New site: Writers Support 4U!!

Over the last month or so, I've read many posts and chatted with a few of you about life, writing, and blogging. What purpose does blogging hold?

When I started Writers' Ally, it was at the advisement of my 1st official CP, Marcy. Originally, it was to chronicle my writing journey with her but soon it became more. And with more, my ideas grew and changed and so did the purpose for the Alleyway. I wanted it to become a place where authors, illustrators, and publishing gurus could share their experiences both in life and writing, letting others know they are not alone. And I'm thankful for Writers' Ally's evolution. She'll be open for a long time; however...

{It took me forever to decide how to write this post. Finally, I decided to just be me.}

As time moves forward and I continue to grow as a writer, I find the act of balancing daily life and writing more difficult. This doesn't mean one has to give, only that it's time to reevaluate, restructure.

As the mother of four growing children, who now span three separate schools, life has gotten more complicated. My writing/creation time has been chopped into bits here and snippets there. I'm eternally grateful for each of you and every new writing opportunity that has found its way to me over the last few months. Doors have been opening and I need to take every advantage of them. The final polishing on MARKED BEAUTY needs to be done as does plunging into the querying world, finishing a 1st draft of my MG series, and sending out a few picture books. So, I've decided to take a step back from blogging for the summer.

Do you remember this POST, where I praised ROW80 and talked about the difference between a Support writing group and CPs? Some of you indicated you'd be interested in joining a Writing Group, who's sole purpose is to support each other, giving shout-outs throughout the week on FB or twitter and sharing updates/successes on WIPs, even writing a weekly post to include personal writing/life goals.

Well, I--along with C.Lee McKenzie, Margo Berendsen, & Susan Kaye Quinn--have created a group called SUPPORT WRITERS 4U! on Facebook. If I haven't already invited you, head on over and click to be a member. LOVE, love, love to have you. The more support we all share the smoother our roads to publication and beyond will be. Feel free to take the little logo I created and post it on your blogs with a link. Thank you in advance!!

So, I want to leave you with this thought for the summer.

"I've always been a writer, even when the words didn't hit the page." This quote is from Cher Green, who was interviewed over on Surrounded by Books. It got me thinking about what's lead me up to this point in my writing journey. So often, over the last three years, I've been down on myself, feeling like I should have started writing again years ago. "Look how much time I've wasted. Look what I could have been doing."

But really, every event in my life prior to making the commitment to become a professional novelist/writer/word nark is part of my writing journey. I wouldn't be creating the worlds and characters I am now without my life before the writing thoughts. This is MY journey, and I must embrace it and be thankful for it. Accepting that truth is empowering.

And YOU have your writing road, too. Though different than mine, it's yours and only yours. There is no right or wrong, no special way to become the next hit author.

You must accept your path for what it is, embrace it, and hone your craft, loving what you do. You must live life, letting each and every moment mold and caress you, and you will become all you can be.

I will miss you over the next month and a half. I'll return the second week of August but to blog sporadically for that month. Don't forget to become a part of Writers Support 4 U! We'll stay in touch throughout the summer and beyond, supporting and cheering each other on! Our twitter hashtag is #WS4U.


Here's a smaller logo:

Happy Summer Alleywalkers!! Don't forget to wear SUNSCREEN!!


(WINNERS: a copy of Christine Fonseca's book 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids goes to ~ Ingrid Dallal Fratz!! & a First Five Page Critique goes to ~ Nicole Zoltack!! Congrats!)

Book Spotlight: FLIP & ROW80 Progress

Title: Flip
Author: Martyn Bedford
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release Date: April 2011
Pages: 272


I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book to review.


Favorite Line/Passage: Alex dried himself clumsily, shaking so much he dropped the towel. His legs were hairier and more muscular, too, he noticed. When he went to pee, he had the next shock. Two shocks at once: a) pubes; b) size. No. No way. It'd be like holding another boy's thing for him while he peed. He did it sitting down, like a girl, hurriedly brushed his teeth and left the bathroom as quickly as he could so that he wouldn't have to look at himself in the mirror any longer.


Description: One December night, 14-year-old Alex goes to  bed. He wakes up to  find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country, and it's the middle of June. Six months have disappeared overnight. The family at the breakfast table are total strangers.
And when he looks in the mirror, another boy's face stares back at him. A boy named Flip. Unless Alex finds out what's happened and how to get back to his own life,  he may be trapped forever inside a body that belongs to someone else.  

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY + 1

My Splats: Flip is a story for the soul-searcher ~ anyone who's ever pondered what it's really like to me, myself, and I. And if the chance to be someone else presented itself, should and/or would you take it? It's a tale about courage and growth, finding one's true self and the layer beneath the daily grind to fit in and survive. 


The narration is engaging and thought-provoking, even charming at points, as the reader is introduced to fourteen-year-old Alex, who suddenly finds himself in another teenage boy's body that is nothing like his own. Said body belongs to a boy named Phillip or better known as Flip, who is more handsome, more muscular, more athletic, and definitely more popular--especially with the girls.


What teen wouldn't want to be a little more than average without doing the work him/herself?


Alex is likable from the first mention of his name. He's average ~ a teen in attitude, attire, and carefree spirit. He also has an honest quality about him that shines through. He's a thinker, a planner, a rational character. I enjoyed how Alex began questioning himself as Alex yet must react to his surroundings as Flip. Alex as Flip is thrown into a few scenarios that are unfamiliar to him, such as being on the lacrosse team and uh-hum, girls--which adds a spice of humor to the tale. 


The more the reader learns about Alex, watching him act and react to his situation, the more personal the story becomes. The reader empathizes with Alex and questions, "What would I do? What would I feel?" 


He'd love to go home, but that means leaving this body which just helped him get his first kiss. And how's he supposed to return to his body anyway? In trying to figure out Flip and what to do, Alex discovers himself and an inner strength he didn't know he had, which will be shortchanged if he doesn't find a way to flip back. As the story comes to its climax, Alex realizes how to flip the switch and maybe change back. But that could mean hurting the only person during this whole fiasco he's yet to meet ~ Phillip aka Flip. Can he do it?


The teen years are all about discovering who we are and who we want to be. But it's also about self-acceptance. Would we truly change who we are if given the chance? What would it mean if the me others knew was gone? 


There you have it. My review.


As far as my ROW80 Progress report, I'd like to elaborate more in my post on Friday. But why then don't you take a gander over to peek at what my wonderful Support Partners have been up to:  C.Lee McKenzie, Susan Kaye Quinn, & Margo Berendsen.