It's Time to Get Back to Mention Mondays

Since I still haven't quite gotten my crap together to be ready to post better, I've decided to use a few days to mention some people that I haven't talked about in a while. I feel bad not posting my Mention Mondays and there are so many people I think everyone should know. (I also figured what better time than after Friday's awesome post. :D ) I'll be spending this week and next mentioning a few awesome peeps. (Mon/Wed/Fri)

So today it's all about the fantastically awesome woman who is in the social media scenes big time-Jean Oram. She is a writer, handing out writerly advice and helping hands/eyes/etc to all writers, all while working on her own writerly things. But that's not all she does, she also runs a website dedicated to kids play, all while posting fun ideas to get kids active, independent, and for people to just get involved with making sure the kids in their life are happy and having fun.

Wait, that's not it...Jean is also SUPER Mod over at Agent Query Connect. Yep, she finds time between all the other amazingly awesome things she does, to be even more amazingly awesome. She volunteers as super mod. Helping other writers and helping to keep the site in order.

One last thing, she does all of this amazing stuff while taking care of two kids, one being a toddler...

Yes, that's right, this woman is AMAZINGLY AWESOME. (In case you didn't get that yet :P ) She's one of the best people I've met since diving into the writerly world and I'm so happy to know her. I've learned a lot from her, things that help my writing, things that help keep my kids entertained, and even that there are people out there who can be so fantastic and still so giving and thoughtful.

So, there it is. Jean Oram is awesome, go check her out.

Jean's blog
She also posts on From the Write Angle blog
Jean's writer Facebook page
Jean's twitter
It's All Kids Play
It's All Kids Play Facebook page
Kids Play on twitter
And if you'd like to know a little bit more about Jean, here is her TAG.

If you don't know Jean,you should. And if you do know her, well, you must already know about her awesomeness and therefore sorry for writing an entire post about something not so new to you. :D

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. (See you Wednesday for the mention of another awesome person) :)

Mention Monday - Awesome Peeps

So, there are some people who deserve a shout out just because. These people comment on my blog all the time-regardless if I can make it to theirs or not, tweet about my blog and retweet my tweets, and they #FollowFriday me quite often. They are awesome peeps who deserve to be mentioned, they deserve recognition.

First up, because I suppose it's possible that someone does not know this awesome guy, Alex J Cavanaugh. Blogger, author of CassaStar and CassaFire, and all around great person.

Next up is an awesome woman who is making a name for herself not only in the parenting world, but the writer world also. Jean Oram is the wonderful woman behind the awesome Kid's Play site, she's got a story coming out in an anthology soon, and she's super mod over at AQC. Jean can be found in so many places so, click here for the links.

E.M. LaBonte is a writer, blogger, and such an awesome chick. She mentions people all the time, does shout outs constantly, and she's just so sweet and too kind.

Jacqueline Gardner is the author of a few awesome books (links: here, here, and here) and she's just released her latest along with a GIVEAWAY-Woot! Go check her out and look her books up, I'm a big fan and I definitely recommend them.

Caterina Torres is a blogger (and she's finally enabled comments on her blog-woot!), author of Zombie Whisperer-a book that puts a bit of a spin on your average zombies and all without the major gore, and she's an overall genuinely sweet and awesome lady.

I want to wrap this up so, I'm going to make a list of a few more awesome peeps, there's just so many...

Kendra (she also gave me an award that I need to post about.)
Utsav - Blog
Brighton - Same as Utsav's and he's also got the kickstarter project happening until August 8.
SC
CharleeVale
DL Hammons

(And one more thing I wanted to mention: There is an open submissions going on for an anthology. Check out the details at The Elephant's Bookshelf. Writers, check it out-deadline is Aug 17.)

Okay, I know that's a lot of links, but these people are so worth the mentions. Please check 'em out if you haven't already.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you have a wonderful week. :)
Happy Monday Everyone! :D

Mention Monday - Book Releases and More

I have quite a few mentions for today...

One, for anyone who does not know it yet...The AWESOME Ali Cross just released her second book in the Desolation Series. AND to make this even more awesome? I'm having a GIVEAWAY!!! So, click RIGHT HERE to go enter for a chance to win not only an eBook of DESOLATE, but an eBook of BECOME (book one in the Desolation Series) as well. And then check Ali's website out for all the awesomeness that is her. :D

Next up, a friend of mine from AQC has a book that was just released on Amazon yesterday. THE MAGIC IN THE RECEIVER by Paul Dillon. Paul is an awesome guy and his book sounds intriguing. It will take you on a journey to the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia.  Check it out. :)

Another announcement of sorts for myself...I've signed up for a blogfest hosted by the awesome ladies over at Falling For Fiction. The fest is called Hookers and Hangers-things like this title is part of what makes that group of ladies so awesome. (The little picture there on the left-perhaps you may need to scroll down a little-will send you to the linky list if you'd like to sign up). On next Monday (July 16) I'll be posting my 'hookers'-The first sentence of each chapter from my MS, CREATED: WITH LOVE. And then, on Wednesday (July 18), I'll post my 'hangers'-The last sentence of each chapter. It's exciting, so come back by next week and check it out. :)

Now I want to mention a few people/blogs/books-some I've mentioned before, but they're awesome enough that I'd like to give them another shout-out...

Lori Sjoberg: I had a Thursday TAG! with her a few weeks back and she didn't have any links yet. Now, she has a Facebook and a website. Check 'em out. Lori is AWESOME!

Kendra Conine: I just did a TAG! with her last Thursday and she's still building her blog following, so check her out if you haven't yet.

SC: He's a writer and also a new Tweep and blogger. I can only give you his initials because that's all I know. (He likes to be anonymous at the moment. :p  ) But he's still awesome, so check him out.

Utsav M and Brighton L: These two witty characters have their blog, Pineapple Lightning. The blog is still new and they're building a following. Plus, they like to do query crits and author interviews.

Jacqueline Gardner: I've not mentioned her in a while. I have a TAG! with her here though, so check that out. Also, she's got a few books out...Mutiny, Thoughtless, Jade, and Crystal. I've got Mutiny and Thoughtless on my TBR, but I can say that her short stories-Jade & Crystal- are great reads.

Jean Oram: This awesome lady has been a topic in a few posts. She's the super mod over at AQC. She's an awesome writer, who also (if I'm remembering correctly) has a short story coming out in an anthology. (I'll post about that anthology when it's out. :)  ). She also did a TAG!-here- and she's got a Facebook page and website all about fun activities to do with the kids in your life. (Her site is for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else who has a child in their life in anyway. Plus, some of the activities on her It's All Kids Play site are fun in general. Maybe just some ideas for the kid at hear. ;)  ). So, check her out as well.

That's going to wrap up my mentions for today. I think I've done enough. There are always a ton of people I want to talk about, so if I don't cut myself off I'd go on and on. :D

I hope y'all have an AWESOME Monday!

Happy Mentioning. :)

Something Sunday

Since I had the amazing Jean Oram on my blog this past Thursday, I thought I would give her KidsPlay site a shout out.

It's All Kids Play is a place where you can go to find fun activities and parenting tips. Jean offers tons of fun stuff to keep your little ones occupied. She also gives things that will help keep you occupied with them. She also tweets tips and fun activities @KidsPlay. I don't have much else to say except if you have kids, grandkids, niece(s)/nephew(s), or know some who has any of them--GO CHECK IT OUT!

I've found tons of stuff to do with my little ones and I know you will find something fun to do.

So, one more time: It's All Kids Play go check it out.


Happy Sunday :)

Thursday TAG! - Jean Oram

This week's TAG! is coming at you from Jean Oram. You can find Jean on her site (where she blogs), on twitter @jeanoram & @KidsPlay, on AQC being Super Moderator, she has a site for kids stuff, a blog about kids stuff here, Facebook for writer stuff and parenting stuff, and she's on Pinterest.

Whew, she's a very busy woman! Yet she still found time for my Q&A. (Thanks Jean!)

1. When did you start writing?
About 5 years ago I sat down, and giggling, decided I wanted to write a novel. And I did. It really sucked but it was a TON of fun to write.

2. What made you want to write?
I have no idea. It was like a recessive gene that suddenly kicked in one day. I haven't looked back.

3. When did you decide you wanted to write to be published? (As opposed to writing just to write)
Pretty much when I started writing. I figured if I was going to write a novel I should try to get it published. I mean, why not?

4. What genre(s) do you write?
I started in chick lit, then started doing some women's fiction which lead to commercial fiction and finally some middle grade children's fiction. I also write nonfiction.

5. Why that(those) genre(s)?
I'm all over the place. I write what strikes me, evidently.

6. Do you have any particular ritual when you write? (A specific way things are done during the process)
Nope. None whatsoever. Every book I've written has been different. The only thing similar is a computer, the couch and some tea. But that has all varied too. So nothing I could tag as a ritual.

7. Do you use an outline, or do you just start writing?
I've done both. I'm starting to settle into having a rough idea before I write as sort of a plotster/pantster hybrid. The more I write, the more I add to the outline/idea. I try to stay ahead of myself although sometimes I have to work backwards. I'm not much good at being strictly one or the other.

8. Is there something you MUST have when you're writing? (Aside from the typical writer tools-computer, pen, paper, etc.)
Nope. Although having no distractions really helps. I get frustrated when I get interrupted all the time. It doesn't exactly bring out the best in me.

9. Do you write out your story on paper and then transfer to a computer, or straight to the computer?
Computer all the way. I do some brainstorming and note taking on paper sometimes. Paper is good for working through what-next, ideas, confusions, etc.

10. How many books/short stories have you written? (Published or not, even those you wrote and then thought-what the hell?)
I've got three stories in progress (a commercial fiction, children's fiction and a short story). It's driving me nuts but my writing time is sort of weird and hit or miss at the moment. I've got a first draft waiting for me that I wrote during NaNo a few years ago--it's chick lit and since I kept getting chick lit rejections despite compliments on my writing because chick lit is hard to sell… it sits there. :(

I've three finished chick lit novels (2 of which really suck--I call them finished because I don't think I will ever go back to them) and a women's fiction story sitting there and finally, the nonfiction children's book out on submission. So, I think that's something like 9 or something. I just did my taxes so my math is used up for a few days.

11. Is there, or has there been, anyone in your life (real or online) who thought you being a writer is/was just another hobby? Or that you are/were wasting your time as a writer?
I don't tell people in my real life that I write and the folks I hang out with online (and know I write) are serious writers. So, no. I avoid situations where I might have to defend myself and what I do.

12. Do you do Social Media sites? If so, which ones? If not, why don't you?
Yep. I have been addicted to AgentQueryConnect since 2007. I've learned a TON from the people there, met my critique partners, and got a tip/in from a friend/critique partner which led to gaining an agent.

I love Twitter. I love to learn what's out there and learn new things (one of things I love most about writing) so social media is awesome for connecting with other like-minded individuals.

I also blog both on my own site and with other AQCers on From The Write Angle. I'm working on getting into Facebook and finding the fun there as I think that might be where my audience is for one of my projects.

13. Any advice for writers that makes you cringe every time you hear it? (I know there is some cringe-worthy advice still worth following, so only advice you don't follow.)
I can't think of any offhand. I'm sure there is a ton. The thing with advice is what might be the best advice ever for one person might be the worst advice ever for another.

14. How do you find the time to write, tweet, blog at your personal blog and From The Write Angle, be a Super Mod over at AQC, manage your awesome Kids Play site, AND be a mom to two little ones (especially since I know a one year old must keep you very, very busy)?
Did I mention I also do some freelance editing? (I think I might be trying to achieve too much.)

When you list it all... um, I'm not sure how I manage it! I definitely don't do as much as I did a year ago. But basically, I don't spend a lot of time on my hair or making my house perfect. And I sort of focus on one thing at a time. Efficiency is key. I'm also pretty protective over nap time. That is my time to spend at my computer either writing or doing that other stuff you mentioned. (During the week only as weekends are family time.) I also don't watch much in the way of tv or movies. (0-3 hours a week.) I do read a lot though! I like to average about 3-4 books a month.

As for moderating over at my cyber home-away-from-home, AgentQueryConnect, there is a fantastic group of moderators now and that really helps. Plus, the people who participate on AQC are so great that usually all that's needed is simply helping others and I love doing that. I wish I had more time for that. I could spend all day helping other writers--and before my son was born, sometimes I did!

Honestly, right now I feel like I am not doing a very good job on any of the above (except parenting--that always comes first). I'm doing the minimum, but trying to do it with quality. Sometimes it's frustrating trying to do all that I want to do and not having the time and triaging everything. For example, this month my afternoon writing time has been usurped by getting my itsallkidsplay.ca site revamped. But it needs to be done. So, what can you do?


15. Being so busy, is there ever a time when a great idea pops into your head but by the time you are able to jot it down, it's gone?
No, usually they nag at me and drive me crazy because I can't act on them all. (Really driving me nuts!!) Plus, I've learned over time to always write ideas down. I have notes and notebooks all over the place. That helps.


16. Did your kids inspire you to want to write middle grade (well, at least one of your kids) or did the desire come from somewhere else?
Several things started that one. One was seeing an agent keep asking for it on her blog. Another was the fact that those stories are blessedly shorter which means I feel like I am actually getting somewhere when I write in the snippets of time I manage to snag. Plus, I can keep focussed on the plot--I haven't forgotten it and half the characters by the time I've written for a month or two. And, as I have discovered, it is a TON of fun to write.


17. Where do you get the ideas for your Kids Play site?
www.itsallkidplay.ca started when I saw a cool teepee in a magazine. Since my eldest wasn't big enough at the time to appreciate it, I wrote the idea down. That opened a door in my mind and by the end of the week I had several hundred ideas. Now I have hundreds and hundreds! I think having a fun and free childhood helps with finding creative things to do. Right now I am working on revamping the website. I hope to make it even better!

18. I read chick lit, and know a couple of fabulous chick lit writers. Do you have any thoughts on why chick lit is so hard to sell?
The market got flooded a few years ago (or so I hear) to the point where publishers were cancelling contracts. I think it will take awhile for that to cool down. I hope it will become easier for agents to sell again in the future. But, if you have the right story, it doesn't matter that the market is full, there is always room for someone who is awesome.

19. What do you do when you aren't writing?
I hang out with my family, play outdoors, read, try to get the house back in order.


20. Any words of wisdom for anyone who is thinking of becoming a writer, or just something you think all writers should know?
Enjoy it.  Always learn. Don't be afraid to fail. You can't know everything about writing right out of the gate. Look at failure as a way to learn and improve. And again, enjoy it.