Writery Wednesday's Cover Lovin'

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE when a book cover corresponds with the contents in some way. For example: One of the ones I'm reading now, on the cover is the background art. There is a swirly thing in the middle that appears at the heading of each chapter. It's a stupid little thing that entertains me no end.

I just love when something inside the book corresponds well with the cover. If the cover is a metaphor for the theme or a character in the book, I love to figure it out. If there are swirly things all over the book and they appear in the novel itself, love it. Sabriel had those neat little signs at the heading of each chapter that were like the symbols she had to draw throughout the whole book. And how you get to see what Nix is describing when he tells us about the bells. Things like that.

On the opposite side, I HATE when the cover is wrong, doesn't have anything to do with the book, or anything! It is very very hard for me to forgive. It doesn't ruin the whole book or anything but it sure does taint it.

A book I read not too long ago described a male character and man, he was nice sounding! And generally, I overlook when a character doesn't look exactly like I picture. It's normal. BUT I can't overlook when a character is described with, oh lets say, shoulder length blonde shaggy hair, and the cover guy has short cropped, spikey hair. Ehem. Really?

You see the cover every single time you pick up the book. You relate the story you're reading to that cover every time you see it. How can it NOT correspond?

I have big dreams for a beautiful cover for INTO one day. Do you dream of your own covers too? 


< sketch I drew for INTO a while ago.



Do you have cover crushes? Some are amazing! Do you mind when a cover doesn't represent the novel well? Does it matter to you either way?


 Instead of NaNoWriMo this month, it has turned into CriParMo. Which stands for Critique Partner Month. I get the very great privileged to read not for just one writer but 2!! This thrills me.  I love it! I love to read and help and be amazed at amazingly talented people.


So that is how I will be occupying myself this month instead of working on my own stuff. Come end of November beginning of December I will be getting back to my own writing, working in the changes my own crit partner has found for me to make.

January I want to be able to send it off to a new pair of eyes. And hopefully a few months later I can be completely, 100% satisfied with INTO. SO, the tentative absolute finished date for INTO will be March. I only say that here, for you all to read, so I will stick to my plan and hopefully squash my inner procrastinator for a little while.


How's NaNo going for you so far? Are you making your own month instead of Nano this month? Editing, finishing, revising month for you?

I bought my cloak and tickets Monday. Just need a nice, quality mask for my Death Eater get-up to be finished! Unfortunately, I will be alone in my group of two as dressing up. My friend and movie partner wont be joining me. He is very tolerant of my need for dressing up (the Victoria costume for Twilight did nothing to deter him from my company.) but he doesn't participate. Boo.

 They said at the theater, they are selling out pretty quickly. So, I advise if you want to get in for the midnight show, you get the tickets soon!

And finally:


Okay, wait, this is last: So, I'm 1 follower away from having 1-freaking-hundred! I'm...flabbergasted, befuddled, woozlebanked...ok I made that one up but...whatever.

So, I don't say this to be all go me er nuttin' (that's Southern for I went to community college) I say it to wonder, what are you guy's favorite kinds of contests? Easy, mind-numbing just comment and you're in? Or an actual goal to accomplish to get entered?

AND would you rather have a gift card or straight books?

For my 100 contest, I want it to be something fun YOU guys decided on. After all, it is thanks to you I'm giving! So let me know your choices and I'll supply something great for you!


HERE is a post about Character Planning for all you NaNo-ers!

HERE is a great blog post on over-done and cliche novel stuffs by Sara @ Glass Cases(an associate literary agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd.)


Happy Writery Wednesday!

Awards for me, awards for you!

Firstly: This has been brought to my attention thanks to an amazing blogger, Lisa Galek @ Read. Write. Repeat,  who's debt I am now in. What I'm talking about is Leakycon 2011! I have to go. That's all there is to it. HAVE TO GO. Who's in?!?!?!?!
*************************************************************
Upon farther calculations, I don't believe I will be able to budget enough to go! MORTIFIED!!!! But, I suppose having a roof over our heads and food are just two non-negotiable things at this point. Oh, Harry...I have failed! Oh well. Maybe next year!

And there is a small chance you will find me in a death eater ensemble for the midnight showing of HP this month...Would you all still follow me? Or would I sign back on to, like, 3 followers? haha! I LOVE to dress up for movies, you guys!!

I blame him for this Leakycon debacle. If you don't already, I highly suggest following Lord Voldemort@Lord_Voldemort7 on twitter if you're in the mood for hilarity and uncensored evil. I also must credit Lisa Galek for introducing me to him on twitter. She is just a secret treasure box for Harry Potter goodness.

This one took a little while to finally post but here it is! Two more awards have been gifted to me, and I am super, fanastigasmically amazed at the blogging world. You have no idea how touched, pleased, happified I feel every time I log on and read blogs and get comments. It's just...ugh. So nice.

Enough sap, lets get to it!


This one comes from Quinn over at Seeing, Dreaming...writing. An amazing honor to be qualified as an Irresistible Blogger! WoW! But Quinn definitely is too. So check him out pronto!

He didn't think there was a stipulation to accepting this award so I'm going to say there isn't too and just enjoy its prettiness!
I can't not pass it along to blogs I can't seem to stay away from so:

Matthew Rush @The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment
Talli Roland 
Abby Minard @ Above Water
Alex Cavanaugh 
Jennifer Hiller 
Melissa @ Through the Looking Glass





This one comes from amazing author Alex Cavanaugh whos debut novel (just released!) CassaStar is in the Top 5 List of Best Debut Sci-fi Books by New Writers!  How cool is that?! I urge anyone who doesn't know this brilliant author to check him out!

 My five favorite words today are: 

Phantasmagoria - A fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery, as seen in dreams or fever.

Incognito(its fun to say and to do.)

Poppycock(self-explanatory.)

Steak(because nothing bad ever comes from someone mentioning steak.)

and Hell (Because I say it a lot. As in: "Awe...hell..." "what the hell!?" "hell if I know" "who the hell knows")

Passing this one on to:
Andy @ Writing Myself Crazy
Madeleine @ Scribble and Edit
Nicole Zoltack @Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight

And lastly:(this cut off when I watched it mid  sentence, but still worth the watch if you're interested)

Just for Halloween Funzies

Happy Halloween all! (I would love to give credit to whomever made this picture but I found it on a google search with nothing but the picture on the page so If anyone knows, please help out.)

I dedicated an entire post to my love for this Spooky-Gouly-Creepy-Fun holiday, so I won't subject you to a second. Just wanted to wish you all a great day!

The candy is one of my most favorite parts. I get all Homer thinking about it all. YUM. So, I'll be slipping into a sugary coma and enjoying fun kids constumes, if anyone needs me.

Also getting pretty excited about Tron. So here is a new trailer featuring the amazing musical talent of Daft Punk. Don't judge me. I never claimed to NOT be nerdy


.

This is my pumpkin. It's a horrible quality picture, my phone is a sorry camera, promise it looks better in real life. But...oh well! You can see our McDonalds cups waiting for the trash too. Classy. See you all Monday!

 




HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Funny Friday with a TWIST

Here we are, on the last day of my Getting to Know You series. It's been fun, informative, and I just love getting to know you all a little bit more! So, lets keep it rolling on a Funny Friday!

Everyone gets a hankerin for some internet comedy. And when the bug bites we usually all go to our favorite funny hot spots. Be them jokes, videos, or whatever.

So this Friday I'm taking a little break from providing you with the chuckles(No. Not because I have nothing this week. Ya' smart ass...) and I want to know:

Where do you go to get a laugh? What cracks you up every time?

So, my fine furry friends, Show Me Your Favorite Funnies!! 

Cause, I can't possibly leave you with just a blond joke:



And, because I have enjoyed this week very much, I will share with you my favorite go to video. It will always make me smile when I'm having a bummer day.Why? You got me. I guess I'm  just that easily amused.

Your turn! Show me how you get your jollies, friends.  Aaaaaaaaaand GO!

They pick, they burp, they let one fly. They're writers.

FACT: If in a book description lies the phrase: "Could be described as Twilight at Hogwarts", it is 100% guaranteed I will NEVER read that book.

I don't know about you guys, but there is a lot of hate for word verification in comments around the blog world. It annoys me occasionally but mostly it doesn't affect me one way or the other. But Monday I was given an excellent character name for my new WIP! So, my indifference for word verification has turned toward amusement. Until it annoys me again, anyway.

Continuing on our Getting to Know You...fest? I guess we'll call it.

How about you share some of your writing secrets today!
(for those of you who are book reviewers, I can't leave you out! I want to know you all too, and how you do what it is you do. So scroll down to find your sample questions!) 

WRITERS! 
How do you make you come out even in mundane things you need to write about? I have no idea. Honestly, I have no idea if I even accomplish it. I'm terrible at judging myself. To me, everything I write sounds blah and like just the same as someone else could have done. I'm told I have a decent writing voice though. That's why beta readers are so necessary!

What is the best advice you have heard/read and apply to your own writing? Said it before on here, but it's worth saying again: Back up your files! It's heartbreaking to think everything you have done is just....gone.

Where is your favorite place to write? Also shared before but I like to write at work. Weird, I know. But I get too distracted at home. Things to clean and fix, cats to bug me and get into shenanigans, naps to take...you know. And I know what you're thinking "how is work not distracting?" Honestly...I have no answer for that either. It's so much easier to tune things out there(and I don't mean that to be a bad thing toward my job b/c I love it and who I work for) but it's the truth. The atmosphere there is so calm and pleasant I can't help but write there.

How do you get into the writing mood? (little literature foreplay? little Marvin Gaye?) This is going to sound horribly unhelpful, but I'm always in the mood to write. That doesn't mean I always have something to write about, which can be the problem, but I always like doing creative things. So, if I'm in the mood to write with nothing to get out, I'll sketch or work on my blog, or do something else that can use that creative brain-side.

Do you write with the TV on, in silence, some good music? TV is the hardest distraction to write in but I can tune out anything if I try hard enough (which irritates my Hubs like you wouldn't believe, when I accidentally tune him out) but...I guess it is kind of a talent, being able to tune any noise out.

Do you have a notebook you keep on you at all times? One by the bed? I keep one in my computer case but that's it. If I don't have my notebook, I just type out a quick note on my cellphone.

Do you use dreams and incorporate them in your writing? Sometimes. Dreams can be a crazy awesome place to get inspiration for certain things/scenes/what-not.

How do you feel about dream sequences in novels? Not a big fan. I usually tend to skim over dream's in books. Not that they aren't well written or interesting, but I just don't care for the time waste. Usually dreams are used as a way for the reader to see things the writer has no other way of showing them. Feelings, foreshadowing, past. Not to say I haven't used them before, but INTO has NONE. And I'm kind of proud of that ha! I'm not trying to knock them, they can be useful and as a writer I totally get them but as a reader I don't care for them.

Do you write everything first then type it all up later? Nope, type first. I tried to write one out once and by the time It came time to type it out I was bored with the story and just quit it. It's in a notebook in the cabinet next to the-novel-that-shall-never-be-seen. Might revisit it one day though. But I will never do that again. Seems like a waste of an idea to just give it up because I don't want to type it out.

How many beta readers do you have? I have many volunteers but 2 serious ones and a few that just give me a hand here and there with certain things. I need to expand and gain a few more that I can trust and will be serious but it's hard to decide between people who you know you can trust to see it through and the ones who will flake out...

Do you schedule time for writing or snatch it wherever you can? I wing it. I decided while I'm unpublished I'm going to enjoy having a relaxed work schedule as far as writing goes and enjoy my journey. One day I will be on a time crunch, which will be amazing too just because that means I'm published, but for now I want to kick back and just enjoy and love every moment of this crazy career choice.

Do your family and friends support you or have you not told them? Yes. Or they just don't mention it. More so they don't mention it than anything else. I prefer it that way. The less attention I get about it in my personal life (because I'm not published) the more comfortable I feel. I don't want my family and friends stressing me out about it, and they don't. 


BOOK REVIEWERS SECTION!:

How do you pick your books to review? (obviously I have no answer for these)

Do you buy all your books, go to the library and stock up, or what?

Do you believe in tactful, honest reviews or are you just too darn sweet  to say much bad?

Do you set aside time to read and then time to write your reviews or wing it?

Do you make notes as you read or hope you'll just remember when it comes time to write the review?

Do you review YA, Romance, Westerns, Horror, Comedy, etc?

Do you have to be on the ball, grabbing up new releases as they come out (or before, if you are so lucky) or do you not mind being a little behind?

Do you think being behind hurts your audience numbers or doesn't matter?

Do you review books you know you wont care for, or aren't something you would ever read?

Do you get requests to review novels on your blog?


There you go!

Pick one, pick some, pick all--I don't mind, I just love to hear from you guys! This is turning out so much fun to learn all these things about you all!

Side note: My most fabulously awesome crit partner, Abby Minard@Above Water honored me with an award!!
For the award I give 7 random facts. My lordy! I'm running out, you guys!

1. I adore my husband and I's "shows". We have certain nights for certain shows(like most people) but it's such a nice, relaxing ritual after a long day at work, to come home to dinner and "our shows".
2. I hate hate hate hate being cold. I would rather be too hot ANY DAY! Snow is pretty and all, but only If I don't have somewhere to be or things to do.
3. I'd go barefoot every day if I could
4. My hubs can craft/ fix anything any handyman can, but is hopeless with electronics(I know its more a fact about him, but I'm seriously just looking around for inspiration.)
5.  I can't have any light at all in the room when I'm trying to sleep. It distracts me too much to close my eyes. Seriously. The curtain open just a crack and all I'll be able to do is stare at it. Won't be able to get to sleep.
6.  Biggest pet-peeve: When people don't put things back where they got them. Sound's totally momish doesn't it? Drives me INSANE.
7. I love a man with an interestingly different, sexy face.Normal hot is good but a guy that is sexy with an interesting face is just.......YUM.

Passing it along to 5 people: Lydia Kang who's Monday posts are probably one of my favorites! (medical monday facts. LOVE IT!) Quinn at seeing, dreaming ... writing needs this because he is blogging all this week with 3 inchish bird claws for Halloween right now.(How is that NOT versatile!) L.T. Elliot who is just so darn wise over on her blog! She's like a taller, more attractive yoda. Samantha Vérant who is either cracking me up or creepin' me out! and Misha @ My First Book who is always kind and has such a crazy hectic life, but still is able to blog and write!



Almost lastly, this gave me CHILLS! (are you getting tired of this yet? Because,  I lurv you guys and all...but me and HP met first...and that means I can't really care too much...sorry...)

And lastly:

HERE is why opening pages FAIL

Happy Writering Wed!(yes. it's gonna be a thing now)

Hang in there for Friday! My traditional Funny Friday post will need your help to succeed this week! Don't fail me now, blogger buddies! 

Did you see it?

(HOW COOL IS THAT PICTURE!? I'm just full of 'em.)

Couldn't resist. Tonight was the Rocky Horror Glee Show, which is epic. I LOVE RHPS and Glee so...yea. Awesome! I missed it, as I was being a nice wife and NOT subjecting my husband to things that make him uncomfortable (singing/musical, dramatic, teen-oriented shows. You thought I was gonna say transvestites didn't you?)

Will catch it tomorrow morning before work though, so don't effing ruin it or I will come through this computer SO FAST.

Hope you all enjoyed it, if Glee is your cup of TV-Tea!

Don't forget about tomorrow's Writering Wednesday Getting to Know You post!

You want to know about my WHAT?

So. Today is the kick off for my Getting to Know You Series.(Oh God, please let them get this reference)

This week is all about interacting with you guys. I read your blogs (those of you with blogs anyway) and you all (since you are reading this now) read my dribble. BUT we (most of you guys anyways. Some of us are good email buddies) don't really interact together. You know, commenting and what not with each other and the responding e-mails = all great! But this week is all about knowing one another. What fun is it to read someone's blog when you have no idea who they are!?(correct answer would be "little to none fun" I don't like to give pop quizzes without a little hint... or big hint.)

 Today will be all about random facts about one another, Wed. is going to be about writing facts, and Friday will be (as usual) all about the funny.

Lets kick off the Getting to Know You with a bunch of generic questions! (what could be better?)

• Where you named after anyone? (nope. My aunt picked my name and my dad spelled it "funny" because he doesn't like double letters side-by-side...but I like it!)    

• Do you like to write or type better? (write. Typing, I tend to ramble as its quick and easy. Writing I make everything count cause I don't want to waste the time on rambles.)

• Do you have kids? Husband? Wife?  (Nope. Yup. Nope.)

•  In school? Live at home(with the folks)? What grade? (Nope. Nope. Did some college for my business degree but didn't finish)

• Do you work (besides writing-to all my writer buds)?(yep. receptionist)

• If you were someone else would you be friends with you? (I doubt it. We would clash with each other)

• Have you ever bungee jumped? Sky dived? (want to! Someone go with me!)

• What is your favorite cereal? (depends on my mood but Lucky Charms and Frosted Flakes are always up there)

• What is your favorite thing to do? (I could easily take the raunchy route but I'll show a little class and say: spending time with my 4 best buds is always my fav. but only happens a couple times a year. Or drawing. Always a good time too.)

• Do you like to talk on the phone or text? (text. I HATE talking on the phone)

• Do you schedule time to keep up with blogs/ write your own blogs or just wing it? (wing it, mostly.)

• What is the first thing you notice about people? (Hair then posture then cloths)

• Favorite sports to watch? To play?(HOCKEY!! But I'm too damn clumsy to play any sport)

• Favorite author? (J.K.Rowling. Can't you tell by now?)

• What book are you reading? (Currently Match Me If You Can thanks to a kick ass blogger buddy!!)

• Favorite thing about your best friend? (Her heart. The most loving, kind, and beautiful person I have ever met)

• Do you like piercings/tattoos? (YES!)

• Do you have any?(expand) (11 tattoos, 26 piercings)

• Do you have a special talent? (sarcasm? making fun of things? forgetting things? I'm good at putting on makeup actually. Wanted to be a makeup effect artist for a long while. Never worked out)

• Cats or dogs? (cats. Have 5)

• Something random, first thing that pops in your head!(1. I don't paint my nails one solid color, I just can't. 2. My hair is naturally blond(suck on that!) but I dye the underside layer black as I have the same disorder about my hair that affects my nail polish-can't be all one color. umm...I could win the eye-rollympics if challenged. 4.I don't like idle chit-chat. 5. my middle finger on my right hand is crooked from the second knuckle to the tip. No idea why.)  

• Do you have a bad habit/annoying habit? I pick my nail polish off almost as quickly as I can put it on. I just stopped biting my nails about a year ago for the first time, and picking it off helps not to bite. It drives the Hubs crazy. Hates hearing me pick my nails.

•  How do you get mad? (I tend to get really country when I get mad. And studder. Then curse cause both make me even more mad. Though I am a born and raised southern girl, I don't sound too country most of the time because I grew up with my mom mostly and she is from the north so I got this...NO accent thing going on here in the south. But get me mad I get hillbilly faster an' a pole cat skitters upa dead stump...or something.)

• Do you have a style for yourself? (clothing) I just buy whatever I think is cute. I can't follow fashion well. I'm not a shoe loving, cloths hoarding, kind of girl. If I like a certain shoe I will wear it until they stop making them. This is not always a good policy as I tend to get stuck in a very unstylish item for long after it should be shot and killed. But...I'm happy :)

• How do you see yourself? (nerd, prep, jock, punk, goth, emo, someone younger than me can add more subgenres b/c I really can't think of more. Don't feel confined to these options) If we go as how I'm seen I have been told I'm intimidating, scary, confident, goth, funny, and nerdy at some point in my life. So, we'll just go with that as I can't answer this one.) 

•  What are you going to be for Halloween? Going trick-or-treating, handing out candy, or partying?(I have no costume this year. I haven't had time, unfortunately, to put one together. But I will help my mom with her's and were just handing out candy and watching scary movies this year. Skipping the parties.)

You are all so welcome to tell me all about yourselves, anything you want to share. You can answer my questions if you like too!

If you have any questions for me as well please don't hesitate to ask! 


HERE are 5 ways to make you novel inescapable.




 HERE you can make your own Undesirable No. 1 POSTER!!!
It was fun.  (see how I waited till the post was over to give you something fun to distract yourself with? I learned!)


Check back Wed for some writery-type getting to know you questions!