literary persuasion -- Lila Shaara's audio of Every Secret Thing
breeni -- Sela Carsen's The Virgin Courtesan
mark baker -- Lila Shaara's Every Secret Thing (hardcover)
sahbu -- Thomma Lyn's Thy Eternal Summer
she -- $20.00 Border's gift certificate & Rhonda Stapleton's Stripped
megan -- Dawno's You Pick
prester john -- Michael FitzGerald's Radiant Days
scooper -- Matt Curran's The Secret War
la lady lisa westerfield -- RG Willems's Targets of Affection
A few last housekeeping notes...
1. I'll keep the list of suggested authors and the prize list up at my main website. Hope you'll refer to it often and find yourself some good books.
2. Erica posted a great interview with Joshua Palmatier at Writing Aspirations. We're talking to Joshua about having him be involved in our summer contest, so the next few months would be an excellent time to pick up his first -- and second! -- book, The Skewed Throne and The Cracked Throne.
3. You may be looking at the fact that prolific reviewer Antheras only won five points from BookMooch and wondering what's up with that. That's because she refused anything more and will be joining the Debut a Debut team. Thanks to Janelle for doing that; with her knowledge, Debut a Debut (and our upcoming summer contest) will get bigger and better. You cool people will be able to say you knew us when!!
4. Lastly, thanks to all of you who were part of this in any way, large or small. We hope you'll keep spreading the word of the joint West of Mars and Writing Aspirations contests; there WILL be more (did I say summer contest?), so check in at our blogs for updates about all of that.
In the meantime, enjoy the fun stuff that Erica and I bring you on a semi-daily basis. We appreciate the fact that you guys are our readers. We hope we've exposed you to new bloggers and book reviewers and more neat sites for us bibliophiles (didn't know your favorite metal head knew those big words, huh?), and we hope you'll make at least some of them new favorites. Just... don't forget us. We'll miss you.
I'm out of here for the night... off to my couch and what else but a good book!
Labels: books, Debut a Debut, prizes, Writing Aspirations
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Byline: Chelle LaFleur -- Bitty Bands
As part of the Debut a Debut contest that Erica at Writing Aspirations and I are throwing, I thought that I'd start featuring some of our debut authors, too. First is Lila Shaara, whose Every Secret Thing is one of the debuts you can win copies of -- an autographed hardcover or an audiobook on CD!
Now, on to Chelle and what she's got to say today.
Now someone had better explain to me just what's goin' on here. Okay? I'm listening, so you all had better start speaking.
Now see here. I know I've encouraged letters and feedback from you all. And for the most part, what you people have to say rocks. I like that you don't hold back in your letters, and I like even more that you show me some respect when we meet up face to face. Not a lot; just enough.
What I don't like is this recent bombardment from you all about my horn-tooting of those little bands out there. Why? What's your issue here? Don't you know how big bands get made? They start out as little bands and they slug it out and they find a way to make sure they stand out. If they stand out enough to catch my cynical old ears, so much the better, don't you think? Have you ever known me to go nuts for a band that was so terrible, you changed the radio station every time they came on?
Well, you gotta account for taste in there, too. But my track record speaks for itself: every single bitty band I've told you about has found their way to success of some size, and all of it's been deserved. Sure, some of 'em broke up before they made it as big as they could have, but that's the nature of bands, boys and girls. They're made up of people. People don't always get along.
Sort of like you all and me, right now. 'Cause sure as I know my name's Chelle LaFleur, I know that you ain't feeling this bitty band love the way I am. And I don't know why, unless you're just perfectly happy to keep on doing the same-old, same-old.
If that's the case, then you shouldn't be taking up the air I'm tryin' to breathe, you know what I'm saying here, boys and girls? I'm here to find good music and not care about how big their arenas are or how gigantic their heads are or how humongous their staffs are, pushing their great big news down my fat throat. It's about the quality of the music, and damn if I care who's making it.
Okay, unless it's those ShapeShifter boys, but they're another story. They're one of those bands who earn your respect, just because they're so damn cute, and so damn into what they're doing and we all know they won't be a bitty band for much longer.
So quit'cher bellyaching at me already. If no one looks for the next ShapeShifter, how's anyone gonna find them?
You heard it first, and you heard it here: Bitty bands rock. C'mon out with Chelle and give 'em your support.
Debut a Debut! Don't forget!
Now, on to Chelle and what she's got to say today.
Now someone had better explain to me just what's goin' on here. Okay? I'm listening, so you all had better start speaking.
Now see here. I know I've encouraged letters and feedback from you all. And for the most part, what you people have to say rocks. I like that you don't hold back in your letters, and I like even more that you show me some respect when we meet up face to face. Not a lot; just enough.
What I don't like is this recent bombardment from you all about my horn-tooting of those little bands out there. Why? What's your issue here? Don't you know how big bands get made? They start out as little bands and they slug it out and they find a way to make sure they stand out. If they stand out enough to catch my cynical old ears, so much the better, don't you think? Have you ever known me to go nuts for a band that was so terrible, you changed the radio station every time they came on?
Well, you gotta account for taste in there, too. But my track record speaks for itself: every single bitty band I've told you about has found their way to success of some size, and all of it's been deserved. Sure, some of 'em broke up before they made it as big as they could have, but that's the nature of bands, boys and girls. They're made up of people. People don't always get along.
Sort of like you all and me, right now. 'Cause sure as I know my name's Chelle LaFleur, I know that you ain't feeling this bitty band love the way I am. And I don't know why, unless you're just perfectly happy to keep on doing the same-old, same-old.
If that's the case, then you shouldn't be taking up the air I'm tryin' to breathe, you know what I'm saying here, boys and girls? I'm here to find good music and not care about how big their arenas are or how gigantic their heads are or how humongous their staffs are, pushing their great big news down my fat throat. It's about the quality of the music, and damn if I care who's making it.
Okay, unless it's those ShapeShifter boys, but they're another story. They're one of those bands who earn your respect, just because they're so damn cute, and so damn into what they're doing and we all know they won't be a bitty band for much longer.
So quit'cher bellyaching at me already. If no one looks for the next ShapeShifter, how's anyone gonna find them?
You heard it first, and you heard it here: Bitty bands rock. C'mon out with Chelle and give 'em your support.
Debut a Debut! Don't forget!
Labels: books, Chelle LaFleur, contest, prizes, Writing Aspirations
Friday, January 26, 2007
Debut a Debut update
Okay, no wonder I'm tired and cranky. In just one week, our list of debut authors we know about has swelled from 40 to 173. And guess who is the keeper of the list? Rashenbo?
Well, I did volunteer, so no bellyaching allowed on my end. If you know of a debut author who qualifies under our rules, keep those names rolling in. And if you catch any mistakes, please let me know! There's no malice intended, just an exhausted mom-writer-wife with a potentially torn knee cartilege (again).
I thought I'd post the list for you here, even though it's fun to watch the hits on my main website. Guess I'll watch 'em in both places.
And a hello to all of you dropping in from the Romance Divas bulletin board! I hope everyone visiting for this contest will stay awhile, poke around, and become as enchanted with my world of Riverview, USA, and my fictional band, ShapeShifter.
Well, I did volunteer, so no bellyaching allowed on my end. If you know of a debut author who qualifies under our rules, keep those names rolling in. And if you catch any mistakes, please let me know! There's no malice intended, just an exhausted mom-writer-wife with a potentially torn knee cartilege (again).
I thought I'd post the list for you here, even though it's fun to watch the hits on my main website. Guess I'll watch 'em in both places.
- Alan Fox -- The Seeker in Forever
- Albyn Leah Hall -- The Rhythm of the Road
- Alex Espinoza -- Still Water Saints
- Alexandra Sokoloff -- The Harrowing
- Ali Liebegott -- The IHOP Papers
- Alice Greenway -- White Ghost Girls
- Aliya Whiteley -- Three Things About Me
- Amir Gutfreund -- Our Holocaust
- Amy Bryant -- Polly
- Ana Baca -- Mama Fela's Girls
- Andrew Britton -- The American
- Antoinette May -- Pilate's Wife
- Antonia Arslan -- Skylark Farm
- Benito Cordova -- Big Dreams and Dark Secrets in Chimaya
- Betsey Osborne -- The Natural History of Uncas Metcalfe
- Brian Martin -- North
- Brian Shuster. The Minerva Virus
- C-Murder -- Death Around the Corner
- CA Belmond -- A Rather Lovely Inheritance
- Carolyn Turgeon -- Rain Village
- Cate Sweeney -- Selfish Jean
- Catherine Murdock - Dairy Queen
- Cheryl Strayed -- Torch
- Christine Conrad -- Mademoiselle Benoir
- Cindy Woodsmall -- When the Heart Cries
- Clifford Chase -- Winkie
- Colleen Gleason -- The Rest Falls Away
- Cornelia Read -- A Field of Darkness
- Conor Corderoy -- Dark Rain
- Da Chen -- Brothers
- Daniel Judson - The Darkest Place
- David Lynn Golemon -- Event
- Debra Dean - The Madonnas of Leningrad
- Debra Ginsberg -- Blind Submisssion
- Derek Armstrong -- The Game
- Diane Setterfield -- The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel
- Donna Westover Gallup -- White as Snow
- Drew Bowling -- The Tower of Shadows
- Edward Charles -- In the Shadow of Lady Jane
- Ellis Avery -- The Teahouse Fire
- Faiza Guene -- Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow
- Farrell O'Gorman -- Awaiting Orders
- Frances Washburn -- Elsie's Business
- George Robert Minkoff -- The Weight of Smoke
- Gillian Flynn -- Sharp Objects: A Novel
- Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk -- The Sidewalk Artist
- Gordon Dahlquist - The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters
- Heather Hayashi -- To Save the World
- Heidi Pitlor -- The Birthdays
- Henry Chang -- Chinatown Beat
- Hisham Matar -- In the Country of Men
- Heidi Pitlor -- The Birthdays: A Novel
- Hisham Matar -- In the Country of Men
- Hugh Paxton -- Homunculus
- Jackie Kessler -- Hell's Belles
- James Canon -- Takes from the Town of Widows and Chronicles from the Land of Men
- James Janko -- Buffalo Boy and Geronimo
- Jana DeLeon -- Rumble on the Bayou
- Jane May -- Doggy Style
- Jason Webb -- The Ghost of Che Guevara
- Jed Rubenfeld - The Interpretation of Murder
- Jenn Reese -- Jade Tiger
- Jennah Sharpe -- Along the Hibiscus Path
- Jennifer Gilmore -- Golden Country: A Novel
- Jerome Tell -- The Election
- Jill Conner Browne (with Karin Gillespie) -- The Sweet Potato Queen's First Big Ass Novel
- Jonathan Drapes -- Never Admit to Beige
- Joshua Cohen -- Cadenza for the Schneidermann Violin Concerto
- Joshua Palmatier -- The Skewed Throne
- Joshua Spanogle - Isolation Ward
- Judith Lindbergh -- The Thrall's Tale
- Judith Marks-White -- Seducing Harry
- Julie Carobini -- Chocolate Beach
- Kat Richardson -- Greywalker
- Kathleen Jacobs -- The Friday Knitting Club
- Katherine Min -- Secondhand World
- KE Silva -- A Simple Distance
- Kelly Kerney -- Born Again
- Keith Donohue -- The Stolen Child
- Kevin Shay -- The End as I Know it
- Kirsten Sawyer -- Not Quite a Bride
- Laura Dave -- London is the Best City in America
- Laura Fitzgerlad -- A Veil of Roses
- Laura Ruby -- I'm not Julia Roberts
- Lauren Fox -- Still Life With Husband
- Lauren Lipton -- It's About Your Husband
- Lauren Marks-White -- Seducing Harry
- Layne Maheu -- Song of the Crow
- Lee Merrill Bryd -- Riley's Fire
- Liam Jackson -- Offspring
- Lila Shaara -- Every Secret Thing
- Lisa Fugard -- Skinner's Drift
- Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum -- A Day of Small Beginnings
- Lisa Unger -- Beautiful Lifes
- Lori Lacefield -- The Seventh Survivor
- Lu Vickers -- Breathing Underwater
- Lucy McCarraher -- Blood & Water
- Marcus Sakey -- The Blade Itself
- Margo Candela -- Underneath it All
- Marie Arana -- Cellophane
- Marisa de los Santos -- Love Walked In
- Marisha Pessl -- Special Topics in Calamity Physics
- Mark Binelli -- Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die!
- Mary E. Neighbour -- Speak Right on: Dred Scott a Novel
- Matthew Scott Hansen -- The Shadow killer
- Max Brooks -- World War Z
- Meg Mullins -- The Rug Merchant
- Melissa Clark -- Swimming Upstream Slowly
- Mia King -- Good Things
- Michael A. Fitzgerald -- Radiant Days
- Michael Graham -- The Snow Angel
- Michael Stephen -- The Manuscript
- Michael Thomas -- Man Gone Down
- Michelle Tea -- Rose of no Man's Land
- MWF Curran -- The Secret War
- Naomi Alderman -- Disobedience
- Natalie Danford -- Inheritance
- Nora Gallagher -- Changing Light
- N.S. Koenings -- The Blue Taxi
- Olga Grushin -- The Dream Life of Sukhanov
- Pam Jenoff -- The Kommandant's Girl
- Pamela Carter Joern -- The Floor of the Sky
- Patrick F. McManus -- The Blight Way
- Patrick Hyde -- The Only Pure Thing
- Paul Batista -- Death's Witness
- Paul Rusesabagina - An Ordinary Man
- Paul Wolfe -- Choices
- Peter Behrens -- The Law of Dreams
- Peter Bourne -- The Deserter
- Peter C. Brown -- The Fugitive Wife
- Peter Hobbs -- The Short Day of dying
- Racy Li -- Ninja
- Rae Meadows -- Calling Me Out
- Raymond Khoury -- The Last Templar
- Rebecca Drake -- Don't Be Afraid
- RG Willems -- Targets of Affection
- Robert Dugoni - The Jury Master
- Robert Fate -- Baby Shark
- Robert Gregory Browne -- Kiss Her Goodbye
- Robert Gussin -- Trash Talk
- Roger Morris -- Taking Comfort
- Roger Alan Skipper -- Tear Down the Mountain
- Roseanne Keller -- A Summer All Her Own
- Sam Barone -- Dawn of Empire
- Sam Savage -- Firmin
- Samantha Grosser -- Another Time and Place
- San Culberson -- The Nick of Time
- Sandi Ault -- Wild Indigo
- Sara Gruen - Water for Elephants
- Sean Chercover -- Big City Bad Blood
- Sela Carsen -- Not Quite Dead (http://www.Selacarson.com)
- Sela Carsen -- The Virgin Courtesan
- Shane Gericke -- Blown Away
- Stephen J. Spignesi - Dialogues
- Steven Hockensmith -- Holmes on the Range
- Steve Voake - The Dreamwalker's Child
- Sunny -- Mona Lisa Awakening
- Suroopa Mukherjee -- Across the Mystic Shore
- Suzanne Adair -- Paper Woman (http://www.suzanneadair.com)
- Tasha Alexander -- And Only to Deceive
- Tawny Taylor -- Sex and the Single Ghost
- Thomas Mullen -- The Last Town on Earth: A Novel
- Thomma Lyn -- Thy Eternal Summer
- Tinling Choong -- FireWife
- Toby Devens -- My favorite midlife crisis (yet)
- Tom McCarthy -- Remainder
- Tony D'Souza -- Whiteman
- Troy Cook -- 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers
- Wendy Wasserstein -- Elements of Style
- Will Beall -- L.A. Rex
- William Kittredge -- The Willow Field
- Yael Goldstein -- Overture
- Yvette Christianse -- Unconfessed
Prizes:
- 2 $20 gift certificates from Borders
- A copy of RG Willems' debut, Targets of Affection
- 5 free points from BookMooch.com
- A copy of Matt Curran's debut, The Secret War
- An autographed copy of Lila Shaara's debut, Every Secret Thing
- A copy of Suzanne Adair's debut, Paper Woman
- A copy of Racy Li's debut e-book, Ninja
- A copy of Sela Carsen's debut e-book, Not Quite Dead
- A copy of Sela Carsen's follow-up short, The Virgin Courtesan
- A copy of Michael FitzGerald's debut, Radiant Days
And a hello to all of you dropping in from the Romance Divas bulletin board! I hope everyone visiting for this contest will stay awhile, poke around, and become as enchanted with my world of Riverview, USA, and my fictional band, ShapeShifter.
Labels: books, contest, Debut a Debut, Writing Aspirations
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Lucky Thursday Thirteen -- More About ShapeShifter
Those of you who've been around know that my fiction centers on the fictional band ShapeShifter, the men who make up this unique band, and the people who shape the rest of their lives. For the past two weeks, our focus has been on ShapeShifter frontman Mitchell Voss. Now that you guys have a better idea who he is, I thought I'd throw in some generic bits about ShapeShifter -- sort of like a palate cleanser before we get to the next character.
Enjoy, and don't forget about the Debut a Debut contest (and to check out the winners of my meme contest, too!)! The list of debut authors to check out is being updated semi-daily and can be found either at Writing Aspirations or my main website.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Enjoy, and don't forget about the Debut a Debut contest (and to check out the winners of my meme contest, too!)! The list of debut authors to check out is being updated semi-daily and can be found either at Writing Aspirations or my main website.
 |
1. They are four boys from Riverview USA who made it big 2. They are all roughly the same age. Trevor and Daniel are a year older than Mitchell and Eric. 3. They love all their fans, but show it most obviously to the female variety. The males just get autographs and pictures. 4. Mitchell and Daniel are the band's heartthrobs and mouthpieces. 5. Mitchell can be quite cranky to the media. 6. Trevor came up with the band name. In the beginning, they had a typical ShapeShifter concept. Each band member had an animal: Mitchell the dragon, Daniel the bear, Eric the eagle and Trevor Wolff was … a wolf. 7. The concept was soon considered too hokey to be allowed to continue. But Mitchell is still considered a dragon by many. 8. The band's first tour happened before they had a record deal. They piled into Mitchell's father's Bronco, attached a U-haul to the back, and off they went. 9. They did everything in the back of that Bronco. It's a wonder the truck survived. But it did. 10. Mitchell is still driving it during Trevor's Song. 11. They love to hang out in pools (witness Green Hair Week) -- and in pool halls, shooting 8-ball. 12. They love to make commando runs on ice cream stands before leaving town. Fans often try to guess where they'll stop. The ice cream shops love the added business. 13. They'll stop and talk music with you as long as they possibly can. Make sure what you say reflects the fact that you've got a brain in your head (with the obvious exception of someone obviously tongue-tied at having a discussion with ShapeShifter). Don't forget to Debut a Debut! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: Debut a Debut, ShapeShifter, Thursday Thirteen, Writing Aspirations
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Debut a Debut news
For those of you who've been looking for it, a partial list of debut authors for the Debut a Debut contest is now up at West of Mars.
If you are an author of a debut novel and would like to either see your name listed, or would like to contribute prizes, please contact me or Erica.
Happy reading, everyone! I'll be back with a list of winners from my second contest tomorrow. And would anyone else like some fiction this week?
If you are an author of a debut novel and would like to either see your name listed, or would like to contribute prizes, please contact me or Erica.
Happy reading, everyone! I'll be back with a list of winners from my second contest tomorrow. And would anyone else like some fiction this week?
Labels: books, contest, Debut a Debut, Writing Aspirations
Friday, January 19, 2007
Contest Time! #3 About to Begin
The book industry faces many challenges. People seem to have less time to read and it's tough to compete with the television and Internet. Any new or aspiring author knows how hard it is to make his or her voice heard amongst the chorus of "publish me!" "Notice me!" "Buy my books!"
In many cultures around the world, Valentine's Day has converted the month of February into the month of love. This February, two aspiring authors are taking their love of reading and their admiration for debut authors and combining them into the "Debut a debut!" contest.
Take a first-time author for a spin on your "To Read in 2007" list and give yourself the chance to win great prizes! Gift certificates to Borders and more!
During the week of 12 Feb through 17 Feb, read a book written by a debut author and post your review by 17 February. Send Susan or Erica the permalink to your review and you will be entered in a drawing for some great prizes.
Some Rules
A debut author is an author who has had their first novel published between 01/2006 and 02/2007.
Accepted publication types are ebook and in-print novels from established royalty-paying publishers or e-publishers; if you're not sure, e-mail us the name of the publisher. POD, vanity presses, or Publish America books are not considered for this contest.
Reviews can not be previously printed online or in print. The review of a debut author's novel must be posted between the dates of 02/12/2007 - 02/17/2007. Prize drawing will occur 02/19/2007 and winners will be notified via email.
Multiple entries are allowed.
The Prizes
2 randomly drawn participants will receive a $20.00 Borders gift certificate. Other prizes announced closer to the contest.
How to Enter
1. Buy, find, or borrow a novel that is an author's debut. (see list of some debut novels at WestofMars.com, West of Mars -- the Meet and Greet, or Writing Aspirations)
2. Read the novel.
3. Write a review. It does not have to be a professional review. Provide a brief plot synopsis and then mention your likes or dislikes or other thoughts you had while reading.
4. Post the review online - either on a website or blog.
5. Send the permalink of the post to West of Mars or Writing Aspirations in an email message or post a comment to the main contest post with a link to your review.
Remember, the review is to be completed and posted during the week of 02/12/2007 - 02/17/2007.
A post will be created on West of Mars and Writing Aspirations with links to all book reviews submitted.
Authors
Don't miss your chance to get some press! West of Mars and Writing Aspirations are in the process of gathering your names and titles to help our contest entrants find great books to read. Please send us links to your website, or just your name and the title of your debut novel that was published between 1 January 2006 and 1 February 2007. If you have any promotional items -- especially copies of your book -- that you'd like to donate, we'd love to offer them as prizes.
Labels: books, contest, Debut a Debut, fiction, prizes, Writing Aspirations
