Want a critique?

I'm not sure why, but I kind of feel in the mood to do some critiques!! While I could go onto SYW on the AW forums and get busy, I thought I'd offer up my services to my followers first (okay why did that sound really sleazy?). If you'd like to get a critique of your first chapter or first 1500 words, go ahead and send it to my email address:

adktd2bks (at) yahoo.com. 

I'm envisioning that I might do this for a few weeks as it will motivate me to get my butt moving on my own new WIP. So at present, I will do a crit for everyone who sends me something, but if I start to get lots of them, i.e. too many for me to handle, then I might go to random drawings.

Please indicate what kind of crit you'd like:
1. general comments.
2. line by line suggestions.
3. tightening/editing - I'd only do this if I think you're at the stage where you could query soon.

Also, let me know what genre you're writing in. Paranormal, contemporary, dystopian, etc. I will assume it's YA unless noted otherwise. 

I prefer to read first chapters, but if you do send me something from the middle of your manuscript, please let me know that. And of course, don't participate unless you want honest feedback!!

Would You Rather??

My local radio station does a little segment once in a while called Would You Rather? Today's was kind of interesting so I pose the question to you:

Would you rather:
1. Live in a glass house, in the middle of somewhere really exposed (like the Mall of America) where everyone can see EVERYTHING that you do? You would still have internet, tv, phone, etc. but you can't leave.

OR

2. Would you rather live in a cabin out in Montana with no phone, no internet, no tv, just you, the cabin and nature. Also think, no take out, pizza, etc. Everything you cook would have to be done by hand, aka Walden-style.

For the purposes of this blog, you're allowed to have/bring as many books as you want. :) You MUST choose one or the other.

Me, I could live without all the gadgets of modern day, as long as I had my books, but having someone watch everything I do would drive me nuts!! I'd pick #2.

Please leave your choice. I'd love to hear what you think!!

Query letter blogfest

Since I'm in big procrastination mode and I know that I need to revise this query letter before I send out any more, I thought that I'd participate in the query letter blogfest hosted by Slice of the Blog Pie. To join in, just post your query letter, and then add your name to the list. Then pick 5 other query letters to crit. Here's my most recent query letter for Nikki's Wish, my YA paranormal, set at 87K words. I'm thinking it needs to be tightened (currently at 200 words) any thoughts?? TIA.

Sixteen-year old Nikki Dreyer just wants a simple fairy tale. As in, after meeting a genie, she becomes his master, he grants her wish to bring her sister back from the dead, and the three of them go bungee jumping at the Minnesota State Fair. 

Unfortunately, magic can’t mend Nikki’s grief so easily. Sam, the genie in question, already has a master, Maxine, and this wicked witch of the Midwest has no interest in resurrecting dead sisters.  

Nikki buddies up to Maxine, gaining her trust and learning what Maxine loves best – hurting Sam. Nikki bonds with Sam too and discovers that there’s more to his magic than conjuring beefcake androids. With Sam’s support, Nikki finds the courage she needs to accept the permanence of death.  Ironically, that’s when a plan to trick Maxine into wishing Sam free – and get her sister back - takes shape. 

Moving on is good, but thwarting death is priceless. Throw saving a sweetheart like Sam into the mix, and Nikki has plenty of reasons to see her fairy tale through. But happy endings aren’t guaranteed because if Maxine catches on to Nikki’s plan, she’ll turn Sam into a loaded weapon... and Nikki will be his target.

ipad randomness

So my husband bought an ipad about 3 weeks ago, and I thought that I'd share my observations thus far (and give each points for yay or nay):

1. Awesome for reading EPUB books checked out from the library. +5 pts
2. Great for getting my son more interested in reading. He likes anything electronic. +10 pts
3. Sucks cuz I can't take it to the pool. -5 pts
4. My three year old has become addicted to smashing watermelons in the game he calls fruit smash. = BAD!! -3 pts
5. Equally BAD, a game where the three year old can smash bugs - guts included. -3 pts
6. I'm constantly worried when my sons set it on their lap without anything between the machine and their um... privates. Explaining to a 3 yr old that he has to protect his pee-pee is strange. Reminding the 9 year old is just plain awkward. -3
7. My two sons and daughter fight over it constantly and would rather watch a movie on it, crowded together on the couch, than spread out in front of the tv. +2 pts for togetherness.
8. Because of 2,4,5 and 6, I never get to use it until they go to bed. -5 pts
9. Cat's hair sticks to it. -1
10. Overall sleek look, design, cool-ness factor. +3

Overall grade: zero.

Yep, I think I could have done without it. I do like it for reading library books, but I never really get the chance with the kiddies snagging it all the time. Plus, I think I still love my paper and ink better. :)

Do you have an ipad or other reading device? What's your verdict? It's okay, I won't hold it against you either way.

TGIF!!

 Getting a head start on my weekend - that is my head is in the clouds dreaming of all I'm going to accomplish over the next two and a half days (hey, Friday night counts right?).

1. Finish City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. I've barely started it, but I'm already digging the plot. A lot more about Simon, who is starting to bump Jace out of the favorite character spot. Sorry, Mel!!

2. Spiff up the last 2500 words that I wrote last weekend - they were really BAD. Hehe... Hoping to get at least one more scene written by Sunday night.

3. Clean up the yard. My perennial garden is a mess, the grass looks like someone decided to make it into a checkerboard, and hubby is complaining about the ivy growing up to the chimney. Lots of back breaking work involved, though if it snows tomorrow I may put it off.

4. Lots of general putzy stuff like clothes to be washed and homework to get done and kitty to take to the vet.

That's about it, but for inspiration, I'm going to leave you with a photo I found earlier this week that makes me feel like I've stepped right into my new WIP. Can you name this famous 1960's couple?

Quick quote of the week

"The world in which you were born is just one model of reality.

Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you; 

they are unique manifestations of the human spirit." 

by Wade Davis

Meet our new family member!!

Meet the newest member of our family!!

Things we know about her:

She's 10 months old

She already had kittens - poor thing!

She DOESN'T like cars - she escaped her box on the way home and spent the rest of the time curled in my lap growling. 

She LOVES her scratching post - and I'm crossing my fingers that continues.

She doesn't have a name yet. Carissa suggested 1. Precious 2. Love Kitty 3. Sallie

Ethan has vetoed Buffy, but I think a cat this little (6 lbs) needs a tough name.I'll keep you posted.

Contest news!!

Karla Nellenbach is having a contest over on her blog The Last Word and is giving away not 1, not 2, not even 3, but 4 books!! All are new releases that come out in May.And look, I even give you the titles with the links to her reviews and everything. So go to The Last Word and enter. Or don't, cuz then I'll have a better chance. *evil grin*

SHINE by Lauren Myracle.  (read my review here) release date: May 1, 2011

MAGNOLIA LEAGUE by Katie Crouch (read my review here) release date: May 3, 2011

GIRL WONDER by Alexa Martin (read my review here) release date: May 3, 2011

IN FRONT OF GOD AND EVERYBODY by KD McCrite (read my review here) release date: May 10, 2011

140 character pitch contest over at Is It Hot in Here

So I'm a little late with the blog promo. Busy, busy weekend, but there's still a little time - eh, about 16 hours?? Anywho, Shelley Watters is doing an epic 140 character pitch contest on her blog, and the winner gets a full manuscript critique from none other than super-agent Susie Townsend!! Try to say that 10 times fast. :) If nothing else, go check out the Shelley's blog and follow the links on how to write a pitch - it's really helpful!