Wednesday, January 4, 2012

It is amazing that I came across this Blog Hop today for Insecure Writers. During the long holiday, I was finally able to get some writing done and managed to finish the first chapter of my current book, and it does have a title. Titles have always been a big problem for me.  In my younger years, I longed to finally make it to High School, because there was journalism there.

I did not want to be a journalist, but I figured it was the closest thing available to assist my writing ambitions. The dream of writing my own series of mysteries, the first terribly awful one written in the seventh grade, was squashed. Squashed by one teacher, in one day, in one class and by one cutting remark. I left that class filled with bitterness and a disdain for that instructor. High school journalism was only the mecca for the select chosen few of her classes. She appeared to be more intent on winning awards in those final years before her retirement , overlooking students who truly intended to write because they have a passion for words and not just to have an award on a college application.  


I was convinced that if this one person thought so harshly of my work at age 15, I was then doomed for life. I avoided writing for many years. This blog is the first writing I have ever shown an audience of more than one best friend.  So what makes finding this blog hop so special? I am preparing to show the first chapter of my current work in progress to my writing group this week. One chapter has consumed all of my free time for 4 days and I am sure it will right up until the reading on Saturday morning. 



Blog Hop - Critique My Blog

A writer I know is hosting a Critique My Blog - Blog Hop. Anyone wishing to receive feedback on the quality of their blog is encouraged to sign up. Other areas that will be Critiqued are: appearance, frequency of posts, layout and content.  Please go over and take a look at A Writer's Journey and sign up for the HOP!
Don't forget to sign up! 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Work in Progress

I have finally posted a blurb from my current Work in Progress and this one even has a name. The town of course, is purely fictional. It is comprised of features native to many small towns in this area. Originally, the founder (fictitious of course) wanted to name it Piccadilly after the famous London Piccadilly, but locals only knew of of Piccallili (which is a type of relish), so the name was changed.

  Crime was not rampant in Piccallili, Mississippi. One murder alone would have caused a sensation, but the second one convinced the denizens of the small rural town that a full blown serial killer was on the loose.  The stock market crash of 1929 had not adversely affected the already poor economy to any extent.  Six years later, the town was still almost exactly the same as it had been before, only now someone had a secret that necessitated the removal of two of its residents at the same location.

Excerpt from my Current Work in Progress

Murder by the Backdoor

 Crime was not rampant in Piccallili, Mississippi. One murder alone would have caused a sensation, but the second one convinced the denizens of the small rural town that a full blown serial killer was on the loose.  The stock market crash of 1929 had not adversely affected the already poor economy to any extent.  Six years later, the town was still almost exactly the same as it had been before, only now someone had a secret that necessitated the removal of two of its residents at the same location.

Monday, January 2, 2012

ROW80

Rounds of Words in 80 days. Blogs, Goals and Writing. What could be better?
  Click here to get the scoop on ROW80

My goals for 2012:
1. Take my blog seriously. I started my blog awhile back and randomly posted odds and ends that were of no interest of benefit to others. I want to add valuable content this year and network with other bloggers.

2. Continue research for my largest historical fiction piece. The last three books are coming via eBay. This is quite a large undertaking and I have already read 5 books associated with this historical mystery. My goal is to have characters and plots fleshed out and outlined in time for NaNoWriMo.

3. Continue with my 2012 Genre Project. This involves reading books from 23 different genres and posting reviews. I will also be giving away some of the books I review. 

4. Continue my WIPs. I have 4 notebooks going with ideas I have had for many years: a Civil War piece based upon one of my ancestors, a 1930's dramatic piece, a southern style cozy mystery and a historical fiction romance set in 1880's Boston. 

5. Go back to the gym, pronto.  As in today! My roller derby team has been on holiday hiatus and I am sorely afraid I have gained weight and become quite lethargic! I will never get my skating speed up to par before the season starts if I don't go to the gym.

6. Continue to study the writing craft by participating in at least 3 workshops this year and reading at least 6 craft related books. Those will not be counted in my genre project. 


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year Book Giveaway!

Happy New Year! I celebrated by arranging my home office and reading a book from my 2012 Genre Project. I actually read both novels by Julia Quinn but finished the first one well before midnight. I must say the second book was by far my favorite of the two. Today's review will discuss engaging readers.
  Julia Quinn skillfully evoked a full range of emotion in "The Viscount Who Loved Me". I truly hate to reveal any part of a plot for I  like to introduce books without any influence on the readers own experience. A highly emotional person like myself, may even tear up at some of the sentiment. I do admit to having a an adverseness to sad events, books and movies. This book evoked laughter, sweet sentiment, concern and even annoyance at times for the characters, and she expertly portrayed the wonderful character of Newton the dog. Though it is in the romance genre, I believe anyone wishing to capture emotions such as this in their own work would do well to  take this book as an example of study of characters. 
   The year is 1814 and Viscount Anthony Bridgerton has decided to finally select a wife from this season's selection of debutantes. Miss Edwina Sheffield seems to be most beautiful and charming of the lot. She trusts the intuition of her older sister Kate and that sister seems to be able to spot a rouge suitor quite easily. In protecting her sister's interests Kate seems to set off a chain of events that reveal the emotions and secrets of many of the characters.  Even the dog has his own character traits to be revealed.
 I am giving away this copy to a lucky reader who posts comments below. I will ship free within the United States. A random user will be chosen on January 31st. Be sure to check back for other giveaway books across genres throughout this project. 

Recent Comments

Previous Posts

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...