IWSG~The Road To Wisdom & A Favor

I was going through old posts the other day and found this one. I've pasted it below for your convenience. It was a perfect find for me with what's been going on with my writing, lately. In short, I've been working on this manuscript for just over ten months. I'm at the end. I can see the homestretch - the last four chapters. But then, out of nowhere, I realize that I've veered so far off from my original main plot that I must go back to the beginning to restate and reinforce the main plot. 
#GRRR!!!
My brain was already done with this manuscript and had already mentally sent it to my editor. 
After sound advice from some amazing author peeps I know what I must do - rewrite the synopsis alongside the manuscript to see where the holes are and to alter the main plot. Then I can finish the last four chapters and send it off. 
Here's that post I found from 2015.  (💙And please scroll to the end of this post. I have a favor of support to ask of you.)
***⏯ Writerly Wisdom Wednesdays, posted on the third Wednesday of the month, is a regular meme for writers to share lessons they've learned along their path to publication and beyond. I haven't used it in forever. But I noticed that last year was tough on a lot of us, so I decided to bring it back to the forefront. Feel free to join me! The only requirement is that the post be brief. 

image credit

There are days when all seems bright and airy. Then again, some are filled with doom and gloom. And with the fast-pace of life today, the two can sometimes blur. The one certain we have is the current moment we're living in. Right now. Yeah, that one. Other than that nothing is assured. 
A multitude of variables bombard us each day that influence, affect, and change our activities, goals, attitudes, and motivations. I don't know about you, but every time I think my day is going smoothly WHAM! the unexpected happens. Wisdom: The unexpected really should be expected. 
Although this quote could be relative to many people in numerous different walks of life, it is a hard-fast truth for writers. I could spend a dozen posts on methods of deciding whether to remain steadfast with a manuscript or shelf it; that will be for another day. The most valuable lesson I've learned about writing is that loving the craft will not always feel good. It's sacrifice.
💙Quick plea before I ask my IWSG post question💙

Marked Beauty is a finalist in the 2018 Maine Romance Writers 'Strut Your Stuff' Awards!!! I'm super excited because this is the first local award my work has been considered for. 

Could you take a moment to give my debut YA novel blurb & then cover a 5 Star vote each? Voting is open until May 4th.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YRQSRNW  ***Being a finalist puts me in the Reader's Choice round. The three finalist books are not being judged in comparison to each other. They are being judged individually by their own merit, presentation, & book blurb. I can't thank you enough for your support!
So tell me IWSG readers: what's the wisest writing or life advice you've been given? 

IWSG~Stepping Out of Your Genre & A Gorgeous #CoverReveal!

Hi Everyone! *Quick Splat Note: I suck. Haven't been blogging due to all sorts of legit bookish reasons, life with four kids & ailing parents. I still LUV you!  *****

"It's September," I whisper, for fear if I spoken loudly another page will turn and December will arrive. And I'm not ready for the holidays to be here. Let's agree to concentrate on today being the 1st Wednesday of said month, where I come to answer the question posed by the Insecure Writer's Support Group. 

"Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing?"

Talk about a loaded question...

Sure have. And it's one of my favorite parts of writing fiction. I'll use my MG novel Motley Education as an example. Originally, my main character Ebony Charmed was a teenager, not a tween. But the more I wrote her story, the younger she sounded. It was at that point I realized she didn't want to be an emotionally wounded teen medium with trust issues or to lust after her best guy friend only to realize they were better off as just friends. Nope, she wanted to be a spunky, boneyard-loving, misfit medium dressed in miniskirts with skulls on her tights and pink/blue strips in her hair, whose rocky relationship with her mom contributes to her insecurities at school and with the local bully-boy, except for her GTG (go-to-guy) Fleishman - the best real friend any girl could hope for. <3

Yeah, I totally heart them, too.

And guess what? Their little story won yet another award! 

I've been invited to Miami, FL, in November to attend the awards ceremony and accept the award. Unlike with the Literary Classic award ceremony that I couldn't attend because it was in South Dakota this past weekend (airfare from Maine to SD was ridiculously expensive), I'll be able to make it to Florida for the ceremony! I'm thrilled.

I want to thank our amazing September co-host team of Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, & Beverly Stowe McClure! Want to be part of the IWSG? Click the image.

Reminder Splat: My YA publisher is offering a preorder sales price of $3.99 for Marked Beauty from now until release day - October 17, 2017. In conjunction, anyone who preorders their copy will receive a fabulous preorder package of bookish goodies! Just sign up via this link: http://bit.ly/2texe67. Preorder links: AMAZON & BARNES AND NOBLE.

Are you ready for an amazingly gorgeous cover reveal??? Oh, and it's not mine. LOL Here goes:

PHOENIX DESCENDING

Book I of The Curse of the Phoenix Duology

by Dorothy Deyer

Publisher: Snow Wings Publishing

Release Date: November 28, 2017

Genre: NA (New Adult)

Cover Design: Deranged Doctor Design

Description: Since the outbreak of the phoenix fever in Drothidia, Tori Kagari has already lost one family member to the fatal disease. Now, with the fever threatening to wipe out her entire family, she must go against everything she believes in order to save them—even if that means making a deal with the enemy.

When Tori agrees to join forces with the unscrupulous Khadulians, she must take on a false identity in order to infiltrate the queendom of Avarell and fulfill her part of the bargain, all while under the watchful eye of the unforgiving Queen’s Guard. But time is running out, and every lie, theft, and abduction she is forced to carry out may not be enough to free her family from death. Add Phoenix Descending on Goodreads!

Congratulations to Dorothy! I'm excited for this one.

So, IWSG peeps: have you ever had a character you're writing yell at you that you're doing it wrong? ;) 

Literary Classics Winners Announced!

It's a precious thing to a writer when books are held up to the spotlight of appreciation and honor.

The 2017 Literary Classics Book Awards have been announced. I'm ecstatic to share that Motley Education has been awarded a Gold Medal for excellence in Grade School literature. Knowing that Ebony and Fleishman are touching the hearts and imagination of readers is a dream come true for me.

Winners have been invited to attend a four-day celebration Labor Day Weekend in Rapid City South Dakota, where The Great American Book Festival is being held! They have all sorts of activities for the winners and even a gala event the night the awards are physically given out. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to attend. It's just too far away and too many expenses to incur at this time. But no worries! This just fuels my writing verve to win again someday, so maybe then I'll be able to attend.

I want to thank Literary Classics for this amazing honor and a BIG Gouda Cheese of congrats goes out to all my fellow award winners. Your work is fantastic! The thought of being grouped with you is very humbling.

Here's my little graphic I designed to celebrate the announcement.

I've only shared this on Instagram, so I'd love it if you'd hop over there and Like it and even repost it!

It was suggested for this post that I share a little about Motley and about myself. Most of you have been blogging with me forever, so I won't bore you. BUT for those who are new visitors (YAY for new visitors! Welcome to the Alleyway!) feel free to take a gander over to my website to find out more about Motley Education ... about Me.

I will mention that the pre-order link for MARKED BEAUTY, my young adult contemporary fantasy/romance, will be available the 3rd week in July! But you can add it now to your Goodreads To-Be-Read List. Please and many thank yous! 

This is a list some of the winners. I highly recommend you visit them and see their wonderful work! You won't be sorry.

Carmela Dutra ~ A Blog for your Thoughts

Lisa Anne Novelline ~ Piccadilly and Her Magical World

S.A. Larsen ~ Writer’s Alley

M.J. Evans ~ The Centaur Chronicles

Stephan von Clinkerhoffen ~ The Hidden City of Chelldrah-ham

C.M. Huddleston ~ Adventures in Time series

Chess Desalls ~ The Call to Search Everywhen

Sheila Wall Slavich

Patricia Reding

Lynne Stringer ~ the Verindon Trilogy and Once Confronted

Molly and Gary Whitney - Thistle Downe, a Tale of Trolls and Fairies

But there's MORE! Remember the HD Tablet and 24 book giveaway I announced here a few weeks ago? Well, we have a winner!

CONGRATULATIONS to Nikki Simon!!!

Enjoy your Fire Tablet & 24 books!

A huge thanks goes out to all who entered. We plan on doing this again, maybe late fall so stay tuned!

Super Sweet to Shine On to Inspiring!!

"Love is a gesture of showing not telling."

No, some famous author or screenwriter didn't say this. I did. Just now. At 10:31 PM. I felt it was fitting and rather descriptive of who we are as writers. So, how do writers show love?

We write stories that move the heart, mind, and soul. We dare to explore, challenge, and tease. We offer our time to precious critique partners, and organize fundraisers when tragedy strikes others. We cheer, encourage, and promote one another. And we understand each other.

One of the sweetest ways for a writer to show that love to another writer is by recognition--highlighting a friend's good works and talents.

It's been a while since I've shared and/or passed on any awards here. And, to my humble heart, they've been piling up. I thank each and everyone of you who've spotlighted me, telling others that I mean something. Below, you'll see that someone thinks I'm sweet and that I shine; that I inspire and am loyal. So I'm sharing the four awards, today, and I'm passing them on to everyone who stops by and reads this post. Choose one award or choose them all! I HEART you for being here and being a part of my publishing journey. I'll try and be as brief as possible. :)

AWARD #1, 2, & 3 are all from the fabulous DHD! She's awesome. Thank you so much, Deanie Humphrys-Dunne!


AWARD #1:

The Rules:
 Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.

• Answer five Super Sweet questions.
• Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post.
• Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers.
• Notify your nominees on their blog.
  
  My Super Sweet Questions:      
  1. What is your favorite dessert?  Hmm...Ice Cream.
  2.  Cake or ice cream? Haha--Ice Cream, again!
  3. When do you like desserts most?   For some reason, I like them most when I'm watching a movie. *shrugs*
  4. Would you choose cookies or cake? Oh, cookies all the way!
  Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate!

AWARD #2: This one is so pretty!

Here are the Rules:

• Display the award logo on your blog.
• Link back to the person who nominated you.
• State 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them.
• Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award requirements.
  
  Seven things about myself:  The Young Years
1. I grew up in a mill town during a time when paper mills where slowly dying. But my grandfathers worked there all their lives.
2. My dad was a youth ice hockey coach for fourteen years and a youth baseball coach for nine. I spent lots of time in a freezing ice rink or a damp, windy baseball field.
3. I had a small closet in my bedroom, when I was little, and I used to get inside to pretend it was a playland--whatever I wanted it to be.
4. During the flood of 1987--floods are rare in Maine--I missed a week of school to help clean up debris. Actually, they shutdown all the schools and business in town. 
5. Growing up, I had either the croup (pretty much during my youngest years) or pneumonia every year until I was fourteen years old. Lots of hospital stays for me.
6. My grandfather taught me how to play the spoons.
7. When I was about eight years old, I was holding onto the screen door in the front of our house and the wind blew so hard it knocked me over, tossed me down the stairs, and I cracked open my head.

AWARD #3: Ooh, sophistocated!

The Rules:

1. Display logo in your blog to show you've been nominated!
2. Link back to your nominator.
3. Share 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
5. Notify your nominees.

7 more things about me: The married years.

1. I married the rebel. And he's still awesome.
2. Been married 21 years and have four kids.
3. We didn't have loads of money to start out. Our lawn mower broke, and my hubby had to sickle the backyard. #thefunniestthingever
4. My 2nd son's ear started bleeding, while playing bumper cars with son #1 in the basement; he was two years old at the time. At the hospital, the doctor looks at me and says, "I can't stitch him up. It's not a cut. He's missing a piece of his ear." I'm like *&^$& (He's fine, today. Can't even tell.)
5. Oh, same 2nd son, but now he's three years old, is playing hide-n-seek with me. I sneak around the corner of the hallway, notice the door to the 1/2 bathroom is open just a jar, so I swing it open with all my might and yell 'Gotch'ya!', only to find that he was hiding behind the door. Yup. Doorknob in the eyebrow and he's bleeding like a sieve. Again, I'm like *&^$^
6. BTW - my dad came over (per #5) and we stitched him up at home. Remember, Dad was an ice hockey coach. :)
7. My youngest son, now a healthy thriving nine-year-old, was diagnosed at 22 months with Apraxia of Speech. I am very passionate about this verbal disorder and have set up a website through his name for the cause.  

How special do I feel??? *blushes* One more to pass along.

AWARD #4: Thank you to the amazing C.Lee McKenzie! Seriously. Is this not the cutest award!

THE RULES:

• Display the Award Certificate on your website. 
• Announce your win with a written post and link to whoever presented your award. 
• Present the award to 7 deserving bloggers.
• Drop them a comment to tip them off after you have nominated them in the post.
• Post 7 interesting things about yourself
• If you don’t have a blog but have a website, Facebook, or Twitter or other type account, post there with a link back.

7 more things about me - Miscellaneous

1. Favorite color is black.
2. I'm a dog person.
3. Ice Hockey is my favorite sport.
4. I like coffee, but don't mind tea once in a while.
5. I've broken my nose, not one, but twice. - (Some of you already knew this. Sorry.)
6. Rock music is my favorite, but I have a soft spot for the right ballad.
7. I've always loved to draw.

There you have it - me in a nutshell...or two. Please take at least one of these awards. You truly deserve them all! You can do that, too. I wouldn't be here without you. Honestly. Mmwahhhhhhhhh!

ONE quick SPLAT!! Sarah's Reviews is offering up two YA novels & 1 MG novel by the fabulous C.Lee McKenzie. Make sure to enter HERE, HERE, & HERE Until the first week of August!

What about you? Tell me at least one thing about yourself in the comments. I'd love to know.

MOTHER'S DAY Awarded

This weekend welcomes a special holiday, Mother's Day. I don't know about you, but my norm MD Day consists of rushing to ready the kids for Church (with my older ones, now it's bellowing "GET UP!"), make a big meal, clean up, do the whole dessert thing with the parents x2, and maybe sit for five minutes. Oh, and can't forget some sports on TV. :)

That's what mothers do ~ We do whatever is needed. 

If you've been a mother for any length of time then you know it's like being compelled ~ there are few self thoughts.


*Haha...and the vamps think they're all that.*

All is focused on those placed in our care. We can't help it.

And if you're a writing mother, you put the same coddling, care, and caress into each story you write and each character you create. You are a mover. A motivator. Whether a sweet picture book story or a lengthy novel, you inspire and teach.

You are a true hero to your families and the publishing world.

To our agent, editor, or publisher moms, the influence and dedication you have for your writers/clients and love of the written word is also appreciated. This is for you, too.

I give each of you this AWARD. You deserve it on so many levels. Thank you for being my writing/blogging friend and sharing in my journey towards publication. Take this award and place it proudly on your blog. If you don't have a blog just yet, save it for your website that will promote your inevitable book sales!!

Just smile.

Here's a few motherly memories from my seventeen + years as a mother.

~ 3yr old son drops his draws in the middle of the parking lot. My face pales. I yell, "Jake!" He says, "I'm peeing, hold on."

~ While making a craft using beads with my 4yr old daughter, she decides to sniff a bead to see if it smells. Yup, we're off to the emergency room with a bead stuck up her nose. (REALLY!)

~ 12yr old son (1st week of junior high) walks up our front porch with the innards of his knee literally dangling  down to his calf and says, "Um...something's wrong." Then looks down at his knee and completely freaks out. Yes, another emergency room visit.

~ 2 1/2yr old son, ATTEMPTS to go to the bathroom by himself. Well, his little arms aren't quite long enough to properly reach all the way around his skinny body. He wipes once. And yes, gets it all over that hand. Instead of asking for help, he uses the other hand which becomes covered, too. So he decides to wipe it on his chest to clean his hands.

Logical, right?? *to a 2yr old*

Needless to say, his finale is to paint the entire white, porcelian toilet in what looks like brown mud (ooh, it was so not mud!) as well as the walls, door--knob and all--and his whole body. When I found him, this writer-mother SERIOUSLY had no words.

Won't you share one memory of being a mom with me?? If you're a father, lets here one about your mom or wife.

Do You Have PURPOSE??

Christina over on Christina's Journey gave me a brand-spanking new award!! It's beautiful. Thank you, Chris!


Purpose, what's that really all about? As a mother, wife, and daughter, I guide, comfort, and love. As a writer, I do the same only in a different way.


I feel compelled to give this award to a few of my writer friends who have either become CPs or have shared their writing journey with me on a personal level. Stina of Seeing Creative, Marcy (my 1st ever CP) of Mainewords, and Jen of A Day Into the Writer.

Marcy over on Mainewords gave me this one. I love it! All that silver and of course black. Like the best color on the planet, ever!! I'm resorting back to my alter-ego: the rebel. Yeah, I've always love the color black, but when I was in school--Catholic school mind you--my mother thought it was inappropriate to wear anything black unless one was headed to a funeral. I loved black nail polish. Always wanted to wear it but she wouldn't let me. Wanted to paint my room black. Sure a bit morbid, but I'm cool with the undead and all such creatures. And hey, the nuns practically wore all black. Anyway, so today I'm wearing black nail polish and a stylish new award! 

I'd love to pass these on in thanks to certain bloggers/writers but also to uplift and promote them. Hope you'll pay them each a visit if you don't already know them.

C. Lee of TheWriteGame, Susan of Ink Spells, and Dianne of In High Spirits.

And believe it or not, I've been given another award. Geez Louise, I am not worthy. I am not worthy. But I am humbled. Thank you. Alison Pearce Stevens has given me the Versatile Blogger Award. (say 7 things about myself.)


I'd like to pass this on to LM (who is like the most versatile person I know), and Jen of Unedited.


Seeing how I've done this one before, I thought I could get a bit silly with it and give you a visual of my junior high years.


1. Eyeglasses the size of toilet bowls on my face.
2. Said eyeglasses turned brown in the sun. BROWN.
3. Matted dark hair, which I probably hardly washed. 
4. Absolutely, positively no curvaceous features. I was a stick figure.
5. Dork in a ridiculously ugly cheering uniform. Gosh, why didn't someone tell us??? Parent abuse.

6. Roller skates constantly on my feet (a product of the early '80s) with at least 10 to 12 rabbit's feet dangling from the laces. Why rabbit's feet, you ask? They were all my allowance afforded me out of the toy vending machine which was directly next to the cigarette vending machine.

7. Metal in my mouth, allowed to wear no makeup, and I'd much rather have been shooting hockey pucks in the driveway then spending time in that ugly cheering uniform. #vomitinducingsweatermaterial

Congrats, my friends and Alleywalkers. Thank you for sharing in my writing journey to and beyond publication. Hearts to you All!!


Tell me: what purpose does your writing have in your life?

Want to Know How Weird I AM?

It's inevitable. We cyber-meet. We chat, carry-on a few blogging dates. Then it happens. I say something that shows how kookie I really am.


Either you like it, or turn from me, walk away, and never visit my humble alleyway again. (*tears well up and balance on my lower lids, threating to escape*) 


"Please don't go..." my voice trails off, my hands reach out to you.


Over the past year, I've been blessed to make some fangtastical blogging buddies who allow me to call them my cyber chums. Thank you.


Today, I'm here to highlight a few. SEVEN to be exact. Do you know why? Because one of those newer blogging chums, Shari, over on Think, Dream, Inspire, has graced me with an award. She is such a sweet person. Take a gander over and give her a wave!


Before I give the award away, Shari has asked me to give you the random scoop on myself times SEVEN. What I've done, is listed a few of my peeves: THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE JUST WRONG...to me, anyway.


1. I despise buying toilet paper. What a waste. (hee...)


2. I live with four guys. Yes, I gave birth to three of them but they're still of the Y chromesome. Of all those rolls of TP we buy, how many do you think they actually put on the toilet paper holder??? NONE!! Ziltch. NADA!


3. There are more socks littering my yard, family room, and 'man cave' in the basement, then there are in all of our dresser draws combined. I even have found the 14yr-old son wearing my socks!! "Mom, their black and non-see'ems. Who cares?" Um...Mom does, especially when she can't find a pair of socks for herself.


4. Hotdog packages with 8 dogs, but the roll packages only have 6. What is up with that?? That, my friends, is mind-messing. Seriously. It's like a cruel joke. If we set up our kids like that, they'd call it abuse.


5. The dude who gets in the wrong turning lane and looks at me like I have a problem. Really, guy?? It should be legal to ram my car into his.


6. Commercials. Period. They should be optional.


7. Lack of body towels. For some of you, this may be repetitive. I've mentioned it before, but I felt it was appropriate for this list. As stated above, I live with four guys...(the 12yr-old daughter and tiny female dog, too.) My oldest son hoards our towels. The other day, I collected 18 towels from his closet. Yeah, the hubs had to drip dry out of the shower. Not a happy hubby. And just before that, I pulled 11 towels--all crusted, smelly, and plain'ole gross--from said 17yr-old's hockey bag.            Just wrong.


BONUS: Went to the dentist for a hygiene, yesterday. Whenever I go to the dentist, why do I feel like I'm walking into my elementary Catholic school class and the nun is going to scold me?


There you have it. My crabby list for today!!


In no particular order, here are some of my newer blogging chums who are amazing!! Thanks guys for spending cyber time with me.


Don   Michael   Tabitha   Nikki    Cherry   Stephanie   Shannon
These peeps are all wonderful. Pay them a visit!!


SPLATTER: Come back Friday when I'm hoping to post my Crusader entry. Um, yeah, I just need to write it. The kids are home all week on vacation, so it may be tough. I'll try hard. lol

NaNoWriMo: NoNoMoi

I need to hand out a few Thank Yous and give some splats to a contest before I get to my post.

I want to give a major MERCI to Pk Hrezo. She has a smashing blog, Chronicle of an Author at Large. She highlighted me in one of her posts. I'm humbled and grateful, and she brought me a few new Alleywalkers! Welcome! Glad you've joined us. AND I must thank Shannon Mayhew of Random Thoughts for awarding Writers' Ally the Lovely Blog Award.

Make sure to check out my friend Susan's blog for her Back From Hiatus Contest. She's giving away some great books! And just a reminder about my short story contest. I have plenty who have entered but haven't received many entries. Please get those to me so my daughter and I can read them. If I don't receive enough, I'll award the entries I have.

NaNoMeConfus-o

Before I started Writers' Ally about nine months ago, I'd never heard of NaNoWriMo. I hadn't heard of NaNoBlogMo or Natalie Whipple's self-proclaimed NaNoReaMo, either. I remember the first few times I ran across the NaNo phrase and thought it was some sort of grammar no-no. Or worse. Maybe there was a special place for those grammar violators, like the naughty chair.

Come to find out it was neither, as most of you know I'm sure. Fully impressed by such a devoted process, I told myself that I would participate this year. I even set up one of those author pages and downloaded my cover and brief logline. You see it in my right sidebar. My next love: Disorderly Compact.

Then I attended MuseCon two weeks ago. It changed my mind. Not that NaNoWriMo is bad. On the contrary, it's a great activity to devote oneself. But from what I learned at a few of my workshops and from reading some wonderful posts online, a writer shouldn't just jump into NaNoWriMo with both feet. One should have a plan.

It's a valiant gesture to commit yourself to writing an entire novel (50,000+ words) in a month. To take a mere idea, formulate and nurture it in 25 to 30 days is a feat. But what happens if you fail? Is there some NaNo god somewhere who will hold you responsible? Will your peers NaNo you in shame?

Probably not, but will all that effort help you?

We write because we love it. You may decide to write a poem just for fun. Or maybe you want to write up a story for a young kid's birthday. Both of these have reasons; one is for fun, the other is a gift. Both have purpose. If you're participating in NaNoWriMo, I'm sure one of your purposes is to complete a manuscript. But I'm also sure by participating that you are serious about honing your craft.

From some of the posts that I've read, a lot of writers write like mad dogs during this event. Awesomesausesome! But more than not, writers end up doing nothing with the work they produced or they spend the next year editing over and over and over. There was no focus or rode mapped out before the writing began. Some get lost in the confusion of scenes and holes in the story and end up starting over anyway. I'm sure you don't want that. Your time and effort is valuable.

Now, I'm all for brainstorming or mind mapping. Just read my article HERE. But if I'm going to write for a month nonstop, concentrating on one story, than I better get something out of it. For me, everything I write, read, and observe is to hone my skills as a writer. And I want that for you, too.

I'm sure NaNoWriMo can be a great writing experience and learning tool, so here's some of the advice I've heard.

1. Brainstorm your ideas BEFORE you being.
2. If at all possible, write up an outline or at the very least a sketch of your ideas.
3. Envision scenes and jot them down.
4. Even better, write up a synopsis.
5. AND of course, eat chocolate!! You've got to do that.

AS you may have guessed, I've opted out of participating this year. I was fortunate enough at MuseCon to fully plot out DISORDERLY COMPACT; however, I still don't feel I have enough scene ideas to fill all the gaps and get to my goal of completion. 

So, during November, I'll be silently participating and keeping track right here in the Alleyway. If anyone wants to join me, sweet! Just head over to get a NaNoWordMeter and paste it on your site. (If you don't have a site, keep track at home.) Then, each of the four Wednesdays, we'll meet in the IMPETUS ROOM at the top of Writers' Ally and share our progress. 

Good Luck!

For those who are participating in this year's NaNoWriMo, I wish you the best of luck and productivity. For those who are not, let's just keep writing.

Sheri OUT! ~

Passing on Some SPAM!

I have the honor of passing on some BAM-BAM SPAM, today!! AWARDS. There are so many amazing bloggers out there, so many WORTHY! Ugg. So little time, so much to do, so many Alleywalkers deserving of some Wha-hoo!!! 


I humbly accepted this Versatile Blogger award like, um...forever ago from my wonderful bestie, Cheryl of Wandering (and wondering) through YA Lit. I am a slug. Ugg, again. (I think I must like the letter 'g'.) I am finally passing on the goods, my precious'.


Some of you have seen this, and some of you haven't so I'll elaborate. The rules of this award are to share seven things about yours truly and to pass it on to 15 more blogs I've recently discovered.

Oh'Tah, Buttweats! You asked for it.

1) I love chocolate! No I REALLY, REALLY love chocolate. Like fresh strawberries dipped in warm dark chocolate with a few glasses glass of red wine LOVE.


2) I've broken my nose, not once but twice. Yeah, big book deal is going to get me a new nose. I HATE my nose. I want the one I was born with. 


3) I am a MONDAY NIGHT HOTTIE. (I can't believe I just said that out loud. We don't have Pink Lady jackets or anything. Okay, some of us have sweatshirts.) Really, they are the wonderful woman, ages 23 to 60, that I dance with. They are my dancing angels.


4) No. I'm not telling you HOW I broke my nose-TWICE. Saving that for a later date.


5) I was a speaker at my high school baccalaureate. I made them cry...and laugh a ton...and no, I didn't trip in my three-inch heels up the freaking steps to the alter at church.


6) I was never the girl in high school to have a crush on any celebrity, hanging posters on my walls or buying teen mags. I was too busy fantasizing about my vampire and werewolf hunks. 


7) I was asked to enter a national pageant. I turned it down. Though I can prance with the best of them, I'm just not the frilly girl. *no apologies, either. not anymore. *grins* 


Now, for the really interesting part. Here's some newer blogs I've stumbled upon that are special to me, even if I have one-heck-of-a-time visiting often.


Kay Em Evans
KCBOOKS From Mom to Author & Everything in Between
Karsten Knight
MBWcreates
Plot This
Nicole O'Dell
Read My Mind
The Siren's Song
Shannon Loves Cats and Zombies
Sharp Pen/Dull Sword
So, Write
The Daily Harrell
Totally the Bomb
Under the Fairy Dust
Watch Me Practice

There you have it, my fanGtastical Alleywalkers. Check out my friends' pads, and have a blast. I do have one more item to add. A list of Debut Authors for 2011 has been compiled on Goodreads. More are being added daily. Go vote for your favs. Authors Supporting Authors. ALWAYS! Thanks. 


Love <3

F.M.O.F BLOGGER AWARDS!!

   Today is Freak-Me-Out-Friday Blogger Awards. 
   (Like it? Yeah, me too.)


So I haven't hurdled the ropes and entered the ring of Blogger Awards yet, although some fabulous fellow bloggers have graced me with a few. They are Alleywalkers, like yourselves, and massively, awesome PEEPS!!
ALAS.


I must confess: I AM A VERY, VERY, VERY BAD BLOGGER BUDDY.


While scrolling through another psycho blogger's older posts, I came upon a surprise.


(She'd given me an award I'd never picked up.)


Yup. I'M A PUTZ.     B.U.T. I can call her psycho, because I think we were mysteriously cut-from-the-same-cloth even though eleven years separate us. (Psst...C, why didn't you tell me. I had to discover that I'm only faking being as cool as you from the screen reading FB???)

So I am officially ACCEPTING my award. Thank you, dear Candyland.


I am also passing it on. I'm passing it on from this receipt, but also from NBF Becki of the Confessions of a Bibliophile. She graciously gave me this lovely badge, too, and I'd yet to meet my requirements in accepting it.

I only ask the recipients three things if you accept the awards:  

1. Post the award on your blog with the name of the person who has granted it to you and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to other deserving bloggers.

3. Email the bloggers you choose to let them know you've given them an award.

One Lovely Blog Award goes to:  

Joanne

Carolyn V.

Shannon

To:

Heather

Adventures in Children's Publishing

Tahereh

And to my new blogging buddies:

Tina Lynn

Tracy

Tara

The last award needs an introduction. It's the first time this award has ever been given out. (Hee...) So suspenseful, huh???

Pretty sweet!! And it goes to:

Candyland

Marcy

For both being the best GRAFFITI artists on my GRAFFITI WALL, in writing, and in life.


Oh and...I hit 100 FOLLOWERS yesterday!! Stay tuned for a contest post real soon. (Just waiting on a few details for y'all.)


Don't forget to check out what I posted on OASIS for YA, today. An awesome interview with fantabuastic author Beth Fantaskey!!!