Long Road to Ruin

As we enter the final days before Christmas (12 to be exact!) I offer you this game to take a break from all the madness. I found it at J. Lenni Dorner's blog. I had fun doing it and thought you all might too, tho I shortened it for those of us who have less time for games!

It's worth a few minutes and easy, I promise! If you like, post it on your blog to share and pass around. I haven't played a good game of tag in a while. This is how to play:

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
These Days by Foo Fighters

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Been Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Let's Get it Started by the Black Eye Peas

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Hammerhead by the Offspring

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Paralyzer by Finger Eleven

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Burn by Ellie Goulding

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Mysterious Ways by U2

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
The Walker by Fitz & the Tantrums

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Paradise by Cold Play

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Not Your Fault by AWOLNATION

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
No More Love by God Lives Underwater

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Fixer by Pearl Jam

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Problem by Arianna Grande

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Welcome to Paradise by Green Day

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Price Tag by Jessie J

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Long Road to Ruin by Foo Fighters

I had a few minutes and got a few laughs at the answers - and now I pass it on to anyone who has time and inclination. Make sure you let me know if you do it!

This is also my week to post at the REALLY REAL HOUSEWIVES - Reasons for loving the Season (Mon), Party picks (Wed), and What to do with the kids for two weeks (Fri)

And lastly, I'm excited to say I won 2nd place in a speculative fiction Christmas short story contest. My story was published at Geekdom House with a really cool picture. Here's the link if you'd like to be uplifted by A SUPER CHRISTMAS! Joy to you!

Seven Deadly Sins with Character

Welcome to the November Insecure Writers Support Group! Hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh

As long as I blog, I won't miss out on this wonderful event. And today, instead of griping which I very well could do, I'm going to encourage and give out some advice (not that I'm a big authority or anything!)

To fresh, new writers with a story to tell: Write on! Get around those blocks, take short breaks to refresh, and get that story out.

To the editing blues crew: Carry on! Find a good crit partner and then some. Get out of your head and start a new project, then come back and remember what a great story you have that deserves to be polished up. The new project will also be your motivation to finish editing.

To the querulous queriers: Press on! Quick! You have five seconds to tell me what you're book is about, GO! There's your blurb, now expand and tease only a little to write the query. Remember the query is the future back cover of your book - hook an agent/editor/publisher now, hook readers later.

To the modest marketers: Event on! Get out there and sell - yourself. Who's going to promote you better than you? NO ONE. Unless you pay them. And we have no money yet. So bust a move!

Lather. Rinse. Repeat!

Easier said than done, I know. And believe me, it takes years, many, many, too many, rejections, heartaches and backaches and wrist-aches... But it's all worth it!

Now for a couple of BLOG HOPS! I'm so glad Michelle and Tyrean tagged me. I haven't done a hop in a while. Yay!

First Michelle tagged me in the Literary Seven Deadly Sins! (love this pic!)

Here are the questions:

Greed – What is your most inexpensive book?

Besides books I've won, I can't think of any cheap paper books... I do like sales. I've also gotten some free and 99 cent kindle books...

Wrath – Who’s the author with whom you have a love/hate relationship with?

John Grisham - love most of his insanely good story-telling, but don't like that he can publish whatever he wants (a few shouldn't have been...)

Gluttony – What book have you devoured over and over again with no shame?

It takes me a while to read a book through, so reading them a second time? Doesn't usually happen. When I was younger, I read several books in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony at least twice.

Sloth – Which book have you neglected reading due to laziness?

I have a stack... I will say Gone Girl and I've let Cinder sit for too long, half-read as well...

Pride – What books do you talk about most in order to sound like an intellectual reader?

My pride will not let me announce my deception... ha ha ha!

Lust – What attributes do you find attractive in a male or female character?

Strength, humor, conviction, honesty, faults they work around, depth

Envy – What book would you like to receive most as a gift?

A hard copy of Effigy - really digging MJ's book!

Now, I must tag others to admit their SEVEN DEADLY SINS...

Elizabeth Seckman, Vikki Biram, Christine Rains, Loni Townsend, Beth Ellyn Sumner, Heather Gardner, C. Lee McKenzie (I know that everybody is super-busy, so if you decide not to play along, then that’s fine)

And Tyrean asked if I would do a Meet the Character, so yay! Here are her books. And she introduced us to Clara - a teen swordstress destined for greatness.

Now it's my turn to let you all get to know one of my characters...

What is the name of your character? Is s/he fictional/historical?

Jeremy Monroe, totally fictional

When and where is the story set?

Modern day South Florida

What should we know about your character?

He's been dating his girl, Jess for three years and just found out he has a terminal brain tumor.

What is your character's goal?

To have a lot of fun and take care of his loved ones before he dies.

What is screwing up  your character's life (main conflict in writerly speak?)

Before he dies, he takes a strange potion his girl got from a Shaman Priestess, hoping to extend his life, but he dies anyway and turns into a zombie! That's when the real fun starts.

What is the title?

The Comeback. It's a short story in CQ: CHRONOLOGY, an anthology by a slew of awesome Curiosity Quills authors. Comes out November 24!!

And now I am tagging CD Coffelt - but it's open to anyone who'd like to participate!

CD's books are:
Wilder Mage
Mage Revealed

Pop, pop and away!

Winners! Winners! Winners!

For the July Pop Travel Giveaway:

Milo James Fowler won $25 Amazon GC

Donna B. McNicol won a copy of Pop Travel

Brooke R. Busse won a replica QV bracelet

Congratulations!! The August raffle starts today!

The pictures from my book launch party are here. This is my favorite!

me and my sis!

And this is me and Sherry Ellis! So excited to meet a blog friend IRL!

Since I've been slacking, I'm also going to catch up on a couple of awards.

I love this Sisterhood Award! I got it from Carole Kilgore and Sheena Graham - Sweet Sistas!

Now I just pass it on to seven more blog sisters!

• Vikki - caring, giving sister
• Heather G. - fun loving, dedicated sister
• MJ - persistent, haiku sister
• Diane - knowledgeable, sharing sister
• Rena - smart, sci fi sister
• Elizabeth S. - sweet, romantic sister
• Gina Gao - little sister who could use a boost

Pass it on, if you like! I would have named many more, but you don't have all day! (Sorry, guys, I'm sure a brotherly award will turn up soon!)

Plus I was tagged by Charity, author of The Magic Wakes. So I have a few questions to answer:

1. What are you working on right now? I am working on Simulation the next book in the Pop Travel series - I can name books easily, but the name of a Series... hmm.
2. How does your writing process work? I come up with ideas all the time. If I can make a solid outline of scenes/events then I get out a fresh notebook and start writing a rough draft before typing it up on the computer - adding more details with each step in the process
3. What is the hardest part about writing? Finding the time. But editing is my hardest thing - very time consuming, but I love my CPs who help me see the reader's perspective!
4. What scares you? Rollercoasters, air travel (turbulence), and the future for my kids! What is this world coming to? Ah!

In turn, I tagged:

Christine Rains, Gwen Gardner, Angela Brown, and Mary Pax

Whew! Thanks again for all the comments and support! And here's my August giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eww! Awards! Part 1

I mean, Yay! Awards!
During the A to Z challenge last month, I received some fun awards. I am finally getting around to thanking the bestowers and passing them on... (This post got to be too long so I only got half of the awards done and will continue the award ceremony in another post. Good grief, there were a lot of questions!)

=======================================

But first, let me pause. It's Memorial Day. Please remember that freedom is not free. Many have sacrificed for us to have what we have. Thank you, Military!

=====================================

And now, on with the show!
Eww was my reaction to this first award from Mark and Heather - the Zombie Rabbit... It's cool and hip, but Eww! Thanks, guys!

For this award, we are supposed to list our top ten blogs from the A to Z challenge (or now that it's over, I'm resurrecting the award and pronouncing that you can promote any ten or so favorites!)

I met some great new bloggers during A to Z and this is the perfect time to highlight those I clicked with most (and was able to find again, some disappeared or didn't link back to their blogs...)

Carol Z          Connie B Dowell          Ayjay

Barbara White Daille       Hannah Brooker       Rob-Bear
Lady Jai        Clarissa Draper - daily puzzles

(and these last two are long time friends that had great themes, hard to pick just 2!)

J.A. Bennett - blogging tips           Elizabeth Seckman - easy, fun trivia!

     

The Next Big Thing was passed on to me by Brinda. Thanks, lady! I am going to answer questions about my next big WIP!

1. what is the working title? SIMULATION
2. where did the idea come from? An offshoot of POP TRAVEL
3. what genre is it? techno thriller
4. what actors would you pick for a movie rendition? I think I'm changing from Leonardo DiCaprio to Chris Hemsworth...
5. what's a one sentence synopsis? Cooper must stop an infamous, crazed campaign manager and his clone android candidate from taking over with their army of droids.
6. how long did it take to write the first draft? TBD, outline is done, hopefully will write first draft during camp nano...
7. will it be self-published or represented? hoping Curiosity Quills will keep me going!
8. what other books would you compare it to in your genre? I don't compare in quality, but in genre, with I, Robot and in this case, the movie Trading Places

And I'm tagging Julie Flanders, Cassie Mae, Donna Weaver, David P King, and Candilynn Fite - I'm curious what they are working on next!

Lastly today, thanks to sweet Jenn for giving me the Happy Tag. I am to list 5 things that make me happy (other than the given family & friends):
1) It didn't have a button to go with it. Making one made me happy!
2) Having so many friends volunteer to help me with my blog tour - Ecstatic!
3) My little guy's team won some games this weekend after a long losing streak - Incredible!
4) Finishing my edits! Wahoo!
5) School is out in a week. Happy, for the most part =)

I am tagging five bloggers who always make me happy (there are so many, it was hard to pick!)

Dana          Rhonda          Madeline          Laura M          LD Masterson

So one more award post coming soon...
And don't forget to sign up for Heather's & my
The Thrill of It All blogfest!
It's good practice to write a thrilling hook or capture a thrilling scene
or tell us about a thrilling adventure you've been on so we can live vicariously through you!

so many questions!

I wanted to do a Writing a Book post today since I'm so far behind, but I figured I'd better fulfill my tag obligation before I get tagged again! 22 questions is plenty! I tried to be brief...

Thanks, Theresa! Here are her questions and my answers =)

1)     Favorite Book & Why? A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON by Piers Anthony because it transported me to a place where magic was real and ignited my love for reading as a teen.

2)     Favorite Movie & Why? I have so many! I love good sci fi for the excitement and adventure like STAR WARS OR MATRIX and funny romantic comedies that make you feel warm and fuzzy with a happy ending like HOUSESITTER and FRENCH KISS

3)     Hobby other than reading and writing? words w/friends & scramble with my sons, movies, planning trips!

4)     Dream Vacation? Australia & New Zealand

5)     If you could have dinner with one person living or dead who would it be? of the moment, Tim Tebow but I'd have to be able to bring my sons! Of all time, Billy Crystal - he's hilarious!

6)     What would the conversation consist of? every day life, personal motivation, fun stories!

7)    What would you eat? Steak and shrimp =)

8)    Desert Island three items what would they be? (I’m running out of questions) bug spray, sun screen, unlimited power supply and internet access w/ laptop

9)    Favorite place to write/read? anywhere quiet and not too bright (like me, ha ha)
10)  Most embarrassing moment? white shorts, long sweaty car ride to camp with my friend. nuff said.
11)  If you had the opportunity to go back in time and change one thing would you? And what would it be? no point, I might change too many things that I'm happy about now!

And thank you, Scarlett for your tag questions!

1. If your life were a book, what would it be titled? From Wild to Mild

2. Tell us a favorite childhood memory. Going to the pond near my Aunt Gloria's house and catching pollywogs with family. Loved it!

3. Is there a time limit on fortune cookie predictions? no. and interpretations may vary.

4. Name three lessons LIFE has taught you. *get into good habits early, training yourself later is HARD! (eat right, exercise, etc), * less drama = more happy, * dream big and turn failures into stepping stones! (pouting is a waste of time)

5. Oceans or Mountains, and why? Both are nice to visit, but I'd take a pool and a massage to go with them!

6. What makes you smile? my sons' accomplishments =) (and feedback!)

7. What would you dare to do if you knew you could not fail? write songs, fly a helicopter

8. Do you believe in ghosts? What about Muppets? not really and yes

9. What is your favorite thing about yourself? relating to teens and teaching them (they make me feel younger =)

10. Given three wishes, what would you wish? jobs for all, selfless politicians/leaders, respectful attitudes

11. What is the one thing you could not live without? air

Here are the folks I'm tagging (hard to find 11 people who weren't tagged recently! and if you were, oh well! still fun =)

Lynda K Young

Kelley

Heather Day Gilbert

Cherie

Laura Marcella

Nicki Elson

Emily King

Huntress

Christine Rains

Erin Summerill

M. S. Hatch

Here are my questions:

1. What is the first movie you went to without a chaperone?
2. Where/Did you go to college?
3. What is your favorite spice?
4. What is your favorite hair/eye color combination?
5. Do your initials spell anything?
6. What is your favorite animal? (be specific)
7. What is the character trait you admire most in a person?
8. What are you afraid of losing when you get older?
9. What is your favorite character's name that you chose?
10. Describe your favorite weather in a sentence - make us feel it!
11. Describe your favorite dessert - how does it taste?

My favorite part was making up the questions. Can't wait to read your answers - and even if you didn't get tagged, answer a few anyway!

Have a fantabulous weekend! See you Monday for Laura's book tour! and Tuesday for Alex's! and Wednesday for my blurby 300+ follower contest!