LET THE PITCH WARS BEGIN

Let me take a moment to tell you how freakishly excited I am to be a Pitch War mentor this year. The manuscripts, the authors, the agents...just WOW!  Mentor bios and the list of participating agents are being posted today. The rules, the regulations, the how-to's of the submission -- all those goodies can be found on Brenda Drakes blog www.brenda-drake.com 

Now comes the hard part, trying to convince a pool of crazy talented writers that I'm the mentor you want.

Who the heck am I

I have a canned bio. It is pretty and formal and makes me look all official. It's on my website should you have ions of time to waste, but here is the real me. 

I live on Cape Cod, land of sun and perpetual traffic. I hate sand, I'm easily irritated by tourists, and I have no tolerance for supermarket parking lots. I am a mom with an insanely organized carpool schedule, a wife to a husband with mad grilling skills, and the proud owner of one rather undisciplined black lab named Orphie. Ohh...and I make the most amazing chocolate cookie dough brownies. And yes, I do send them out to my CP's.

I am a member of the SCBWI, the YA Scream Queens, the Cape Cod Children's Writers and the Horror Writers Association. I am represented by the amazing Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary. My YA contemporary, SECRETS SISTERS KEEP, is coming Winter of 2015 from FSG/ Macmillan and my YA Psychological Horror, CREED (co-authored), hits shelves Fall of 2014 from FLUX. My co-authored Sci-fi (we shall call it UNTITLED SHINY WIP) is coming Fall of 2015 from FLUX

You can find me here twitter, here facebook, and here Goodreads. 

What I would love to see

YA Contemporary  Think PAPER TOWNS or LIKE MANDARIN.  Give me a literary feel, beautiful prose, and characters that will stay with me for years to come. Don't tiptoe around difficult topics, dive in and tear it open. Life and emotions are messy. Own them and let me feel them as I read. Issues, edge, language, sex...not a problem.

YA Psychological Horror  There is nothing more frightening than the evil that lurks inside a chosen few. The sociopath who thinks he's sane. The delusional man who subscribes to his own truths. The tormented soul who embraces the darkness raging in his mind. No paranormal or half-dressed girl running away form a chain-saw wielding maniac for this horror fanatic. Bring me straight psychological horror with a heavy dose of "oh crap...that really could happen!"

YA Thriller  I am walking a fine line here between my taste in psychological horror and psychological thriller. Give me a fast-paced, character driven manuscript where the stakes are high and the voice is authentic, and I will fall in love every time. Give me tension and suspense and a cast of characters I neither hate nor trust.  Startle me, confuse me, let me second guess my own intuition. I want to dig for clues, get angry that I didn't see that twist coming, and curse myself for naively "believing" that seemingly honest character.

YA Historical Fiction  Think FEVER 1793 or REVOLUTION. Beautiful writing that captures the depth of the time period. Make me live, breathe, and long to have lived centuries ago when life was harder and the problems were equally as complex. 

YA Sci-fi  Keep it based in reality and set on this planet and I am game. Toss me into another galaxy with flying machines and mutating aliens and I'm lost every time.  Remember, I am a contemporary girl at heart :)

NA  Get prepared to roll your eyes because I am sure you have heard this a gazillion times.  Love it, adore it, can't get enough of it, just make sure is more plot than sex.  Language, edge, sex...none of it is a problem for me, just keep it in context.

That's me and my tastes in a nutshell.  But more importantly...

Here is what I can do for you

I love to edit. I have an unnatural attraction to line edits and have been know to track a CP down on email or messenger just to tell them what part of their manuscript I absolutely adore.

In a world where we are often told no, I think it is as important to point out what does work in a. By highlighting those scenes/ chapters/ beautifully written phrases, the writer knows what to expand on and what to give the reader more of.

I am a proud member of the BREE HIVE which means when I am not writing or attempting to corral three kids and a dog, I am reading manuscripts for Bree Ogden at D4EO Literary. I see a lot of amazing stuff, and I am continually in aw of your talent!

And lastly....yes brownies will be involved :)

I can't wait to see your manuscripts, and HAPPY WRITING! 

Secret Letter: S

THE PROPHECY, by Erin Albert

THE PROPHECY...What's it all about?

Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he’s no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction—for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

About the Author

Erin Albert is an author and fitness trainer.  Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word.  She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."  In her free time, Erin enjoys acting, running, kickboxing, and, of course, reading and writing. 

Where to find Erin

Twitter:  

Facebook 

Website

Goodreads

Preorder THE PROPHECY

OLIVIA TWISTED by Vivi Barnes

I rarely post book reviews, not because I don't enjoy reading,rather because, as an author, I understand how personal our stories are to us. And with so many amazing YA books out there, I don't want to favor one author, one book, over another.  That said, I going to make an exception...because this book is truly extraordinary.

Title: OLIVIA TWISTED
Author: Vivi Barnes
Genre: YA Sci-fi (with romantic elements)
Publisher: Entangled Teen

OLIVIA TWISTED is a contemporary remake of the Charles Dickens classic, OLIVER TWIST.  An orphan bounced from foster home to foster home, Olivia has done her best to put her often turbulent past behind her, successfully flying under the radar until her computer skills draw the interest of the mysterious and delicious Z. She appears hardened and walled off at times, but given her past and the tension between Olivia and her new foster mom, it's understandable and well played. She is an intelligent, strong heroine who makes horribly wrong and completely believable decisions for a girl in her situation.

Z...now him I loved.  Sure he is mysterious and hot with a inflated sense of self-importance, but that is part of what drew me to him.  In a genre filled with "white nights," It was nice to see a protagonist that didn't fit that mold. He's someone I constantly wavered between wanting to smack and kiss, and his unpredictable nature  kept me intrigued.

In the end, this isn't a story about Olivia finding her way in a world that has abandoned her, or Z twisting her for his own game. It's a love story about two young kids, both with a talent for technology, finding their own sense of peace and self-worth with each other.

Where to Purchase OLIVIA TWISTED by Vivi Barnes

Amazon

B&N

Goodreads

About the amazing Vivi Barnes:

Originally from East Texas, Vivi now lives in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, Florida with her very understanding husband, three kids, and a shockingly peaceful beagle. He Ya debut, OLIVIA TWISTED, released November 5, 2013 from Entangled Teen.


www.vivibarnes.com
www.oliviatwisted.com
www.facebook.com/vivibarnes.author

The Painful Art of Crafting Queries

My memories of crafting my first queries are unpleasant at best. Trying to decipher which plot points were necessary while infusing emotion and a sense of urgency into 250 short words often had me slamming my laptop closed and cursing writing altogether. Practice, the critiques of a few seasoned writers, and a large dose of self-confidence was what if finally took for me to craft one worthy of a request. That was over five years ago, and I still find myself cringing at the the thought of ever having to write one again. That said, in the spirit of giving back, I'm over at Brenda Drake's blog today doing query critiques. I don't pretend to be an expert, and God knows it took me months before I could even grasp the concept of a first-line hook, but hopefully what I've said has been helpful.

Men, Mistresses, and the Birth of Horror

Today I am over at YA Scream Queens talking about the Summer of 1816 and how one rainy evening around the fire spawned the cornerstones of modern day horror.  Come learn how this tangled web of men and mistresses rose to a challenge laid down by Lord Byron to create the world's finest horror novel.

YA SCREAM QUEENS

Last week, ten YA authors, all with a passion for horror, banded together to from the YA Scream Queens. If you haven't seen the blog, check it out.  Some dark, twisted, and insanely amazing talent there! Just  click on the pic, and it will take you there!

From Author, to Colleague, to Friend -- Meet Karen Rock

Very few authors manage to successfully toggle the worlds between YA and Adult Fiction.  Even

fewer manage to do it with a captivating voice that literally has me emailing them at 3am begging to know when the next book is coming out.  Lucky for me, Karen is used to my cryptic and often rambling emails, and she always responds with a grace and honesty that astounds me.  She has gone from author, to colleague, to friend in my book, and I couldn't be more excited to have her on my blog today. 

World Meet Karen!

Hi Trisha! It’s a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much for hosting me today. I’m a Young Adult and Adult contemporary romance author who lives in upstate New York with my husband, daughter, cat and two dogs. We are so far north that the running joke here is that stepping outside your back porch makes you an automatic Canadian citizen I love living in a rural setting since I enjoy hiking the Adirondack Mountains or on kayaking on Lake Champlain. However, I also take advantage of our proximity to Montreal because I love going to their museums, restaurants, the Biodome and Jazz festivals. I’m an avid and eclectic reader and love all genres, especially Young Adult and Adult romance, dystopian, contemporary, horror, paranormal, memoirs, and historical fiction. As such, attending Burlington, Vermont’s annual book festival feels like going to church. 

Where do you get your ideas?

Hah! Good question. I wish I had the answer since it seems as though things pop into my head at the most inconvenient times… such as waiting on line at the post office. You would think I’d have learned to carry a notebook but- nope- much too practical. Instead, I have to grab whatever is handy, a receipt, shipping slip, the back of coupon I’d been saving for weeks, and scribble down the idea before I lose it. I would venture, however, that some of these ideas come from my people-watching habit. I’ve always loved making up stories for strangers I observe while out and about. (Maybe that’s why the ideas come at such bad times… hmmm… it’s all making sense now!) Also, believe it or not, the news is a great source of inspiration, especially human interest stories. I ask myself ‘What if’ questions when I encounter people that fascinate me and give them dilemmas that seem impossible to get through.

Do you ever experience writer’s block? 

I generally don’t unless I have a migraine and then there is just no powering through it! My feeling is to write without worrying about whether it’s good or not then give yourself time to go back over it and make those decisions as you revise. If you do that, it’s hard to have writer’s block because the only bad choice you can make is to leave the page blank.

Do you work with an outline or just write? 

I used to just write, but working with a partner on my Young Adult books has taught me the value of outlining. There is a comfort in knowing where a story is headed and it speeds up the process. Some say that an outline restricts their sense of creative freedom, but I feel that it is a like a diving platform. I’ll jump off of it, know what moves I’ll execute once in the air, but if, at the last minute I want to add in an extra twist, so be it. Nothing is written in stone. At least, not anymore. Lol.

Is there any particular author or book you would bow down to?

My favorite authors are the ones who tell honest-feeling stories. I say ‘honest-feeling’ because even a genre like horror, which would seem to require the reader to suspend belief, actually works best for me when I believe one hundred percent that a girl who’s been picked on throughout high school gets her period, realizes her telekinetic powers, and burns down the prom after having her hopes of being a normal teen raised then tragically dashed. (Stephen King’s Carrie) This is an honest story and, if you ever get the chance to read his amazing book, On Writing, he’ll tell you that it’s based on his experiences while teaching school, observing girls like Carrie, and asking, ‘What if…” For that reason, Stephen King is one of my favorite writers, as is John Green, Annie Proulx, John Irving and Lauren Oliver to name a few.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? 

My advice is to tell the story you want to tell without worrying about whether it fits a trend. Your enthusiasm is your best selling point. It will come through in your writing and, regardless of whether or not it is what’s ‘selling’ it will win over readers. I’ve had lots of people write me and say, “I didn’t think I’d like contemporary romance until I read your book and now I can’t stop reading them.” (As in other author’s contemporary romance works J) Writing should bring you and the reader joy; the only way to guarantee that is to write what you love!

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

My current book is WISH ME TOMORROW and asks the question, ‘Would you love someone if forever wasn’t guaranteed?’ I was inspired by neighbors who fell in love and married when one had cancer. I wanted to write a story that would capture such pure, selfless love. WISH ME TOMORROW is about Christie Bates, a pediatric oncology grief counselor whose upbeat, optimistic approach to counseling hides wounds from her past. Because of them, she wants to help cancer patients but never lets herself become personally involved until she meets Eli Roberts, a single father recovering from osteosarcoma who is struggling to parent his troubled children. She’s drawn to this strong, brave man who’s lost all faith in his future. Falling for each other is risky, yet neither one can deny their growing feelings as she helps the children, and eventually herself and Eli, to heal. To purchase WISH ME TOMORROW, please visit: 
Harlequin, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes,

You can connect with Karen and learn more about her amazing books here:

Twitter: 

Facebook: 

Website: 
Goodreads:

NOW for the PRIZES!!!

GRAND PRIZE:

Signed copies:

• Karen Rock's WISH ME TOMMORROW
• Rbyn Carr's THE WANDERER
• JoJo Moyes' ME BEFORE YOU
• JoJo Moyes' THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND
• JK Rock's CAMP BOYFRIEND

Unsigned copies:

• Bella Andre's I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU
• Pamela Tracy's KATIE'S RESCUE
• Tara Randal's ORANGE BLOSSOM BRIDE
• Syndi Powell's THE RELUCTANT BACHELOR

Harlequin Tote Bag

RWA 2013 Water Bottle

RWA Water Bottle Holder

3 RUNNER UPS:

$10 Amazon Gift Card

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