Guest Post at Writers on the Move

Hi All,

Just a quick note to tell you that I have a guest post today on Writer on the Move.  I will be talking about the story behind my latest picture book, My Brother the Frog. If you get a chance, please stop by http://www.writersonthemove.com/ and say hello.

Thank you,

Kevin

SlushPile Warrior - Erin Liles

Today, I am bringing back an old feature on my blog called SlushPile Warriors. SlushPile Warriors focuses on the trials and tribulations of pursuing publication, and what is learned along the way.

I am delighted to be hosting SlushPile Warrior, Erin Liles, who will be telling us about her own travels on the road to publication.

Erin, please tell us a little a little about yourself:

I grew up in California but moved to Texas when I was in my twenties. After college I went to work for a literacy program where I got to share my love for reading with kids and their parents for almost 10 years. But when my husband decided to go back to work after staying home with our two children for 4 years, I got to do what I always wanted to do, stay home with my kiddos and write!


How many submissions do you have out there now?

About 10


How do you research where to send your manuscripts?

I read Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, but I also do a lot of internet research. I try to stay very connected to other children’s writers through message boards and writer’s groups. Whenever I hear of a publisher, I go to their website and look at their catalogs. If any seem to be similar topics or styles to one of my manuscripts, I will look up the book on Amazon.com and use the preview option to get a better feel for the book.

But nothing beats reading books! No picture book passes through my hands without my checking who published it. My kids are so used to this, that if I have forgotten to look, they will say, “Who published this book mommy?”


What was your biggest submission goof?  What did you learn from it?

My biggest goof was that I started submitting before I was truly ready. I tend to be pretty impatient this way. But I have since learned to let a manuscript “sit” for at least a month (usually longer), and have it go through at least three critiques before I’m allowed to even think it’s ready.


Why do you want to be a writer?

I have always loved to write. I remember being around six years old and painstakingly pecking out a story on my parent’s old typewriter. To this day, my parents love to share the stories I wrote as a kid. I was one of those super shy, but imaginative kids, who always had her head buried in a book, so writing stories just seemed like a natural extension to reading.


What is your favorite style of writing? Why?


Although I blog and occasionally write articles, I love writing picture books. I love the challenge of telling a clear and concise story in 700 words or less. I guess it is the style that just feels the most “right” for me.


What is the most frustrating thing about being a writer?

Rejections! Aside from those, the most frustrating thing is trying to get a story so clear that it cannot be misunderstood in any way. I am often surprised when a story of mine goes through a critique and someone totally misunderstood, or saw something in it differently from what I intended.


What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Acceptances! Aside from those, finishing a story and having the feeling that what you wrote is good.


What is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing?

That while writing is a solitary activity, you really can’t do it alone. You need as much feedback as possible on your work. You also need emotional and technical support from other writers.


Have you been published? If so where?

Yes. I’ve had two stories published at Stories for Children Magazine and a third to be published in June. I have also had a story published at Bumples. And I’ve had a number of parenting articles published in Austin Family Magazine and Mothering online.


How can people find out more about you?

I blog (about whatever I happen to be thinking about at the time) at: http://eliles-coloringoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/


Is there anything else that you would like to share?

I have come to learn that nothing in writing comes quickly or easily. We have to work at it, love it as an art form, and be prepared to wait endlessly for publication. Don’t give up!



Thanks for stopping by Erin and for giving us a chance to get to know you.  Congratulations on your publishing successes!  I'm sure many more will follow.


If any other SlushPile Warriors are interested in being featured, please email me HERE and I’ll send you some interview questions.

Out of the Slush and Into Some Slush Piles

It’s been a fairly annoying winter here in the New York City area. It snowed twice this week, dumping more snow on top of the previous storm’s deposits and it’s only warmed up enough so that the whole mess can refreeze into ice. The snowman in front of my house has transformed into a vague, pyramid-shaped thing and has since shed its eyes, nose, scarf and hat that were once part of a snowman kit. I rescued all those pieces last night lest they become buried by today’s snowfall and not be seen again until the spring.

I don’t really mind the snow, as long as I don’t have to go out in it, that is. I think it pretties up the place. I’m quite content to stand there with a cup of coffee and watch it come down. However, I rarely have that luxury, especially if it snows on a weekday.

The first snowflake to hit usually causes my daughter’s school to close or at least have a two hour delay, causing us to scramble to find alternate child care arrangements. The second snowflake usually causes both the roads and mass transit to become hopelessly snarled, making the commute to and from my day job, an adventure in perseverance.

However, there are advantages to all this nasty weather. It keeps me indoors and close to my computer. This is a good thing right now because my next book, What Is That Thing?, is due to be released by the end of this month. I still have plenty of prep work to do for it. My virtual book tour group is starting up again in February and I want to start the tour with this book. I’m also trying to revise the presentations for my other books to keep the material fresh. It’s no small feat, but I’m happy with the progress I am making.

But I am not happy with one realization that I made this morning. While going through some files for my books, I opened up the file I use for submissions. I do not have one single submission out there, not one. I’ve always tried to have multiple submissions making the rounds out there, but somehow I let everything slip. I’m a little disappointed in myself. It’s time wasted and time is a very precious commodity. One lesson I learned early on in my career, is that I needed to just do my research and get it out there. No editor is going to come to me.

I do plan to correct this mistake during the weekend. I’m going to write my cover letters and have at least three submissions ready to go for next week. I just better get to the post office by Tuesday though. That’s when they are predicting the next snowstorm.

Introducing Shelby Patrick

In a brief departure from the children’s book genre, today I am pleased to be hosting Shelby Patrick who will be talking about her new book When Angels Sing.

Shelby, for starters, please tell us a little about yourself.


I’m a native of southeastern Michigan and I write fantasy, science fiction, and horror/thrillers. My first published fiction book is a short story collection entitled The Fear Within, which can be purchased via amazon.com or through my website at http://www.shelbypatrick.com/ (signed copies available). I have also has written two creative writing exercise books – Dark Recesses of the Mind and Forbidden Knowledge. Both non-fiction books can be purchased through amazon.com, lulu.com (as a download or print), or at my website. My first novel was just released in November 2010. It’s a thriller entitled When Angels Sing and can be purchased at http://www.4ublaze.com/ .


What is your writing process? When do you write? Any rituals?


I prefer writing under the cover of night. For some reason, my creative juices flow more freely when the sun sets. I find that I can concentrate on my scenes better if I listen to music – any kind from classical to rock and roll.


What is When Angels Sing about?


Blaze was the perfect man: sweet, charming, and 100% gentleman. There was only one catch. Jenna Michaels had never met him face to face. He was her Internet chat buddy. So when he invites her out to visit him, she jumps at the chance.
But he’s not anything like she expected, and even worse, he has no recollection of ever talking to her. She soon realizes she should have turned tail and ran home because her two weeks in Montana are about to be turned into a cat and mouse game as she is stalked through the streets of Stevensville by a psychotic killer.


What do you think is key to a compelling read? What makes a horror story “work?”


Every story should have good characterization, a strong plot, and well-written descriptions. But what sets the horror/thriller story apart from the rest is the element of suspense. It needs to keep the reader guessing and on the edge of their seats. It should also open with a strong beginning and close with a believable ending. Don’t disappoint the readers or they might not come back.


How would you describe your writing STYLE?


My style is a simple one. I don’t use long words and try to vary my sentence/paragraph lengths. I like to spend a lot of time in my character’s minds, so I do a lot of interior monologue. I don’t outline before I write a story. It comes to me as I write. I think of it as a movie I’m seeing for the first time. Even I don’t know how my stories will end until I’m ready to write the ending.


What are your future writing projects?


Behind the Masque, my second thriller novel, has just been sent to my editor. It should be ready sometime in 2011. I also have a fantasy (my favorite genre) novel in the wings and an erotic vampire tale. Right now, I’m working on a historical thriller set back in 1769 dealing with pirates on the high seas.



What do you do for fun when you’re not writing?

I like games, specifically video games and computer games. If I’m not writing, I can usually be found lost in the latest Role-Playing Game or First Person Shooter on my xbox, be up and about moving and shouting with my Wii, or concentrating on the next move in a computer game. I also spend time with my dog. She’s a Border Collie named Sheba.



Where can people go to learn more about your work?


My website is http://www.shelbypatrick.com/. I have a blog at http://www.writershideaway.blogspot.com/. You can join my mailing list for updates on me and my works or buy a signed copy of my books. I can also be reached at blackwidow@shelbypatrick.com .




Thanks for stopping by Shelby. Best of luck with your books.

Theme Writing Article Featuring: An Eyeball In My Garden

I was discussing the poetry collection I’m involved with, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems, with some other writers, and Debra Eckerling from Write On! suggested I write an article about making a holiday book. I wrote an article about Theme Writing since An Eyeball in My Garden is basically a Halloween themed book. You can see the end result here.

http://writeononline.com/2010/10/14/theme-writing/

In this article, I talk about the process of putting the project together and ways to stay on topic while still being completely original.

This is the first time I ever tried to write an article on the writing process. I guess after having four children's books and some poetry published, people assume that I must actually know something worthwhile about the writing process. Upon careful consideration, I've come to the conclusion that maybe they're right. ;-)

If you get a chance, go check it out and leave a comment (and be kind). :-)