Contest for give-aways!

I’m still a little flush with the excitement of finishing the first draft of “Balefire” and sending back the signed contract for it. This story derived as they often do from the ‘shotgun’. I entered Nanowrimo last year for the eighth year and won, as I have every year except 2005…when I did the whole thing with pen and paper. For Balefire, I wrote the first 50k  then continued the next 50k for five more months. It still needs beta reading and revising, but I really like it. As soon as I clean it up, I’ll post an excerpt about these endearing characters. ( I hope you’ll agree.)

It will only be a slight commercial interruption before I plunge head-long into the amped-up book 3 of the Damaged series, tentatively titled “Deliberate Choices”. In this one, Zeke will have her hands full, her weapon loaded, and a Kevlar vest handy. Lots of pots will be boiling and Anne’s frustration will be one of them. Stay tuned.

Back to the current topic. I want to share the love with some prizes. So, I’m planning a little contest where the winners will receive a copy of their favorite book. In order to make it fun and challenging, there’s a pre-contest.

For the top three people who submit an interesting “question” I can use for the contest, I        will send a signed copy of my table card used for my booksigning. (which is an 11×17 poster). The questions should relate to the series or to my writing.

The winners question will be chosen on the basis of cleverness, interest, and difficulty.

When I’ve got three good ones, I’ll post Phase II of Project Give-away. Need I say, if your question is chosen…you can’t submit the answer in the next phase.

Come on, folks help me get this Give-away moving!

Meantime, I gearing up for the SW Book Fiesta which will open next weekend at the ABQ convention center May 10-12, 2013.

“The Southwest Book Fiesta is all about the past, present and future of books and publishing. We’re bringing together authors, publishers and the public for a family-friendly weekend, focusing on nationally recognized as well as local authors, literacy, learning, and most of all – fun!”

I’m part of a panel discussion with my LERA sisters on Saturday and signing on Sunday.

Happy Mother’s Day to all those brave souls–for every Mother.

Without further ado, Georgia Beers.

 3/12 (Ed: The Winner of the random drawing for Georgia’s latest, 96 Hours will be announced at noon Friday 3/3. There’s still time…)

 

I don’t’ think I need to provide much more of an introduction. If you are one of the three people unfamiliar with this talented writer, feel free to check out  Georgia Beers site for ‘everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask’. Her blog will also feature my responses to questions and a giveaway to a random commentor.

As I have mentioned before, publicly, my very tall friend Georgia has been instrumental in the launch of my fledgling career and I’m very grateful for her advice.

~If you had the chance to do it over with one book, what changes would you make and which book would you choose?

That’s a tough one. Though I don’t go back and read my older stuff because there would inevitably be things I wish I’d done differently, I think I’d prefer to leave them all alone. Each one is a step in my growth as a writer and if I hadn’t written each of them exactly the way I did, I wouldn’t have evolved into the writer I am now.

~From the publication of your first manuscript to the recent release of 96 hours, can you pick three of your proudest moments?

Well, the first one is definitely holding my very first book in my hands. There’s no bigger thrill for a writer, in my opinion. Number two would be winning the Lambda Literary Award for Fresh Tracks in 2007. Third would be having Starting from Scratch short-listed for a Lammy, something I didn’t think would happen because I went a different publishing route than most. That was utter validation of my career.  [ed note: it went on to win 2 Goldies]

~What are you working on now?

My next book is a new venture for me. It’s a collection of short stories, each of which is connected to the next in some way. So far, I’m really enjoying it. As a bonus, I will have a dozen or more characters to choose from if I want to expand on any of their stories, so that’s a fun aspect as well.

~What inspired you to write your first book?

My soon-to-be wife, Bonnie. I was reading a not-very-good lesbian novel and when I finished it, I said with irritation, “I could have written a better book than that.” And Bonnie looked at me and said, “What’s the difference between you and that author?” I gave her a sheepish grin and replied, “She actually took the time to write hers?” So I took the challenge and wrote Turning the Page.

~Do you purposely try to some kind of message or lesson with your books?

Purposely? No. I just do my best to make my characters realistic and relatable. If they end up doing or feeling something that projects some sort of message or lesson, that’s like icing on the cake. But the only goal I have when I begin is to write a compelling, touching story about two women that any of my readers might know (or be).

~What do you find challenging about writing?

How long do you have? LOL. I find it challenging because I don’t always know where things are going. I have an idea, but oftentimes, my idea is a mere suggestion and things go in a completely different direction. That’s challenging as well as thrilling. I also find it challenging to do the actual writing because the creative side of my brain doesn’t always want to function when I have the time. I have never done a marathon writing session, as so many writers do. I just don’t think my brain works that way and I wish it did. I’d be much more prolific, that’s for sure.

~Do you have any advice for writers?

My best, simplest advice is to just do it. Keep writing. Always continue to learn. You will never plateau. You will never learn all there is to learn about your craft. Keep writing and keep learning. Always.

Thanks, Georgia! …and my unsolicited advice for you, Keep writing, Please.

As promised, a random commentor will receive a signed copy of Georgia’s latest book “96 Hours” or go to Bywater Books

Her other books are listed on her site.

And the Winner is…

After a wildly complicated, double-blind, placebo controlled drawing, the Winner of Amy’s book is………………………  Margot!! 

Since I don’t have your email address, please reply or email me so I can contact you…or contact Amy. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and enjoyed this new endeavor. We’ll certainly do it again. And I hope to have more interesting visitors in the future.

Meantime, I’m cleaning off the old desktop for the next project. Book 3 in the series and maybe a little teaser about Zeke.

Stay tuned

 

New First page challenge

This was a surprise. Maybe unscientific, but all in good fun.

qkelly strikes again

As a bizzare coincidence, she faced off “Damaged in Service” with “Last Chance at the Lost and Found”  (the author of which, I did a book signing two weeks a go). No hard feelings, Marcia. I didn’t do the selecting.