THE NEW GONZO THE CURIOUS CAT IS FINALLY HERE!

GONZO THE CURIOUS CAT IS NOW AVAILABLE! 

Please Share/Spread the word. J Thank you for all your support.

Inspired by my brother-in-law who survived many misadventures and lived to tell the tale. 

Illustrated by the amazing MJ Daley-Prado.

Paperback now available HERE

Kindle now available HERE


Gonzo is a curious cat who lives on Farmer Louie's farm.

As he learns the many lessons of life by his misadventures, he is often reminded of Farmer Louie's motto, "Safety First."

Farmer Louie always knew that Gonzo's curiosity and adventurous personality would one day get him into trouble.

But when Gonzo finds himself lost in an unfamiliar place, he discovers the true meaning of why it is important to be extra careful and less curious.

Will Gonzo find the special gift he is searching for while lost?

Come join the fun and meet all the playful barnyard friends, Gonzo the Curious Cat, and Farmer Louie. 

Learn what friendship and safety can bring.

BOOK TRAILER:

Gonzo the Curious Cat

Interview with Lucienne Diver

A BIG welcome to literary agent and author, Lucienne Diver!

It is such an honor to have you here today. Let's get started, there's so much we want to know about you.



Revamped is a quirky and engaging read! Where did the story idea come from?
Thanks so much! Actually, originally Gina’s second story was going to go in a completely different direction. Then, once I got the plot on track, I decided that every third chapter was going to be from Bobby’s point of view. (Gina was actually going to give him some facetime…now that’s love!) But both turned out to be false starts.

One of my authors once said that she writes twice as much on each novel as is ever published, and I think that’s true for me as well. I throw out as much as I keep…sometimes more. Just like life, fiction doesn’t come with a road map. Oh, okay, some writers use these funky things called outlines, but I can’t seem to work like that. My stories are very character-driven, and characters, like people, are unpredictable. I always have a general idea where I’m going, but if I find that any specifics more than three or four chapters ahead are irrelevant by the time I get there.

Any obstacles during the writing process?

Noise! Coming from New York City, where the walls are fairly thick to tune out the neighbors, I was totally unprepared for what I swear are paper thin walls in Florida. I love my son and my puppy, but neither are exactly quiet, and it often isn’t cool enough here for me to go write on the dock, which is one of my favorite spots to sit.

The need to beat my household and my inner editor/critic awake are what prompt me to rise between 5:30 and 6 a.m. (depending on how late I was up the night before) to write.


What aspect of writing has been the most difficult for you?

Endings. I have a very bad habit of racing to the finish line once it’s in sight. Because of that, my endings generally suck the first time through and take several revisions or complete rewrites before they’re ready for prime time.


What is the first thing you like to do when planning a new project?

If it’s part of an on-going series, I usually have two or three completely divergent ideas about what I want to do. I sort of let both percolate and research in the various directions until one solidifies in my head and says, “This is it!”


How long did it take you to write Revamped?

Six months all told.


Any bites yet on movie rights?

I wish! There’s so much vampire material out there already that Hollywood’s pretty much said, “Enough!” It would be wonderful, though, if someone out there would fall for my characters the way I have. I mean, what would be cooler than a fanged Cher (Clueless) or Elle Woods (Legally Blond)?

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Don’t give up your dreams! I started writing when I was eleven. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I started selling. Some people are clearly quicker on the uptake, but the point is that writing, like any art, takes talent but then also refinement. Men and women aren’t born knowing how to work metal or fire glass or any other old thing. They might be self-taught or instructed, but either way there will be failed efforts, learning experiences, marked improvements and lots and lots of practice before success.


Any advice for writers seeking representation?

I won’t sugar-coat it, there’s a lot of competition out there. The days, if they ever existed, when agents or editors had time to nurture diamonds in the rough are long gone, which is why I always emphasize honing your craft. Once you’ve done that, it’s a good idea to do your research to find the right, reputable agents for your work. Whatever you write, there will be a writers organization that can help you, like:

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)

The Mystery Writers of America (MWA)

Romance Writers of America (RWA)

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

And many others. These groups will likely have a list of agents they’ve vetted, who’ve made legitimate sales within the fields. Two other great reference sites are Preditors & Editors and SFWA’s Writer Beware site. Both give alerts and information for what to watch out for. For who’s selling what to whom or for interviews with publishing professionals, there are Publishers Marketplace (full subscription will cost) and Media Bistro (which won’t). The latter is comprised of many blogs; signing up will get you a daily summary of links and headlines.


How do you balance the time between agenting and writing?


I spent a lot of time on seesaws as a child, practicing for later life. Oh, seriously? Writing is a compulsion and agenting is a calling. I couldn’t give up either one. To stay sane, I only wear one hat at a time (see Author hat here). I write in the mornings before I’ve offered my agent-self enough caffeine to make an appearance. Then I have an agent who is not me to handle my work during business hours and to keep submissions et al at enough of a remove that I won’t obsess and can focus on my clients’ careers.

Where can we learn more about you?

Thanks for asking! Here’s my link soup:

To sign up for my newsletter: http://www.luciennediver.com/newsletter.html

Author blog: http://varkat.livejournal.com/

Character blog: http://ginasgems.livejournal.com/

Website: http://www.luciennediver.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LucienneDiver

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucienne.diver

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kitdaniels/

Whew! I’m tired just looking at all these links. Wouldn’t swear I’m interesting enough to maintain them all!

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule. You rock!! And so does Gina! Any film agents out there reading this? Pleeeease, Gina would make for an awesome movie star!! She really would.

My pleasure. Thanks for having me here and for rocking so hard yourself!

The power of Pitch

Since the Online Muse Conference is coming up, I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on pitching. If you haven't already enrolled for the conference click HERE for more info.

It's an awesome conference put together by the fabulous Lea Schizas. You don't want to miss it!! I can't wait!

Okay, so why must the word PITCH send shivers down our spine? One word.

Rejection.

One ugly, simple word.

So how do you vanish that nervous pang from your gut?

The more you know, the more you'll feel comfortable at pitching. And of course the more you prepare yourself, the more confident you're going to become.

I am not going to lie to you. Those butterflies will still be there. But there's nothing to fear as long as you know you tried your best.

Below are some links to help guide you through pitching. I know, I know, my cps call me the Queen of Links. What can I say? There's a lot of great info out there. I have to share what I find useful. :)

Literary agent, Rachelle Gardner reveals Secrets of a Great pitch HERE

Tips on coming up with a one-sentence hook can be found HERE

As always Camy Tang shares invaluable information on how to get the job done.

Literary agent, Nathan Bransford also shares some awesome tips on one-sentence hooks HERE

Attending a conference soon?

Check out Chuck Sambuchino's blog. Excellent tips on how to pitch at a conference.

Happy pitching and good luck!

Remember, take a deep breath in and give 'em all you got.

Which Tag to Use

Photo by Martha Ramirez

I haven't forgotten about you guys--not at all! I've just been buried in revisions and a long list of other things. Story of a writer's life:)

Charli Mac...this one's for you:)

Instead of using dialogue tags, how about showing readers what is happening instead?

Let's try to replace some dialogue tags with action tags. 

For instance rather than telling the reader "she barked" how about using a visual instead? 

Aka action tag. i.e Her nostrils flared and her eyebrows drew together. OR she threw the glass at the door.

Show some character. 

And please, PLEASE try to avoid using adverbs in dialogue tags. Often times you will just be repeating exactly what you showed in between the quotes.

Again instead of saying "angrily" how about showing what that person looked like. One of my absolute fave sites that I use EVERY day is THE BOOKSHELF MUSE. Angela does a superb job at listing endless ways of how to show readers what emotion and visuals can do.

Also, here is an excellent post on How to Avoid Creative Dialogue Tag Syndrome

Another awesome post I recommend reading is at Writing world:

The Use and Abuse of Dialogue Tags

And last, but not least HERE is a AWESOME site on everything about writing. Hundreds of useful articles sure to help every writer through their journey.

(Shout out to my wonderful cp, Mika Temple for urging me to share the link with you on my blog.)

Usually, when writing dialogue tags, the best and easiest words to use is "said." It may sound boring, but they say eyes skim these words allowing readers to flow with the story and not stalling.

How about you, any tips that has helped you with writing tags?

Happy writing everyone!!

Interview with bestselling author Jessica Brody!

WELCOME
Jessica Brody!!

Thanks so much for allowing me to interview you, Jessica! Let's get started...

The Karma Club is a funny and engaging read! I literally couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Where did the story idea come from?

This was definitely one of those ideas that just “came” to me. A friend of mine had told me some horrendous story about how a boy dumped her (I don’t even remember the story, I just remember it was infuriating!) and the entire time she was talking, I kept thinking, “Someone needs to do that right back to him. He can’t just get away with that. He needs a taste of Karma!” And then boom, the idea came to me. A secret society of girls who help each other out, dosing out Karma to those who deserve it when the universe is slow to do it on its own. And thus THE KARMA CLUB was born. Of course, as soon as the idea came to me, I also knew that my characters would never be able to get away with it. Karma is a tricky thing. And you definitely don’t want to meddle with the universe!

Is The Karma Club part of a series? (Please say yes!)

LOL. Not as of yet. But I wouldn’t rule it out. I do have an idea on how to turn it into a series but we’ll have to wait and see how the first book does. Plus, I have so many other cool ideas I want to write too so I’ll have to prioritize!


Any obstacles during the writing process?

Aren’t there always!? For this particular book I remember how challenging it was to actually come up with good revenge schemes for the girls. When I first started writing, I thought that’d be the best (and most fun!) part, but it was actually the hardest. Let’s just say the revenge schemes changed a lot throughout the course of writing this book.


What aspect of writing has been the most difficult for you?

Act 2! Or the dreaded “middle.” Act 1 is my favorite. It’s the set-up. Everything is fresh, the character is new and fun and novel. You get to lay the groundwork for the story, build suspense, layer in complex plot points that will be resolved later. And then comes the Act 2. The heart of the story. Also known as “my nemesis.” The character is now totally grating my nerves, everything I set up in Act 1 absolutely sucks, I have no idea why I’m even a writer to begin with, I have the vocabulary of a five year old, all the “complex plot points” I thought I was setting up now actually have to be dealt with (yikes!) and I become nearly impossible to live with (my husband will second that.) And yet, somehow, incredibly, magically (as if little elves snuck in my house in the middle of the night and fixed everything that was wrong with my story), I finally arrive at act 3, the conclusion and then I’m like, “That wasn’t so bad. I don’t know why I was so freaked out!”

And then I start the next book and the cycle begins all over again!

What is the first thing you like to do when planning a new project?

I love coming up with opening sentences for my books. It’s my favorite thing to do with a new concept. Sitting down and brainstorming what the absolute PERFECT opening line for this book would be. I think opening lines in books are so important and I always appreciate a good one when I read it. I like to try and tie mine into the theme or title of the book somehow. For example, in The Karma Club the opening line is, “I can tell you right now, it’s all Karma’s fault.” I like how it kind of sets the tone for the book right off the bat.


You mentioned for every book you start, you use Blake's book Save the Cat. (BTW this is an awesome book, LOVE it! One of my faves.) Did you find it pretty easy/difficult to structure The Karma Club?

Isn’t STC the best??? Structuring books is always easy for me. Sticking to that structure is the hard part. And Karma Club was no exception!


How long did it take you to write The Karma Club?

The Karma Club, as with all of my YA novels, was pretty quick for me. I think I wrote the first draft in about three and a half months. My agent had a few edits before we submitted and then once we sold it I spent about 2-3 weeks revising per my editor’s suggestions and that was that! It always feels so much longer when you’re writing it, though, doesn’t it?

Rejection is usually a big part of a writer's journey. Did you face several rejections before selling your first book?

ABSOLUTELY! About four years’ worth! And technically I didn’t even sell my “first” book, I sold my second one! My first book, which shall remain nameless, was like my trial run. I started writing it about seven years ago and tried to sell it for two years and it never sold. Although I was fortunate enough to get tons of constructive criticism and feedback from my rejection letters. And most of them said, “too much voice, not enough story” so when I got an idea for another book, The Fidelity Files, I made sure there was TONS of story packed in there to avoid getting the same letters.

I wish the story ended there, but unfortunately, my life has never been that easy. I spent two more years writing and rewriting that book, trying to incorporate critiques and feedback from all the new rejection letters I was racking up, until I finally found an agent who wanted to sign me. Once I got the manuscript in the right place, my agent sold it pretty quickly. But it definitely didn’t happen overnight!


Your book trailer is so awesome! Rumor has it you were in the movie industry. Could you share a little bit about your background?

Thanks so much! I’m so glad you liked it! I was in the movie industry. I worked for MGM Studios for three years but I was on the business side of it. I was more of a numbers gal. I ran analyses and complicated spreadsheets to determine which movies the studio should acquire and how much they should pay for them. It was a really cool job that I enjoyed tremendously but my heart was always in writing so I left to pursue that. I still use my spreadsheet skills from time to time. For instance, I outline all my novels in Excel and use it to compute my daily word count quotas! Most writers think I’m crazy!

It's a given that The Karma Club will be a movie one day. It has to be! Any bites yet?

I’d love to see it as a film! We’ve had a few bites, some more promising than others. My agent is handling all that as we speak! Fingers crossed!


Any advice for aspiring writers?

Regardless if you’re a bestselling author with twenty books under your belt or you’re just starting out, writing is a craft that needs to be constantly honed. Try to write every day. Even if the stuff that’s coming out reads like a third grade book report. Sometimes you have to get the crap out in order to get to the good stuff. And sometimes, writing just to write is the only way to get a book done. Even if it means having to go back later and delete it all!
Where can we learn more about you?


Everything you want to know (and maybe even some things you don’t) can be found on my website: www.jessicabrody.com


I appreciate you giving us the opportunity to get to know you better!! Thanks so much, Jessica for taking time out of your busy schedule. You rock!! And so does The Karma Club!

Thank YOU! I’m so glad you liked the book! And thanks for the fun interview!

More Writing Tips

Photo by Martha Ramirez

What can I say, Camy Tang has some great info. That is why you may see lots of links on my blog directing you to her site. On this post she shares a great step by step reminder on how to set up your manuscript.

Visit her site HERE


Rachelle Gardner writes an excellent post on how to title your book.

Learn more about it HERE

Personal dos and don'ts

Ten Rules For Writing Fiction

What's a voice journal? How can you create one?
James Scott Bell teaches you 7 awesome Responses to The writer’s toolkit: A voice journal for character development.

HAPPY WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!!

POV

Photo by Karol Pomplin

What is POV?
Some see it as a work of art.

For others it may mean Privately Owned Vehicle, or Power of Veto. But for us writers it means one thing and one thing only: Point of View.

So what is it exactly? What are the rules? Which POV should you use?

Below I have listed some links that help explain and remind us writers what POV is all about.

Deep POV is hot. And why wouldn't it be?
It makes for a fascinating and emotional ride. Deep POV allows readers to get under the character's skin.

Here is some info on Deep POV:

Mastering Deep POV

Strong Emotive Writing

How to use Deep POV effectively
How do authors make their characters come alive using Deep POV?
Find out HERE
Camy Tang shows you tips that pull the reader deeper into the character’s point of view HERE
Making POV work for you
Limited Third Person/Deep POVNot sure what POV you want to write in?
Maybe this can help.
Gail Gaymer shows us how to select the right POV HERE

Writer's Corner

Photo by Geni White

"The river may run wide, but it can always be crossed."
~African Proverb

Need advice on how to write a novel? You can find a video HERE from a novelist.


Need some tips to help bring your settings to life?
Find some answers HERE

How about some advice from Best-Selling Authors

Or maybe you need some writing tips. 20 Writing Tips can be found HERE

And finally learning about Author Platform and Debut of Your Book

How to Write Crackling fiction/Publishing success

Want to write crackling fiction?

Bestselling suspense novelist Steven James, author of The Pawn, The Rook, and The Knight, tells Forensics & Faith his secret.

Click HERE for The Ceiling Fan Principle.

Also visit below for a great article on publishing:

Publishing Success In Four Steps

by Mary DeMuth

Free download for writers/The Art of War For Writers

It's here! James Scott Bell's new book for writers.
His first books for writers: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing are at the top of my fav list.

Talk about a page turner--and it's a book about writing!

Anyhow, come by and visit HERE to download a free sample of the book.

How sweet is that!

You'll be thanking me later:)
ENJOY!!!!!

An Interview with ALYSON NOEL!

Interview with Alyson Noel!

I am proud to present my first guest, Alyson Noel. Her upcoming release SHADOWLAND will hit stores on Tuesday, November 17th! Be sure to pick up a copy. If you haven't already started to read The Immortal series, you're missing out!

Martha: Welcome, Alyson! Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. It is an honor to have you as my first guest. Let's start with the first question.

What made you start writing books?

Alyson: The moment I finished reading Judy Blume’s ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET back in sixth grade, I knew I wanted to be a writer too. I’d always been an avid reader, but Judy Blume’s books were the first I’d read that addressed the kind of issues I could relate to, and I knew someday I wanted to write like that too.
So I started writing really dreadful poetry in junior high, and short stories in high school, but mostly I just talked about writing until the tragic events of 9/11 when I was working as a flight attendant in New York City and thought a career change might be in order! That’s when I dusted off a short story I’d written long ago, and turned it into what ultimately became my debut novel, FAKING 19.

Martha: Please tell us about your latest book SHADOWLAND.

Alyson: At the start of SHADOWLAND Damen and Ever travel to Summerland in search of an antidote to reverse a powerful poison that turns their touch lethal. But instead of the cure they seek, they find something far more sinister: the truth about their existence and the fate lying in wait of an immortal’s soul.

As Damen fights to save them from the Shadowland, Ever turns to magick, hoping to break Damen’s curse. Along the way she encounters the mysterious Jude Knight, and finds herself drawn to him in a way that will test her love for Damen like never before . . .

Martha: Do you believe in crossing over?
Alyson: I do believe that some sort of energy survives long after the body is gone, yes.

Martha: Would you mind sharing your experience when your first book was accepted?

Alyson: Well, my route to publishing wasn’t the usual one, and the truth is, in the beginning I was so incredibly green and naïve I didn’t query any agents, I just went straight to the publishers and received a slew of rejection letters in return. Though the good news was that most of them said they’d love to see it again if I was willing to revise. So I set out to do just that, enrolling in an online writing class to try to figure out what I was doing wrong, and it was through a fellow student in that class that I met my first agent, who told me to read STORY by Robert Mckee to get a handle on some of my structure problems, and then revise my manuscript accordingly. So I took the next three weeks to do just that, then I sent it back to him, he signed me, and a few months after it went out on submission I was offered a two-book deal with St. Martin’s Press, and I’ve been writing for them ever since!

Martha: Where do you get the inspiration from for your books?

Alyson: I steal from my own life all of the time. Like Alex, the protagonist in my debut novel, FAKING 19, I was pretty lost my senior year of high school too. Like Rio in ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, I know what it’s like to be the new girl in school and have all the other girls instantly hate you. Like Hailey in FLY ME TO THE MOON, I was also a NYC based flight attendant. Like Colby in CRUEL SUMMER, I lived on a Greek island for several years. And like Ever in THE IMMORTALS series, I know what it’s like to lose the people you love and to question the meaning of everything.

Martha: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Alyson: This is a really tough business, if I’d had any idea what I was getting into I may not have tried! That said, writers write, it’s what we do, and in the end, perseverance is key. Rejections are a given, the one thing you can count on. And even after you’re published they still come in from Hollywood, foreign publishers, reviewers etc, so it’s important to learn early on to not take them personal and to just keep on keeping on—it’s the only way. And never forget it only takes one “Yes!” to get you where you want to go!

Martha: Where can readers find out more about you and your writing?

Alyson: They can find me on my websites:

http://www.alysonnoel.com/
http://www.immortalsseries.com/

My blogs:
http://www.alysonnoel.com/blog.html
http://teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com/
http://www.livingyourfive.com/

My Myspace:http://www.myspace.com/alysonnoel

My Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/ImmortalsSeries

Martha: Anything else you'd like to add?

Alyson: Thanks for the interview!!!

Synopsis Writing

Joe Moore shares what a synopsis is and how to get one done.
An excellent article if you want to learn how to write a synopsis.

Check out his article I'd Rather have a Root Canal HERE.

Author-Speak Sheet

Writing has its own language too. Janet Dean calls it author speak.

Click HERE to view her Author-Speak Sheet.
Better yet print it out and keep it handy:)

What It Takes to Become a Master Writer

Wanna know what it takes to master writing?
Check out this great article by Mary DeMuth:

What It Takes to Become a Master Writer

Author/Speaker Mary DeMuth also has an awesome blog. Check it out:
So You wanna Be Published


Need some help writing a synopsis? Chuck Sambuchino has top tips on how to.
Be sure to surf his blog. Lots of great info!
Click below to learn more:
The Essential Parts of a Novel Synopsis

Google Alerts

An interesting article on how an agent emails an author because apparently her google alerts told her this particular person added her name to the internet.

Click HERE to check out article.

It's Award Time!

I want to thank Jan Verhoeff for the Kreative Blogger Award.

There are some rules attached to this.

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

I have selected:

Writing Fiction Right from novelist Gail Gaymer Martin -If you want to write quality fiction,this blog will provide you with a lot of helpful information. Publishers are looking for dynamic plots, believable characters, realistic dialogue, deep emotion and stories that hook readers. You will find this and much more at Gail Gaymer's Writing Fiction Right Blog.

Guide to Literary Agents-An EDITOR'S BLOG .When & How To Find an Agent To Represent Your Work. Extraordinary information on new agents, winning queries, and stories on "how I got my agent." All this and much more.

Author Camy Tang's Story Sensei-Helpful tips to help writers doctor their own manuscripts. Critique services as well. A long list of interesting articles that can help aide you through your writing career along with great writing techniques.


Literary Agent Nathan Bransford's blog

An essential list of publishing topics and guidance from a reputable agent. You'll be sure to find an answer to your questions here. No surprise it has received plenty of awards.

Literary agent Chip Mac Gregor's blog -Publishing tips, insights, and wisdom from a seasoned pro in the book business. Another great blog with endless information on the publishing industry.

The kill zone -Insider perspectives from today's hottest thriller and mystery writers. The musings of 7 top thriller and mystery authors covering topics that inspire, anger, amuse, and entertain us. Awesome insights and tips. Everyday a Kill Zone author posts.

Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog Rants & RamblingsOn a Life as a Literary Agent. Every aspiring writer should follow this blog. Priceless information on publishing, agents, and much much more. It's not a surprise it received an award from Writer's Digest as 101 Best Websites For Writers.

These are my absolute favorite blogs. Great ones to follow. Especially if you are an aspiring writer. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I found them to all be invaluable. Awesome blogs from AWESOME people!


7 Things about Me:

1) I've done hair for over fifteen years.

2) Writing is a passion I could NEVER give up.

3) I have several "things to do" on my bucket list, including: learning how to paint, DJ, decorating cakes, and arranging flowers.

4) I also have a strong passion for drawing.

5) I love to create...it doesn't matter what it is, if I can create it I'm happy!

6) I carry a bottle of chamomile/lavender in my purse. It helps calm the spirit.

7)Last, but not least, I once experienced what one of my characters was experiencing. I had just finished writing a scene about my heroine who was gasping for air. Moments later I choked, and I was gasping for air, wheezing. I guess God wanted me to know what it was really like so I could bring the scene to life.

That’s all there is to it. Now let’s get out there and nominate seven other fantastic bloggers!

I've been nominated for the Kreative Blogger Award!

Photo by Karol Pomplin

Thank you Jan Verhoeff for nominating me!

Her selection included the following:

Pages of Parenthood - Stellar *NEW* blogger with coming style and insight to the world of single parenting.

Back Roads of Yesterday - A stroll down memory lane, today. This walk takes you back and sends you a new concept of life.

Trails of Nature - Along the trails life takes you, philosophical or real trails, this author brings you insight and depth of concept.

Muse’s Block - Cartoons and comic look at life through the muse of Sina’i. Interesting outlook and ideas to share from an author.

Martz Bookz - A blog for authors, tells all - the details of how to become and author and kicks along the way. Check Mart out for awesome booking information.

Country Treasures - Whether you’re looking for a coffee stained doll, beads, or treasures you might find at a country yard sale, you’ll find your treasures at this site.

The Writing Jungle - Lea Schizas sets off a string of indigenous commentary by a whole slew of writers who participate in blogging at the Writing Jungle.

Book Publishing Glossary

Here is a great post at agent Nathan Bransford's blog.

For all of you who wonder what exactly publishing lingo means...wonder no more.

Click here for index: Book Publishing Glossary

Blogs For Writers

Here are a list of a few writer/agent blogs I currently am following. All have great info for writers who are thirsty to learn.

Enjoy!

Agent Chip MacGregor's blog
Publishing tips, insights, and wisdom from a seasoned pro in the book business

Writing Fiction Right from novelist Gail Gaymer Martin

Author Camy Tang's Story Sensei
Tips to help writers doctor their own manuscripts
Critique services as well

The Kill Zone
Insider perspectives from today's hottest thriller and mystery writers

Guide to Literary Agents EDITOR'S BLOG
When & How To Find an Agent To Represent Your Work


Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog
Rants & Ramblings
On a Life as a Literary Agent

Literary Agent Nathan Bransford's blog

Randy Ingermanson's Advanced Fiction Writing

Author Resources By Cindy Bauer
Find the best tips here to advance your writing career!

Been working on a paranormal romance project. Almost half into it. Very excited! Been wanting to work on one for quite some time now. Also been doing a lot of reading and writing along with waiting on responses from agents/editors on my debut YA fiction.

If you haven't already looked me up, I'm on Facebook:) Love social networking.
Look for the logo on top of my page. I realize there are a ton of Martha Ramirez's!