Showing posts with label Neitherlands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neitherlands. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Why You Should Never Rework an Old Story, IWSG, & Fantasy Giveaways


THANK YOU, CO-HOSTS!

The awesome co-hosts for today are Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!

Led by Ninja King, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The question this month is: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?

A BIG fat YES to this. I have story folders that go all the way back to 1994, so most of my ideas are half written pieces that have been around for years, if not decades. However, in this instance, the piece I'm talking about was originally penned in 2003. It was MAJORLY rewritten about 5 times, with at least a hundred edits along the way, but the story saw its debut in 2013:


I think I'd call that a success. =)

In fact, I'm reworking another book originally penned in 2001. (Due to see the world around 2019ish.) Want a quick sample?



Wow. You can see how much you've grown as a writer when you decide to rework a relic. Regardless, if a story is solid, a story is solid, right? And if you love it enough, why not bring it up to the modern age? I know not all people agree with me, but some of us actually love to edit. *gasp*

So why should you never rework an old story? You might have to chop 90% of what you originally loved. If you can't go in objectively--with a big pair of scissors and determination to reshape EVERYTHING--stay far, far away from trunked works.

Now a quick apology about this last month. I completely disappeared after IWSG. It wasn't intentional...but well, more on that next month. Exciting news on the horizon.


Last month, Cecelia Earl (Aka Christy) shared WHEN ASH RAINS DOWN along with two truths and one lie. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to win their choice of a Print or eBook.

The game:

1. I've run a couple of miles...with no clothes on, and even saw a professor run in the nude once.
2. I've taught more than 300 children how to read and write.
3. Rather than visiting the normal sites to see when travelling through Europe and Great Britain, I chose to see cemeteries instead. Who needs to snap pictures of the Eiffel tower, Big Ben, or the Colosseum when there are graves to put flowers on?

The lie: #3.  

From Cecelia/Christy: I lied. I totally fangirl over the regular sights every time I visited these countries, especially the Eiffel Tower since I minored in French, but I did make  point of visiting Audrey Hepburn's grave in Tolochenaz, Switzerland. I very much wanted to put flowers on my idol's grave.

And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Congrats, Doreen!

And now for a YA fantasy you don't want to miss:

Princess Haven was never meant to be Queen.

Her immortality has saved her time and time again, but when the last of her royal family dies at her feet, she is next in line to rule a nation on the brink of war. With no formal training on how to be Queen, Haven must rise to the occasion with the help of her best friends, and personal guard, or risk losing everyone she has ever loved.

With war to the West, and no escape to the East, the evil tyrant Kadia sets her sights on the six kingdoms. Haven's neighbors are quick to fall under the swords of Kadia's shadow soldiers, leaving a sea of bodies and a clear path to Haven's only home. Haven must make a choice; take her people and flee to the foreign Republic across the sea or lead a last stand against a powerful dictator.

Buy your copy on Amazon.

Ready to meet the author?

Katherine Bogle's debut young adult novel, Haven, came second in the World's Best Story contest 2015. She currently resides in Saint John, New Brunswick with her partner in crime, and plethora of cats. She can be found at www.katherinebogle.com.

You might run across her eating marble cheese or monterey jack in little cracker sandwiches while sitting on her couch. She also recommends melted cheese on popcorn. "Holy yum!"

Katherine gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. BIG CHANGE HERE. If you guess the lie, right or wrong, you will be entered to win an eBook of HAVEN. However, if you guess right (and are randomly chosen to win), you'll receive a bonus prize from Katherine: FYRE, a collection of short stories(Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, March 14 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answer on March 15, 8 a.m. EDT.
TRUTH OR LIE

1. The second time I ever voted, I was nearly killed on the way to the polls.
2. To tell my first ever crush that I liked him, I chased him around the school yard until I kissed him. He was an a**hole to me in high school. Well deserved? Maybe.
3. I once had 8 cats (seriously, all at the same time).

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you met Katherine? Do you like fantasy stories? Are you an editor at heart? Have you ever resurrected a story/old project?

Monday, May 23, 2011

Power of Tension Blogfest

First of all, I'm trying out a new look for my blog. It's been a long time coming, but today, today is the day. So what do you think? 

Next, I introduce you to the 


Thanks Cally Jackson and Rachel Morgan for hosting an awesome blogfest! 

From the completed MS: Neitherlands, Awakening
MG Fantasy

Blurb: When one considers all the poor, miserable, unimportant creatures of the Neitherlands, Kiri doesn’t even make the radar. She has no past. She has no future. She is a child alone… Until the summoning draws her into the presence of an extinct race: a wizard.

According to him, she is the last thing that stands between a mad warlock and her world’s annihilation. She alone knows where to find the missing High King—if she can just remember! Caught between the yearning to reunite with her family and the terror of surviving an ominous adversary’s attacks, she is the Neitherland’s only hope. 

The ENTRY:

Kiri dashed up the never-ending staircase breathing hard. She stumbled, slipped, and smacked her knee. It throbbed. In the quiet, hurried footsteps echoed from not far below.


She glanced behind, chest seizing in terror. Limping up, she dashed blindly around the corner and smashed into a solid wooden door.


The magic door... 


“Open!” she commanded, throwing her shoulder into it. Nothing happened.

“Open, please!” she begged, and hurled herself at it again. Instead of hitting wood, she tumbled through its opening and onto a moonlit outcropping. Night air filled her lungs. 


She got up and rushed to the brink. Distant ground disappeared through forming clouds. They billowed darkly, storm in tow. 


It was so high! Sickened and dizzy she stumbled backwards. Now was a terrible time to be afraid of heights.

Kiri turned back toward the open door, reaching for her dagger. 


Gone. No!

Lightning split the sky and a man stepped out onto the ledge.

Her heart seized. She couldn’t see his face and she didn’t want to, certain it held great satisfaction for the sinking of her heart.

“Ah, so good to see you again,” the stranger cooed. Moonlight hit his teeth--smiling like a jackal. “I hope he hasn’t filled your head with lies. Damien has a tendency to…exaggerate.” 


The seducing tone only pushed her further away. “Who are you?”

“I’m a friend.”

Rain began to spatter the mountain ridge.


“I don’t have any friends!” she screamed. “You killed them all!"

“Tut, tut.” He held out a hand, light finally catching those dark eyes. “Come with me.”

She stepped back, and felt the edge of the cliff against her heel.

“Kirina…” The stranger advanced.

"MY NAME IS ANN!" she shrieked and threw herself backwards, over the cliff.